Chapter Twenty-Three: The Power of Truth

In the forest, Thomas, James, and their friends raced off to stop the war. They were so determined to tell the kingdoms the truth and to end Frankie's cruel reign. Their horses jumped over obstacles, and they ducked under trees. They knew that if they are going to stop the war, one or more could die as a result,d Thomas even vowed that if one of them died, the other one will die as well so they can be together.

"We must stop this. We got to save Hiro's kingdom and Thomas's family!", shouted James with a prepare for battle upon his face, "Long live King Hiro!"

"Long live King Hiro!", shouted the others as they were getting close, and all of them raised their swords.

Just about they were near the opening field, a massive storm hit the area and rain began to shower heavily. The weather didn't stop though as their determination as they knew that if they don't stop this, no one will win at the end.

There they reached the field and they all saw the war had already happened and the battle was brutal. Thomas and James gasped in horror. They looked at each other with concern and the two raced off. The others came up behind but they two stopped them, "No, we are going to talk through this first.", said Thomas firmly, "If it doesn't work, then we will signal you with a call for help."

The others nodded but Hiro knew that just the two of them won't be enough to stop a war with reasoning. Hiro knew he must help them as well by showing others that he was alive and that Frankie was the one who had caused the hate between the two kingdoms.

Meanwhile, back at the war, many soldiers from both sides were wounded but they didn't stop fighting. Frankie watched with a pleased look on her face and chuckled evilly. She then shouted, "Don't stop! We must destroy William's former kingdom and his subjects!"

Percy fought with a nurse knight name Kevin. The two didn't stop as Percy knew that taking down a nurse will mean no guards from the Fyre Kingdom will get medical help. Kevin can see that fighting with Percy wasn't that difficult as they were both similar in height.

Gordon pushed and sliced many guards and he screamed out in anger, "This is for Thomas! It serves you right!"

Just before he could do more damage, one of the Fyre guards shot Gordon on his shoulder and he screamed out in agony. He removed the arrow from his shoulder and kept going. Salty, who was a nurse knight for the Skyla kingdom, knew that Gordon was going to bleed to death if he doesn't get bandaged up and get proper treatment.

"Gordon!", cried Salty, "Get here now! You're bleeding!"

Gordon ignored him and he continued to fight. Gordon's mind was now rigid as all he can think about was that Thomas was gone and that all he wanted to do is to kill everyone from the Fyre kingdom and serve justice for his little brother. All this time when he was young, he would pick on Thomas but as they got older, the bond became stronger despite him teasing Thomas occasionally. Gordon now felt like the only thing to do for Thomas was to fight for him. Tears flow down his cheeks as he kept fighting with all his might.

"Gordon!", shouted Salty, "Listen to me!"

Suddenly, Gordon began to felt more drained from losing blood from a deep stab in the shoulder. Yet Gordon kept fighting. He realised he was losing as more guards began to give him more injuries. Just then, he fell off his horse and began to feel even weaker.

"Gordon!", shouted Connor as he rushed to his aid.

Connor picked up the weak Gordon and rushed him to Salty while fighting off other guards. Gordon then looked at Connor and began to cry, "I failed Thomas and I failed… Re…"

"No, Gordon. You didn't fail at all. You were just fighting, and I know you are a strong fighter. You are strong but you need help so you can continue.", insisted Connor.

Gordon then thought about Rebecca as she did say something similar. He then realised that if he died, not only he failed for Thomas and his kingdom, but failed for Rebecca. Finally, Connor got to Salty, was behind a rock, helping one of the injured knights. He placed Gordon gently to on the ground and Salty began to help Gordon right away.

Meanwhile, Edward and Henry fought together with the army, and they knew that would not stop until it ends. They fought will all their strength but of course, there were more guards from their opposing side. They shouted, "We must not give up!"

Their army roared as the fought began to get more gruesome. Just then, Frankie noticed her royal guards concerned William and ambushed him. William realised that he wasn't as strong as he was before. She cackled, "Perfect."

She then uses Marion's power and bolted a red light up to the sky and everyone froze to look at what had happened. Frankie rode towards them, towards William, "This is it!", she cried, "You're mine William and your son's kingdom is getting weaker and weaker!"

Then William noticed Frankie was after him and he was about to fight Frankie back but then someone blocked him, "You have to get me first!", cried Edward.

Frankie laughed, "My, my, my. Isn't King Edward protecting his weak father and not considering your reign is about to end. When then, let's fight!"

The two kingdoms stopped their fight and watched the fight. King Edward and Queen Frankie clashed as they narrowed their eyes. Frankie grinned and Edward frowned. Edward was strong but she was stronger as she stole the power and that power made her stronger than anyone. Then Frankie pushed Edward of his horse and he groaned in pain.

Everyone gasped for what they had witnessed. Frankie then hopped off her horse and build up her power in her hands. She went to the weak William and Edward. She chuckled wickedly, "Say goodbye!"

But before she could blast them off, Frankie, William, and Edward heard two horses coming towards them, they turned their head and to their, saw Thomas and James on their horses, leaping towards them. The flash of lighting was so powerful that only James's red ruby eyes and Thomas's sky blue eyes were seen. There the two blocked their family's way.

"Thomas?", gasped William and Edward as tears flown down their cheeks.

Thomas glared at them harshly as he was still on his horse.

'James!", shouted Frankie angrily as she couldn't believe that not only Thomas was alive, her stepson was alive too.

James gave a scary hate look on his face as he was on Trusty.

Frankie cried out in frustration, "Move!", commanded Frankie.

"No.", replied James with hate in his tone.

"I said move you stupid boy!", cried Frankie as her power began to build up.

"You will not touch Thomas, nor his family! Not when I'm standing here!"

William and Edward were surprised at James's words and looked at him. Thomas turned his head to look at Frankie with disgust. Frankie was furious as she wanted to blast them all, but James knew what to do. He made a whistle call and right behind Frankie was Nia and Toby. Nia used her magic spell to make a magic cuff to prevent Frankie from using it.

"Speak the truth now Thomas! Speak now before five minutes have been pass!", warned Nia as her magic was only just started.

Frankie growled as Nia and Toby held her down. James and Thomas knew that this their chance to speak out, "Everyone! Listen to us! This war has to stop!", cried Thomas.

Everyone went quiet and they were stunned about it. Why do these two princes from two different kingdoms want the war to stop? "This hate! This hate between the two kingdoms needs to end all because of the false information you have received!", shouted Thomas.

"He's right! It all started because of Prince Hiro's disappearance and the blame was put on William, who had nothing to do with it!", cried James.

Frankie growled, "Shut up!"

"No! Want to know the truth! Well, Frankie was the one who started it all! She was the one who lured Hiro on that day and attacked him. There she lied on what had happened to my father so she can gain his trust and be queen!", shouted James.

Everyone gasped. They didn't expect that all this war happened was from Frankie's cruel plan to get everyone to fall and have all the power for herself. "That's not true.", defended Frankie, "I-I'm telling you that he's lying. I-I didn't kill Hiro!"

"Now that's a lie.", cried out a voice.

Everyone turned their heads to find out who shouted. There all before their eyes, was a man on his black and white steed with black hair, black eyes, and scars on his face. He gave a serious look on his face.

"No.", cried Frankie, "I-It can't be!"

"Yes, it can Frankie!", replied Hiro, "You're the one who did this, and you tried to kill me!"

Frankie knew she lost most people's trust but does her best to defend herself, "He's lying. He's trying to be the long lost prince!"

"Well then, explain this!", cried Hiro as held out a headpiece and a ripped banner.

Everyone gasped in horror. Frankie gulped as she knew that the power of truth had gotten her down, "N-No! Listen to me my faithful subjects! T-they are l-lying!"

But it was too late, all her guards walked away from her and went to the Skyla kingdom's side. He growled in outrage. Then she noticed Emily, Caitlin, Flora, Paxton, and Diesel, joining in.

"Get back here!", she shouted.

William and Edward got up, "You lost Frankie!", cried William, "It's time to bring peace again and end your terrible reign!"

"Shout out the Harmonia oath!", cried out James.

Then all of them began to chant, "May peace and harmony stay alive. May love and happiness will endure. Let our faith and hope thrive. Let our Harmonia make us feel safe and secure!"

Frankie screamed, "Shut up! Be quiet!"

That chant made Frankie very angry as the oath was associated with love, which she and ancestors despise. She knew that these two kingdoms are now allies. She was all alone, weak as she can't use her power as Nia had prevented it. With Frankie's anger, Nia and Toby felt her power was coming back, "I can feel her power is coming back! My magic is starting to crack!"

Then all a sudden, Frankie's eyes glow pure black and her power lashed out at Nia and Toby. They both hit their back behind a rock and lied on the ground, unconscious. Frankie's teeth began to grow sharper as she floated into the air. She can now feel the energy coming back and laughed crazy, "I don't need my guards anyway. My powers are getting stronger and you will all fall! This is for my old related ancestor! King Umbro!"

Everyone gasped in fear. They knew that they were all in grave danger by finding out that Frankie was related to Umbro. But what can they do to stop her madness and destruction?