Chapter 13
"Mom!" Isabelle called out as the royal four entered the Evan's home.
"In the Kitchen," Diane answered
"Hey, mom." Max said.
"How's my little man?" Isabelle asked picking her son up from his highchair.
Wiping her hands on her apron Diane turned to see her children and their significant others.
"Is dad home?" Max asked
"Is there something you need son." Philip answered coming into the kitchen
"Actually there is. It important, why don't we go into the living room."
Diane turned her casserole on low and followed everyone into the family room.
"What's going on?" Diane asked.
"Mom, Dad, we have a favor to ask you." Isabelle said, "But first there are some things you need to know."
Max proceeded to explain to the Evans about Antar, and how they were alien hybrids. Tess and Michael both did a small demonstration when the Evans started to doubt their children's sanity. For a while all the heard was "oh my God" from Mrs. Evans. Mr. Evans just shook his head.
"I know this is a lot to take in but."
"I knew, I knew you were different I just… I never." Diane took a deep breathe, Philip wrapped his arms around his wife offering her comfort.
"What is it you need from us?"
"Mom, Dad, Michael and I would like for you to look after Talon."
"What?"
"We have to go to Antar. They spent so much time and energy to recreate the royal four, we owe it to them to save them. They believe we are their only hope." Isabelle explained
"We can't bring our son onto a war torn planet. You two did an amazing job raising Max and Isabelle, we trust you to take care of Talon if we don't come back." Michael said
"Of course, we love you. We love Talon, but must you go. Isn't there another way."
"If there is, we don't know it. The officials on Antar believe that without us the planet will fall deeper into civil war, then the monster who killed us all will take over he's a vicious dictator."
"It's hard to believe that fate of an entire planet is in the hands of teenagers." Philip said still trying to digest everything
"When do you leave?"
"We've a few more things to do, but we aim to leave by the end of the week"
XX
"I can't believe we're really doing this" Tess said grasping Max's hands
"Me neither." He said his voice shaking a bit.
"It's now or never Maxwell." Michael said holding his wife's hand
"Talon will be okay right? Tell me we're coming back to him."
"He'll be fine. Your parents are probably spoiling him as we speak."
"You don't think"
"We're coming back Isabelle. No worries we can do this"
The royal four activated the granolith as a unit, then stepped up to the circle.
"You ready your Majesties." The Granolith spoke
"Yes" they said in unison
"I contacted the Council they'll be waiting for you on the other side."
The Granolith looked over the royal four and invited them to step through the opening to stand in the center of the circle. The granolith encoded the sequence then put in the coordinates. It was now or never, this thought traveled through the minds of the royal four. Traveling took all of one minute; the group held hands forming a circle. When they arrived in what they assumed was Antar. They didn't realize they had truly just traveled through time and space. They remembered brief flashes of light but that was it. The room they were in now seemed like the same one they'd been in at first, only darker.
"Where are we?" some one asked either Tess or Izzy
"I don't know" Max responded.
"It's so dark", came a quieter voice that seemed more like it belonged to Tess.
"We're here" Michael said releasing Isabelle and Tess' hand. He then held up his hand to activate the lighting system.
"Good evening Prince Wrath. Welcome home ", this little girl looked almost identical to the granolith on earth "It seems that my sister encountered a few problems and was unable to send you to Antar so you are now on Onuris. Kivar must have discovered and breached the Central Antarian Based Granolith" The gang stared at the little girl. She had the same black hair and heart shaped face only now she wore a black dress with a Gold ribbon at the waist instead of all white.
X
" You may not realized it my king but you have been dead no more than a decade. Time travels differently here." the Granolith said.
"Ten years." Isabelle whispered
"Yes, also my condolences on the death of your parents"
"Their dead?" Michael asked
"Going on eight years."
The granolith called for an escort to take the prince and his friends to their living quarters to get rested. It turned out that a side effect of traveling by granolith was migraines. After a nap the group was called to meet Commander Ram who would be flying them to Antar. The commander brought the group up to date on the current affairs of Onuris.
"Wrath, I mean Michael, you and the others are probably wondering if you will get to meet the king. It is my deepest regret to inform you that the King away at a retreat seeking a cure for his current ailment." The commander continued to talk of the king's current state. "You do realize my prince that the throne of Onuris is by right yours, since it was the death your parents that cause Eli to take the throne."
"Does my uncle know that you are plotting behind his back?" Michael question.
"I'm not plotting just merely stating fact. Our soldiers have been preparing for war with Kivar in hopes of your return. The King has no heirs and is deathly ill. When he dies, something that is inevitable, we will need a king. Is it wrong for me to want the ruler of our planet to be of the blood?" Ram said turning to look meet Michael's eyes. His glare dared Michael condemn him for wanting to have his people protected.
"No, I suppose not. My wife and I have not yet discussed what we will do once the war ends but we will keep our return to Onuris as an option."
X
It took three days to prepare for war. Soldiers were gathered, the allies were alerted, and then came the attack. The Royal four and the militia attacked Antar. The battle was short when you compare it to wars like the hundred year's war or the Trojan War or even the War in Iraq. The battle lasted two weeks. The support that Kivar had, had begun to loose faith. The attack on Kivar's army ended in favor of the Royal four.
Once they made their way into the Palace they went in search of Kivar. Max and Tess made their way through the North wing accompanied by four of Onuris' best. They carried weapons, laser guns and swords, in case their energy was unreliable, and the Onuri were firm believers in being prepared for any and everything.
"KIVAR!!" Maxwell roared spotting the swine at coming out of one of the secret passage ways. The Onuris soldiers Rushed in to corner Kivar and 2 of his guard. The secret passage was positioned just behind the throne. Kivar ran but the Onuri soldiers were able to slaughter his men. Max and Tess continued on in pursuit of Kivar. Tess used her ability to make him run straight to them.
"Well if it isn't the fair Ava and the brute who would be king." Kivar taunted recognizing their aura not their faces, "I thought I killed you once already," Kivar used their hesitation as and opportunity to use his ability. Kivar brought back the pain that Zan had experienced at his hand. He made them relive their death.
Max fell to his knees, this time it was worse, the dagger given to him by the granolith had helped him understand their mission. It had allowed him to remember everything but he hadn't relived it. Kivar made him feel that agony, and it unleashed hatred and rage.
Michael came to the rescue, just before he was able to kill Zan, by blasting Kivar into the stone wall behind him.
Michael stooped down to check on Ava who had fainted, her nose was bleeding. "You guys alright?" he asked looking at Max.
"That son of a bitch is going to pay." Max said sounding more of Zan than himself.
Michael watched as Max stood up and took off walking toward an unconscious Kivar.
"Wake up you Sonofabitch" Max willed, holding his hand over Kivar skull.
"No please, No sire please it was just a misudeeee……." Using the hand that had healed so many, he sucked the life out of Kivar.
Max yelled in rage, cursing, swearing vengeance for his dead children. While the young king raged Kivar screamed in agony. In the end all that was left of Kivar was a pile of ash. The battle didn't last more than a day after the death of Kivar.
Isabelle walked into the room just in time to see Max kill Kivar. Somehow killing Kivar had killed Max, leaving Zan behind.
Tess wasn't sure what she was getting into but she knew that she loved Max. And since Ava was apart of her she knew that she could learn to love Zan. Standing by her man while he tried to put together the pieces that Kivar had left behind wouldn't be easy, but none of them had had the illusion that repairing a broken civilization would be.
The King and Queen stood on the terrace, their people gather below them. The people sent up cheers as the dark cloud that had blotted their sun was finally decimated.
"People of Antar. Thank you for gathering before us. Your faith in us allowed us to slay our enemy. From this day forth, my queen and I promise to help to restore Antar to its former glory." Shouts rose from the crowd below, "You are all invited to the coronation and wedding. Kivar left so much destruction in his wake but we are strong. We will heal our wounded. Rebuild our city from the rubble that his wrath left. Have no fear I am your King. Tomorrow night we will eat, dance, and be merry. We will celebrate our victory, for in the days to follow we have much work to attend to." Zan and Tess bowed to their people and stepped away.
In the End
After the Antarian Granolith was repaired. Max, who preferred to be called Zan, and Tess decided to stay and restore Antar. Michael and Isabelle went to Zaire to converse with Michael's uncle. Eli decided to abdicate his throne and named Michael king. Before the coronation Michael and Isabelle returned to Earth to collect their son and to say good bye to every one they would leave behind. Tess sent a letter for the Velentis with Michael and Isabelle. Max was no longer Max. Zan refused to leave and didn't see the point in saying goodbye to people from a life he didn't remember. Michael and Isabelle showed the Evans and Valentis the Granolith, and promised to come to Earth for visits. Explaining to everyone why Max wasn't at their side was difficult. With promises to keep in contact, the Evans could only hope that someday their son would remember his human heritage and comeback to visit as well.
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Please review. I think I was able to improve upon the original Let me know if it sucks. All criticism welcome. - Jaz