CHAPTER 36
As Garrick and his army enter the village, they are surprised to see that the villagers were waiting on them. The villagers rush forward and begin attacking Garrick's army.
Unprepared for the assault, Garrick's army begins to fall fast. Garrick looks for a way to retreat. He then hears an all too familiar voice.
"GARRICK!"
Garrick turns and sees Huntress Wizard, already hovering several arrows aimed straight at him.
Garrick's resolve suddenly strengthens.
"Well, if it isn't my dear, sweet sister, Minerva." Garrick says mockingly.
"Stop this, Garrick. It's all over."
"No."
Huntress Wizard sends an arrow towards him, intentionally missing.
Garrick is pleasantly surprised by her sudden show of ruthlessness. He decides to taunt her some more.
"You missed! I thought you could do better than that. But of course, you can't do better. If you did, mom and dad would still be alive."
Tears begin to fall down Huntress Wizard's face. Tears of not only sadness, but of anger. An anger that causes her to lose focus. She begins to hurl the arrows left and right towards Garrick, who manages to dodge and block them with his sword at ease, until she has none left.
"Well, well, well." Garrick says as he begins to walk toward Huntress Wizard. "I guess this is going to be the end for you."
Huntress Wizard doesn't back away. She raises her hands in a defensive posture and they begin to glow.
"Don't make me hurt you, Garrick. Please stop."
"What are you going to do? Use your magic? It won't have any effect on me. Go ahead, try. I dare you."
Tears begin to stream down Huntress Wizard's face again. She loves Garrick, but he's leaving her with no choice.
"Okay, then. If that's the way it has to be." She says.
She shoots a blast of mystical energy towards him. It hits him directly. She then is surprised.
He was telling the truth. It had no effect.
"How is this possible?" She asked.
Garrick gives an evil laugh. "You'll never know." He said.
Garrick raises his sword to strike.
"Make sure to say hello to mom and dad for me." He said, giving another evil laugh.
Garrick swings his sword, only to have it blocked by Finn.
Garrick is angered at being denied killing his sister.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? THIS IS NO CONCERN OF YOURS! YOU SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED WITH PROTECTING YOUR VILE, LITTLE VILLAGE FROM IT'S INEVITABLE DESTRUCTION!" Garrick yells.
"THIS IS MY CONCERN! THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL I'M GOING TO LET YOU KILL MY WIFE!" Finn yells back.
Garrick is first shocked by this revelation. Then he laughs.
"You mean to tell me that you two are…" Garrick continues to laugh.
"Well, then, my dear brother-in-law, I'll give you the honor of dying first instead of my sister. Then, I'll kill her."
Finn and Garrick begin their duel.
As they fight, a tiny insect on top of a nearby tree takes a great interest in watching the fight. Through the insect's eyes someone else is watching as well. Garrick's mysterious benefactor is seeing the battle, contemplating whether or not to intervene.
Finn begins to overwhelm Garrick in battle. Then, Finn knocks Garrick's sword out of his hand and kicks him to the ground.
Garrick begins to crawl backward as Finn's sword is aimed directly at his face.
"Surrender, Garrick. You've been beaten, as well as your army." Finn says.
Garrick looks over and sees some of his army captured while the rest are dead.
Garrick's benefactor watches the events unfold, and is none too pleased.
"The fool. I've shouldn't have used him. Let him suffer, then."
Garrick's army, both the living and the dead, begin to glow. Garrick gives an evil smile.
Finn and the others are shocked at what is happening.
"What's happening?" Finn asks Garrick.
"Your doom, that's what's happening." Garrick begins to laugh. "My friend is regenerating them! That is how we beat all the other villages! Now you too, will suffer the same fate!" Garrick laughs more maniacally than ever.
Finn and the others look on in dread. They don't know how they can beat an army that can regenerate.
Then, Garrick's army suddenly disappears.
"NO!" Garrick screams.
Everyone is shocked and relieved. Finn turns back towards Garrick.
"Well, it looks like he doesn't have your back anymore. Who was he?" Finn asks.
"I'll never tell you." Garrick sneers.
"Even after he abandoned you? You're either extremely loyal or extremely stupid. We'll see if you change your mind in the morning." The village leader says before giving the order to have Garrick locked up in jail.
That night, everyone in the village celebrates their victory.
After the party and everyone retires for the night, Garrick has an unexpected visitor.