Part Seven
Elsewhere, there is the Red Hearts' camping grounds. As the soldiers spar with each other, Rozella comes out of her hut with Howard in tow.
Howard: Everything is going as we've planned.
Rozella: Good. And the bad news?
Howard: Unfortunately, we're not going into the budget. Our spies have discovered that… the Cyan Diamonds are earning money through charity, and with Gracious Day, their budget skyrocketed.
Rozella: Fuck, that Pelly. She's keener than what the others say.
They both gather with other officials at a round table for a meeting.
Rozella: Now… state the facts we need.
Official 1: I have one notice from your father, King Steelov. "Please, come home and forget about this Red Heart bullshit." That's all he's said.
Offical 2: And here's another. Howard may have told you, we're not getting enough money to keep us fully functional for any more battles with the Cyan Diamonds in the future.
Rozella: That, I already know, but how could they stay on budget?
Howard: They just live in tents. They earn money by chopping down trees for firewood, hunting animals for food, and collecting herbs for medicine. With those kinds of skills, I'd say they're doing their jobs well.
Rozella: Look, I know we're going through hard times. But lately, I've been having a brainstorm. The last one involved a dragon, which… didn't turn out well, but this time it's better. We hire… adventurers. We send them to explore uncharted regions of Xenotopia, find valuable artifacts, and we sell them to the highest bidder. Nothing will go wrong with that, will they?
Howard: No, but… what's to say if we have to split it with the mercenaries we hire?
Rozella: They can get their share.
All of a sudden, a scout walks over to Rozella's side with a report.
Scout: Scout report! Someone wants to see you in the guest hutt, milady.
Rozella leaves the round table to adjourn to the guest hut, where she sees Wor-Kis floating there and she is pleased to see him.
Rozella: Wor-Kis!
Wor-Kis: So good to see you again, child. I was hoping to see you today. In fact, I was sent here by Trimbo.
Rozella: Really? What did he say?
Wor-Kis: [chuckles] Only to wish you a happy Gracious Day, but most of all… asks you to end this feud.
Rozella: How sweet of him to think about me. But… I can't end it now. Most of my men are too anxious to fight somebody. Most of them want to kick some ass, and… I said they could the next time we see Pelly's army.
Wor-Kis: Rozella, you have the power to change the rules, not only because you lead the Red Hearts, but because you are the Princess of Prusha. That right is in your hands.
Rozella: I know, but I want my men to use their own freewill to proceed with the future. I can't just order them to stop and go home, when they feel used or wasted away.
Wor-Kis: [pauses] If you insist. I will go home to Prusha and tell your father… that you wish him a happy Gracious Day as well. Good luck.
Wor-Kis floats out of the hut, leaving Rozella alone but deep in thought.
Meanwhile, there is the Cyan Diamond's tent. A soldier is keeping watch next to the tent, where Pelly is consulting with two new members: Jimbo and Carrie.
Jimbo: Rozella's army is getting bigger every day. In addition to the fishermen and the huntsmen, the Red Hearts now also have the fans of Harry Potter, the jocks, the swim team, and the glee club.
Carrie: Word is that the farmers in Ukrim think the gods are wretched, and will team up with Rozella as well, since they think clerics are slaves to the deities.
Pelly: And who do we have on our side?
Jimbo: Uh besides us, it's bakers and florists, who are working on charities to help us stay on budget.
Pelly: Did you ask the Vamp kids?
Carrie: They're still undecided.
Pelly walks towards the tent's entrance, where she looks at the campfire outside, around which sit three other men. But then, a hawk flies over to land on the table. Carrie finds a message on the bird's leg, addressed to Pelly. She takes it and gives it to Pelly, who reads it.
Pelly: It's from Trimbo. He's wishing me a happy Gracious Day, and… end this fued with Rozella.
Jimbo: Maybe… it's probably time to give this up.
Carrie: I agree. We're just a dying breed, Pelly. The Red Hearts are going to win this whole thing. It's the holiday after all, so we'd….
Pelly: [determined] No! I started this army, and I'm going to make sure that it wins this war! Even if we must fight the ogres! I want us to spread the word to every corner and every crevice from here to the north and to the south. Maybe even to the west. Just send message birds, and we'll get some more members to fight the Red Hearts.
Jimbo and Carrie both shrug, and they write messages for anyone to join the Cyan Diamonds. They put it on caged birds, and open the cages to let them all fly off.
Part Eight
The next morning, Raizer is in the throne room, pacing around the Crystal Throne, deep in thought about the sights: his hand turning gray before it reverts to normal, and black stuff dripping from his wound. He stares at his hand; he approaches the Crystal Throne and pricks his hand with a sharp edge. But as he looks at the wound, his blood is shown to be black, and Raizer becomes both confused and mortified at the same time. Then, the Oracle arrives.
Oracle: You seemed unsettled, my prince.
Raizer: Yes. But I want to know if… both of my parents were human.
Oracle: They were…. Yes.
Raizer: Then explain to me… why is my blood black?
Raizer shows his black blood on his hand to the Oracle, who is less mortified than she was before.
Oracle: Perhaps… a terrible reaction.
Raizer: Reaction? I've kept my skin perfectly taken care of, and I've never had a cut before, until last night where my blood is black, when it's supposed to be red. On top of it, I touched a plagued bone, where I remained unaffected like it never happened! Tell me what fuck is going on, and tell me the truth!
Oracle: [pauses] Some truths are too much to comprehend.
Raizer: That's not your choice. What's happening to me?
Oracle: You cannot make decisions like you're a king already.
Raizer: The High King is gone, and as a prince, I ORDER YOU TO SAY IT!
[5 second silence]
Oracle: [sighs] Your mother… was nineteen years old when it happened.
[FLASHBACK]
Fifteen years ago, a younger Townley sits on the Crystal Throne, where his sister is introduced to Raizer's father, Hubert Helix.
Oracle/narrating: She was engaged to Prince Hubert Helix of southern Kyland, and they… fell in love. Your uncle saw him with potential, but as he looked closer, he discovered a rather… disturbing trait. Your father was… an Omicron worshiper.
Helix makes a small explosion from a bowl that surprises Raizer's mother, and they share a kiss. Townley witnesses them, and looks concerned. Next, Townley watches as the Oracle puts two items into a small bowl and an apparition emerges. In the apparition, a spilling of black blood drips from the bowl.
Oracle/narrating: Troubled, your uncle consulted me. I foretold that in the future, there will be black blood. A sign… of a bad omen. He feared it would be bad blood, so he banished your father from the kingdom forever. But as he left… your mother was pregnant.
Afterwards, when Townley enters the room, the whole bedroom is covered in mites, rotten wood, black stuff, and his sister is dead on her bed. But in her arms is Raizer as a baby, healthy and well. He approaches the baby, and picks him up with wonder and amazement.
Oracle/narrating: Your mother died from a mysterious plague… and you, alive and well, survived.
[FLASHBACK ENDS]
After hearing the story, Raizer desperately struggles to make sense of it all.
Raizer: I was… cursed?
Oracle: No. But as he cared for you, your uncle was worried… that your birth and survival may have been something of a sign, a sign that you, the son of an Omicron worshiper… are here.
Raizer: And he… never told me?
Oracle: He loved you. He feared it would change you if you knew the truth.
Raizer: The truth?! That I, the only heir to the Crystal Throne, am nothing more than some kind of bad omen?! For years, he's told me my mother died giving birth to me, and for years he's said my father was an asshole, banished from my home of origin, and he denies any right that I would assume his place as the next High King! Because no matter what I say or do, it would never happen because nobody would feel comfortable for having a bad omen on the Crystal Throne!
Oracle: [beat] He was only protecting you.
Raizer: Get out… of my home. Just looking at you makes me feel sick!
Raizer takes his leave up the stairs to forget about the Oracle. But as he proceeds in being alone, he is still disturbed about what he was told about his birth, and the fact that his father was an Omicron worshiper. And then, Dola'wic emerges from the shadows in the corner, confronting Raizer.
Raizer: [gasps] Dola'wic!
Dola'wic: Most impressive. Almost everyone, including the royal families, know my name.
Raizer: Give me one good reason why I shouldn't summon the guards to arrest you.
Dola'wic: Calm yourself, prince. I was here upon overhearing your father worshiping Omicron. I wanted to know… if it was Hubert Helix.
Raizer: [relaxed] …Yes. Why? How do you-
Dola'wic: I knew your father well. We both were on… different positions in life, but we… worshiped the god who brings death, famine, plagues and war. I support him to give me the strength and courage to overcome my fears. To help me withstand hardships. Even… bring death to my enemies. Your father, on the other hand, did it to make him like he deserved to be better than any king. And when I look into your eyes, I can see… you inherited his demeanor.
Raizer: But how would my father do this?
Dola'wic: It's simple. Once every fifteen years, Omicron comes to the altar where the priests pray to him. And sometimes, he gives a sample of his essence to the most faithful of his worshipers. Thirty years ago, I was one, and after me… it was your father. You are currently human, yes. But deep in your veins, you have black blood, a blood from Omicron's immortal body.
Raizer: So you're saying… I'm not a demigod?
Dola'wic: Nearly, not entirely.
Raizer: Look, if you're looking for a demigod to hunt, do it on that Riftaminus Sholdra. He's not too far from here.
Dola'wic: I can't. I've tried it three times, and Omicron was furious. But he claims there to be a way to spread misery upon the world, and now… I believe you, a bad omen of black blood, can do so.
Raizer: I know nothing of what you speak of.
Dola'wic: Oh, I believe you do.
Using his powers, Dola'wic taps on Raizer's head to read his mind. And he sees all kinds of secrets Raizer is hiding from the world. Dola'wic sees Raizer giving an archive to Duke Cardi, and the Duke riding to the Territories where he offers the book to Rathborne. And then, the vision ends with Raizer panting in exhaustion.
Dola'wic: Upon my word. You helped the ogres breach the Great Barrier, and you hired Cardi to stage the war. Most unbecoming of you.
Raizer: You dare never to speak of this!
Dola'wic: Do not threaten. I am not your enemy. I'm here to make a deal with you. You help me, and I help you. I want the demigod at your mercy, and if you ask me what you want… then I shall assist. That way, we both get what we so desire. Deal?
Raizer is hesitant to agree with the dark wizard, but when he gets something in his mind, he smirks to go with it.
Raizer: Deal!
The two of them shake hands, making the deal official.
Part Nine
So far away, the Grand Army is assembled at the border lines in between Kyland and Craitos. Garlym makes an announcement in front of them.
Garlym: Right, you little bastards! In front of you is the border line of Craitos, and I'd want you ready for the High King's march or I'll kick the living shit out of you if you cross it before him!
Not too far away, Edgar and Destinon are both gathered around a table to look at the map of Craitos, where it marks all the outposts the ogres have made.
Destinon: They have their outposts here, here, and here. But the closest one from where we are is right here, where they forge their cavaliers' armor. If we storm the place, they'll be out of metal and they'll have to disband their heavy cavaliers.
Edgar: True, but even if we do, there's no telling if they have another giant or other creatures guarding it.
Destinon: I wouldn't be too worried. As the sole-caretaker of the remaining manticores, my retainers and I are able to take care of anything the ogres may throw at us. And also, you've never sent manticores in to begin with.
Ayazz: It's true. Although we've been having Riftaminus to fight for us, a little change of strategy would suffice.
Edgar: Where is he now?
Ayazz: Guarding the city with Arkus and the Falconers. The elf's dragon is still exhausted after yesterday's fight, so we only have the yokai to assist us.
Edgar: That's good enough to hear. Just as long as we march forth and stop this enemy. Mount up. We cross the border now.
Ayazz rolls up the map before he kicks the table down a hill. Edgar mounts his horse, and Destinon mounts a manticore, before they both ride towards the awaiting army. The soldiers cheer and as Edgar takes the lead, everyone follows him to Craitos.
Meanwhile, Rift and the Falconers are walking through a thick forest, where Kyland City is far off over the hills behind them.
Jacksyn: Face it, guys! We're lost.
Vel: We can't be lost! We followed Raizer's instructions exactly. What did he say? "Head to the darkest part of the woods…"
Rift: That's one.
Vel: "Past the sinister trees with those scary-looking branches."
Rift: Two….
Maroon runs over to a bush in the shape of a busty figure.
Maroon: Yeah, and there's the bush shaped like Shirley Bassey!
Jacksyn: [annoyed] We passed that bush three times already!
Rift: Hey, you were the one who said you didn't want to stop and get directions.
Jacksyn: Look, I'm finding this very suspicious. Our friends are gone to face the Tribal Unity, and now, we end up lost in the woods with-
Cleese: Jacksyn, you don't have to get huffy with me. We're only trying to help.
Jacksyn: I know! I know. [sighs] I'm sorry, all right? I just feel like we're missing all the fun.
Rift: Hey, don't worry about it. We can always have our chance to deal with the ogres.
Maroon: Yeah, we'll take care of them like we did last time, ey? [singsong] We shot ourselves a Shrekkie, or maybe two or three!
Vel: Alright, ya howling nutjob! Take it seriously!
Vel kicks Maroon on the butt when he said "nutjob".
Maroon: Lighten up, dude. It's just a bit of fun.
Vel: Fun? Ha! No, fighting in the wars is fun. But look at us: no ogres, no brawls, while Trimbo is having all of the fun in wars.
Part Ten
Back with the Grand Army, it remains marching across the landscape. As they're crossing the river with swords over their heads, Trimbo is staying close to Kesseki and Bestial.
Trimbo: This is taking longer than I thought it would. We've been hiking like this for hours now.
Kesseki: The world's a lot bigger than it seems to be, Trimbo. But I thought Prince Raizer was supposed to join us.
Bestial: He was, but after that outburst, he… was rejected by Destinon, so it's just us. To be honest, I wanted him to come so that we could use him as a living shield. [laughs]
Kesseki: First of all, that's sick. Second, even if it isn't… it's agreeable. But we've got other things to worry about right now.
The troops walk out of the water one by one, and they proceed to go forward towards a glade. But with Ayazz leading the march, he halts the troops upon what he discovers. Human skeletons standing side by side, posted on poles like scarecrows. When the troops see them, most of them are terrified.
Trooper 1: What…. What sort of way is that for borns to be placed? This isn't natural.
Trooper 2: This land is haunted! It's accursed, it is!
Destinon: No, you yellow-bellied dogs. Those are just scarecrows. Craitans put them like this to keep some scavengers away from our crops. But since the ogres sacked this part of the kingdom, they're just… left here.
Edgar: Either way, we're going the right way, aren't we Destinon?
Destinon: Hell yeah, we are. We just turn to the left, and we're there.
Edgar: [to the soldiers] You heard her. Proceed.
Everyone marches on to the left, ignoring the skeleton scarecrows.
[Ringo squeeks]
Ringo sniffs on the scarecrows curiously, until one of them falls apart and it collapses, enough to make the raccoon scurry over up to Trimbo's shoulder.
Trimbo: Yeah. That ain't your cup of tea, Ringo.
Bestial: Say, I've been curious. What made your raccoon so close to you?
Trimbo: He was tangled up in a vine, while he was being attacked by wolves in the night. But I found him, scared the wolves away, and he… allowed me to help get the vines off him. And afterwards, he followed me home. I guess he thought… I would watch his back at all times.
Bestial: Heh. Sounds like he really wants to be a guard dog-
All of the troops have stunned looks on their faces. Ahead of them are ruins of a burned out village.
Bestial: [gasps] My village!
The soldiers walk through the singed gate and look around at the few planks that remain from the buildings. Bestial is mortified by the sight of the place, seeing nobody alive here.
Ayazz: Search for survivors.
Everyone splits up to search around the burned-out village. Kesseki looks around the ruins, until he finds the body of a boy lying on the ground. He kneels to check on it. Suddenly, the boy springs to life and jumps up, which startles Kesseki. The boy realizes Kesseki is a yokai, so he carries a stick as a weapon.
Boy: [panicking] Stay back!
Kesseki: Calm yourself. I am not your enemy.
The boy stares at him for a while, but he lowers his stick.
Kesseki: Tell me, what happened here?
Boy: They…. They came out of nowhere. It sounded like ogres at first, marching at dusk. [coughing] But just before they would attack… goblins burst in through the windows and burn our houses with torch-
The boy lets out one more cough before he falls down and dies. Kesseki sees there's a cut on his back, and he swipes his finger on the blood to smell it.
Kesseki: Poisoned.
Elsewhere, Trimbo goes through a house, which turns to dust in a matter of seconds by the touch of his hand. He finds a doll, and looks up sorrowfully as Edgar comes to his side.
Edgar: It's never pretty, son. Wars have never been pretty. But sometimes, we fight to survive.
And then, Garylm gives a call from up a hill.
Garlym: Commander! You're gonna want to see this!
As Ayazz walks over, Garlym points down to the valley where the remains of a Craitan army can be seen. Flags poking up out of the snow, armor lying face down, broken cannon carts. The soldiers have the look of horror on their faces as they look into the valley. Bestial runs down the hill, and stops to see an old man lying there, where she shakes him.
Bestial: Dad? Dad, wake up!
But it is no use. The man is dead. Bestial shed tears in her eyes, and Destinon walks over to embrace her.
Destinon: He knew the risks, Bestial. As… we all do.
Later, Bestial buries her father's body at the edge of the hill. She draws her sword and stabs it into the ground upright. She kneels down and bows her head, as Destinon and other Craitans stand by her side.
Bestial: I should've stayed here with him. Our last words in this world were spoken in anger. He wanted me to be married, and I…. The last thing I said was that I hated him.
Destinon: He loved you till the end, dear. He never gave up hope of your return.
Bestial raises her dagger over her wrist. She slashes the dagger across her palm.
Bestial: I swear by my own blood. I will not rest until I have avenged my father's death, by cutting off Cardi's head.
The rest of the Grand Army are standing by to let the Craitans do their mourning.
Trimbo: Should we bury the others too?
Garlym: Who knows. Birds gotta eat too.
Soldier: Circle of life!
Ayazz: Your majesty, orders?
Edgar: Wait for it.
Bestial gets up, turns around and he walks by. She walks to the center of the troops. She grabs a manticore by the saddle, takes one quick look of grief then mounts the beast.
Bestial: The ogres won't be too far. If we take this pass, it'll take us to the target outpost.
Edgar: You heard the lady, men. But if we make it there, we'll corner Rathborne and capture Cardi. This is our chance to end this war. Move out!
Trimbo looks at the sword, takes out the doll he found and places the doll at the base of the sword. He turns around and joins the rest of the troops marching on.
Meanwhile, a burst of steam shoots in a desolate wasteland somewhere in Craitos. Stoneclaw and Hashlick are standing on a ledge, holding sticks.
Hashlick: Yeecch. This troll graveyard is even creepier since the trolls ran off.
Stoneclaw: [annoyed] Quit being scared, okay?
Hashlick: I'm not.
They jump down next to one of the spouts; Hashlick drops the kindling against the edge.
Hashlick: I just don't know why we have to be here, that's all. If Cardi was so special, why does he need us? I never even had a CHANCE! Yaaah!
Hashlick gets his butt burned by a jet of hot gas from the ground. Stoneclaw watches him with amusement, then his face lights up as the near spout bursts, lighting the sticks ablaze.
Stoneclaw: That's it! Now come on. The humans are on the trail. We have to move quickly.
Hashlick takes his stick and walks off. But when Stoneclaw grabs his burning stick, he leans his head over the vent's edge. It goes off, scorching his face.
Stoneclaw: Oooh! Fire!
He laughs crazily and bounds off after Hashlick.
Part Eleven
Afterwards, the troops are in a large canyon, walking on the bottom of the gully. Everything is vacant and quiet; not a soul to be seen. Trimbo is on horseback with Kesseki and Bestial, scowling over her father's death.
Trimbo: I don't like this. This canyon's ideal for an ambush.
Bestial: This is nothing. It's like a walk in the park for other Craitans.
Trimbo: But Bestial, are you sure vengeance is a good idea for you?
Bestial: This has nothing to concern you. You didn't lose a parent like I did.
Trimbo: No, but I did lose my best friend. I almost lost myself when I was about to kill them, and it blinded me.
Bestial: Craitans are never blind.
Kesseki: I'm afraid he's right.
Bestial: Stay in your lane, foxy!
High up the side of the gorge away from the troops, there are Raizer and Dola'wic, who are waiting off of the edge of the herd, hidden under a rock arch.
Dola'wic: There they are. Just as I have told you. But is there a plan?
Raizer: There is. We have to make sure they're walking deep enough to the canyon. From there, it will be their deathbed.
Dola'wic: When will there be… the time you reveal your weapon?
Raizer: Only… when Rathborne is near.
Back on the gully, Trimbo looks around the place, until he finds a siege cannon on the ground. Out of curiosity, he rides over, dismounts and checks on it. Suddenly, the cannon shoots out over the troops and explodes on the canyon's side. The troops look surprised. Kesseki glances back with a scowl to see Trimbo with a sorrowful face. Garlym charges up to Trimbo on his horse, with Ayazz right behind.
Garlym: [angrily] What happened?!
Trimbo: [stumbling] Uhhh-
Garlym: You just gave away our position. Now we're-
Then, an arrow hits Garlym in the shoulder as he falls to the ground.
Ayazz: [alarmed] AMBUSH!
One by one, goblins jump out from the dirt. All the troops draw their weapons and begin to fight the fight, but Trimbo aids Garlym to attend to his wounded arm, pulling the arrow off of him.
Ayazz: Trimbo, get him to safety!
Trimbo nods to respond and carries Garlym away to the center of the troops where it is safer.
Bestial and Destinon both ride their manticores across the gully, slaying all of the goblins in sight. Bestial jumps off to pounce like an animal, mauling on the green humanoids like an animal.
Stoneclaw and Hashlick are standing above the gorge, with their flaming sticks.
NUKA: Let there be… fire!
They run down the slope, lighting the grass on the edge on fire. Stoneclaw lights the grass in several places, hopping around in circles. Soon he is standing in the center of the circle of flames.
Stoneclaw: Hey, is it hot in here? [realizes] Fire! Yowww!
Stoneclaw rockets into the air and lands a good distance away, where he laughs maniacally.
Stoneclaw: Damn, that was intense.
Hashlick: Stoneclaw, we're ready!
Stoneclaw motions to some ogres in front, where they roll large balls of grass towards the fire. The balls are then ablazed, and they approach the edge of the gorge.
Bestial gives chase to a bunch of goblins fleeing from her.
Bestial: Get back here, you jackasses!
Soon, though, she notices the fire burning on the horizon, and the flaming balls are falling down. She panics, turns, and begins to run back the way she came, before the flaming balls explode on impact. Soon after, more flaming balls plummet down to the gorge, dropping on top of the troops.
Kesseki: Great balls of fire!
On a high knoll above the flames, Cardi and Rathborne stand there, watching the scene.
Cardi: The plan is in motion.
Rathborne: My troops are ready now. I will be ready for this moment. The moment… where the High King will have to beg for mercy. [to the ogres] Go!
Some ogres jump from the edge, slide down the rocky walls, and join in on the fight. A manticore fires its venomous barbs from its tail, killing only two ogres, while the rest block it with wooden shields. Then, a Blaster fires his siege cannon to kill the manticore in the face.
During the fight, Trimbo finds a cave and sets Garlym down to let him lay there steadily. He looks at his wounded shoulder, seeing some kind of purple stuff on it.
Trimbo: Poison.
Garlym: [weakened] You… shouldn't worry about me. I have served… enough for this army.
Once he lets out a cough, Garlym dies in Trimbo's arms, and the young prince looks at him mournfully.
Outside the cave, Edgar fights off goblins with ease, until he sees Cardi walking on the edge of the gorge from above.
Edgar: Ayazz, I have Cardi in my sights. Proceed with the fighting.
Ayazz: Yes, sir!
Edgar rides his horse past the goblins, attempting to go after Cardi.
Trimbo exits from the cave, until he sees a Stoneclaw approaching him.
Stoneclaw: Fresh meat!
Stoneclaw charges, swinging his stone-like hand. Trimbo ducks below the claws and lunges forward with his sword, but Stoneclaw grabs the smaller man in a bear hug and squeezes. Trimbo turns red; his sword falls from his hand.
Trimbo: [struggling] Damn, he's… strong.
But Trimbo his helmeted head forward, butting Stoneclaw's sensitive horn. The ogre staggers back, blood spraying from his nose, his club falling to the ground. Trimbo struggles to regain his equilibrium, before Stoneclaw growls and launches himself at the prince. Trimbo snatches a spear off the ground and positions it just as Stoneclaw dives at him. The spear pierces the ogre's armor, driving through his belly and out his back. Trimbo holds the shaft steady. Stoneclaw stares down at his wound. He seems more irritated than anything else. Stoneclaw places his two big hands on the spear shaft, right where the spear enters his body. He breaks the spear in two, snapping the solid wood like a twig. Half a spear still sticking out his back, Stoneclaw swings the shaft, clobbering Trimbo in the side of the head, sending the prince flying.
Edgar reaches the top of the gorge, attempting to find Cardi, but he can't find him anywhere. Suddenly, an arrow flies into his horse, killing it, and Edgar falls off to the ground. He looks up and sees Cardi above him, standing on a rock, with two ogre archers.
Cardi: Hold your ground until further notice. If he survives… kill him.
Archer: I understand.
Cardi slides down from the rock, as Edgar regains his bearings to draw his sword.
Cardi: Please, my friend. We shouldn't make a mess of things in the middle of a situation.
Edgar: You won't get away this time, Cardi.
Edgar charges Cardi, who draws his falchion. A great sword fight ensues.
Cardi: I've been looking forward to this.
Edgar: I said you'll be facing the council and I intend to do so, Duke.
Cardi: Good. Twice the motive, double the fall.
Back with Trimbo, dazed, he falls to one knee. Stoneclaw whacks him again on the back of his neck. Trimbo crawls forward blindly. His hands brush over the blade of his dropped sword.
Stoneclaw: I must be out of my mind, when I thought I was facing the son of King Edgar Morningstar!
Then Trimbo springs up, driving his sword into Stoneclaw's gut, just below the ogre's breast plate. Trimbo withdraws his sword. Both of them see the ground drenched with Stoneclaw's blood. Stoneclaw backhands Trimbo with the broken spear shaft, cracking the prince in the jaw and dropping him again. Stoneclaw grabs Trimbo, hoists him upright and begins throttling the prince. Stoneclaw spits a great wad of blood and smiles, teeth washed red.
Stoneclaw: Say hello to Omicron for me.
Trimbo tries to kick at Stoneclaw, but Stoneclaw's thumbs dig deeper and deeper into Trimbo's throat. Trimbo's eyelids begin to flutter as he chokes. But the ogre commander has lost too much blood. He sinks slowly to his knees. Trimbo is forced to his knees as well. Finally Stoneclaw's eyes roll back. He topples onto Trimbo, hands still locked on the prince's throat. Trimbo undoes the death grip. He squirms out from under Stoneclaw's corpse and stands.
Trimbo: Tell him yourself.
But he looks up, to see his father fighting Cardi up on the edge.
Trimbo: Father….
Part Twelve
Kesseki fires his Bow of Delta, until a goblin lassos his arm, disarming him of the Bow.
Goblin: Gotcha!
Kesseki struggles to free himself, until he sees a charging woolly rhino ahead of him. The rhino charges the yokai, but he jumps up, and the beast hits the wall hard. Kesseki lands onto its back, wrapping part of his rope around its horn. The rhino backs off, shaking its head angrily, which tears the rope from the goblin.
Kesseki: How do you work this thing?!
Ayazz runs at the goblin with a spear. He grabs the long spear and pole vaults over the goblin. A Smasher smashes into the goblin crowd. With the spear, Ayazz throws it into the Smasher's face, killing him.
Ayazz: [smirks] Bullseye.
But another woolly rhino charges at him. Ayazz ducks down, just before the hairy beast would kill him. As the woolly rhino charges again, Ayazz throws an axe from the ground, and throws it at the face, killing it.
Ayazz: Double bullseye.
For Kesseki, the rhino starts to buck. It charges around the gorge with Kesseki hanging on for dear life. He whirls the free length of rope around his head and casts it into the rhino's mouth. Its jaws clamp hard on the rope. Kesseki yanks hard on the rope, turning the rhino, beginning to ride it.
Bestial is cornered with a few other survivors to the wall, with the remaining goblins surrounding them. Then, when Kesseki finally manages to free the lasso off him, he comes charging up on the rhino, killing the goblins.
Kesseki: We must get the others out of the gorge!
Bestial: We can't surrender now!
Kesseki: There's no other choice, Bestial. We need to regroup!
[5 second silence]
Bestial: Alright!
Kesseki rides the woolly rhino to make way for the survivors to escape from the gorge.
Up top, Edgar is still fighting Cardi, until he is knocked out by the Duke.
Cardi: It's a real shame, though. We both wanted what was best for Xenotopia, but the only difference is… we have different points of view.
But then, Cardi hears charging footsteps and he whips around to see Trimbo charging in. As the battle proceeds, Trimbo and Cardi move up the rocks. Edgar, regaining his bearings, reaches the top of the rocks, killing the two ogre archers. Cardi grabs Edgar by the throat as he turns and kicks Trimbo off the rocks. And then, the Duke throws Edgar out of sight behind a boulder that leads to the edge of the gorge.
Out of everyone's sight, Edgar reaches a point right near the edge where he would fall off. He grabs on the ground for his dear life. Above him is Raizer.
Edgar: Raizer! Help me! I'm slipping!
Raizer looks disdainfully down, but he reaches out to help him up. But as he gets up, Edgar has a sudden flash of realization. His expression slowly changes to one of horror as he recognizes Raizer's intent, before he stabs him in the chest.
Raizer: [slowly and evilly] Long live the king.
Then, Raizer throws Edgar backwards.
When Trimbo regains his bearings, he sees his father falling down from the edge to the gorge below.
Trimbo: FATHER!
As soon as Edgar falls, everyone in the gorge watches in horror as the High King falls to his death.
Ayazz: Oh, no.
Trimbo looks down from the edge, seeing his dead father below. As he looks at him, he is beginning to cry, but he stops in an act of rage for his loss, and whips back to Cardi. He kicks Cardi, sending him over the rocks. He jumps, following him down to the main floor. Cardi and Trimbo begin fighting.
Cardi: I see rage blinding you, Morningstar. But even if my death would satisfy you… it would never bring him back.
Trimbo regains his composure and attacks Cardi as the Duke continues his spin to meet him head on. Their fighting becomes even more intense. Trimbo attacks Cardi with a new ferociousness. Finally, in one last energized charge, Trimbo cuts off Cardi's hands. The prince catches the falchion as it drops from the severed Duke's hand. Cardi stumbles to the floor as Trimbo puts the two swords to his neck.
Trimbo: This time, it's your turn to die!
Trimbo is ready to kill him, but he is beginning to remember his own words.
Trimbo/memory: I almost lost myself when I was about to kill them, and it blinded me.
Arkus/memory: …you take that path… you may never be forgiven for it.
At last, Trimbo is beginning to calm his nerves, seeing the error of the ways he's about to, and he lowers his blades down. He drops them, and grabs Cardi up by the shirt.
Trimbo: I'd rather see you with the executioner.
And then, a dagger is flown into Cardi's back, and it kills him. Trimbo looks ahead, seeing Raizer.
Raizer: Trimbo. You hesitated.
Trimbo: I…. I was, uh…. He….
Raizer: I agree. I saw his fall. [sympathetic] No one… ever means for these things to happen, but… the High King died in the Duke's hands. If you were there in time, he'd still be alive.
But then, Trimbo realizes something. He looks at Raizer with a suspicious look.
Trimbo: Wait a minute. How did you get here so fast?
Raizer: If only I could tell you, but… you won't live to know it.
Raizer steps back, revealing a golden cannon, like the one Cruciatus had before, aiming at him. Alarmed, Trimbo grabs a shield to block it, and Ringo jumps up onto Trimbo's back. And then… BOOM! The cannon fires, blasting Trimbo across the landscape.
In the gorge, the ogres down below hear the sound, and they look around in an alarmed tone.
Ogre 1: What was that?
Ogre 2: I don't know, but let's get out of here.
The ogres are making their escape, but a lightning shot is fired by Dola'wic, levitating in the air, to block their path. And then, the golden cannon is rearranged to take aim at the gorge, and it fires on all of the ogres to kill them off. The surviving members of the Grand Army, including Ayazz, are shocked about that, but they see Raizer standing by the weapon.
Ayazz: Raizer? How did…?
Soldier: Who cares? He saved us and that's that.
Outside the gorge, Rathborne and a handful of ogres see the events, and he scolds it.
Rathborne: That double-crossing Duke!
Hashlick: I told you he might be trouble to us.
Rathborne: Shut up!
Rathborne bashes Hashlick across the face, and turns back to the battlefield.
Rathborne: We will have no choice… but to go back and resume our exile.
Hashlick: Go back? But that means we came a long way for nothing.
Rathborne: It wouldn't matter. The humans would kill themselves anyway. And if they survive, we'll finish them off. [to the ogres] Let's go!
The ogres all roar before mounting on their rhinos, and they ride off to go somewhere.
After a long while at night, Raizer is addressing everyone about what happened to Edgar and Trimbo.
Raizer: Edgar's death was a terrible tragedy. But Trimbo, who was blinded by vengeance, attempted to kill Cardi, and it… cost him his life.
Most of the crowd is the Falconers and the survivors, who bow their heads. Some of them, with Ayazz, are comforting Iris, who bends her head in extreme pain.
Raizer: For me, it was a noble cause, until the end. So with a heavy heart, I shall assume the Crystal Throne, as it said on my late uncle's will. Yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall have my personal guards.
Some soldiers start emerging, casting eerie green shadows and entering the throne room. They all have black armor, helmets with bladed mohawks, shields with a scorpion on each of them, and scimitars with black edges. Leading them is Dola'wic, which gives a sudden recoil of fear to the crowd.
Raizer: I present to you… the Elite Force, and with Dola'wic as our contracted protector, every part of the kingdom will come together, in a great and glorious future!
Scar ascends the Crystal Throne, as the Elite Force appear in full force, and he crowns himself as High King of Xenotopia.
Up on Laputa, the gods are seeing this from the floor and they all seem disturbed.
Zeta: Dad, how did this happen? They're letting a bad omen to assume the throne.
Delta: I can't believe they never finished the job!
And then, Omicron shows up and he seems happy.
Omicron: Xenotopia has a new High King now.
Kappa: You have no right to be here!
Omicron: Sadly, I do. You do not tell me where I belong.
Apex: I'm afraid… he's right. A deal is a deal. His place… is now on Laputa.
Gamma: But it doesn't mean who can do whatever you want.
Omicron: Of course. After all, I am forced to rise because we are all threatened.
Apex: What do you mean?
Omicron: You know what I mean. You said it is love that feeds us, but you depend on their love. I've only learned to live on their fear. Their pain. However, with me, if we let the humans go like this, there will be more humans to pray for us… and we'll all be stronger.
Gamma: Apex? He speaks the truth.
Kappa: Wait, my son could….
Apex: No, Kappa. Hades is right. With this turn of events, we'll have more prayers than before. After all, the great evil is out there, and so too are the seven heroes.
In the Elven Embassy, Arkus, Kesseki, Rift and Bestial are seated together for a discussion.
Kesseki: Things have gone from bad to worse. Even with Raizer as High King.
Arkus: And with Trimbo gone, we can only be left with only one choice, which… we all must agree.
Kesseki: Hmm… I say… we split up.
Bestial: I'll be going back to Craitos. I've got other villages to search for survivors.
Arkus: And what about the rest of us?
Rift: I'll be staying here…. I need to protect my mother, and help train the Grand Army.
Kesseki: And I'll… return to Ingersil. But Arkus…?
Obi-Wan: I stay here too, making sure nothing from the High King goes wrong.
Kesseki: Until the time is right, we will disappear.
Elsewhere, Trimbo's unconscious body is being floated to shore, as well as the unconscious Ringo. But as they both float to a beach, a shadow looms over them.
The End