AN: And here's the next chapter! :D
As the light cleared from her eyes, Sparrow found herself standing at the exit to the Crucible...and enveloped in her sister's warm arms. Rose had run up the moment she saw the light from the Cullis Gate glowing, and pulled Sparrow into a tight hug. She didn't hold on for long though...knowing her little sister had to be in pain from the Crucible. So Rose merely pulled Sparrow's arm over her shoulder, and walked with her sister down the stairs. Sparrow sent her a thankful smile, considering she was beat. The Crucible was physically and mentally exhausting, to put things mildly.
As the sisters walked down the stairs slowly, they saw a crowd greeting them, with Hammer as distinctive as ever as she clapped with the others. Mad-Dog and Allen stood before the crowd, both giving wide grins at the Hero Sisters. Though it seemed they were still rather annoyed with Rose...
"Congratulations! That really was the best Crucible we've had in years!" Mad-Dog said.
"Indeed. You're welcome back anytime!" Allen added.
Sparrow nodded, as she continued down the stairs with Rose's aid. The sisters soon found themselves standing in front of Hammer, who was grinning widely. At least someone had been entertained...Sparrow never wanted to do that thing again, and Rose would probably lock her up if she tried. Still though, at least Hammer had waited for them instead of moving further into the 'town'. That was nice.
"Great job in there!" the larger Hero said, as the little group walked to the tavern, "I managed to get in there with Rose. Nice job with the Hobbes!"
Sparrow smiled slightly, "Thanks. I'm just glad I'm out of there myself."
"So am I," Rose added, helping her sister into a seat.
Hammer sat down next to Sparrow, while Rose went to get some drinks. The youngest Hero let her head fall to the table, leaning on her arm and breathing slowly. She needed the rest really. The young woman was soon asleep, her body making it quite clear she needed the rest. Rose smiled at the sight when she got back, though the smile was distinctly sad. Her sister had been through so much in such a short time...setting the drinks down, the eldest Hero sat next to her sister, running a hand through her hair.
Hammer smiled at the sight, "I've always wondered what it would be like to have a sister. She's lucky to have you y'know?"
Rose didn't say anything at first, as she sipped her own drink while keeping an eye on her sister. What Hammer had said applied to her just as much as it did to Sparrow. She was so lucky to have such a loving sister. The two of them were so close, that it felt odd even thinking about being apart...despite the decade they had spent apart before. Turning her head back to Hammer, Rose nodded once.
"I'm lucky to have her."
"I can tell. I'm close to my father, but you two...inseparable to be honest."
Rose laughed softly, "Tell me about it. At least...until she has to go to the Spire..."
The mood soured quite quickly with that statement, as Rose continued to run her hand through her sister's hair. Fact was, only one of them could go to the Spire. Hammer would be recognized, which would just end up risking her. Rose couldn't go, since she would have to go through the Crucible (something she wasn't certain she could do)...and on top of that, one of the sisters had to stay behind in the event that the other failed. That thought, more than anything else, terrified Rose. For she couldn't help Sparrow here...no matter how much she wished she could, she just couldn't.
Sparrow stirred, lifting her head up enough for one brown eye to look up at her sister, "You talking about me again?"
Rose and Hammer started laughing, as the younger woman rubbed her eyes tiredly. Leave it to her to break the tension as always.
"Seriously though, don't worry Rose," the younger sister added, downing her drink in one gulp, "I'll be fine. We should probably get down to the dock now actually...better to get this done soon, so Lucien can't get anything out of Garth."
Rose sighed, but nodded anyway. She didn't like the idea of leaving so soon, but she didn't dispute the point either. After making sure Sparrow had recovered enough to walk on her own, the little group set out for the dock. The large gate opened, revealing a view of the Spire in the distance...the structure looking even more imposing, as they were far closer than in Bowerstone or Oakfield. Sitting at the dock was a fairly large ship, the vessel moored with two of Lucien's soldiers standing in front of it.
The sight sent a chill down Rose's back...knowing her sister was going to be stuck with who knew how many of these men. Sparrow noticed that, and gripped Rose's shoulder reassuringly, as Hammer walked in front of the sisters. The Hero of Strength looked out at the Spire, the foreboding structure looking quite imposing with the dark sky as a backdrop. Almost as if one could sense the evil purpose behind it.
"Well, here we are. Ready to start the most dangerous quest of your career then?" the Hero asked, trying to lighten the mood.
It didn't work well, as Rose narrowed her eyes slightly. She did not need to be reminded of the danger her sister was leaping headfirst into. For her credit, Hammer realized that and looked sheepishly at the elder Hero sister.
"In any case, I'm sure you'll do great out there."
Sparrow nodded, "Thanks Hammer."
The larger woman nodded, as the group reached the boat. The two soldiers were arguing about something on the pier, while the ship's captain stood at the front of the pier, arms crossed and an impatient look on his face. The man glared at the Heroes, as they walked up to him. He held up one hand, and looked directly at Sparrow, seemingly ignoring Rose and Hammer in favor of the most recent Crucible champion.
"Right, no personal effects, allowed on board, no weapons…and no dogs either," the man said, giving a distasteful glance at a growling Petal.
Sparrow nodded, and turned back to her sister and best friend. Hammer stepped forward first, taking the rifle from Sparrow's hands.
Gingerly holding the rifle, the Hero of Strength gave a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, I'll look after 'im and your stuff too. Good luck."
Taking Griever off her back, Sparrow carefully handed the blade, scabbard and all, to her sister. Rose just as carefully took the blade...knowing how much it meant to her sister. Handing it to Hammer, the elder sister pulled her younger sibling into a tight hug, letting a couple tears fall as Sparrow gripped her back just as tightly. The tender moment only lasted a few seconds, before they were forced apart, as the Captain made an impatient noise.
Stepping apart, Sparrow wiped tears from her eyes, and gave her sister a sad smile, "Well, this is goodbye for now Rose. Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I'm holding you to that," Rose replied with a weak smile of her own.
Sparrow nodded, and turned around...walking down the pier and into the boat. As the ship vanished into the distance, Petal let out a mournful howl, while Rose stood like a statue. She continued to watch the Spire for a few minutes, before turning weakly and leaving the dock behind, warping back to the Guild with Hammer.
The Tattered Spire
Sparrow stood on the deck of the boat, watching as the Spire grew larger and larger above her. Even incomplete, the tower was absolutely massive. The ship, a large vessel in any other circumstances, was like an ant. The black material that made the Spire seemed to absorb all light, as the ship drew closer. The only light was an unnatural white glow from the center of the Spire, a central structure providing the illumination as it rose into the air. The boat entered into the Spire itself, floating along a canal, water flowing off the sides.
Continuing to look up at the central tower, Sparrow almost didn't notice when the ship stopped. This structure...even from the boat...just felt wrong. She had thought the troll had felt unnatural. This was a totally different story. Bowerstone had a lively feel to it. Oakfield felt natural and peaceful. Westcliff felt dark, but still had a natural tone. She could feel the history at the Heroes Guild, the building almost echoing with the souls of Heroes past, the magic suffusing the stone.
The Spire though...it felt darker than Westcliff, more unnatural than Bowerstone, and almost...tortured. She could almost feel the pain of those who had built the structure, echoing through the walls. Shaking her head to clear the feeling, Sparrow walked down the ramp off the ship, joining a group of other recruits.
"Just look at this place. We got lucky getting picked up by Lord Lucien. Whatever he's planning, me and Lil are going to be set for life," a man said next to the Hero, as they walked down the center of the Spire.
Sparrow turned her head to look at the man, and wondered if he had actually won the Crucible. He didn't look like a fighter by any means, nor did he talk like one. Then again, she thought with a snort, neither did she. That thought slowed her down ever so slightly, and because of that Sparrow felt the flat of a sword slam into her back. Stumbling slightly, she turned to glare at whoever pushed her...before turning her head back around and speeding up slightly.
"Yeah, that's right...keep movin!" a Soldier growled.
The man next to Sparrow seemed to ignore the guard, as he continued to babble on about something or other.
"I've been with my Lil for 13 years, been faithful the whole time. If you could see her you'd understand why. Name's Bob by the way."
"Sparrow," the Hero replied, shaking the offered hand, "how'd you get in here?"
Bob sighed wistfully, "Managed to get through the Crucible. Never knew I had it in me honestly, but I obviously did if I survived! To think, I'm going to be working for Lord Lucien Fairfax! Not sure why he vanished or what he's doing with this thing, but Lil is going to be so happy when I come back. I'm sure I'll be paid loads of gold!"
Sparrow didn't have the heart to tell the man he probably wasn't getting paid...or returning home at all in all likelihood. He seemed nice enough, if a bit naïve. Kind of like her really...before she was forced to grow up. Not to mention the fact that she was rather preoccupied, trying to ignore the feeling spreading through her body from the floor beneath her. The feeling she had felt on the boat was getting ever stronger, the further towards the center she came. It wasn't just a feeling in her bones anymore...there was a noise, just out of reach...that almost felt like it was taunting her with some unsolvable mystery.
It wasn't just a noise either. And she wasn't the only one who noticed it, as Bob started shaking as he walked along next to the Hero.
"What is that noise? I don't just hear it…I can feel it. This place feels…wrong…" the man said, shuddering slightly.
Sparrow couldn't argue the point, "I don't know...but I can feel it too..."
As the two talked, the group in front of them came to a halt. For coming down a staircase from the brilliant white light, was a single man. Sparrow's hand instinctively went to her back, grasping for a rifle that wasn't there. Her other hand clenched, fire flaring before she stamped down on it to avoid getting noticed. The man was more worn, hair stark white where it used to be pitch black, his face sunken...eyes dark as they looked over the group of recruits.
Lord Lucien Fairfax had seen better days. The man who had looked so pained at shooting her and Rose was gone. The man standing before her had expunged any lingering humanity...he was dedicated to one thing, and one thing only...finishing the Spire for whatever his wish would be. Sparrow found it impossible to pity this man any more...only the knowledge she could never rescue Garth if she gave in keeping her from blasting him with her fire or blades.
Lucien cast one last look over his audience, before he began speaking...even his voice having an undertone of harshness that hadn't previously been there.
"The world outside these marvelous walls is a corrupt, rotting husk. Reason is absent. Instead of order, there is only chaos. Chaos does not punish evil, nor reward righteousness. Chaos cuts innocent lives short…and we're to accept this as fate?"
Like you have any room to talk murderer...
Continuing to look out at his recruits, Lucien's eyes went right over Sparrow, holding no recognition. He probably still thought she was dead...an advantage maybe, but only so long as he didn't realize who she was. Waving a hand in a dramatic gesture, the man continued his speech.
"I beg to differ. You stand in the center of a great instrument of change. With it, I shall remake the world. And my creation shall be unrecognizable in its perfection," Lucien continued, gaining a couple of isolated cheers from the more idealistic of the recruits.
Sparrow merely frowned. This sounded almost like what Aunt Theresa had said about the Archon's wish...destroy the old, to replace it with a purer, less corrupt world. Emphasis on the destroy. Lucien...did he realize, truly realize, what he could end up doing? Would this man be willing to obliterate Alibon's civilization, in a mad quest to replace the world he felt had taken his family? If so, he truly had gone mad...at least if he was building the Spire to restore his loved ones, Sparrow could understand him.
What is Lucien thinking...
Bringing her attention back to the crazed man, she listened to the next thing he had to say, "But my will alone is not sufficient for such a monumental task. It is through your toil, through your labors, through your conviction…that Albion will be transformed."
Lucien looked out at his recruits, a faint and distinctly scary, smile on his face. It was almost as uncomfortable as the Spire itself...a smile with no mirth, no sadness...no emotion. This man was broken, and put together into a caricature of his former self. He didn't seem to realize what his smile did, but Lucien did notice Bob in the back, still shaking slightly from the feeling of the Spire around him. Letting what he probably thought was a kind smile cross his face, the 'Lord' looked around at the Spire.
"Do not fear the sound you hear, the throbbing beneath your feet. These sensations will soon be as familiar as your own heartbeat. And as long as your heart continues to beat, all that I require is obedience."
Sparrow's 'bad feeling' sense kicked into overdrive as the man said that. The rest of the crowd looked confused, but none of them seemed to realize the undertone in those words. Something was about to happen, and it was not good. Gripping the Guild Seal in her hand, Sparrow mentally called for her ancient mentor/Aunt. Theresa would surely have advice...she always did after all.
Theresa? Theresa? Are you there? AUNT THERESA!
Silence greeted the Hero, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach as she suddenly realized she couldn't hear her ancestors reassuring, if cold, voice. Nor could she feel the pulsing of the Seal in her hand...it felt dead, and only now did she realize it had felt that way since she crossed into the Spire.
At the top of the platform, Lucien smiled grimly, "Now...sleep."
Sparrow felt her mind cloud over...as she fell to the ground...darkness claiming her mind...
AN: Remember to leave a review if you liked it ;)
