A/N: I'll admit I was eager to post this and did not proofread as well as I should have. Apologies for any mistakes!
Chapter Eighteen – The Last Stand for the Golden Rose Clan
Nobody got much sleep the rest of the night. In the morning, storm clouds shrouded the skies. Branch went back to the field where Symphony disappeared. He found a few petals and picked them up so the wind could carry them away. Then he just sat there until lunch. Villagers offered condolences. Branch remained silent. He accepted Apollo's words of comfort, and even returned them when Apollo expressed his sadness. It seemed Symphony and Apollo bonded during their time in the village.
When Branch returned to his grandfather's house, he found his grandmother sitting on the porch and staring blankly at nothing in particular. Branch took the spot next to her. Thunder grumbled in the clouds. Symphony's storm seemed ready for another round. Kai joined them a few minutes later. Villagers passed the house and waved with half-hearted smiles.
"I don't blame you for not saving her." Branch finally said. "She was probably right. You couldn't have saved her, Golden Rose or not. So, don't blame yourself, and I won't blame myself for not protecting her and all that. Okay?"
"Okay." Rosiepuff stared skyward.
"No sign of Titan yet." Kai said. "But we're preparing for an attack any minute. If you have some sort of plan, you should share it now."
Rosiepuff hummed to herself. She hopped off the porch. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Branch asked.
"For a climb." Rosiepuff answered simply.
"For a what now?" Branch looked up. The almost black clouds touched most of the tall, rocky peaks behind the village. Even standing on a lower one increased the risk of getting struck by lightning.
"I'll be back in a bit." Rosiepuff called over her shoulder.
Branch stared at Kai. "Is she serious?"
"Oh, yeah, she has done this before." Kai said.
"And is this safe?" Branch asked.
"For us? Absolutely not." Kai snorted. "For her? Completely safe. Trust me, I was skeptical, too. When I first learned about the Golden Rose Clan, I was in awe at their abilities and practices. After I started dating your grandmother, I was thrown one curveball after another. I was so confused by some of the things they did, and you bet I called many of them crazy. As time went by, I learned to sort of blindly trust your grandmother even when I didn't understand what she did or why she did it. When it came to the Golden Rose Clan, I just had to accept that I would always be an outsider, even after I married into it."
Branch watched Rosiepuff analyze the rocks, and then take a path towards one of the higher peaks. "I thought I knew everything about her. I spent nearly my entire life with her. No matter who else or what else influenced me, she made me who I am. After all this time, I thought I knew everything. I spent the last three years learning everything I could about the Golden Rose Clan."
"Still feel like you don't fully know her?"
"More like I keep getting surprised by how different she is now compared to who I grew up with."
"Anything wrong with that?"
"Not really. Thanks for listening. I feel less crazy when I say it out loud."
"Good."
Meanwhile, Rosiepuff found a good path that led up the mountain. When she reached the end of the trail, the village looked like a series of dollhouses with little toy trolls. Rosiepuff began climbing. She slipped once, and she clung to the rocks. Then she passed through the thick cloud layer, where the winds picked up. The thunder sounded closer and rattled her bones. Rosiepuff pulled herself onto the flat surface of the very top of the mountain. It was like an island of stone in the middle of a tornado. She only saw blacks and greys, with the occasional flash of lightning. The wind whipped her bangs about, and she was glad to have tied her hair into a ballet bun. Rosiepuff found the center of the mountaintop, and she saw cross-legged on the ground. She shut her eyes and breathed deeply, just as her grandfather showed her.
"Grandpa Thorn! What are we doing up here?" Rosiepuff had to shout over the thunder. The rain stung her face. The wind kept trying to push her down. How was her grandfather unaffected by this maelstrom? He just stood a short distance away on their small patch of mountaintop. His hair whipped around like a torch in a breeze, but he did not sway.
"The next step of your training." Thorn also yelled over the gusts and growls. "This is a specific lesson for being the leader of the Golden Rose Clan. Sit down, like you would for meditation."
Rosiepuff obeyed, but the wind pushed her fully to the ground. "This is crazy!"
"This is a test of your leadership!" Thorn corrected. "I had to do it, just like my mother and grandmother before me! You will encounter turmoil and chaos in your life. When the seas rage, you must be a solitary stone, calm and resolute. When the storm pushes you down, you get up again. As a leader, our family will look to you for answers. Even if you do not have them, you must be a source of tranquility to quell the panic. Sit there and meditate until the storm passes, and you will prove yourself as a rock of calm, a true leader for the Golden Rose Clan."
"But what if I'm not?" Rosiepuff asked in anxiousness. "What if I'm not meant to do this?"
"You cannot just abdicate this position, Rosiepuff." Thorn said sternly. "Someone must challenge and defeat you in battle; and I will not allow you to throw away a fight due to a bout of unconfident thoughts."
Rosiepuff braced herself against the wind. "I'm not like you."
Thorn knelt before her and tilted her head up to look into her eyes. "You are me and more. As time goes on, you will see it, too."
The storm quieted, and Rosiepuff opened her eyes. It looked like the storm was still going strong, yet there was an invisible bubble of calm on the mountaintop. There were lots more people surrounding her: the entire Golden Rose Clan, with Thorn and Kala standing in front of her. Rosiepuff stood, feeling like a young girl again, standing before her grandparents.
"I did see it." Rosiepuff confirmed. "I saw you and Grandma Kala more and more as time went on. But I know I haven't been the leader you expected."
"It's not like we expected to be massacred." Kala snorted.
"Kala." Thorn intoned, an exasperated look on his face. He smiled at Rosiepuff. "I stand by what I said that day. You are me and so much more. Despite what we've been through, you still became the leader we knew you'd be."
"But I let our clan die." Rosiepuff protested. "I tried bury everything about myself."
"Yet you returned to your roots." Kala pointed out in a kinder tone. "Despite the horrors you witnessed, you found a way to overcome the grief. You've been to hell and back. If you hadn't felt the way you did, the way you do now, you wouldn't be normal."
"And our clan hasn't died at all." Rosiepuff's cousin Bramble spoke up. "It lives on in you and in Branch. It lives on in Delta Dawn when she became an honorary member. We have new Nymph Knights, your students, who take your teachings to heart and practice our doctrine."
"Titan's attack—back then and right now—is a hateful act from a misguided fool." An aunt said. "You are not to blame for his actions, nor have you forced any decisions on the people who want to protect you."
"It is all right to feel what you're feeling." A brother assured.
"What are you feeling now?" a little nephew asked.
Rosiepuff sighed. "Scared. Above everything else, I'm really scared about many things."
"But….?" Thorn asked, knowing she had more to say.
"But I'm ready for whatever comes." Rosiepuff said. "It's odd. I'm scared for what might happen, but I'm also at peace. I'm ready for the fight, even if it means I won't make it out alive."
"I'm sure you will." A cousin said assuredly.
"You got this!" a younger cousin cheered.
"Just don't be so eager to join us." Rosiepuff's father said. "We waited this long for you. We can stand to wait a little longer."
Kala hugged her granddaughter. "Do not let anyone tell you that you have failed. You are the great matriarch queen thingy we knew you'd be."
"We'll be watching over you and the rest of our family. Always." Thorn promised.
"Thank you." Rosiepuff felt tears in her eyes, and she wiped them away.
"Besides, I got a running bet going on with Bramble that your great-grandkid is going to be a girl." Pyra said.
"I'm telling you, it's going to be a boy!" Bramble insisted.
"You mean their future great-grandkid I may live long enough to see?" Rosiepuff joked.
"No, I mean the one that Poppy chick is—" Bramble yelped when one of his siblings punched him.
"We weren't supposed to tell her that!" the sibling snapped.
"Tell me what?" Rosiepuff suddenly realized. "Wait, are you saying Poppy is—"
"Gotta go!" Bramble disappeared, followed by the rest of the family one by one. Everyone bid Rosiepuff farewell before they left.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Rosiepuff was left alone with her grandparents' spirits. She stared at Thorn and Kala. "Are they serious?"
"Well, Branch and Poppy are already engaged, so no big deal." Kala shrugged. "Your grandfather and I could hardly keep our hands off each other at that age."
"Grandma Kala!" Rosiepuff whined.
"Ta-ta, Rosiepuff! Love you!" Kala laughed, almost maniacally, as she disappeared.
"Go give Titan a good thrashing, Little Flower." Thorn vanished.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Rosiepuff shouted into the dissipating storm clouds. "I know that's not the most important thing I should worry about right now, but that's a pretty big surprise you dropped!" However, none of her family returned. Rosiepuff glared at nothing, a pout on her lips, and then she burst out laughing. "Nothing's changed. That's nice."
When Rosiepuff arrived back in the village, every single villager gathered at the banquet area to wait for her. Kai and Branch stood as she approached.
"You okay?" Branch asked, even though he could see the genuine smile of confidence.
"I have a plan." Rosiepuff stood in front of the head table, and all became quiet as everyone gave her their attention. "If you want to fight, you must do so on your own free will. None of you should feel obligated to protect me. Those of you who insist on helping, listen up! I know what to do."
This time, a full and thorough watch stood guard around the clock, with benders switching off shifts so everyone got some sleep. Kai used his earth-bending to carve the portal symbol into the field where the earth-benders liked to practice. Branch put a discreet marker in the spot so Rosiepuff would know where to go.
"As soon as a scout sees him, sound the alarm." Rosiepuff had instructed. "Get to your positions but try to stay back. He doesn't have his demon form anymore, but now he has a whole village full of benders he could possess. We have even seen him possess multiple people at once. I'll challenge him directly and lead him to the portal. Once he's there, I need the Element Sisters to cover me and keep our fight within the markings on the ground. Then I have to hit him with The Cleaver, and the portal should help drag him down. Wani, you and your sisters need to get out of there immediately after the portal opens. If anyone is too close, you might get dragged into the Spirit Realm with him."
Had this been a simple one-on-one battle, nobody would be too concerned. However, even Peppy and his students warned everyone about the kung fu masters Titan could simultaneously control to fight them. Chaz distributed special charms and sutras on paper, hoping it would be enough to protect the benders.
Rosiepuff donned the kung fu robes Ryu gifted her. She put the hair ornament in her tied-down hair. She let the Nymph's Amulet rest on top of her kimono fabric, rather than hiding it under the collar. If Titan wanted to fight a Golden Rose, he would get one. This time, she wouldn't hold back. She would use the full extent of her knowledge, take full advantage of the power passed down in her family. Rosiepuff joined Branch outside, where he sparred with Kai with their respective weapons: the Dragon Blade and a proper battle axe.
"Well done, Branch!" Kai complimented. "Your master trained you well."
"Thanks. Let's go again!" Branch urged.
"Save your strength." Rosiepuff assured. "Wait for Titan's battle. At this point, we've seen just about all that he can do. Who knows what he'll do this time?"
"I bet it will be big." Kai guessed. "He must be tired of getting foiled time and time again. Did you see him before Symphony stepped in?"
"He looked desperate." Branch agreed. "Hopefully, that will make him slip up."
"Any word from the scouts?" Rosiepuff asked Kai.
"They're tense, but confident." Kai answered. "I think most everyone here wants a piece of him."
"Let me do what I can. This is my fight." Rosiepuff insisted.
"Yes, but you're also my wife." Kai reminded her with a grin. "The little ones from Lotus Lagoon always begged me for stories about you, and I'm certain they passed those on to their children. Everyone here knows you, and it was a great joy to them to have you return. Nobody wants to see you hurt by this creep."
"As long as everyone does their part, this will end here." Branch said.
Kai stared at the horizon. "I'm sorry I lied and tricked you into coming here."
"While it was immensely stupid, I'm happy to be with you and all our old friends." Rosiepuff said. "When this is over, will they want to stay here?"
"I don't think so." Kai admitted. "I've kept them here for so long. They can pretend all they like, but I know most of them want to see the world, especially the younger ones."
"We should talk to Peppy about that." Branch suggested. "He knows the land, including where refugees would be welcome. I bet he—"
The trio froze. Someone sounded a horn to the west.
"He's here." Branch breathed.
"To your positions, now!" Rosiepuff ran in the direction of the horn. She saw a comet-like shape fly overhead as she met with Barb, who had sounded the call.
"Where is he going?" Barb demanded. "He just shot right past me!"
"Just send up a flare. Let everyone know to get to their stations." Rosiepuff urged. "Go!" She ran after the white comet, catching up to it just in time to see the spectral orb disappear into the statue of Titan's demon self. The stone flared with light. Then, cracks appeared in the rock, and its eyes glowed red. Rather than come fully back as a demon, the statue simply came to life.
"The dragon was a fool to think she could defeat me like that." Titan snarled.
"Mocking Symphony will only encourage me to make this more painful for you." Rosiepuff warned.
"I have no desire to fight the other benders in this village." Titan said. "I only want you."
"So be it." Rosiepuff agreed. "What more do you think you can do to me? Your powers as a demon are gone."
"Not quite. I have a bit of that power left; and I will use it to make sure we aren't disturbed." Titan's hands glowed. Ice and snow came down from the mountaintops and swirled around him. The snow solidified to create faceless warriors of ice, along with three large, feline beasts. Titan grinned maliciously. "Go into the village and kill them all."
Rosiepuff tried to stop the ice creatures, but Titan jumped in for a fight to distract her and allow the creatures to run into the village.
"Gnarly…." Riff gulped.
"We can take those guys!" Delta Dawn assured.
"Yeah!" Clampers cheered.
"We will not go quietly!" Trollzart declared.
"Then let's do this! Element Sisters, get to your position!" Branch held up his sword. "Let's get 'em!"
The villagers charged right into battle, unafraid. The land within the village became a chaotic battlefield as the benders used all their power to fight against the zombie-like warriors. Even some of the young benders, like Coral Blush and Clampers, ganged up on ice warriors and smashed them to bits. Wani and her sisters used their stealth skills to sneak around the fight, making their way to where Rosiepuff and Titan battled. Despite their very different fighting styles, two master fighters almost always end up in a stalemate. Titan used his stone sword to deflect rocks thrown at him. Rosiepuff used air-bending to blow away the blinding powder thrown in her face. She created a water whip, which Titan caught and cut. Fire blasts did not have much effect on stone.
Titan's sword slipped through Rosiepuff's defenses once, and the blade left a gash on her arm. He sneered. "See? Proof that you aren't as powerful as you claimed."
"You're sure about that?" Rosiepuff did not give Titan a chance to answer. She sent a tidal wave of water to wash Titan away. Out of the corner of her eye, Rosiepuff saw the Element Sisters standing ready. When Titan ran back towards her, Rosiepuff turned and ran for the earth-benders' field. The Element Sisters followed her. They darted past opponents in the village, narrowly avoiding stray attacks. Rosiepuff saw Branch clashing blades with an ice warrior. Kai helped some of the earth-benders with one of the larger creatures. One of the ice creatures swiped its claws and sent Cooper, Smidge, and Suki flying. Rosiepuff wanted desperately to help them. But Suki waved her off, encouraging her to keep going. Reluctantly, and with Baby Bun pulling her along, Rosiepuff continued her run. Titan stayed close behind her.
When they reached the field, Rosiepuff found the near-camouflaged marker Branch left. She noticed the carvings in the dirt, the markings of the portal symbol, partially hidden by the grass. As long as Titan didn't look down, they could fool him. His focus was entirely on her, after all. Rosiepuff stood within the boundaries of the portal, and she pulled out The Cleaver dagger. Titan lunged, and Rosiepuff deflected his sword with her blade. The Element Sisters surrounded them. Wani drew her own sword and darted in to help. Her sisters used their bending powers to lend a hand. Titan grew angrier as he was hit with fireballs, icicles, rocks, and mini twisters. He parried swords with Wani.
Then, he remembered his original target. Titan noticed Rosiepuff coming up from behind, armed with The Cleaver. Titan kicked Wani in the stomach, grabbed her by the throat, and threw her into Rosiepuff. Kim-Petit, in a bout of anger, threw an especially large rock at Titan. He avoided it, and the stone statue froze as a white comet shot from it and entered Kim-Petit. Everyone tensed, but the possessed earth-bender only punched the ground and shattered the earth, breaking the portal symbol. Titan's spirit left Kim-Petit and repossessed his stone self. Incensed by his treatment of her sisters, Wani swiped The Cleaver from Rosiepuff and lunged for Titan. But Titan managed to disarm her and send The Cleaver flying.
Rosiepuff and the Element Sisters froze briefly. Their plan was ruined. The Cleaver disappeared down the hill. The portal symbol was destroyed.
Rosiepuff groaned. "Oh, sh—"
Titan levitated a boulder and tossed it. The rock slammed into Wani, and then Rosiepuff, and they both flew across the field. They might've been crushed by the boulder had Baby Bun not used her air-bending to save them. Gomdori, in a rather reckless move, created a wall of fire to keep Titan from following them. When that didn't work, since Titan's stone body was unaffected by the flames, Ari froze him to the ground and Kim-Petit trapped him in a box of earth. The sisters regrouped and helped Rosiepuff stand. They ran off into the village.
Peppy saw them coming and sliced the head off the ice warrior he fought. "What happened? Did you defeat Titan?"
"No." Rosiepuff growled. "I lost The Cleaver, he destroyed the symbol, and who knows how long that rock box will hold him?"
Joy, Apollo, Poppy, and Branch joined them. They were all scuffed and bruised. "What's going on?" Branch asked.
"We need a new symbol and the dagger is lost." Wani said.
"I saw where it fell. I can find it." Rosiepuff said. "I just need time, and someone needs to remake the portal symbol."
"Mom and I can handle that." Poppy offered. "We'll use our water-bending and move the portal to the lake."
"I will distract Titan while you search for The Cleaver." Peppy said.
"We'll help you find it." Wani said to Rosiepuff.
"Branch and I will help keep Titan occupied." Apollo said.
"All right. Go, and be careful!" Rosiepuff ran back towards the field, followed by the Element Sisters, and the others got to work. Poppy and Joy went for the lake while Peppy, Branch, and Apollo tracked down Titan.
"Hey stony!" Apollo threw a flaming curveball, nailing Titan in the head. "Come and get us!"
"You cannot keep me from the Golden Rose for long." Titan drew his sword and crossed blades with Branch.
Poppy and Joy went to the frozen lake, and the latter cleared away some snow. "We don't want it too big." Joy warned. "Just enough to get Titan in."
"We should cover it with snow again." Poppy said. "You remember what the symbol looked like?"
"Yes. Follow my lead." Joy instructed.
When they returned to the field, Rosiepuff and the Element Sisters spread out and started down the hill. They scoured every bit of land. At the bottom of the hill was a stone fence to keep people from tumbling off the sheer drop on the other side. Unfortunately, down that sheer drop rested The Cleaver, sitting on a ledge.
"I can use earth-bending to kick it up." Kim-Petit offered.
"One wrong shake, and it will be lost down there." Baby Bun warned, glancing down to the foggy abyss. "If I had my glider, I could fly down and grab it."
"We'll figure it out. We just have to be careful." Ari said.
Titan blocked Branch's strikes and kicked him back. Then Peppy came in with his own sword. The force of the metal blade on the stone one created a screeching ring. Apollo stood a safe distance from the swords, yet close enough that he could shoot fire every chance he got. But even his strongest, most concentrated blasts of fire didn't harm the living stone. Luckily, when it seemed Titan would overpower Peppy, Branch came in from behind and swung the Dragon Blade. The stronger metal cut right through the stone and decapitated Titan.
Apollo caught the stone head on instinct. "Nice job, Branch!" Titan's head suddenly growled at him, and Apollo shrieked in a high pitch. "Ew ew ew! Gross!" Apollo threw the stone head far away.
"So much for that." Branch stepped aside as Peppy kicked Titan's body away. The headless statue walked over to its head.
"I just thought of something." Peppy said. "How do we stab a knife, even a ghost-killing one, into a rock?"
"We need him out of that rock." Branch realized. "How do we do that?"
Apollo remembered something. "If you guys can distract him, I have an idea."
"Just be careful." Peppy cautioned. He and Branch readied their swords and met Titan (head reattached) head-on. Titan put more emphasis on deflecting Branch's attacks. The Dragon Blade proved strong enough to cut stone, but Peppy's sword only chipped away tiny pieces of rock. Branch's muscle memory aided his movements, and he unconsciously remembered every swordplay lesson with his master. In a swift swing, Branch broke Titan's stone sword in half.
"Why you insolent little pest!" Titan levitated a small shack near a house, holding over his head. "That is the last time you—"
Apollo interrupted him. He finally found his opening, and he unleashed his full power in a great bolt of lightning. The lightning shattered Titan's stone self, and the shack floating above his head smashed the remains into the ground.
It took a bit of creative bending from Ari, Baby Bun, and Kim-Petit, and The Cleaver flew up and landed in Rosiepuff's hand. "Got it! Let's go!" They ran back towards the battle.
"All right!" Branch punched the air.
Apollo jogged to Peppy and Branch. "Are you two okay?"
"Yes, and that was brilliant!" Peppy said. "Well done."
Apollo smiled, but then the smile vanished. "Wait, the ice warriors. They haven't disappeared."
Branch saw the young bender was right. "That must mean—look out!" He shoved Apollo aside. The white comet behind him slammed into Branch and sent him to the ground.
Rosiepuff and the Element Sisters arrived on the battlefield just in time to see this. "No…." Rosiepuff gasped.
"Branch!" Apollo tried to run to the blue troll.
"Apollo, wait!" Peppy held him back as Branch writhed a bit on the ground. He was fighting so hard, yet Titan's will overpowered him. Branch stood, his eyes glowing red.
"My, what strength this boy has." Titan mused.
"You're going too far, Titan." Peppy warned.
"If the Golden Rose thinks she's going to do something, she might want to do it." Titan mocked.
A blast of air from Essence sent the possessed Branch flying, and he tumbled down the hill towards the frozen lake.
"Remind me to apologize to him later." Essence said.
"I can handle this." Rosiepuff said with grim determination. "I know how to get Titan out of Branch and finish the fight."
"How exactly are you going to do that?" Apollo asked.
"By almost literally pushing him out, that's how." Rosiepuff said.
"Won't that take a lot of energy?" Peppy asked, knowing exactly what Rosiepuff had planned.
"Yes, so I need all of you to stay back and keep those ice creatures busy, because I don't know if I'll make it back." Rosiepuff ran towards the frozen lake. She really did not know how this battle would pan out. She did not want to hurt Branch, but her technique of pushing Titan's spirit from Branch's body would sap her of energy. Hopefully, she could end Titan's rampage, even if she had to drag him to the Spirit Realm right along with her.
Titan stood and readied the Dragon Blade. When Rosiepuff reached him, she used air-bending to send him flying again, landing on the portal symbol Joy and Poppy carved. Rosiepuff signaled for them to run, and Joy pulled Poppy along. Rosiepuff pulled water from the frozen lake and trapped Titan in it, without breaking the seal.
Using the Dragon Blade, Titan broke the ice. "I'm not even going to bother destroying the seal this time. You won't draw blood from your own family."
Rosiepuff held The Cleaver ready. "Coward."
"Your family was powerful, Golden Rose. I could never best them in a physical altercation." Titan ducked to avoid the icicles shot at him. "So I became crafty."
"You used underhanded techniques. You fought without honor or pride." Rosiepuff corrected. "You're a sniveling coward in every sense of the word!"
"If you think you can stop me, do it. Sacrifice your kin." Titan sneered. "Strike your own blood. It's the only way."
"There is something you don't know about the Golden Rose family." Rosiepuff smirked. "We're horribly stubborn."
She lunged with her dagger, and Titan parried with his sword. Rosiepuff tried to aim for a non-lethal injury, in the hopes that even the touch of The Cleaver would destroy Titan or just get him out of Branch. The blade battle was quick, and they locked weapons. That moment of standing almost perfectly still gave Rosiepuff the chance to push Titan from Branch, just like she did with Symphony in the restaurant. However, she only managed to get her hand on Branch's chest. Titan then grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm painfully behind her back. Rosiepuff summoned water from outside the portal border, smacking it into Titan and getting him to let go. She turned and stabbed The Cleaver towards him, aiming for an arm. Titan turned to dodge the strike and, in that same fluid motion, he swung the Dragon Blade and broke the dagger's blade in half. In a few quick moves, he punched her in the stomach to knock the wind out of her and then kicked her in the face and sent her to the ground. She struggled to rise again.
Titan advanced towards her, his sword ready, when he froze. He growled and grunted. "No….stop!"
"Nice try, Titan." Branch's voice came from his mouth. "But you aren't as strong as you think!" He threw the Dragon Blade aside, and it skittered across the ice.
"You cannot expel me as the dragon did!" Titan snarled, grappling with Branch's spirit over control of the body.
"You want to bet? Like Grandma said, we Golden Rose types are painfully stubborn. My fiancée can tell you all about that." Branch regained control long enough to scoop up the broken blade from The Cleaver, and he stabbed it into his chest. Titan screamed in pain, and his spirit finally pulled from Branch's body and took the dagger blade with him. Titan tried to pull the sharp iron from his chest, but something else stabbed him from the back. It was Rosiepuff, still holding The Cleaver handle with the other half of the blade.
"Rot in hell." Rosiepuff growled. She pulled The Cleaver from Titan's spiritual form, leaving a glowing cut where he was stabbed. Rosiepuff noticed The Cleaver, the two halves of the blade fused grotesquely together, and she dropped it in shock. The portal symbol began to glow, and tendrils of light wrapped around Titan and began pulling him through the ice.
"So long, jerk." Branch laughed.
"Branch, let's go!" Rosiepuff urged. She started running, evading the tendrils that tried to grab her, too. She heard Branch yelp, and she spun around to see one coil wrapped around his ankle. If she tried to help him, she might get dragged down, too. Could they get out in time? Wait, Kai and several others were running towards them. What if they were pulled into the Spirit Realm as well? These thoughts and more ran so fast through her head that she didn't get a chance to comprehend them.
She did make a decision. One she knew Kai would give her grief for later.
"Whoa, stop!" Joy yelped as icicles shot up in their path. Kai, however, did not stop or hesitate as he pulled out his axe and smashed the icicles to clear his path. He kept running for his wife and grandson.
Rosiepuff ran back to Branch, sliding on her knees to him and pulling him into a hug. She felt the smoky ropes wrap around both of them, pulling them through the portal.
Kai ran as fast as he could, but the portal flashed with a great light, and Rosiepuff, Branch, and Titan disappeared. The portal glowed softly.
"No!" Kai nearly smashed his fists into the portal, but Eclipse stopped him.
"Wait! They may not come back if you break the portal!" Eclipse warned.
"What happened?" Apollo asked. "Where are they?"
"Rosiepuff and Branch…" Tears stained Poppy's face. "They took Titan to the Spirit Realm….."
"But how are they going to get out of there?" Apollo asked. "What's going to happen to them?"