The Stronger Will

[gantzgun74]

Otto nodded. "You've earned the gem back Double D. Congradulations." He got into a battle stance, "The only reason I'd like this fight to continue is merely due to honor. I want to see which one of us wins this fight." He stomped forward...

"So let us begin."

ZOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Otto disappeared in same amount of time it took some to blink.

"Hello."

Double D barely lifted an arm, covered by a barrier in time to block a powerful punch. But the blow itself was much more powerful then the ones before. Barrier up or not, it looked like that blow hurt regardless. Double D staggered...

Allowing Otto a powerful kick to the same arm he just attacked, sending Double D reeling backward. Otto crossed his arms, giving a small insane looking smile. "You sure you want to go on? You can always back out."

---------------------------------------

None of them noticed, at the moment anyways, Yang walking back inside the temple carrying an unconscious Waclay right behind him.

[nintendonut1]

"OOH~!!"

"Ouch."

"Double D!!!"

"...ngh... gunh..." Collapsed on the floor, disoriented, he could barely respond coherently. Instead, with great effort, he dragged in his limbs and lifted himself off the ground. He could barely stand up straight, swaying a bit as he regarded Otto with a straining glare.

"...Double D..." Eddy warned. "...I don't think you shou..!"

But a force field flashed in Double D's hand, quickly forming into a sword-like shape, which he tightly took hold of.

"Ooh! I love when he does this!" Ed grinned as his pal took a stance with the translucsent blade, a more firm glare from under the brim of his hat.

[gantzgun74]

'Stubborn as roach this kid is.' Otto noted, before getting into a battle stance once more. "Fine come get me."

Otto charged forward at fast speeds, his claws outstretched.

CLAAAAAASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His claws met Double D's barrier sword.

It was then that real exciting portion of the melee began. Double D and Otto were going at each other at fast speeds, Claws to sword, fists to barrier fist. It was a fast-paced fight, to be sure.

Otto launched fast swipes with his claws Double D easily blocking the blows with his barrier sword, wincing only slightly with each one, and ducking a fist that was aimed at his face. Double D tried an upward slice, but Otto glided backwards to dodge, and the melee continued each fighter showing no restraint; no stopping.

Otto had always wanted a true fight between warriors like this one, he felt his blood pumping at high speeds, adrenaline and battle instinct kicking in. This was just the fight he had always wanted. Finally he caught the sword between his claws, but Double D quickly threw a powerful barrier kick to Otto's gut. The boy was sent sliding backward, but was instantly back into the fray.

Wally watched on in amazement. "WOOOOO!!! Go Otto!! Show him what you can do mate!!!"

Marco looked wide-eyed. "Wow... Now these two... Are true warriors, kupo..."

[nintendonut1]

"Hehe..." Eddy chuckled. "Just a while ago, you wouldn't be able to say that about Sockhead. Man, has he changed since he got here."

Double D would whole-heartedly agreed if he had heard him. He was much too busy swinging and spinning and blocking. His body didn't want to stop moving; every step, every shift in weight followed through into another attack or dodge. Hardly a year ago, he wouldn't have believed he would be capable of all this.

"Go Double D GO!!" Ed cheered.

Double D blocked Otto's next advance, subtly noticing that each blow, each swing, took more and more effort each time. Slowly, he was losing ground.

Dangit... he's... pure power, almost... he internally cursed, pushing Otto away with some strain after another block. I can't... keep this going... much longer...!

[gantzgun74]

Otto noticed this as well, as he cracked his knuckles. Movements powerful, he jumped backward and charged his energy. "Shadow ARROW!!!!!"

Firing spells from their hands had never ceased to amaze Otto or Wally. When they focused their energies, those two were a powerful pair of fighters. In this form, Otto's spells came much easier and cost less of his own magic reserves. So more spells with less recharge time.

Double D instantly jumped out of the way as a multiple beams of energy shot out of the boys fingers, blowing up the pews that they had been dueling near. "Darkness RIFT!!!" This was followed with a powerful blast of dark energy that seemed to suck in whatever was near it. The boy barely managed to pull away from the rift, as it spat out what it had just inhaled all over the place, aiming at Double D. However, he managed to outrun the projectiles blocking only what was necessary.

When all of the chaos was over, Double D was on his knees panting desperately for breath. Otto jumped up into the air, and attempted to bring down a fist. Double D, seeing this, quickly threw out his own shield fist. While doing this, he had ducked Otto's blow, his blow catching the boy in the chin.

[Who should win this little duel? I think Double D should all things considered, so he could have a good hearty confidence boost. What say you, NN1? What do you think?]

[nintendonut1]

(for serious? You'll let him win? Sweeeeeet. XDDDD Either way would've worked for me.)

If I want to best him... I have to end this...NOW!

The uppercut was just the start. What followed was an entire string of blows; both his hands and feet were coated in sheilds and moving in blue blurs. His sudden burst of sheer speed shocked his friends. Courage's jaw nearly hit the floor.

Double D soon withdrew, prepping for something even more surprising...

Otto was only given a second for a breather. Then he looked up just in time to watch a force feild grow, stretch, and squash into, of all things, a giant, blue, translucent hammer. Double D took a firm grip on it, making great effort to lift it.

This HAS to finish him off! With a hearty swing, he brought it down to the ground, creating an unbelievable tremor that shook the foundations of the entire temple.

[gantzgun74]

[Well, I figured Double D deserves a bit of a confidence boost. Sure he gets plenty of it already, but looking back, it'll definately help him quite a bit considering what's happened in this arc and what's to happen later on. So, you're welcome. XD]

Along with the tremor, the blow created a thick screen of dust, blocking out the results what had just happened... ... ... ... ...

Wally and Marco leaned forward expectantly. Yin held her hands to her mouth, looking aghast at the damage that was being done. Yang meanwhile, kept a tight grip on the Holy Grail that he had only just got back, watching the results with interest.

Finally after what felt like a few hours, (Though it was really just a moment or two) the smoke cleared.

Otto was pinned underneath the hammer, looking quite pained, but otherwise fine. And, much against what everyone thought, looks of the deepest loathing wasn't on the boy's face...

Rather, he was smiling...

And laughing! Actually laughing!

"Got me there!" He looked down on himself; he looked to be bleeding, but that was healing with very little effort on his part. The shadows he had absorbed was sacrificing their usefulness in order to heal him. "That's probably going to need some good healing spell later on." He waved his hand to Double D. "I give. You can get this thing off of me now!" He laughed some more; never before had he felt so alive! He had found a challenge... That was actually able to beat him!

"Let me say, you've MORE then earned the gem now, my friend. You deserve it!"

Yang shook his head. "Just as I remember him... Easily excited by a challenge..."

[nintendonut1]

Breathing hard, Double D first regarded Otto quite strangely when he began to laugh, but then cracked a grin himself and started to chuckle breahtlessly along with him.

Silently, he nodded and the hammer disappeared. Straightening up, he then swayed a little until he fell backwards, collapsing into his friend's arms.

"Double D!" Ed gasped. "You okay??" He was relieved when Double D nodded slowly, taking his time to catch his breath.

"That was... WOW!" Eddy laughed loudly. "MAN, did you lay out the SMACKDOWN!!"

"...Thank you, Eddy..." Double D groaned past a smile, creaking his neck to glance at his other pal. "...Ed..."

"...oh yeah!" Grinning, Ed pulled out the jewel piece, draping the necklace cord down and around his victorious friend's neck.

Looking it over, Double D limply took it into his hand and held it to his chest emotionally. This time... I truly earned it. All on my own.

"Yay!" Courage cheered in Wally's arms.

[gantzgun74]

With the hammer now off of his healing rib-cage, Otto got to his feet, though he had to lean on a wall to do as such. His laughing calming down to a small chuckle, the boy painfully held himself up pushing off the wall.

Noticing the difficulty Otto had, Wally immediately ran over to his friend to offer a hand; however, Otto waved him off. "Hey I still have my pride." He reminded his light bending friend, before straightening up further.

Seemingly stronger then ever, Otto walked over to Double D and nodded his head approvingly. "You've more then earned that trinket my friend. I think you have shown me who it's true guardian is." He, with noticeable pain, bowed in respect. "Take it with pride. It takes a lot of skill to beat me, but beat me you have."

Marco walked over to the scene, reaching into his handbag. After digging through his things, he finally pulled out what appeared to be a bottle of strange liquid. "Here kupo." He handed the bottle to Double D. "This bottle is full of 'High Potion', it's a regenerative drink that heals wounds and gives you a boost of energy. It should help what bruises, strain, or cuts you've gained."

Wally pet Courage smiling all the while. "Yeah, good for him, huh boy?"

[nintendonut1]

"Mm-hmm!" Courage nodded, beaming.

"Ahh... thank you." Gently, he took it into his hand, trying to open it.

"Here, I'll get that for ya..." Eddy was quicker than Ed to snatch up the potion and pop it open, and they both clambored over each other to help him drink it and lift him up onto his feet once it kicked in.

"Okay, alright! I'm not completely helpless, you two!" Double D laughed in the good-natured fashion he was known for. Brushing himself off, he smiled up at Otto.

"Thank you, Otto.. for everything." He returned his bow. "If not for you... I'd still be unaware of my true potential. It's those like you who only make people like me grow ever stronger."

[nutcase17133]

Waclay stirs in his unexpected sleep upon hearing the cheering. He finally wakes to be back in the temple.

"What?! Why am I-a back in this dump!?'

Waclay sees the goblet he ried to steal was in Yang's possession again, and in a fit of rage Wacly lept at Mastyer Yang to get the Holy Grail back, but Yang steps aside as Waclay crashes into a wall. This brings everyone's attention to the young theif.

[gantzgun74]

Yin looked somewhat peeved that Yang appeared to bullying a young man. "Brother!!! WHAT IN ARCADIA'S NAME ARE YOU DOING TO THAT CHILD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"

Yang lifted a foot blocking Waclay as he charged, holding him back by the head. "Blame this child, he was trying to steal this sacred treasure." Yang held up the golden goblet for two reasons; one to emphasize his point, and two to keep it out Waclay's reach as he reached with wild, futile swipes to grab it.

Marco's eyes went as wide as saucers. "Is that... What I... Think it is, kupo?"

Wally smiled widely. "Yeah, it is mate. I mean what? Did you think that thing's been missing for all this millenia because it was in some place easy to find?" He chuckled. "Lord Yang's been guarding that thing, since the day it was created."

[nutcase17133]

Waclay snarled angrily, his legs moving at high speed (though he remained rooted in place due to Yang keeping him back) as he shouted, "GIVE-A ME BACK THAT-A CUP YOU CLICHE'D GOTHIC-A JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[nintendonut1]

"...Ed."

"Yup!" At that unspoken order, Ed outstretched a hand and zapped Waclay, trapping him in a cloud of zero-point energy. Floating in the air, Waclay was immobilized as Double D walked up to him, sternly scrutinizing him.

"A theif?" Musing, he turned up to Yin and Yang. "We can take this one with us and drop him off in the Void City Correctional Facility, if you'd like. Hopefully he won't trouble you any longer."

[nutcase17133]

Waclay's face turned red with rage upon hearing Double D's statement. He wanted to voice his objection and clobber this sock-wearing nerd so bad, but he couldn't budge an inch!

'These losers will-a pay for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Waclay thought angrily.