"What do you know about Milo?!" Balthazar roared with new-found fury. "You know nothing about him! You've only met him for a day! A day! And he's only an infant at that point!" Block smirked amusedly. "Oh Balthazar, I have my ways and apparently, so do my loyal followers. One of them has reported to me about a strong source of magic roaming the Mortal World and the strength levels are match to that of your son!"
Balthazar opened his mouth to question only for Block to place a finger against his lips. "Don't ask how my follower knew that. He's that smart, we'll leave it at that." He grinned maliciously. "Now let's talk about what I've just said - Letting you see your child again in the Mortal World."
His fingers brushed against Balthazar's shoulder as he raised his other hand to conjure up a small, smoky green silhouette of Balthazar. "You know, when my guards captured you, they reported that you have changed drastically. Losing Milo, it broke you. Drained you of your happiness and led you to become lost. Lonely. Heartbroken."
Balthazar watched as the green mist version of him turned duller and duller until it's dark with little color left. The man couldn't help but find it true. Now that he thought about it, he has grown duller ever since Milo is lost. Just like the green mist before him.
Block tipped the man's chin up and looked deep into Balthazar's eyes with 'sympathy'. "It hurts, doesn't it Balthazar?" He pitifully crooned. "The pain of having to give someone away for the best." He clasped his hands together and clicked sadly. "I know how it feels. Despair is a terrible thing. No one likes the feeling."
Balthazar suddenly sat up and glared at Block, a new realization formed in his mind. "Well it is your fault that I had to give Milo up!" He snarled. Block pretended to flinch. "I recognize your Creepers very well! You good-for-nothing scoundrel - You sent them after me! You made me lose Milo and yet you have the nerve to bring me here so you can offer your false words of assurance?!"
The man was cut short as Block let out a sudden snarl that made him cower back. Seeing that his sign of anger worked in shutting the Guardian up, Block looked sweetly at him. "Clever thing. You're right, I did send them after you." He smirked at Balthazar's narrowed glare. "But please, think about what I'm doing right now. Can't you see I'm making a nice offer? Why don't you think about it? After all, you will get the chance to see your boy again. Isn't that what you wanted in all these years? Come on, it's a nice offer isn't it? Why don't you take it while it's there?"
Taking in the words, Balthazar suddenly found himself melting with despair tinted with hope. The thought of seeing Milo again. It made him desperate. The fantasies of holding his now bigger boy close in his embrace is now coming true.
But with Block in the picture, he knew be shouldn't be trusted so easily. The man before him is the main source of all the problems Balthazar had suffered. The broken bond between Anacardians and Gethens. The kidnapping and forceful acts on Vinnie. Driving him to lose Milo…
"No."
Block looked startled. "What?"
Balthazar glowered him down. "You heard me. I said no, I reject your offer."
A period of silence occurred before Block finally found his words, Balthazar glaring at him still. "You're rejecting the chance of losing your long lost son after thirteen years." Block's voice was low. "Are you sure about this?"
Balthazar scowled. "What do you expect Block?! Are you that foolish to think that I would fall for you, a man who's betrayed Orton's friendship, forced Vinnie into being your mate and not to mention cause so much pain upon my people and family alike?!"
In his rage, Balthazar's body started pulsating with green aura as Block watched in horror. He's breaking the Restraint Spell. His eyes widened. Of course. He's the First Guardian and he underestimated his strength, even when he's unconscious. Instincts to defend himself rising, Block's hands ignited with black aura and for a moment a clash of magic between him and Balthazar was about to happen if Gretchen didn't interfere.
"Your majesty?" The female Shadow peered in through the open door of the room only to find that she interrupted something. Out of surprise, both men ceased charging the aura in their hands in her presence. Block gritted his teeth, keeping his icy stare at Balthazar. "What is it Gretchen?"
The She-Gethen stood upright. "The soldiers are ready for the siege your majesty. They are awaiting for your approval."
Balthazar blinked. Siege? What siege? He frowned and gasped in horror when he realized what it meant. "You wouldn't dare…!" Block gave a smirk at the outraged look on Balthazar's face. He let out a chuckle and patted the Guardian's shoulder. "I wouldn't dare? Cooperdink, I already did it. My men and women are awaiting in the palace right now!"
His hand lit up in black aura and Balthazar yelped in pain when Block jabbed his back and the aura coursed through his spine. Immediately trying to charge a beam of defense, Balthazar realized his hands aren't lighting up as expected. Another Restraint Spell. Luckily, he still felt himself fit for flight only for chains to hold him back before he could fly a full meter away.
Block tugged hard on the chains to drag the trapped Guardian, wearing a malicious grin. "Going so soon? But the fun is just getting started! Come on, the show's about to start!" He gestured for Gretchen to follow as he exited the cell with Balthazar growling and giving him deadly glares.
"You wretched excuse for a Gethen unhand me at once!" Balthazar was barking every curse he could think of towards the king. His words were cut short however when he roughly landed on the floor from Block's flying to the podium of the spacious Stygian Palace Hall. The green-wearing Guardian looked around and was met with hundreds of Block's followers, mostly men, women and fathers with their wives and children at the very back.
Balthazar cringed at how fierce looking the Shadows are. Many held menacing weapons while the rest are bare-handed fighters that rely on magic. But that wasn't all. Every one of them had streaks of charcoal and crimson warpaint forming terrifying patterns on their faces. Their eyes are all narrowed slits and had their teeth bared as they chanted.
Fighters of the Seige. Balthazar scanned the crowd and was relieved to see no Creepers in the crowd. They along with Block are the only Shadows to have deadly venom in their claws and if they ever infect the flesh of his people twice… He shook his head in refusal to think about.
The crowd, having noticed Block's presence, grew silent and bowed deeply. The King held his arms out wide and begun announcing out loud.
"My beloved Brothers and Sisters of Shadow Blood, it is with great pleasure that I announce that today is a very big day for all of us!" The King grinned manically making Balthazar glare. He then spoke with a sickly tone that to Balthazar, sounded like splintered wood. "Today is going to be the second and the last milestone to success of our lives! What happens today, it will lead us to shape a very bright future for our tribe!"
The Shadows roared in applause before the noise faded away. Block then continued in a motivating tone. "Think of this. Men. Fathers. Beautiful homes and abundant flowers for your wives to work on? And perhaps, a large field or a waterfall where your children can play?"
Balthazar glanced at the men and then all the female Shadows and their children. The mothers were sighing wistfully in picturing their children playing in the Anacardian fields while the children themselves seemed excited as well. The Black Forest provides only so much space for work and playing. The Guardian actually felt sorry for them. Honestly, he's more than happy to share their turf with the Shadows - If it were under more peaceful circumstances that is. After all, he knew the Queen would love that very much.
He ceased his thoughts as Block continued. "And if flowers or fields isn't to your liking, you can always change things to resemble our Black Forest environment. It's all up to you." He went forward with a fiery menace in his eyes. "Those Anacardian murderers! Does an awful tribe deserve a land with such beauty and abundant food and space?! They should be driven out of their sanctuary and be left to rot to their deaths!"
The king did not care to acknowledge Balthazar's increasing snarls provoked from the poisonous insult hurled to his kingdom. Block's voice then filled with burning determination and his arms spread out with his booming voice. "My people! It is time we set a fire! A time to take what we deserve! And to avenge my mother, who was killed by the Anacardians in cold blood!" Balthazar frowned in seeing the look in Block's eyes. They're full of vengeance - Sheer desperation for vengeance. For something Balthazar and his people never did.
Now that he thought about it, the mention and only the mention of Tenebri is when Block showed true passion in his voice. Sure he sounded convincing earlier but still. Balthazar could feel something is off. He's using his people just to avenge Queen Tenebri. The monster… The man scowled in disgust.
"We will be living the best of our lives and the Anacardians will be left the the brutality outside their land!" Block threw his arms up in dramatic effect as the Shadows began cheering wildly. They chanted his name over and over again with determination and ferocity. Balthazar laid in stunned silence. He just couldn't believe his ears. Especially not what Block said next. Out of the words earlier, the next part is what filled Balthazar with much worser dread than before.
"In a few minutes time, all of you will go to the land and there you will strike them! You'll find that wretched Vinnie, Brick, Savannah and Orton and show their tribe what they deserve for taking the life of our Queen!"
YOU MONSTER! Balthazar badly wanted to roar out loud and give Block a verbal lashing - But a Guard had a spear pointed at his throat when he opened his mouth. Balthazar glared coldly and looked away, the terrible thoughts gaining surface. The kingdom. His brothers and sister. The Guardian felt terrified. What will become of them? The Shadows will kill them all! Unfortunately for him, Block isn't quite finished…
"And in the meantime, me and the First Guardian here," He stepped aside to show the restrained Balthazar off to the crowd. "We will go to the Mortal World, find the Seventh Guardian who has been located alive, and then kill him for his magic to use as a last resort for the war!" He gave Balthazar a sadistic grin and leaned in to whisper to him. "Of course, you, are going to help me find him. Isn't that nice of me?"
Nothing could describe the immense dread and rage in Balthazar's heart as he shrieked mad cries of rage, tugging against the chains. Block simply smirked and floated down to his people. He grinned at them all. "Tonight will be the night." The Shadows all looked excited. "Everything will be ours and ours alone!" He glided back to the podium and Balthazar stared at him icily.
In the dark of the night I was tossing and
turning
And the nightmare I had was as bad as can be
It scared me out of my wits
A corpse falling to bits!
Then I opened my eyes
And the nightmare was...me!
I was once the most mystical man in the
whole land!
When the Guardians betrayed me they
made a mistake!
We will make each of them pay
But one little boy got away!
Little Milo, beware,
Lord Block is awake!
All the Shadows began to chant with their arms and weapons in the air.
In the dark of the night evil will find him!
In the dark of the night just before dawn!
Revenge will be sweet
When the curse is complete!
In the dark of the night
He'll be gone!
The large Shadow landed before Balthazar and gracefully glided around him with sadism running clear.
I can feel that my powers are slowly returning!
Tie my sash and a dash of cologne for that smell!
As the Pieces fall into place,
I'll see them crawl into place!
Do Svidaniya, Guardians, Your Grace!
Farewell...
In the dark of the night terror will strike them!
Terror's the least I can do!
In the dark of the night evil will brew!
Soon you will feel that your nightmares are real!
In the dark of the night!
In the dark of the night!
In the dark of the night
Evil will find him!
(Find them!)
In the dark of the night terror comes true.
(Doom them!)
My dear, here's a sign -
It's the end of the line!
In the dark of the night!
In the dark of the night!
Block's grew louder as he chanted amongst the harmonizing voices of his people.
Come my minions,
Rise for your master,
Let your evil shine!
Fly to them now,
Fly ever faster
In the dark of the night!
In the dark of the night!
In the dark of the night!
They'll be ours!
Balthazar stared speechless as all the Shadows disappeared from the Stygian Palace through the exit on the ceiling. Soon it was just him and Block in the room and he managed to find his voice. "What did you mean?" It came out hushed. Block grabbed Balthazar's collar to hoist him up. They liked gazes. "I beg your pardon?" The Shadow rose a brow. Balthazar's stare hardened. "What did you mean by I'm going to help you find Milo?" He growled. "What are you going to do to him? Kill him?!"
Block chuckled. "Oh no, no. Of course I'm not going to kill him Cooperdink. That'll be too harsh for me." The arctic blue eyes of Balthazar fueled with protective anger. The liar... "Instead, I'm having someone else do it." His grin grew wide. "Do you remember why I had my workers capture you in the first place?" He circled the Guardian with a hand brushing against his chin and the shoulders.
Balthazar growled and glared at Block still.
"Look at you now. Earlier you were so heartbroken and full of despair over losing your son but now after that little show of mine," He gave a false wince. "You are so upset. Angry. I can feel all the rage coming out from you," He heartily shrugged. "Oh well, guess I can't stall you for much longer."
Balthazar blinked. What? Before he could question, Block shoved him forward and pinned him against the wall by the neck. He raised a hand and Balthazar stiffened when he saw it ignite with black aura. His eyes filled with horrific realization. Not just any black aura. The black glow is traced with dark violet and crimson, giving it the impression of poisonous liquid.
"Like I said earlier, you are so emotional right now. Heartbroken and enraged. The perfect combination of feelings!" Block grinned at his lit hand and back at Balthazar. "That and you are going with me to see your lost boy again!" He looked mockingly spiteful. "Although, you won't see him in the way that you'd think and neither will he, as the poor boy will fear you the moment he sees that his dreams of finding his lost Guardian father has been ruined - When it turns out that he wasn't the same man he was expecting!"
The words burst Balthazar's bubble and the intense rage that followed, weakened the restraint spell. Balthazar then felt the magic surge in his hands again. The cuffs on his wrists and ankles broke apart and Balthazar found the strength to punch Block in the face before hurriedly flying to the exit of the ceiling.
Block only grew angrier from the punch and he was back on his feet with great anger. "Why you little-!" He roared in fury and sent out a blast of ebony lightning at Balthazar. The rope-like lightning wrapped around Balthazar and sent intense pain coursing through his body. The Guardian shrieked from the infliction but kept struggling to fly out. His pupils shrunk with horrified defeat as instead of getting closer to the hole, he was being dragged farther down with the pull.
"No use escaping Balthazar!" Block snarled the words with venom. "When I said that you're going with me to see your boy again, you are going to do just that and I refuse to let your disobedience get in the way!" He beamed at his fallen victim as he crashed to the ground in pained heap.
Balthazar shook from the pain lingering in his body and his eyes opened halfway to see Block coming up to him with his hand lighting up in the same aura as earlier. Block smirked and aimed his hand at him. "Don't worry, I promise you, you will see Milo again in no time." He crooned before chuckling. "See him again as dead body lying before you that is!"
With that, an onyx blast traced with crimson and violet blasted Balthazar and he screamed horribly from the worst pain he has ever felt in his life; The last thing he saw being Block cackling manically as the aura formed a dark orb enveloping the Guardian and changing him into a giant being with crimson eyes and a heart so acidic like his sand-covered hands….
"The Shadows have broken in, and they've taken Balthazar…"
Vinnie turned still and the other Guardians looked equally disturbed. Brick managed to regain his composure and edged forward to Orton, never taking his eyes off the soot-covered finger. "But why?" His voice was quiet. "Why would the Shadows take Balthazar? … What did he do?"
Orton sighed. "I don't know Brick, I don't know." He glanced at Vinnie who appeared traumatised and Savannah had her arms around him in an instant. Poor Vinnie. Orton frowned and reached out to pat his brother's shoulder. Vinnie exhaled shakily. "I-I'm alright guys." He said to the two. "I'm just fretting for Balthazar, that's all..."
Savannah and Orton exchanged knowing glances. He's traumatised. They nodded quietly and focused on comforting their uneasy brother with Brick joining in. They all remembered the night when Vinnie was nearly forced by Block into being his Mate one night and it scared them still just thinking what could have happened if Orton didn't save him in time.
Of course, Vinnie suffered the worst of it and it took a long time for him to recover. As a result, Shadows scare him terribly and he goes into severe panic attacks when he finds out that they're near.
But now, the Guardians could see that he's trying his hardest to resist that and they felt extreme pity for him. Not wanting to bring it up, they just hugged their brother in silence while worrying for their eldest who had gone missing to enemy hands…
"Your majesties! Your majesties!"
A skinny Pistachion guard ran into the room with hitched breaths and he gasped at the doorway. The quartet of Guardians looked his way. "Jerry? What's the matter lad?!" Orton frowned and went forward, placing his hands on the pistachion's shoulders in attempt to calm him down.
Jerry gulped heavily and spoke shakily. "I-It's the Shadows! My brothers saw them heading our way! T-They knocked out the Minty Woods Patrollers and-!" He frantically waved his branch arms with his voice growing high with terror. "There's a whole army! Hundreds of them!"
The Guardians looked horrified, especially Vinnie. The short man started to hyperventilate and his hand grasped his chest. Before anyone knew it, his legs gave way as he felt faint from sheer panic. Orton was quick to catch his brother and he gave Jerry a grim look. "Tell the other Guards to evacuate the women and children to safety and that all men are to prepare for battle!" He instructed as Brick and Savannah stood by with firm looks.
"Okay your Majesty," Jerry bowed and sped off. Orton summoned a pair of Palace Healers to the room and helped to get the weakened Vinnie supported by their shoulders. "Take him to the evacuation cave with the women and children. Protect him and heal all the injured who are there." The two healers nodded dutifully and led Vinnie out of the room.
Immediately, the three remaining Guardians teleported outside the Verity Palace to several meters away from the Minty Woods where hundreds of bewildered Anacardians and Pistachions have gathered with their gazes fixated on the incoming horde of Shadows flying from the dark region beyond the Minty Woods. As they approached, the Shadows were chanting eerie words of violence and the action sent waves of panic to the vulnerable ones before them.
Several large Pistachions along with worrying Anacardian husbands moved in helping to evacuate all the mothers and their children. Several are still scattered and more Pistachions, including Jerry, joined their comrades to help gather them. The Guardians winced. Scattering about won't do at all at a time like this. Gaining firm nods from Orton and Savannah, Brick flew to the front of the crowd and spoke in a booming Royal Voice.
"Everyone stay calm and stick together! Keep the women and children in single file and get them to the Evacuation Cave now!"
The Third Guardian's command boosted the speed of the task and soon, all the women and children are gathered and they ran for the said cave under guidance from the Pistachions. The last of the evacuating group finally entered the cave and the Shadows are nearing while the Anacardians are barely ready to defend. They have to hurry. Seeing that there is no time to waste, Orton and Savannah teleported to Brick's sides to quickly brief the non-evacuating Anacardians and Pistachions that now grew silent.
"Everyone! At least three to every Shadow that you fight!" Brick barked out loud. "Remember, those Shadows may be low-brained but they can still use magic and they have weapons!" Some in the crowd flinched at this. "If anyone near you is injured, do a healing spell on him or her! If you can't heal enough, then those who are injured must flee - Don't worry about anyone else! Focus on keeping yourself safe as we have to prevent casualties if possible!"
The crowd openly voiced their agreement before Brick continued. "And another thing!" All grew silent. "Whatever you do, do NOT attack Lord Block! If you ever see him, stay well away from him! Naturally he's gonna have backup as he fights so leave him unless you want to turn into ribbons! And if you see any Shadow headed towards the cave, stop them! Do not let them touch the mothers and children!" Everyone in the crowd nodded to show their agreement until a new voice sounded making them turn to the source.
"All of you listen to me! We are survivors! Every single one of us!" Orton shouted at the top of his voice as he hovered, while more Anacardians poofed from the sky and joined in the crowd with grim looks. "We've survived a Great Blizzard! Conflict with each other! Blame by the Shadows! Don't forget, they've attacked us before but did we fall? No! We survived a war with them then, so we can survive this in the present as well!"
He felt the presences Savannah and Brick respectively joining his sides in the air. Savannah had a slightly worried look in her eye while Brick gave Orton a proud look. Orton took both their hands and his bold, grey eyes scanned the crowd.
"Get a load of this! Those Shadows, they may be dark in color and have claws like the kind Gethens Tenebri led but with those violent attitudes of theirs as of now, that does not make them Gethens any longer! They have betrayed their Queen's name and that Blockhead has selfishly ruined his mother's reputation!"
He sighed briefly in remembering a certain Gethen. Kyle Drako - A kind soul of his kind along with others Orton was unaware of. "Some Gethens are far better than those execrable monsters because unlike them, those Gethens are living as one in pure unity! Just like us! Those Shadows, unless they wish to redeem, are on their own and they always will be!"
The Anacardians and Pistachions all looked at each other with the same thought in mind. Their Time Guardian is right. They can and will survive the war, for their families, the land and their innocence.
"We are all in this together!" Savannah made her voice heard by everyone. It was just one line but it was enough to ignite all the fiery determination within their hearts.
They grew silent when they picked up the noises of hundreds roughly landing on the ground. The Shadow Tribe. The Guardians planted their feet upfront and they all started to glow their respective aura colors with radiating strength. The same went one by one with all the Anacardian fighters and they wore fierce looks.
The Shadows stood a distance before the Anacardians and as expected like in many wars they've had, did not attack on sight. Instead, stood facing their opponents with wide, maddened eyes. The Anacardian side stared back with nonchalant eyes as individuals continued to glow in their different colors. The three Guardians too tried their hardest to keep their nonchalance as a generally calm race and conceal the little shock they possess deep down.
At last, Orton slowly stepped forward as did Gretchen, the presumed 'leader of the army' from the other side. Both had a glaring session for a few seconds before Orton spoke loudly, standing tall without fear. "First of all, we do not wish to inflict any form of damage on you as it is considered a sin in our book to do so." Brick stepped up beside Orton with narrowed his eyes. "It's your one and final chance Shadows." Savannah joined the two with a cold glare. "Go home."
At this, Gretchen rolled her eyes as the ones behind her snickered. "Oh Guardians, Guardians, Guardians, I'm afraid you're missing the topic on hand here, because you see," She crooned nastily before giving them dark narrowed eyes. "We are home.…" She raised her spear and let out an ear-splitting battle cry. "ATTACK!" The Shadows all roared and charged forward with claws or spears in the air.
Responding immediately, Orton, Brick and Savannah ordered their tribe into the battlefield and they too charged forward. Everything happened fast and at once. The two sides instantly became a clashing blur of two roaring waves; One glowing multiple colors and the other dark and hurling spears around…