You Make Me Stronger

@ Jinx...
"Like Kali?" Leo heard then paused and laughed saying, "Do you mean that test subject that was abandoned here a long time ago? Oh I'm nothing like her. In fact, I'd say you and I have MUCH more in common." Ryder thought for a second thinking about how he would know who they were talking about. They had given Kali that name, so that must have meant they had been watching them. At least for a short time. And that meant they know Saber and Laura are here somewhere too. Ryder gritted his teeth in frustration. "Although, Phoenix," Leo said, "I do believe Orthrus and I get along much better than you and your host. You want to chat with your old friend?" Leo paused for a moment then appeared to change demeanor entirely. He was a lot less playful and much more serious. His crossed arms of arrogance turned into powerful fists at his side. "Phoenix. You've grown stale! I hope the others aren't as rusty as you are now or I'll have no use for them on this side of things," Orthrus said.

@ Alphora
Phoenix frowned as the man spoke to her and she ran her hand through her hair. "Orthrus." She smiled softly and tilted her head to the side. She laughed. "I am indeed rusty old friend... if we were ever friends." she said. "Though you surprise me Orthrus, though I really shouldn't be surprised. Why would you want to destroy the vessels?" she asked. Phoenix could feel Ember in her mind soaking in all the information and she could feel Ember's resolve about her being evil slowly dissipating some more. "It seems counter productive for us. And I don't see why the others would join you to destroy the elementals." she said chuckling. "You always did assume we would all do as you say." she said and chuckled. "But please Orthrus don't count me out just yet." she said. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I always have." she said her eyes burning with untamed flames.

@ Jinx...
Orthrus let out a bellowed laugh like a large drunken man. "And you always had a sharp tongue on you, too. I want to destroy the regular elementals. Not us. Even Evo understands we are special and different from them. Humans merely stole the powers that were rightfully ours to begin with. That's why I proposed a deal. I'd help them wipe out all of the normal ones in exchange for letting the five of us go free. There's no sense in trying to fight an uphill battle, and I've seen many of the tricks they have up their sleeve as well. Do you honestly feel no hatred for the people that took your powers and then used them to brand you as a monster?" Orthrus argued.
Ryder narrowed his eyes and said, "He wants an unopposed ruling. If what he says is true then he would be the only one to ever have light abilities. Same goes for anyone else with their respective element. Did something happen to make him question whether or not he was the strongest light wielder, Phoenix?" Ryder was trying to analyze a few steps ahead and take shots in the dark even if he may be completely off. "To me, it just seems like he hates humans in general. At least elementals. Maybe there's still something we don't know about elementals that really is a threat to everyone that only immortal elements would know. Is that it, Phoenix?" Sylvia asked also trying to discern a cause.

@ Alphora
"If there is one thing I have learned from the humans Orthrus is that they are use to fighting up hill battles. That is why they threaten you so." Phoenix said and smiled at Sylvia. "It's quiet the opposite Sylvia. With elementals gone the human race is vulnerable to us and there for easier to control and make worship us once again. There is a reason there is a temple for each of us though long destroyed by now." she said. "Orthrus have you forgotten the fragility of mortality? That human body will not last you forever and finding another will not be so easy with the elementals gone. Oethrus you old fool." Phoenix shook her head. "I have learned more than you about the people of this planet. I have spent my time observing their sorrows and their strengths and I believe that them taking some of our power was the best thing that could have ever been done for us. I have forgiven them Orthrus and I hope by the end of this you will too. You won't win even if you do. We are not meant to be gods." she said and then looked around at the army. "And your over display of power proves to me that you believed this as well otherwise you would have come alone." Phoenix said. "Now let us pass Orthrus our business is done for today." she said doubting he would.

@ Jinx...
"Hmph. Still stubborn as always," Orthrus said. Without moving a giant tiger claw about the size of a house came zooming towards them with much more power than before. "Now!" a voice yelled from behind them. A darting shadow quickly skirted along the ground and absorbed both Ryder and Sylvia into it then continued into the forest just as quickly as it came. In the same instance Phoenix was whisked off of her feet and taken far into the air. Saber held her in his arms and continued to dash forward jumping along tree tops using the wind to glide as quickly as he could. When Phoenix turned to see him he was clearly battle-worn. His face and body was covered in scratches and blood. "Glad to see you're alright, Ember," Saber said calmly. He checked back to see if they were being followed but it didn't look like it. At least for now.

@ Alphora
Phoenix smiled at Orthrus. "I'll never change." she said and then put her back for back getting ready to combat with her fire but she gasped as she was swept up. She saw Ryder and Sylvia were safe and she looked up at who had saved her and she smiled seeing Saber. Ember's emotions flooded through her and Phoenix bit her lip. "Oh silly mortal if you wanted to talk to her all you had to do was ask." she said and laid her head on his shoulder closing her eyes.
Ember clung tighter to Saber her face hidden in his shoulder. "You're okay." she said and then looked him over. "Right?" she asked worriedly. She wanted to treat those wounds soon but for now relief just swept through her. Ember's eyes looked over him and she hissed and looked down at her side seeing a rip in her clothing a a long stretch on her side. She shook her head. Phoenix had really been outmatched. Ember admired her confidence in battle despite the obvious. Phoenix had been scared of Orthrus that much Ember knew for sure. Ember looked back at Saber.

@ Jinx...
"I've seen better days, that's for sure," Saber said as he continued to hurry to the edge of the forest. He drew closer to the edge and put Ember down. "You guys look like you had it rough too. I wasn't even dealing with their commander and turned out like this. If Kali hadn't showed up then those two would have probably taken me down," Saber said implying there were at least two more heavy hitters that were with that group. Saber recalled what Phoenix said as he was talking to her in the air and realized it must have been Phoenix fighting. It bothered him how outclassed they appeared to be. But for now he sucked it up and led Ember into a different entrance into the mountainside. "Ember, you got a light?" Saber asked. He didn't know his way around this part of the caverns that well, but he decided it's definitely better than taking his chances with the people outside. He also didn't want to take the risk of being seen by going above the mountains.

@ Alphora
Ember frowned. When he set her down she turned to him and hugged him gently. "Then I am grateful." she said softly and took his hand as she followed him. They came to a cave and she smiled as he asked if she had a light. "That's actually quiet humorous." she said and chuckled a little taking a finger and touching high on the wall beside him. A single blaze of fire bright but well contained shot across the cave leading the way out. She smiled as the line danced in creating as she passed by then turned to a low ember burn after she passed. "I've gotten better..." she said and sighed frowning. "And it's not enough."

@ Jinx...
"Isn't it great?" Saber said honestly as they kept walking through the caves. "Honestly it would just be a waste or a disappointment if you ever did finally have enough. You wouldn't have anything or anyone else to try and overcome or something that would test you. It would be boring...And lonely. It's great to constantly have a goal no matter how good you get while at the same time being able to look back and realize you reached your previous days goal only to make a new one that's even better," Saber said until he stopped for a moment and added, "Sorry, I started to ramble a bit I guess. Constantly having Kali in my head has made a lot more of my thoughts out in the open so I'm used to it a little." Saber continued to guide their way whenever there would be a fork in the path. He acted confidently with his choices so Ember wouldn't be afraid but honestly he was just as lost in the underground labyrinth right now.

@ Alphora
Ember watched Saber's back. He always saw the bright side to it. She listened to him and chuckled as he said he was rambling. "Honestly I'm glad to hear you talking more. It drives me nuts when you're so silent." she said and watched him as they moved through the cave. After a while she stopped. "Saber how much longer?" she asked and rested back against the cave to take a bit of a break. She looked at him and frowned. Something seemed off. She bit her lip wondering if he knew where they were.

@ Jinx...
"Well...it's a pretty long cave, but it seemed a lot shorter as a kid because I was always running around at full speed," Saber said making an excuse. He saw her rest and extended his hand out. "Do you need me to carry you?" Saber offered. He liked being able to help her out like this even if it was a small gesture because it's something he feels he can do.
Ryder was dropped off right next to Sylvia outside of the mountains around the town. "What the hell...?" Ryder asked himself then looked around and saw Sylvia starting to sit up next to him. He also saw Kali standing a small ways away smirking with her hand on her hip. "Ryder what happened? That felt really weird," Sylvia said as she shivered a little. "What do you want?" Ryder asked Kali. "Well, that's a rude way to talk from someone who saved both of you. Though, I'm glad both of my darling children are safe and sound," Kali teased. "Huh?!" Sylvia asked confused. "Do you remember that bad being trapped inside of mom?" Ryder asked Sylvia. She nodded and Ryder explained, "Well you're looking at her. Only things are a little different now, and she is a part of dad. We gave her the name Kali, and things have gotten really confusing." Ryder explained the main things Sylvia needed to know to her and she appeared to be in the same amount of dismay Ryder was when he first heard about her.

@ Alphora
Ember smiled as Saber offered to carry her. "You're just as beat up as me." she said and pressed her hand to her side. "Mmm I need to fix this." She said and lived her shirt up. She ran her finger over the scratch a bright white light moving under her finger. Ember frowned and bit her lip hard as she fixed it her skin. Once Ember was done a shine of sweat glistened on her forehead. She sighed and looked at her skin a faint pink line on her side. "There." she said and looked at Saber. "If you're still offering I am more than happy to take that ride." she said and bit her lip. "But only if you're okay." she said.

@ Jinx...
"Of course I am. Who do you think I am?" Saber boasted happily as he lifted her up off the ground and started walking once more. "We'll definitely get out of here as soon as we can. Then we'll join with the others," Saber said then looked down at her and asked, "Are you alright? And if there's anything bothering you then you can tell me." The look on her face was always the same whenever she was thinking about something or when there was something bothering her so all he could do was ask instead of try and discern the difference himself. "And how's Phoenix?" Saber asked as well.

@ Alphora
Ember chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You think they made it out alright?" she asked hoping Ryder didn't start a fight with Kali right now. Ember bit her lip as Saber asked if she was alright. He asked about Phoenix too and she thought she would start with the question that wasn't painful to think about. "Phoenix is pissed. You know she hate's loosing." she said and the fact that she was so blind sighted made her boil. She hates that she's so out of practice but above all she's livid that Orthrus is trying to get rid of the elementals because of his thirst for power." Ember bit her lip feeling Phoenix turn from her. She was so pissed off that she didn't even respond to Ember with some smart comment. Ember sighed. "I'm kind of worried about her." she said. Ember looked down and held Saber closer. "And I'm... sad. I knew this trip to your home would be hard but I didn't expect..." she shook her head. "I care for you Saber more than my heart can contain. So I'm not going to be alright for a while but I will be." she said and smiled at him sadly. "Were is Laura anyways?" she asked. "Is she okay?"

@ Jinx...
"Don't be upset about the trip. This was our initial goal anyway ya know? Investigate more about Evo. It's just going much more roughly than hoped...," Saber said and thought for a moment then recalled everything that happened before Ember showed up...
Laura woke up once more and saw Saber's sleeping face. She thought for a moment then looked away blushing. 'Just a quick peck wouldn't kill him...He won't even know...,' Laura thought looking at him. She leaned in slowly and Saber's eyes opened at the same time. "Hmm...?" Saber grumbled still waking up. Laura let out a quick 'Eep' and tried to jump back but Saber immediately grabbed her and held her tight. "S-Saber?!" Laura shrieked. "Shh!" Saber shushed her angrily then focused a little more. He focused the wind to a gentle breeze and spread it quickly. "There's so many people here!" Saber said surprised. "Huh?!" Laura wasn't even focused then grew more serious focusing her sensory ability. But she could only sense one very strong elemental. "We have to go!" Saber said and grabbed Laura running outside. "Found you," A deep voice said from a short distance away. Saber turned and saw a very strong looking man next to a girl with long hair and a short dress. "Commander Leo, we found some. Get a reading on our location and make your way over here!" The guy demanded into a walkie talkie. The guy's appearance matched his voice in the sense that he was definitely strong and foreign. "Emily, let me take care of the problem," The man said beginning to walk towards the two. "Steiner!" Emily angrily shouted, "You always make me sit on the side. Let me do something!" Laura quickly pulled up a giant wall of ice in between them and the two members of Evo. Steiner grinned and put his hand on the wall. After a short moment the wall shattered entirely shocking Laura. "How did you-" Laura began to ask shocked but was cut off as Steiner swung his arms backwards and clapped forward. The shockwave belted off of his hands and slammed into Laura knocking her backwards and into the house walls. Saber, who was unseen after the wall appeared, appeared behind Steiner in the air coming straight for him with his fist ready. Emily giggled and mumbled, "Not so fast." Under Saber an arrow appeared that pointed towards Emily. As soon as he hovered over it he was shot towards her and hit the ground rolling. Saber immediately stood up annoyed and turned to see the arrow still there. It was tattooed on the ground as if she had drawn it herself. Saber turned then blasted wind straight towards her. This time an arrow appeared on the ground pointing towards Saber but under herself. She stood there in place with the wind and her arrow countering each other's movements. "You're not going to force me around anytime soon," Emily said. Saber stopped his wind and she made the arrow disappear as he did. She swiftly moved her arms under her skirt and threw multiple daggers towards Saber. He dodged to the right but she placed an arrow on the ground where the daggers were that redirected a few of them behind Saber and a few to Saber's other side. As soon as the knives were all flying around Saber arrows appeared under them all making them all fly towards him from all directions. Saber formed a hurricane around himself to scatter the knives, but the moment he started the winds Steiner clapped once more making all the wind disperse from the shockwave. The knives followed through with their attack piercing and slicing Saber as some stuck into him while others cut him as the slid past. Saber glared at the two who were now smirking. Saber turned to see Laura who was unconscious at the moment. He knew Steiner must have caught her way off guard if she fell that quickly. "Raagghh!" Saber exclaimed as he sent giant gusts towards the both of them. Emily grinned and said, "Don't you learn?" Immediately as the winds approached an opposing arrow appeared under Emily and Steiner keeping them in place. "Of course I do!" Saber exclaimed making the winds come from below then up at them sending dust scattering everywhere in their faces. Emily's arrows kept this dust swirling in place along their faces. "My eyes!" Emily screeched as she withdrew her arrows. The wind only knocked them on their butts but the dust in their eyes kept them busy. Saber quickly grabbed Laura and glided into the woods. When he was deep in the forest he had to stop and rest. He set Laura down and leaned against a tree panting. Saber saw a shadow looming nearby and immediately stood defensively. He calmed down when he saw it was Kali. "Kali...," Saber sighed relieved. Kali was surprised to see him like this and said, "So who beat you this time?" Saber knew she was rubbing in the fact that she beat him too but didn't care right now. "Can you get her out of here?" Saber asked. "Sure," Kali said, "Want me to bring you too? You're not exactly a sight for sore eyes either." Saber grinned and said, "I have to go back right now. Ember and Ryder are going to go back to the campsite and run into them. Hopefully, we'll catch them before they meet up. Just meet back with me as soon as you can." Saber slowly stood and started walking back towards the sight. Kali looked between the both of them and let out a long sigh.
..."So that's what happened up until I caught up with you guys," Saber said looking down at Ember in his arms. Saber narrowed his eyes then grew angry and asked, "By the way. I better be imagining the fact that I saw Sylvia there too. Am I?"

@ Alphora
Ember frowned wishing for once he would see that she wasn't talking about the trip. He was so naive sometimes she didn't know what to do. Ember listened to his story though and she bit her lip. He did better than she and Phoenix had done during their own fight. She sighed and bit her lip as Saber looked angrily at her. "You're not but Saber you couldn't have really expected her to stay behind did you?" she asked. "Neither Laura or I would ever let you just go ahead. And I am pretty sure any one you consider worthy enough to love wouldn't either." she said and sighed. "And honestly you wouldn't let me and Laura go ahead without you either so don't get mad at her when it's something you would do." she said and bit her lip. She was kind of amazed to see him with so much emotion anyways.

@ Jinx...
"Tawny is worthy enough to love and she didn't come either...but...," Saber paused and sighed, "It's hard for me to be too mad because it really IS something I've done. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised Ryder got the idea from me directly in the future. One time, Ellie had a mission that only her and I were supposed to go on but I had Laura do the exact same thing. She tailed us and stayed a ways behind while I kept in touch every now and again. Ellie was pissed but Laura saved our tails so she couldn't be too upset either."

@ Alphora
Ember sighed. "That's not what I meant exactly." she said and bit her lip as he went on. She nodded and chuckled as he said he did the same thing. Or rather had Laura do it. "Of course you have." she said and laid her head on his shoulder closing her eyes a moment. "You're not tired?" she asked really wanting to get her hands on his scrapes and cuts. "Saber I know you're worried about everyone but I think you should rest too." Ember said and then looked up at him. "At least long enough for me to heal some of those cuts." she said.

@ Jinx...
"Well I did only recently wake up even though it wasn't the nicest 'good morning' I've ever had," Saber replied to her asking if he was tired. Saber smirked as he saw her continuously eyeing his cuts and scrapes then even bringing it up. Saber couldn't help but grin and say, "Honestly, I'm surprised you don't have your sisters ability. You're always so worried and want to take care of everyone." Saber set Ember down then sat down next to her and waited. She didn't move at first which made him grin and ask, "Well, is the doctor in?"

Ember chuckled and nodded. "I know but I think you forget I have two sides. Don't touch my family and piss me off or you'll find out you won't like the other side very much." she said and chuckled. Ember sat down with Saber and bit her lip. He asked if the doctor was in and she chuckled blushing. "Well do you have any cuts I can't see?" she asked looking at a tear in his shirt. Ember slowly reached over and took off his shirt slowly. She set it to the side and sat on her knees slowly moving her finger to a wound and starting with the ones she thought wouldn't hurt to bad.