Chapter 5:
The Battle
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Adam, Haring, Meade, and other original characters.
A/N: This is the final chapter. Again, I apologize that the story is so rushed and short.
Adam, Saphira and Orik stood at the peak of Farthen Dür, surveying the massive battlefield. Ajihad had agreed with Adam on the fact that, in order for his plan to succeed, it was best for Adam and Saphira to remain out of danger unless absolutely necessary. Nevertheless, both were in full battle armor. It was heavy and hot, but Adam was getting used to the weight and was surprised at the range of motion he could achieve.
Adam checked his watch. The full moon would be directly over the mountain at 6:27 earth time. It was currently 5:50. "Not much longer."
"I must be off," Orik said. "I will join my brothers on the battlefield."
Adam shook the dwarf's hand. "Good luck, friend." Orik departed to the great slide. Adam turned to Saphira when Orik was gone. "Saphira, although our time together has been short, I'd like to thank you for everything you've done for me."
"Do not speak like we are departing for good, little one."
"But we are. As soon as I do this, we will probably never see each other again." Adam's face was sullen with sadness.
"Perhaps we will not be together in form, but we will always be one in heart. You once told me that anything you remember experiencing is real, even dreams if they are vivid enough. As long as I remember you and you remember me, we are never apart."
Adam's face brightened despite the lone tear rolling down his cheek. "Thanks, Saphira. I needed that." Adam moved over and hugged Saphira's snout tightly (well, as tightly as he could due to her spikes).
A massive boom broke them apart. On the wall, far off in the distance, barely visible in the firelight, a massive hole had appeared and was releasing hundreds of Urgals into the mountain. Another boom shot open another gap to the east. The battle had begun.
Adam had already dispatched a few clones to help out with the battle. He could see a few eruptions where magic was probably being used. "I hope I am ready for this."
There was one more explosion, this time from higher up. Adam looked up along the wall. Yet another hole appeared in the wall, but this one was filled with a massive, black creature. Smoke was rolling from its form and large black wings were held from its sides. Atop was a solitary figure. Adam could easily see deep red hair. "It's him."
"Dragonrider," Durza called. "Come and taste fear!"
Adam jumped onto Saphira's back. She bugled a challenge as she pushed into the air. At the same time, Durza's steed flew into the mountain.
Saphira was not yet old enough to breathe fire, so Adam was going to have to improvise for her. He quickly threw hand seals together and brought his hand to his mouth. "FIRE STYLE: FIREBALL JUTSU!" A fireball erupted from his fingertips and flew at Durza. He merely held up his hand and the fire dispersed. Flying threw the heat, Durza searched for his prey. But it wasn't there.
Saphira, under the protection of Adam's concealment jutsu, flew right underneath of the monster. Adam jumped off, released the jutsu in mid-air, and collided with Durza, knocking them both into the air over Farthen Dür. Saphira came up quickly and snapped the monster's neck with her powerful jaws, causing it do disappear in a cloud of black smoke.
Falling through the air, Adam gave Durza a powerful chakra kick, sending the demon falling even faster. Saphira then swooped in and caught Adam in her saddle. Durza hit the Isidar Mithrim, spider-webbing its structure. Saphira flew down and Adam jumped off, landing lightly into a half crouch.
Durza pushed himself up with his arms and stood on wobbling legs. "How did you do that? Not even elves are that strong in magic."
"That wasn't magic," Adam answered with a sneer. He stood to full height, focused his chakra, and created another seal. "NINJA ART: SHADOW POSSESSION JUTSU!" His shadow flew across the diamond's surface and connected with Durza's feet.
Durza looked at his feet. Or he tried to, at least. "I can't move!" he said with shock.
"That's right." "Wow, he's powerful. He almost broke my jutsu without even trying. I'll have to work fast." Adam moved his hands in a quick succession of hand signs.
But Durza's body didn't follow. With a mental shove, the shadow connection broke, releasing Durza. "Now you are finished." Durza held out his hand and a long blade appeared out of nowhere.
Adam finished his seal sequence, ending with the chakra focus sign. Durza charged, but Adam did nothing. He simply stood and waited. The demon kept getting closer with terrible speed. Adam waited until he knew there would be no stopping the attack, then used the jutsu. In a puff of smoke, through which even Durza couldn't see, the blade struck something. The cloud cleared to show a sword spearing a roll of cloth.
Durza's face melted into something he hadn't felt in a long time: fear.
Adam appeared directly behind Durza. "Now, it's your turn to die!" He charged Durza, focusing so much energy into his fist that steam was rising off. He threw the punch into Durza's turned face and unleashed the chakra like a rasengan. The violent eruption threw Durza's body a hundred yards back and three feet into the solid stone wall.
Adam held his position for a moment, then fell to his knees. He had put a lot of chakra into that one punch, and he was almost drained of energy. Yet the thought of success and the thrill made him smile. "Saphira, I'm definitely going to need you for this."
"I'm here. You did well, little one."
"Thanks." Adam looked over at the wall where Durza had landed.
To his complete shock and terror, Durza was standing away from the wall without any blemishes whatsoever. And he was clapping. "Very good," he said in a deep voice. "I didn't expect one so young to do so well. But it is over." He again summoned his blade and charged Adam.
Adam didn't have enough strength to move. "Saphira, give me your strength! Quickly!" Energy flowed through their bond and gave Adam more strength. Durza was closing quickly. "Eka eitha unto du vrëdo cun myre." Adam pictured the place in his head. Arya surrounded by a violent fire in the woods. At the same time, he clenched up, waiting for the killing blow to come. But it didn't. He felt nothing.
He slowly opened his eyes. He was in a forest, but it seemed to shimmer like he was looking through water. All seemed to be peaceful. "Saphira, are you there?"
"I hear you, but I cannot find you."
"I think I've made it." He could feel the strength slowly ebbing away. Even Saphira's strength wouldn't keep him here long.
Just then a fire burst into life behind him. He turned to see an elf and Durza standing inside of a ring of fire. The elf was reaching into a pouch. She was muttering a few words.
"This is it." He screamed his own spell, one that would divert the egg to Eragon rather than earth. The emerald light engulfed Adam and he suddenly fell asleep.
He opened one eye a crack and then shut it to keep out the blinding light. He could hear a few voices. One above the others was calling his name softly. "Adam? Can you hear me?"
His eyes slowly adjusted to the light. His mother was standing over him. He looked around. He was in a bed, with his family gathered around. A doctor was standing next to him, moving his gaze between Adam and a monitor. "Where am I?" he weakly asked.
"You're in the hospital. You've been in a come for the last few days," his mother said softly.
"What day is it?"
"July 8."
July 8. Two days after Saphira's egg appeared. It worked.
Adam, his body still exhausted fell asleep once again.
In his dream, Adam was alone in a white world. He was crouched into a fetal position, crying. "I didn't even get to say goodbye."
"There was no need to."
Adam turned quickly. Saphira was sitting behind him.
"Saphira!"
"Don't forget. As long as we remember each other, we will never be apart."
Another tear fell from Adam's eye. "Thank you, Saphira."
He reached a hand out and laid it on her snout. Pain lanced up his arm.
Adam bolted awake. There was no light, except what fell in from an almost-full moon. Sweat was coming down his face, mixing with salty tears. He used his hands to dry off his cheeks, and then looked at his palm. At the center was a very faint silver oval. It was not nearly as prominent as it was, but it was still there. He smiled. He would miss seeing her and getting to talk with her, but her memory filled him with warmth.
The End
A/N: Wow. Not the way I originally hoped the ending would turn out. I might do a re-write eventually, but I like it the way it is for now. I think the battle went pretty well myself. Please review and tell me what I did wrong.