AN: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
I can't believe it has been over a year since my last update for this fic! I watched Mockingjay Part 1 and was instantly reinspired to continue writing The Blood Wars III. The song that inspired the title of this chapter, and helped inspire me to continue writing, is called The Hammers Coming Down by Nickelback.
I do not own the song or the lyrics they belong to Nickelback.
I'd like to thank Dragon at Play, chinaluv, touchLove726, Muffin1, TheBunnyGoesHop and PoisonDreamz for reviewing the last chapter. Thanks for your support.
Chapter 13
The Hammer's Coming Down – Part 1
Death was easy.
Life was hard.
But Flora had continued to live, to strive, to work for the people that she believed in because they too believed in her. She had fought, found herself become a beacon of hope for the entire magical dimension and now all of their plans, all her effort, was about to be torn apart.
Where will you be when the sky comes down?
"It can't be," Flora sighed, eyes wide as she stared at the images before her. The ships were coming their way and instead of them bringing the fight to the witches they had brought it to them. A pre-emptive strike to rob them of resources and their figure-head. "How did they find us?"
"I have no idea," tears began to well at the corner of Sky's eyes, "we need to make sure that they do not stop our plans."
"And how do we do that?" Helia asked. "We are nearly defenceless! Most soldiers are in the other districts trying to coordinate the attack while Barbatea gets the transportus stations online."
"What will happen to the civilians?" Bloom questioned, earning the eyes of everyone in the room. "What will happen to them?"
BOOM!
The walls shuddered, televisions on the far wall cracked as the lights flickered on and off. Flora found herself running. Her feet pounded against the ground as she raced down the internal stairs, Helia, Anagan, Oritel and Bloom following closely along. Sky followed behind, feeling his lungs burn as he pushed himself to the maximum. "I'll sound the emergency alarm, we need to get everyone into the underground shelters."
"Are you sure that will be enough?" Oritel asked.
"It's our safest bet. We can hide down there until the assault is over." Helia stopped running making Sky bump into his back. Flora skidded to a halt at the end of the corridor and turned back to look her love in the eyes. She instantly knew what he was thinking.
"We can't just sit still and hide like scared children," he explained. "The witches are scared, they want this to end quickly and believe that killing Flora will give them that chance. I think we need to change tactics."
"How?" Sky asked.
"The witches will be too focused on watching their attack on District 13. We could use this to help sneak under their entire armada and head straight for the source."
"No," Flora responded, walking forwards and taking Helia's shoulders into her hands. "There is no guarantee for the people who are sheltered here. I can't leave Miele and my mother cowering in some dark corner alone. District 13 has strong shelters and bunkers but they do not have enough foot soldiers to help defend this place."
"We need to keep you safe."
"I need to keep my family safe," Flora replied.
"What good are you to them if you are dead?" Helia asked, catching her off guard. "You are no good to any of us if you are killed. The entire magical dimension needs you. This is bigger than just district 13, Flora, we have a chance here to stop this once and for all." His pleading eyes begged Flora to understand, begged her to consider his proposition and follow along but she was still unsure. Leaving her family and those that had sheltered and supported her for so long seemed like a heartless act, running away from the fight. Helia placed a hand against her face as she lifted her eyes from the floor into his. "I know you are worried, I am too, but we can do this. We can bring light back to this world and banish darkness for the far reaches of the universe. All the people that we have loved who lost their lives because of the Ancestral Witches, all those who have been living like slaves for a heartless master, we have the power to free them. They believe in us, we just have to believe in ourselves."
Flora nodded, a salt filled tear slipping from the corner of her eye which Helia was quick to wipe away. He turned to Anagan and Bloom. "Let's do this," Anagan announced, a confident smirk passing his lips as Bloom nodded her own head. A warm hand landed on her shoulder and she turned to see her father, he opened his arms encouraging the embrace. Closing his eyes he fought the tears that threatened to fall, finding it devastating that their reunion was so short lived. Bloom leaned backwards, her blue eyes staring into her fathers green ones, instantly reminding her of Daphne. "I'll bring her home, I promise."
"We are heading to the Armoury, tell Duman to get that ship ready."
And what would you do if the strength was found?
Sky nodded before he ran as quickly as his feet could take him to the command centre. Bolting inside he pushed another officer from his path before activating the emergency bunker alarm. It's red beams of light siren throughout. "Attention all citizens, please proceed immediately to the emergency bunkers. I repeat, all citizens please proceed immediately to the emergency bunkers."
Faragonda moved with the crowds towards the bunker before she spotted Lily and Miele doing the same. Quickly she raced to their side and took their hands into her own. "It will be okay," she reassured before they entered the main bunker, a large expanse with some left over weapons that had yet to be deployed and emergency bedding for citizens to sleep on. Lily found her designated bunk and that of Miele's, the two of them taking a seat and nervously waiting. Families surrounded them from every corner, their worried expressions and fear present inside their eyes. Their hands shook as they took held each other. Faragonda's hold on Lily's hand however was the opposite. It did not shake, quiver or move. It remained firm, solid, like a rock sitting amongst the rocky shores of a beach.
Stay right beside me when the ground starts shaking
"Where is Flora?" Miele asked, earning the attention of Lily and Faragonda. Lily turned to Faragonda to guidance though received no information. The three sat together in silence while other parents whispered sweet nothings into the ears of their children. Then the bombs hit full force. The bunker shuttered slightly, dust falling from the ceiling with each distant blast. Boom after boom echoed from above down into the world below. Miele leaned into her mother, tears escaping her eyes no matter how hard she tried to hold them in.
The only sound you'll hear is the breath we're taking
"Ladies and gentlemen."
Arcadias soft yet firm voice sounded through the intercom, snapping people from their state of fear to listen intently. For at least a moment, the flickering lights and bomb blasts fell into the background. "Now is the time. All of our lives have lead to this pivotal moment in history, to a war set to change our future forever. Today is the day when all of our efforts come to an end point. Today is the day where our heroes stand and rise. Today is the day when we fight for our freedom. As we speak, our inter-dimensional forces are working in harmony with one another to create an army the likes of which we have never seen before. Districts are coming together to fight side by side against the onslaught of the witches and to end their reign. We will stop at nothing to ensure the future for our children is one of freedom and liberty rather than persecution and sacrifice. The leaders of our rebellion, who have shown remarkable strength and endurance, are now on a ship heading towards Magix. Their mission is clear. I would like to ask you all to spend a moment wishing them well. As the blasts fall around us it is another reminder of the power we face, the anger that the witches carry and the danger we all are in. However, in spite of this difficulty, I know that we can achieve the future that we deserve."
"Updates regarding our missions progress will be broadcast, in the meantime remain strong and support one another. For today is the day, and now is the hour, that we will make the odds, ever in our favour."
If there is one thing I can promise you
We'll see the light again
Bloom looked outside the window of their cloaked ship. They were travelling slowly, directly beneath the ships above. She prayed quietly that her father would be safe though knew that she was the one truly being put into danger. Flora's hand landed on her shoulder, like a soft bird on a lonely branch. She turned and found herself holding the nature fairy tightly in her arms. "We can do this, right?" Bloom whispered, seeking reassurance to mend her fragile heart.
"Yes," Flora sighed, "we can."
This is the calm before the coming storm
This is the red sky morning
Without warning now
"We're clear of the ancestral ships," Duman announced from the pilot seat. "It's a straight shot to Magix from here."
This is the fight that we've been waiting for
And there's no sense in running
The hammer's coming down
AN: Thanks for reading and please review :)