Disclaimers: I do not own "Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne" and "Fantastic 4". The "Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne" belongs to Triumph Studios. "Fantastic 4" movie belongs to 20th Century Fox. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material—original characters, original locations, etc.—belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.
Inspiration for Fanfic: "Fantastic 4" movie with Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, and Chris Evans.
Marinus ran to Gabriel's tower. Nimue trailed behind him. It wasn't until they cast water spells to make them moved faster, where they actually got inside the room where the Spheres of Magic were located. It was a dark room, circular with stone walls, a stone throne presented before each Sphere of Magic.
The Spheres of Magic convened in a circle, each moving according to whatever presence was in the room. It was here that a light flashed before Nimue's eyes, causing her to lose sight of her surroundings.
Marinus caught Nimue, before her head hit the floor. "Nimue? Nimue?! Are you okay?"
Nimue sat up, recovering. "Yeah. I'm fine. Where are we?"
"I don't know, but we'll get you home," Marinus said, casually trying to make sense of her world. "Do you remember where we are?"
Nimue looked around her. "We're in the Wizard's Circle, where the Spheres of Magic are located."
"Excellent," Gabriel's voice sounded in the room. His white hair flowed down his shoulders, as did his white beard, nestled against his white robes. A gold cord was tied around his waist. Gabriel approached them, telling them, "Welcome to my Wizard's Circle! Here, you will find the Spheres of Magic. But their magic is spent and I dare not release it again."
"Why?" Nimue asked, at the same time as Marinus. Nimue tried again, asking Gabriel, "Anon wants to restore the Spheres of Magic! He's doing it so we can gain our powers back! Truly, this is a noble quest!"
"Stop!" Gabriel raised a hand, leaving Nimue falling silent. "I've heard enough." He approached his throne, sitting down and observing the fading Spheres of Magic. He tapped his chin, observing Nimue and Marinus, as he said, "What Merlin did was necessary. You cannot have your powers back, without my supervision."
Marinus said, flat out, "We are no longer in the original timeline! We can do whatever we want! I agree with Anon. I think we should restore the Spheres of Magic."
Gabriel raised an index finger, telling him, "You…" the doors opened, allowing Anon, Artica, and Arachna to enter. Gabriel shook his head, defeated, "Oh, what now?" He looked at the three new wizards, telling them, "Welcome. No one is restoring the Spheres of Magic."
"What?" Arachna asked, cautious. She looked at Anon and Artica, telling them, "I told you this is a bad idea. And now, we see the results."
"We heard a rumble," Anon stated, brandishing his brimstone heart. "We thought we'd see…"
"Stop!" Gabriel cried, getting Anon's attention, "You shall not restore the Spheres of Magic! They were destroyed!"
Anon huffed, telling Gabriel, "Oh, were they? Gosh, it seems a shame you want to keep it that way."
Gabriel shook his head. "I cannot allow you to do it. Think about it. You would ruin me. You would ruin Merlin's plans? Merlin has a great future. Should the Spheres of Magic be restored, then Merlin will have no choice but to extinguish them again!"
"So, that's your plan? You would destroy the very thing that made Evermore what it is," Artica asked, intrigued. She shook her head, admitting to him, "Look, I know you want to bring the humans to Evermore, but that's the original timeline. We're in the fifth, sixth, and seventh timelines. Things are changing. We've changed. And we're doing this for your good."
She added, quite perplexed, "Gabriel, this is serious. If you rid the world of magic, then what use would it do? Look around you! The trees come to life every day, thanks to Anon and Serena's work. Death comes when it comes, thanks to Arachna and Nekron. The Earth Sphere is Mab and Fangir. The Air Sphere belongs to me and Tempest. And then you have the Water Sphere, governed by Marinus and Nimue, as well as the Fire Sphere, governed by Karissa and Yaka.
"Surely, you can see that you're important. You and Merlin house the Cosmos Sphere, perhaps the only sphere to connect us all. And you want to take that away? Where is your power? What happened?" Artica asked. The elderly wizard would not budge. She looked at him now, saying to him, "Fine. You go back to your home in the original timeline. If that's where you truly belong. But we need fresh blood for the Cosmos Sphere. And I do believe I found him when you did."
Gabriel looked up, cautious. "The hobbit? Frodo Baggins? Oh please! That halfling doesn't have an ounce of magic in him!"
"Well, if it would serve you best, Frodo's born with magical powers. It's all thanks to his new bloodline in the fifth, sixth, and seventh timelines," Anon stated, proudly. "Frodo's a shapeshifter. It's obvious to us all. If anyone can save Evermore and unite the Wizards, where Merlin failed, it's him. It's Frodo. Don't tell me you didn't want to see him rule, too. We could have use of him."
"Yes, we could," Yaka stated, entering the chamber, alongside Tempest and Nekron.
Gabriel chuckled, dismayed, "Ah, three more Wizards betray me. What do you want now?"
Yaka chuckled, admitting to him, "Oh please! We heard the whole spiel! Unite the Spheres of Magic? Couldn't we do better and take control of them? Or did you think I wouldn't guess that Serena was behind it! It's my idea, not hers! I'm the one who…"
"I think not!" Serena cried, bolting into the room. She sniveled at Yaka, stating to him, "Oh please, I gave you the idea, before Nekron cursed you. Before he cursed us all. It was me who gave that idea away, and now I will take the Spheres of Magic for my own!" She readied the spell, willing to take control of the Spheres of Magic.
"Wait. Don't do that!" Artica cried, but her words faded. As soon as Serena raised her hands, preparing for the spell, Karissa's magic blocked her.
Serena hissed, staring at Karissa, "What are you doing? Stop! Or I'll…"
"You'll do what?" Karissa asked, cautiously, causing the spell to collide with the chamber's roof. Karissa stopped the stones before they landed, moving the stones over to their rightful spot on the ceiling.
Serena huffed, hissing at her, "I had them! Why did you stop me?"
"Oh, shut up," Anon said, furious.
Serena stifled a laugh, but was quickly dismayed by Karissa. Mab and Fangir entered the room, completing the twelve wizards' circle in Evermore.
Gabriel clapped his hands upon seeing all his wizards together! "Ah, my twelve wizards! Back from your forgetfulness spell. Did you really think you'd succeed and reunite the Spheres of Magic? I will not have it this way. That's an oath!"
"Oh really? And what was this oath? Destroying the Spheres of Magic, not letting anyone take control of them?" Yaka hissed, deciding to side with the other wizards. Yaka nodded to Tempest and Nekron, relieving them of their duty to him.
"So, we're not taking control of the Spheres of Magic?" Tempest said with a heavy sigh.
Nekron laughed, quite pleased. "Did you honestly think that plan would work?" He laughed, enjoying the company of the other wizards.
Serena sighed, nodding to them as well. "It was a fool's errand. All right, I'll concede."
"Me too," Nekron faced Serena and Yaka, telling them, "It's a lot better than fighting."
Gabriel shook his head. "Fools! All of you! Thinking you can restore the Spheres of Magic? What did you think this was? A museum? This is my home and you will not take it."
Serena hissed, telling Gabriel, "Oh please. When Merlin took down your tower, you fought him. Not so high and mighty, are you?" She added, "So, you'll let this Frodo Baggins into our world? And let us restore the Spheres of Magic?"
"Frodo's already in this world," Karissa stated, getting their attention.
"You did what?" Nekron asked, seething.
Mab sighed, nodding. "Then let's welcome him into this world. Shall we?"
Fangir nodded, saying, "I can't wait."
"Wait! Now, let's restore the Spheres of Magic, before we…" Anon was interrupted by Gabriel, who laughed. "Oh, what now?"
Gabriel shook his head, telling them, "You want to restore the Spheres of Magic? Fine. But until that hobbit leaves this world, no one is touching these Spheres of Magic. Got it?" That left the twelve wizards stunned, at which Gabriel had the upper hand. "And because you think you can defeat me, I'm going to make things more challenging."
"Wait. Was he the one who cursed us?" Nekron asked, wondering if his curse had really been Gabriel's curse.
Gabriel chuckled, telling them, "Goodbye." He clicked his fingers, sending the twelve wizards away, back to their kingdoms.