Zephyr. 67

High in the frozen peaks of Vanco island, a cloud of ice crystals drifted down through the crags and crevices. Through the slopes and valleys pass Snowmen with long ice beards and Kensi riding Snowdog to a plateau before the great ice palace of Kearn the Frigid. There it stopped and gazed out at a replica of the place of its frozen rebirth. Clea knew this wasn't the same ice palace that Kearn had built in Bravosa, she had seen that one blown to pieces herself as she was taking her leave of her frozen over former home. This one was the same exact design. It seemed Kearn wasn't one for much creativity.
Slowly drifting closer, she passed Snowdogs who lifted their heads and growled at her intrusion. She blow a cold thought of comfort into their minds to quiet them before their Kensi riders could notice anything was wrong and stayed on her course to the ice palace.
Moving on over a low hill, Clea felt a sudden source of mystical heat near her. As she cast her ice crystals out like a thin mist, she felt someone she recognized just to the left under a ice cliff waiting for her.
"Aiya Ice Queen." Came the voice of Taren the dark elf sitting atop Terror his demon horse. "I told you we would meet again."
[Then it was your queen that freed Kearn from his prison.] Clea pulled her cloud together and materialized in her icy maiden form. Her eyes glowed a bright powerful icy blue. "All this because I wouldn't be her puppet?"
"All this and more." Taren shrugged. "I warned you to keep your promise. Now many will suffer including those you once loved."
"You and your evil queen know nothing of me or what it is to love." Clea stepped forward as her freezing winds began to pick up and blow all around Taren and Terror. "But you will learn what can be done in the name of love."
"Will we?" Taren urged Terror back towards the ice palace. "We'll see won't we. Kearn waits for you with a guest in his throne room. We'll see who learns what lesson Ice queen!"
With that, Terror opened his wings and leaped into the sky above Clea and streaked away leaving a blazing trail behind him.
"We will see." Clea said as she raised her hand and summoned a huge chuck of ice to her. She climbed  on broad and sent it sailing to the entrance of Kearns ice palace.
The palace was like one great cold mirror with images reflecting from wall to wall. Clea stood tall as she sailed into the ice cavern keeping her eyes open for an attack coming from any direction. She could hear the sound of Kearns cold laughter as she moved deeper into the palace. The halls made many twists and turns going in all directions.
"Come my sweet queen!" She heard echoing through the halls. "Come and greet your master, you god. The one who made you what you are today!"
"Am I suppose to thank you for what you did to me?" She screamed out. "You took everything I loved from me and replaced it with ice. With nothing!!"
"It was a gift I wanted to share with you and your husband." Kearn laughed. "I'm glad you've enjoyed it."
"I haven't enjoyed anything since you put your blasted curse on me!"
 Speeding up, Clea burst into the cavern where Kearn waited. The room she had entered was a huge chamber with furniture carved of ice. There was everything a regal king would be expected to have in his throne room including his loyal subjects. Snowmen and Kensi lined the walls waiting on orders from there god Kearn. As Clea looked about, she saw the master of her hate. Her rage flared like a torch and she streaked at the king of the ice palace.
"Now I'll give you your reward for your fucking gift!"
Standing over ten feet tall, Kearn laughed as Clea's iceberg came sailing straight at his head. Suddenly a blast of ice and wind came from nowhere and something hit Clea in the face knocking her off the ice to fall on the floor of the cavern. With a wave of his hand, Kearn sent the ice chunk veering off to crash into a wall.
As Clea hit the ground, she rolled and sent a round of ice spikes at Kearn. Climbed to her feet she looked up just in time to see a man dressed in ice armor throw up a shield that blocked the spikes. Like ice drills they buried themselves five feet deep into the shield, cracking it and tearing it down.
Looking on in icy anger, Clea stared into the face of Kearns defender. He was tall with long icy hair wearing diamond like ice armor. Clea's mouth dropped open as she recognized her opponent. It was Jona, all blue and infected with Kearn's ice curse.
Stepping back she knew she was in trouble. She was prepared to go to war against Kearn, but how was she suppose to fight against the man she loved. There was only one thing to do. Fight and hold them off until Jandar and the others could come to help.
Standing there facing Kearn and Jona, Clea gathered all her concentration and called out to the one she knew would hear her call.
{JANDAR!!}
With Jona staring blankly at her, Clea shook off the loose ice that had adhered itself to her dress and stepped out to confront Kearn.
"Haven't you done enough harm to these warm lands?" She called to him. "Didn't you learn anything from your venture as Muerte's slave? Talsara? You are now doing the bidding of a mortal?"
"Indeed I did." He laughed. "You think me a slave to the elven queen? Nothing could be further from the truth. She freed me yes, but Kearn is beholding to no one and never a mortal no matter how powerful she may be."
"Then why? Why have you come here? Why capture my husband? He's done nothing to you?"
"I did it for you my queen." Kearn stood up and stepped down from his throne and walked out to her. As he walked, he shrank until he stood at the height of six feet, a foot taller then Clea. He had a devious look on his face, smug as if he had already won their battle. "Muerte wanted to turn Keanna into a word of the dead. Talsara wants to rule it under the banner of the Dark elves. While I think Keanna should freeze and be buried under ice and snow. Everyone will worship me as their one and only true god. How magnificent would that be?"
"Your out of your frozen mind!" Clea began to shake with anger. "And I won't let you do this and neither will Rimnar or Saila!"
"Rimnar and Saila?" Kearn laughed. "Weak and useless. They hide in their sky palace not caring one bit about the weak fools down here on Keanna. If they're so powerful, they wouldn't have allowed Muerte to get so out of control. They should have known exactly what she would do."
"It's not for us to question the high gods!" Clea said as Kensi and Snowmen began to close in and surround her. "Rimnar's greatest gift to us is our freedom to live and do as we please. But you like Muerte have gone to far. You can't rule the lives of us mortals. You can't force us to worship you no matter what you do or how you threaten us. We will be free!"
With that, Clea dived forward blasting enemies as they came in to grab her. A Snowman came at her from the front and was encased instantly in a block of Clea's ice. Two more Kensi armed with spears raised their arms to throw and skewer her. In a flash Clea put up a shield between them then blasted them back against the wall. As Clea turned to face Kearn, three Snowmen hurried in and put themselves in between Kearn and her. Slowly Clea raised her hands and started generated her cold. Her hands started to glow blue as ice crystals swirled around them. Just as she was ready to cast, Zephyr stepped in and swept the Snowmen aside to face her himself. A strange look appeared on Clea's face as Zephyr raised his blade to point at her. Clea stepped back not sure what she should do and suddenly something struck her in the head and everything went black.

Riding high on the back of a Snowdog, Zephyr streaked through the snowy mountain paths of what was now called Kearn's Cap. His mind was full of cold confused images from the past. He remembered his days in Bravosa, but his memories had been twisted into nightmarish false images. Days of hiding in a cold tower with an old man that looked like Kearn as his master. He remembered Clea his wife torn from him by Alee and the Dragons and taken away as their prisoner. Cold whispers of hate filling his every night with dreams of her torture death.
Zephyr remembered waking up in Kearn's palace feeling cold and alone. His head swirled with painful  images, memories he couldn't quite grab a hold to. He sat up and looked around trying to remember where  he was. He was in a great bed in a frozen ice palace covered with a blanket of snow.Zephyr threw his leg over the side of the bed and gazed around. A tall man draped in frost came into the room carrying a tray with a mug on it with something steaming. He stopped and placed it on the bed side stand .
"Good morning Zephyr." He stood there looking down at him. "I trust you slept well and your ready to get to work."
Zephyr had no idea what he meant or who he was, but there was something familiar about him. Something from his dreams. He remember that face and the tower, and something else. But every time he tried to concentrate, pain would stab into his mind. Zephyr rubbed his temples and stood on wobbling legs.
"Work?" He asked. Zephyr stared into his deep icy eyes. Suddenly he remembered fighting near the tall icy man. He must be my teacher, my master. "I know you.
"Yes." Kearn smiled. "You know me very well. I am your master, your teacher. I taught you all you know about magic."
"Y,yes." He stammered confused by the faces that kept flashing through his mind. First, a kindly elder man then the frost covered mans face would push its way through his memories. "I remember you."
"Remember Bravosa and its chilly hills, how we loved bring our cold to its shores."
"Yes." Zephyrs mind began to really as images of his frozen homeland drifted through his memories. "So cold."
"Remember the woman you loved." Kearn reached out and touched Zephys temple sending a pulse of cold through him mind to addle his memories even more. "Remember her death at the hands of the Dragons and the sun god Alee. We shall have our revenge. We will destroy all they hold dear and turn the world into our own Arctic land of ice and snow!"
"Yes Master." Deep in Zephys mind, Jona screamed out and shook the icy bars the held him trapped in his own mind. Kearn laughed as Zephyr rose and donned the ice armor Kearn had made for him. Jona was for now gone and Zephyr was all that remained.

At home in the ice and snow, Maxius tore through the frozen jungle like a mad beast in a city center. He ripped trees out by the roots and tossed them aside like they were nothing. He dived into deep snow banks and merged with the water molecules and swam as if he was in the ocean. His roar could be heard from mile around bringing Snowmen and Kensi out to do battle. They came by the hundreds riding Snowdogs armed with spears and clubs to beat the mighty dragon into submission. With great flips and swings he bashed and crushed them. Chomped and ground them into the snow. Maxius roared and fought on spewing steam and torrents of boiling water at his enemy. Beside him fought Braddoc and Mortimer high in the sky with bow and spear gun. They sent wave after wave of sonic attacks at the enemy. Snowcrows fell by the thousands until there were none to be found then Braddoc dropped down to moved on to Kearn's ground forces.
With a Centaurs aim Braddoc took aim and bowled over rows of Snowmen coming in for the attack. Mortimer hopped off his back and drew his sword and dived into the ranks of Kensi warriors. With his spear gun in one hand and a sword in the other, he ripped into the on coming wave of warriors. Dodging and countering thrust, stabbing and slashing through skin, hair and bone, Mortimer fought  on until the bodies were piled knee deep around him and Braddoc.
On a hill overlooking the battle, Taren watched with disbelief. Kearn's warriors were actually being beaten by this singular small force. He watched as hundreds of warriors fell to a force of three. One dragon, a winged centaur and a mer man. Queen Talsara would be furious if he returned to report they had lost. There had to be another way he could turn this disaster into something he could profit from.  But what is it the the Dark queen really wanted? She wanted Clea dead for betraying her and ignoring her orders. But what if there was something here she would want even more then the ice maiden? There were many of Talsara's enemies here, what if he brought her someone she hated even more. Like a Dragon. Like the dragon that's fighting down there right now. All he would have to do is swoop down behind it's back and deliver a blow that end it's life.
"Our target is there." Taren reached down and put his hand on the hilt of his sword. "We are after the Dragon."
[YESS!!] Terror sent eagerly as he stomped the ground sending sparks raining all around them. Grabbing the reins, Taren put a foot into the stirrup and pulled himself up into the saddle. There would come a time when the Dragon was most distracted. Then they could strike and put an end to its life. That should please the Dark queen and weaken the rest of the Dragons. All he had to do was wait until the time was right.

At the entrance to the ice palace, a tall sandy haired man appeared from a flash of light, he spoke a short spell to shield himself from the frigid winds that swept around him then  said a short prayer to Rimnar. He stopped and listened for the sounds of any movement from inside. It was pretty quiet. He could hear the sound of Kearns laughter, but he didn't hear any sounds of movement from inside. Gathering much needed magic around him, he started the walk in. The tunnel was tall and wide with high ceilings and snow for carpeting. The walls were decorated with portraits of magical scenes of ice fields where Snowmen and Kensi hunted from the backs of Snowdogs. He watched as men and women were preyed on and slaughtered by Kearns followers. What kind of god would condone such horrors? A cruel and vindictive monster he thought.
From there, he moved on into the hall where three tunnels branched off. One left, right and straight forward moving ahead. As he headed for the center tunnel, two Snowmen came charging from the right tunnel. Calmly raising his hand he sent a bolt of energy at the first Snowman burning a hole though its chest. It stumbled and fell tripping the second Snowman. Moving with amazing speed, he reached out and ripped an stalagmite from the wall and stabbed it into chest of the fallen Snowman shooting heat through it's body melting it down then walked on.
As he moved on into the next chamber, a group of Kensi warriors came rushing out to attack swinging clubs and howling their challenge at him. The stranger stopped and stood perfectly still as something flew in from behind him and attack the Kensi. Like a Manticore, Viggo dived in  tearing and biting the Kensi. His claws were like knives tearing at the enemy as the stranger walked on letting Viggo finish his carnage.
Entering into Kearn's throne, he looked on as Kearn stood up from his throne to welcome in his guest.
"Who would you be little man?" He asked. "And what brings you into my cold embrace?"
"I'm an inquiring mind." He rose a foot off the icy floor and floated in to confront the winter god. "And you are holding friends of mine. I'm here to see you set them free."
"And why should I do that?" Kearn stepped down from his throne and walked out to meet his new opponent. "Are you a god?"
"Maybe" He smiled his blue eyes twinkling. "Maybe not. Maybe I'm actually here to help you."
Kearn's bellowing laughter rang out through the palace sending its vibrations out to rattle the walls causing ice and snow to rain over everything.
"You?" He laughed. "Help me? And why would you want to do that? This is my domain, I am master here."
"That you are wintery one." The blond haired man bowed to Kearn. "But is that enough for you, really? Is there not more than ice and hate inside of you? Isn't there room for more?"
"What more is there?" He asked. "I am master of all that I see. I rule with an icy frigid hold on everything I command. All will call me master!"
"But you will still be alone for eternity no matter how many call you god."
Kearn stopped and stared back at the handsome light skinned stranger who dared to think himself Kearn's equal. But something in his words rang true. He was alone. That was why he had created Clea in hopes of finding someone as cold as he was to spent eternity with. But it didn't work. Jona was still frozen deep in her heart and even his cold couldn't break that hold.
"HOW DARE YOU ASSUME THAT I WOULD NEED THE COMPANY OR THE AID OF ANYONE!!" Kearn screamed at the stranger. He turned and spread his arms starting a storms of snow and slush to shower over the entire chamber. Like a child Kearn banged around his throne room tossing tables and kicking chair out of his way. Standing calmly, the stranger cast a shield around himself for protect and waited quietly for the storm to end and his rage to calm down with no fear of attack.
"I should kill you for such insolence!" Kearn pointed at the stranger ready to send a bolt of freezing magic at him.
"Would that cure the problem?" The stranger asked him. His voice was so soft and calm it relaxed Kearn more by the minute. "Would my death make you happy? Would anybodies death really make you happy? I don't think power and praise is what you really want, is it?"
"Then what is?" Kearn yelled back. He didn't really like what was going on. He wasn't use to answering such questions from mortals. He wasn't even sure way he was answering, but there was something about this one that made him trust him? Could that be it? Kearn had never had trust in anyone else ever before. This was something new for him.
"Tell me something Kearn." The stranger sat down and hovered before the god. "Why do you hate so much? Does it make you happy at all?"
Kearn stopped and thought about the question. Then something occurred to him. He had no answer. It was just how it had been for so long he was use to it.
"I, I don't know."
"Many great things happen during the winter." The stranger said warmly. "It's a time of year for rest and even some fun. Snowball fights,sleigh rides and the winter solstice. Surely you have seen the people enjoying themselves on one of your snow covered hills?"
"I haven't look." Kearn said quietly. "Not in a long time. But it doesn't matter what mortals want. What matters is what I want."
"Then what is it you really want Kearn?" He asked as Kearn looked him deep in the eyes. There was something about those eyes. "What is it that could melt your frozen heart?"
"I don't know if anything could help my heart. "And that was the first time in centuries that fear and sadness crept into his heart. Like a man defeated, Kearn went back to his throne and sat down. Something had changed in him. The stranger had finally reached him deep in his soul. Now it was time to see if his heart could change for the better.
"Do you know who I am?"
"No." Kearn answered sadly. Should I care?"
"Maybe you should."
With a flash of light the stranger changed. Now instead of a mortal mage dressed in a heavy cloak, a golden god hovered in front of Kearm radiating his godly warmth. Dressed in a golden tunic, the handsome god introduced himself.
"I am Atol, god of love and I'm here to give you a second chance to be worthy of joining us on Fortis."
From his throne, Kearn gazed out at Atol as he reformed into his godly image. The cold began to creep back into his heart thinking this could be some kind of Fortis attack on him. He stood to be ready for action.
"Be at ease." Atol held out his hands. "I'm not here to fight if we don't have to"
"Then why are you here Fortisian?" Kearn leaned forward on his throne. "Were you sent by the hot one to put me back in my prison? If so I will fight you."
"No." Atol answered. "I have a better why to solve this problem."
"I will not be fooled by any of your godly tricks Cruel one."
"No tricks." Atol smiled holding up his hands. "Just simple logic and truths."
"I will listen for now." Kearn settled back on his throne to hear what Atol had to say. "But my time is short and I have things to do, so if you don't mind, get on with it."
"Things to do?" Atol asked as he settled himself for his talk with the winter god. "Like Talsara's bidding? Haven't you learned by now what comes from dealing with someone like Talsara? She has nothing to offer someone like you but more pain and misery."
"She did free me from my volcanic prison." He said. "I owe her for that."
"You owe her nothing." Atol said. "You could have freed yourself without any help at all. All you had to do was ask. It was your hate and revenge filled heart that kept you prisoner. It still holds you now in a prison of your own making."
"You speak in riddles Atol." Anger and confusion filled Kearn's blue eyes. He didn't understand what Atol was saying to him. "How was I to free myself when molten lava kept me from moving beyond the walls Alee made for me?"
"You were never alone Kearn." Atol confessed. "There was always someone there watching you, hoping you would call out for help. Did you not feel her presence all around you?"
"Again!" He shouted. "More riddles. There was no one there with me. I was alone in my fiery prison. Every day and night alone with no hope."
"Oh but you are so wrong." Atol smiled. "Hope was always there. Never far from your side even though you couldn't see her. Let me show you."
With a wave of his hand an image appeared on the wall of Kearn sitting on his throne in his ice house in the volcano. Beside him stood the most beautiful woman in a silver shimmering gown. Her hair was down and streaked with silver and her eyes twinkled with sparks of moonlight. She had rosy cheeks and sweet lovely lips. Kearn was in absolute awe the moment he saw her. Who was this vision of beauty? And why didn't he feel her presence at all?
"This is my youngest sister the goddess of hope." Atol said. "Her name is.."
"Gabreilla!!" Kearn whispered.
"Yes." Atol told him. "The goddess of hope and dreams."
Rising from his throne, Kearn stepped down and went to stare into the image Atol was showing him. He reached out to touch the heavenly face of the goddess in view and the image blurred. It began to fade for a second then became clearer. In the image, she always stayed close to him, never letting him get to far away. On her face there was a look of worry? Worry for what he wondered? Worry for him? How could that be?
"No!" He turned away and grabbed an ice goblet and threw it at the image projected on the ice wall. It shattered sending fragments everywhere. "This isn't possible! If she had been there, I would have felt her. I would have seen her in some way! She wasn't there!!"
"She was there." Atol insisted. "And I know why you couldn't see her. Your hearts so filled with hate and revenge, there's no room for hope. Have you ever stopped to look at what it is your doing? Go outside. Look around, then maybe you'll see. Change my friend before it's to late."
As Atol said his last words, he stepped back and began to fade into a ball of light and flew off out of the cavern.

As the battle raged on, Zephyr stood on a cliff overlooking the snow covered battle field below. Maxius the water dragon tore through the ranks of hundreds of Snowmen crushing, batting and chomping them to bits, Streams of steam shot from his mouth melting and burning enemies away. Over to the other side, Braddoc with his great Centaur sword sliced his way through hairy Kensi by the dozens with Mortimor battling right there at his side. From where Zephys stood, he could tell they were losing the battle and that would not please the master at all. It was time he made his entrance and turned the battle into their favor.
With his arms raised, Zephyr called on his cold winds to lift him and carry him into battle. Up he flew into the skies high over the gorge and down into the valley where battle raged on. From there he could strike out at any enemy, but which should he choose? Should it be the Centaur and Mer man  who were getting closer to their Dragon companion or, should he attack the Dragon himself before he could start his way up into the mountain after his master?
As he dropped down behind the fighting, Zephys raising his hand to form an ice spear from the water crystals in the air, He decided the Dragon to be more of a threat and the better target. Bringing his arm back, Zephyr threw sending the spear on a straight and true path towards the Dragons back. As he watched, suddenly from somewhere overhead a blast streaked out and blew the ice spear into a thousand pieces. Zephyr turned to look up to see where it had come from.
Behind him standing high on a hill with the wind billowing through his cloak, stood a dark haired man in brown and black leather holding a glowing staff high over his head. Zephyrs stared as he stepped down and started toward him. He looked familiar to Zephyr, like someone out of a dream. Maybe one of his nightly dark dreams he thought. As the man came closer he stopped and a strange look almost of recognition appeared on his face.
"Jona?" He called. "Is that you?"
Zephyr stared back at him with his hands down but his magic collecting for and attack. A smile appeared on the strangers face as he reached out for Zephyrs.
"It is you! We were so worried!"
In that split second, Zephyr sent his blast straight at the strangers head. With his hands up somehow the stranger was able to block the blast and deflect it off into a snow bank.
"Jona!" He screamed as he dived into a snow drift, "What are you doing? It's me, Jandar!"
"I don't know you!" He raised his hand getting ready for his next blast. "But I have seen your face before. In my nightmares!"
"But you do know me!" Jandar shouted. "We saved you and Bravosa. We helped you bury your old teacher Chuy. Remember?"
"I remember fighting you and those dragons." Zephys sent icicle missiles at Jandar. "I remember you all killing my love while she was trying to get away from you and my master Kearn, not someone named Chuy and he is not dead!!"
What in the world was he talking about? Clea wasn't dead and since when has Kearn been his master?. Looking closer Jandar notice the ice armor he was wearing. He know he had been out here in the cold for some time, but was Jona actually blue? Something was wrong with his friend. He had changed.
Jandar summoned his shields around him then stood and ran for a stand of trees a little ahead of him. As he reached their safety, another blast of freezing cold hit one of the trees and snapped it at the center. He dived out of the way just as it crashed down beside him. Jandar didn't want to fight Jona, but it didn't some like he had much choice. With a wave of his staff, Jandar sent a series of power balls at Jona. One by one they crashed into the ground making Zephyr jump out of the way. Returning fire, Zephyr sent glowing balls of  ice at Jandar. Using his staff like a bat, Jandar swung connecting with each ball smashing it and absorbing the power into his staff. This was not the same Jona he had know since Muerte's war. He was different. He wasn't using his usually magic, he was fight with ice magic. This had to be Kearn's doing. Kearn had used the same spell he used on Clea to make Jona over into another ice mage. And somehow he had altered his memories making him think his friends were enemies and his enemy his only friend.
Maybe Jandar thought, maybe he could fix this. Maybe if he could get him to see though the lies, Jona might be able to remember the truth.
Stepping out into the open, Jandar held out his staff and sent it back to its place of concealment. With a spell ready just in case Jona insisted on fighting, he held his hands down trying to show no aggression.
I know who you are." Jandar said. "Jona Metrika high mage of the island continent of Bravosa. Your mate is Clea, once a beautiful human woman, now an ice maiden transformed I suspect just as you were. It wasn't me or the Dragons that did this to you. Kearn did this. I can help you with your lost memories if you like, but you would have to trust me."
"Your wrong!" Zephyr thundered. "I know who I am. I'm Zephyr, master of the freezing winds and snow and  second only to my mater Kearn god of winter. And you, you are our enemy and you will die today!!"
With his hands held high, Zephyr called out and summoned his most turbulent winds and ice to swirled down from the clouds and blast at Jandar's shields pushing him back into the tree stand where they began to bury him.

As she opened her eyes and woke up, Clea sat up and looked around. For a second she had no idea where she was. Then memories of the last few hours slipped back into the surface of her mind. She was still in Kearns ice palace. She had come here to try and get her husband Jona free from the evil gods clutches.
She stood and got to her feet and took a deep breath to settled the pain in her head. Looking around she noticed she was alone. Kearn and Jona were not there anymore. She knew she had to go find them. Jona had to be in great danger.
[Go.] She heard in her head. [Find Jona. Help him remember.]
Hurrying to the palace entrance, Clea form an ice cloud and took off into the sky to search for her lost husband.

As Kearn made his way down through the icy snow covered mountains of Vanco island, his thoughts were still on his talk with Atol. The god of love had told him to come out and see the world around him. All Kearn saw was this beautiful wintery scenes all around him. Deep mounds of snow, frozen lakes and streams. When he reached the bottom he saw palm trees covered with snow and ice. Above his head a snow storm still spilled snow out in heavy sheets to cover the jungle all around him. To Kearn this was beautiful, the perfect place for him to have made his home. But then he stopped. Something wasn't right here. He looked out at the frozen jungle before him the realized what it was. This was a jungle he was standing in. It wasn't suppose to be covered with ice and snow. He had done this. In his blind hate he had turn another land of tropic beauty into a frozen wasteland. This is what Atol wanted him to see. This is what he meant when he said Kearn had been blind to the world around him, stealing the hope from the land. This is why he couldn't see Gabreilla.
"No!" He shouted out. "No more. Let it end!"
Spreading his arms. Kearn hovered up high into the storm clouds and ordered the storm to end. The winds slowly began to settle down and snow stopped falling as the cloud cover began to clear and allow the sun to again shine on Vanco island.
From high in the sky, Kearn looked down on the snow covered island. For the first time in century's he understood. The problem wasn't how the world treated Kearn, It was how he treated the world. All that ice cold hate he held deep down inside him had kept him blind to what it was that he really wanted. To not be alone any more. Well here was his chance to change. He could try and fix the wrong that he had done at least to Vanco island and maybe more.
As he gazed down, he saw the fighting still going on. Snowmen and Kensi were still down there fighting. And so was Zephys.
"By Rimnar!" He gasped. "What have I done?"
From there he watched as Jona and Jandar fired bolt after bolt, magic missiles after blasts of energy at each other. Jona was very powerful with the added ice powers of Kearn, but eventually Jandar would find an opening and that would probably destroy Jona and it was all Kearn's fault. He had to stop them before it was to late.
Gliding on a strong wind, Kearn dived down to try and get in between the two adversaries. The battle between the two was growing fierce. All around them magic gathered and grew making each glow with power. Jandar a shining golden glow and Jona more of a silver hue.
Pulling power from deep inside of him, Kearn sailed out and over the two powerful mages, Kearn spread his arms, then slammed them together causing a great thunder crack in the sky that rattled the ground beneath him. Both Jandar and Zephyr fell backin the snow shocked by the sudden interruption.
"I COMMAND YOU BOTH TO STOP THIS BATTLE RIGHT NOW!!"
Jumping to his feet, Jandar called his staff and readied himself to fight both Jona and Kearn. Zephyr stood and looked up into the sky where Kearn hovered then back down to Jandar. He summoned magic to him ready to fire again on Jandar.
"Both of you stop!" Kearn pushed them further apart with a wave and a icy flash of wind. "The war is over. Zephyr, stand down I command it!!"
"I obey." Lowering his hand, Zephyr let the magic around him settle but kept back just enough in case it was needed. Jandar lowered his staff ready to listen and see what Kearn had to say. Behind them, the Snowmen and Kensi stepped back away from Braddoc and Mortimor while Maxius made the shift back to his human form. Burning hate could be seen in Zephyrs eyes. He wanted to destroy his enemies and be done with it.
Still waiting on the cliff, Taren and Terror watched amazed at what they were seeing. Kearn had arrived, but instead of joining the battle he had put a halt to it all together. Taren knew Talsara wasn't going to like what was going on and that she was watching. If Kearn didn't handle this right, Taren had better be able to take command and follow her orders and finish off her enemies.
While he watched and waited, Taren started a spell he thought would help him gain control of the situation.
As Kearn came down to land, he stepped out into the center of the fighting were he would be heard by all.
"This war comes to an end right here and now." Kearn looked from Jandar to Zephyr to make sure they both heard and understood. "It's time summer returns and winter moves on to a place where it belongs."
"But why master?" Zephyr pleaded. "They are the enemy we have fought for long and sacrifices so much, my wife included. Why should we just lay down to them?"
"Because there has been no sacrifice." Kearn spoke directly to Zephyr. With a sigh, Kearn walked over to Zephyr and placed his cold hand on his shoulder. "I have done you a great wrong. In my blind hate I took hold of you and twisted your mind and changed you. Your memories and the way you think are wrong. Before a few days ago you were friends to this one and I was the enemy."
"But I remember fighting them." He stammered confused. "I remember Dragons and doing battle. I remember her dying in a great blast of a dragons breath. I remember all of it. How could it be wrong?"
[I'm not dead my love.]
Spinning around, Zephyr turned to see Clea draped in a snowy mist floating down to where they all where standing. Softly her feet touched ground and she went to stand in front of him.
"I'm here Jona." she smiled. "I'll always be here right next to you."
Images swirls in Jona's head. Images of Bravosa and Vanco. He saw Chuy turn back and forth into Kearn and images of him fighting both Clea and Snowmen. He shook his head and screamed as the pain in his head intensified.
"Who am I?" He fell to his knees. "Zephyr or Jona? What's the truth? I must know!"
"It doesn't matter." Came a voice from behind them. "Because your all going to die right here!!"
Suddenly bolts of magic and flames came raining down from the sky. Kearn was struck again and again blasting him back to the ground on his back. As Jandar looked up, Kensi warriors were attacking and Taren and Terror swooped down shooting magical bolts at them.
"Clea!" Jandar cast his shield high to protect them. "Protect Jona and Kearn. I'll deal with him!"
Putting his finger to his mouth, Jandar blew a silent whistle few there could hear. Like a bolt of lightning, Viggo streaked down form the sky to answer the call. Leaping on his back with his staff in hand, Viggo spread his wings and took off into the air and into battle. Running as fast as they could, Mortimor, Maxius and Braddoc fought their way to Clea's side.
"Quickly." Braddoc grabbed Kearn. "Get them on Maxius back. He can get them to someplace safe for now!"
Grabbing Kearn's legs, Mortimor heaved him up to lay across the dragons back. Gird grabbed Jona and he put him on right behind Clea. With a great roar, Maxius dived into a snow bank and swam his way deep down into the snow where the ice man and woman would be safe as the cold revived them.
Grabbing their swords, Braddoc and Mortimor stood side by side and met the on coming rush of Kensi warriors while Gird took to the air to try and help Jandar.
[Help Braddoc.] Jandar sent. [The elf is mine!]
Climbing high over the snow field and onto a cliff to face Taren and Terror, Viggo roared his challenge at the dark elf and his demon mare.
"I thought you were dead and in the underworld Taren." Jandar called. "What dark magic brought you back?"
"Queen Talsara is much more powerful then any of you think." He answered sneering back. "I have to remember to thank her for this second chance to kill you."
"Yes." Jandar smiled. "But this will be your last chance, because I promise you, this time, neither you or that damned horse will be coming back again to threaten us ever again."
"We shall see Jandar." Taren raised his arm and summoned a glowing ball of energy then threw it at them. With a wave of his staff, Jandar created his shield to deflect the power ball. It crashed into his shield and dissipated with a powerful pulse. Not giving Jandar a chance to react, Taren spoke a deadly spell that sent a stream of energy in the form of a dragon at Jandar. It roared, blow fire then charged at him crashing head first into his shield.
Pushing out with the force of his magic, yellow blocks of energy flew at Taren. Quickly he raised his hands with his fore finger and pinkie out drawing a circle in the air before him. Blue power shields snapped to life to intercept Jandar's energy block spell. Again and again the bashed at Taren's shield driving Terror to take a step back as Taren pushed more power into the shields to hold them in place. Cracks appeared as Taren strained to hold his shields up.
With a great shove, Taren broke Jandar's power blocks. Her wiped the sweat from his brow and slammed his hands together causing waves of vibration to go rippling out at Jandar. Waving his staff in a circle over his head, Jandar surrounded him and Viggo in a globe of power that held them steady and let the vibrations pass all around them.
"You have learned a lot of magic since last we met." Jandar said to Taren. "But your still new at this. I give you the chance to withdrew and go on your way. Your free of the underworld, you can go on and live your life in peace somewhere away from all this fighting. Take Terror and go. I promise no one will come after you looking for revenge."
"Revenge will be mine Dog!"
Kicking Terror into action, Taren and the demon horse jumped into the air. From beneath his cloak he pulled a sword and came diving at them. Urging Viggo on, Jandar held his staff ready to meet Taren in battle. As they came together, Taren swung his sword in a arch aiming for Jandar's head, Thrusting the staff out, Jandar met the charge staff to sword. A loud clang rang out as the two weapons met. Drawing back his sword, Taren stabbed at Jandar trying to drive his weapon through his defenses and into his heart. With a quick sweep, Jandar knocked the sword back then came around and pushed out with his magic and knocked Taren out of his saddle. As Terror reared up on his hind legs and kicked out, Jandar dived off Viggo's back, rolled across the ground and came up with his staff ready to block Taren off.
As the two circled each other, Viggo leaped out at Terror with his claws bared batting the demon back. Terror leaned out snapping at Viggo's paws then kicked snow up to try and blind the Snowdog. As the snow rained down in Viggo's face, he huffed, snarled then barked. Strong vibrations rippled out from his bark scattering the ground under Terrors hooves. Hopping from place to place, Terror launched himself off the cliff as it started breaking up. He galloped up into the air then turned back and charged Viggo spewing flames at the Snowdog. With a mighty leap, Viggo dodged Terror's flames. Growling his defiance, the Snowdog narrowed his wings and rammed Terror in the side. As he howling in pain, Terror fell. He tried to right himself in the air but didn't have enough time. Like a blazing comet he hit the ground and exploded sending smoke and flames into the air. Hovering above Terror's crash site, Viggo howling in triumph.
"Your demon is done!" Jandar shouted. "You have lost again!"
"Not yet!" Taren sneered. "Did you think Terror my only weapon? My Queen has control of magic you will never understand. Behold her real power!"
As Taren knelt down in the snow he crossed his arms in front of him, his head lifted to the sky and he screamed out simethin Jandar couldn't understand.
"ESTA U'RHA ZAWOKA!!"
As Jandar watched, Taren suddenly exploded into a gigantic gout of flame. A rock from the explosion flew out and struck Jandar in his temple knocking him out. Mortimor and Braddoc backed away from the jet of flame as it began to re form itself into a giant sized man made of fire. Mortimor could feel its terrible heat from where he was standing. A petrifying laugh echoed its way through the mountains and a fire elemental stepped from the crater where Taren the dark elf had stood just minutes ago.
"NOW THE WORLD WILL BURN!!" It shouted as it pounded its chest. Quickly Mortimor jumped on Braddoc's back and he leaped into the sky.
"What is that thing?" Gird shouted.
"I have no idea." Braddoc said. "Something Talsara conjured I guess."
"What do we do?" Mortimor asked nervously. "That thing is huge!"
"We get Jandar out of there before it's to late."
"How?" Mortimor asked. "It's to hot to get to close."
Before either of them could do anything, Viggo flew down and grabbed Jandar. Holding him by the back of his jacket, he dashed off to a clearing where he laid the mage down and stood over him to guard him.
"What about that thing?" Mortimor asked. "We can't fight it, it's to powerful for us."
[YOU WON"T HAVE TO!]
Suddenly from the snow covered hillside, Maxius with Kearn,Clea and Jona came bursting out of the snow. He swam quickly through the snow to the clearing where Kearn climbed off his back then helped Clea lower the unconscious Jona. As Braddoc dropped down to land, Mortimor ran to check and make sure Jandar was OK.
"He's unconscious." Mortimor looked up at the others. "What now?"
"Now you watch Jandar and Jona while Clea and I go finish this madness." Kearn started walking out to confront the new threat. "That's a fire elemental. There's nothing the two of you can do to help. Stay here and protect your friends."
"I can help." Gird said. "I can take the heat."
"No." Clea walked out to join Kearn. "The Kensi may get over their fear and come back. They may need you here."
"Come Ice Queen." Kearn walked on with the wild blowing through his grey hair. "Let us put an end to this."
With each step Kearn took, he began to grow.He summoned his winds to swirl all around him as his power filled the air. Calling forth a frosty cloud, Clea stepped on it and rose into the air until she rode at the same height as Kearn's head. Fire balls began to rain around them as the laughing fire elemental stomped his way towards them. With her hands held out, Clea deflected each fire ball away from them to crash into the ocean. Kearn shot bolts of ice at the elemental that struck at its chest sending steam billowing into the air. Behind them, Mount Vanco began to erupt sending smoke, ash and blobs of lava flying everywhere.
"FIRE DEFEATS ICE WINTER GOD."
"Yes it does." Kearn said. "But water defeats fire every time."
Swirling his arms around, Kearn called on all the snow that covered Vanco. Like a river in the sky it gathered in the air blocking out the sun casting shadows all across the island. Then with a sweep of his hands Kearn sent the wave of snow flying at the elemental. As waves of ice and water flew at the elemental, it sent bolt after bolt of lava at Kearn and Clea. With unerring aim. Clea deflected each bolt away to crash safely into the muddy ground. They could see the stain on the elemental's face as it battle against the water that kept slamming into it. Steam and ash filled the sky as the beast began to weaken. With a last wave of his hand, Kearn ordered the rest of Vanco's snow into the air to drop down and drown the elemental.
On the ground, Maxius stood out in front of his group and diverted the steaming water to run around them and flow back into the ocean.
Now a steaming man shaped giant mound, the elemental howl out his rage. It's last attempt had failed and it was now melting down into mud. Driving his icy fist into the head again and again, Kearn finished off the last remnants of what was once the dark elf Taren Ender. Now there was nothing left but a huge puddle of mud which Kearn froze in place.
"It's done!"
The fight for Vanco island was over, but unfortunately, the island had suffered way to much damage. From a tropical paradise to a frozen ice land and now, nothing more then a muddy mess, Vanco would take years to recuperate.
Shrinking back to his normal size, Kearn looked at the mess he had turned Vanco into. He was sad. There was nothing he could do to fix this. His power over ice and cold couldn't help here at all. Together him and Clea walked back to the others. Jandar was awake now. He stood with Braddoc, Mortimor, Gird and Viggo and watched them approach. He had many questions he wanted to ask Kearn, but now really wasn't the right time. Clea and Jona were safe and back together. She would have to help him to recover his lost memories. There was still the dark queen and the lord of Winterhaven to deal with and Rage would expect him home soon. Answers would have to wait. Right now, Aquilona should be next on their minds.
"Thank you for your help Kearn." Jandar bowed to the cold god. "But this war is far from over. Talsara and Tayor Larin still threatens the rest of Keanna."
"I'm sorry. " He said. "I've done far to much harm already. I have to go ask for forgiveness and take whatever punishment Rimnar plans to heap upon me. I deserve it for what I have done."
"Then can we ask one more favor of you?" Jandar stepped up to Kearn. "Can we have your crown? We need it's magic to power Aquilona's city shield."
Reaching up, Kearn took off his crown and handed it to Jandar.
"Take it." He said as he began to fade away. "Farewell. May there be hope in all your hearts as its beginning to grow in mine."