Memories of the Forgotten

Glad to see your catching up Falcon... and thanks for the constant reviews Twonk. ^_^ It nice to thank the readers for their continued support for us writers!

Anyway, on to this new chapter... which will have another surprising turn of events against our heroes!

By the way, this will probably be my last update for awhile... Christmas holidays and all. Happy Holidays to all!

Chapter 19


Although it pained them to depart, Midas knew it was neccessary. After all, they couldn't very well afford to stay longer then needed. To do so would put innocent lives in danger. Midas could not bare to do that. It was not him, not anymore.

Aivon mentioned nothing of his training, although it wasn't hard to not miss the rock spires that were sticking out of the ground some distance away. Midas only hoped that Aivon indeed had gotten stronger with his magic. He wondered whether to spend some time today training himself. After all, his wind magic could only get him so far until the situations got to the point where he would need to strengthen it. Midas closed his eyes as he walked, and suddenly found himself dwelling on memories long since past.

"Pitiful."

Fire was everywhere, scorching the ground as buildings burned. Several people had gathered, some with swords, others with staves, all ready to fight. At least three dozen stood to face one opponent, but this one opponent seemed to be easily toppling the fighters. Two rushed foward, swords held fast as they charged the person. A quick movement, a flash of metal, the sound of blades striking and the two had fallen.

"Weak humans. Don't mess with me."

Three people approached and each shouted "Fire!" in union, before three balls of flame emerged. The light from the spells illuminated Midas' face for a brief instant before a mighty gust of wind picked up, diverting the fire onto nearby buildings and causing them to collapse. He chuckled underneath the mystic scarf he wore, and a clear look of amusement was in his eyes.

Three more swordsmen rushed into battle, but Midas sidesteped them, driving each one of his daggers into two of their hearts. The third, sensing an opening, immediately tried to attack, but the scarf that Midas wore rose up and wrapped itself around the man's neck. Midas pulled out his daggers, as the scarf tightened forcing the man's body to go limp. As soon as life left his eyes, as if the scarf itself could sense it without Midas' own knowledge, it loosened and returned to it's position, slightly looking as if it was somewhat animated.

"Is that all? Surely you don't think such pathatic attempts to hurt me would work." Midas began to walk calmly to the remaining humans who stood before his, his daggers raised and poised to strike. Suddenly it seemed that the very earth rose up and swallowed them whole, wrapping around each one and forcing the struggling, screaming body into the earth below to be silenced. Midas instantly recognized the attack as an advanced Earth ability.

"So, you are the cause of this destruction. Interesting."

Midas didn't need to turn around to know that a demon was talking to him. He sensed it the moment the Earth spell was cast. "And if I am?"

"Who are you? You seem to be a rather... interesting person."

"Who I am is none of your concern." With that Midas began to walk away from the demon. "Begone with you. I have things which I must accomplish."

"And what would those things be?" In answer to the question, Midas turned and struck downward with his blade. Immediately recognizing the attack as a "Wind Blade", the demon raised his own hand to create a hardened shell of earth around him, allowing him to block the spell. Dispeling the "Earth Dome" spell, the demon once more gazed upon Midas, taking in his appearence. "You are a curious one. Your not entirely human yourself, am I correct?"

Midas was slightly surprised that his spell had no effect, but he was far from 'impressed'. "What do you want demon? I have no time to waste with you. I must seek the keys to unlock the Dark Gate."

"The Dark Gate?" The demon was perplexed. He had heard of the Dark Gate and the power that supposively lay inside. Yet he never knew of anyone to actually attempt to open it, for there was truthfully no one who knew exactly how to do it. "You must be joking."

"I am not. I know where it is, and what to do. All I need left are the keys." Midas turned away, thinking to himself. "Perhaps you would like to assist me?"

"Assist you? Bah. Demons don't make deals with humans."

"But as you said before, I am not entirely human, now am I?" Midas bowed his head. "Do you know what lays inside the Dark Gate? A powerful being of immense dark power. A being so powerful that once awakened, you could conquer the world. Nothing could ever stop you."

The demon's curiousity had peaked at this. "Really now? Tell me more..." Midas was smiling under his scarf, though one couldn't see it. Yet he kept his voice as neutral as possible before he started explaining.

"It all started many centuries ago..."

"Hey Midas, you ok?" Midas was shaken out of his memories by Aivon's voice. "You look kinda out of it. You feeling ok?"

"I'm fine," he said in a rather soft tone, which somewhat surprised Midas himself. Midas wondered why now of all times and places did that memory come to him. It had been so long ago, yet it could never be too long ago for Midas. It was a part of him that would never go away, he would never forget, no matter how much he wanted it to just fade.

"Huh?" Aivon stopped and Midas looked to see a man wearing a black, seamless robe. He was wearing a hood, keeping his face hidden in the shadows. The wind picked up a little as he walked forward to them.

Immediately Midas backed away. A sudden and powerful feeling surged around him suddenly, and Midas suddenly felt as though he sensed this power before, from somewhere. The dark aura the man seemed to emit was not normal. It was like this darkness was something deeper, more foul to be called dark. Aivon looked to Midas and noticed that he held a slight sense of fear around him.

"Ah, I see you know how to treat your better."

"Who the hell do you think you are to call yourself our better?" Aivon shouted. The man in the robe laughed a little, causing Aivon to place his hands on the ground. "Alright laugh your way through this! Spire!" His magic channeled into the ground, forcing a rock spire to rise up near him, the point aimed for his heart. The man in the robe raised his hand and with it stopped the attack in it's tracks.

"That's all? Pity." He pushed against the spire, forcing it back into the ground and knocking Aivon off his feet. Midas raised his own daggers in defense, ready for any attack. "Don't think you can challenge me. My power is far beyond yours."

"Wind Blade!" Midas sent his blade crashing down, blasting wind energy toward him. The energy struck the person, but it didn't seem to do anything after the strike. He didn't even faze as wind subsided. "What? How?"

"You dont get it yet? Then let me tell you a little secret." With that, he raised his hands causing energy to form there. "I know all about you guys... Your deeds were quite a feat... but you've met your match. You see, I too am a Destinied... but I believe my destiny is much different cause." The energy in his hand began to glow and increase in size. Midas started to back away.

"Earth, Wind, Water, Fire... Now I will show you just what these elements can really do! Dark Matter!" He spread apart his hands, and the energy dispersed. Midas looked around waiting for something to happen. Suddenly a surge of energy blasted from beneath him, engulfing his body. Midas shouted out in agony, the energy feeling like it was ripping him apart slowly. As suddenly as it happened, it ended leaving him drained of energy.

"Heh... it takes alot out of me... but as you can see the effects are worth it." The man walked up to Midas and grabbed him holding him up with a single hand and placing his other over where his heart was. "You seem to possess some powerful darkness within you..."

"No!" Midas shouted and began to struggle, despite how futile it was at this point. "I won't go back to that! I refuse!"

"You don't realize how powerful you can become... or perhaps you do. But why fear the dark? Your entire body is nothing but emptiness, completely void except for the darkness that surrounds your being." He pressed hard against his heart, dark powers seeping into Midas. "Just like Mammon..." he whispered.

Midas' eyes opened wide, and his body went rigid. "How do you-!? Gah!" His body began to shake and twist, as if something deep inside him was trying to claw its way out. Aivon lifted himself up to see a black aura surround Midas and seem to be absorbed by his body. Midas suddenly went still and the man let him down.

Aivon noticed the change immediately. Everything about Midas suddenly seemed much more... evil. When he turned to face Aivon there was a dark fury in his eyes that seemed to have appeared instantly. It was nothing like he had ever known, but when Midas spoke, he recognized it at once. It was that same voice he used to command the dark creature that appeared from beyond the Gate.

"I feel... so alive!" Midas began to laugh quietly, examining his body as though he had never known it at all. "Yes... my power is finally... unlocked." As he said this, Aivon could feel the dark waves of wind energy emit from him. The robed man turned away.

"Come Midas. We have things to do."

"At once."

Aivon was surprised that Midas was taking orders form someone, yet he also knew that this was no longer the same Midas from before. He ran up to them, determined on trying to make sense of the whole thing then they teleported away. He quickly stopped and realized that he was now completely alone. He felt completely exhausted, though was uncertain as to why. Still, it didn't stop him from falling down to rest.

"Damn it... guess I'm on my own then." He looked up to the sunny sky and falling back, decided on a quick rest.