Crimson Beast - The story of Raven Blair

It took the teen a few seconds to register her friend's comment, she was so absorbed in watching everything. It was so amazing! She couldn't help but smile as she looked at everything she could. Her questions and curiosity were piling up faster than any human mind could comprehend.

Finally after a few seconds she truly heard what Raven said and turned to him, grinning brightly. "What is it?"

Raven looked to the sky as he had done so many times before, then looked back at his friend if bright eyes, though they were hidden under his blackened shades.

"Before we got here, before the train.....when you almost, you know.....you said the apple was a bad idea. That it made you like that."

He placed his hands in his pockets, looking back up to the statue of the soldier.

"Was it a bad apple or are you alergic or something?"

Ima blinked, then her eyes widened before she turned them to the sky. She hadn't expected him to ask about that, not at all. Admittedly she should have seen it coming, but she was so caught up with everything here...

What should she do?

Her alien mind began thinking of her options faster than any human mind could ever hope to. Should she tell him the truth? She trusted him enough, trusted him enough by far. But this was Raven's journey, to fight a past battle that he needed to fight. Getting into her issues would just make things more complicated than they needed to be. Raven was already going through a lot.

Besides, if there was one thing she noticed about Raven was that he didn't want to speak much of his own past, which probably meant that it wasn't something that you often brought up to a friend in conversation.

"Sorta all of that." She offered as an explanation, still looking at the sky and no longer smiling.

Raven nodded at the response.

"Well then......good enough for me!"

He smiled under the cloak to her, the sun gleaming off of his shades. He froze in the moment. Ima was hiding something, he knew that already. What kind of normal girl can fire a toy laser gun and control gravity? It didn't matter to him though, not like he was in the position to question. He didn't want to push someone to talk about their past, he barely did.

He placed his hand on her shoulder, hoping that it would cheer her up a bit. Just as he was about to say something else, chaos broke loose. Cheers upon cheers rose into the air, a flock of birds taking off as the excitement hit.

"The parade is starting! It's starting! his Majesty is here!"

Balloons rose and the feint sound of music boomed in the background. Raven's ears caught the tone right off the bat and shot to the direction.

"Well "His Majesty" is finaly going to show up. Might have to go see this guy, from who he's been compared too, he must be a good looking dude."

Ima nodded and smiled, also very curious to learn who this person was that Raven had been mistaken for. She laughed at his comment that he must be good-looking. "I guess we'll see." She answered.

Raven pushed through the crowd, landing somewhere int eh center of the smiling faces. These people had a lot of love for their ruler, that much was for sure. Raven looked over their heads, pushing up on his toes to see everything. The people around him gave him a bit of room, not wanting to crowd up on a man carrying a large sword. Then the cheering began again.

The drums rolled like thunder, signalling the arrival of the band. Musicians upon musicians filed through the streets, the citizens on boths sides leaping from their spots, tossing into the air confetti from every pocket. It was like a swarrm of colorful insects fluttering through the air. Following the band were seven tumblers, each one dressed in brightly colored leotards and flashing harlequin masks. They cartwheeled into the center, some doing flips, others just dancing for the crowd.

Raven was awestruck by the event. Never had he seen so much happiness in one place. It was like these people had no cares in the world, but then it clicked that this was all for the arrival of one man, their king. The love for him was palpable. He must've been a good man.

Then the cheers reached an ear splitting level. He had arrived.

Fire launched into the air from the hands of four robed men walking in a single row. They were obviously mages by craft, their regal blue attire and skill with the arts could have told that to anyone, but they were not the main attraction. They threw their hands into the air again, and multi-colored sparks appeared, their version of fireworks.

A large platform was pulled behind them by a large team of the raptor creatures they saw before. It was decorated in the finest of white clothes and golden ornaments. Raven was then taken by a small throne set on the front of it. There sat a man similar to his height, at least he assumed, dressed from head to toe in rich clothing. Blue clothes trimmed in gold flowwed under silver armor, but what set him apart was his helmet. His face was hidden behind a mistral helm, the visor shut. On top, a golden ornament resembling a crown was placed. This must be the.....

No way.....

Memories raced through Raven's head. His eyes now caught on the reason the platform was so huge. This thing, it stood at least two stories in the air and was the shade of pure fire. It's lower body resembled a hore, yet it's upper body was humanoid, forged from the darkest of flames. It's horned head surveyed the crowd, a scowl on it's unmoving face.

Their king, and that in the throne was....the prince? Raven surveyed the demon, going over and over until it finally registered.

"Their King is the one we're here for."

Ima, who had been completely distracted by all the festivities, snapped her attention to her friend when he spoke. "Really?" She asked, before turning to look at the king. "That's him?"

She stared at the creature for a while. So this was the someone that Raven needed to fight. He certainly looked interesting, and Ima felt a few question pop into her mind before she pushed them away. Now was not the time.

It was almost too bad, everyone seemed to love the king so much...

"What should we do?" She asked as she turned back to Raven.

Raven reached back, loosely gripping the handle of his gun.

"We have two options here."

He looked deathly serious at the king. He wanted his massive head on a platter for everything he did. Everything he took from him. Everyone he took from him. This shot would be for his Mother, for his Father, and for his brother.

"I can take the shot and we can rush them and take that big jackass out.....then have to deal with everyone on the way out."

He surveyed the people again, then all of the members of the parade. The amount of gaurds was surprising, but he was confident he could take them, but they power was unknown.

"Or.....we can wait and follow them."

He choked on his words.

Ima just smiled at him.

"Raven, this is completely your choice. I don't know what happened, but this guy obviously hurt you really badly. I don't have any right to say what we should do here. I'm just here to help you as much as I can."

She gave him a thumbs up and an even bigger grin. "Choose. I will follow whatever path you go down."

Raven never broke his glare on the king. He was itching to kill this thing, no matter who was there.....but he brought his hand away from his gun as the platform dirfted around the corner and down the road ahead, disappearing after a few moments of celebration. The streets were still in a great commotion as the parade continued, but Raven couldn't care less.

"Come on."

Raven pushed through the crowd, grabbing Ima's hand again as to not be seperated. As soon as they hit open street he picked up the pace, running at the speed of a normal human male after the royal party. He could only hope he could catch up in time. If they left the city, there would be no way they would catch them.

Ima squeaked in surprise before trying to keep up with Raven. Tha man had much longer legs than her, so that proved to be a bit difficult, even if he was going at a normal speed. She eventually found how to run in a way that she wouldn't have to fear falling on her face.

"Should I help, or would that be too weird here?" She asked, referring to her gravity manipulation. It would probably help them catch up faster, but she wasn't sure how the people would react to that.

"No, not yet."

The time passed by from running, and finally the duo stopped. The parade was long over, and now his royal highness and his apparent son had been brought to a safe location. Raven crouched down, pushing Ima's head down slightly to avoid being seen. Gaurds circled the royal family.

"Let's see. Their force is pretty tight, we might need to get closer."

He snuck ahead even closing, dragging Ima with him, now back against a wall. He peered out from the side enough that he was sure he was hidden. The massive king now stood on his four legs, looking down at his servants. He motioned to them, and made his way to another vehicle decorated as lavishly as the parade float. The prince remained masked by his helmet, stepping from the float.

Raven reached behind him and removed a single gun. If there was going to be a shot, it'd be now.

"If I take the shot now, we can get out of here in the chaos. If I don't, he's going......"

Then Raven's words stopped as he looked at a commotion going on in a group of soldiers. A few yells were heard, both male and female. He looked through the crowd, and the shroud of blue and silver was brown, torn garments. A single women reached out.

"Your highness please! My family starves! We need your grace!"

The gaurds yelled at her, calling her names best left unsaid. The king did not acknowledge her words, simply sat on the back of the truck-like vehicle. The prince turned his head to look over the poor women. He shook his head, and crossed his hand over his neck, turning to meet his Father.

Raven looked at the King, the vehicle ready to leave out into the massive desert, surely losing him for good, then to the women for which a gaurd held a rifle to, finger on the trigger. The King may have been a "good man", but the prince was ruthless. He looked between them, and cursed, before slinging his gun and firing, a bullet soaring into the sternum of the rifleman and sending him to the ground. The remaining gaurd took up arms, now turning to face Raven.

"You bastards cost me my goal!"

Ima also frowned. She decided that she didn't like this prince person, he was a bigger meanie that the man on the train. And the guards were going to hurt that lady! And she had just been asking for help! Even if they were under orders, where was that human compassion that she had grown so fond of in her time away from home?

That, and as Raven said, they had cost him his goal.

"Meanies!" She accused while she put a gravitational pressure on the guards that was just enough to be painful while lightening her friend's and her own. Then Ima looked to Raven.

"Shall we?"

"Of course."

Raven launched at a speed that would shock light, flashing through the crowd of soldiers. They didn't know what was happening. Blue fell onto concrete, muffled movements fading. Appearing just before the women forced to her knees was a flash of deep crimson, the gaurds holding her down only having enough time to look up.

Bang.

Smoke fluttered into the air as they fell back, holes punched into their helmets as they hit the ground. Raven's gray eyes flashed a beat of blood red before returning as he looked on to the convey, two large armored vehicles and the one carrying the king and prince driving away.

They had escaped.

Ima had gotten a few shots in, but most of it had been Raven. The girl nearly pouted at this, but decided it was not the time.

She looked to make sure that the lady was okay. "You okay?" She looked, but not seeing her hurt in any way, smiled and said. "You look okay, I'm glad! Please be careful!"

With that she turned to Raven again. "Shall we go?" Asked the teen, motioning in the direction of the royal family.

"Damn it!"

Raven exclaimed as he realized his target had left, and now his gaurds had either escaped or had been defeated.

"There's no way we're catching them now! They're half-way to who knows where!"

He sighed in disappointment, his fist clenching.

"That road leads to Alabastor......it's the Great High-Road that cuts through the desert. The King....he must be on his way to Lake Ignis."

Raven turned, now facing the woman who had now rose to her feet, dusting herself off.

"Lake Ignis? What would a king want with a Lake? What's with the city? Tell me!"

His adrenaline had scared the women, to which he calmed, easing her.

"I'm sorry. Please, how can I get there?"

The women motioned to a store behind her, a large garage door placed in the side.

"Lake Ignis is rumored to be the home of the first magi in Arcana, the lake itself is said to hold great power, but those are just children stories. Either way,they seem to be on their way there. My husband and I own a mechanics store, but nobody trusts our machines. They say they're not safe, but I know they can get you there! It's the least I can do for your kindess, the very least!"

Raven nodded to Ima, then to the woman.

"We'll try anything, please!"

----------

The garage door opened slowly, the sound of an engine roaring to life slowly following as two wheeleds squealed, ripping from the garage into the streets. The machine was very similar to what we in the earth realm would call a motorcycle, equipped with black armor accross it. The women waved as her saviors rode off.

Raven looked on the road ahead from behind his shades, his coat and hair flowing in the approaching breeze. He looked to Ima who he had placed on the back, then back to the road, a huge smile breaking through the serious expression, then yelling out.

"WOOOOOO!!!!!"

"Woooooooooooooo!!!" Ima echoed her friend as she clung to his back. "Faster, faster!" She cheered. This was so fun! The little alien had never done anything like this before. It was almost like flying!

Granted she could fly with her gravity powers alone, but that was beside the point.

"Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!"

Raven nodded in agreement as he reved the engine, the wheels peeling out as they shot down the road even faster. They were going to get to this Alabastor place sooner or later, and he just hoped they could make enough distance before the sun went down.

--------

The royal convoy rolled on. The king and prince sat back in regal pose, looking around at the barren wasteland around them. The prince spoke, his words muffled and echoed under the barrier of his helmet.

"They're following us, you know? I can sense them. The girl, she has hidden talent that sets her apart from any others we've seen, and her companion. It didn't get a look at his face.......but his aura, his power was very familiar. It was almost sickeningly strong."

The king spoke next, his voice booming to match his great size.

"He's nothing my men can't handle, and if they somehow find us, I'll kill him myself. The rule needs to be protected."

The prince chuckled lightly under the helmet.

"While I trust your skill, I believe we should test the waters here. Hunter, please go meet our new friends."

The vehicle behind them slowed, then turned around. Lines of light pressed through it as it unfolded, wheels forming at the bottom, the upper piece now transformed into a large, mechanical knight-like being, equipped with a sword and shield. It increased speed, charging toward the targets long away.

"Woooooooooooooooo!" Ima cheered again as she felt the motorcycle-like machine speed up. She starting giggling not long after. She was having so much fun!

A thought crossed her mind. "Hey Raven." Ima asked said man over the wind. "Do you think we can go back and play in the big city more when we're done? I want to explore more, and there are so many things I want to ask about!"

They probably also had to return the vehicle later, so they had a good reason to go back. Even if Raven wanted to ask to nice lady to keep them, which she had a feeling he would.

She kind of hoped he did at least.

"Ima......when this is done......"

Raven looked ahead in a somber stare. He could hear the eagerness in her voice, and in reality he wished they could return. Terra Rex seemed to be a paradise in reality,and some place he would even call home if he didn't have so many things to do on earth. He responded.

"When we're done we probably can't go back, at least not right away. Those people love their king.....and we need to....you know."

He sighed. He could only enjoy this one moment.

Or so he thought.

He looked closer at the horizon, half of the sun peaking over it, but a small speck distorted it's perfect gleam.

"What's that?"

It grew larger and larger, and just as Ryan made out what it was, he turned to Ima, yelling in a panic.

"DUCK!"

Raven did just as a huge blade flung over them, the royal hunter spinning before focusing on it's target again, chasing them down. Raven reved the engine, pulling a wheelie before racing off at top speed, trying to outrun the attacker.

Luckily for Ima, she ducked when Raven told her to without question, which saved her from a very painful experience to say the least.

Unluckily, she fell off the bike.

She used her gravity powers to keep her from saying hello to the ground in a very unpleasant manner. Then she managed to settle herself on the motorbike-thing once again, taking care so that her fall wouldn't happen again.

"What is that thing?" Ima asked as she turned to look at it, pulling out one laser gun and shooting at it a few time with the red beam. The other hand she used to stay firmly in place.

The machine swerved, dodging the beams with surprising speed for something it's size. The final beam made contact with the blunt edge of the machine's sword, forcing it back slightly before smacking it off to the right, increasing speed.

"Holy shit!"

Raven yelled, never seeing anything smack one of Ima's lasers out of the way like nothing. It road up next to them, laying a horizontal strike to which the duo both ducked to again. It then brought the blade high above it's head, and slashed down vertically to which Raven hit the brakes, the blade smacking into the road. Raven reved again, flying over the blade before it rose again. The machine thrust a stab, hoping to make contact.

Ima didn't let the blade connect when it stabbed forward, using gravity to force it to stay in place. She frowned at the giant thing. What was it? And why was it chasing them?

Maybe they'd figure it out later, but the teen knew that now was not the time.

Instead of trying to hit it again, Ima tried something different. She adjusted the laser gun a bit a fired, not at the attacker, but at the road in front of it. The beam was massive and melted the road into a substance that seemed as if it would slow down anything, if not stop it completely.

"YES!"

Raven threw a fist into the air as he witnessed the machine sink into the substance, reving it's wheels at a high speed to try and escape, but nothing happened.

"You got him Ima!"

Wrong.

Smoke bellowed from it's midsection and the platform the wheels had been mounted on. The machine rose up again, not appearing in what could only be described as a horse lower-half. This new centaurian machine galloped after them, it's shield infront of it, it's sword dragging through the road, sparks flying as it slashed again but at the same time, the edge of it's shield came up beside them, going for a double shot.

...This thing was odd.

Ima shook her head and tried not to dwell on that thought, as there were more pressing matters at hand.

She still pouted that her idea hadn't worked though.

"Hold on tight Raven!" Cried Ima as she adjusted her laser once more and shot. The color was now orange, and though it didn't hurt the creature or monster or whatever it was, it pushed the thing back a great deal.

It also pushed the motorcycle the duo was on a great deal forward, since they were on wheels and couldn't stay in place like that. The bike practically doubled in speed.

Then the alien messed with her gun again and rapid fired the red laser.