Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

146 - Ar's Story

Xyder Zephyr - POV;

"What? Wait... wait, what is this? What is going on here?! I saw them shoot you!"

"Match start!" the announcer blared.

"There it is. This is the end Zephyr. You remember our deal don't you? It's time to forfeit. We've won," Nero said as his teammates laughed behind him.

"No. No, I won't," I muttered.

Nero cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow, "Defying us are you?"

"I'm not... but I won't forfeit until I know what the hell is going on here!" I shouted.

"..........Ask away," Nero sighed.

"Where is Ar Blaze?! What are you doing here?!"

"There never was an Ar Blaze. There was only Nero. It has always been me," he answered.

"No, that's impossible! I saw you in the same place so many times!"

"A measure to 'prove' my allegiance. We just put someone else under the hood each time," he explained.

"Um, the match has begun!" the announcer repeated, "You can fight n-"

"Shut the fuck up!" I bellowed, stunning him silent.

"You're losing your cool, Xyder. You know better than that," Nero smirked.

"I'm just trying to figure this shit out," I growled.

"Your denial is starting to get on my nerves. Let me clear things up for you!" he hissed as he shot towards me and drove his knee into my stomach. He kicked my leg out from under me, beinging me down on one knee. His right hand flew towards me and grabbed me firmly by the face.

"Xy!" Evie exclaimed. He looked at her with a stern expression and slowly shook his head.

"Evie no!" I stopped her and she reluctantly complied.

"It seems you've atleast finally understood that you can't disobey us," he murmered.

"Why are you doing this Nero? What are they holding against you?! What did they do to you after they captured you?!" I pressed.

"Still not convinced? Then how about we start from the beginning? A young boy was wronged by his family and in his attempts to regain his rightful inheritance, the Zephyr Clan came to be wrought with internal conflict. In seeking his own interest, that boy had opened an opportunity to the Blaze Clan to set our ultimate plans into motion. We secretly led Fenix to a mass of 'free land' located to the far North of Zephyr. With their plates full, Zephyr noticed not the approaching scouts that could have otherwise been deflected. Fenix, being as greedy as they are, were quick to call for ownership of this uninhabited land they discovered," Nero said before jerking me to my feet and kicking me away from him. I reeled and crashed onto my back. As I struggled to stand up again, a young girl appeared in front of me.

"However, Zephyr kept a terrible secret. One that could ruin them if it were to escape," Poppy smiled, "That secret was hidden in that land for centuries: the essense left behind from Zephyrus after his defeat was sealed there to prevent it from entering any other hands. Lord Duran knew of its existence and it was his very aim. But to get that land for himself, a dispute had to be made. When Zephyr's internal tournament concuded, the berated heir was returned his title, however the clan also finally received the news. Fenix was laying claim to this land they'd spent their entire history trying to protect. They wanted to keep it so secret from even their own people that they didn't even lay claim to it, fearing that people would only be made aware and curious of it. That came back to bite them in the butt though, huh?"