Part Seven
The next morning, the blizzard ceased. Vel walks out of the cave, making sure the coast is clear. He sees a snowman standing at his side.
Vel: Alright, the cost is clear.
But Jacksyn and Cleese both walk outside with concern.
Cleese: Vel, have you seen Maroon pass by? He's not in the cave.
Vel: I didn't see him come out.
Jacksyn: Ah, fuck that guy, he's probably dead.
Red: [from the snowman] Fuck YOU, asshole, you're dead!
Cleese: Di-did that snowman just curse you out?
Maroon screams as the snowman's head comes off and his head is sticking out of the snowman.
Trio: Maroon?
Maroon: Get me out of here, you jerks! I gotta take a piss!
Jacksyn: What are you doing in a snowman?
Maroon: Why aren't you in a snowman? I'm cool as an ice cube. Except I gotta PEE!
Cleese: Well, it's bad. Blizzards in the Territories are so cold, it's going to take dragon fire to thaw him.
Maroon is dragged inside the cave, still trapped in the snowman. Norbert lets out his flames and Maroon is set on fire, but while being burned, the snow on Maroon's body finally disappears. Maroon falls to the ground in pain and then starts peeing, which is going upward and reaching the firewood.
Milan: Ew, gross!
Maroon: Holy crap, finally.
Rift: Captain, you're gonna have to tail us. It'll be the seven of us to get there, while you follow our tracks and for when I give the signal.
Garlym: Yes, sir. With my leg, it'll slow you down. We'll have to attend to one of our men after all.
Rift: Be ready.
Rozella: [to Blaze] Stay here with Norbert. When I need you, I'll whistle, okay?
Now ready, Hashlick takes the lead with Trimbo, Rozella, Arkus, Kesseki, Rift and Ringo following him. Gideon and Milan are both following them as well, heading to the ogres' camp.
Meanwhile, Shiv is patrolling the perimeter like a sentry with another ogre, Witly, at his side.
Shiv: Stay sharp, Witly. No telling what we might see. [shivers] Damn, it's cold out here.
Witly: That's why I wear me mittens.
Witly shows he is wearing mittens, and Shiv tries to take them.
Shiv: What? Ogres don't wear mittens! Take 'em off! You're embarrassing me!
Witly: Well, it's all right for you, Shiv. You've got little hands. They don't get as cold.
Shiv: I ain't got little hands!
Witly: Yeah, you have. You got lady's hands.
Shiv: They might be small, but they're lethal weapons, these!
Witly: You got your mother's hands. And you- [sniffing]
Shiv: What is it? What do you smell?
Witly: [sniffs] Man flesh.
Shiv: Oh yeah? They might be spies. Grab a rhino. Follow your nose.
The two ogres mount up on their woolly rhinos and ride off to pick up the scent Witly was smelling.
In a wooded area, Hashlick leads the team down a hill, but he stops when he sees a mountain.
Hashlick: Look. [points] At the base of the mountain. That's where the camp is.
Kesseki: That means it's three miles away.
Gideon: We're almost there.
As they cross a country road, a rumbling is heard in the distance.
Rift: [alerted] Hey, you guys hear that?
Milan: Hmmm. [pauses] Oh, that's probably Gideon's stomach. We had a small breakfast today.
But Hashlick notices the sound, and he recognizes that an ogre patrol is closing in on them.
Hashlick: No. It's a patrol!
He dashes through the snow and leaps over the fence to urge the team to hurry.
Hashlick: [urgently] Hurry, now. Hurry!
As the team crosses the road, Hashlick grabs a tree branch off a tree and sweeps away their footprints, using the branch as a broom. He gets out of the way just in time, as Shiv's rhino rides over the hill. However, it stops, and Shiv backs up, having noticed their tracks.
Shiv: [observant] Well, now, what have we here? So, they thought they could outwit me, eh. Ha-ha-ha-ha! Witly! Over here!
Witly arrives on his rhino, but he pulls up behind Shiv, knocking the little ogre off.
Witly: Oops. Sorry, Shiv.
Shiv: Here's their tracks heading straight for the camp!
Witly: [noticing the tracks] Blimey! Oh, it's them, all right.
Shiv: Work your way south on the side roads. I'll take the main road.
Shiv speeds away on the main road in her car, knocking Witly's rhino on the side road.
At last, Hashlick makes it to the ogre's camp, where they can see the whole area while hiding in the trees.
Hashlick: This is the place. I was right, wasn't I?
Trimbo: Well, I might've doubted you a little. But why's everyone packing up?
Hashlick: It's moving day. We do this every end of the month when it gets too cold for us. But with that, we can catch them by surprise.
Arkus: But do you have a plan? Because if we just storm them without strategy, it would be our undoing as well.
Kesseki: I might have a plan. Arkus and I will climb up the trees. I'll shoot the side of the mountain, grabbing their attention, and when the rest of our men-
And then, from behind, Shiv and Witly spots them.
Shiv: There they are!
Milan: [gasps] Trouble!
The team finds out they've been discovered. Shiv and Witly charge on their rhinos, but Gideon grabs a phial that creates a smokescreen on impact. The two ogres are blinded by the smoke, and their rhinos crash onto a snowback. Shiv pokes his head out, seeing the team running away, but he is shocked to see Hashlick with them.
Shiv: You son of a bitch! After them!
Shiv and Witly get out of the snow, but when they fall down, they find themselves frozen together.
Shiv: Faster, you idiot! They're escaping!
Getting up, Witly and Shiv run for the chase, but they hit a tree, falling down.
The team makes a run for it up a hill, until they stop at a chasm. Rift grabs a bow tied with a rope, and fires at a tree across. He uses his bow to zipline across the chasm, landing safely.
Rift: Okay, come on over. One at a time.
Hashlick ziplines next, followed by Kesseki, Arkus and Gideon, landing one by one.
Gideon: Come on, guys! Hurry!
Milan ziplines next, nearly reaching the edge, but Hasklick grabs her by the legs and pulls her in. Rozella uses a vine to zipline, and Trimbo looks back to see Shiv and Witly closing in.
Shiv: F-f-f-f-freeze!
Rozella ziplines, and Trimbo grabs onto her, but the belt is about to break by his weight.
Trimbo: Oh, no! No, no, no, don't break! There are things I want to do, sights I want to see!
The belt off of Rozella, and Trimbo grabs her shirt, inadvertently pulling them down to reveal her panties.
Trimbo: That's not one of them.
Rozella screams; she then slips her hand off to cover her panties, but they both begin to fall. However, Hashlick and Kesseki both reach out to grab them, and pull them in.
Shiv: Do something!
With an idea, Witly grabs Shiv, using him for the zipline and jumps, trying to slide across. But their combined weight breaks the rope, then they fall down, plummeting to a river down below.
Shiv: Keep your legs straight when you hit the water!
They both keep their legs straight. Witly splashes in the water, but Shiv impacts on thick ice, missing the water, right before Witly floats up.
Witly: I kept me legs straight, Shiv.
Shiv groans as he gets up, then a rock hits him.
Shiv: Ow!
Now the chase is over, Rozella is covering her panties with her arms, trying to hide them from everyone around.
Rozella: Can we just halt on for a minute? Because I can't go with my shirt loose.
Milan: Here, let me short this out.
Milan escorts Rozella to go behind a tree. With the two girls gone, Trimbo is now looking worried about something.
Trimbo: To be honest… I don't really think I'm king-material. I would just be a… shipwreck to the public.
Arkus: We understand, but that's not important. What's more important is to think about the difference between right and wrong for the people aside from yourself. None of us will care if you make an accident or two. It's natural for anyone to make these sorts of things. You need… a way to adapt to these sudden events and believe in yourself.
Finally, the girls come out with Rozella wearing a vine as a belt for her skirt.
Rozella: Okay, now I'm ready.
Hashlick: We might've had some trouble to get there, but we-
Then, Ringo picks up a scent. Donkey starts sniffing the ground in the forest like a bloodhound, and to his surprise and happiness, he sees an unguarded plate of stacked waffles coated in syrup sitting on a stump. He rushes to the waffles, ready to eat it.
Trimbo: Ringo! Don't eat that!
Ruft: What's this? There's a stack of freshly made waffles in the middle of the forest. Don't you find that a wee bit suspicious?
Hashlick: Yes, it's a trap. It was made to… fetch us some rodents. But believe me, none of us eat raccoons. As long as one of doesn't-
Trimbo: Ringo! NO!
But Ringo licks the dripping syrup of the waffles. Then, without warning, the plate flings the waffles onto a tree. The stump flips open like a lid; Gideon glances around, seeing hidden pulleys and counterweights turning, and then a log came swinging out to the direction of the two.
Gideon: Hit the deck! [ducks]
But Rozella doesn't duck in time, as she gets hit in the end by the log, sending her into the hole. Trimbo runs up to the hole, lifting the lid, seeing him lying there.
Trimbo: Are you okay?
Rozella: Well, it's fine. I thought for a second that I-
But then her feet gets snagged by a rope trap and she is yanked away, screaming.
Trimbo: Rozella!
He leaps into the hole, followed by the others, and see it leads to a tunnel, and because it is small to walk through, they have to crawl through it.
Rozella's voice: Help! Help me! Help, Trimbo! Help!
Then Trimbo comes out through the other end, pushing the roots, and when getting up, a bola wraps around him.
Trimbo: Shit!
He tomples down on the ground, as the others come over. Trimbo untangles himself, getting up to run just as several Heavy Cavaliers ride towards the team, holding Rozella hostage. They aim bows and spears at the team as they approach. Gideon turns to bolt, but some Blasters melt out of the shadows, weapons aimed, blocking his retreat. But Hashlick confronts the lead Heavy Cavalier.
Hashlick: Wait. This is not an attempt for an ambush.
Heavy Cavalier: These demons are forbidden here. I will kill this one as a lesson to the others!
The Heavy Cavalier draws his bow but Hashlick leaps between him and the humans, confronting him ogre to ogre.
Hashlick: They seek an audience with Rathborne. It's against our codes of honor to ignore these terms.
Heavy Cavalier: Nor is it to side with the enemy, Hashlick. We are not allowed to do-
Trimbo: Wait. He's telling the truth.
Hashlick: You heard him. If you want to kill the humans, you should do it after our leader's permission.
The ogre clenches his jaw with frustration, frustration with Hashlick as much as the situation. He turns, barking a command to the Blasters.
Heavy Cavalier: Bring them.
They grab the intruders and haul them to their feet. Encircled by spears and bows, they are shoved forward along the trail, as the ogres take the lead.
Part Eight
The team is pushed forward by the ogres behind him, and when they pass the trees, they are awestruck at what they see. The camp with ogres roaming about, carrying stuff and doing chores. But the ogres see them, and they look disdained by their presence.
Gideon: [amazed] A society of ogres. And all this time they were claimed to be savages.
Rift: To be honest, I had a feeling they weren't.
Hashlick: Keep quiet. Intruders are not allowed to speak until they're spoken to.
Then, Shiv and Witly come over, soaking wet from their fall.
Shiv: Well, looky here. Hashlick, I knew you'd turn your back on us.
Hashlick: They want to speak to Rathborne, and so do I.
Shiv: Ah. Okay. I thought I told you no one can. Do I have to explain it the easy way, or the HARD way?
Witly: Oh, I think you would've done the easy way, don't you Shiv?
Shiv: SHUT UP!
Trimbo: Hey, this is urgent. Just ask him to come and he'll know what this means.
Shiv: [pauses] Hmmm. Okay. Your funeral.
Shiv holds his nose and starts blowing a toot through his ears, and then, all the other ogres hold their noses and blow through their ears. When the blowing was done, the ogres cry Rathborne's name, while Trimbo is even more stunned than already.
Trimbo: I didn't know they could do that.
Right on cue, Rathborne emerges from the massive tent ahead. He comes over to scold the intruders, but he is stunned to see Trimbo, alive and well again.
Rathborne: [to Hashlick] Why do you bring these creatures here?
Hashlick: They're all here, on behave of the rest of the country.
Rathborne glowers at him as he responds, pointing at the team.
Rathborne: I told you, no that is not an ogre will come here! Their merged smell fills my nose.
Hashlick stands his ground, answering in a respectful but not submissive tone.
Gideon: Sir, I'm an-
Gideon steps forward, and the ogres jump to restrain him, shouting.
Rathborne: ENOUGH! [to Trimbo] And you…. Just because you're brought back from the dead doesn't mean you could show your face. Why have you come?
Trimbo: We're here to give you a proposition. An alliance between the Grand Army and the Tribal Unity, against a common enemy who's been forcing everyone to do his bidding against their own free will.
Rathborne: Why should you care? Who says you could make demands around me?
Arkus: He does have the rights. Because he's Trimbo Morningstar, the first son of the short-lived High King Edgar, which means… he's the true and rightful heir to the Crystal Throne.
Shiv: This guy? A crown prince? I could kill this one easily!
Hashlick: No! [beat] This is the first High King heir we have seen, and the first human who would hear us out. We should all listen to his words.
Rathborne: [pauses] Very well. Name your terms.
Trimbo: What you've heard is true. I'm the heir, and that's why Raizer Helix is after us all. He will stop at nothing to make sure he gets what he wants, a goal none of us know, but we wish to stop him before he wins. And that's why… we all must put our differences aside and fight together.
Witly: That sounds like a good plan. I say yeah.
Shiv: Hang on. Why would you think about other creatures' wellbeing instead of just your own kind?
Rozella: Why would he? Look at us. Most of us are not even human. And last month, Trimbo was friends with a draconian who gave his life to save his. It makes everyone think he doesn't care about his own kind.
Trimbo: And there's more. If you all help overthrow Raizer, I can let you all go and live in swamps or other parts of the wilderness as your ancestors once did.
Rathborne: A brave offer, but not enough. What I want more than the world… is mankind's extinction. My hatred of man has been thriving from generation to generation in my family, and we all have the same feeling: the destruction of humanity. Personally, we wouldn't bother. Because everything that's happened is all humans' problem, and we'd want them all to kill each other until only ogres remain… even if it takes another thousand years. But you say you want to form an alliance? Hahahaha! [beat] What makes you think so?
Trimbo: Because the last time we talked… you said I was only a boy trying to prove myself a man. But today… I am.
Rathborne: [chuckles] Another brave talk. But to gain our alliance, you'd have to challenge me, the leader of the Tribal Unity. Do you think you can handle the brutal combat of an ogre?
Trimbo: I will do what I must. I challenge you.
Rathborne: Then let the challenge… begin.
Everyone backs up to let Trimbo and Rathborne fight. Rathborne carries two wooden clubs, ready to fight, but all Trimbo has is Ejof and it's not enough, until Rift gives him a broadsword.
Rift: Use this sword. It was Ayazz's. You'll need it.
Trimbo: Thanks, Rift.
Rozella: [worried] Trimbo, please don't. You might not make it.
Trimbo: I know. But no matter what happens… I'll always be with you.
Without another word, Rozella kisses Trimbo to wish him luck. And now ready, both Trimbo and Rathborne are ready to fight before the charge. Rathborne has trapped him, allowing Trimbo's sword to miss his side by inches and then clamping down on Trimbo's sword arm. Trimbo tries to yank his sword free but cannot. Rathborne swings at Trimbo's face and Trimbo ducks at the last moment. Rathborne releases Trimbo, causing him to trip over a rock.
Rathborne: Get up, prince. I won't let a stone take my glory.
Trimbo sees an opening and slashes. Rathborne jumps back at the last possible moment, but Trimbo's blade gouges out a long strip of the ogre's chest. Both swing; their weapons lock and for a moment everything is still. Rathborne is sweating and breathing heavily, but Trimbo is not, and when he realizes that, it gives him an idea.
Trimbo: You're too slow, swamp-breath.
Rathborne charges, swinging with explosive fury, putting all his might into each blow. When the barrage is finished and Trimbo moves out of the way, he falls to the ground. He groans in exhaustion as he stands up. Now Trimbo bores in, swinging. Rathborne blocks and blocks, but doesn't have the stamina for a new assault.
Trimbo lunges; Rathborne raises his clubs. Instead of using his sword, Ejof plunges through the first club, plunges through the other, and the ogre's ribcage, all the way into Rathborne's heart. Everyone is stunned as Rathborne falls to his knees, and Trimbo points his sword's blade to his throat.
Trimbo: Yield. While you still can.
Rathborne: You fought recklessly, but still… bold. But in the end… even in defeat, there is no command but mine. Guards! Guards! I order you to get that out of my sight now!
A large amount of ogres run in and grab ahold of the team.
Rozella: No, no! Trimbo!
Trimbo and Rozella try to grab each other's arms, but are pulled away from each other. Rathborne stands up, pulling Ejof out of his chest.
Rathborne: I have no interest in peace anyway. I am an ogre, and I'm bred for wars. See?! SEE?!
Milan: No, let go of me! Gideon!
Gideon: No!
Hashlick: Get out of my way!
Hashlick angrily fights back and knocks out a few of the ogres, but they are able to subdue him through sheer numbers. Rozella manages to pull her arm free and she whistles loudly. And then, Blaze comes crashing in, roaring, and scaring away the surrounding ogres. Soon enough, everyone else comes out of hiding and surrounds all of Rathborne's forces. Rathborne is about to strike, but Blaze pins him to the ground with one paw.
Trimbo: Now that's settled, time for answers. Who did Cardi work for?
Rathborne: I… can't tell you.
Trimbo: You can't lie for long. That stab I did on you is deep enough to plunge your heart. Tell me now while you still can.
Rathborne: Alright, I'll tell you. We don't know who it is. Cardi never mentioned his name. He only-
But then, Rathborne is last for words. Everyone thinks he is hesitating, but the wounds on his chest is getting worse and he dies of them.
Cleese: Is he… dead?
Shiv: He is. You killed him.
Witly: Well, he accepted a challenge and he knew this would happen… eventually.
Trimbo: But not at this minute. Not when we had questions!
Hashlick: But he told you the truth. He didn't know. None of us do. Cardi never said the name of who sent him.
Then, the stranger who was following the Grand Army comes out from hiding.
Stranger: It was Raizer.
Hearing that, everyone whips at the sight of the stranger, who removed the hood to reveal it is She-Dom.
Trimbo: She-Dom?
She-Dom: Rathborne never knew who it was, but Cardi did because he was made never to mention his name.
Arkus: But what do you mean it was Raizer?
She-Dom: I mean… it was him all along. Since he turned twelve, Raizer's been doing a lot of research from the history of Xenotopia, dating back to when the Crystal Throne was crafted. He bribed Cardi with an offer to become a king, and the Duke accepted to teach the ogres. He taught them how to strategize, how to breach the Great Barrier, and in the wake of the ogres' invasion, Raizer was hoping he would be crowned High King after his uncle. He planned this, so that when the ogres would reach Kyland City, he would send the Elite Force to eradicate them… to make him more popular than his ancestors. It's been him all along. Everything I said is true, because this is a lie detector.
She holds up the necklace with a lie-detecting spell.
She-Dom: Trimbo sucks.
[necklace beeps]
Garlym: [stunned] Sweet gods, what have we done?
Cleese: Great, now I have guilt.
Milan: Bestial was right.
Rift: I knew it! I KNEW IT!
Trimbo: But you knew, didn't you? You knew this whole thing was going to happen, and you kept it to yourself?!
She-Dom: I wanted to reason with him, but Raizer keeps ignoring me. I wanted to tell you know, because… he did it.
Trimbo: He did what?
She-Dom: Think about it. You were there, he tried to kill you, and I told what he had done.
But Trimbo is puzzled, until he starts to get flashbacks one by one, starting with Townley's testimony.
[FLASHBACK]
The first flashback is when Raizer scolds him after hearing about Edgar being the next High King.
Townley: I simply wish for Edgar to inherit first, and at the end of his lifespan, everything will be left on for you.
Raizer: But that old geizer can last for another fifteen years!
The second is the battle in the canyon, where Edgar falls to the gorge below.
Trimbo: FATHER!
And the third is when Mercury and Bardian are cornered at a cliffside.
Mercury: [gestures Bardian] He's the one you want! He crafted the golden cannons! He killed him!
Bardian: [furiously] YOU LYING SCUM! [echoes]
[FLASHBACK ENDS]
Trimbo puts all the pieces of the puzzle together, now understanding what happened. In one giant leap, he lunges up and pins She-Dom on her back.
Trimbo: [furious] HE KILLED HIM?!
She-Dom: No, Trimbo, calm down.
Trimbo's friends all rush over and pull him back to let She-Dom regain her bearings.
Vel: Chill out.
Jacksyn: Take it easy, Trimbo.
Trimbo: HE- [calms down; heaving] I was wrong. All this time I thought I was responsible for my father's death. But it was him. He killed my father.
She-Dom: I tried to warn everyone. I was doing everything I could, but in the end… I was rejected. They never heard me out because I was only an aide. An aide doesn't speak for anyone, they just… assist their masters and keep their mouths shut. And I was threatened by the authorities that if I go too far, I would be labeled a scoundrel. Imprisoned for life.
Kesseki: So why are you telling this now?
She-Dom: Because I discovered… the rest of his plan. He's aiming to gain Omicron's staff, use it to power his golden cannons and destroy Laputa.
Everyone gasps in shock as She-Dom sits down and they groan in worry.
Gideon: The floating island of the gods.
Rift: He's following Cruciatus' footsteps.
Kesseki: And he kills the gods, it will mean the end of all Xenotopia.
Arkus: Not only that, but the judgment for the good. Laputa was not only made to house the gods, but to… open sanctuary for the deceased who have died and be kept from being erased from existence.
Rozella: But how could he do that?
She-Dom: The cult of Omicron. He will come to the altar, and when he arrives, he expects a virgin sacrifice. Raizer plans to use it on Van Kelt.
When they hear that, Trimbo and Rozella both realize who She-Dom is talking about.
Both: Pelly!
The two of them mount on Blaze, ready to fly out.
Arkus: Trimbo, wait! We just got together, and you can't leave us!
Trimbo: Not yet we're not.
Blaze spreads his wings to fly and takes flight, leaving everyone behind.
Hashlick: [sighs] I hope the gods are aware of this.
Part Nine
All the way to an altar, some priests are bowing to a statue of Omicron, where a fire is burning in front of it. Raizer and Dola'wic both approach the altar, followed by the Deathwalkers who carry Pelly in a cage. As they arrive, Raizer cuts himself, spilling black blood on the bonfire, and kneels.
Raizer: Omicron, master of disaster, come forth to us all. Come forth to us all.
Priests: [chanting] Come forth to us all. Come forth to us all. Come forth to us all. Come forth to us all. Come forth to us all. Come forth to us all.
Finally, Omicron appears before the bowing priests. He steps out of the fire, holding onto his staff and Raizer keeps his eye on it with a smirk.
Omicron: Yes, yes, thank you for your sacrifice. So who's it…. Oh. A former cleric. That's new.
Pelly: [kneeling] Lord Omicron, have mercy. I no quarrel with you or any of your worshipers.
Omicron: Take it easy. I know there's too much goodness in you. You can only hope your soul will be judged to be worthy of ascending to-
Suddenly, an arrow strikes Omicron in the knee, and he falls down. He looks back to see it is Raizer who shot him with a crossbow.
Raizer: It's done for!
Another shot, and the arrow hits Omicron in the hand, dropping his staff. Raizer laughs as Omicron is reduced to a walking skeleton, and he picks up the disaster god's dropped staff.
Raizer: At last!
Dola'wic: What is the meaning of this?!
Raizer: The power of a god… is mine.
Dola'wic: BLASPHEMY! Deathwalkers, attack!
The Deathwalkers charge with all their might to strike, but Raizer uses the staff to strip them of their powers, changing them back to normal, and he tosses them aside, crashing them on the statue of Omicron. Next, he sucks up dark magic from Dola'wic, draining him until he's a shriveled old man. Now with all this power, Raizer points the staff at Omicron.
Raizer: Who's a "surpreme being" now?
Pelly: You- You monster!
Then, a sharp wooden stick just nicks Raizer in the arm. He yells and looks to see Blaze flying towards him, but he looks worried when he sees Trimbo riding him.
Pelly: Trimbo!
Raizer: How dare you! You're too late!
Raizer carries the cage and tosses it aside before disappearing. Pelly is still in the cage as it rolls to the cliff. Blaze flies downward towards the cliff and catches it on time. He rips open the cage, setting her free, and Pelly climbs up to hug Trimbo and Rozella.
Pelly: Thank you both!
Rozella: [sobbing] Oh Pelly. I'm so grateful you're here.
Trimbo: Okay. Now that we're together… let's go find the others.
Pelly: Yes. But first….
Blaze lands at the altar, where Omicron slumps on the ground, depleted of his powers. Then, Pelly helps him back on his feet and lets him get on the dragon's back.
Omicron: What? What is this?
Pelly: It's it obvious? We're helping you.
Trimbo: Helping him? But isn't he…?
Pelly: Yes, but I don't blame him. When I heard of Omicron's jealousy, I admit what he did was wrong, but he just… wanted the same things as the gods: equality. And I pitied him.
Omicron: [astounded] You… took pity… on me?
A moment of reconciliation between them, a thunderstorm is brewing up in the sky.
Omicron: Okay. For this, I owe you, Van Kelt. Just ask me anything and it's yours. Just as long as you can fetch me back my staff and I can settle things with that backstabbing Raizer.
Pelly: [to Trimbo] It's your call, Trimbo.
Trimbo is still baffled about Omicron accepting any offer from him, but since he has nothing else to think of, he grows a determined look on his face.
Part Ten
At the seaside is a massive army of Elite Force, numbered to thousands, armed to the teeth. They have dozens of golden cannons, loaded with cystallized projectiles, ready to fire. And then, Raizer appears before them and he is now twice the size of them.
Raizer: My faithful soldiers! You've sworn fealty to me, you pledged your blood oath to the kingdom, and we all stand together to face a common enemy. But tell me, who is our enemy?!
Elite Force: APEX!
Using the power of the staff, Raizer blessed his entire forces with magical weapons.
Raizer: And now that I bless you all, what is the first thing you are going to do?
Elite Force: Destroy him!
Raizer waves the staff, and the clouds part away to reveal Laputa up ahead. With the floating island in sight, the golden cannons fire their crystal ammo, hitting Laputa. Zeta is napping, but the impacts wake him up, and he looks down to see what's going on.
Zeta: Oh, we're in trouble! Oh, big trouble! I gotta-
In a hurry, Zeta zooms up over to find the other gods.
Gamma: Zeta, what's happening?
Zeta: Oh, it's bad. The High King has Omicron's staff, and they're practically shooting us down!
Apex Sound the alarm! Launch an immediate counter-attack! Go! Go!
Beta: But, um… we're not Kappa.
Right on cue, Kappa shows up from behind the thrones.
Kappa: Sorry I'm late. I had to-
Delta: No time, we're under attack!
Suddenly, a crystal plunges through Laputa, and the whole island begins to plummet downward. But Apex uses his powers to conjure the sea, summoning a tidepool to break Laputa's fall. Then it is nestled on land, where it lands safely, but ahead of them is the Elite Force charging in for the attack.
Beta: This is bad. We're on land. Without prayers, we'll be killed.
Apex: We've done all we can… to keep this going. But now we know Raizer Helix, the bad omen, is the great evil I have foreseen.
Delta: But what can we do? We can't stop that many.
Kappa: No. But can slow them down.
The gods all prepare themselves to defend themselves as the charging Elite Force closes in on their fallen island. As he watches, Raizer conjures a glass of beer in his hand.
Raizer: And now dawns a new age, where the High King is god.
Trimbo's voice: Don't count on it, fucktard!
Raizer spits out his drink and looks around furiously. He sees Trimbo riding Blaze with Rozella and Kesseki.
Gamma: Trimbo Morningstar!
Blaze lets out a huge gust of fire, blocking the charging army's path. The front line gets burned alive, while the other back off to avoid it. Then, Blaze lands on the ground, letting Trimbo to stand in protecting the gods, carrying Ejof and Ayazz's sword. Ringo stands at his side, hissing.
Trimbo: No one crosses my path.
Raizer: Shoot him!
The golden cannons fire crystals, but Kesseki fires energy arrows with his Bow of Delta one by one. Norbert comes over with Arkus slashing the remaining crystals with his sword. The light dragon drops Hashlick, with Rift holding onto him, and the ogre lands safely on the ground. Now together, Trimbo and his friends stand defensively in between Raizer's forces and the gods. But when Apex looks at them, his eyes widen.
Apex: The seven heroes. My visions were true.
Beta: But… does the raccoon count?
Delta: He does now.
Raizer: You're outmatched. I have a whole legion under my command!
Trimbo: So do we.
And then, out of nowhere, a massive army emerges from behind the Elite Force. Not only the Grand Army, but the Tribal Unity, the surviving yokai, the Dragonators, the Prushans, the Ukrimians, the Craitans, the Red Hearts and the Cyan Diamonds. In addition, some of the common folk with Pelly leading them. On her back is Omicron tied around her, and she has the trio, Ozzy, Sleek and Gibber, at her side.
Omicron: There's only a few more.
Sleek: How much more is there?
Gibber: [gibberish]
Then, the two giants Solar and Lunar come out to join the heroes. Raizer is stunned to see this massive assembly who would repel against him.
Trimbo: This will be the last stand for us all… but we're making it count. We will all stand up and face what opposes us all, even if it's the last thing we do, as long as we are alive. We stand, we march, and fight… as one! Now get ready… for your apocalypse!
Hashlick makes a battle cry, as does Bestial and the heroes charge on both sides surounding the Elite Force. Raizer raises the staff towards them, commanding his army and dark dragons to charge as well. Then both sides collide, and an epic battle begins. Shiv and Witly, on their rhinos, charge ahead. Elite Force soldiers are flying everywhere with bowling strike sound effects as they fly.
Witly: 'Scuse me! Pardon me! Comin' through!
Shiv: Suck on it!
Kesseki fires his Bow of Delta at any Elite Force men he sees. Then, he sees the dark dragons flying towards him and he runs for. But Solar swipes his arms at the dark dragons, and the beasts fly away.
Part Eleven
But during the fray, Raizer floats away towards Laputa, until his path is blocked by She-Dom.
Raizer: She-Dom.
She-Dom: Raizer, you must stop this.
Raizer: This is what we should do. To end these gods who ignore our prayers and let mankind suffer.
She-Dom: No, this is not right. Humans cannot replace a god to be another. You are still mortal.
Raizer: Don't say that, She-Dom. Only with my new powers, I can change all that.
She-Dom: At what cost? What would your uncle say?
Raizer: He was an old fool, and he died for that. But I've become more popular than any of my ancestors has ever dreamed of. And I'm doing it for you, to immortalize my legacy.
Apex: It's not true. He's doing it because he wants to be prayed for, just like us.
She-Dom: [pauses] End this campaign, Raizer. Come home with me. Leave everything else behind while we still can.
Raizer: Don't you see? We don't have to run away anymore. I have brought peace to the kingdom. I am more powerful than the gods. I can overthrow them, and together you and I can rule the world. Make things the way we want them to be.
She-Dom: [steps away; stunned] I can't believe what I'm hearing. Townley was right. You're not fit to be High King.
Raizer: I don't want to hear any more about Townley. That party of scoundrels turned everyone against me, don't you turn against me.
She-Dom: Stop it! You're…. You're letting this feeling control you. You're going down a path I can't follow!
Raizer: Because of Morningstar?
She-Dom: Because of what you plan to do. You kill the gods, everyone who's so good back then will perish. Stop, stop now. Come back. I care for you!
But Raizer sees Trimbo standing from afar, and when he realizes something, his eyes turn as black as his blood.
Raizer: LIAR!
She-Dom: No. I'm still wearing the necklace.
Raizer: You're with him! You refused to be with me, and you chose his baby brother! You brought them all to kill me!
Raizer reaches out, and She-Dom grabs her throat as she starts to choke.
Trimbo: Let her go, Raizer! Let… her… go!
After a few seconds, Raizer releases his grip on the unconscious She-Dom and she crumples to the ground. But Gamma and Delta rush over to aid her.
Delta: [to Trimbo] We'll watch over her.
Raizer: You turned her against me?!
Trimbo: You have done that yourself!
Raizer: This is MY rule, NOT YOURS! You will not take anything from me!
Trimbo: Your pride and your lust for power have already done that. You have allowed megalomania to twist your mind, until now… you have become the very thing everyone hates the most.
Raizer: Don't lecture me, Morningstar. Being a son of a short-lived High King doesn't change what you are. You're still a flawg, a bastard. Nobody would ever accept you as a king.
Trimbo: I do not care if I'm the heir. What matters are the lives we have left, and the ones who rest in peace.
Trimbo and Raizer arm themselves and engage in a fierce and furious duel.
On the battlefield, Milan rides a horse with Gideon behind her. She rides across as Gideon throws some potions at the Elite Force soldiers at their sides, exploding on impact.
Milan: That's not gonna kill them, is it?
Gideon: No, but it'll blind them for hours.
Bestial fights like an wild animal with ease, until a big man is about to strike her with an axe, but Pelly whacks him away with her mace.
Bestial: Nice save, girl.
Pelly: Thanks. It's good to be-
However, the two of them find out they're being aimed by three golden cannons. Then, Hashlick appears at the scene.
Soldier: Hey, piss off, fatty.
Hashlick: [offended] What did you say?
Omicron: Uh-oh, here it comes.
Hashlick: What did you call me?
Pelly: He called him fat.
Hashlick: [angrily] ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?!
Bestial: Now this is more like it.
Hashlick: [furiously] NOBODY CALLS ME FAAAAAATTTTTTT!
He furiously screams and angrily charges at the soldiers, destroying the golden cannons and driving the soldiers away. As Hashlick stands with Pelly and Bestial, they start the Arsenio Hall "Ooh, ooh" chant. But Omicron looks ahead to see Trimbo engaged with Raizer.
Omicron: There. Girl, bring to that duel. Only if I wield my staff, I can end this war instantly.
Back to the intensifying duel between Trimbo and Raizer, they continue to battle each other, barging their way into another part of the battlefield which is littered with the dead bodies of other men. Trimbo blocks every blow from Raizer with Ejof, and he stabs his leg with Ayazz's sword before delivering a hard punch on the face.
Meanwhile, Rift slashes his nodachi around to kill some soldiers, until two burly men surround him. Suddenly, Ikaruga shows up to kick them all in the face, saving Rift's life. Reunited, the two of them stare at each other and share a kiss.
Ikaruga: I'm so glad you're alright.
Ozzy leads Sleek and Gibber to take cover behind a boulder and Destinon joins in for cover.
Destinon: We're getting killed out here.
Sleek: We know, and I'm not sure-
Ozzy: This is beyond my parole. I didn't sign in for this!
Sleek: Hey, there's a lever.
Sleek grabs a lever hanging overhead and pulls on it. Suddenly, the whole scene goes black.
Ozzy: …What'd you do?
Sleek: I pulled the lever.
Ozzy: Well you pulled it, and it turned off the story.
Sleek: I thought it might open a trapdoor.
Ozzy: Well, pull it again! Put the story back on!
The story returns. Gibber is making out with Destinon in the background.
Ozzy: We gotta get that thing fixed. But we're back. Gibber?
Gibber pulls away from the Destinon, speaking gibberish defensively.
Back with Trimbo, as Raizer keeps striking with Omicron's staff, he is knocked out and he flies to land on the ground. But when Ejof hits a discarded mace on the ground, it lets out a loud vibration, which seems to irritate Raizer all of a sudden. Raizer recovers and traps Trimbo in a cage, allowing him to confront the gods, finally standing on Laputa.
Raizer: What will you do now, huh? You can no longer claim people like Cruciatus as cowards.
Apex: Cruciatus is dead because of the rage that consumed him, Raizer. You viewed him as a hero, but you know so little about that word. What more will you destroy?
Raizer: Your temples have burned, your statues have fallen, we've starved you of our prayers, and you… will not see the end of this day; a new era has begun: the era of man and ME AS THEIR GOD!
Apex: Petulant child! I will tolerate your insolence NO MORE!
Apex summons a large tidal wave and throws it at Raizer. He manages to absorb it with the staff; he tosses it aside, and is about to strike the gods. But during that time, Pelly comes over to smash the cage with her mace, freeing Trimbo, and then, when he remembers what happened when Ejof hit the mace, he gets an idea.
Omicron: He's going to kill them.
Trimbo: Pelly, your mace!
Trimbo grabs the mace. Just when Raizer is about to wipe out the gods, he is stopped when Trimbo bangs the mace on Ejof, irritating Raizer once again with the vibration. He bangs the shield over and over, disorienting him, and it buys him enough time to take the staff out of his hand and throws it aside.
Raizer: NOOOOOO!
Raizer reverts back to his normal size, now that he doesn't have the staff anymore. But he draws a dagger and charges to stab Trimbo, but Wor-Kis bonks himself on Raizer's head. Raizer is about to get the staff back, until an energy bow blasts in front of him.
Kesseki: Not today.
Then Blaze lands on the ground and Rozella conjures roots to block the staff. One by one, Trimbo's friends, including Hashlick, surround Raizer, who is now defenseless.
Kesseki: You may be the High King of Xenotopia….
Arkus: Legal or not….
Rift: It changes nothing about what's to come.
Rozella: Because we are all together….
Hashlick: And right now, you are alone.
[Ringo hissing]
Trimbo: It's you against us: a party of scoundrels.
Pelly: Omicron, I think this is yours.
Pelly reaches out and picks up the staff, before offering it to him. Now that he has his staff back, Omicron regains his power, returns to his usual self, and towers over the quivering Raizer.
Omicron: Raizer Helix, because of your treachery and disloyalty to the gods, there will be no salvation for you and your followers! EVER!
Omicron fires a beam from his staff and it strikes Raizer, disintegrating him. At the same time, the entire Elite Force is turned to dust and the heroes have won the battle as they all roar in cheer for victory. The black blood that was in Raizer's body slithers around like a snake, until Omicron catches it with his hand, sucking it up back in his body.
Part Twelve
For She-Dom, she lays unconcious on the floor. But all of a sudden, she takes a sharp breath and opens her eyes to look up and see Trimbo.
She-Dom: Trimbo. Is it…?
Trimbo: I'm afraid so. Raizer is dead.
But then, another celebration is made, and this one is from the gods who cheer for Trimbo's team.
Zeta: Three cheers for the mighty heroes!
Delta: Oh, yeah! Flowers for everybody!
Flowers are thrown everywhere around them, and Hashlick eats one. Gideon and Milan both walk over to Trimbo's side, where they are all stunned to see the gods in front of them. Apex and Gamma both walk over to the mortals, who all bow to them. Then, Gamma picks up Trimbo and hugs him so tightly.
Gamma: You should be thanked better than this.
Apex: You showed a lot of determination, not for yourself but for all who stand with you, Trimbo. Your father is very proud of you.
For Rift, he has Ikaruga at his side as Kappa walks over to them.
Ikaruga: [bows] Great Kappa.
Kappa: I see my son has found someone special in his life.
Rift: Well… yes. I do.
Kappa: Juno always hoped for this day to come, and so did Ayazz. To find someone who is more important to you. I am proud of you, my boy.
And then, Omicron walks over to the gods, and he looks ashamed about what he did.
Omicron: I must… apologize for all the… terrible things I did.
Apex: No, Omicron. I'm sorry. I should've come up with a better solution than to… exile you. We should've shown mercy and equality. That's all you ever wanted from us.
Omicron: True. I still won the bet. Raizer became High King, and I've earned my place in Laputa. However, I've got 2,000 souls to judge back in the Pits of Hades. So… I won't be there in years or so.
Apex: Maybe not… but we're going to need your help to rebuild this island.
Omicron smiles, and nods. Now with all the gods together, they round up together to combine their powers, but Milan steps forward for a question.
Milan: Wait! [pauses] I…. I need to know something. Are Gideon and I… allowed to be married?
Gamma: Oh, Milan. You were meant to be together. marriage counselor is just… an asshole. Who cares what he says?
Apex: And you have nothing to worry, dear child. You showed more courage than you could ever hope for. Your father will be so proud, as well as your mother.
Milan smiles at the gods in approval. All the gods hold onto their hands, conjuring their magic together, and Laputa repairs itself as it flies back into the sky. Everyone on the battlefield looks at it in awe, and then the clouds part to shed sunlight upon Trimbo as a sign from the gods.
Bestial: I knew it from the start. Long live the king! [kneels]
Everyone: [bows] Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king!
Lunar: [laughs] I can't believe it!
Trimbo is joyful to be High King, then the trio crawl towards him and face him on their knees.
Ozzy: Forgive us, your majesty. For all the bullshit we've done. It was nothing personal, really.
Trimbo: You were trying to make a living, and today you stood with the right side. That makes you forgiven.
Ozzy: [whispers] Sleek. Gibber. Bow to your king.
Sleek and Gibber both bow their heads to Trimbo, submitting him to their High King.
Later, everyone is gathered together at the High King's Castle courtyard. With Pelly as the new Oracle, she holds up the platinum crown and puts it on Trimbo's head, then she puts another crown on Rozella's head.
Pelly: Now dawns the days of the new High King, and his queen consort.
The crowd cheers in response. Flanking Trimbo and Rozella are their friends, and Ringo climbs up to perch on Trimbo's shoulder.
Trimbo: Today, this marks a new era. An era where all species of Xenotopia coexist, adapt and flourish together. Because of the help from my friends, they shall each receive their gifts.
As the crowd cheers again, Trimbo's friends step forward to get their rewards.
Trimbo: Arkus Lightwing, we grant your Dragonators an outpost in Xenotopia's eastern side, where you and Prusha shall maintain dragon training.
Arkus: Well, they've been doing well with it. So I can approve it.
Trimbo: Master Kesseki, we offer a position back in the Grand Army as a teacher of martial arts. For Rift Sholdra, you are hereby promoted General of the Grand Army, and allow you to have Captains of your choosing.
Rift: Yes, sir. I was thinking… the Falconers could be them.
Trimbo: Bestial, the royal court offers you and the Craitans livestock and grains to make your kingdom more fertile than in was.
Bestial: But farming? Well, we live for hunting, but this can be a fresh start.
Trimbo: As for Hashlick, you and the Tribal Unity shall no longer be exiled in the Territories, for you will live in the swamps and woodlands just as your ancestors once did.
Hashlick: Oh, this is truly a happy day. You will be a great king better than all the rest.
Hashlick holds his nose and blows through his ears to make a toot. All the ogres do the same together.
She-Dom: I didn't know they could do that.
Trimbo: And finally… the last two of our party, all the way from Brimey-Blue: Gideon Nolish and his fiance Milan Shrift.
Right on cue, Gideon comes over with Milan in her white glittering dress, approaching the High King. Then, Fazoo and Francine show up, and Milan hugs them.
Fazoo: Milan, we're so happy for you.
Milan: I really missed you, daddy.
Francine: Honestly, I'm a little jealous of you. You've got a man who would run away with you. If only my husband had that feeling.
Gideon: Hey, we can't keep Trimbo waiting.
Trimbo holds Ayazz's in the air, and taps on their shoulders one by one.
Trimbo: I dub thee: Sir Gideon, I dub thee: Lady Milan. Thank you for saving Xenopotia. You have reminded us that the kingdom's strength is not based on a king, but the strength of the people. From this day forward, you shall be permitted to build yourself an apothecary for all.
Gideon gasps in joy, as everyone and the knights cheer and applaud. Then, music starts to play in the background as they begin to dance. Everyone gets their dates and waltzes with them. Kent dances with She-Dom and they share a kiss. At the food court, the trio stands with Shiv and Witly, who are watching the scene.
Witly: Oh, I love a happy ending.
Sleek: Me too.
Gibber: [gibberish]
Ozzy: Oh, you've gone soft!
Shiv: Yeah. I like unhappy endings, with lots of violence.
Then, a piece of the castle hits Shiv, flying away by Witly, crashing.
Witly: Are you, are you happy now, Shiv?
For Trimbo, he dances with Rozella, until Pelly clings onto his arm.
Pelly: You know, even though I'm the new Oracle, I wouldn't mind being your mistress, Trimbo.
Rozella: [offended] Wait just a second! It's been official that you've lost the match, and he confessed his love for me!
Pelly: [laughs] I'm just messing around, Rozella. You're a fun one to tease.
Trimbo: Yeah, but not as fun as her… adopted kid. [whistles]
Blaze shows up and lowers himself down. With an idea, Rozella yanks Trimbo up on the dragon's back, and they ride Blaze, who takes off. The sign reads "Just Courted" on the back of their dragon as they ride off into the horizon, up to the clouds.
After a thousand years, the ogres breached the Great Barrier, caused by the crown prince Raizer Helix who turned out to be a bad omen. But in the end, the war was finished, the vile prince was dethroned, and a new High King was crowned. It was done not by the best men, or the appointed warriors, or some monster, but by… a party of scoundrels.
The End