It seemed so strange, downright surreal as they finally stood there, by the borders of Shadars land.
Really there was nothing to do now, but to step forward.
Yet all four travelling companions were feeling the tension.
Oliver swallowed as he held a hand over the slightly glowing locket, Esther was clutching the Clarion in her hands as she looked at the thick miasma fog. Mr. Drippy was sitting on Gascons shoulder, looking very thoughtful.
And Gascon, stood straight, looking out there as he swallowed.
"So." Oliver whispered. "This is it?" he asked. "We'll lift the miasma around here, and then go face Shadar. I'm going to get my mom back or I'll." he hesitated.
Then a hand was placed on Olivers shoulder and Oliver looked up, to see Gascon looking down at him.
"Oliver, listen to me." Gascon asked as he sat down on his knee so he was on level with Oliver. "You fought so hard, with all you had, you came here and even though your goal was just to get your mother back, you accomplished so much more. This journey. What the journey has brought, is so much bigger than just you and I." he said. "Or Esther or Mr. Drippy, you came here, to a world, that had no hope, which was falling into despair. I was falling into despair. And you gave us hope, all whom lives in this world." He said. "How-ever, the last mile is always the toughest one, but if you really wish to do this. You must walk that last mile and not hold back out or give in. No one would blame you if you walked back now, you've already done so much for us, all of us, this is not your world, you owe us nothing and we are eternaly greatfull to you! How-ever, if you decide to continue, you must do it with all of your heart and all of your resolve. The fight in front of us will be hard, very hard. Do you understand?" he asked looking harshly into Olivers eyes.
Oliver nodded. "Yes." He said.
"What then, do you wish to do?" Gascon asked. "Don't let me or Esther or anyone influence your decision, right now, it has to come from your heart." He told.
"We are so close." Oliver breathed. "I have to do it! I'll do it! And I'll give it all that I have!"
"Then you have my support." Gascon said in a light smile. "I'll be right beside you, okay?" he asked. "Lets fight him together." He said and Oliver launched forward giving Gascon a crushing hug.
"Thank you Gascon!" Oliver breathed as Esther smiled lightly and put the Clarion to her lips to play the melody that would clear the miasma, at least enough for them to enter.
And they took the step together, into the dark poisonous land that was Shadars domain.
Everything was covered in semi darkness, any three or plant was dead and it didn't take a genius to figure that it was from the poisonous air Esther had cleared for them with the Clarion.
There were creatures here, but they looked nasty and cold, with red glowing eyes and it didn't seem like the best of ideas to get into a fight with any of those.
They had to look after their own steps, as puddles of deadly poison were laying on the ground, when Gascon accidently stepped in a puddle it immediately began to eat into the leather off his boot, and he barely managed to wipe it off on the ground before it had eaten itself all the way through to his foot.
It was a long tired walk, which seemed to lead into nothingness, and that was until they saw it. The actual nothingness!
Or maybe it wasn't. It looked like a huge whirlpool of dark water, that threatened to swallow anyone whom was unfortunate enough to fall in. And waiting for them levitating just above that whirlpool was the nastiest creature Gascon had ever seen.
A thing, that called itself, Vile heart. And in its hand it was casually throwing around with an orb. Alicias prison.
At once the entire party realised what that meant, what that single orb meant.
"THAT'S IT!" Oliver exclaimed. "Alicia is in there! If we can free her then my mom!"
"And even better, with the last Sage back. There'll be four sages ones more." Gascon stated.
"We are with you Oliver!" Esther shouted.
"Just say the word lad!" Mr. Drippy exclaimed.
And Oliver didn't hesitate as he lifted his wand and yelled, roared in fact as he ran straight in with lifted wand attacking Vile Heart.
Followed closely by Esther, Gascon and Mr. Drippy.
"WE WILL NOT BE STOPPED NOW!" They all shouted ready to fight with lifted weapons.
Oliver threw the last blow and Vile heart screamed as he disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, leaving behind just one dark orb, rolling down the platform and then it stopped.
Exhausted the little party were trying to catch their breaths, this fight hadn't been easy, but by pulling each their weight, they had managed.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Gascon gasped for air. "That's how you can rescue your mom isn't it?" he asked glancing at the dark orb. "Quickly man, take it!"
"Yes come on Oliver." Esther breathed making Oliver smiled at them.
"Okay." Oliver grinned walking over to the orb and picked it up, holding it in his two hands as he looked at it. "Mom." He breathed as he looked at the orb. "It's going to be okay now. It's going to be.." Then he stopped, just stood there, holding the orb looking at it.
"Oliver?" Mr. Drippy asked.
There was no answer, once again Oliver just stood there.
"Everything alright?" Gascon asked as he moved closer. "Hey Oliver." Then he looked up at the boys face and he blinked. "Oliver?" he asked, for the boys eyes, they looked weird, they looked compleately empty as if Oliver was frozen in position just looking at the orb.
"What's wrong?" Esther asked running towards them.
"I don't know, he's not responding." Gascon said snapping a finger right in front of Olivers eyes with no result. "Oh god. Something is wrong." He said horriefied as he turned to the two others. "I don't know what but."
Just then Oliver grew limp and fell over, it was just barely Gascon managed to catch the boy before he fell to the ground.
"Hey Oliver!" Gascon exclaimed shaking the boy. "Oliver wake up! Oliver can't you hear me? OLIVER?!" he shouted slapping the boy on his cheeks. Yet Oliver was just like that, limp, with wide open eyes that did not see a thing.
"OLIVER!" Esther shouted. "Oliver wake up! Oliver!"
"Oi! CRY BABY! OI!" Mr. Drippy exclaimed jumping up and down.
"This is not good, not good at all." Gascon swallowed as he collected the boy in his arms. "He's not responding or waking up." He said.
"He's breathing though, that's good right?" Esther asked.
"Flipping heck mun, I feel nothing coming from him, it's like he's not even there!" Mr. Drippy exclaimed.
"Shit." Gascon cursed under his breath. "We need to get out of here!" he suddenly exclaimed. "NOW!"
"But." Esther tried.
"Without Oliver we stand no chance in here!" Gascon barged back. "This place is infested by creatures and poison gas. Oliver is in no shape to fight and if we don't get him out of here he'll be in real danger. So just concentrate and follow my lead!" he demanded. "If we get into any conflict with creatures now it'll be compromising Olivers safety, the longer we stay here the worse are his chances, JUST COME ON!" he demanded as he turned around and ran with the boy in his arms.
He carried Oliver the entire way, running as fast as he could with Esther and Mr. Drippy in his tails, jumping over the poison puddles trying to outrun any creatures that saw them. They could not stop. They could not afford to stop before they ran into Peridan and the first thing Gascon did was yelling for Khulan whom came running by the shout.
"What is it?" The Sage Queen asked frightened.
"IT'S OLIVER!" Esther shouted. "He wont wake up! Please help us! He wont wake up!"
"Calm down child, fretting will do nothing, come now, you must lay him down!" Khulan said quickly leading the gang into one of the nearby houses where Gascon could put the boy into a bed, Khulan immediately after sitting down next to the bed, putting a hand on Olivers forehead as she closed her eyes.
It took a while as Khulan just sat there in deep concentration, holding that hand over Olivers forehead.
Naturally both Gascon, Esther and Mr. Drippy was fibbing out of their wits, it seemed to take forever before Khulan finally opened her eyes then looked up at them. "I can sense him deep in there." She said. "How ever, he has been trapped by a curse." She informed. "Trapped deep within himself, if he does not wake. He'll fade away like a person whom has succumbed to despair, and." she silenced.
"He will die?!" Esther asked in a horriefied voice.
Khulan lowered her eyes. "I'm afraid so." She said. "If he is not freed from his inner prison and awoken, that is how it will end."
"How do we free him then?!" Gascon asked. "What do we need to do?!"
"I'm afraid Oliver is the one whom must fight and win this battle by himself." Khulan said laying a hand over the boys eyes finally closing them so it looked like he was just sleeping. "There's nothing anyone can do."
"What?" Gascon asked. "Nothing?" he asked in a disbelieving voice.
Khulan shook her head. "No, this is not any of your battles to fight, it's his."
"ARGH!" Gascon hissed grabbing his hair. "I HAD IT WITH THIS CRAP! NOTHING! FLIPPING SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING!?"
"GASCON!" Esther exclaimed.
"It's so much bullshit!" Gascon exclaimed kicking a chair away so it crashed into the wall. "Just sit and do nothing your majesty, let the other take the fall your majesty, don't do anything rash! Oh right fine then, i'lll just sit here and drink my tea then, eat some biscuits! BULLSHIT!" he shouted angrily. "I had it! I HAD IT WITH ALL OF THIS! URGH!" he seethed turning around basically storming out of the house and probably would have slammed the door after him if there were any.
"GASCON COME BACK HERE! THAT WAS SO RUDE!" Esther yelled to no answer.
"Please don't shout like that." Mr. Drippy asked holding his hands over his ears as his eyes squinted close. "This is not the time to shout is it?!"
"Urgh, that Gascon! Why does he always have to be such a baby!?" Esther asked stamping in the ground.
Sadly Khulan looked the way the young man had vanished through. "It's never easy for a leader to feel powerless." She then said in a deep sigh. "Especially for a person like him, whom has been raised to believe he ought to have all the answers, and then when there is no answer and he is left powerless. We are left powerless. It is not just frustrating, it is hurtful and angering." She saidd holding a hand over her own heart. "I to know of that path. Please do not be to hard on the young Prince, he values your friendship I can feel it in his heart, he is just hurting because he wishes so badly that he could help."
"Yeah I get that, but it's pretty arrogant to just assume he's the only one isn't it?" Esther asked wrapping her arms around herself. "Oliver please, you need to wake up. Wake up." She asked with tears forming in her eyes. "We need you, please." She asked.
And outside, Gascon had stormed all the way out of the village out to the wastelands up high on the mountain where he had last fell together on top of the cliff, collected his legs in his arms as the tears fell out.
So close! He had been so close! It was like having the ultimate present being waved right into his face, and then taken away before he got to take it
They had been so close. So very very close. And now it all seemed further away then ever.
Days went by, and Oliver didn't wake up, Esther sat by his side most of the time together with Mr. Drippy, talking to Oliver, telling stories singing small songs.
But Oliver would respond to none of it, none.
There was no sign of Gascon, Eshter literately hadn't seen the shadow of him since the day they had brought in Oliver.
She was told that he was looming about outside, but didn't want to walk in.
Finally Esther had had enough and walked out herself, to find the prince sitting alone just outside of the village, looking out at the massive view.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Esther asked in a lecturing tone.
Gascon didn't answer, didn't respond at all as he just kept sitting there looking out at the horizont.
"Honestly! Just sitting out here feeling sorry for yourself when Oliver needs us?! That's not very princely behaviour." Esther hissed.
"Tell me Esther." Gascon sighed as he leaned his head in his hand. "If I sat around by Olivers bed side, would it help any?" he asked.
"That's not the point!" Esther exclaimed. "It's just where you need to be!" she exclaimed. "You owe that by the very least! He's your friend!"
Slowly Gascon turned his head, then looked up at Esther so she could finally see his eyes, which looked torn and painful. "I know." he admitted. "And I know I have to believe in him, we have to believe in him. It's just so hard."
Esther blinked. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"Don't you see?" Gascon asked. "Shadars magic, all this dark magic, it feeds and lifes on despair." He said. "If we give into despair, if we loose hope in Oliver then.. Then Shadar will have won for good." He swallowed. "I'm trying to remember how strong Oliver is, how many impossible things he's done for us. If I can remember that, then maybe I can believe." He breathed. "It's just so hard." He then groaned rubbing his forehead. "And seeing him like that isn't making it any easier. I'm trying to feel some hope for him. I'm trying to remember. Urgh it's not easy." he hissed.
Esther hesitated then slowly sat down beside Gascon. "I see, you are in fact trying to help." She breathed silently. "Sorry for not trusting you." She sighed.
"It's fine." Gascon exhaled. "Sorry for yelling, you're right, that's not very princely behaviour, especially not now." He mumbled looking out towards the horizont. "I want you to know, I do appreciate your friendship, and Olivers and Mr. Drippys…"
"Why are you talking like that?" Esther asked.
"Well." Gascon swallowed as suddenly his eyes turned misty before he closed them. "Esther, if I don't face Shadar I wont be able to return home." He said. "I can't face them, Marcassin... Marisa... Alphonse... Vivi... the people of Hamelin. How would I ever be able to go back to them and tell them, oh sorry, we failed at the finish line, so I came running back. I can't! I need to fight Shadar to the end." Then he exhaled deeply. "With or without Oliver." he then said.
"No you can't!" Esther exclaimed. "You said it yourself, without Oliver we wont stand a chance! It's a suicide mission!"
"It already was a suicide mission." Gascon reminded her sourly.
"Then why did you go along with it?!" Esther asked.
"What other choice did I have?!" Gascon asked. "It was all I had. Everything was falling apart and going to the dogs, and there was nothing I could do about it. It was my only chance. It was my one and only chance to finally do something right. To stop it." He sighed his head falling down on his legs. "If we don't stop it now it'll just start all over again. Shadar will take his revenge, we'll be the first in line. If I go back he'll know exactly where I am and attack the same people again. Marcassin, Marisa…. Alphonse.. Vivi.. Everyone. Esther don't you see, if we don't finish this now neither of us can go back." He said looking at her with tears in his eyes. "We'll be putting our closest friends in danger by just being there. I'll be putting an entire empire in danger. The empire that I promised to protect."
And Esther swallowed. "Then it's good that at least we can stick together." She then said. "I know I yell a lot but I also appreciate your friendship." She said.
"Thank you." Gascon breathed as he drew her into a hug which Esther returned.
And that was the moment, that vile heart appeared again..
"Well, you got a few punches in last time, don't think you'll be so lucky this time." Vile heart grinned.
The two jumped away and into fighting positions.
"Vile heart." Gascon swallowed pulling his trick gun.
"Gascon! Oliver! He's defenceless!" Esther exclaimed.
"Then we better make damn sure that thing doesn't get anywhere near him!" Gascon hissed loading his trick gun. "Come on Oliver, it's time to wake up dammit." He hissed under his breath before he yelled his battle ground jumping in. "WUAAARGHHH!"
Yet this time, not only were they two instead of three and a fairy against Vile heart, somehow he also seemed way stronger than before.
"I don't understand." Esther gaped. "Why is he so much stronger?!"
"Despair Esther, what is it i'm always saying?!" Gascon asked. "Last time we all had hope, but without it.. LOOK OUT!" he shouted just managing to dodge a blast himself.
"AUUUW!" Esther screamed as she was thrusted aside. "Oliver we could really use you right now! You're always so good at giving us hope! Come on please!" she asked, just as a shining light hit Vile heart, and send him flying back as if it was nothing.
Stunned both Gascon and Esther turned around to look up, and there he was, Oliver, smiling at them. "Sorry to keep you up." He said.
"OLIVER!" They both yelled.
"And Mr. Drippy high lord lord of the fairies!" Mr. Drippy proclaimed jumping up and down beside the boy. "The nerve! What a nerve leaving me out mun!" he exclaimed. "And after all we've been through together! Well I'll show you! TIDY TEARS!" he yelled sending out his stream of fairy magic lifting the sore aches from Esthers and Gascons bodies as Oliver jumped down to them, just in time for Vile heart to return.
"Let finish this." Oliver said.
And this time, it was a piece of cake to beat Vile heart, he was patheticly weak and Gascon felt so happy and relieved just to see Oliver, which was probably what made Vile Heart so weak. Hope! Simple hope.
And this time, he was finished for good, the moment he was both Gascon and Esther ran to Oliver both embracing him on the same time.
"OLIVER YOU'RE OKAY!" Esther cried.
"Don't you ever pull such a stupid stunt ever again! That's my department!" Gascon exclaimed.
And Oliver grinned awkwardly. "Hehe." As he blushed.
"Oliver what happened to you?!" Esther asked in a cry.
At that Oliver grew quiet. "I erh. I need to tell you something." He then said quietly making the others silence as they let go of him. "It's really important." He said.
Quietly Oliver told the tale of what the orb had told him. Alicia and Olivers mom, they were one and the same, the same person, and she was very much dead. As dead as can be, his mission had been a failure from the very beginning.
But that was not all.
"Your soul mate?" Gascon asked. "Shadar is your soul mate?" he asked. "But how is that even possible?! That means you're sharing the same soul right? But he's living on other peoples despair and you."
"Give hope, the total opposite, we even out each other, that's how it connects." Oliver said looking at them.
"But, if you two share one soul. Doesn't that mean that if he dies then you." Esther questioned and her eyes widened. "If he dies you'll die too!" she exclaimed.
"Yes." Oliver exhaled.
"Then that settles it, we can't fight him!" Gascon exclaimed.
"Gascon, it's your only chance to safe your empire." Oliver reminded him.
"I know that!" Gascon snapped. "But it's not worth such a price! We'll find another way. Imprison him or I don't know!"
"NO!" Oliver shouted. "Please, it has to stop!" he said in a begging voice. "There's only one way to stop it! I need to face him, talk to him." He said looking up with misty eyes. "It's the only way."
"Oliver, it wont bring your mother back." Esther reminded him.
"I know." Oliver said. "That's not the issue, the issue is that Shadar wont stop. He'll never stop! The reason why I'm the only one whom can finish it, is exactly because I'm his soul mate. If I don't do this, your world is going to suffer. All the friends I made here, you three." He looked at all three of them. "Please, I need your help." He begged off them. "Help me put an end to it, please!" he asked. "Gascon you must know! Shadar saved your life and brought you to me, why do you think he did that?!" he asked.
Gascon swallowed then quieted as he looked down. "I guess part of him wanted me to help you end him." He said in a quiet voice. "He's in pain. Killing him would be mercy."
"Please, it has to end." Oliver said. "It can't continue, I've seen how much pain he spreads. It has to stop now! It has to!" He stated lowering his head. "I would really appreciate it if… If I didn't had to do it alone though." He admitted.
"Aw Oliver, of course not." Esther said embracing the boy.
"I dragged you into this, you bet your little nose I'll stick to the end!" Mr. Drippy promised hugging Olivers leg as tears starting to form in his eyes.
And Gascon exhaled deeply, swallowing before he moved closer and laid his arms around all of them, entering the group hug. "It's the least I owe you Oliver. If that is all I can do. I promise. I'll stay to the very end." He swore.
"Thank you so much." Oliver sniffed tears pressing through his eye lids. "I know I can do it now." He swallowed. "I can end it. If you're just with me at the end." He said. "I don't want to be alone by then." He plainly admitted. "Please don't leave me until then." he asked.
Which stung deeply in Gascons heart, yet all he could do was only to hold these two children and their fairy friend, that being the best assurance he could give that he would be there at the end, as he had promised.
He knew what it felt like to be alone, and how much it meant to have support. He would not let this boy whom had done so much for them be alone for this.
He would be there, with his embrace he swore that.
