CHAPTER 7: THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS.

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

As the sun rose across Sodor, the cousins, Duck Swindon and Oliver Collet were in their Sorcerer-Knight uniforms as they sat in their own magic workshop that their parents had built. The massive seal in the floor glowed a dark purple as a piece of black armor sat within it. Oliver had both of his eyes closed, as he focused hard on the spell.

"Anything yet, Oliver?"

"No, Monty." Oliver replied. "Nothing... Wait! I - I see a forest, a-and a massive shadowy castle. I think it's that same one where Thomas fought that one misuser we were told about."

"Right." Duck replied as Oliver finally opened his eyes. "I guess we better tell Proteus about this."

"Agreed." Oliver remarked, as he and Duck then got ready to head to the Billinton mansion.

Meanwhile, in the Billinton mansion, Thomas was sleeping soundly as a certain magicborn entered his room, and began to gently tug on his covers.

"Hmm?"

Lady jolted back as she saw Thomas's eyes open.

"U-uh. Morning Thomas."

"Morning Lady." He greeted. "Uh... Why are you..."

"Oh... uh..." She stammered. "I-I came to wake you and well, to check up on you, after, last night."

Thomas gave a sigh, and then wrapped his arms around the girl with golden hair. Surprised at this unexpected gesture, Lady's face turned red as James's clothing.

"Lady..." He then spoke softly. "If you're worried that I may try to 'execute' myself again, then there's nothing to fear. You made it clear to me that I have nothing to blame myself over, and, thanks to that, I'm fine."

"Oh.. Good." Sighed Lady. "I don't ever want to end up reliving that moment, Thomas. I never want to."

"You won't. I swear it." Thomas replied. "When someone falls into a trap, it's the fault of whoever set it in the first place. I see that now."

"Right." Lady said with her sweet smile. "Anyway, you better get ready. Big day today."

"I know." Thomas said back. "I'll see you in a bit."

As Lady nodded and left Thomas's room, her mood was very noticeably better as she then went downstairs. After he got dressed into his Sorcerer-Knight uniform, Thomas walked downstairs to find Proteus, Billster, and Timothy, conversing with Duck, Oliver, Donald and Douglas, who were all in their Sorcerer-Knight uniforms as well. The 16 year old then walked up to them and gave a friendly greeting as he normally does.

"Morning guys."

"Ah! Thomas!" Proteus exclaimed. "Good morning. Glad to see you up. Now, I've been talking with your friends, the little westerns here and it appears they just may have found where Mordred's base is."

"Whoa! Really?!"

"Yes." Duck replied. "We did the traceback spell on a piece of armor just like we were asked, and found out that the castle is within that one forest where you fought that ONE misuser you told us about."

"So it's within THAT forest, huh?" Thomas thought out loud. "I guess that makes this the third time where I must go to it."

"Well, third time or not.." Proteus remarked. "We better ensure that we are prepared for a major fight. With how great in numbers those black armored knights are, this WON'T be easy."

"Right." Thomas replied, as Proteus then turned heel and began to call the other members of the Steam-Team.

(POV: Thomas.)

About two to three hours after the location was revealed to us, we traveled to the deepest depths of that same forest where I fought Hunter in, and found a massive castle that gave off a deep dark aura from it.

"That's Mordred's crest." Billster whispered as he then spotted the banner. "This is the place."

"Right." Proteus replied as he then turned towards me. "Ready to fulfil your destiny, Thomas?

I gripped hard onto Excalibur's handle, as I thought back to those moments where he deeply affected me. I was beyond cross at this point, for THAT excuse of a man nearly took the life of Lady and her brother, as well as having me almost taking my own life. To put it short and simply, I HAD enough.

"Yes I am."

"Right." Proteus replied as he then drew his sword. "Let's go."

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

Then without saying another word Proteus, Lady, and the steam team all leapt out of their shade and cover and charged towards the knights, who were all unprepared for their assault. As the Sorcerer-Knights took down the troops, the man clad in black scowled as he watched the screen.

"What?!" He growled. "How did they..."

As he continued to watch the fight on the screen, his scowl turned into a sneer as he then began to chuckle.

"Well, I guess it was fate then. But still, now matter how skilled you are or how many tricks you have, I still have the ultimate trump card in this war... Thomas Billinton. and you will die by my own hand."

As the man laughed maniacally, a filthy golden sword shined in the corner. It was the same exact length as Excalibur as well as the same kind and same color scheme. As it stood against it's wall, the sword radiated a dark, corrupted aura as Thomas and his friends entered the castle.

(To be continued...)