Chapter 2: General of Flame vs. the Lost Rose

	Sparks flew and the metallic ring of metal flew through the air as the 
blades meant. On the ground, splattered with drops of their own and their 
enemy's blood, the two women had deposited their cloaks, a red and a white. 
Fiery red eyes meant those of rose red and were forced to look away as the 
hatred that flew threw the rose eyes seared Pyra to her very soul. 
	With grunts the two came apart from the lock and faced each other once 
more. Their blades glistened with wet blood, Ayesha's hand already stained with 
both Pyra's and her own. Pyra regretted having thought little of Ayesha at the 
begging of this battle, for it had cost her dearly. 
	Ayesha flicked her eyes towards the village. "You are alone now Pyra. Your 
small army is dead."
	Pyra started and looked towards the village. Ayesha spoke truth. Nothing 
was left of her troops, all of them smoldering ashes, them and their Pokemon 
alike. The only living being within the village's vicinity was the Taichu and it 
was watching Pyra and Ayesha fight, its eyes glowing with hatred and a smugness 
that Pyra immediately hated herself. 
	"You," Pyra snarled and lunged, her hitless weapon causing white sparks to 
flare against one of Ayesha's pronged blades.
	The sparks flew in all directions and one hit the grass. Within seconds 
flames were roaring around them. They hate the dry grass like a person would eat 
up a favorite snack, and kept moving on out to the leafless trees. Pyra's face 
gained an evil grin as the flames crackled in the heat.
	"Perfect! This is the end for you!" Pyra screeched. She could use her own 
abilities to shield herself from the fire, but she knew that Ayesha had no such 
ability, thus leaving her exposed and open to burns. 
	Smoke began to curl into Ayesha's nostrils, causing a burning sensation to 
enter her nasal canal and her eyes began to tear up and burn from the ashes. The 
heat was nearly unbearable and her hilt was getting hot, like her blade. Ayesha 
looked at Pyra through tearing eyes, noting she felt none of the effects of the 
flame. Her magic. Ayesha swore under her breath. 
	The flames roared higher and Ayesha began to cough violently as the smoke 
began to choke her, entering her lungs. Ash clouded her vision, mixing with the 
tears. Her blades crashed to the smoldering ground as Pyra lunged.

	Doomhound and Karasu struck each other again and again and again. Their 
screams tore through the air and their blood was feeding the ground, staining it 
red like so many other fields on Crystalmir. 
	This battle was not like the one Ayesha and Pyra raged, a battle for power 
of Crystalmir. No. Their battle was one of old memories and forsaken dreams and 
not having the power to forgive the other. 
	They tore at each other, fang sinking into feathery flesh, talon striking 
through shorthaired hide. Flames lashed out from their mouths, searing the other 
and burning the ground. Feathers were strewn about, the actual feathery look 
they had eaten up by the flames the two Pokemon spat. 
	Karasu was badly damaged. Its eye had already been burned and, to add to 
it, his left wing had a lovely hole through it, the wing coated in blood and its 
fiery tips barely sparking any flame, almost extinguished from the bodily 
liquid.
	Doomhound was not without his own injuries though. Several claws had been 
ripped out when he attacked, and it was quite hurtful. Several teeth had been 
knocked out and he bore many serious injuries, two dangerously near his right 
lung and stomach. With a cry that could only come from one named after the dead, 
Doomhound launched himself at the giant bird in a final attempt to finish what 
he had started.
	"Spiral Fire Storm!" Karasu screeched, sending a whirling mass of flame at 
the hound. 
	To late did Doomhound realize his mistake. The mass of flame surrounded 
his body, burning it to the bone. Even though he was indeed a fire Pokemon, 
Karasu was a dark fire Pokemon, therefore his elemental safety advantage was 
canceled out. Doomhound crashed to the ground a few feet from Karasu, its skin 
burned away to reveal rippling muscles and shiny bone. With a swift movement, 
Karasu slammed its beak into Doomhound's head, and sent the poor, foolish 
Pokemon on into the next world. 
	Karasu turned to where Ayesha was fighting, and watched with dispassionate 
eyes as the flames rose higher and higher. Its battle was finished, no longer 
was this war its business. 
	Slowly, Karasu settled on the ground, as it would have next to its 
children before Doomhound had burned them alive. It laid its head down and 
closed its ruby eyes. Slowly, every so slowly, it slipped into a deep sleep and 
before it, Karasu could see its children. Alighting on newfound wings it flew to 
them into the realm of eternal rest.

	Pyra lunged in, determined to finish it in one stroke. "Now die!"
	Her sword would have plunged in, had something not stopped it. Pyra looked 
down in shock as Ayesha raised her eyes, flaming red now, Pyra's sword blade 
clasped between her hands. "I think not." With a force Pyra did not think that 
Ayesha could possibly possess in such a weakened state, she wrenched her blade 
away, spun it and the hot metal was pricking Pyra's neck all in less then the 
blink of an eye.
	"Give it up Pyra," Ayesha snarled. "Remember, Taichu is still there, 
waiting for my call. Now bow down and let me make this quick, or I'll have 
Taichu make it long and slow." 
	Pyra growled and tried to step back from the blade, but Ayesha only 
stepped forward, keeping the blade pinned to her throat. "Doomhound!"
	"He is dead," Ayesha stated flatly. "Karasu would have insured that much, 
I know." 
	"What if he is dead then?" Pyra asked her.
	"I could honestly care less," Ayesha shot back. "Now, bow or run. Your 
choice." 
	Pyra stood there for several seconds, unmoving. Ayesha pressed the blade 
closer to her throat, drawing a single drop of blood. Slowly, Pyra sank to her 
knees. Ayesha took the blade from her throat and placed it on the back of her 
neck. 
	In a lightning fast move, Ayesha whirled the blade up and prepared to 
bring it down. "Not so fast, Master of the Lost Rose!" Pyra threw something at 
Ayesha. Burning ash.
	Ayesha dropped the blade and covered her eyes, trying to not to scream in 
pain. Tears streamed through her fingers as she fought the dire effect it had. 
She heard the sound of Pyra's blade hissing across the grass. She couldn't win. 
Not like this.
	"Taichu! Let's go!" Ayesha called and dived through the flames.
	"Do not let her get away!" screeched Pyra. "Get her!" No one responded. 
"What are you doing? Fools, get her!" Pyra spun and leaped through the flames to 
see what was wrong. Indeed, no one had responded for the fact no one was 
conscious, and some were dead. Pyra looked for the Master of the Lost Rose, but 
Ayesha was nowhere to be found. Pyra cursed under her breath. The Master would 
not be please, not at all. She turned from the battlefield and headed towards 
the woods, dousing the flames as she went. 

	"You what?" screeched the Master through the fire ringed mirror Pyra had 
brought along for such a summoning. "How could you think you could go against 
the Lost Rose? I intended for you to go against the Forgotten Spring, for he was 
injured! The Rose was healthy! You fool!"
	"I am sorry Master! I thought I could take her, but I did manage to injure 
her...though she did take down my whole squad in the process," Pyra gulped, 
keeping her eyes down.
	The Master was silent for a moment, "I give you one more chance to redeem 
yourself Pyra. Do not fail me again. Destroy the two Masters and all will be 
forgiven." 
	"Yes Sir!" Pyra cried and saluted. The flaming mirror dropped to the 
ground, dismissing her. Pyra was confident she could beat a master, but two? And 
with her squad and the Master Fire Pokemon out of the picture, this would be 
tougher then first expected. With a growl of frustration, Pyra turned on her 
heel and headed back to see if any of her squad was still breathing. 

	The wind blew through the air, sending shivers up the boy's spine. His 
midnight black hair flowed down his back and his Pikachu was nestled in his arms 
as he stared down at one of the few intact cities of Crystalmir.
	"So, how long do you think before they too suffer the same fate as the 
others?" he asked quietly of his Pokemon. The Pikachu muttered something and 
curled itself into a tighter ball. 
	"Master of the Auburn Autumn," a voice whispered behind him. "I have 
arrived at your request." 
	"Good," the boy turned to face the speaker. "Let's get down to business 
then." He swept the speaker into his cloak and disappeared into the brush.