CHAPTER 11: MORDRED.
(POV: Thomas)
As me, Lady, and Billster went throughout the halls, all of them were empty and lifeless. We had no further run-ins with Mordred's troops and there were no further obstacles. Eventually, we have arrived at our destination. As I then looked at the massive pair of doors in front of us, my heart rate spiked, and I filled up with worry and anxiety, for I was about to meet the evil king himself. As I began to worry, Lady grabbed my hand in an attempt to comfort me. As she then spoke in her soft and kind tone that I always loved, the warm and softness of her skin began to lower my heart-rate.
"Thomas.." She asked me. "Are you okay?"
Though I didn't like to worry her, Lady had always been kind and caring and I knew if I lied to her, that I would just make her worry more. Knowing that I had no other choice I gave her the truth.
"No." I replied as I recalled my premonition. "I'm scared Lady. For if I fail today, Mordred will send his troops through every town and city, ensuring his rule. I know this for I saw this in a vision. Mordred won't just stop at Sodor, he'll aim for the world. If I lose the fight, it's game over, Mordred will rule."
"I understand." She replied. "I KNOW that you can do this, we believe in you. Right Billster?"
"Yup!" My little brother replied. "And I'm always willing to have my brother's back." Billster said as he then playfully slapped my shoulder blade as he always has.
As I then took in the support from Billster and Lady, I managed to crack a smile for they had my back. Though I was indeed scared about this fight I was soon to do, my brother and the girl who I had a crush on both believed that I had what it takes to win against Mordred. As we then opened the massive doors, the old hinges creaked loudly as the doorway revealed a dimly lit throne room with carpet that was black in the center and red on the outside, and was filled with an aura that was dark and bone-chilling, as if many lives had died in this very room. As the doors then swung closed, the room lit up a bit more to reveal a figure on the throne in royal attire of the same color scheme as the carpet, a crown upon his head, leather 13 century boots on his feet, a black one-handed sword and it's scabbard on his belt, and a crest upon his shoulder pads that was identical to the one that the black armored knights have. As I did my best to keep my composure, this man of a truly evil aura stood up as stepped towards us as he called me the one title that only he and a few others should know.
"Well..." Remarked the man. "It may have taken a while, but, congrats on finally making it here Child of Avalon."
"and you must be Mordred!" I scowled
"Indeed I am." He sneered in reply. "Now, I'm not sure if you remember, but I did attempt to recruit you sometime ago."
"Oh, I remember alright." I replied with the utmost annoyance. "You made a duplicate of me!"
"ah." said Mordred with a smile. "It appears you do. Well, anyways, I wanted to ask you once again to join me. For if you do, all of your greatest wishes and desires will become true. and this darn war can be put aside with us as the supreme rulers!"
As I then began to have his "offer" reach my ears again, I scowled with rage and utter hatred for I did not want to be a supreme ruler of anywhere, if it meant stooping to a tyrant's level. Yes, I could marry Lady with no worries if I did, but the path that Mordred was on was not what I wanted. As I then glared darkly at the evil king I gripped on Excalibur's handle, ready to take him down.
"No chance Mordred!" I replied. "I'd seen what would happen if you win this war! So Today, I'm not just fighting for Sodor's future, I'm fighting for the whole world's!"
Then as I finished my declaration, I drew Excalibur out of it's scabbard and grasped it tightly as it was in my hand.
"Very well." Sighed Mordred. "Let it be known that this day... THAT YOUR DEATH CAME AT MY OWN HANDS!" Mordred shouted as he then drew his black sword and got ready to attack
As I was about to block Mordred's strike, I suddenly froze midway and felt sick to my stomach as I peered at the sword that the evil king was holding. Though it was corrupted, filthy and dim, I knew the blade's identity for I had a faint connection with it. Then, as Excalibur's glow became brighter and brighter, Mordred's attack hit it's target, and I then flew backwards into the wall hard. As Lady and Billster ran over to me, I was full of shock at the identity of Mordred's sword as I coughed up blood.
"Brother!" Billster cried. "Are you okay?!"
"Thomas." Lady cried out. "Please, answer us."
As I just widened my eyes in shock, I was at a loss of words for what was happening here was supposed to be impossible. Then, a few seconds after I looked back at what I felt and saw, I found my words as I then looked at Mordred.
"I-impossible." I croaked. "T-that s-sword... I-it c-can't be t-true... h-how are you able to wield it?!"
"So, I see you know it then." Mordred said with a sneer. "That shouldn't be surprising since it is Excalibur's sister blade."
"No." Gasped Lady. "That blade... I-it's Caliburn?!"
"Yes!" Mordred replied with a devious tone. "And to answer that boy's previous question on how I'm able to wield it, let's just say it took a little time, patience and a lot of souls!"
"You monster!" Lady scowled. "You killed innocents with it?!"
"Innocents to you, perhaps." Mordred replied. "but to me, they were criminals who needed to be executed. For they were all those who betrayed me."
"Betrayed?!" Billster scowled as he pointed his finger. "You call someone wishing for freedom a traitor?! You know nothing pal! My brothers, sisters, parents and I have been betrayed by many back in our home in Brighton! one of which was someone who we gave a home for him to come back to! If you don't know what true betrayal is then don't say anything about it!"
As Billster's words reached his ears, Mordred scowled for he hated it when someone was trying to prove him wrong. The tyrant then positioned Caliburn and spoke with a dark tone as he said his next words to Billster and Lady.
"If you both don't move aside now.." He growled. "you'll die alongside your comrade."
"Billster." said Lady as he gripped her sword. "Charge him."
"Right!" Billster replied as he and Lady then ran towards the evil king.
As I then watched them tag team on Mordred, they held their own against him. However, this won't last long as Mordred then sent Lady flying into one wall and Billster into another. As Mordred turned heel and began making his way towards me, Lady knew she had to do something fast, so without thinking twice the Magicborn grabbed her rapier, stood back up and activated her Elemental Release. As Illumous's blade turned into a swirling twister of Gold-Dust and lightning, Mordred turned heel and he too activated Elemental Release. As the twisters of dark and light clashed their powers caused a massive shock wave, which sent both of them flying backwards. As Lady flew into the wall, a huge wound in her stomach opened, and then she tumbled to the floor unconscious and bleeding severely. As I then saw this sight, I was horrified. Lady, the most powerful person I knew and respected, the one who I had viewed as a Goddess and loved dearly, had been easily beaten and injured by Mordred. As Mordred walked back towards me, I tried to feel anger or hate, but I couldn't, for I was frozen with shock and disbelief. As Mordred readied to do the final blow, Billster who was now beyond exhausted, used the last of his strength to jump in front of me, in an attempt to save me. As I saw this, I was reminded of THAT horrific day where Hunter killed THEM. The day that held the greatest of my failures. As I thought back, I began to wonder, "Am I always doomed to fail those I love?" "Is it my fate to let everyone that I care about down?" As I began to ask myself these questions of doubt and self hate, I suddenly heard a voice of someone that I'd never hear from again, as a pair of familiar hands placed themselves on my back trying to push me forward.
"Go on." It said to me. "Go and save them Thomas. You can win this!"
Then, filled with some more strength and many feelings, I then gripped the handle of Excalibur once more and deflected Mordred's attack in the nick of time. As I then held my brother in my arm's I couldn't help but feel a little proud of him for really giving his hardest.
"Brother." He panted. "I-I thought you couldn't move."
"I know." I replied with a smile. "Billster, you did so darn well. You have done enough for today. Rest now, Okay? I'll finish this."
"Right." Replied my little brother as he then closed his eyes and went unconscious.
And so, after I gently brought Billster to the ground, I turned heel and gripped Excalibur tightly as I prepared for my final fight with Mordred for I intended to kill him.
(To be continued...)