More Truth

"Bastion," Tara says as Sarah pulls out her sword.

"Oh, the future dictator of the Land. This can't be good," Riley says. Bastion smiles.

"Indeed it isn't."

"You have the sword. You have the key. How did you get it?"

"I'm not up for story time now. Now sit tight while I take care of my future." He raises his hand and everyone but Sarah crumples to the ground. She rushes him and their swords clash. She goes to flip but he manages to stop her and throw her to the ground.

"I'm sorry dear, but I can't kill you. It seems you know the destiny you have to fulfill. But your friends here are spareable." She rushes him again twirling, but he kicks her back and cuts her shoulder. "See, now you're just getting hurt."

"Sarah, get out of here! We can handle him!"

"New flash Tara, you're stuck on the ground unable to move!" She rushes again only to have Bastion move aside and cuts her cheek.

"Face it, I know every move you make before you make it."

"We'll see!" She runs and fakes left. He manages to knock her back, but not before she manages to shatter her helmet. She lands on the ground and rises clutching her chest in pain.

"It seems I was right." Sarah freezes.

"Your voice… I know that voice."

"Oh, I guess the jig's up." She goes white as Bastion pulls off his helmet.

"It's not possible." She turns to Tara, who sadly nods.

"I'm flattered really. Now I suppose you can guess why I disguised my voice. I really hoped the cat wouldn't be let out of the bag. You understand right sweetheart."

"Bubblitz." Sure enough, under the helmet is an older version of Bubblitz with cropped hair and a scar on his face. "You're Bastion."

"Yes I am."

"You're the one who take over the Land. You kill the villains. You destroy everything. You kill all our friends."

"In my defense most of them are dead by the time I'm in power, such as your side-kick there."

"What happened to you?"

"You did. I managed to escape. I was the only Prince who did. I rushed to the Land of Lockdown and helped the Chinese Army hold the villains off. We soon had to fall back inside and I get to the lock room just in time to see you get run through by Barbossa." Sarah turns to Tara.

"You said he died soon after."

"Oh I did. Bubblitz died right then and there. You were everything Sarah, and I held you as you let out your last breath. And this time there was no Blue Fairy to step in. So I tackled Barbossa and killed him with that sword… this sword."

"You became a monster."

"Indeed I did. I managed to sneak out and lurk in the shadows out of the villain's way. I made myself this armor and trained my skills. Well, the villains started bickering and a few got picked off. The Land was weak so I stepped up and took the reins. And look who's in charge now."

"But we can fix that!"

"I don't want that fixed. I intend to keep things right on course. You look at me like that, but you have to realize my heart is dead. It died when you did. So I can look at you as a necessary sacrifice for Bastion to exist. And I want to exist."

"So why help the villains?"

"It was the easiest way in. And it was so easy to convince them I'm nothing but a slave in the future. They are such morons and act as if they've all been hypnotized, but then again they were never fun to begin with. It is odd though that villains would work together for so long. Now sweetheart-"

"That's why your powers don't work on me. It's because I'm me. "

"It's an annoying blip I admit. I figure that it's because there's a part of him left, a super small fragment in my soul. But it's not big enough." He knocks her back and turns to Tara. Sarah jumps up but he knocks her against a tree and she collapses.

"And now I'm going to take care of you. Then I'm going to take her to the Land of Lockdown. There's only about two hours before my birth begins." He raises his sword and brings it down only to be intercepted by Riley clutching the key. "You really don't want to get in my way Mr. Poole. I can assure you of that."

"Well, I won't let you hurt her."

"It's good I'm flexible to who dies first." He thrusts his sword and Riley shakily blocks him. The two parry back and forth, Riley struggling to even stay on his feet. He manages to knock his hand and his grip on the others is broken.

Everyone charges him except Timon who rushes to Sarah. Bastion manages to deflect Mulan's kick and Rafiki's stick with ease. He merely blows Lumiere out and knocks Riley aside. He brings his sword down when Tara slashes him in the back with Sarah's.

The two start to battle, Tara again struggling to hold on. "You fight identical to her. But it would figure considering who you are. Does she know?"

"Shut up!"

"I take that as a no."

"Hey Bastion!" He looks up to see Sarah perched in the tree on a branch directly above him.

"You simply refuse to stay down, don't you?"

"You should know from experience."

"Good-by sweetheart." He goes to knock her down, but she smiles and drops the helmet hitting him directly in the head and knocking him out. She climbs down and high-fives everyone.

"You know I hate it when you call me that." She takes the sword from Tara. "We can talk about all this later but we've got two hours. The good news is I think we can stop the invasion before it even begins."

"What do you mean?"

"I figured out who our leader is and I think I know where he's lurking. We can go to him and stop this all before it begins. I won't have to die and he won't be created."

She thinks a moment. "It's worth a shot. How are we going to get to the hide-out."

"I have a plan for that too. We need to pay Merlin another visit. I believe he collects magic memorabilia, so he should have the thing we need." The group takes off at a run.

"What should we do with him?"

"Leave him. If this works, he'll fade out of existence soon." Lumiere nods and the group continues back to the house. Tara pauses and looks at her hand before frowning and catching up.

"It should be soon."