CHAPTER 12: WAR'S END.
(POV: Jason.)
As Thomas and Lady dashed their way to help him, Tamaki was still sprinting as fast as he could. Suddenly as he gritted his teeth, the teen spotted a structure dead ahead.
"There it is." He panted. "Just hang on Rosala. I'm going to be arriving home."
Tamaki tensed his muscles and got closer, closer and closer until a flash of darkness appeared before him, revealing Lux-Tenebris. As the 16 year-old then skidded to a stop, the dark goddess sneered as she looked at him.
"A good effort, little boy." She said as she drew her sword. "But a futile one at that."
As she then swung her sword, Tamaki was about to draw his own swords, Sohothin and Magdaer, there was an angry shout and a loud clang. As the teen looked at the figure that stood between him and Lux-Tenebris, Tamaki couldn't help but get emotional, for he knew who this was as he stood with Excalibur and Caliburn within his hands.
"Great-grandfather!" Tamaki exclaimed.
"Hello, Tamaki." Thomas replied as he looked at the boy who was one day to be his and Lady's descendant. "I'll deal with Lux-Tenebris, you go with Lady to the Altar. I'll be fine here."
Tamaki nodded in reply as he then took the hand of Lady and darted off with her towards the altar. As Thomas then glared at her, Lux-Tenebris looked on at him with a smug look as she floated in the air.
"Shame that you are incapable of flight, you lowly boy."
"Are you sure you want to put that to the test?" Thomas quizzed back as golden dragon wings appeared from his scabbards. "For my swords CAME from that which remained of a dragon. So, I'd suggest next time do your research BEFORE you try to make an insult."
Lux-Tenebris only scowled in frustration as Thomas then took flight. As the two then glared at one another, the final fight began. Clashing swords, Thomas and Lux-Tenebris tried to kill one another. Unfortunately for Thomas, this was his first time using an elemental release to form dragon wings, so he wasn't used to fighting in the air. Taking this into account, Lux-Tenebris used it to her advantage and slashed at Thomas. Though the slashes weren't deep enough to actually kill him, they were deep enough to show how difficult of a time he was having as his scabbards healed him.
(POV: Thomas.)
"Darn!" I thought. "If only I had more experience with aerial battles, then I wouldn't be so vulnerable here. Even so..." I continued to think. "I can't give up here. I WON'T give up here. Sodor is my home. The people here are who I care about and protect. I won't let them down. I'LL NEVER WILL!"
As my determination rose, so did my strength and speed. Clashing blades with Lux-Tenebris again, I got better and better with the aerial fighting. Slowly but surely, we began to wear each other out.
"In the end..." She panted as Lady and Tamaki were almost at the console. "I have once again underestimated the will and power of a normal human. I would love to see which one of us comes out on top, but I have to take my leave."
"No." I replied as I then pointed Caliburn at her. "You aren't going anywhere. We're going to finish this fight and that is final!"
As she then pointed her sword at me, we both glared at one another as a glow of a sword-spell was then visible. Then, we charged at one another.
"You fool!"
"ARGH!" I growled back as our blades then had locked with each other's tips.
"I WILL win this fight! I WILL have my ultimate victory and revenge!"
"Never!" I said back. "For you are a true fool Lux-Tenebris! You don't know how to truly love something and thus became afraid of them! You became afraid of forgiveness! and afraid of compassion! I have befriended practically everyone on Sodor, and I have won against many fights against tyrants for how determined I was to defend them! As long as I can move my limbs and pick up my sword I'll never surrender. I care for the people on Sodor, and I WILL defend them!"
"CRASH!"
"You broke my sword! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!"
"NO I WON'T!" I shouted back in reply as I then stabbed her with Excalibur. "For this war of your ends now!"
Once again throwing the same finishing move as I did before, Lux-Tenebris's remains fell to the ground and disappeared into magic particles before flying away.
"Finally." I sighed. "This dark war is over."
Sheathing my swords once more, I flew down to the altar, where I found Lady preparing to send Tamaki back to his timeline.
"It's over." I panted to Lady. "Lux-Tenebris is no more."
"Great work, Thomas." She replied. "I'm glad it's done."
"Me too." I replied, as I then kissed her.
"Thomas..." Tamaki then said to me as I looked at him. "I know that I'm not supposed to say much, but if it helps, you'll regret no decision you make in your future. I know it's not much but I..."
"It's more than enough, Tamaki." I replied as I embraced him. "Continue to work hard and never stray from your ways, okay?"
Tamaki nodded in reply as a broad smile came across his lips before disappearing in a cloud of gold-dust back to his own timeline. As Lady and I then held each other's hands, she gave me a broad smile as she looked at me lovingly.
"Thomas, do you think that we'll ever see Tamaki again?"
"If he seems to know us pretty darn well now, then it's very likely in the days to come." I replied. "Anyway, let's go and tell the others. This war is now over and they need to know."
"Right." My wife replied as she and I then darted off to find everyone else.
(To be concluded...)