Victory

After weeks of careful and painstaking planning, they were now at the cusp of victory. Gabe did not want to think otherwise. It has been just a few weeks since he arrived in Cariza but they had to act fast while the rebels were still regrouping. Their spies told them that they were waiting for reinforcements from King Hector. Gabe smirked. He already made sure that they couldn't come. The allies intercepted them and put their own soldiers in those ships. He wanted the rebels to think that their aid had finally arrived. The Allied Forces effectively infiltrated enemy grounds. King Hector's army was now lying at the bottom of their watery grave. Honestly, it was one of Gabe's brilliant ideas. King Joaquin and his allies now had soldiers inside the enemy camp, ready to strike anytime. The Carizan harbors were already secured days ago. The navy from Norberg arrived disguised as merchant ships so as not to raise suspicion. Yes, all bases had been covered.

Gabe didn't expect to become the Leader of the Allied Forces. There wasn't even a word said about that fact. He just noticed that the other commanders and sometimes King Joaquin himself would defer to his judgments and decisions before making a move. They looked up at him for guidance and leadership. It was a compliment really and Gabe felt honored but at the same time pressured to deliver.

It took a lot of diplomatic appeals to get to where they are now, poised and ready to go to war; ready to end this. Gabe could see Elena's hand in all of this. Somehow, she rallied Avalor's allies into action. She was the only one capable of pulling a juggernaut of diplomatic relations like this. More and more kingdoms sent their soldiers and now Cariza had more than enough to attack and claim victory. Elena. Gabe knew she would commit more to the war effort. That is why he loved her so much. Elena would not just stand by and watch injustice and greed win. What was Elena doing right now? Gabe smiled as he thought Elena would be in bed, probably exhausted from one of her adventures. He also wondered if Mateo had already made a move on her. A sad smile crossed his lips as he thought he probably had. Gabe shook his head. He must not think of such things. He had to focus.

The allies' attack really started in the morning. The soldiers executed Gabe's plan perfectly. Gabe knew the strongholds were scattered across the far reaches of Cariza. They were supposed to protect the kingdom from threats of outside invasion. The allies launched simultaneous attacks on all of the strongholds and they all fell one by one. The soldiers were ordered to leave no prisoners behind. Gabe couldn't take the chance of leaving one alive; he might go and warn the others. Gabe just got word that they were successful. The allies now controlled most of Cariza. The only one remaining was the royal palace at the center. This was where majority of the rebels and their leaders were; their power base. But with the fall of the strongholds, with an army inside and Gabe's forces waiting to strike, the palace was surrounded. This was going to be a bloodbath.

Gabe surveyed the surroundings. It was a clear night, perfect for his plans. This meant that they did not need to light torches which might give their positions away. It was his plan to strike at night, when the rebels were most at ease and would let their guards down. They still had no idea. He was part of the main battalion set to storm the royal palace. He was waiting for their commander inside the enemy camp to send the signal. It would be sent as soon as the commander felt that the best time to attack had arrived.

Gabe and his forces didn't have to wait that long. He saw the silent beacon lighting up the Carizan sky. Show time!

Elena was pacing back and forth. It was late but she was still in the Grand Council room, waiting for any news from Cariza. She was with her abuelos and Esteban just a few hours ago. Now she was the only one left to keep the vigil up. She couldn't sleep anyway. Her heart was pounding. Did she make the right decision on calling on her allies? Did she just put Gabe's life in danger? Her whole being was pleading with the universe to keep Gabe safe and bring him home to her. Elena didn't want the nightmare she had weeks ago to come true.

She had been on edge for days now, ever since she wrote letters of appeal to all of Avalor's allies. Elena did not promise them anything. She just reminded the kingdoms of their collective responsibilities to help keep the entire world at peace. But Elena knew that if you want peace, you must be ready for war.

She stopped in front of the window and looked out into the night. God she missed Gabe so much! She missed him with all the fiber in her being. And she was scared she might not have the chance to feel his embrace, to feel his lips against hers, to feel his body come alive just for her. She loved him so much!

She didn't know she was crying until she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Queen Teresa. She probably couldn't sleep either.

"Are you alright?" Queen Teresa asked.

Elena wiped her tears away and smiled. "I should be the one asking you that question. All the action is happening in Cariza. Are you not worried?"

"Oh I am worried. A lot." Queen Teresa answered. "But I am also hopeful. I have faith in my husband and in your captain."

Queen Teresa continued, "I haven't had the chance to thank you personally for taking us in when nobody else would. You truly are a great queen."

"Oh, I am not queen yet," Elena started to say.

"It's just formality Elena. You are already a great leader."

"Thank you, your majesty," Elena said, hugging the Carizan Queen. They just stood there in silence, each thinking of the men they loved heading off to the battle to end this war.

Gabe led the charge. They crept silently into the palace. He and his commanders sliced their way through the first line of soldiers guarding the gates. The battalions which infiltrated the palace days before slaughtered the guards at the towers and all the guards in the barracks and all of those on patrol. In the dead of the night, blood flowed on the palace grounds.

The allies successfully entered the palace where the real heavy fighting began. Gabe sliced and struck all the enemies he encountered. He was like a man possessed. He only thought of Elena and how he wanted to come home to her. He didn't know what awaited him in Avalor. He'll deal with that later, he thought as he struck a rebel who had the misfortune of encountering him. Gabe and the soldiers continued the slaughter inside, slicing and decapitating every enemy they saw.

Once they have the palace secured, Gabe and the commanders split up. Together with a regiment of guards, each of the commanders scoured the palace for the ministers, killing them one by one. No prisoners, that's the command. They then proceeded to go room to room to clear the palace of any remaining enemy.

Gabe and the commanders met at the throne room as soon as their tasks were done. They gave each other status reports and accounts of their success. Gabe heaved a sigh of relief. He can't believe this was finally over. After leaving the commanders from Enchancia and Freezenburg with their battalions to continue to secure the palace, Gabe returned to the fortress where he left King Joaquin. The king was opposed to the idea of being left behind but Gabe made him understand the risks and that Cariza would need its king to lead them in the days that will follow.

Elena, I am coming home, Gabe thought, hoping it was not too late for them. The war had made him realize that he must not waste time and let the people around him know how much they mean to him. He had no idea what awaited him in Avalor. He had no idea how Elena felt about him. He didn't even know what he should do once he returns to Avalor.

He reached King Joaquin's fortress at dawn. The king was delighted at the great news. Tears were rolling down his face as he hugged Gabe. He was so grateful to the young captain for bringing peace at last.

At the beginning of a new day, news of the end of the war in Cariza reached the far reaches of the world. Everyone had come to respect, fear and revere the young Captain Gabriel Nuñez of the Avalor Royal Guard.