Chapter 30: Commander of the Poes

Elsa paced around the room, distraught and confused. "How could you just let her leave?" she asked the Oracle. "What were you thinking?"

Contrary to Elsa's composure, the Oracle's was calm and collected. She sat upon Tetra's bed, her hands folded over her lap, her eyes closed. "Everything will turn out all right," the Oracle answered. "You must have faith in me. I may not have the powers of a Goddess anymore, but I still retain a sense of my previous power. You must be calm, Elsa. All will turn out just fine."

A rumbling filled the air. The bookshelves, the tables, the beds –everything shook vigorously. Strangely, despite the trembling bed, the Oracle remained motionless and serene.

"Does war not frighten you?" implored Elsa querulously, the shaking continuing. She walked over to the window and looked out tentatively. She saw the soldiers of her village pushing large machines, mostly catapults, through the dilapidated town. The broken streets caused the machines to crash and clang as they were pushed through the village, causing everything to shake.

Elsa quickly closed the window and turned back to the Oracle. "How could you truly be sure you know what's going to happen?"

"Child," the Oracle said warmly, "you forget that in my heart I am a Goddess. Elsa, I understand your human sense of doubt, but that is not a part of me. To be a Goddess, you must shed all doubts; you must be sure in your cause. Do not fret, Elsa, for we are being cared for. Maple, the one this village had once shunned, has returned with a new outlook on life. But there is another. Do you remember the man who came with the mushroom that revived Tetra?"

"Yes," Elsa said. "There was something different about him. What was his name?"


"Hermit!" Maple screeched through the wind. "They're gaining ground! Where are you?"

Maple looked and saw the Hermit rocketing through the air, the wind swirling around him. He landed beside her and instantly turned to the opposing army.

"Sorry for the wait," the Hermit said, opening his palms. "Things have not been going very well on my side." His hands glowed, releasing rings of undulating gold. He shifted the light in the air, harnessing it. And then he released it, and it hovered over the Poes' heads for a moment before collapsing upon them, bringing the stench of singed flesh into the air.

"They're getting closer by the day," Maple acknowledged. "Your arrival has helped, but it is merely prolonging our defeat. I don't mean to cast blame upon you. I'm just stating the truth."

"You are right," the Hermit admitted. "But there's nothing else we can do. We're going to need a miracle to win this battle."

Maple's eyes narrowed as she looked out into the battle, watching as the village's soldiers clashed their swords against the nearly intangible Poes. "I'll never give up," she said boldly, and grabbed her broom. She jumped atop it and sped off before the Hermit could open his mouth.

She landed in the center of the battle, beside both her enemies and her friends. She clutched her wand and immediately turned in a circle, causing all of the Poes in the vicinity to drop. She then pointed her wand at a cluster of the ghosts, sending a thin stream of lightning to erupt them in a blaze.

She had no time to spare. Immediately Maple gripped her broom and flew up into the air before the Poes could recover and retaliate. Before returning to the Hermit, she used her wand toopen a fissure in the earth, swallowing a few of the unsuspecting Poes and burying them in rock.

So this is what the Phantom's attempts to sway me to his side have brought him, Maple thought, lowering down to the Hermit. He gave me this wand to convince me to join him, but it has only served to destroy his allies. Is it wrong to use what your enemy gives you, even for a noble cause? Is this wand an evil weapon even when used to save innocents?

The Hermit took her hand, lowering her down. "Every time I try to get in the heart of the battle, I am forced to flee before they lash back. And yet those soldiers follow our orders willingly, walking doubtlessly into the center of the fight. Am I weak, Hermit?"

"No." He shook his head. "You are just smart, acknowledging your need to stay alive. You're just-"

"Wait," Maple said, silencing him. "Look." She pointed out into the fray, distinguishing one shadow amongst the others. He was held up by the Poes, somehow seen superior to the rest of the hoard. "Could it be the Phantom?" Maple asked. The Hermit did not answer her question.

"Hello, humans," the creature said. Maple wasn't sure if it was the Phantom's voice. She squinted unsuccessfully to make out his visage. "By not you've seen the unstoppable might our army has shown. By now you've tooknotice ofthe incredible force the Poes can deliver. Some of you are probably already whispering of surrender, and for good reason. Your city is about to be demolished. Your people are about to be slaughtered like lambs. There is no escaping it. Quell your pleas and thoughts of surrender, because we will hear none of it. This is a total war, humans. There will be no talks of ending it, and it will not cease until each and every one of you is killed. Your surrender will be unconditional, and your defeat will be manifest."

Finally the light revealed the creature, and both Maple and the Hermit sighed in relief when they saw that it was not the Phantom.

"I am the Commander of the Poes, and one of the many signs of your demise." The creature reached behind him and withdrew a dark blade, oozing in black slime. "My name is Elsor."