[Proof]

Chapter 19: Funeral for a Friend

There was much work to be done after the battle at Zion. Phineas, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford, Irving, and Django all needed training. Then there was the city to rebuild, a monstrous task even without coupling it with the other objectives. Finally, a new army had to be developed, since the Dragon had eliminated the greater portion of the existing one.

Yet events the next morning began to a much different tone.

The seven Beacons in Zion were eating breakfast together when Mr. Crook walked in, followed closely by a newcomer.

"This is Alice," Mr. Crook introduced. "She was the head of the search party I sent out looking for you."

Alice nodded. "I'm glad you all found your own ways here."

Django was smart, and his question direct. "What is she here for?" he asked Mr. Crook. "You're not the type to bring someone in for no reason at all."

It was Alice who answered. "We found the crash site," she said. "There's something I think you all need to see."

The body was destroyed beyond recognizability when they walked in. But everyone knew the outfit. The trademark purple overalls, the cream-colored undershirt... there was only one person it could be.

"Ferb," Phineas murmured. His eyes suddenly became a well of tears, flowing freely down his cheek and onto the floor. He had feared this already, of course, but it still hurt to receive confirmation.

[End proof]

During this part of the story, you would have read about Ferb's funeral. There really wouldn't have been much special about it; it was just meant to be touching. But there was this song:

[Proof]

You were the calming presence by my side

Who never asked and never cried:

The man in whom I could confide

Right up until the day you died

And though you're not here I know where you are

You're in heaven looking from afar

While we're down here gazing at the stars

Singing these few hallowed bars

[End proof]

Then, shortly after the funeral, there would have been this brief conversation:

[Proof]

"It doesn't make any sense," said Ray. "If Ferb's dead, who's the seventh Beacon?"

"Why not you?" Irving asked.

"I believe my name is in the last line of the prophecy: ...the Seven's assistance, an eighth, a guide."

"Mr. Crook could be that man," Irving offered.

"But then it doesn't explain the second line, either," Ray countered, quoting, "Then seven Beacons, at once, shall rise. We didn't all rise at once. I came here two years before you."

Irving mulled over this for a second. Then, quite profoundly, he realized, "Maybe we haven't risen yet."

[End proof]

Chapters 20-22: Discord (20), Separate Powers (21), Anything But A Team (22)

After this all happened, training began for Phineas, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford, Irving, and Django. But as training starts, people begin to fall apart. The team suffers tremendously. Isabella and Phineas have a conversation about Isabella's lifelong crush on him, and Phineas, ever indecisive, unintentionally shuts Isabella down completely, prompting a character change in the girl. Believing that Phineas doesn't love her (though in reality Phineas doesn't know that he does), Isabella closes herself off from the rest of the world, and her dedication to her training becomes the only thing which keeps her going. People try to be friendly to her, but she refuses any and all such gestures. She is cold, hardened, calculating, and inaccessible, entirely adverse to even the concept of a team, as she feels she cannot trust anyone.

[Proof]

Isabella:

One time I had a dream

I thought I fell in love

But I was wrong, it would seem

He woke me with a violent shove

I wanted to love him, I thought I was strong

I hoped he would be mine, I never let go

But now I know better, I know I was wrong

You can't fully trust those who you follow

My dreams were fantasy

Romantic might-have-beens

Now that I clearly see

I'll never love again

My only oath to him was love

Now that it's gone, I'll rise above

He opened my eyes, now it's clear

There's no romance in this frontier

I thought I was destined, I thought I knew fate

But misinformation was my big mistake

My vision was clouded, but now I see straight

It's best to forgo love, cause all of it's fake

Phineas:

Superhero's not the right word

Nor is alien or freak

I'm no frog, and I am no bird

For I'm singing, and I speak

I may be super-powered

But up until just last week

I've always been a coward

So the word I think you seek...

Is one who lights the way

During the dark hours of night

Is often off, but today

Is turned on and shining bright

You are looking for a man

Who never gives up on a fight

Well, there are so few who can

Be a Beacon of the Light

[End proof]

Baljeet, meanwhile, begins to understand his own powers. He is 'Born of Ghost' and has powers which deal predominantly in the supernatural. He can freeze time in an instant, analyze a problem from all possible angles. He can also walk through walls (though not electric currents). This leads to a problem when Buford, who is 'Born of Man', challenges Baljeet to walk through him. Baljeet tries this, but once he enters Buford's body, he finds himself unable to exit. He unintentionally discovered his power to possess other people. This quickly gets sorted out, and Baljeet and Buford soon have complete control over their own bodies again, but there are lasting scars. Baljeet knows all of Buford's secrets, and Buford no longer trusts Baljeet. The two grow apart.

[Proof]

Baljeet:

I never thought that I would be

Forgetting my identity

I'm undergoing something strange

I wasn't ready for this change

I've tried and I've tried but I'm not coming nearer

To figuring out what I see in the mirror

I'm not who I was, though I've still kept the name

I don't know who I am, just that I'm not the same

O to the ominous wind, will you please show me the way

O to the dark and the light, can you convince me to stay

O to the flesh and the blood, I need to know it's okay

O to the good and the bad... just give me one more day

Buford:

I was fifteen years old

And I set all my goals

And I found all my roles

Or so I thought

Though I seemed nonchalant, it's

My spirit undaunted

Which chased what I wanted

The life I sought

I thought that I would be peacefully rising to the top

But that came to an abrupt stop

When I met this new guy

And in the blink of an eye

My whole world turned upside down

...and my smiles all turned to frowns

The life that I once knew

Suddenly just blew

Away

Now I cannot see

Any way I'll be

Okay

[End proof]

Isabella is 'Born of Nature'. She can manipulate all non-living, naturally occurring renewable resources. For the most part, this means water, dirt, and air, as heavy metals are quite difficult to control. However, as per her character changes, she uses these powers mostly to keep everyone else out. Also, as the person whose sole purpose is to train, she quickly becomes the most powerful of the lot (excluding Ray).

[Final—unpublished]

They say I'm found, but on this ground I've lost my sense of me

They help me train, but I remain a clouded mystery

It's time to learn, but now I yearn to find identity

I wish I knew exactly who I would turn out to be

[End final—unpublished]

After his conversation with Isabella, Phineas is left confused and shattered. He feels like everything is spiraling out of control, which in truth, it kind of is. However, he seems to understand better than most what a Beacon is, and what he is called to do. He is 'Born of Space' and his powers chiefly involve defying science. Among other things, he can run at light speed (except not through solid objects) and change the rules of gravity. Despite being dazed, confused, and lost, Phineas still retains his sense of identity, at the heart of which is his optimism. Although his efforts to keep the team a team fall on deaf ears, he still believes that things will get better.

Irving is the person who does the best job at keeping to Ray's plan. He is 'Born of Mind', and has the power to know. Before long, he is able to control the anti-Irving which came out in Exodus, though not before discovering an even darker aspect of it: telekinesis... sort of. Although Irving can't physically move objects solely with the power of his mind, he can manipulate and control airwaves. Among other things, Irving can make people hear voices inside their heads by using this power. Like Phineas, Irving understands the duty of being a Beacon, and his new role in a new society. However, what Irving understands better than Phineas is the enormity of the challenge presented to him. While Phineas looks at the situation with optimism and belief, Irving cracks under the pressure, and begins to lose faith. He agrees that they are the only ones who can stop the Dragon, but he feels that everyone else is vastly underestimating just how powerful the Dragon is.

[Final—unpublished]

Forget the past: it never lasts, and focus on today

You can defeat entire fleets, shoot armies down like clay

You've reached great lengths and found a strength to save us from the fray

With peace of mind, you shall define a generation's way

[End final—unpublished]

Included in Irving's training is a lesson on the history of Eden. As one to whom knowledge is literally power, this is important. In this class, Irving learns, among other things, that the prophecy dates back to two prominent figures in history: Isaac and Ishmael, the two sons of Abraham, and the first prophets. Together, they chanted the ten lines which now many believe are being fulfilled.

In addition, two new ideas are presented in these chapters, and not only to Irving. The first idea is the Wisdom Passages, five historical texts which never made it from Eden to Earth. In order, they are known as the Dawn Wisdom, the Sage Wisdom, the Dark Wisdom, the Omen Wisdom, and the Lost Wisdom, or simply Dawn, Sage, Dark, Omen, and Lost. Excerpts of these passages are included.

[Proof]

From Dawn:

The past is every event which has culminated in the present, and the present is a chance to create the future.

Evil by its very presence necessitates the creation of a good to destroy it.

The only path forward leads through the unknown.

From Sage:

Do not wait for a savior; he is already here. Everyone has the power to save, so long as they have the courage to do what is right.

No person should let his strides outgrow his steps.

From Dark:

People have grown so accustomed to darkness they often forget to turn on the light.

Every night brings about the next day, and every day, the next night. Darkness will fall, but let it be nothing more than a reminder that sooner or later, the sun will rise.

From Omen:

Everyone dies, and death cares not when. So do good now, if only to be prepared when death finally knocks.

Perhaps those who cannot see have never tried looking.

From Lost:

Do not expect a lost thing to return. Instead, go forth and search it out, for those who look will find far more than they seek.

There is always something to be afraid of, which means there is always something to stand against. Those who cannot find fear will never know courage.

[End proof]

The second idea is that of Old Language. According to Eden history, there is a language which predates all known languages on Earth, and that has come to be known as Old Language. Old Language is a hybrid of character writing systems and alphabetic writing systems, because it is the predecessor of both. Each word is represented by a pictograph. For example, day (deia in Old Language) is a pictograph of the sun rising over the horizon. However, each character is comprised of parts which reveal its pronunciation. So within the character deia, there are three symbols. One represents the DE sound, one the I, and one the A.

There are other things covered in this class (like why people migrated from Eden to Earth), but I left them out of this summary because, although revealing, they are basically irrelevant to the story, and I hadn't yet ironed out every detail.

Which leaves Django. People have trouble with Django, because although multiple tests show that he is a Beacon, no test can reveal what he is 'Born of'. Like many others, he grows isolated, this time due to a lack of power. He feels like just a normal kid, and grows jealous of all the others and their powers. He starts to feel that he is a completely different person from everyone else, because he is nothing special, and indeed has never been, nor ever will be, anyone worth mentioning.

[Proof]

Irving:

The dark moves in with a sense of foreboding

The light moves out, as the prophecy told me

And in the blackness of the night

In the absence of the light

We are lost, wandering blind

Without a hand to guide

And in the darkness we can only see:

The Beacons

(ooh, ooh-hoo)

The Beacons

Django:

They said that there'd be seven

For the prophecy foretold

That we'd be sent from heaven

A fable eons old

They came to us and they implored

They begged for our help in the war

We said that we would help them more

But there's one thing that they ignored...

If we're the stuff of legend

Then why have I been nulled?

The others found their power

They know what they can do

They've blossomed like a flower

They're feeling good as new

Their happiness gets on my nerves

'Cause though it's just what they deserve

I'm not expressing equal verve

For my talents are not unearth'd...

I think I've missed my hour

I'm feeling rather blue

[End proof]

Disunity is already running rampant through the seven (six), and if that wasn't enough to make life difficult, seven more characters show up without warning one day in Zion: Candace, Stacey, Vanessa, Jenny, Jeremy, Coltrane, and Albert. They claim that they are the real seven Beacons who will defeat the Dragon, and more, they have the skills to support it.

Side note: One thing I love to include in my stories are plot twists. The Beacons is no exception. While there are many plot twists in the story itself, there are nine in particular which I want highlight as the nine major twists. The sudden arrival of seven other characters in Eden would be the third of these. The first is the BLADE getting blown out of the sky, and the second is the revelation of the Dragon as Ray's brother.


Chapter 23: The Other Seven

All of a sudden, there are new heroes in Zion. These people are a team of trained, skilled people who know and accept the challenge ahead, and it appeals to the people far more than the previous bunch of uncooperative, young, comparatively weak, and naïve children. Maybe—just maybe—they had picked up the wrong Beacons. In fact, the more time that passes, the more this looks to be the case. Four lines make this apparent.

[Proof]

They asked our aid in their crusade, but nothing's been fulfilled

We tried to train, but discord reigns and too much blood is spilled

Though once the ones, our time is done, for others are more skilled

We weren't prepared; the finders erred when choosing who they willed

[End proof]

Before long, the new seven have done so much to usurp the old seven that nobody can decide who the prophecy is talking about. A decision has to be made, and quickly, so the new seven come up with an idea. They challenge the old seven (six plus Ray) to a fit in the Zion arena. They fight until one side is disabled, and the winners are the true seven.

But there are warning signs. The dramatic entrance and inexplicable knowledge of, well, everything should have put many people on high alert. The new seven twenty-year-olds certainly feel way out of character, and though seemingly friendly and helpful, have a hidden sinister aura beneath it all. Yet it isn't until Candace learns of Ferb's death that anyone truly grows suspicious of the supposed saviors. When Candace learns of this tragedy, it takes her a few moments to realize that she's supposed to feel sad. She dismisses this as shock, but Phineas, having known her all his life, is the only one who suspects the truth. Even Irving hardly notices anything, because he is in an incredibly analytical phase of his training, and still woefully lacking in his ability to understand emotions.

Phineas quietly confides in the others about this, but they dismiss him as crazy. So Phineas decides to confront Candace personally. The night before the arena showdown, he does so. Candace cracks, and attacks Phineas. Phineas, so far unable to run at light speed, struggles to escape her, but manages by accidentally going back across the Gate to the real world. Clearly, something is wrong with Candace.


Chapter 24: Showtime

Back on Earth, Phineas decides to take a trip to Candace's house. There he finds Candace asleep, but alive. It boggles his mind how she can be here, yet simultaneously in Eden. On a separate note, any worries he might have had about his parents are quelled, as they didn't even seem to notice he had been away for any amount of time, even though time had indeed passed between when he left and now. He didn't understand it, but it clearly was the case.

Meanwhile, in Eden, the day of the fight had arrived, and Phineas was not there to help. Yet it wasn't until everyone was in the arena that anyone noticed Phineas was missing, so bad was the disunity among everyone. People try stalling the fight, but Phineas doesn't show up. The fight begins without him, six against seven.

As expected, things don't go well for the six. The other group are actually acting as a team to win, while the teen's feeble attempts at resistance more often than not interfere with each other. At one critical moment, Baljeet attempts to possess Coltrane, but strangely, finds himself unable to. He determines that this is because somebody else already is possessing Coltrane, yet he cannot determine who.


Chapter 25-26: Nightmares (25), Hostile Infiltration (26)

Then on earth, Phineas wakes Candace up. At the same time, the Candace on Eden flickers, before turning into somebody different—a Shadow. Suddenly, Irving realizes. None of the new seven are actually people. They are Shadow-Beacons (Beacons who the Dragon turned into Shadows), all disguised as the seven twenty-year-olds. The fight takes a sinister turn. Spectators are shut out, and all of a sudden everything is to the death. However, Irving cautions, harming the images of Stacey, Vanessa, Jenny, Jeremy, Coltrane, and Albert before them could actually harm them in the real world as well.

Luckily, Phineas is in the real world. He goes around, waking all the others who were put to sleep and used as a disguise. In the arena, their images flicker and disappear, leaving only the Shadow-Beacons. Having a common enemy, the remaining six recover much of their old faith in each other, and begin to function as a team. Ultimately, they emerge victorious, and Phineas returns to Eden to reunite with them. Finally, unity is being promoted.

This attack alerts the SCAR to what Irving had long suspected: the Dragon is much more powerful than he let on. A council meeting determines that a frontal assault on his base (whose location was discovered by way of Baljeet and Django) must be carried out as quickly as possible, before the Dragon can grow any stronger than he already is. One way or another, they decide, the war will end soon. In twenty-four hours, they will launch.


Chapter 27: For Old Times' Sake

This gives Phineas, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford, Irving, Django, and Ray one last day. Mr. Crook shows that he is somewhat generous, and, given that it could be their last day alive, allows them to spend it doing what they want, instead of forcing them to train.

Isabella, still cold and distant, decides to train, but Phineas asks everyone else if they want to spend the day building, like the good old days. The others agree, and spend arguably the last day of their lives having arguably the most fun of them. Spirits (except for Isabella's) were never higher. The continuing song gets another verse.

[Final—unpublished]

Let us now make, for old times' sake a sculpture like before

Let us now play, on our last day, and build with our grandeur

As darkness falls, ignore its call; don't think about the war

Enjoy the hour, don't make it dour, cause that's what we fight for

[End final—unpublished]


Chapter 28: Authentic Earthen Food

Come late afternoon, Phineas interrupts Isabella's training. He has sorted his feelings out, and wants to apologize. So he asks Isabella out to dinner. He explains his feelings, what happened back then, and how now he knows, if nothing else, his own emotions. Isabella and Phineas go to dinner at Chez Platypus Deux—Authentic Earthen Food, and end up having an intense moment together. After dinner, the scene goes something like this.

[Proof]

"So?" Phineas asked. "How was dinner?"

Isabella chose her answer carefully. "Filling."

"I didn't mean the food," Phineas explained.

"Oh." Isabella didn't care. "Well, I did."

When Isabella did not continue, Phineas repeated himself. "So, how was dinner?"

Again, Isabella thought carefully about her answer. Finally, she said, "You talk too much."

"I have too much to say," argued Phineas.

"Then you think too much."

Phineas played the romance card. "Only about you."

"Especially about me," Isabella retorted quickly. "You really shouldn't."

Phineas sighed. "You know, it used to be you thinking too much about me."

"I was naïve," defended Isabella. "I didn't know any better."

"And now you do?" Phineas inquired.

"Now I am better," Isabella stated forcefully.

"Are you sure?"

Isabella whirled around, and with a single punch snapped a signpost behind her in half, sending the sign flying. She then willed the wind to catch the sign, and bring it back to her. Finally, Isabella commanded the earth to rise up at and the sign back in place.

"Is that not better than two weeks ago?" she demanded.

"I never said it wasn't," Phineas replied. "But consider the cost. You've changed, Isabella. Nobody recognizes you anymore. You don't smile, you don't wave hello, you don't say, 'Whatcha doin'... you don't even wake up early to put a rose by a friend's bed. You're lost, Isabella."

"A person is never truly lost until he can no longer name another who loves him," Isabella quoted. Phineas knew the line well. It was one of the most famous verses from the Lost Wisdom.

"You love me," Isabella continued. "You said it yourself. Therefore I can't be lost."

"I don't love you," Phineas admitted. "Not the version you've become."

The final nail driven in the coffin, Phineas turned and walked away.

He was halfway down the street when he heard the voice. "Phineas, wait!"

The redhead turned around, and there was Isabella again.

"Maybe—" the girl struggled for words. "Maybe I haven't been a great friend lately."

Phineas chuckled. "You can say that again."

"It's just... you turned me down and... and I thought that maybe friendship wasn't all that important."

Phineas looked at her, his eyes full of sympathy. "Isabella, friendship is all we have! The last thing I wanted was to lose someone like the old you, and then I went ahead and did just that. You became someone else, someone I had never met and honestly, didn't much like. I lost you, and it wasn't until then that I realized... you had always been more than a friend to me."

For a fleeting moment, Phineas saw a spark in Isabella's eyes. A spark he hadn't seen since the Dragon attacked Zion. Suddenly, he knew that the old Isabella—the one he had loved—was still in there somewhere, waiting to be set free.

However, there was still a protective outer shell to break through. "Don't distract me," Isabella said. "We have a war to finish tomorrow, and I'd rather spend my final moments prolonging my life than thinking about yours."

"And what will you do when it's over?" Phineas asked. "If you keep this up, you'll have nobody to go back to."

"Hopefully, I'll live," said Isabella simply.

Unable to break through, Phineas once again switched gears. "Look," he began, "I know I let you down last week. Badly. But you can't go on using that as an excuse to freeze everyone out of your life."

"I'm not freezing anyone out," argued Isabella. "This is war. We're mutual allies. The best kind."

"I don't need an ally," Phineas complained, his voice choking so much that the next lines were barely a whisper.

"I need a girlfriend."

Isabella remained silent. There was no adequate response to those words. A long, tense moment followed. Then Phineas took a step towards Isabella, leaned in, and pressed his lips to her cheek. The girl did not protest, and wordlessly, Phineas walked away into the night.

Isabella felt her subconscious tug at the sky, and the rain started pouring down.

[End proof]


Chapter 29: We Are Enough

Of course, the next morning is the raid. By now, the six newcomers, though by no means masters, have still gotten pretty good at fighting. Besides, their ability to cooperate has never been better.

While on board the BLADE, en route to the Dragon's lair, Ray gives a speech.

[Proof]

"Allies, friends, brothers, this is it. One way or another, the war ends today. It has to be this way; we made it so. And I know it sounds crazy, pitting all of us against all of them, and fighting on their turf. But I'll tell you why we went forward with this. We did this because I know that we are enough. They may have greater numbers, plenty of traps, and the home field, but we are enough. Every one of us fights for a reason, and that reason is that together, we are enough. Yes, this is the end, and I know many of you think that it's hopeless. I've heard whispers that can't win. But hear this instead: we are enough. It doesn't matter how many Shadows are in there, waiting for us. It doesn't matter how much stronger they are, how much more prepared they are. It doesn't matter, because they aren't better than us. We are better, because we have to be. There is no other way. Evil by its very presence necessitates the creation of a good to destroy it. If the Dragon is that evil, then we are its good counterpart, and that is enough. We are enough. We have the skills, the motivation, the desire, and the drive to beat them, and that is enough. We are enough. When they strike down one of our kin, we shall strike down five of theirs, because that is enough. We are enough. Don't even think about losing. Fight for the victory, and that is enough. We are enough. There is enough strength within us, within each and every one, to make ourselves legendary. I know it's there; I have seen it. All we have to do is summon that strength. I know we can do it, because we are enough. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

[End proof]

And so, the battle begins. However, this also signifies an end. Part three of nine—The City—ends here.