It's kinda been like a month since I last updated. Uh… Life has just been pretty sucky this month. Murphy's law hit pretty hard and I haven't had much free time. Also, my second vaccine dose hit me like a truck and I felt like crap all yesterday. Well, enough about my life, enjoy!

Before the new episode started, there was another flash.

"Great, someone new." Rayla said.

"Where am I?" Aanaya asked.

"Long story short, we're all trapped here watching Callum, Ezran, and my journey to Xadia and whatever else the humans were doing during that time." Rayla said.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Future Callum asked.

"Gren was asking for my army to march to Xadia so that we could reinforce the Elves." She said. The group nodded and continued to watch.

Pentarchy Guard: Halt! Dismount, disarm, and proceed alone to the meeting point. Welcome.

Viren: How gracious.

Ahling: You're the fourth to arrive. May I say, on behalf of all of the kingdoms, we were deeply saddened to hear of King Harrow's passing.

Viren: Thank you, King Ahling. That means a lot.

Ahling: But we were reassured when we received the scroll informing us that you would be the regent of Katolis until Ezran comes of age.

Viren: It is humbling to be trusted with the boy's education and training, as well as decisions of state. And speaking of regents, it seems we are only waiting on the regent of Duren?

Aanaya: I apologize for my lateness.

Ahling: Queen Aanya of Duren. How you've grown. Welcome.

Viren: Hmm. We are here to discuss some rather weighty matters. Will your regent be joining us soon?

Aanaya: I speak for myself now, and for my people.

Viren: Yes, this is a very serious situation. I intend no offense, but these issues require an adult perspective.

Aanaya: It seems I am a crown without an adult, and you're an adult without a crown. Let's just begin.

The group burst out in laughter.

"Oh, she got you good, Viren." Rayla said between laughs and Aanaya smirked.

Viren: Very well. I called us here today… because I am afraid. Terrified. After centuries of fighting amongst ourselves, the five human kingdoms finally found a balance, an era of peace. But a new threat has arisen to challenge all of humanity… a threat from Xadia. On the night of the full moon, the Dragon Queen sent assassins… Moonshadow elves over the border, and they murdered King Harrow. Now, Sunfire elves are gathering near the border. An invasion is imminent. Even worse, there are reports of shadows in the clouds. Dragons. Flying high above the towns of Katolis. When I close my eyes, I see fire raining down, death and destruction everywhere. It won't stop in Katolis. They will spread their wrath to all the human kingdoms soon enough. The time to stop Xadia is now. We must come together to protect our common humanity. I call on you to join me, to join Katolis. Fight beside each other to drive back this threat.

"Nice speech. It makes us look like blood thirst monsters and you like you actually care about humanity." Rayla said sarcastically.

"He was trying to instil fear into the rulers so they would follow him." Aanaya said.

"Instilling fear is what Viren does." Amaya said.

Villads: Ah, yes, the smell of land.

Rayla: Sweet, sweet land.

Ezran: Whoo-hoo!

Berto: Let him finish.

Villads: The faint, distant smell of land, that is.

Berto: There it is.

Villads: About a full day of sailing ahead until we reach the shore.

Ezran: Well, Zym, want to go count clouds again? Or we could nap.

Callum looks at his letter depressingly.

King Ahling: Lord Viren, the people of Neolandia understand the common humanity that binds us. If the other kingdoms agree to act in unity, we will commit to this alliance.

Queen Fareeda: Yes. In unity, you will have our support, as well.

Viren: King Florian?

King Florian: If we are unanimous, then the kingdom of Del Bar will join.

"Viren, what have you done?" Harrow said softly. His wife put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I...I don't understand why I would do this." Viren said regretfully. A look of shame and regret appeared on Viren's face. He looked at his feet thoughtfully. Then Future Callum put a hand on Viren's shoulder.

"We can't change what we did in the past, we can only try to create a better future. I think we were all brought here to help create a peace between humans and elves without bloodshed. Let us hope it is not too late to stop it." Future Callum said wisely.

Viren: Queen Aanya, what say you?

Queen Aanya: I am… undecided.

Viren: "Undecided"?

Queen Aanya: Yes. It means I've yet to make up my mind.

The group could barely contain their laughter as she insulted Viren.

"Laugh all you want. I'm going to make sure it never happens." Viren swore.

Viren: This is why we need an adult. A leader who can make strong choices for their kingdom. Everyone else here was capable of making a decision.

Queen Aanya: I won't send my armies to face unknown danger based on a two-minute speech. I may be a child, but apparently, I'm the least impulsive of us all. Besides, I hardly call "we'll do what everyone else does" a decision.

The group laughed as Queen Anaya roasted the pentarchy. Even Runaan chuckled.

"Those are brave words coming from one so young. You remind me of Rayla when she was younger." Runaan said nostalgically.

"Are you getting soft, Runaan? I thought Moonshadow Assassins weren't allowed to be soft in front of humans?" Rayla teased.

"Alright, children. Enough, let's continue." Ethari said.

King Ahling: Well, she's got a fair point.

Viren: Perhaps, I was rash in my words. I apologize. You are a young queen, but evidently far wiser than your years.

Queen Aanya: As a child ruler, I have had to survive adults trying to usurp my throne, coups, conspiracies, and assassinations. But sometimes, it's not the hard threats, but the soft threats that are the worst. Sweet words can be more dangerous than hidden daggers.

King Ahling: My 19-year-old doesn't know half the words you just said. And he still fights back about eating his vegetables.

Viren: Queen Aanya, would you allow me to share a story with you? A story of a time when our kingdoms worked together to achieve something… miraculous. Nine years ago, my oldest friend, Prince Harrow, became the king of Katolis.

Shifting towards Viren's story.

Viren: I remember the coronation as if it were only yesterday.

Crowd cheering

Harrow: I want to make a difference, Sarai.

Sarai: You will. You'll be a champion of love and justice. And I'll be fighting by your side.

Viren: He was a beautiful young king with a beautiful family, and it was a time of hope in Katolis.

Harrow: Are we done yet? It looks pretty good to me.

Viren: Yes. It's beautiful. An excellent likeness. You can all move now. No, hold on, you're not free yet. I'm afraid the king has to pose for one more.

Harrow: Ah, my official portrait. For history books and whatnot.

Viren: All right, ready? Put on your best history face.

Harrow: Why don't you join me, Viren?

Viren: But this is your official portrait as king.

Harrow: Yes, and you should stand next to me, as I know you will stand by me through anything.

Still story, Harrow with Sarai and Ezran

Harrow: I brought you a surprise.

Sarai: Jelly tarts in bed?

Harrow: We are the king and queen now, we can do whatever we want. Ah, someone's inherited your sweet tooth. Ezran is a lucky boy. Born a prince, as I was. But there are so many in our kingdom who were born with less.

Sarai: Harrow, what troubles you?

Harrow: Why do I deserve this? What did I do, except being born with everything?

Sarai: You are humble, and grateful, and kind.

Harrow: Sarai, my father told me that above all, I must be a just king. The night he died, Lady Justice came to me in a dream.

Sarai: Lady Justice, huh?

Harrow: She was wearing her robes.

Sarai: Ugh, so a boring dream.

Harrow: May I continue?

Sarai: Go on.

Harrow: She said to me that justice was more than fair decisions and fair consequences. True justice was a fair system. Then she laid before me her scales, her sword, and her blindfold… and told me to choose.

Sarai: You chose the blindfold.

"A wise decision for a just king. I know I will eventually kill you, but it is assuring to know that you were once a good king." Runaan said.

"I made the wrong choice and I suffered the consequences." Harrow said.

Harrow: I did. She said the blindfold gives us a way to test the system. That I should use it to imagine I had not been born yet, and that I did not know if I would be born rich or poor, what color my skin would be, what cultures or practices my family would have. That a fair system should be fair no matter the accident of my birth. That the rights, and laws, and opportunities within the system should stand to protect and empower everyone.

Sarai: Lady Justice is wise.

Harrow: Yes.

Sarai: And she didn't make any moves on you?

Harrow: Wise enough to know better.

Sarai: You're especially inspiring when you say things like that with jelly smeared on your nose.

The group laughed at Harrow's cluelessness.

Harrow: What?

Still in the story, in the Katolis throne room.

Viren: King Harrow worked tirelessly. He told me he thought of himself as a servant of all the people of Katolis. A servant king. But one day, two visitors came from a far away place, another kingdom, in fact. They desperately needed King Harrow's help. Do you know who these unexpected guests were?

Anaya: They were my parents.

Viren: Yes.

Back on the boat

Callum: Hey, can't a guy get a couple minutes of below-deck privacy around here? I'm serious, leave me alone. Hey, wait, wait, wait. Why don't you join me down here? I could use a little extra light.

Back to Viren's story

Viren: Your parents, the queens of Duren, carried themselves with great dignity, but there was pain in their eyes.

Harrow: No, please, you don't have to kneel.

Queen Annika: We are here to humble ourselves and beg your help.

Queen Neha: The kingdom of Duren has been suffering from a terrible famine for nearly seven years. Our food and resources are almost gone. This winter, we will run out of food and a hundred thousand people will die.

Harrow: Then we will help you. The kingdom of Katolis will share all that we have with the kingdom of Duren.

Viren: My king, with respect, you spoke too soon. Katolis has barely enough food to sustain its own people through the winter. There is not a handful of grain to spare.

"You are willing to share in their suffering." Runnan said more to himself.

Harrow: I won't turn my back on people in need.

Viren: If you share with them, a hundred thousand people will still die, but half of them will be from our own kingdom.

Harrow: Then it seems we have no choice.

Viren: Exactly. I'm sure they will understand.

Harrow: We will share whatever we have with them. And we will share in their suffering.

Viren: Harrow had committed help far beyond our means. That winter, starvation and death, a devastating tragedy… would be inevitable.

The Elves looked at the humans sadly. They never had much trouble getting through the winter. Food was never a real problem for any of them.

Viren: But a new possibility presented itself to me. I have been doing some research.

Harrow: Yes. I can see that.

Viren: Pouring over ancient texts, maps, and archives. And I may have found a creative solution. Something that could save lives.

Harrow: Well, go on!

Viren: Behold!

Harrow: It's a rock.

Viren: This rock is, in fact, a rare relic from Xadia. It's a piece of a great monster, a rocky giant who lives high in the mountains. A Magma Titan.

"Magma Titans are meant to be left alone. It's foolish to disturb it." Ethari said.

Harrow: It's still warm.

Viren: Yes. Now, the titan lives close to the border of Xadia. If we can hunt this monster and slay it, I can use the heart of the titan in a powerful spell that will warm the land, and allow us to magically grow an incredible bounty.

"But you would kill the titan. What if it has feelings or a family?" Ezran asked. The elves looked at him surprised, they didn't expect a human to have such empathy for the titan.

"There isn't much known about Magma Titans, but they are sentient beings." Ethari said.

Harrow: Enough to feed two kingdoms?

Viren: Enough to feed ten kingdoms.

Harrow: Hmm.

Viren: Of course, at the time, I was not the king's closest advisor.

Sarai: It's a mistake, Harrow.

Harrow: Why do you have such a problem with this? We kill one monster to save a hundred thousand people.

Sarai: You keep calling it a monster.

Harrow: Yes. It's a giant beast made of rock and magma. I call that a monster.

"Wait, hold on. Your guards would bet on who would win in sparring matches?" Lain asked.

"No Lain, you can't do that." Tiadrin said and Lain deflated.

Sarai: Is it intelligent?

Harrow: What? What do you mean?

Sarai: Does it think? Does it feel? Does it have a family?

Harrow: I sincerely doubt it has a family.

Sarai: Then is it the last of its kind?

Sarai looked at the elves for an answer to her question.

"Magma Titans aren't exactly common in Xadia. They were slayed for the same reason back when humans first learned dark magic." Ethari said sadly.

Harrow: Why does any of that matter?

Sarai: I know it seems like this will solve things, but isn't it a little too easy? That's always the way with dark magic.

Harrow: What choice do we have?

Sarai: You said you wanted to build a better world, to really change things, but that's going to take decades of hard work. There's no monster you can slay and solve all your problems. There's no shortcut. This is going to be a very slippery slope! Harrow, tell me you won't do this.

Harrow: It's our only chance.

Still story, Harrow is giving the plan for entering Xadia.

Harrow: We will enter Xadia through the Breach. There we can pick up supplies and…

Sarai: I'm here.

Harrow: Queen Sarai. I thought you disapproved.

Sarai: I disagree. But I stand by you anyway.

Harrow: Thank you.

Sarai: I think this was in our marriage vows, right? Something about keeping you alive when you're acting like a brave idiot? Come on.

Viren: We traveled as quickly as we could to the border. Bold adventurers from two kingdoms crossed the Breach together, hoping to find a way to help their people.

Harrow: Thunder, the King of the Dragons, patrols the skies from dawn until dusk. So, we will enter Xadia at sundown, and we must return with the heart of the titan before the first moments of the sun's rise.

Neha: Will these ballistas be able to take down a Magma Titan?

Harrow: If our aim is true, we'll find the right spot and get the job done. What?

"That was wrong." Harrow said.

"I had to make her laugh somehow." Amaya said.

"What did she say?" Ezran asked.

"You don't want to know buddy." Future Callum said.

Sarai: Nothing.

Viren: We emerged into darkness and quickly got to work.

Harrow: Let's go. The night is short.

Viren: With each step further into Xadia, my heart beat louder with excitement and fear. This place held both the promise of our salvation, and the threat of our destruction. We were ready for the fight of our lives. We found the titan, but it wasn't what we expected.

Neha: It's dead. What do we do now?

Viren: Don't sound so disappointed. If it's dead, we don't need to kill it. We just open it up and take what we need.

"Well, I suppose it would be better if it was dead. Then you wouldn't have to kill an innocent creature." Ezran said.

"It's still Dark Magic." Future Callum said. The others looked at him surprised.

"Why do you have such a problem with Dark Magic?" Viren asked.

"In every case that I've experienced with Dark Magic, someone always gets hurt. It seems good in the short term, but you will still pay the price in the future." Future Callum said

Callum: I've had this letter for a few days now, but I just can't bring myself to open it. I don't know. I know it sounds crazy, but it's like, right now there are words he hasn't said to me, and they're all right in there. They're just waiting to come to life. But then once I read it… once I read the last word… then he'll really be gone. Forever. Okay. Thanks, Bait.

Okay, I don't know why I made Future Callum so wise in this chapter, I just had like an Uncle Iroh moment or something. We're almost to season 3. When this fic is finished, I'll be starting a new one on AO3 or here. I haven't decided yet. Thanks for sticking with me through all the writer's block and crazy stuff.