To Rebuild a Kingdom

by Magma Red

Terraria. An abandoned island home to the crumbling ruins of a once mighty kingdom, destroyed by the shrouded darkness of evil. Now forgotten from the memory of man, an emotionless pariah seeks to re-build the kingdom, restoring it to the former glory it had, and defend it from anything that would see to it's destruction. Easier with in the mind, but no one said it would be so...

48. The Hero

AN – This is going to be a LONG chapter.

ONE THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HOLY COW IT'S FINALLY HERE I'M GONNA WRITE IT. It's a bit intimidating. I've had one particular scene in here playing over in my head for almost as long as I've been working on this.

ANYWAY, here's the chapter. Enjoy!

Also, get tissues.

---

The Hero

"Sarid, calm down."

Doc was watching Sarid as she rushed from chest to chest in the storage room, getting supplies. With him were Hannah and Asher, both worried.

"I need to go get him!" Sarid told him. "Lance is…I don't know what to call him, but he has my father!"

"Sarid…" Doc said.

"I need to go get him, I-"

"Sarid!"

She looked at him, his face stern.

"…I know you're worried." He told her. "I am too. But what plan do you have?"

"…" She blinked, looking down into her pack, seeing she had potions, rope, and weapons. "…I don't have one."

"Harry told me about how well you did with the pirate invasion." He told her. "Julo has a large army, the best soldiers at the castle. How are you going to get in?"

"…" She blinked. After a moment, she dumped out the contents of her pack, looking through them. Healing potions were put into it, the other items put away, aside from the knife she had gotten from the Solar Eclipse. From another chest, she pulled out a black cloth belt and special black footwear. At another chest, she pulled out several components, armor bracing, medicated bandage, counter course mantra, a roll of paper labeled The Plan, a blindfold, and finally, her obsidian shield.

Going to the work area, she went to the station she had gotten from Xanos so long ago, combining the black items with her climbing gear. When that was done, she put it into her pack, and then combined the numerous items she had, all into one: an Ankh Shield.

"…" She looked up, thinking. "I need to see those three."

She rushed out, they following after her, though she was faster. Leaving the castle, she went to Ada's house, going in. Before her, Xanos, Ada and Autumn were around a table, looking up at her as she entered. Behind them was some tall object with a sheet over it.

"Xanos told us." Ada said, rolling up a blueprint and going to Sarid. "Wot do ya need?"

"Armor that I can put on quickly." Sarid told them. "Or be hidden under clothing."

"We got both." Autumn told her, Sarid looking at her. She had a determined smile on her face, she and Xanos rushing over to the item covered with the sheet.

They pulled it off, showing a type of glass display with armor in it.

It looked like a humanoid beetle, minus the bulky shell on the back.

"All it needs is the wings and your pack." Autumn told her, Ada and Sarid walking over. Xanos pulled a lever on the side.

Sarid watched in shock and awe.

The armor began to fold back, collapsing until it appeared to be nothing but a strapless backpack.

"…"

All she could do was stare, speechless.

Xanos pulled another lever, the glass opening and reaching in, taking the armor pack.

"It's all yours, mate." Ada told her as Xanos held it out.

"Like I said, all it needs is the wings and pack." Autumn told her. "It'll automatically stick to your back with those added, and it'll have a greater amount of storage space with you pack added to it. There will be a sting – after that, all you have to do is command the armor to cover you."

"…" Sarid blinked again, looking up at them "How can I thank you?"

"Come back alive." Autumn told her, serious. "If that guy was willing to take someone as kind as Mr. Flint, there's no telling what he'll do."

"I know." Sarid told them. "And thank you again."

She rushed out of the house, going back to the castle, passing Doc, Asher and Hannah, who were all confused. Getting to the castle, she went in and to the work wing, getting the souls of flight she needed, then going to her work table that Xanos had given her. Her pack and the armor fit together, somehow, and then she went to her work bench. The wings were crafted, she seeing slots where they could be put.

They were put in, and she stepped back.

"Solvo." She said.

Her angel wings detached themselves, and she turned around.

The pack fit against her perfectly, and was also very light.

She felt the sting, right along her spine, and it faded.

Out.

It covered her quickly, the color of her vision slightly different due to the material in the eyes.

In.

It retracted, and was once more a pack.

I'm coming, father.

Once again, she rushed out, Doc, Hannah and Asher in the middle of the throne room.

"Sarid?" Asher asked.

"I have everything I need." She told them. "I'm going to bring him home."

Running down the castle steps, she ran to the beach and saw villagers gathered there, Sinbad among them.

"Lassie!" He called.

"Get ready to sail, Sinbad." She told him. "I'm going to get him."

"Are ye sure?" He asked.

"I've fought many threats." She told him. "I didn't back out then. I'm not going to now."

"…Aye." He nodded.

"Sarid." Faye said, Sarid looking at her. "Be careful…that guy – Lance – there's…something not right with him."

"I understand." Sarid told her.

"Here."

Someone took her hand and she looked, seeing Reginald putting a wooden case into it.

"He and I made them." Durim told her. "Use them as a last resort."

"…Thank you." She told them, tucking the case into her pack.

"Take this."

She looked to her side, seeing Merlyn holding out a rod. It was blue and silver, a cylinder at the top, containing blue and light blue material that made beautiful swirling patterns.

"Thank you, Mr. Merlyn." She told him, putting it into her pack as well.

"Sarid!"

She looked, seeing Sparkle, holding out a bag.

"Try not to be seen." She told her, Sarid taking the bag. Looking in, she saw smoke bombs, then closed the bag and tucked it away.

"Thank you."

"WAIT! SARID!"

She looked up as the villagers parted, seeing Autumn, Ada and Xanos running along, Hannah, Doc and Asher at the end of the dock. Ada made it to her fist, holding out a grappling hook.

"We…modified…this…" She panted.

"It's…a hook…a special one." Xanos said, getting to them.

"Yea…" Ada told her, then taking a deep breath. "It has a total of three hooks. You can suspend yourself at any point you need, go up or down, an' all three can be thrown at any time. As well, you can move around the latch point or points."

"…" Sarid stared at it, taking it.

"…Thank you." She told them, then looking around. "All of you…That you would help me, I…"

Words failed her.

"…I don't know what to say." She said.

"Come back to us in one piece, ya hear!" Raven told her. The rest of the villagers present agreed, Sarid nodding. A hand touched her shoulder, and she looked up, seeing Asher.

"…Please be careful." He told her. She nodded.

"…" She blinked, then tucked the hook into her pack and hugged him, he hugging her back. They stood a moment, then separated.

"Ye ready, lass?" Sinbad asked.

"…" She looked at him. "Yes."

"Alright." He said, then looking up at the ship. "Get ready ta sail!"

She followed him up the gangplank, the ropes let loose and the sails unfurled, the Royal Paranjay turning around and headed for the opening of the bay, Sarid looking back at the villagers, who watched with various degrees of worry on their faces.

…I never thought I'd have people to come back to at one point.

She looked forward, the warm wind blowing her hair.

…It's both wonderful and saddening.

Later…

"He'll be expecting us to meet in Seafare again." Sarid said, Sinbad and Payo with her in Sinbad's room, looking at a map of Julo.

"Aye." Sinbad nodded. "Where do ye want us to meet instead?"

"Here." Sarid said, pointing at to port town south of it. "Hightide is our next best location."

"Wot about this'n?" Payo asked, pointing to another dot on the map. "Golden Crest?"

"No, that's closer to Seafare." Sarid told him. "That would be his first guess."

"Smart. Payo told her. "We'll be at Seafare before dawn."

"Good." Sarid told him. "I'll get to the capitol as fast as I can…I get father, get out and…"

"…Sumthin' wrong?" Sinbad asked.

"…The servants." Sarid told him. "Lance will go after them in a fit of rage, no doubt…I'll need to get them to safety as well."

"We'll bring them on board at Hightide." Sinbad told her. "Ain't no way I'm lettin' that feller 'urt an innocent soul – not while there be life in me."

"Agreed, captain." Payo said, Sarid and Sinbad looking at him. "Don't ye worry Ms. Sarid, we'll fight tooth an' nail for them if need be."

"Thank you both." Sarid told them.

"Aye." Sinbad said. "Now ye get some rest. We'll let ye know when we're close."

"…Wake me when you see the coast." Sarid told them. "I can fly to it."

"…Very well." Sinbad told her. "Harpoon's a great man, lassie…an' he raised an amazin' lass."

"…Thank you." Sarid told him.

Sarid returned to her cabin and managed to sleep, the waves and water racing under the ship as they went as fast as they could towards Julo. The sky turned from a lovely blue to a yellow and red gradient as the sun lowered, the top of the sky turning to indigo, then purple, and finally black, the stars that studded the sky shimmering over head and off the water, the half-moon dancing on the surface.

---

Payo stood by Sinbad, who was at the wheel, looking through a telescope, when a faint light came into view. Another appeared, and another, and he could just make out the light posts at the ends of the port docks.

"We be close, cap'n." Payo told him, lowering his scope.

"Aye." Sinbad said. "…Payo."

"Aye?"

"If we do this…we'll be branded traitors to Julo." He told him. "They know our connection to Sarid, an' they ain't that stupid…we may never be able to come back."

"…" Payo stared at him, then looked at the coast. "I've made me peace with Julo, cap'n…and if I die, I'd rather die for a good Samaritan like Mr. Flint an' Ms. Sarid, than bein' a coward…there ain't no use in livin' a long life if I don't do any good with it…An' like I told ye when we lost our ship. It's up to ye to move on, and I have. I ain't lookin' back."

"Agreed." Sinbad said. "…Well, let's do it…we're going t' war, Payo. Wake her."

"Aye." He said, rushing down the steps.

---

Sarid was woken by the sound of a door, her eyes opening. Lifting her head, she saw Payo in the doorway, lantern in hand.

"We be near the coat." He told her. She got up and went to the door, following him up to the deck. Sailors were gathered around, watching.

"Ye all know the situation." Payo told them. "The cap'n an' I have our peace about helpin' Miss Sarid…If any of ye have objection, speak now, and ye may leave. If not…may no man speak ill of ye."

"…"

One man stepped forward, Sarid recognizing him as the one she had arm wrestled with so long ago.

"…I ain't lettin' them corrupt landlubbers get away with this." He said.

"…Neither am I." His friend said, coming forward.

"Nor I!" Another said.

"HERE HERE!" Others yelled, coming forward, until every man on board was cheering.

"Alright." Payo said, looking at Sarid. "Fly fast an' swift, with the blessin' of e'ery man on board."

"Thank you." Sarid told him, then looking at them. "Thank you all. May the wind and tide always be in your favor."

She spread her beetle wings and took off, going high up into the sky and headed for the coast, the moon a couple hours from the horizon. The Royal Paranjay turned, headed south for Hightide, though she didn't look back.

There was no doubt in her mind to trust them.

The sun began to peek over the horizon as she went over the land, looking down to see smoke rising from chimneys. Her eyes narrowed, then her stomach growled, she heading down toward the village. She landed among the trees beside it, then snuck toward it, looking out from behind one.

I'll leave money…

The houses already had lights in them, save for one. Going to it, she got to a window.

"Recludo." She whispered. The lock clicked, and she pushed the window open, climbing into the house. She was already in what looked like the kitchen.

Going to the cupboard, she went through them, finding no food.

…Strange…

Looking behind her, there was an archway, she going to and through it. The light that made it through the windows lit the room just enough that it looked familiar.

…Where…

Wait.

There was a pair of rocking chairs before the fireplace.

…Is…this…?

She went to the far wall, which had doors on it, looking down the hall to see more. Looking at the door before her, she opened it and looked in.

It was a hospital room.

…This is Doc's home…this village is Unop…

She stood a moment, then rushed back into the main room.

She got all the painting from the house, putting them into her pack, then coming across a bed room. Looking around, there was double bed, and another picture on the wall. Going to it, she took it down and put it into her pack, stopping.

Next to the wardrobe was a black, guitar-shaped item.

"…"

After a moment, she went to it, touching it. It was cool and hard, she feeling the edge and finding two clasps.

Laying it on the floor, she opened it, seeing a black guitar inside.

"…"

"People would stay all night just to hear him sing and play instruments."

She recalled Hannah's words about her uncle, Asher's father.

This must be his…

She stared at it a moment, then closed and latched the case, getting it into her pack.

Sneaking back out of the house, she locked the window back and went out a ways into the woods, then took back to the skies. She flew until she saw the capitol's castle, going down to just above the trees that sped past.

I need to go in at night…but the servants need to be warned…If I go now, they'll be on their way by the time I get father free.

Sometime later, she reached the estate, landing at the stable. The door was open, she going to it and looking in, seeing the valet sitting on a stool, staring off into space with an empty look.

"…Liam." She whispered.

"…" He kept staring.

"…Liam." She said, stepping into the door way. His head turned to look at her.

He fell off his stool, then scrambled up and grabbed a pitchfork, pointing it at her, panic on his face.

"Liam, calm yourself." She told him.

"…What are you?" He asked.

"I'm Sarid." She told him. In.

Her armor over her head retracted, showing her face.

"…Master Sarid?" He asked, confused, then surprised. Dropping the pitchfork, he ran to her. "You heard about Mr. Flint?"

"Yes." Sarid told him. "Where are Mr. and Mrs. Lee?"

"In the house, come quick!" He told her. She followed him out of the stables to the door used for supplies, going into a hall. Rushing down it, they came into the kitchen, the rest of the servants gathered around the table in it.

Looking up, they saw her.

"Master Sarid!" Anna said. Greg rushed over, grabbing her shoulders.

"Sarid, please!" He said to her, his eyes pleading. "You have to do something!"

"I'm going in tonight." She told him. "I-"

"Now!" Burns said, Sarid looking at him and how distressed he was. "They're going to bring him out in public in only a short while! They…they could…"

Sarid's eyes got intense.

"I won't let them." She told him. "All of you need to pack – you're in danger as well. Get what you need and go to Hightide as fast as you can. There's a ship there – the Royal Paranjay, with Captain Sinbad. You can trust him."

"Right." Greg said, releasing her shoulders. "Please, be careful."

"I will." Sarid told him. "I'll see all of you in Hightide."

"Wait." Burns said. Looking at him, he rushed to a cabinet, getting a few food items – dried meat and fruit, along with a loaf of bread. He put it in a bag and tied it off, then handed it to her.

"When you rescue Flint, come get all the food you need from here."

"Thank you." Sarid told him, tucking the bag into her pack, then turning away.

Rushing out, she stopped by the stable and got two of the old horse blankets, then headed for the capitol.

When she got close enough, her armor was fully retracted and she rubbed dirt on her arms, removed her boots, socks and rolled up her pant legs, rubbed dirt on her feet and lower legs as well, then got the blankets around her like a robe. She went into the city, seeing the streets were almost vacant. Only two or three people were out.

Sarid went straight for the square.

As she neared, she walked hunched over and with a heavy limp, coming to the crowded square. It was tense, almost as if everyone was expecting a ruthless attack, Sarid able to feel her heart rate increase.

There was a raised, covered seat for the king, a wooden stage with a wooden log upright on it. The clip-clop-clip-clop of horses could be heard, Sarid going to a tavern front, going up onto the steps where others were, able to see over the crowd.

The royal carriage was pulled into the square, followed by one for prisoners. Soldiers marched on either side, the royal carriage getting to the king's seat. The valet let down the steps and opened the door, the king getting down out of it, going up onto the covered seat and sat down, a servant that had come with him already pouring a drink. Sarid felt disgusted.

The prison carriage reached the wooden stage, stopping.

The crowd got tenser.

The back of the carriage opened, a guard stepping down out of it, followed by Lance. He turned back and reached into the carriage, pulling out Flint.

Sarid felt horror and rage.

His hair was messy and fell over his forehead, his glasses missing. His sleeveless undershirt was bloodied, one of his eyes swelled shut and dry blood crusted against the side of his face. His hand were behind him, bound no doubt.

Lance pulled him along, Flint having a limp, Sarid feeling her rage grow.

All around her people were whispering in disbelief, unable to accept that Flint was before them on the stage, being tied to the log.

Lance turned to the crowd, his face ashen and the bags under his eyes black, his lips twisted into an unnerving smile.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Julo!" Lance said, projecting his voice. "We stand before you today with a traitor to Julo – Commander Harold Flint!"

People were uneasy, still in disbelief.

"This man allowed a woman to go through our esteemed military school, fully aware that she was a woman!"

Murmurs among the crowd:

"Wait, is he talking about Forte?"

"I think he is!"

"So? She never hurt anyone here."

"Yeah – she just left."

"She's royalty! All royalty should know how to fight!"

"This is an unpardonable offence!" Lance continued. "As such, he shall be made an example of."

"Let him speak." Sarid said, though she knew he wouldn't hear.

"…Yeah, let him speak!" Someone close enough to have heard said.

"LET HIM SPEAK!" Another person yelled, more people among the crowd yelling the same or agreeing.

Lance looked lost, looking at the crowd.

"No!" He said. "He-"

"BOOOO!" The crowd jeered, Lance gritting his teeth.

"He doesn't de-"

"Let him speak!" The king yelled, Sarid looking over at him. He looked worried, though still held his drink.

"…" Lance narrowed his eyes, then looked back at Flint. He blinked, then looked at the crowd.

"…I won't deny what I did." Flint said. "I allowed Sarid Terrarian to go through military school. I also don't regret it."

Lance looked at him incredulously.

"Sarid proved to be an excellent student. One the best I've seen. Her being top of the class was no mistake, nor did it happen naturally. She proved to be strong, determined, and courageous. If I knew I'd end up here for what I did, I wouldn't change it. The kingdom of Terraria has been rebuilt because of her. People have been saved because of her. All this in just over a year. Think of what will come in ten."

"QUIET!" Lance said, drawing his pistol.

"LET HIM TALK!" People yelled.

"I did!" Lance yelled back.

If I get father now, they'll know…I need him back in the castle. She looked around, seeing a tall building.

"HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!" Someone yelled.

"HE'S A GOOD MAN!"

"No he's not!" Lance yelled.

"HE'S BETTER THAN YOU!" Someone yelled, Sarid getting through the crowd.

"That's enough!" Lance yelled.

"Julo is here because of men like him!" Someone yelled. "Heroes!"

"He-"

"He's a hero!" Someone yelled, cutting Lance off. "Let him go!"

"LET THE HERO GO!" Sarid yelled, getting close to the building.

"LET THE HERO GO!" Others yelled.

"LET THE HERO GO!"

"QUIET!" Lance yelled.

"LET THE HERO GO!"

"LET THE HERO GO!"

"LET THE HERO GO!"

Sarid got to an alley and ran down it, getting to a door to a tall building, using her magic to unlock it and rush in. The crowd was still yelling, Lance yelling back, she using her wings to get up to a floor above the crowd. Getting to one, she went into a room and went to a window facing the square. It was opened, and she looked out it. Lance was still on stage, yelling at them to try and convince them. The king looked scared, Sarid reaching back into her pack and pulling out a sniper rifle she had gotten from the Dungeon, putting on the silencer she has gotten from Reginald.

Kneeling, she was able to steady her aim, the crosshairs right at the King' arm.

She let out her breath.

The bullet flew over the crowd, getting the King right in the arm, the shock making him fall from his chair. No one noticed over the yelling. The guards however, did notice, and so got the king up and rushed him to his carriage. Lance saw this, then scowled, putting his pistol away. Waving a hand, the guards took Flint from the upright log down the stage, guards fighting to keep the crowd back.

Getting Flint into the prison carriage, Lance climbed in after him and it started toward the castle.

Alright…now to infiltrate. Sarid thought.

She quickly left the building, going back into the alley and taking a turn, headed towards the castle. After a bit of walking, she got to the castle wall, walking along it. As she walked, she examined the wall, finding a blind spot where the wall curved outward. After that, she went to another tall building, going into its shadow.

Climbing it, she got to the roof and looked out over the castle, watching as guards patrolled the wall. When a pair came from one tower, walking along to the next, she used her watch to time it. It took three minutes for them to get to the next tower.

Getting back down the building, she sat against it, thinking.

Alright…I have an entry way…but they won't have signs pointing me to the dungeon…

…But I could have a guide.

She pulled a parchment and pen from her pack, writing on the parchment. When she finished, she rolled it up and stood, rushing off.

A bit later…

She walked hunched over and limping toward one of the city's post offices, coming to it. Sitting down beside the door, she pulled the horse blankets around her, covering her legs and face, so she looked like a brown lump.

Flint had always refused to do service with this one in particular. She had overheard him on occasion, him telling a post master that they over charged and underserved – and yet some of them had more coin than they should have.

People passed by her, some moving away.

"Sir."

She moved her head, seeing the lower half of a post man.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He told her.

"I…have a letter…" She said in a distorted, gravelly voice. From the blankets, she held out the rolled parchment just enough so he could see it, but not her hand.

"…Well, I assume you can pay for postage?" He asked.

"Yes, yes…" She said.

"Very well." He sighed, taking the parchment. "Who is this going to?"

"Major Walter Lance…" Sarid said, then holding out a bag of coins.

"…M-Major Lance, you say?" He asked. "Over in Green Hills?"

"Yes, yes…" Sarid said, opening the bag just enough he could see the gold. "Take it to him at nightfall...and tell him that it's urgent…"

"…Yes sir." He breathed, quickly taking the bag and tucking it into his pocket.

"Good, good…" Sarid said, a platinum coin showing from her blankets. "Do as I ask, please…"

"I will." He whispered.

"Good, good…" Sarid said, pulling the coin back. She stood then, turning away. "And sir?"

"Yes? Sir?" The post man asked.

She turned her head just enough to see his feet.

"Don't make me regret this…"

"I won't."

"Good, good…"

She limped away, turning the corner. Standing straight, she rushed down the alley, heading back towards the wall. Coming to the building she had climbed, she did so again, coming to a window

"Recludo." She whispered, the window unlocking. Pushing it in, she entered the room and then closed the window back, stepping off to the side. Getting out her ninja clothes from her pack, she shed the blankets and pulled the clothes on, pulling the mask over her face and using face paint to darken the skin around her eyes and her eye lids.

She sat and she waited.

The light from the window slowly faded, Sarid getting hungry. Getting the food bag Burns had given her, she ate some of it until the light was gone and she was left in the dark. The bag was put away and she climbed out the window, locked back, and kept climbing.

Getting to the top of the building, she laid down, holding on with her climbing gear, and waited.

The sun sunk below the horizon, the night sky having fewer stars due to the lantern lights. A carriage with white officer horse suddenly came dashing up the street, Sarid looking over at the wall, seeing two guards coming out of the first tower.

Her heart was pounding in her head and her mouth was dry, a heated wave of panic rushing down her back.

For my father.

She went to the edge of the building and dropped down, her lucky horseshoes keeping her from injury when she hit the ground. A quick look showed no one was near, and she ran to the wall, jumping onto it and climbing as quickly as she could. When she reached the top, she jumped the outside battlement to the inside, looking over the inside of the wall. Sure enough, Lance was arguing with a guard at the door…and at another door, supplies were being unloaded, no doubt to the store rooms.

She slid down the wall, making it to the grassy ground inside the wall, hidden in the shade of a tree. Dashing to the supply door, she ducked behind the wagon, reaching into her pack.

From it, she pulled an invisibility potion, shook the bottle then opened it, the mist of it coming out and hiding her. She snuck over to the edge of the wagon, looking out from behind it. The workers made no indication they saw her, and so she stood, walking around them and into the castle, toward the entrance hall.

"Are you sure about this?"

Sarid froze, recognizing the voice.

"I know that mistake would do anything for him!" Lance said, Sarid moving up against the wall.

Lance walked around the corner, followed by General Howe and two guards.

"But you're sure it's Queen Sarid?" Howe asked, they passing by her. She stepped away from the wall and followed them.

"That mistake is too stupid to live." Lance said. "Sending me a message that she's already 'rescued' Flint. Bah! There's no way she could get into the castle undetected!"

Sarid found herself somewhat amused, though kept walking silently.

"Lance." Howe told him. "She's smart – she was top of the class-"

"By some underhanded dealings!" Lance spat.

"Watch your tongue!" Howe spat back. "But she's not stupid like you claim."

They came to the end of the hall, Lance moving a torch sconce. The wall slid back, revealing a dark stairway. The four of them went into it, Sarid rushing up and climbing up the wall and into the passage. It made her think of a spider.

Lance pulled another sconce, closing the opening and they went down the dark passage, Sarid staying up on the wall. They went down into the earth, until they reached a door, Lance pushing it open. They went in, Sarid following, going through the door way and remain on the wall.

The room was dimly lit, with a table and chair, a man in a brown robe at it, head in his hand, asleep. His skin was a stark, ghostly white, his head bald and he was overweight.

"Wake up." Lance told him. The man stirred some, slumping in his chair and crossing his arms. "WAKE UP!"

The man jumped, blinking his red eyes.

"Oh…who're you?" He mumbled in a gurgled voice.

"I am Major Walter Lance." Lance told him. "I'm here to check on a prisoner."

"Awight, awight…" The man said quietly, standing. His back was hunched, keys jangling at his belt. Looking through them, he picked out one and put it in the metal door, unlocking it and then opening it. Lance rushed past, Sarid hurrying forward. She made it through the door as Howe went through, Sarid thankful for how short he was. The guards followed, the jailer closing the door behind him and locking the door.

"Has anyone come down here?" Howe asked the jailer.

"Not since earlier." He mumbled to him.

"When was that?"

"Hm…before wunch."

"Is there any other way to enter the prison?" Lance asked, not looking back.

"Not that I know of." The jailer mumbled.

"What?!" Lance asked, looking back at him.

"Not that I know of." The jailer mumbled again.

"How do you not know?!" Lance asked.

"Well-"

"We're here to check on Flint, Lance." Howe told him. "Besides, the only other way out is through the prison sewer."

Hm…

"…Fine." Lance said, stopping before one of the cells, looking through the metal bars. Sarid managed to climb where she could see in.

Up against the wall was Flint, his arms chained above his head, legs bent in front of him.

"Well, how are you, Commander?" Lance asked.

"…" Flint said nothing, anger rising up in Sarid.

"…I see the message I received was just a poor attempt at a joke." Lance said. "I look forward to tomorrow."

"Will that fix everything?" Flint asked.

"…What?" Lance asked.

Flint moved his eyes to look up at him through the bars.

"You can kill me, Lance." Flint told him. "But it still won't change the fact that you're still nothing more than an angry little boy throwing a tantrum."

"You're a fool, Flint." Lance told him, angry. "I'm out here, and will continue to rise in power, to enjoy life. You? You're going to die tomorrow. You'll never get to see Forte again!"

"Sarid is stronger that you could ever hope to be." Flint told him. "And really? You enjoy life? You lash out at everyone who doesn't do what you want, which is often. A heart on fire sends smoke to the head – you're blind, Lance. You can boast all you like – but in the end, you're the one who's nothing."

Lance grabbed the bars.

"You're an idiot!" He yelled.

"Oh, that was an original." Flint said flatly.

Lance tried to grab the keys from the jailer, who yanked them away. Going around Lance, he unlocked the door and Lance pushed him aside, going into the cell. Sarid climbed down the wall and did a crawl across the floor, getting into the cell.

Lance grabbed Flint by his undershirt.

"You listen to me, commander." Lance said. "The fact remains Forte will come running to her own doom. And you'll be gone – unable to do anything for that mistake you chose."

"Sarid isn't you." Flint told him.

"…" Lance stared at him with seething anger, then backhanded him across the face.

Sarid's muscles tensed in a response to jump at him, but she remained still.

"You're a dead man, Flint." Lance told him, standing. "There's nothing you can do about it."

He whirled around and left, the jailer locking the door and the five of them leaving. When the metal door screeched shut, Flint leaned his head back against the wall. A sigh escaped him, and his eyes opened. She noticed he was feeling his left ring finger, his ring gone.

"They took your ring?" Sarid asked. Flint jumped, looking over where her voice had come from.

"…Sarid?" He asked.

"Summoveo." Sarid said, the invisibility potion dispelling, allowing him to see her.

"Sarid." He said, his good eye widening. "What are you doing here?"

"Getting you to safety." She told him, rushing over. "Recludo."

His shackles unlocked, freeing his hands.

"Sarid, I-"

"Father, we need to go."

"Through the sewer." He said.

"Drink this." Sarid told him, pulling out a potion. When she held it out to him, he turned his head away.

"That won't work." He told her.

"Sir?"

"…" He looked down at his bloodied shirt. "I remember Hannah sending Doc a letter. A year ago, now – you fought the Eye of Cthulhu?"

"Yes sir." Sarid told him.

"Remember how it's blood got into yours and kept you from healing?"

"Yes sir."

"…Back during the Shroud War…there was something called Deathweed that would grow, along with ugly purple mushrooms. Someone found out that if you mixed them properly, it would do the same as the blood."

"…So your wounds can't heal right now." She said. He nodded, Sarid sighing. "Well, we can't go through the sewer then. They could get infected."

"Right." He said. "The only way out is through the way you came in."

"…" Sarid stared at him.

He stared back, and she stood.

"Then there's one thing I can do." She told him.

Out.

Her armor came out and covered her, surprising him. Kneeling, she picked him up and got him on her back.

"Sarid…Are you sure?"

"Yes." She told him. "I learned from the best."

Going to the cell door, she reached out a hand.

"Recludo." Sarid said, the door unlocking. She pushed it open and walked down the hall, Flint on her back and with long, powerful strides. Her heart was thumping in her chest, and her breathing was somehow under control.

This is my father, and I will not let that monster hurt him anymore.

Getting to the metal door at the end of the hall, she held out her hand.

"Recludo." She said. It unlocked and she pushed it open, looking at the jailer.

His eyes were wide, jaw dropped and one hand clutching his keys.

"Who are you?" He mumbled.

"…I am Sarid." She told him. His eyes got wider. "I am taking father home with me."

"But…I can't wet you." He said.

"If you try and stop me, I'll take your keys."

He looked scared, holding them closer.

"…" She stared at him, until he glanced over at the exit door, then back her.

"If I wet you go, my keys get taken anyway."

"Then I'll make it easy for you." Sarid told him, holding out a hand so the palm faced him.

"Supor."

A soft, warm light came from her hand and went over to him, he watching as it went over his head and then dispersed, little shimmers of it settling over him before fading away. He blinked, his eye lids drooping, and then he slumped in his chair, falling asleep.

Sarid lowered her hand and went to the door, opening it. Going up the stairs, she leaned forward due to the extra weight on her back, reaching the top. She let out her breath, then took a deep one.

Reaching over, she turned the sconce, the doorway opening.

The hallway was empty, she stepping out of the entryway and pulling the sconce to close it, then hurrying down the hall. Adjusting Flint on her back, she pulled out a potion of night eye, unstopped it with her thumb and then retracted the part over her mouth. The potion was downed, the world around her losing its darkness and shadows.

In her mind, she focused on the torches around them.

"Nox." She said.

They went out, Sarid keeping on around a corner. At the end were two guards, clearly confused.

"Something's wrong." One said, the other nodding.

"Aye." He said. "We need to find our way out, and…"

His head turned, Sarid still striding towards him.

"Who's there?" He asked.

"Blood?" The other asked.

Sarid reached the first one, putting her hand against the side of his head.

With great strength, she pushed his head into the other guard's head, a metal KLANG ringing out. The first fell and the other staggered back, though Sarid kept walking, going around another corner, to the storerooms. The workers had finished, the door closed, Sarid reaching out to it.

"Recludo." She said. It unlocked and she pushed it open, going into the yard. Her feet moved faster, getting to the tree she had come down by, and she looked up.

"Hold on tight, father." She told him. His grip around her tightened some, and she began climbing up the wall again, fast as was possible. When she neared the top, she stopped and listened, not hearing footsteps or armor, and then continued and climbed over the inside battlement, then jumped over to the outside and slide down the outside.

They heard the deep clangs of a bell.

"The guards." Flint said.

"I know." She told him, reaching around to him. She got him in front of her, allowing her to spread her wings. "Hold tight."

He did so, Sarid taking off. She headed straight for the estate, getting to it quickly, landing by the side entrance where the stable was.

"The servants are already gone." She told him, helping him into the dark house. "I told them to head for the coast."

"Good, good…" Flint told her. She looked at him, seeing he looked sleepy.

"Stay awake." She told him, getting him to the inside hall. They went into a guest room, Sarid sitting him down in a chair. "Your wounds need patching."

He nodded, looking over at the bathroom door. She went to it and into the bathroom, going to the cabinet and getting some basic medical supplies, then going back out. His head was rested against the chair, eyes closed. She patted his face, his eyes opening.

Rubbing disinfectant on a cloth, the gently cleaned the cut on his head, then bandaged it.

"Sarid." Flint said, she looking at him with another cloth for disinfecting. "…Get what food you can. Leave me here."

"What?" She asked.

"Sarid-"

"I'm not leaving you!" She told him.

"Sarid – listen." He told her. "They'll come after you."

"And?" She asked. "I've fought monsters before."

"Sarid, please-"

"You're my father, I'm not leaving you!"

"…" His eyes dimmed, and he looked down. "…Yes…Father…"

"…" She blinked, confused.

A bell rang furiously, her eyes going wide.

They know father's gone.

She put the medical supplies back into the kit, then put it into her pack, picking up Flint again, rushing out of the room and back into the kitchen. The bell for the door was still ringing, louder in the kitchen. Grabbing a bag, Sarid put dried food into it, then picked Flint up again and bolted for the side door, just as she heard a crash from inside the house.

Getting outside, she took flight and went towards the academy, to the forest beside it and landed outside her cave. She carried Flint into it, gently setting him down so he could sit up against the wall. From her pack she pulled firewood, putting it in the stone circle and put tinder around it, lighting a fire that lit up the cave.

"So…this is where you were hiding."

She looked back at Flint, seeing he was looking around.

"Yes sir." She told him.

"It's a good spot." He said, Sarid going to him and getting out the medical kit.

"Thank you." She told him, getting the disinfectant. "Where else are you injured?"

"My back." He told her. "They lashed me."

Rage erupted in her.

"They did what."

"Sarid." He said, looking at her. "Anger is a poor motivator."

"…Yes sir." She said, then helping him move so he lay on his stomach.

She grimaced.

Blood had stained the whole back of his shirt, though she counted fewer lashes that she had feared. The whip had gone right through his shirt, leaving it ragged. Pulling out her hunting knife, she cut the cloth over his shoulders and down the sides, carefully having to peel the back of his undershirt off. Flint grunted with pain at one point, making her stop for a moment, then continue until it was off.

She was as careful as could be as she put on the disinfectant, cleaning away what blood she could. After that, he was bandaged and sat back up, Sarid then digging through her pack for another undershirt, unable to find one.

"…I'm sorry." She said, looking at him. "I don't have a spare shirt."

"…" He nodded, looking back forward. She noted he was feeling his left ring finger.

"…When I get you home, I'll come back and get it."

"No." He said.

"Sir?" She asked, he looking at her.

"You're more important to me than…than my ring." He told her, his eyes dimming.

"I never saw you without it."

"…It was a reminder." He told her.

"Then don't you want it?"

"I want you alive and well more."

"…" She pivoted on her foot, sitting back against the cave wall next to him.

"…Father?"

"…Yes?" He asked.

"…What's it a reminder of?"

"…"

His silence persisted, she looking at him to see his eyes were dimmer.

"Father?" She asked. He took a shaky breath.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"…" His face contorted with sadness, he putting his hands to his head.

"Father?" She asked, turning to face him.

"Sarid." He said.

"Yes sir?"

"…"

He lowered his hands, and she saw tears streaming down his face.

"…"

He sighed, hanging his head.

"It hurts."

"Uh…" She looked through the medical kit, trying to find painkillers.

"Not that." He told her. She looked at him, more tears on his face.

"What's hurting you?"

"…"

He looked at her with the saddest look she had ever seen.

"…Sarid." He said. "I love you. Don't ever doubt that…"

He looked at the fire.

"…But it hurts. Seeing you now. Hearing you call me father. It hurts."

"…" She stared, unsure of how to react or what to do.

"…"

He looked down at his hand, where his ring would've been.

"…I was engaged." He told her. Her eyes widened. "She was wonderful. She was strong. Smart. Determined…to almost being stubborn. And…she looked just like you."

Sarid's eyes got wider.

"My mother?" She asked.

"…" Flint was quiet.

She blinked, and he looked at her.

---

"GET DOWN!"

Flint Tackled Doc to the ground, a grotesque monster flying over them. He lifted his head, his black hair stuck to his forehead from sweat, purple and red fire all around the battle field. The monster looped around and came back towards them, Flint getting it in the crosshairs of his rifle.

BANG

It was hit in its large eye, letting out a horrific screech, Doc shooting it right in its underbelly, and it fell to the ground, writhed around, then fell still.

"Come on." Flint said, getting Doc up. "The other's are over here - Pip needs help."

Doc nodded, his hair brown and face dirty, though he had yet to need glasses. He followed Flint quickly past one of the purple fires, they ducking behind a fallen tree as other creatures rushed by, then kept on, coming to a foxhole.

Flint covered Doc as he slipped down under the top, then went down after him.

The rest of the group was there – young men with color in their hair. Mortimer didn't look up from his crosshairs, watching out the small opening they had for shooting. Merlyn had his hands over Pip's arm wound, blood leaking through his fingers, Alexander was next to Mortimer, ducked down and his gun ready. Arthur was next to Merlyn, clearly worried.

"Let me see." Doc said, going over and opening his bag. Merlyn pulled his hands back, Doc cleaning away the blood and seeing the cut.

"Well?" Pip asked, sitting up against the wall.

"You'll be fine, you big baby." Doc told him.

"I wasn't the one crying." Pip told him.

"Shut up." Arthur told him.

"I told you – coming with me was a bad idea!" Pip snapped.

"I wasn't going to let you two die!" Arthur snapped back.

"That's enough!" Merlyn said.

Flint looked over at Mortimer, who was silent.

"If that…whatever it is takes Julo, there's nothing to stop if from coming to Terraria!" Arthur said. "I had to come."

"After you stowed away and lied?" Pip asked.

"This again?!"

"Keep it down." Alex told them. "Loud foxes don't live long."

"Anything out there?" Flint asked Mortimer.

"Not that I can see." Mortimer told him. "Though this…fog, or whatever it is isn't helping."

Flint nodded, then looked back at Pip, seeing Doc was finishing with patching the wound.

"You still need to let that heal." Doc told him. "You need to go to the back."

"What?" Pip asked.

"No arguing."

"But-"

"What did I just say?"

"…" Pip let out a sigh.

"I'm not a child." Arthur told him.

"Yes, you are." Merlyn told him. Arthur glared, though he ignored it.

"I'll get him to the back." Flint said, going over. "Anything else need to be sent back or, anything we need while back there?"

"Yes. You, alive." Doc told him.

"I under-"

"GET DOWN!" Mortimer yelled. They all dropped to the ground, Flint feeling a rush over air over him. Lifting his head, the top of the foxhole was gone, alarming him.

"The site's compromised." He said.

"Move!" Alex said, they getting each other up and climbing out. In the distance, running toward them, Flint saw the enemy, wearing dark, horned armor.

"Incoming!" He yelled, they getting their weapons ready. One came at him with a sword, Flint side-stepping and bashing their head with the butt of his rifle, then slashing across their ribs with his bayonet. Blood spat out of the wound, something about it wrong, like the all the blood he had seen. It looked black, but still burned hot.

Looking up, one was fighting Doc, who was using his shield to block the axe they wielded. Flint rushed them, his bayonet going right up under the chest plate and into their side. Their cry was warped, almost demonic. Doc bashed them with his shield, then stabbed them right in the throat with his sword. They fell to the ground, a sickening sound reaching Flint's ears, another falling to the ground with a deep wound from Pip's axe.

He looked off to the side, Arthur decapitating one, and Merlyn shooting fire back at another, and they were all fallen.

"We need to find the major!" Merlyn said.

"The attack focus was back over there – let's move!" Alex said, they taking off and running together. The battlefield's ground was torn up from explosions, they trying to keep their footing. Coming to a broken wall, they rushed around it, the abandoned town housing the others they had come with. Getting further in, they passed a make-shift wall with guards.

They got to a building that was mostly intact, a major looking over a map on a table. He looked up at them, his craggy brows furrowed down.

"Major Howe." Doc said.

"Where have you all been?" He asked.

"We got pinned at the fox hole." Mortimer told him. He nodded, then looked back down at the map.

"I need all of you to take men with you here." He told them, pointing to a spot on the map, along a river. "The enemy intends to destroy a dam here – if they do that, we'll lose this area."

"Yes sir." They said.

"Good." He told them, then looking at another, larger group of men. "All of you go with them. And come back alive."

"Yes sir!" They said, saluting.

All of them left the base, headed up the river. The sun passed overhead, they going through forest and the corrupted purple, until they saw the dam in the distance.

"Get down." Pip said, all of them getting down and huddled together, Pip and Mortimer looking over a bush. Flint looked out from behind the fallen tree he was behind, seeing the flying creatures were spitting at various spots on the dam, the acid in the saliva burning holes into it. People in horned armor watched, one holding a red stick.

"Dynamite." Mortimer said. "Put it in the right places and they'll use less."

"Smart." Pip said. "What's the plan?"

Flint examined the area, seeing a single crate of dynamite. It was up against part of a hill that had been blown up, leaving it a steep drop.

"We need to get the dynamite before they can use it." Flint said. "It's over there, up against the slope."

"Good eye." Pip told him. "…They have less people on the north east side. If we pick them off with arrows, we can get the drop on them."

"Alright." Mortimer said, looking over at Flint. "Harry, you, Doc, Merlyn and Artie – get the dynamite. We'll take the rest out."

They nodded.

"Good. See you soon." He told them. Flint snuck off, Doc Merlyn and Arthur following, they getting close to the make-shift camp. There were two guards at the crate, Flint thinking.

"Merlyn." He whispered.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Do you have any voice-throwing spells, or something of the like?"

"…Ah…yes, I do." He whispered, then thinking. His eyes lit up, and he looked up, staring at the two guards.

"Vox absit." He whispered. They were still, then seeing the guards looked the opposite direction of them. One pointed.

"Go see what that was." They said in a demonic voice. The other went around the steep hillside, disappearing.

"You might want to see this." A demonic voice said. The remaining guard looked over, then went around the hill as well.

"Watch my back." Flint said. Before any protest could be made, he bolted to the crate, grabbed it and then ran back, hearing the thump of a body hitting the ground. Looking back, one of the guards had fallen just so Flint could see them, an arrow with white feathers sticking from their neck.

He got back to the bushes, handing the crate to Arthur.

"You and Merlyn take this back to camp." He told them. "We'll meet up with you two when we're done here."

Arthur opened his mouth to protest, Merlyn putting a hand on his shoulder and pulled him back towards the abandoned town. Flint turned back towards the enemy camp, just in time to see the others descending upon them with battle cries, half the camp already dead and bleeding from arrows.

Flint drew his sword and charged, Doc alongside him, sword in hand and shield up. One turned just in time to see the edge of Flint's blade dig into his neck, Flint kicking him in the chest so that he fell. Another charged him, Flint grabbing the fallen man's knife and throwing it at them, the end of the handle hitting their eye. They staggered back and Flint charged, raising his shield and hitting their helmet with it, so they fell to one knee, and he finished them with his sword through their neck.

Looking up, one with a hood was fighting rather well. Flint jumped over a fallen enemy and ran at the hooded one, who had his back to him. Their head lifted, then turned just in time to dodge Flint's sword, though it got the edge of their hood, a sliver of fresh blood on the edge of his sword. The hooded person stumbled back some, then regained their footing and charged him, Flint blocking their sword with his.

He pushed their sword away, punching them in the face, he hearing a cracking noise, black blood spurting from their hidden face and staining his uniform sleeve. They stumbled back again, and he kept on the offensive, slashing at their legs with his sword, cutting into their right thigh. A demonic screech came from them, a shiver running down Flint's spine, and they did a back roll, coming up on their uninjured leg.

Flint raised his sword-

"VOLITO!" They yelled in a demonic voice, hand shooting out toward him. A purple glow appeared around him and he felt himself lift up off the ground, panic rising up in him.

"VOLITO!" Merlyn's voice yelled. The glow around him turned to a reddish purple, though he was unable to move, save his eyes. The hooded person's hand was glowing purple, their arm shaking.

Suddenly, he was flying through the air, able to move again. He hit the ground, the air knocked out of him, and he rolled, going over a rock on his side, then landed in water. His limbs thrashed for a moment before he felt the bottom, and he got his feet to it, and pushed off of it. His head left the water and he gasped for air, trying to get it back in his lungs. He panted, then realized the water was just deep enough to cover the rest of him, as his feet still touched the bottom.

The fight!

He looked around, then saw at the top of the slope he had rolled down the hooded person, looking down at him.

"HARRY!" Doc yelled, the person looking back. The frantically looked around then, Flint walking along the bottom of the water to get to the bank, then they looked at the dam off to the side.

They raised an arm.

"DIRUO!" They yelled.

There was a breaking noise he couldn't describe, but it made him think of a tree falling. His head turned, his eyes widened, and the water from the broken dam surged toward him.

It was like a wall hit him, sending him tumbling through the deep water, his mind racing, yet feeling numb – overwhelmed.

He tried to find the surface, then realizing he couldn't reach it with the weight on him. His gun was unslung from his shoulder, his weapons belt unbuckled, and he felt himself rising as the pressure on him lessened. His shirt stuck to his back when it breached and he flung himself back, getting his head over the water's surface once more, gasping for air.

The trees around him sped past at the water carried him, forcing him away from the fight. His mind was still racing.

I need to get back – I can't let them die!

He was suddenly thrown one way as the water went around a bend, hitting something. Pain erupted in his shoulder, and he tumbled under the water. Despite the pain, he got his top shirt off, the water tearing it from his hand, and he reached the surface again. Everything hurt.

His eyelids were heavy, his limbs tired.

Keep fighting.

He tired to look around, though the water made it difficult to move. The water went down suddenly, then to the side, pain tearing though his leg as he cried out from it.

The water rushed to the side again, this time he washing up on the bank.

The last thing he was aware of was his head hitting something.

He was aware of pain in his head, his clothes were soaked, he laid on something hard, and his legs were cold. There was pain in his leg and shoulder, his eyelids heavy.

There was something on his leg, his eyes squeezing shut, a moan escaping him. His head moved, a hand touching his face.

"Don't move, you're hurt." A voice said.

"Doc?" He asked, blinking his eyes. The sky was fading to purple, stars appearing.

"Who?" The voice asked.

"The battle…" He said, starting to lift his uninjured arm. A hand grabbed it.

"I said don't move."

He realized something.

That was a woman's voice.

His eyes were forced open, looking to the side.

Next to him, bandaging the wound on his leg, was a woman.

Her hair was a golden blonde, tied back, her eyes the color of sapphires. Her skin was fair, she wearing a dark blue dress, a light blue shirt under it with the sleeves rolled up, blue pants and brown boots, her hands having blood on them from his wound. Next to her was black medical bag.

"…Who are you?" Flint asked. She looked at him briefly, then back at his wound.

"I'm Joan." She told him. "Going by your dog tags, you're Harold Flint?"

"Yes…" He said. He squeezed his eyes shut – his head hurt. A groan escaped him.

"I just need to patch this and then get you back to the village." She told him. "Hang in there."

He sighed a bit, then squinted his eyes open. The bandage around his leg was dry and warm, his eyes going wide.

Lifting his head, he looked at his legs.

"What did I-"

A screech escaped him, flailing his arms at her.

"What?!" She asked.

"WHERE ARE MY PANTS?!" He asked, red-faced and covering himself.

"That's what you're upset about?!"

"YES!"

"…I put a towel over you!" She told him indignantly. He stared at her a moment, then looked down, seeing she was right – a white towel covered him.

"…" He blinked. "…But-"

"I DIDN'T LOOK!" She yelled at him. "I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT! WHAT KIND OF WOMAN DO YOU THINK I AM?!"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

"Fine!"

"WHERE ARE MY PANTS?!"

"I HAD TO CUT THEM OFF TO GET TO YOUR WOUNDS!"

"…" Flint blinked, then put a hand to his head. Pain started seeping back in, a wince coming to his face. Joan sighed.

"Just let me finish, you big baby." She told him.

"Oh, well, excuse me!" Flint told her. "I'm sorry I don't a stranger seeing me!"

"Like I wanted to look at you." She sneered.

"GOOD." Flint told her.

They were silent as she finished, the wound patched. Getting up, she went to the water and washed his blood off her hands, drying them with another towel.

"Alright." She said, going over to him. From her bag she pulled out more medical tape, looking at him and holding out a hand. "Get up."

He was still a moment, then reached out and took her hand, his other hand keeping the towel over him. She helped him up, looking up at the sky.

"Get the towel around you and I'll tape it." She told him, arms crossed. He did so, staring at the ground the whole time, his face warm.

"Alright." He told her. She looked at him, then taped the towel to keep it from falling, put the tape in her bag and picked it up.

"Let's go. The village is over here." She told him, taking his wrist. His arm was put around her shoulder and she got her other arm around him, helping him to walk. He limped as they went along, going up a forested path. It got darker as the sun began to set, trees casting cool shadows.

They reached the village, the windows lit and light from them falling on the ground. Few people were out, those that were looking at the two of them with surprise. She guided him over to a building, helping him up the steps, across the porch and opened the door.

"Hey, Dr. Mark!" She called. "I found an idiot!"

"What?!" Flint asked. He heard footsteps, looking up to see an older man coming into the front room, his hair white and eyes a light blue.

"Ah, Joan." He said. "Who's this?"

"Harold Flint." She told him, leading Flint over to a doorway. Mark rushed over and helped her move him. "I found him on the bank."

"A soldier, I take?" Mark asked.

"Yes sir." Flint told him. They got him through the door way into a medical room, sitting him on the bed.

"You're bit away from the action." Mark told him, putting his stethoscope into his ears.

"The enemy destroyed a dam." Flint told him, Mark putting the cold metal under his shirt. "I was caught in the water."

"You're lucky to be alive." Mark told him, adjusting the drum. He looked over at Joan. "Nasty wound on his leg?"

"Yes sir." She told him, her arms crossed and she leaning against the wall. He nodded, putting the stethoscope back around his neck.

"Well, I'll double-check it. Could you please get the salve?" He asked.

"Yes sir." She told him, going out of the room.

"So, you were in a battle?" Mark asked, starting to undo the bandage.

"Yes sir, I-"

Flint stopped, horrified.

"…Are-"

"I need…" Flint tried to stand, Mark stopping him. "I don't know if they made it!"

"Was anyone else caught in the wave?"

"No sir." Flint told him.

"You won't help anyone by running off while you're hurt." Mark told him. "Just get better right now. I'll be happy to send a message for you if need be."

"…" Flint sighed, looking down. "Yes sir. Thank you."

"…I take you're close with your comrades?" He asked.

"Yes sir." Flint told him. "My best friend and I went through the academy together."

"What's he like?"

"We call him Doc." Flint told him. "He mostly learned from reading, but he's very good."

"That's good to hear." Mark said, smiling. Joan came back in, carrying a tray with containers on it. "Thank you, Joan."

"Yes sir." She said, he taking one of the containers and opening it. The salve was put on Flint's wound, stinging as it was put in. He grimaced, though sat still through it. After that his wound was given a clean bandage, Mark having him remove his shirt. His shoulder was badly bruised, another salve put onto it to help with the bruising, and then gauze put on it to keep the salve on. His other minor wounds were treated, cuts, scratches and other, smaller bruises.

Mark looked in his eyes, shining light into them.

"Alright." He told him. "Nothing to worry about, my boy."

"Thank you." Flint told him. Joan came in, carrying a set of hospital garments.

"Thank you, Joan." He told her, taking them.

"Yes sir." She said. "I'll put the salves away."

"Thank you." He told her again. She left, Mark helping Flint to change into the garments. "You know, I was out for a walk when I swear I heard a man yell, 'where are my pants?'."

"…And?" Flint asked, his face getting warm.

"I take it that was you." Mark told him. Flint was too tired to get defensive

"Yes sir." He admitted. "I didn't know she was a nurse."

"She's a good one." He told him. "Kind, but no-nonsense."

Kind? Flint wondered. …Well, I don't know her like he does.

He helped Flint sit down, then lay back in the bed, pulling the blankets up over him.

"You get some rest." He told him. "I'll see what I can find out about your friend."

"…Thank you." Flint told him. Mark smiled, then took the candle from the nightstand and went to the door, closing it behind him. He lay still, then was overcome with a deep sleep.

He was warm when he woke up, the bed soft and comforting. Birds outside were chirping, his eyes slowly opening to the warm rays of light coming through the window. His wounds hurt less, and he stretched some, a wave of pain coming over him, though some of his joints cracked and that itself felt good. His eyes closed again, and he slowly went into a doze.

The door opened, waking him.

He sniffed, looking over at the door, seeing Joan coming in, carrying a tray of food.

"Morning." She told him, setting the tray on the side table. The bed was adjusted so he could sit up more, the tray then put in his lap. It was toast and eggs.

"Thank you." He told her, picking up the fork.

"…I heard you tell Dr. Mark about your friend." She told him. He looked up at her. "…I hope he's okay."

"…Thank you." Flint told her, then looking back at his food.

"If there's anything you need, I'll be here this morning." She told him. "I have the afternoon off."

"…Thank you." Flint told her. She stood a moment, then left, looking back at him from the doorway. She walked out, Flint eating his food, after which he was tired again. His eyelids drooped, and his eyes closed, sleeping again.

He woke up by himself, the room dark. The pain was still there, but not like it had been. Sitting up, he pushed the blanket off and got up, limping. There was just enough light for him to find the door, opening it and stepping out. Mark was at the desk in the front room, looking up at him.

"Harold?" He asked.

"Where can I relief myself?" He asked.

"Bathroom's right down that hall." He told him, pointing with his pencil. "Do you need any help?"

"No, no thank you." Flint told him, then limping down the hall. He found it, going in a relieving himself, then limped back out, seeing Joan at the desk. She looked up and saw him, Flint leaning on his good leg.

"Well, it's good to see you up." She told him. "How's your leg?"

"Better." He told her.

There was yelling outside, all of them looking at the door. Mark got up and went to the door, opening it to look out, Joan going to the window and looking out. Flint began to limp over, when Mark jumped back out of the door, Doc running in.

"Doc?" Flint asked, surprised. Doc looked at him, his eyes lighting up.

"HARRY!" He exclaimed, jumping on him. Flint felt pain in his leg.

"Agh!"

"Sorry!" Doc said, stepping back and looking at his leg. "What happened?"

"I hit something in the water." Flint told him.

"Oh…" Doc said, then hugging him again. "But you're alive. You're alive…"

"Of course." Flint told him, hugging him back. "You still owe me those chocolate bars."

"No."

"Fine, we'll make another bet." Flint told him. There were multiple, rapid footsteps, Doc stepping back, allowing Flint to see Merlyn, Arthur, Pip, Mortimer, and Alex.

"You're alive!" Pip exclaimed, they rushing forward.

"You had us worried sick!" Mortimer told him.

"Don't ever do that again." Merlyn said.

"I had no control over what happened." Flint told them. "But I'm glad to see you're all alright…what happened after the water took me?"

"We managed to fight them off." Alex told him. "The surprise helped. The hooded one got away, but we got maps with their movements and other items."

"Good, good…" Flint said.

"These are your friends?" Joan asked. They all looked at her.

"Yes." Flint told her. "Friends, this is Joan. She found me on the bank and got me here after patching my leg."

"Thank you." Doc told her. "Harry's important to us."

"I can see that." She told them. "I take it you're Doc?"

"Oh, he told you about us?"

"He told Dr. Mark about you."

"He is his favorite." Mortimer said. Flint glared at him, Mortimer looking at him and crossing his eyes. He fought a smile.

"Well, I'd like for Harry to get off his leg." Mark said.

"Yes sir." Flint said. Doc started to get his arms around him, Flint looking at him. "You're too tall. I can walk well enough now."

"Fine, which room is yours?" Doc asked.

"This one here." Flint told him, limping over to it. They followed him, Flint going in and sitting on the bed, the room darker. Mark came in with a candle, Doc helping Flint get settled.

"We'll visit you tomorrow." He told him.

"Thank you." Flint told him. He smiled at him, then went back to the door. They watched him a moment, then shuffled out, Mark the last one out.

He was tired, suddenly, and fell asleep.

When he woke, the sunlight was coming from the window, the room warm. He lay still, comfy, when the door opened, Joan coming in with a tray of food.

"Breakfast." She told him.

"Thank you." Flint told her, sitting up. He took the tray and started eating, she pulling over the chair and sitting down.

"Your friends really care about you." She said.

"Yes." Flint told her. "Soldiers get a kind of bond when they go through life-or-death situations together. It's…"

He stopped, thinking.

"…It's something beyond a blood bond." He told her.

"Blood is thicker than water." Joan said. "But even blood can be washed away…"

Flint looked at her, confused. She had a dim look in her narrowed eyes.

"…What's wrong?" He asked.

"…Nothing." She sighed. "Anyhow, how's your leg?"

"Better that yesterday." He told her. "Though a bit stiff."

"Lack of movement." She told him.

"Hm." Flint hummed. "How long have you been a nurse?"

"A few years."

He was surprised.

"…You look rather young for that." He told her.

"Perhaps I aged well?" She asked. He just blinked, and she shrugged. "I needed a job."

"Oh…" Flint nodded. "…I understand."

"…"

He looked back at her, she surprised now.

"What?"

"…" Flint looked down. "…My parents passed from toll when I was young. I got a job as a stable boy, until Greg and Anna took me in."

"…Relatives?"

"No, just…kind people." He told her. "They weren't much older than me, but Greg managed to talk the academy to taking me in. I met Doc there, and he always had my back…I want to find a way to repay Anna and Greg for helping me."

"…" She stared at him. "…Architect."

"Huh?" Flint looked at her.

"I wanted to be an architect." She said. "I like the idea of something that needs me. That wouldn't exist without me…"

She stared at the far wall.

"…What about children?" He asked. She looked at him.

"What do you think of them?" She asked.

"I'd like my own one day." He told her. "To hold them, love them…teach them, see their eyes light up as they smile, hear their laugh…"

He smiled softly, imaging a tiny hand holding his finger.

"…" Joan suddenly got up and went toward the door, Flint confused.

"Harry!"

Doc appeared in the doorway, surprising Joan.

"Doc?"

"Good morning." He told Joan, then rushing over to Flint. The rest of his friends came in, bidding Joan good morning as they did, gathering around Flint's bed.

"How's your leg?" Arthur asked.

"Better. Stiff, but better." He told him.

"That's good to hear." Mortimer said.

"Doc realized something last night." Pip told him. "He wouldn't tell us, said he wanted to see your reaction."

"…" Flint looked at Doc, seeing he was trying not to laugh. "…Doc?"

"…Your leg wound." He said.

"…Yes?"

"…Ms. Joan patched you up, right?"

"…Yes…"

"…She had to take your pants off."

Flint's eyes stared at him intensely, his face going red.

"He was a big baby about it." Joan said. The others laughed, Flint putting his head in his hand.

"That's Harry." Doc said, then looking at him. "He wouldn't even use the showers if someone else was in them during training."

"…And?" Joan asked. They looked at her, quiet. "Do all you want to see each other?"

"No." Pip said.

"I said what I said because he smacked my hands away." Joan said, clearly irritated. "He didn't know I was a nurse."

"…Oh." Doc said. Flint stared at her, surprised. She turned and left, the door left open.

"She's rather young to be a nurse." Mortimer said.

"She said she needed a job a few years ago." Flint told him.

"Strong girl." Merlyn said. They heard a door open, followed by footsteps on the wooden floors.

"Can I help you sir?" Mark asked.

"I'm looking for my men."

"Major Howe?" Alex asked, leaning to see out the doorway. There were footsteps, and he stepped into the door way.

"Here you are, Flint." He said. "You had these fellows worried sick."

"Yes sir." Flint said.

"Where are you hurt?"

"My leg, mostly." Flint told him. "But it's much better."

"Good." Howe said. "As soon as you're better, we need you back. We've discovered the enemy's next plan of attack."

"Yes sir." Flint told him.

"Good." Howe told him. He looked at the rest of the group. "Good work finding him."

"Thank you, sir." Merlyn told him. He nodded, then turned and left. Mark came in, going to Flint's bed.

"I want you to do some stretches now that you're leg's getting better." He told him. "I don't want it getting stiff."

"Yes sir." Flint told him. His empty tray was set aside, Mark and Doc helping him up. He was walked through several different stretches, some easier than others. His leg was indeed very stiff, but he found it loosening up as he stretched. They finished and he slept through the night. He did the stretches again the next morning, his limp gone.

"I believe you're ready to go." Mark told him, Joan standing by the door.

"Thank you, sir." Flint told him. He paid him, then turned to the door. Joan was staring at him. "…Did…you enjoy your afternoon off?"

"…" She blinked, then looked away. He was confused.

"Well, thank you both." Flint told them. "If there's anything I can every do for you two, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you." Mark told him. Flint smiled, then left the clinic, going out to the rest of the group.

"Ready to go?" Doc asked.

"Yes." Flint told him.

"Back to the battle then." Pip said. They started walking, Flint looking back at the clinic. Mark stood in the door, watching, while Joan watched from the window.

…Something's different about her.

A week later…

Flint rode his horse, out on patrol with Doc. They had taken a fort from the enemy, positioned in a good, defendable position – they had infiltrated it via supply crates. He pulled the reins on his horse and the stallion stopped, Flint looking over a ridge.

"Lovely view, eh?" Doc asked, also stopped.

"Yes." Flint said. There was a village he could see, near a river. "…What was the name of that village I had to heal in?"

"Well, Mara." Doc told him. "Near the city Reema, and…"

"…It's that village there?" Flint asked.

"Yes." Doc told him.

"…" Flint looked at him. "I'm going to go ask if they've seen anything amiss."

"Alright." Doc told him. "Tell Joan I said hello."

Flint looked at him, confused.

"You've been quiet since meeting her." Doc told him. He rode off, Flint feeling strange and more confused.

He rode down to the village, dismounting his horse and leaving him with a stable boy and the inn. Going to the clinic, he stood at the base of the steps, looking up at it.

Doc had a point – she had been on his mind quite a bit. He didn't know why.

A sigh escaped him, and he went up the clinic steps, opening the door.

Mark looked up from the desk, surprised.

"Oh, Harry." He said. "What can I do for you?"

"…" Flint blinked. "…Anything strange happen lately?"

"No." Mark said, shaking his head. He got a look of realization. "Oh…Joan's at the river."

"...Right." Flint said, taking a breath. "Thank you."

He left, finding the path to the river and walking down it. He heard a thunk sound, much to his confusion. Getting to the river, he saw her using a knife. It was stabbed into the tree, removed, then slashed across the bark. She handled it well.

"…Joan?"

She jumped, whirling around and holding out the knife.

"…" She stared at him. Her eyes lit up, but she merely lowered the knife. "Flint."

"Uh…" He swung his hands at his legs. "You…you can call me Harry. If, if you want."

"…Right." She said, looking away. "It's good to see you again."

"Same to you." He said.

"…"

They stood in silence for a bit.

"…So, has…anything strange happened lately?" He asked.

"…Strange how?" She asked.

"Uh…any strange people come through, ask strange questions?"

"Beside you?"

"Heh, yes."

"…" She looked amused. "No, nothing like that."

"Good, good…" He said. "…You…handle that knife well."

"Well, I need to be able to defend myself." She told him.

"True." He said. "Everyone does."

"…" Her eyes dimmed some. He got worried.

"Uh…everything alright?"

"…" She looked down at her knife. "Well…no, don't worry about it."

"…" He nodded, but still worried.

"…Uh, Mark." She said. "He showed me how to use this. Did a lot of traveling before settling down."

"Ah." Flint said. "…They don't teach us like that at the academy."

"…Would you like to learn?"

"Yes."

She showed him how to wield it. How to quickly change how to hold it, which way worked best for each attack, even how to disarm, but they used a stick for that. He walked her back to the village. They bid each other goodbye, and he went back to the fort.

The next week, he visited her again. She asked about the academy, and he told her stories of how he and Doc had multiple, rather silly misadventures, one including getting lost in the records room.

Another week, and he went to visit. She showed him her notebook full of architect designed, and he marveled at them.

Yet another week, and they sat at the river bank, laughing at horrible jokes they told each other.

Next week she met him at the stables, marveling at his horse. She knew how to ride side-saddle, and told him it was horrible. He showed her how to ride regular saddle.

The next, Flint was showing her how to use a bow at her request. He felt strange when he showed her how to aim, having to help her hold the bow. She was strangely relaxed though.

Another week, and he saw an overlook above the river and they went to it. She stood leaning against the same tree the whole time, much to his confusion.

Weeks melded together. He thought of her more and more, feeling stranger as time went by.

One day when he was visiting, something was different.

"Is everything alright?" He asked. She stared out over the river, her face blank.

"…No." She told him.

"What's wrong?" He asked. "Is there anything I can do?"

"…" She blinked. "…I…"

She looked down.

"…Have you ever felt like your head was so full it was heavy?"

"Yes."

"…It's…My head's like that right now."

"Ah." He said. "…Do you want to talk about it?"

"…" She looked back across the river. "I'm worried about my sister."

"Sister?" Flint asked.

"My younger one." She told him.

"…What happened?"

"What?" She asked, looking at him.

"You said you needed a job years ago, but you're still very young." He told her. "But you haven't mentioned your sister until now, nor have I met her. You're worried about her, so you must be close or she's important to you, but, again, you haven't mentioned her until now…Is she with someone else?"

"…Yes." She told him, her eyes dropping. "My father."

"…" Flint felt anger. "What did he do?"

"…I was disowned."

"What?!"

She looked at him, surprised.

"Why does that surprise you?"

"I…I admit, we haven't know each other long, but from what I know…" He trailed off. "There's no reason for him to do so."

"…" She stared at him, surprised. "…He's a noble."

"And?"

"…" She blinked. "…I…I don't act like I'm supposed to. He said I was wrong."

"What?" He asked incredulously. "That's not true!"

"Then why did he throw me out?!"

"Because he's wrong!" Flint told him. "You…"

He stared at her, she staring back. He felt strange.

"You're wonderful."

"…" She stared at him, almost looking like she was in disbelief.

"…" He stared back. She blinked, then looked away. "…Where's your mother?"

"She's passed." She told her. "…She wasn't any better."

"…" Flint was worried. He put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked at him.

"…"

She hugged him, to his surprise. His face softened, and he hugged her back. Her hair was soft, and she smelled faintly of pine needles.

"…I'm worried he's going to force her to marry someone." She told him. "He's already introduced her to suitors."

"…" Flint blinked. "You go and visit her."

"On my afternoons off, yes." She told him. She pulled back, and he kept a hand on her shoulder. "She doesn't like any of them, but…she's not like me. She tells me I got all the strength."

"…" Flint looked down at their feet. She leaned against him.

"I want her to meet kind people."

"…" Flint blinked. His eyes went wide, an idea coming to him. "You told me last week the village was having a local festival."

"Yes." She told him. "But our father won't let her leave the manor."

"…Even if soldiers asked?"

"…" She looked at him, eyes wide. A smile spread across her face. It was a beautiful sight.

"You're a genius!" She told him, hugging him. He hugged her back. "I want you to bring your friends, she'll like them."

"Of course." Flint told her. They separated, and he felt stiff. She was still close to him, looking into his eyes. He swallowed. Their lips were close. He noted that was a strange thing to observe.

"..." She pulled back. He felt sad. "It's getting late."

"…Right." He said. In truth, he had become more and more reluctant to leave after each visit. Each week the eagerly looked forward to his next visit – it seemed she was always on his mind.

"…" She stood, then held out her hand. He stood and took her hand, and they walked back.

The next week…

"Are you sure about this?" Arthur asked. He sat in the passenger seat of a small carriage, Pip driving, and the rest of them rode horses around it.

"Yes." Flint told him. "You should know what it's like to not be allowed to leave a building."

"…True." Arthur said.

"I like this." Pip said. "High and mighty noble getting hoodwinked."

"It sounds great!" Mortimer said.

"Let's just hope this works." Alex said. "I looked into this man – he likes to throw fits if he gets slighted."

"Oh joy." Merlyn moaned.

"Shh…there's the manor." Doc said. They went up the drive and reached the front of the manor, the door opening. A butler stepped onto the porch, looking down at them. Flint dismounted and walked up the steps, stopping before him.

"Good day, sir." Flint told him. "We are here on behalf of the military. Is Nobleman Huxley here?"

"Yes." The butler told him.

"I ask that I may be able to speak with him."

"…Very well." The butler told him, going back into the manor. A moment passed, and a man came out. His clothes were neat and expensive, his black hair streaked with grey and his sapphire eyes looking at Flint with disinterest.

"What?" He asked.

"Sir." Flint said, bowing. "We have come to ask your daughter questions."

"Bah." He scoffed. "What would she know?"

"That's what we need to find out." Flint told him. "We recently acquired enemy plans that mention her. If we can find out what they intend, we can prepare for their plans."

"…" His eyes narrowed. "…Fine."

He went back into the house. Another moment passed and he returned, a young woman with him.

She looked identical to Joan, save that her hair was straight, and her clothes were much more expensive. As well, her eyes were dull and empty.

"Don't cause them any trouble." Huxley told her.

"Yes, father." She said. Flint held out his arm, and she put her hand on it. He went down the steps with her and to the carriage, helping her up into it. Going to his horse, he mounted it, and they went on their way. Huxley had already gone back into the manor.

They got off the end of the manor drive, Flint looking back.

"Your sister Joan is worried about you." He told Jane. She looked at him, surprised.

"You…" Her eyes lit up. "You're Harry!"

"Oh, she's told you about him?" Doc asked.

"Yes!" She told him. "She's told me how kind you are, that you're very strong and fast learner-"

"Learner?" Pip asked, looking back at her.

"She showed him how to use a knife!"

"We learned that at the academy." Doc told Flint.

"Well, this was different." Flint told him.

"And she's right – you're very handsome." She told him.

He looked at her, heat coming to his face. He didn't know how to react to that.

"Ah, she's right again!" She said. "Your blush is adorable!"

He got stiffer, his friend stifling laughter. He looked forward, pulling his hat down.

Please let this be a quick trip.

"Wait." Arthur said. "If you're not allowed out of the manor, how do you see Joan?"

"She sneaks in." She told him. "Father is nowhere near as observant as he likes to think he is."

"Ah." Arthur said. "Through the window or hidden door?"

"Window." She told him. "You…seem to have an idea of how to sneak."

"My father's the same." Arthur told her, his eyes dimming. "I'm not allowed to leave the castle."

"Castle?" She asked.

"I'm from Terraria." He told her. "It's a small island kingdom. I don't even know if my father realizes I'm gone."

"…I understand that." She said.

They talked as they went along, until they reached the village, decorated for the festival. Joan was waiting at the stables, her face lighting up when she saw them.

"Jane!" She called.

"Joan!" She called back. Arthur hopped down from the passenger's seat, then helped Jane down. Jane rushed toward Joan, who was running toward her. They hugged each other tightly, Flint smiling.

"It's so good to see you!" Joan told her as they separated. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"I'm glad to be here!" Jane told her. "How did you manage this?"

"It was Harry's idea." She told her, they looking back at him.

"You're right – he's very smart." Jane said. Joan looked at her, a bit panicked.

"Come on, I want to show you where I've been staying – you'll love Dr. Mark!"

They went off, Joan's arm around her. Flint found himself smiling.

"Ooo, she likes you!" Pip teased. Flint felt his face get hot.

"You don't know that!" Flint told him.

"I dunno," Mortimer started, "she did tell you Joan thought your blush was adorable."

"So?!"

"Soooo, she looked a bit panicked when Jane repeated what she said." Doc told him. Flint looked at him, red-faced.

"Alright, that's enough." Alex said.

"Thank you." Flint told him.

"Let them pine for each other in peace." Alex said. They laughed, Flint putting his head in his hand.

Later…

People were dancing and laughing, lively music playing. Colorful lanterns were hanging about, the air pleasant and warm.

Flint watched as Mortimer and Pip were dancing, Doc was talking with Mark, Arthur was talking with Jane, Joan sitting with them, and Alex and Merlyn were laughing together. He drank the rest of his punch and then set the glass down, looking back at the scene, seeing Jane and Arthur were talking still, but Joan was absent.

Hm?

Someone suddenly yanked his arm, pulling him along as he stumbled away. Looking up, he saw it was Joan.

"Joan?" He asked.

"Come on." She said, pulling him along. He was confused but went with her. They went along the path to the river, but she turned suddenly and they came to the rivers over look.

It was small clearing, but it had a few of the colored lanterns, and a clear view of the stars above. He could faintly hear the music from the village, and was still very confused. It was then he felt pressure on his hand. Looking down, she was holding it.

He felt panic, happiness, as well as heat on his face.

"…So, uh…" Joan pulled at his hand, pulling him toward the center of the clearing. He smiled involuntarily and nervously.

They stopped, still holding hands.

"…Do…do you know how to dance?" She asked.

It took him a moment to process her question. When he did, more heat came to his face.

"I-I…I, uh…" He was nervous out of his mind.

"…Do…you want to dance?"

"Yes." He said without thinking. She blushed. He felt strange.

"Alright…so…" She took his other hand and put it on her shoulder. He swallowed. The hand she was holding was put at her waist. He had a want he had never known – to pull her to him.

"You…move your feet like this." She said, looking down. He did the same, their heads bumping together. They laughed nervously.

He watched as she moved her feet, mimicking the movement. He was slow at picking it up, but she slowed down and it was easier.

They danced slowly, Flint looking up at her. He saw she was staring at him, blushing when they made eye contact. He felt stiff, and they stopped.

"…" All he could do was stare. He recognized his nervously – it was like when a woman approached him with obvious romantic intent, yet…this was different. There was a want to be close to her. A want that she wanted the same.

Her hand touched his face and he jumped slightly. Normally he would excuse himself, but he found he had no desire to do so. His eyes flicked down to her hand, then back to her eyes. She looked beautiful in the light around them.

He wanted to be closer.

His hand at her waist pulled he closer, and she made no objection, stepping closer. Her other hand touched his face so that she was now holding his head. He swallowed. He felt stiff.

His forehead touched hers. He again noted how close their lips were.

He swallowed.

One of his hands reached up and held the back of her head. She looked up at him. They stared.

She suddenly looked away.

"Joan?" He asked. She looked at one of the trees and he followed her gaze – it was the same tree she had leaned against the whole time when she first showed him the clearing.

He could see a heart carved on it, with initials in it.

HF + J

Heat rushed to his face.

He looked back at her, her head still slightly turned. He kissed her cheek.

He felt heat from her skin as she blushed. As he started to pull back, she looked at him.

She kissed his lips.

He felt shock. Warmth. She pulled away.

They stared.

He kissed her, feeling her arms wrap around his neck. It was a strange feeling, one he had never felt, yet never wanted to stop. Like was full of warmth, able to hear her thinking I love you. And he loved her – she was strong. Smart. Determined.

Then it was over, and they were staring at each other again.

She kissed his cheek.

They walked back, holding hands. When they reached the village, people were still dancing. Doc noticed them coming, walking over.

"It's getting late." He told them. "We need to get Jane back to the manor."

"Oh…" Joan said sadly. "Well…I'll tell her bye."

She went to do so, Flint worried. Doc looked at him, then got concerned.

"Everything alright?" He asked him.

"I'm worried about her." Flint told him. "She loves her sister, and…their father obviously doesn't…"

Doc furrowed his brows up, putting a hand on Flint's shoulder.

"We'll figure something out." Doc told him. "…But for now, you need to wash your face."

"What?" Flint asked, looking at him. Doc pulled out a handkerchief, then rubbed it against Flint's cheek. When he pulled it back, Flint saw pink on it.

"…"

He ran to the well.

Later, he stood by as Joan and Jane hugged each other, not wanting to let the other go. They reluctantly separated, Jane putting a hand on Jane's cheek. There were tears in their eyes.

"…" Flint blinked, worried, when something occurred to him. "Wait."

They all looked at him.

"We told your father that the enemy had plans involving you, right?" He asked. Jane nodded. "Well…whose to say they're not dangerous and your need to stay somewhere safe?"

Jane and Joan's eyes lit up.

"It could be months before you could go back." Doc said.

"I mean, the manor isn't going to be safest place." Mortimer said. "Why not somewhere else?"

"Say, a fort?" Alex asked.

"Yes!" Jane said. "Please, I want to stay with Joan!"

"Well, your father will get suspicious…" Mark said, all of them looking at him. "Unless someone is sent to gather some items for you and explain the situation."

"I'll go." Pip said.

"I'll go with you." Flint told him.

"No, stay here." Mortimer told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'll go with him."

"…Very well." Flint told him. Mortimer winked at him for some reason, then went with Pip towards the stables. Flint was confused.

"Come on, Jane." Joan told her. "You can stay with me."

"I'll help however I can." Jane told her as they walked towards the clinic. Mark followed after, smiling fondly at them. When they had gone, the rest of the fellows looked at Flint.

"So, where'd you and Jane go?" Merlyn asked.

"What?" Flint asked.

"We saw the spots of rouge on your face." Arthur told him. Flint felt his face get hot.

"…UH, WELL…" He said, starting to panic.

"Leave him be." Alex told him. "Who he kisses is his business."

They laughed, Flint putting his head in his hands.

Weeks went by, Flint visiting Joan when he could. It seemed as if the war had been forgotten at the fort, with them merely standing guard at it and going on patrols. It was easier to forget when he was with her.

Occasionally the other fellows would come with him. Arthur and Jane had become fast friends, bonding over having similar circumstances growing up. When the others did come, it was more likely for Flint and Joan to go up to the river overlook, where they could be alone.

Summer began to fade into fall, and Joan would run to meet him when he came to visit. Holding her in his arms was great joy to him, inhaling her scent of pine needles having a soothing effect. While it seemed as though the war had gone far away, it didn't stop his worry.

Fall brought the bright, colorful leaves that floated along the river. Jane had taken up embroidering clothes and such to help Joan with finances, making beautiful works. They were both so happy to be together again, Jane seeming to get more confident each visit.

The leaves all fell and snow replaced them on the branches, they bundling up at visits. They all made snowmen and had snowball fights, though had shorter stays due to the shorter days. Flint was happy when spring finally came.

One warm day, he sat with Joan at the river over look, she leaning up against him as they watched the clouds.

"…Joan." He said.

"Yes?" She asked.

"…Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." She said, looking up at him. He swallowed.

Sitting up, he turned to her, she turning to him.

"…I love you." He told her. She smiled.

"I'm so happy." She told him. "You're such a good man, Harry…I love you too."

"…" He smiled softly. "I want to be your good man."

"…" She blinked, slightly puzzled, but he could see the gears turning in her head.

"I want to spend my whole life with you." He told her. From his pocket he pulled a small, velvet box. Her eyes went wide, full of shock.

He opened it, showing a ring made from braided silver with sapphires.

"Joan…will you marry me?"

"…" She stared. Tears came to her eyes, streaming from them.

"…" He stared at her, and she began to cry. "Joan?"

She sniffed, wiping a tear with her palm, Flint pulling out a handkerchief. He wiped her tears, confused.

"Joan?" He asked. She looked at him, a sad smile on her face.

"When my father kicked me out, he said no man would ever want me." She told him. "Yet here you are, the best man I could ever hope for."

Flint put a hand on her cheek, she turning her head into it and put her hands on it.

"Yes…I want to be your wife."

He felt a joy like he had never known. A smile spread across his face, and he took the ring from its box. He held her hand as he put it on her finger. It fit perfectly.

They looked at each other, smiling, then held each other as they kissed.

When they parted, Joan jumped to her feet, pulling at his hand.

"Let's go tell the others!" She said joyfully, Flint rushing up and they hurried along.

"How should we tell them?" Flint asked. Joan got a look that he recognized – she had an idea.

When they reached the village, they both had somber looks on their faces, Joan holding her hand so the ring was hidden. Jane and Arthur were sitting on the clinic steps, the Pip and Mortimer were wrestling, the rest of the fellows cheering them on. When they saw them and their expressions, they stopped.

"What's wrong?" Jane asked, Pip and Mortimer standing up.

"…We…talked." Flint said. Joan looked away. "And…we…we're not courting anymore."

"WHAT?!" The whole group asked.

"Why?!" Jane asked, standing up.

"Because…" Joan started, looking up at her with tears in her eyes. She showed off her ring. "WE'RE ENGAGED, SUCKERS."

Jane outright screamed in joy, the fellows getting looks of shock quickly replaced with joy, all of them rushing forward. Joan caught Jane as she jumped at her, hugging her tightly, the fellows hugged and patted Flint, Merlyn ruffling his hair.

"Three cheers for the happy couple!" Doc said. The fellows lifted Flint and Joan up, Flint taking her hand. They were gently tossed up as they cheered, then set back down. Joan hugged him, he holding her.

I'm so happy.

There was a choked gasp.

They looked over at Mark, who was staring in horror. Following his gaze, Flint felt his stomach sink.

There stood Huxley.

"…" He stared with a seething rage, his lips pressed together so they were thin and white.

"…" They stared back, Flint and the others shuffling to stand in front of Joan and Jane, who took hands.

"What. Is. THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Huxley yelled. Villagers were watching.

"Mr. Huxley." Alex said. "If you could please step inside-"

"NO – what is going on here?!" He asked. "I sent a message asking when Jane could come back to see her suitors, and all I get back is a question of what I'm talking about!"

"F-father, I-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses, girl!" Huxley snapped. Jane shrunk back, Joan holding her and glaring at Huxley.

"Excuse you," Arthur said. "she's a young lady, not a girl!"

"Bah, you stay out of this!" Huxley told him. "Jane, COME HERE!"

Jane was shaking. Terrified. Joan held her tighter. She glared more.

"Jane." Huxley said. "Don't. Make me. Repeat myself."

Jane held tighter to Joan.

"…JANE!"

"That's enough!" Alex told him, stepping forward. "You have no right to talk to her like that!"

"I'm her father!"

"No – you're her warden." Alex said.

Villagers gasped. Huxley was taken aback.

"…You…impudent, little…! Who is your commanding officer?!"

Alex stared, his face hard.

"I said-"

"I heard you." Alex told him. "You have no authority over me, nor any right to treat this young lady in such a hostile manner. Apologize."

Huxley looked like he had been struck.

"…Apologize to Ms. Jane." Alex said.

"…She's the one who ran off like a little whore!" Huxley yelled.

The fellows put their arms out to keep Joan from charging him.

"You have no right to talk about her like that." Alex told him.

"Shut up!" Huxley told him. "Jane, you-"

"Sir, if you don't stop-!" Arthur started, stepping forward.

"…Or what?" Huxley asked. "Who are you?"

"…I'm Arthur." He told him. "Arthur Terrain, Prince and heir to the throne of Terraria."

Huxley's eyes widened slightly.

"…Prince."

"…Yes." Arthur said.

"I-It's true." Jane said. He looked at her. "I...he wanted to court me and this village was closer to where they're stationed."

"Yes, your daughter is a wonderful lady." Arthur told him.

"…" Huxley stared. "Oh, why didn't you SAY so!"

Flint felt disgust like he had never known.

"I would have gladly of let you come out to see her at the manor!" Huxley told him, walking over. They shuffled even closer to Joan and Jane. "She's done excellently at her studies."

"…Yes, as I have learned." Arthur said.

"Very good." He said. "Now, if I could please speak with Jane privately, I-"

"Apologize." Alex told him. Huxley looked over at him, his expression going sour.

"You have no authority over me." He told him. Alex only stared at him. "…I want to speak to Jane alone."

"…" They all stared, no one moving.

"…Jane, come here." He said. Joan hugged her tighter.

"…Yes?" Jane asked.

"Alone, Jane." He said. "We need to speak alone."

"…I…We can talk here." She told him. She was still shaking. Huxley narrowed his eyes.

"…Well, given how nothing is wrong, I'll be taking Jane home now." He said. Jane held tighter to Joan.

"It would be better for her to stay here." Alex told him.

"And why is that?" Huxley asked, expression souring.

"Reema is a big city." Alex told him. "The enemy would have their eyes on it. Should they take it, they would have all the supplies in the city, but here? There's nothing to take. They wouldn't bother with it."

Flint knew that taking the land around the city would be better to do first, but Huxley apparently did not.

"…We have good defenses." Huxley told him. "She's coming home."

Flint looked back at Jane. She was terrified.

He looked back at Huxley.

"That's for her to decide." He told him. Huxley glared.

"No, it's not." He told him.

"What if she wants to stay here?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, why would she want that?" Huxley asked. "You're royalty. Why would you want to be here? After all, isn't it nice to have servants, luxury and food to feast on?"

"Sir, I-"

"Besides, you're not a parent." He told him. "You have no idea how difficult children can be. Having to spend time with them is exhausting."

Flint's blood was boiling.

"So, Jane jus-"

"I…I want to stay here!" Jane told him.

His face was blank.

"I want to stay with Joan! To stay here, I like it here!"

"…Jane." He said. "You're coming home. That's final."

"…I'm already home." Jane told him.

"…Jane." He said.

"She's given you her answer." Alex told him. "She's staying. Now leave."

"…" Huxley stared at him, his lips thin, white lines. "You have no authority over me."

"And you have none over her anymore." Alex told him.

"She's my daughter."

"She's a legal adult."

"I've had enough of you, BOY!" Huxley said, striding over. "You have no authority over me and you have rudely stuck your nose where it doesn't belong!"

He stopped in front of Alex, who just stared, stone-faced.

"I'm taking her back with me, and that's final!"

"She has a say."

"She doesn't have a choice!"

"We won't let you."

"Out of my way!"

"You, by far, have the worst delusions of grandeur I have ever had the misfortune of seeing."

SMACK

Alex's head was turned, his cheek turning red where Huxley's hand had hit.

Flint suddenly understood.

Merlyn did as well, stepping forward and grabbing Huxley's shoulder.

"You're under arrest." He told him.

"What?!"

"It is against the law for a civilian to strike a member of military service without just cause."

"He insult me!"

"You're the insult." Merlyn told him. Huxley raised his hand, Merlyn grabbing his wrist.

"Restringo." Merlyn said. Glowing blue light appeared around Huxley's wrists, and they were forced together, despite his efforts.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Huxley yelled.

"Taking you for trial, of course." Merlyn told him. "The rest of you, I'll send the investigators here."

"Understood." Alex told him. Merlyn pulled Huxley with him, and the villagers watched in silent awe.

"…A-are you alright?" Jane asked, Alex looking back at her.

"Don't worry." He told her. "I'm fine. Are you alright?"

"…" She looked down, still shaking.

"Come on." Joan told her. She led her over towards their cottage. Flint was worried. A hand touched his shoulder, and he looked to see Doc, also worried.

"We'll think of something." He told him. He nodded.

"…Say." Pip said. They looked at him. "I know…that just happened, and it's saddening, but you're still engaged. That calls for a celebration."

"…" Flint smiled softly. "Thank you."

Pip smiled.

"Now come! Let's get some cake and take it to the gals!" He said. "Forget that Huxley guy, let's have a good time!"

Later, they were at Joan and Jane's cottage, laughing and enjoying cake. Jane was better, smiling and laughing with them. It was a wonderful time, all of them saddened when the fellows had to return to the fort. They said their goodbyes, and galloped back.

The horses were left in the stable, and they returned to the barracks, Merlyn already there.

"How goes it?" Alex asked him.

"Fine." Merlyn told him, putting down his cards. "Investigation's already been started. They'll want to talk to each of you."

"Joy…" Mortimer said, sitting down.

"Oh, we brought you a slice of cake." Flint told him, pulling out a food tin. He set it before him, Merlyn smiling.

"Thank you, that's very kind!" He told him.

"I see you're all back."

They all looked, seeing Howe in the doorway.

"Yes sir." Alex told him.

"We need to start interviews." He said. "Croft, you're first."

"Yes sir." Alex said, going to the door. They left together, door closing behind them.

"…Cards, anyone?" Merlyn asked. All of them but Mortimer sat down.

"Morty?" Pip asked.

"I had something different in mind." He told them. "I'll be back later."

"Alright." Pip said.

Time passed as they played cards, Alex coming back and Doc being taken for questioning, followed by Merlyn. At that point, all but Flint and Mortimer were asleep.

"Should we turn in?" Flint asked, struggling to keep his eyes open.

"If you want to." Pip told him. "I'm still wondering wh-"

The door opened suddenly.

They looked, shocked and confused.

There stood a desperate Mortimer, holding a small, grey goat in the crook of his elbow, a pillow in his other arm with a padlock in his hand, a sombrero on his head, crooked over his helmet.

"…Uh…" Flint said. Mortimer looked at him, saw how sleepy he was, then looked at Pip.

"Can you do me a very weird favor without asking any questions?"

"Sure!" Pip said enthusiastically. "Sounds like fun!"

He got up and went to Mortimer, who handed him the goat, and they left.

"…Okay…" Flint said, then yawning. Getting up, he went and turned in for the night.

He was woken by the sound of an explosion.

Dust fell from the rafters, and he scrambled out from under the covers, getting his boots on and grabbing his weapons belt. The others were already getting their weapons and he joined them in running out of the barracks.

"The enemy's attacking!" Someone yelled.

"Get to the battlements!" Howe's voice yelled.

Flint ran up stairs and out onto the battlements, seeing a ladder on the outside edge. He ran to it, grabbing a pole arm and using it to push the ladder away. It fell, the enemy going with it. A fire lit next to him, able to feel the intense heat. Merlyn's voice was saying something in the language of magic. The fire turned blue and it rose up, shooting out. It hit the ground, exploding, and enemy soldiers were set ablaze. Flint could hear them screeching, and he felt cold.

Another ladder, and he pushed it away as well, it falling.

They can just pick them up…

He looked around, seeing a small barrel of oil. Grabbing it, he saw another ladder again the battlements. Running to it, he opened the barrel, and when he reached it, he poured it onto the ladder. When it was empty, he threw it aside and grabbed a torch, setting fire to the ladder.

The fire shot down the ladder, and he pushed it away with the pole arm.

The fight was long and chaotic, Flint pushing off ladder after ladder, ducking arrows and blasts of magic.

They suddenly stopped.

He looked over the battlement with his tired eyes, seeing the enemy was running away, seen by the light from their burning comrades.

His brows furrowed down.

…They still have a good number of them…and…they didn't bring catapults, just ladders.

He was suspicious.

What was that?

He looked around, seeing the men celebrating the victory, until he saw Merlyn, who looked equally confused. Someone clapped his shoulder, but he just looked out over the field, the burning bodies still there. He was now aware of the foul stench rising from them, carried by the wind.

"Men."

He looked, seeing Howe. His should was in a sling, a bloodied sword in the other.

"They've gone. We need to access the damages to the fort." He said. The men went to do so, following Howe down the stairs to the main floor of the fort. Flint now noticed him limping, bandage around his knee.

Doc came from the direction of the medical ward, wearing surgical bloodied surgical clothes.

"Sir." He said to Howe. "You're injured. Please rest."

"There are worse than I." He said. "See to them first."

"I and the others have." He told him. "Please, your wounds could re-open."

"…" Howe looked at him. Doc stared at him.

"…"

"…" Howe looked away. "We need to access the fort first."

"Yes sir…" Doc said. Howe kept on, when there was a banging from the doors. They looked, a guard listening through it. He nodded to the other and they raised the door bar, opening it. Outside guards rushed in, Jane with them.

"Jane!" Flint said, running to her. She was distraught, trying to keep from crying. "Jane, what's wrong?"

"The village!" She told him. "It's been attacked!"

"Stay here!" He told her, then running. He went straight to the stables and got his horse, mounting it without the saddle. His heels dug into the flanks and the horse took off at top speed. There were more pounding hooves behind him, but his eyes stared forward.

The sun was coming over the horizon, allowing him to see the pillar of smoke coming closer. His heart sank.

Joan…

They reached the stables, half of it burned. He jumped down to the ground and ran into the center of the village, looking around at the burning rubble.

"JOAN!" He yelled. "JOAN!"

Only the fires sounded.

He felt a fear he hadn't in years. Helplessness. Panic.

"JOAN!"

Nothing.

His eyes looked around frantically. He ran towards the clinic, then turned and went down the path to her and Jane's cottage. The trees were burning. Heat was all around him.

He reached it, the corner of it on fire. The door was locked. He kicked it in, the lock breaking off.

"JOAN!"

Silence.

He ran in, the back window open. He looked in the bed room. The bed were unmade, the wardrobes open. He looked in the bathroom. No one.

He ran outside.

"JOAN!"

Nothing.

Pip and Mortimer came running up the path. He ran past them. They turned to follow. He reached the village and ran into the clinic. The stairs were burned, the room he had stayed in collapsed. The hallway had a fallen beam, but he climbed under it.

He checked a room.

Empty.

His fear was turning to terror.

Empty.

His eyes were wide and frantic.

Empty.

His head felt full. Thoughts flying out of control.

The room had a large hole to the outside wall, another large hole on the left one.

At the base of the left was Mark, Doc beside him.

Flint stared, brows furrowed up.

Doc looked at him, tears in his eyes.

He shook his head.

Flint took a breath.

He ran.

"JOAN!"

He was outside. Soldiers were putting out the fires.

"JOAN!"

"Flint."

He looked. It was Howe.

"You need to calm down."

"But-"

"We haven't found any bodies yet." Howe told him. "It's possible she escaped with the villagers."

"…" Flint looked around again. "Then why didn't they come to the fort?"

"…" Howe was silent. Merlyn walked over to him, whispering something.

"JOAN!" Flint yelled. His throat hurt. A hand touched his shoulder. He looked to see Doc.

"Harry, she's a strong woman." He told him. "She and the villagers may have gone a different route to lose the attackers."

"But Mark-"

"Mark?" Merlyn asked.

"…" Doc looked at him. His eyes dimmed, and shook his head. Merlyn's brows furrowed up, horror in his eyes.

"…" Flint's breathing was erratic. He looked around. "JOAN!"

Pip and Mortimer came from around a corner. Mortimer was shaken, face pale, on the verge of tears. Pip's eyes were dim. He looked so resigned. Mortimer stood still, as if in disbelief. Pip moved, walking towards Howe.

Flint kept looked around.

She's somewhere…

He ran towards near where Pip and Mortimer had come out.

"HARRY!"

He stopped, looking back at Pip.

"…" He looked panicked. "…The fires."

"They're being taken care of." Flint told him. He went back to running.

"HARRY!" Pip yelled, Flint hearing rapid footfall. He went around a corner, part of a building collapsed, blocking the way. Looking to the side, he stepped up onto part of a fallen wall, climbing over the rest of it.

"HARRY!" Doc yelled. Flint jumped down onto the stone floor of the building, looking around. There was the sound of boots against the rubble.

"Harry!" Mortimer said, hearing one of them touch down behind him. He saw a burned curtain, a way through the wall. Rushing to it, someone grabbed his arm. Looking back, it was Doc.

"The fires-"

"I need to find Joan!" Flint told him, scared and panicked. He felt small. So small.

"Harry, we know, but-"

"JOAN!" He yelled. Another arm grabbed him. He looked. It was Pip.

"Harry, please just listen-"

"I need to find her!" He was so small. So scared. So helpless.

"Harry, please!" Mortimer said. He looked like he was about to weep.

Flint twisted his arm in a way that forced them to let go, freeing him. Merlyn was climbing over the wall. He turned and ran. His hand grabbed the curtain-

"HARRY!"

He froze.

It didn't matter who said it.

Nothing did.

In the light of the fire, there was Joan.

Around her was dark red blood.

Her skin had a blue tint.

Her lifeless eyes were staring.

All sound faded away. He felt numb. He was moving, walking toward her. His feet stopped at the edge of the blood.

He blinked.

His knees bent, touching the blood on the ground.

"…"

His shaking had reached out. Her shoulder was cold.

"…"

He gently shook her.

"…Joan…?"

Nothing.

Tears were coming to his eyes. He gently shook her again. Her eyes kept staring, lifeless, lids drooping.

He looked down, seeing her hands were up at her chest. There was the wound, blood staining her clothes.

Her right hand was feeling her ring.

"…"

He took a shallow breath. He took a normal one. He took a deep one.

A cry rang out, like his soul had been struck down. Hands were touching him, arms around him. There was footfall. He was small. Helpless. His hands clutched something. Breathing was hard. He felt so overwhelmed.

Someone was in front of him, pulling him up. He was moving. Sat down on something. He was being hugged. Soldiers walked past, carrying a stretcher. He felt like he couldn't breathe. Hands took his face, Doc in front of him. He was so clearly upset. He hugged him. Flint clutched onto him.

"You need to breathe." Doc told him, the words faint and faraway. Flint was able to take in air as hiccups, short, quick gasps.

He saw Howe watching, his eyes dim. The soldiers with the stretcher came around the corner, carrying it. She was covered with a sheet.

"Wait…" Flint said. They stopped. "…She…ring…"

Merlyn went to them. He pulled up the sheet just enough to reach her hand. The sheet was lowered, and he walked to him. Holding out his hand was the ring, braided silver with sapphires. Flint took it, looking at it.

"…I'm sorry…" He said. His fingers closed around it. He held it tight, folding in on himself.

"I'm sorry."

Images of her flooded his mind, smiling, laughing, the soft look she had when she looked at him. Her hand in his, her scent of pine needles. The feeling of her head on his shoulder while they looked over the river. Her tears of joy at the ring.

I'm sorry.

A few days later she was buried. He stood at the foot of it, staring at the gravestone he and the fellows had purchased for her. Jane was distraught. The fellows were quiet.

In the weeks following, some part of him had shut down. When not working, he sat and stared, feeling the ring on his finger. At some point Alex was rushed to the medical bay. His heart was weak, and he was sent home on permanent medical leave. After that, the rest of them were reassigned to espionage.

They sabotaged and stole supplies and information from the enemy. It was almost like a white noise. Summer faded to autumn, and the enemy seemed to flee more often. They were losing territory. They were surrounded in a small area by the time the trees were bare.

Flint and the fellows were called back to work for Howe, now a major general. They, along with divisions, encamped around the enemy strong hold. It was a bleak, cold morning when they were ready for the final battle.

Howe stood before them.

"Today we end this war. Today, we rid a scourge on our country. All of you have been through much. You have missed loved ones. You have lost loved ones. You have lost innocence. I hope that all of you find content after this is over. But now, we fight…and to have all of you by my side is the greatest honor I have ever had. May the gods be with you all."

The battle began.

The enemy had fortified their camp, but these were torn down quickly. The camp was stormed. The enemy barely fought. They fell and bled out.

Something was wrong.

They weren't fighting back, like they had been. Some of them even welcomed their deaths.

"Sir!" Flint yelled to Howe.

"What is it?" Howe asked, a dead enemy at his feet.

"Something's wrong." He told him. "They're not fighting back."

"Hm…" Howe hummed, looking around. They stood in a large, wooden building made from grey-purple wood. The wooden furniture was either tipped over or destroyed, enemy corpses everywhere.

"Some of them are welcoming death." Flint told Howe.

"…We need to find the higher-ups, alive." He told him. "Spread the word."

"Yes sir." Flint told him, running to the door. He saw the fellows and ran to them. "We need to find the higher-ups, alive."

"Right!" Pip said, pulling his axe from a fresh corpse. They took off, running past a burning building. An enemy appeared and saw them. They faced them, arms at their side. Flint hit them across the face with the flat of his blade, knocking them down. Pip grabbed one of their arms, Mortimer catching and holding the other. The two of them got the enemy on their knees, still holding their arms.

"What's going on?" Flint asked him. He stared. "All of you are up to something – tell us what you're doing!"

"…Hm." They hummed. "I suppose so. We've accomplished what we wanted."

"What?" Merlyn asked.

"The mother was killed." They said. "There will be no spawn to challenge our lord. When his time comes, he will take the world to rule."

"Your…" Merlyn's eyes went wide. "The Shadow Man."

"Who?" Arthur asked.

"HA!" The enemy said. "The father of the spawn doesn't know the one who will end him!"

Pip did something with the enemy's arm, and they screeched in pain.

"What do you mean by that?!" Pip asked.

"Nothing." They said. "It doesn't matter anyway. The world's fate is decided."

"Wait…spawn…" Doc said. "You mean Arthur's child?"

"Call it what you want." They said. "It won't come to be now."

"…But, I could-"

"No."

Flint felt an unnatural chill, one that seeped into his bones. There was a cloud of what felt like death looming over him.

From the darkness, shadows made by the fires, came something that looked human but…wrong.

It was darker than a starless night, with red eyes glowing like dying embers. The outline showed what looked like horned armor.

Pip and Mortimer turned their head to look at it, the enemy suddenly getting their feet under them and kicking Pip, right inside the right thigh. Pip yelped in pain, the enemy getting loose. Flint rushed him, though he kicked him right below his ribs, making him stagger back, and then hitting Mortimer, getting free.

They ran and stood behind the dark creature, which seemed to be smiling cruelly.

"There's no way your spawn will come into this world now." It told them. "The mother is dead. I saw to that myself."

"…You…you killed my future wife?" Arthur asked, horrified.

"Yes." It said. "It must feel terrible, knowing you weren't there to save her."

"…What?" Arthur asked, confused.

"Don't…play dumb…" It narrowed its eyes. "I killed her. I know I did. I saw the ring on her finger."

"…Ring…" Arthur said. "You mean an engagement ring?"

"…" It blinked. "…You're engaged."

"…" Arthur blinked. They all stared at the creature, the enemy obviously unnerved.

"Don't lie to my lord!" They said. "Jane Huxley is dead!"

"Jane?" Arthur asked, the other fellows getting defensive. Flint stared, his disbelief turning to anger.

"Yes, Jane!" The creature said. "I killed her! She put up a good fight, for a mortal, but she's dead!"

The other fellows had the realization Flint had already had.

"What?" It hissed.

Flint let out an inhuman roar, charging the creature. His sword went right through it, and he flung it off, throwing it into a crate, breaking it.

"You-!"

The enemy grabbed Flint's arm. Flint hit them in the mouth with the pommel of his sword, blood and a canine flying from their mouth. They staggered away, Flint lookin back at the creature, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

"…You." It said. "I've seen that expression…"

Its eyes got intense.

"I killed the wrong human?!"

Flint roared again, charging. He raised his sword. The creature disappeared. His blade hit the wood. It appeared off to the side, in disbelief.

"I KNOW I KILLED HER!" He said. "She matched the description perfectly!"

Flint swung his sword, the creature disappearing and reappearing off to the side. It looked at Arthur, a knife appearing in its hand. The fellows jumping in front of Arthur as it charged, Merlyn casting a spell that hit it. It staggered, a screech escaping it. Flint looked to the side, the enemy getting a sword from a fallen comrade. He charged, raising his sword. They noticed at the last second and jumped aside, Flint's blade going into the ground. He grabbed their hood and yanked them back, and they fell on their back. They swung at him, and he dodged the sword.

A horrific, inhuman screech reached his ears, his eyes flicking over to see the creature was impaled by Merlyn with some blade of light. Her drove it deeper, then twisted it, the creature's screech getting worse. The enemy scrambled up and started toward it, Flint jumping them. They fell to the ground, and Flint looked up to see the creature was covered in cracks, light coming from them.

It imploded, and was gone.

"MY LORD!" The enemy yelled. Flint grabbed them and got over them, hands around their throat.

"What was that thing?!" He asked.

"…" They stared, then their eyes narrowed. Flint's finger tightened suddenly, the enemy gagging.

"Why did it kill Joan?!" He yelled.

"Die." They forced out. Flint squeezed his fingers tighter, when hands touched his shoulders.

"Harry." Doc said. "Let him live, we can use him."

"…" Flint stared. His rage was immeasurable.

His fingers relaxed. The enemy gasped for air.

Flint pushed them down onto the ground. They were still gasping, and he stood. His eyes were dead.

Doc touched his shoulder, and he looked up at him.

"…" Flint looked away. Doc hugged him. Pip and Mortimer grabbed the enemy, yanking them up. Flint just felt dead inside.

"Here you are!" Howe's voice said, accompanied by multiple, rapid footsteps. "All the other enemy soldiers are dead."

"You'll all pay!" The enemy said. "When my lord makes his glorious return, you'll all beg for mercy!"

"…And what happened here?" Howe asked.

"His 'lord' discovered a plan went wrong." Merlyn told him. "He killed a woman, believing it would stop a hero from being born, but she was the wrong woman."

"Ah." Howe said. "So their resolve is back."

"Yes sir." Merlyn told him.

"…Very well." He said. "Men, take this man to be questioned. He's to be under tight security."

"Yes sir." The men with him said, Flint hearing footsteps. More footsteps faded, and he felt Doc's hand on his head.

"…Flint, I need to speak with you. The rest of you go get some rest." Howe said. They were quiet at first, then began to shuffle. Doc stepped away, Flint's eyes still on the ground. Their footsteps faded, and Howe's hand touched his shoulder. He was led over to a broken wall and sat down, Howe sitting across from him.

"…They meant to kill Jane." He said. Flint blinked. "…I've done my research. Their lord hates the Terrarian bloodline for some reason. But…What happened is…I can't describe it. You had someone taken from you, someone you loved. You shut down after that. It hurts, I know…but it's all over. Let yourself mourn however you need to."

"…" Flint blinked, his eyes sight getting blurry. Tears streamed from his eyes, his face contorting with pain. He put his head in his hands. His shoulders jerked.

He felt pain in his chest, his head feeling heavy.

He wept, Howe sitting still. Something touched his arm. He looked, seeing it was handkerchief. Taking it, he wiped his eyes. He tried to breathe.

"…Let yourself mourn." Howe told him. "If there's anything I can do, let me know."

Flint nodded.

The time after blurred together. He remembered spring and how it made him feel worse, remembering Joan – he had met her in spring, and proposed to her in spring. He remembered staying with Doc, who did what he could for him, though Flint mostly sat and stared blankly. Mortimer would visit, the first one bringing news of Huxley, Jane and Arthur.

"He demanded Arthur bring her back from Terraria." Mortimer told Doc, both of them in the other room. "He helped her get there after…you know…Merlyn and Pip were ready to thrash the guy, and Arthur put his foot down. He said Huxley wasn't going anywhere near her, and…you know him. Tried sucking up to him to smooth things over. Arthur…he told him to leave. Jane wasn't going back, because she has agreed to marry him."

"Really?" Doc asked, surprised.

"Yes." Mortimer told him. "Huxley was 'overjoyed' until Arthur told him he wasn't to ever come to Terraria. He outright banished him, basically."

"And?"

"He went back to his usual self." Mortimer sighed. "He didn't get far. Pip outright threatened him, and he was smart enough to leave then…Arthur proposed to Jane when he got home."

"…And?"

"…She didn't know what to do." He told him. "Arthur…he acknowledged that they didn't love each other, but he said he couldn't send her back to Huxley, knowing how he was. She was quiet, and then said Arthur was the best suitor she had. The others would have treated her like her father did."

Doc sighed. Mortimer was silent.

"…They'd like for you and Flint to come to the wedding." He told him. "They want to see you two again."

"…I'll ask Harry." Doc said.

He heard footsteps, his head staying against the wall, staring out the window.

"…Harry." He said. "…I…did…you hear?"

"…Yes." Flint said. "…"

"…" He felt Doc staring. It had been two months since the end of the war. Almost a year since Joan's death. "…I'll go."

"…I'm glad." Doc said. Flint blinked.

I can't mourn forever.

Two weeks later, they were on Terraria. Alexander was there, with his wife and infant son. Howe was also in attendance, along with Mortimer and his wife, though no one else from Julo was to be seen. The wedding proceeded, however stifled it was. After was the reception, just as stiff-lipped. Flint felt numb just looking around. Weddings were supposed to be joyful occasions, full of love. This just felt void of anything.

He was pulled aside by an attendant suddenly, taken to a study.

Inside was Alex, Pip, Merlyn, Doc, Mortimer, Arthur, Howe and Jane. They all looked pensive.

"…" The door closed behind him. "What's wrong?"

They all looked at Howe, who had a grave look on his face.

"…The enemy that was captured." Howe said. "They escaped."

"What?" Pip asked.

"We don't know how." He said. "But given their background…I needed to tell you all. I know I can trust all of you."

"The Shadow Man." Merlyn said.

"Yes." Howe said. "I've done research. Prince Arthur, your highness, your family has ties to him."

"…" Arthur sighed. "I don't know anything about that."

"Hm…" Howe hummed. "But still. From your reports, the Shadow Man claimed he killed the mother of Arthur's child, who would go on to be able to stand a chance against the Shadow Man…it stands to reason that something is going to happen."

Jane's hands were over her abdomen.

"My future child…" Jane said. "…He'll try to…"

"…Yes." Howe said. She looked horrified.

"That won't happen." Arthur said.

"Artie, listen." Merlyn said. "The Shadow Man tried to prevent the future, and he failed. If it's the will of the gods, whatever is going to happen will happen. Only the plans of man change."

"…" Arthur's eyes dimmed.

They stood in silence.

"…What do we do then?" Flint asked. "We have this knowledge. Now what?"

"…We'd need more for a plan." Alex told him. "Merlyn, you've mentioned you have visions."

"I can't control them." Merlyn told him. "But I'll tell what I see when or if I see."

They nodded. Flint was too numb to feel worse.

The day after the wedding, all went back to their separate ways. Flint went back with Doc, though not for long.

He woke up one afternoon, unable to get himself to move.

…Why am I still here? I lose everyone. My parents. My love…And now, my closest friends have all gone their separate ways.

How long before Doc does the same?

He stared, unmoving. The sun moved outside, the room getting dark. He heard the door every now and again, Doc checking on him.

…I want to run away.

That night, after Doc went to bed, he left with a back pack and the clothes on his back.

He slept in city streets and did odd jobs to get money for food, until he found his way to the coast, finding a ship, the Abyss, needed more men. Flint made no mention of his military background, and he was taken on. They went to sea.

The weeks that followed were strange, as he felt himself getting better. Going from numb to not-so-numb was an odd transition. He was almost afraid of it. Somehow, however, he kept getting better. He started smiling. His despair was fading. He had more energy.

They traveled all over, making special runs and having to fight off the occasional pirate ship. When they went along the coast of the southern countries, he could smell the oranges from orchards. A stop in Crystal Bay for two days turned into a month, and it was almost the wildest thing he had ever been a part of. Only Ungar in the early days of the war beat it.

After a time, he became first mate, and while he enjoyed it, something else called to him. He found it in the Dynasty Isles, where he took leave of the ship and started traveling by land, but taking his time. He went from place to place, studying different fighting styles. They were a wonder to learn, training his mind and body. He learned mindfulness and greater mental strength, focus, situational awareness, and a kind of calmness.

He went great distances to learn, one time climbing a cliff bare-handed, a waterfall roaring nearby. When he reached the top, there was the school a distance away. Turning around, he froze.

It was a beautiful view, one he would never forget. The sun was shining, the waterfall mist swirled in the wind, the valley before him green and lush, white clouds decorating the sky.

….Oh, Jane…you would have loved this.

He smiled, and admired the view before him. Hours passed before he went to the school, the teachers waiting for him. He trained there for some time, until he woke up one morning.

He remembered Doc, Greg and Anna back in Julo. His heart ached.

…It's time I went home.

Weeks later, he arrived in the city where Doc had been, finding a new resident in the building they had lived in. They gave him the address Doc had left, pointing him to a village called Unop.

When he got there, he found Doc's house, and suddenly felt anxious.

…I left without a word.

He stood in front of the house, looking up at it. People noticed him standing before it, and after a time, a hand touched his shoulder.

He looked, seeing a man similar to Doc, but with brown eyes and black guitar on his back.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"…Doc." He said. "This is his home?"

"Yes." The man said. "My brother's gone right now, though."

"Brother…oh!" Flint said. "You're Andrew!"

"Yes…" He said, then realizing something. "Are…what's your name?"

"Harold Flint." He told him. His eyes lit up.

"You're Harry!" He said.

"Yes."

Instinctively, he blocked his hand. He blinked.

"You've made my brother worried sick over you!" Andrew told him, angry. "WHERE have you BEEN?!"

"…That's quite a story." Flint said. "But it's not an excuse for making him worry. Nothing is. You have my deepest apologies."

He was surprised.

"…Uh…thank you." He said. "…So…why come back now?"

"I miss him." Flint told him. "I wanted to see him and two others…so I came back. But I knew I had to apologize to him first, but…I don't know what to say."

"…Oh." Andrew said. "…Well, for starters, he's not home."

"What?" Flint asked, surprised.

"Well, you disappeared, so I guess you wouldn't know." Andrew said, rubbing the back of his head. "He went to see a friend of his from the war, Arthur."

"Ah." Flint said. "Well…I'd best go there."

"Well, you could stay with me and my wife if you like." Andrew told him. "It's not a long stay."

Flint was confused.

"Why?"

"Well, he's the only doctor here, so he can't ever be gone long." Andrew told him. "And he went to help with a delivery-"

"Delivery?" Flint asked.

"Yes, Arthur's wife is due any day-"

"WHAT?!"

"…" Andrew blinked, surprised.

"He – he's going to have a child?!"

"Well, his wife, yes-"

"Why didn't you say so?!" Flint asked. He took off.

"Where are you going?!" Andrew called.

"To see the child!" He called back. He ran partway to the coast, able to get a ride on a carriage the rest of the way. There was a ship leaving for Terraria within the hour he arrived, and he got passage. He was too excited to sleep that night. The island was visible at day break, the ship pulling up to the dock some time later. As they threw the ropes to the mooring posts, he grabbed one and swung down to the dock and took off running the second his feet hit the wood.

He ran through the port, past a guard town up on a steep hill and into the city. His feet were tired, but he ran all the way to the castle. The guards looked confused as he ran past, the castle guards shocked when he slid right under their weapons and into the great hall. He was able to recall where Arthur's chambers were, running straight for them with the biggest smile on his face, guards after him.

He threw open a door to a short hall, startling everyone in it. There, either sitting or standing, was Arthur, Mortimer, Pip, Merlyn, and Doc, who had a towel on his shoulder. They looked at him, confused, then shocked.

"HARRY?!" Doc exclaimed.

"I just heard yesterday!" He said.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Doc yelled at him, striding towards him. "You've had me worries sick for fifteen YEARS!"

"…" His smile faded. "…I wanted to run away, but I know that doesn't excuse what I did."

Doc blinked, still angry.

"I should have told you, left a letter, something." He said. "I wronged you, and I'm sorry."

"…"

Doc smacked him.

Flint blinked, looking back at him. There were tears in his eyes.

Doc hugged him.

"It's good to see you." He said. Flint felt himself relax, and he hugged him back.

"HALT!"

They all looked to see the guards, who were pouring in the doorway.

"Come quietly, or-"

"Leave him be." Arthur said. Flint now noticed he wore a king's crown. "He's an old friend of mine."

The guards looked surprised, but lowered their weapons.

"Wait, you got past ALL of them?!" Pip asked.

"I learned a thing or two." Flint told him.

"…" Pip laughed, Mortimer joining him. They were all amused, save the guards, who quietly left. Doc ruffled Flint's hair.

"Well, I'm glad you're here, Flint." Arthur told him. "I wanted you to be here especially."

"Thank you." Flint told him, he and Doc walking back to them.

"You surprised us, not being at Doc's wedding-"

"Wedding?" Flint asked, cutting Mortimer off. He looked at Doc. "You got married?!"

"You seem very surprised." Doc deadpanned, the others laughing.

"I'm so sorry…"

"Well, it's not like I knew where to send the wedding invitation." Doc told him.

"I'll tell you something." Flint told him. "Whoever she is…you're a lucky man."

Doc tried to punch him. Flint blocked. The others laughed more, Doc himself smiling.

"Ah, well, it is true." Doc told him. "She's wonderful. Hannah looks just like her."

"Hannah?"

"My daughter."

"YOU HAVE A CHILD?!"

"…Yes, that's what daughter means."

"…" Flint blinked. "…I owe you two gifts now."

They laughed.

"What about me?" Mortimer asked. "My wife and I have a little boy!"

"I owe you one, then." Flint told him. He laughed. Flint smiled. He felt great.

The door opened.

They all looked, the midwife stepping out, holding a swaddle of pink cloth.

"Your majesty." She said to Arthur. "Your child, she's a girl."

Arthur's face looked shocked and joyful. He looked at the bundle of cloth.

His hands reached out, shaking.

The midwife handed her to him, and he took her, holding her close. He was smiling, tears in his eyes. The rest of them stared silently, Flint feeling like he was about to tear up.

My almost niece.

"…Come see her." Arthur said. They gathered around.

Her skin was pink, blonde hair sticking out from the cloth. Her little eyes opened, showing they were baby blue. Arthur's smile got bigger. Mortimer and Doc patted his back.

"Welcome to fatherhood." Doc told him. Arthur nodded, cradling her.

There was an awful moan in the next room. The midwife looked alarmed, going back in.

"Washington!" She yelled, Doc rushing into the room. Arthur was alarmed, his daughter stirring. He then looked panicked, holding her out to Flint.

"Take her, I need to see Jane." He told him.

Flint felt stiff, then held out his arms, taking her. Arthur rushed into the room, the door closing. They all stood, worried.

He looked down at the child, who looked up at him with large eyes.

Everything else fell away, and he smiled.

"Hello." He told her. She blinked, and he smiled more. "Joan would have adored you."

She yawned, he able to see her gums. They looked strange without teeth.

He sat down. She fidgeted in the cloth, and he loosened it. Her arm got out, showing her hand.

He put his finger in her palm, and her tiny fingers wrapped around it. A tiny hand, holding his finger.

I love you.

He smiled more at her.

The door opened. He looked up.

Doc stepped out, his face grim. He felt his smile fade. They stared at him, and he finally looked up.

He shook his head.

Flint felt happiness falling away, and she stirred. He looked back at her. She looked upset, like she was going to cry.

He cradled her, calming himself.

Arthur came out as they carried out Jane, covered with a white sheet. He was on the verge of tears.

"Artie?" Merlyn asked.

"…" Arthur let his tears fall.

"…She wouldn't stop bleeding." Doc said, quiet.

They were quiet, a familiar, horrible feeling.

---

Sarid stared, shocked.

"…Arthur…his last words with her." Flint said, staring at the far side of the cave. "She thanked him. He was always kind to her…Her final words, however…"

He looked at her.

"Was saying 'tell Sarid I love her'."

"…" Sarid's mouth twisted down and tears sprang to her eyes. She hugged Flint best she could, and he patted her shoulder.

"…After the funeral, we all had to go home. I came back to Julo, found Greg and Anna. Bought my estate…I would go and visit Doc and Arthur."

"…I don't remember." Sarid said.

"…It hurt." Flint told her. "I saw you bobbing around, a big smile on your face…and it made me so happy. I could cry, it made me so happy…then it would come. The question…if Joan and I had married, would our child have been like you, looked like you…and it hurt. I was so selfish."

"…" Sarid blinked, then pulled back. "So…you were almost my uncle."

"…Yes." Flint told her.

"…"

Oddly, she smiled.

"I love you, uncle." She told him. He looked at her. "…That…that doesn't hurt, right?"

"…" He smiled. "No. It's just right."

"…We'll stay here tonight." She told him. "After that, we head for Hightide."

He nodded. He looked exhausted.

They slept through the night, the sun waking them. Sarid got him up and helped him out into the forest outside. She picked him up and spread her wings, flying close to the treetops, though she found this wore her out faster. Nevertheless, she flew until the coast was in sight.

She landed in a clearing, set Flint down on a rock and then fell.

"Sarid?!"

"I…need rest…" She told him, breathing deeply. "Flying so low tires me."

He nodded.

A horse whinnied.

Sarid was on her feet, sword out and eyes intense.

From the bushes came a bay horse, Raul in its saddle. He looked surprised.

"Sarid, Commander." He said. Sarid narrowed her eyes.

"Don't try anything." She told him.

"I'm not." He told her. "…I know Lance. He's no good, and I'm not going to have any part of any scheme he has."

"…" Sarid stared.

"…" Raul dismounted. Taking the reins, he tied his horse to a tree. "…I know the Commander is a good man. And you Sarid…I've heard of your feats. Commander Flint speaks so fondly of you, and so proudly of them."

He looked at her.

"Lance is headed to Hightide."

Sarid's eyes widened.

"What?"

"I know he's horrible, but…he's not too terribly stupid." He told her. "They've yet to arrive. Please. Take my mount."

"…" Sarid blinked.

"If you don't trust me, I understand." He told her. "But I trust you. You won't let anything happen to the Commander."

"No, I won't."

"Then I'll do what I can." He told her. "May the gods watch over you."

He pet his horse, then turned away, going into the trees.

"…" Sarid blinked.

"Sarid."

She looked at Flint.

"We need to get to the coast."

"…" She nodded. Her sword was sheathed, and she picked Flint up. She carried him to the horse and got him onto it, then untied the reins. Mount the horse, she then shipped the reins, and it took off.

They rode hard and fast down the road, getting to Hightide. Getting halfway through the city, Sarid pulled the reins, making the horse stop.

Before them was a barricade, soldiers at it.

"Messenger hawk." Flint whispered. They started marching towards them.

"FORTE!"

Sarid looked back, seeing Lance on his black horse. On his face was a twisted smile, his face ashen and the bags under his eyes black.

"You're coming back with us!" He said. Sarid blinked, then looked back at the soldiers approaching.

She shook her head.

"Really, Lance?" She asked. She looked back at him. "You think I'll give up that easy?"

"You have nowhere else to go!"

"I beg to differ." She said. "Volito!"

Her hand shot up into the air, she and Flint flying up, horse going with them. She moved her hand, and they moved over the barricade and shocked soldiers. They were set down gently.

She whipped the reins, and they bolted.

"AFTER HER!" Lance's voice yelled, Flint holding tight to Sarid.

"What do we do?" Flint asked.

"I came with friends." Sarid told him. "Good friends."

She turned into an alley, horse galloping down it. They came out the other side, and she turned again, making it to the docks.

There was the Royal Paranjay.

Sinbad and Payo stood on where the dock connected to land, waving. She galloped straight for them, then pulled the reins and stopped.

"Get my uncle to Terraria." She told them. They didn't stop to look surprised, just got Flint down.

"Wot about ye, lassie?" Sinbad asked.

"I'll be fine – Lance will chase me over all of you." She told him. "And he's no match for me."

"Be safe." Payo told her. Flint was clearly worried.

"I love you." He told her.

"I love you too, uncle." She told him, then whipping the reins. She took off, Sinbad and Payo taking Flint down the dock and onto the ship, which was already ready to go.

"STOP THAT SHIP!" Lance yelled, galloping near it with other soldiers.

"HEY LANCE!" Sarid yelled. He looked, seeing her. She could see the conflict in his eyes.

"HALF OF YOU, STOP THE SHIP!" He yelled.

"OH, YOU NEED SOMETHING TO HELP CAPTURE ME?!" Sarid yelled in a mocking tone. He looked at her, enraged.

"EVERYONE, GET HER!"

They charged towards her, the ship away from the dock.

They need to reach international waters.

She whipped the reins, the horse taking off. Going up a street, she took a sudden turn, stopping in another alley. She hopped off, then looked back at the horse.

"Duo egomet." She said. She blurred, and an image of her appeared in the saddle, holding the reins. Her hand smacked the horse's back, and it took off. She went to the building across from her and climbed up it, getting to the roof. She saw the horse still running, until soldiers on horseback surround it. She looked to the water – the Royal Paranjay had the wind in its favor.

Looking back, Lance had caught up, reaching out to grab the image of her. His hand went through it, and it disappeared to his shock.

…If he get permission, he could easily come to Terraria to try and take uncle by force.

…I'm going to have some fun.

---

"WHERE IS SHE?!" Lance yelled at the soldiers, who shrugged helplessly. "FIND HER, FIND HER NOW!"

"HEY LANCE!"

He looked, seeing Sarid in the middle of the street.

"GET HER!"

The soldiers and he charged, a pair throwing a net that went right through her – another image.

"What?!"

"LANCE!"

He looked behind him, Sarid there.

"LANCE!"

He looked again, seeing her standing past the next.

"LAAANCE!"

Looking up, she was up on the roof of a building.

"LANCE!"

"LAAA-AAANCE!"

"HEY LANCE!"

"OVER HERE, LANCE!"

"LANCE!"

He looked on in horrific shock. She was everywhere.

"Hey, hey Lance!" They all said as one. "Is this what your nightmares look like?"

"FIND HER!" He yelled.

"All of us being better than you?"

He charged, grabbing one that disappeared.

"Or is that a regular nightmare that anyone appears in?"

Another one disappeared.

"Is this your WORST nightmare?"

Another one.

"After all, we're WAAAY better than you!"

Yet another.

"Think about it! If there are a hundred of us, you're one hundred and one in the class!"

Another.

"You're nowhere NEAR the best!"

More.

More.

More.

He grabbed left and right, the soldiers horribly confused as one after another disappeared.

"YOUR EXISTANCE IS A NIGHTMARE!" Lance yelled, looking around wildly.

"Oh, that's why you look so tired." They said. "You're living in a constant nightmare!"

He swung his arm through one.

"It must be so sad to be you, Lance."

He kept swinging.

"After all, you can't just step back and look around!"

He tried to strangle one.

"If you did, life wouldn't be so stressful!"

He tried to punch one.

"But you're just so, so, pitiful."

His hands clawed through some.

"After all…"

They all disappeared, save one, who stood in the middle of the road.

"You couldn't pick up the hints I was giving you."

He stared at her, eyes wide from rage.

"You're always going to be second."

He drew his sword and charged her.

Her feet moved.

He pulled his sword back and swung it.

Then next thing he knew, he was on his back, looking up at the sky. Lifting his head, he saw Sarid standing there, his sword in her hand and a smug smile on her face.

"Now, if you're done…" Sarid said, then tossing aside the sword. "I'll go back with you if that'll make you feel better."

He pushed himself up and ran at her. Hands grabbed him, pulling him back.

"We need her alive, Lance!" Drew or Crew said. He thrashed his arms, looking back at them. They were looking at him, clearly unnerved.

After a moment, he looked at Sarid, who was still standing there.

"Bring her to the capital!"

---

Joan was woken by the sound of yelling. She was up and out of her bed, jumping into her boots. Running from the bed room to the main room, she pulled back a curtain to look outside.

Her heart sank.

The village was on fire, the red flames glowing in the dark, the smoke obscuring the stars.

Jane!

She ran back to the bed room, seeing Jane was sitting up in her bed.

"Wh-what's…?"

"The village." Joan told her. "We need to run."

Jane looked terrified, Joan running to her wardrobe. From it she grabbed a pack, throwing spare clothes into it, grabbing Jane's and doing the same. Jane had gotten up and was throwing on her clothes, Joan handing her the pack.

They ran into the main room, grabbing food from the cupboard and two water skins, Joan getting one of her knives from its hiding place. She took Jane's hand and went back to the back of the cottage, opening a window. She climbed through, then helped Jane through. They took hands and ran into the woods.

"Wait." Joan said, stopping. "Dr. Mark."

"What do we do?" Jane asked.

"You need to get to safety." Joan told her.

"I'm not leaving you!"

"Can you fight?"

"…" She was at loss for words.

"You being safe if my priority." Joan told her. "If we could get to Harry's fort…"

"We need a horse." Jane told her. "How bad were the fires?"

"…Focused to the left." Joan told her. "Dr. Mark's in trouble, but the stables should be fine…you can ride better now, if you could get help, I'll do what I can to get Mark. We'll need a doctor after this."

"Right." Jane said with a nod. "Let's get a horse."

They ran through the woods, coming to the edge of town where the stables were. The fires had spread, but still had yet to reach the inn. Joan kicked the edge of the door where the latch would be, the rusted metal breaking. Going in, the horses were in a panic, whinnying.

Joan ran to get a saddle, Jane opening one of the gates to let out the fastest horse, a chestnut stallion with a black mane. They got the harness on him, along with the saddle, buckled it, and he was ready to go.

"Joan." Jane said. Joan looked at her, seeing she was scared.

"Jane." She said, taking her head gently. "Listen to me. You stood your ground against that monster. You can do this."

"I was scared then too."

"That's okay." Joan told her. "Bravery is action in the face of fear."

"…If I don't make it back in time…"

"I know. Jane, we've been through hard things together…but…that'll be different. Should something happen…I want you to know. You are strong. You are capable. You'll be okay."

Jane hugged her. Joan returned it.

"…I love you." Joan told her.

"I love you too." Jane said.

"…No matter what comes, we will see each other again." Joan told her. She pulled back, looking at Jane. She wiped a tear from her face. "No go. We need help."

Jane nodded. Turning away, she mounted the stallion.

"Don't look back." Joan told her.

"I'll be waiting to see you again."

"May it be a long, happy wait." Joan told her. Jane whipped the reins and the horse took off out of the stable, Joan watching.

She didn't look back.

Good girl.

She slipped off her pack and set it down, getting her knife.

Running out of the stable she went into the night. The fires had reached more of the village, almost to the inn. She ducked behind a broken wall, looking over it.

A group of four people rushed by, all of them having hoods. When they passed, she rushed on. Passing the well, a scream rang out. Her blood felt cold. She kept running.

Getting to the clinic, the door was broken down. She stepped over it to the side, looking around the entry room, the stairs collapsed from fire.

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

That voice wasn't human.

Her skin felt cold, the warmth draining from her face. For a moment she was frozen with fear from that demonic voice, but she made herself move. Going down the hall of patient rooms, one of them had the door ripped off, the wall having a hole in it. She looked through it.

Her eyes went wide, and cold fear seeped into her bones.

Mark was up against a wall, feet dangling, held up by something that was darker than black, she able to see horned armor on the shoulders and helmet. It's hand held up Mark, who was beaten and bloody.

"I…won't…" He forced out.

"You're a foolish man." It said. "Tell me where the mother is!"

"Never…!" He said, voice raspy.

"Then you're of no use to me." It said, a dark, wicked knife materializing in its hand.

Joan looked around frantically, grabbing a piece of the broken wall. She threw it through the room, right through another hole and it hit the ground outside. It looked, dropping Mark. He gasped for air, his face pale.

Going through the hole in the wall, Joan quietly rushed over to Mark.

"Mark!" She whispered.

He looked up at her, eyes foggy. He could barely breathe, dark, ugly bruises around his neck. He mouthed 'run'.

"Not without you." She said. He shook his head, even as she got his arm around her, trying to get him up. "Come on!"

"YOU!"

She looked up, seeing it was in the hole in the outside wall, its eyes red like burning embers. The knife was still in its hand. Its arm drew back and it threw the knife, Joan throwing herself out of the way. It sunk into the wall, she looking at the creature. The rage and hatred in its eyes was beyond words. Her hand grabbed a piece of debris, throwing it at the creature. While it was hit in the shoulder, it was unaffected.

It darted at her, fist drew back, and she jumped away, its fist hitting the wall and going through it. She grabbed a piece of burning wood, looking at it as it charged her again. She swung the wood, hitting it across the face. It stumbled back, disoriented, and she ran to Mark. When she reached out for him, she saw his eyes glazed over, color gone from his face.

No…

An unholy roar came from behind her, and she jumped aside, a red blast of some energy hitting the wall and blasting it apart. She jumped out of the hole in the outside wall and started running. The village was on fire, but it was silent aside from the fires. There was no yelling or screaming. She could smell blood.

Some red, crackling energy rushed past her, the creature appearing before her. She stopped, drawing her knife.

"Oh, how charming." It said. "You think you can kill me."

"…What are you?" She asked.

"Your killer." It said, knife appearing in its hand. She stepped back.

"And…your gripe with me?"

"Your existence." It said. "I have foreseen that from you will come the last Terrarian."

Terrarian…Arthur?

"I cannot let your spawn ruin my chance to take the world." It said, walking toward her, she backing away. "Without that creature to stop me, I'll take the whole world to its pathetic, begging knees."

"…" Joan stared, eyes intense. "So…you'll kill me to save yourself the effort."

"Correct, Jane."

Jane? Jane…

JANE.

Her fear fell away, replaced with an anger she knew well. She held up her knife, blade parallel to her forearm.

"I won't let you."

"Oh, you fool." It said. "Only the last Terrarian stands a chance against me."

"Even if I die, couldn't another woman-"

"No." It said. "You are the mother that I foresaw. Even if that mistake takes another bride, the spawn won't be the one. Only your child stands a chance."

"…" Her eyes narrowed. "Then I'll give you a fight to remember."

He shot towards her, knife in hand, and she rolled out of the way. It pivoted and slashed at her, though she dodged. With a lunge it thrust the knife at her, she catching its arm and disarming it, then putting her palm under its chin and, using all her strength, shot her arm up and out, forcing it back. It stumbled, regained its footing, then looked at her with wide, angry eyes.

She stood ready with both knives.

It yelled something, its knife heating up and she dropped it quickly, the knife disappearing.

"I won't be bested by a mortal!" It yelled, a sword in its hand. It charged, she running to the side. She jumped up on a fallen beam, then threw herself over a broken wall. Landing, she strafed right, hiding in the dark. It appeared over the wall, looking around.

Charging, she stabbed it in the chest, driving her knife in and twisting it, then yanking out and jumping back. The creature stumbled forward, then looked back at her with seething eyes, the wound in its chest closing.

Oh dear.

"Clever." It said. Demonic words spilled from its mouth, and some black tendril appeared in its free hand. She stepped back. The tendril shot at her, and she swung her knife, the blade going right through it. The darkness caught her arm, and it dragged her toward the creature, her feet grinding against the ground as she fought.

She swung her knife again. Nothing.

Looking at it, some feeling, one of indescribable doom, filled her. Its eyes were wide and almost looked redder, like blood. She could see the eagerness in them. She kicked a piece of debris at it. It missed. She kicked another. It bounced off its leg.

It walked towards her, the tendril going up so her arm was forced up, having to stand on her toes. It grabbed her face with clawed fingertips.

"I see why the last Terrarian had a chance." It told her. "But that's all gone now…Your dear fiancé can't save you. No one can."

She stared at it, eyes intense and brows furrowed down.

"I must give you credit, though." It said, pulling back its sword. "Most mortals would be groveling."

She spat in its eye. That surprised it, it opening its one eye to see her staring it down.

"Then may you die in a worse state."

It's eyes held anger immeasurable.

The tendril let go and she was on her feet. The creature, she could swear it was smiling cruelly.

Warmth.

Warmth was on her chest, running down to her stomach. Her hand moved. There was something warm on her fingers.

She breathed. Warmth shot out over her fingers, running down to her wrist.

Dull pain. Right under her hand.

Her legs felt like pins and needles. Weak. The creature was walking away.

She couldn't get air. Breathing was hard. More warmth was running down her arm, her elbow. Her legs gave way. She was falling.

Hitting the ground was jarring. The pain in her chest was worse.

She couldn't get air. Breathing was hard.

The fires were getting quiet. Quieter. More quiet. It sounded like they were echoing.

Her vision was getting dark.

She blinked. It was still getting darker.

She felt the ring on her finger.

Jane.

The darkness was enclosing in a circle.

Someone, please. Take care of Jane.

There was a small light in the middle of her blurring vision.

I don't want her going back there.

She heard a ringing.

Jane…

The creature's words rang in her head. How it was Jane who would have a child.

…Arthur. Jane is going to marry him.

She felt her pain fading.

She'll be okay…

She felt a strange peacefulness fall over her.

She felt her ring.

Harry…

Her eyelids were heavy.

Harry…you made me so happy…

It was so hard to stay awake.

Thank you…

Her eyes were closing.

Please be happy…

Harry…

The darkness took over.

I love you.

…

…

…

Warmth.

This was a different one.

Beyond any human warmth she had felt.

Her eyes opened.

Before her was a grand, open gate, looking to be made from gold. There was light all around her, people standing at the gate. She recognized them, but had never seen them.

The gods.

She blinked, and from them came Mark and other villagers.

Her face lit up and she ran to them.

She felt no resistance in the running. She had a joy she had never felt.

Mark hugged her.

They stood for a time, then separated, Mark smiling at her. She smiled back, and he turned to look at the gods, who held out welcoming arms to the gate. They walked to it and through it. It closed behind them, and they kept walking toward a grand city of gold.

She didn't know or care if it was an instant or years. All she knew was the glory of the gods and the wonderful light that they stayed in, when there was calling for her. She followed it and went with the gods to gate, it opening.

There was Jane.

They ran to each other, Jane's face glowing with joy.

They hugged each other tightly. How long passed, she didn't know or care.

When they separated, Joan put a hand on Jane's face, both of them smiling.

"I told you we'd see each other again." Joan told her. Jane nodded. They hugged again, reunited for an eternity.

---

AN – WOW this was long…99 pages with a twelve-point font. Wow. BUT IT'S DONE, I forgot something at the end, BUT OH WELL, IT'S DONE, I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT NEXT CHAPTER.

Eight chapters left, guys. Eight chapters…wow.

Anonymous: I do plan to have summoning, don't worry.

Wogogishl14: Thank you! :D And don't worry, I have the outline for that. Hee hee.

Gizmo Gear: NOPE. Lance is an idiot. And thank you! :D

Giboney: Thank you so much! :D

Kevy365: Hee hee hee…

Pinkpony4: AND WE GOT MORE REASON NOW! Flint was almost her uncle. But I will admit, while I have planned this since he became best dad, I do worry it will cheapen the relationship between them now…I hope it doesn't.

Not quite. Just twin sister. (Oblivion is a good game…I wanna play it now.)

In all honesty, after reading this, even I wouldn't mind if Sarid's grandfather died. I don't care how bad that sounds, the guy has no redeeming traits or features whatsoever. Lance's parents will be explained.

Heh heh. Yeah, he's interested in her. More on that later. Same for the werefox thing. And thank you! :D I wanted to do something different with the invasion.

We shall see soon. Ish. Depends on how fast I write.

Best dad (now uncle?) has been rescued! I wouldn't say Julo's behind in the legal system, it's…more tied to the king. Closer to the king, more chance for corruption. He's not a good king. :/

Thank you! :D Yeah, I felt it would have Sarid falling back into her "kill them all" mentality, as well as the fact their hostility was explained to be more from misdirection than any actual malice. Lol.

WOW. Thank you so much! :D It makes me happy to hear my writing can do that! As for the staff…heh heh…and YES!

Oh yeah, it's the first book of a series called Bloody Jack. It's very good! I read the first three books, but then had to go to high school. They didn't have them. :') So I don't know what happened next, and the forth book sounded really interesting too. And yeah, I know a girl who pains were so bad she would actually vomit, poor gal.

YEEEES! LAY EM ON ME!

I mean, basically.

THAT'S IT, THAT'S THE STORY.

Lol.

Of the Shadow Man, yes.

Oh gee.

Lol.

His entire character in six-seven words.

I DID IT, I WORKED IT IN!

I've seen this one on tumblr, but it never fails to make laugh.

Sarid's entire character pre-development.

I feel that.

LOL.

FUN FACT: The word "naked" also used to mean a warrior had no weapons on him. Like, they could have on layers of clothes, but they would still be described so if they had no weapon.

That's it, that's the fight.

If he weren't so awkward, I could see him doing that.

Yeah, though mainly when she hugs people. Kinda hard not to do that when you're so close to them. But also, lol.

OH MY STARS I LOVE THAT. XD

Get rekt, Lance.

Hee hee.

SO, as I said, eight chapters left. I would like to thank all of you for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing the story – it means a lot to me that all of you guys genuinely enjoy the story. I will admit, I am excited, sad and nervous about the story getting close to the end. I've worked on this for almost seven years (I need to get my crap together…) and it's so normal for me to think about it. After I finish it, I'll have to find another story to work on. But that's then. For now, I look forward to writing and posting next chapter. Until then, stay safe!