Legacy 204: Battle Royal
Part 7
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Penny groaned in pain as she rose to her feet. The baron had resisted her hypnosis and had flung her against a metal fence, though luckily she had been able to soften her landing through levitation. Why did her stupid hypnotic power always fail when she really needed it? She looked around and saw a battle had erupted all around her. Wyatt was still fighting Casimir, though the Lord of War seemed to gain ground with each blow of his sword. Laura had been harmed by a fireball to the shoulder, but was throwing shards of ice at the demonic guards surrounding her and Alexi. On the other side, agent Reed was fighting three guards on his own, and while he was faster, they were stronger. The baron was observing everything from his platform.
"You cannot win this fight, witch." The baron stated.
"Just watch us." Penny replied. "We've been through worse than your preppy school boys."
Penny ran toward Reed and levitated to kick one of the guards in the chest. The guard fell back as she turned to the remaining two and gave her hypnosis another shot.
"You two, you're on our side." Penny said as her voice echoed. "Go fight your friends."
The two guards stopped fighting Reed and nodded obediently, after which they began attacking the other guards with fireballs. Penny smiled, knowing that at least her power worked on lesser demons.
"Impressive trick." Reed noted.
"You haven't even seen my best tricks yet." Penny replied with flirty smile.
"I'll keep that in mind." Reed said. "Now let's go save your cousins."
Penny nodded and they headed over to Laura, who had formed a wall of ice around her and Alexi to fend off a barrage of fireballs. However, the ice was melting more quickly than Laura could regenerate it and she was getting visibly exhausted due to using her powers to such an extent. Penny levitated and wrapped her legs around a guard's neck, slamming him into the ground before jumping back up. Reed fought two guards and tricked one into hitting the other with a fireball.
"There is too many of them." Laura said.
"We need to go after the baron." Reed said.
"No." Alexi replied. "I need to get through to my brother. This has to end."
Before the others could object, Alexi split off from the group and ran toward the battlefield where Wyatt and Casimir were fighting. Laura tried to stop him, but her path was blocked by a guard. She placed her hand on him and froze him solid, but Alexi was already out of reach.
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Wyatt stepped back and realized he was losing this fight, so he threw up a force field to buy himself a little time to think. Casimir instantly began cutting through it. He was a trained swordsman. Although Excalibur was more powerful, in a fight like this, skill and experience mattered more than power. Wyatt looked to the side of the battle field and saw his cousins had broken free. They were putting up a good fight, but they were completely surrounded. Their plan to get to the baron had failed, which meant it was up to Wyatt to end this fight quickly and save them.
"You put up a good fight, despite your lack of skill with that sword." Casimir said.
"I'm fighting to protect my family." Wyatt replied.
"We both are." Casimir said.
"Are we?" Wyatt doubted.
"You would never understand." Casimir said. "Neither does my brother. You don't know what it means to rule, to fulfill a destiny such as mine."
"I know better than you think." Wyatt replied. "I was burdened by power as well, but it was too much for me to handle. It drove me down the wrong path, so my family helped me by taking away that power. Alexi is trying to do the same for you."
"I will not give up this power." Casimir said. "I cannot be weak, I cannot fail the Lords of War that came before me. I cannot fail my father."
"And what happened to them?" Wyatt asked. "They were all killed because of that destiny."
"That is a risk I am willing to take." Casimir replied.
Casimir threw the Crystal Sword and it shattered the force field, after which it returned to his hand. Wyatt stumbled back as Casimir charged at him. He blocked the first swing, but received a painful fist in his abdomen. He orbed behind Casimir and blocked another hit, after which he unleashed a wave of energy that pushed the prince back. Casimir seemed unaffected by the energy, as his wounds instantly healed due to the chevrons on his arm. Wyatt realized that there was only one way to win. He needed to kill Casimir in one hit.
"I can see in your eyes that you know what must be done." Casimir said. "This duel will end with a killing blow."
"I don't want to, but you're giving me no choice." Wyatt admitted.
"Do not worry, I will honor our deal." Casimir replied. "Your cousins and the agents will be free to go."
Wyatt nodded and prepared himself, channeling all his magic into his sword. Casimir began charging at him with the Crystal Sword in hand. They were about to clash when Alexi suddenly ran in between them. While his brother stopped in time, Wyatt was forced to redirect his attack into the metal fences surrounding them, destroying it with a powerful blast of energy.
"Stop!" Alexi called out. "Stop this right now."
"Alexi, what are you doing?!" Casimir snapped at him. "You have ruined my chance for an honorable duel."
"There is no honor in this, only violence." Alexi replied. "This is all your life will be, death and destruction. No love or family. Our people will suffer because of the wars you will start."
"But I will still have you, my brother." Casimir said. "Right?"
"No." Alexi said determined. "I will not stand by your side. If you want to kill Wyatt, you will have to go through me."
"Alexi, you cannot be serious." Casimir replied. "I am your brother."
"Not if you go through with this." Alexi said. "The baron has poisoned your mind, he is trying to take away your humanity just like he did to his guards. Stop listening to him."
"But father…" Casimir said hesitantly.
"Father was a cruel man." Alexi continued. "He sent us to this place to be tortured, all because of some ancient heritage. We can be better than him, Casimir."
"Father was a great king, just like I shall be." Casimir said. "Stand aside."
"No, I won't." Alexi replied defiantly.
Casimir stepped forward and raised the Crystal sword to his brother's throat. For a moment, he seemed determined to go through with it, but then his hand started to tremble. The two brothers looked each other in the eye and Casimir dropped his sword. Alexi smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, brother." Alexi said. "I knew there was still good in you."
"You are the only good part of me, Alexi." Casimir replied.
A furious scream sounded from the other side of the underground chamber and a magical doorway appeared on the battlefield, through which the baron emerged. Wyatt attempted to attack him with Excalibur, but the baron trapped him in a circle of fire to hold him back.
"After all I have taught you, boy, you dare to betray me?" The baron hissed. "You are weak!"
"No, he's stronger than you." Alexi replied. "You no longer have any control over him, baron."
"But you do." The baron said with a glare. "You have always been his weakness. I should have killed you years ago."
The baron threw a fireball at Alexi, though Casimir quickly summoned his sword and repelled the attack. He deflected another fireball as he ran toward the baron and stabbed him through the stomach. In retaliation, the baron grabbed him by the throat and burned his skin with intense heat.
"When I'm gone, your chevrons will fade." The baron said bitterly. "There will be no more healing for you, boy. I will take you down with me."
"At least my brother and country will be safe from you." Casimir replied.
Casimir twisted and pushed the Crystal Sword deeper. The baron screamed as he was engulfed in flames and exploded. Casimir was thrown back and the Crystal Sword fell on the ground. Alexi immediately ran to his brother and kneeled down next to him. Once the circle of fire surrounding him disappeared, Wyatt did the same. Casimir was badly burned and he wasn't healing this time. With the baron gone, so were the chevrons that gave him his demonic regeneration.
"I can heal him." Wyatt said.
"No!" Casimir replied. "I refuse. It is too late for me."
"Brother, you can still become a just king." Alexi said. "You can fix your mistakes."
"No, the Lords of War must die with me." Casimir replied. "Burn our history books and make sure your descendants never learn about our heritage."
"I promise." Alexi said tearfully.
"You will make a good king." Casimir said with a faint smile before passing away.
Alexi threw himself around his brother and started to cry. Wyatt stared at the deceased prince and felt saddened. He could have lived to redeem himself, but he had chosen to take the evil within his family to the grave. It was a noble choice, but it didn't have to be like that. There was always a chance to become better. He heard movement and turned around to see Penny, Laura and Reed coming toward them. As Laura comforted Alexi, Wyatt stepped aside with the others.
"What about the guards?" Wyatt asked.
"They all passed out the moment the baron was vanquished." Penny said. "Their chevrons faded, so they're mortal again."
"They've done horrible things under the baron's command." Wyatt replied. "That must be pretty traumatizing."
"MIND can offer help to Maldovia to rehabilitate them and return them to their families." Reed noted. "We have some experience in these matters."
"What will you do now?" Wyatt asked.
"I have to head back and report what happened." Reed said. "The threat has been neutralized. If the baron and Casimir had succeeded, we would have ended up in a new world war."
"Thank God that Alexi was able to talk sense into him." Penny said. "He was lucky to have a brother like him."
"You're right." Wyatt replied. "Alexi never stopped seeing the good in Casimir, so maybe we shouldn't either. Family should support each other."
"Right." Reed said. "I'm heading out."
"Wait a minute, you're leaving just like that?" Penny asked. "How do we contact you?"
"You don't." Reed replied matter-of-factly.
Without waiting for a response, agent Reed headed out, leaving the cousins at a loss for words. Whatever his deal was, Wyatt was sure they hadn't seen the last of the mysterious agent. He turned around and saw Laura helping Alexi to his feet. The young prince was not just mourning the death of his brother, he also had just become responsible for an entire country. Wyatt wondered what that would mean for him and Laura.
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The following morning, Laura woke up in one of the guest bedrooms of the Maldovian palace. Alexi had allowed her and her cousins to stay and rest, though she had not seen him since leaving the Brimstone Institute. He had to take care of the political consequences of the future king being killed. She wanted to support and comfort him, but she didn't know how. Although they cared for each other, they had only known each other for a day and their futures were already determined.
Laura took a shower and got dressed in some fresh clothes that Alexi had sent for, a beautiful blue dress and matching shoes. There was a knock on the door and a valet entered, handing her a handwritten letter. It was from Alexi, asking her to meet him in his personal quarters. She nodded and allowed the valet to escort her through the palace. He opened the door for her and she found Alexi standing by the window. He looked exhausted, but the moment he saw her, he seemed to lighten up and embraced her.
"How did you sleep?" Alexi asked. "Do you like the dress?"
"It is beautiful." Laure replied. "And I slept okay, all things considered. What about you?"
"I barely had a chance to sleep." Alexi said. "There is a lot to take care of."
"Your brother?" Laura asked.
"He is here, being prepared for his funeral." Alexi said. "He'll be buried on the estate along with the rest of our family."
"What will you tell your people?" Laura asked.
"The truth, or at least a version of it." Alexi replied. "My brother was assassinated by baron Reicher in a failed attempt to take the throne. The baron was then killed by the palace guard."
"So what happens now?" Laura asked.
"I have to take my responsibility and become king." Alexi noted. "I need to lead Maldovia toward a better future and leave this violence in the past."
"And the Crystal Sword?" Laura asked.
"It will be buried with Casimir." Alexi replied. "All literature and art referring to the Lords of War will be burned. My descendants will never learn the truth."
"You will make a good king." Laura said, forcing herself to smile.
"I wish things could be different." Alexi said as he took her hands in his. "I have to do this, Laura."
"I know." Laura admitted. "I wish we could have gotten to know each other better."
"I wish the same." Alexi replied. "We never really had a chance, did we?"
"Maybe it just wasn't meant to be." Laura said. "Our lives are completely different. You're a prince and I'm a witch. In what fairy tale did those characters ever end up together?"
"I can't think of one." Alexi replied with a smile.
"Me neither." Laura said. "So I guess this is goodbye."
Alexi nodded and pulled her closer. Laura wrapped her arms around him and kissed him one last time. It was better not to waste any more words, as nothing could be said to make their goodbye hurt less. Once their lips parted, Laura left without looking back. She wiped a tear from her eyes and reminded herself it was for the best. Alexi had a responsibility to his country, while she needed to be with her family. Something dark was coming and it was time to tell the others the truth.
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In another part of the palace, Wyatt and Penny were sitting at a large breakfast table, filled with everything imaginable. Wyatt had fallen asleep the moment he had been shown to his room, as he was completely exhausted after the battle. In the end, Casimir had done the right thing, which had only happened because Alexi had never stopping believing in him. It reminded Wyatt of his own doubts about Julian. He had done something horrible, but there was still good in him. He deserved the same kind of trust, as long as he was truly determined to redeem himself.
"I've been thinking about Julian." Wyatt said.
"Me too." Penny said. "So what have you decided?"
"You were right." Wyatt admitted. "We need to do everything we can to help him, as long as he is willing to do the work."
"Julian wants to be good, I'm sure of it." Penny said. "I know it's not going to be easy and I'm not ignoring what he has done."
"We'll need to set some ground rules if he's going to stay at the manor." Wyatt replied. "And I need to talk to Henry first."
"Thank you." Penny said. "Not just for helping Julian, but for helping me as well. Losing Prue is still affecting me more than I realized. I thought I was starting to move on."
"I don't think it will ever stop affecting any of us." Wyatt said. "We need to be there for each other as a family, now more than ever."
"Agreed." Penny replied with a faint smile. "So when are we going to discuss our handsome mystery man?"
"I don't see what there is to discuss." Wyatt remarked with a smirk. "It seems pretty clear to me."
"Are you kidding me?" Penny replied. "I was definitely getting some vibes from him."
"So was I." Wyatt said. "We definitely had a moment in the dungeon."
"Maybe he plays for both teams like you." Penny noted.
"Maybe." Wyatt said. "Either way, our little friendly competition is still going strong."
"I guess it is, so may the best Halliwell win." Penny replied with smile. "Speaking of competition, what are you going to do about the art gallery?"
"I don't know." Wyatt admitted. "I still have a few days left."
The door of the breakfast hall was opened by a valet and Laura entered, looking upset. Penny quickly went over to hug her cousin. As they sat down, Laura explained she had just said her goodbyes to Alexi. They were too different and their lives were pulling them into different directions. Even though they barely knew each other, Wyatt understood how she was feeling. Sometimes a connection was instant, like a chemical reaction.
"It's going to be okay." Penny said.
"I know, it's just going to suck for a while." Laura replied. "He needs to be here and I need to be in San Francisco for what's coming."
"What do you mean?" Wyatt asked.
"There is something I have to tell you." Laura replied. "Something I should have told you weeks ago, I think we're all in trouble."
Laura began telling them about the visions she had seen as the Goddess of Wisdom and the paintings she had created. Somehow those paintings would lead to the end of the world. It was difficult to believe, but Wyatt had learned to listen to his cousins. If Laura was sure it was real, he needed to trust her judgement. The paintings, along with everything going on with Julian, meant that Wyatt needed to step up and protect his family. Unfortunately, that meant setting aside his professional dreams until he knew they were safe.
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Author's note: Thank you for reading, there is one small chapter left. Please review.