CHAPTER 10: MALSTORM.

(POV Mysterious Narrator.)

As Edward and Henry had discovered the mirror in the chamber filled with treasure, Timothy and Oliver were making pretty good time within the center tunnel.

(POV: Timothy.)

As I walked down the long and cold tunnel with Oliver, everything was seemingly fine until...

"ARGH!" I grunted and hissed in great pain as I then leaned onto the wall next to me, and held onto my stomach.

"Timothy! are you..."

"Keep your distance Oliver!" I said as my voice began to sound distorted. "It's not what you think."

As I then saw my friend nod in acknowledgement, I can tell by the look on his face that he really wanted to help.

"Timothy.." He then asked me. "Is there any way I can assist?"

"There isn't much you can do, Oliver." I'm sorry, but there isn't too much I can do about my demon. Which is why I'm after Malstorm in the first place. However.." I went on with a grunt. "I do need you to go back the way you came. I don't want anyone following me and ending up getting killed by me."

Oliver nodded again and began to do as I asked him. As I then tried to keep the demon under control, I heard an unfamiliar voice.

"So, you're here for Malstorm."

"Yeah... I am."

"Then, make your way forward then, and claim your blade."

And so I did. Knowing that it was most likely the spirit of the mage that was within Malstorm's origin story who was talking to me, I knew that I was on the right path. Though I felt the knife of the demon's wanting of control, I was determined to continue forward with one heavy step after another. Eventually, I found myself in a massive ice covered chamber with a red aura lighting up the place. The chamber was empty, but, at the very center stood a skinny silver sword, that was the same length as Excalibur and Blue-Spark from blade tip to pommel, and had red accents on the hilt, along with engraved symbols. As my eyes set upon this sword, I instantly knew what it was.

"That's... Malstorm."

"Indeed it is, and it's been here for centuries." The voice that I heard remarked. "Awaiting for it's first wielder."

"What must I do to claim it." I then asked.

"Anyone..." The voice began. "With demon or without, can claim this blade, but only a few can truly wield it."

"So how do I truly wield it?" I asked.

"To truly wield this weapon, you must first take care of your inner demons, and put them to rest." The voice then explained. "If you don't, the weapon will not fully cooperate with you, or possibly destroy you when wishing for it's full power."

"But, how will I do that?" I then exclaimed. "I never once succeeded in that feat."

"Putting one's inner demons to rest is indeed challenging..." The voice then said to me. "But it is not impossible. You must face your past."

As that was then said to me, a blinding light filled my vision, making the whole chamber of ice disappear. When I then opened my eyes, I found myself in a familiar place.

"How did I..."

My question was then immediately answered by a sound of whimpering nearby. I looked over to spot a ten year old, whose hair and attire colors were the same as mine. It then hit me, THIS was the day when my demons truly awoke. The boy was me from the past, and he was whom I had to face. As I then sat down next to him, I overheard some muttering from his lips.

"I'm a demon child! I'm a demon child! And I'm a bad person."

"You're not a bad person." I replied soothingly as I thought back to THAT day. "You never intended to harm or kill anyone."

"Well that's not what HE thinks?!" He then said back. "HE made me a near murderer!"

"That's the demon who wants control over you." I said back. "Not YOU. YOU had a reason to react the way you did, for someone wanted to harm your brother. You wanted to protect him, so you punched."

The boy then stopped crying, and looked towards me in shock.

"How did you..."

"Because I'm you." I replied. "You from later on. The you who looks back further and forgives the actions of his younger self. Forgiveness, especially on one's own self isn't easy, but, you will eventually find the strength to find it if you even try."

The vision of the younger me then managed to crack a smile, as I then felt my hand grab onto something from the outside of my vision. As the vision then began to fade away, I heard my younger self say these words as they echoed through my mind.

"You're right... I'm not a demon child. I'm just a very protective and dedicated older brother, and darn proud of it."

As the light faded, I found myself back in the chamber of ice, with my hand gripped onto Malstorm. Now with it linked to my circuits and soul, I KNEW just what to-do. Drawing it out of its resting spot, I pointed Malstorm towards the massive hole in the ceiling above, and it's blade started to glow, as the blizzard started to slow. As Malstorm's ability then brought the blizzard to an end, I grabbed it's scabbard and stowed my new sword on my belt, for I had officially claimed it.

(To be continued...)