Its pouring rain. Thunder and Lighting fill the sky and ears of Kieran and the Others, Kieran, now knocking on the door for the Twentieth time, is about ready to kick it down.
"DAMMIT BELLADONNA! OPEN THE DOOR! I GOTTA TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT!" Kieran shouts punching the door, a voice comes from behind the door, finally, "ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALREADY! HOLD ON A MINUTE, I AM FIXING MY HAIR." She shouts. Kieran ignores this and walks in. "WHAT- Oh, a Ravenwood student...Aren't you the boy that came here and won the tournament and defeated the tower of the Hellephant?" Belladonna asks, "YES, BELLADONNA. I AM THE STUDENT." Kieran says, in a monotone mock voice of her. "Alright, so, whats SO important that you have to slam on my door?" She asks, rather annoyed, "A Group of Clockworks called 'The Armada just attacked Wizard City, and we have a map showing that they are coming here, you only have a few days, prepare your students for what ever might come, or there could be mass chaos, and people could die!" Orion explains to here, somewhat loudly, "Well...I haven't seen you before..I asked Kieran, but, random children are just as good. I guess. But that story, sounds preposterous, who in the hell would send CLOCKWORKS, of all things, CLOCKWORKS, to try and kill an entire city full of wizards? And just what is this 'Armada?'" She asks. "The Armada is in the skyway and is causing lots of chaos there, they've been hunting who ever is breaking there laws." Morgan says to Belladonna, "Well, what does this have to deal with wizards?" She asks. "One of there laws, is to outlaw magic, everywhere in the Spiral." Kieran says darkly. "Well...Aren't they gutsy..." Belladonna says as she sips some tea. "What makes you believe that I would believe this." She says. Kieran is about to say something, but notices out the window, during a flash of lighting a ship, hidden in the clouds, there's another flash, a cannon was firing a cannonball, its shot being covered by the lighting and thunder, "GET DOWN NOW!" Orion shouts, Morgan throws Belladonna to the ground, Cedric and Magnus hit the deck as fast as they can, Orion finds some cover behind the desk Belladonna uses, Kieran, points his sword at the window, and fires a giant ball of fire, it blasts through the window, and hits the cannonball, exploding it in midair, causing a gust of window to rip through the office. "What the hell was that!" Screams Belladonna. "Damn their here already!" Morgan says, "How'd they get here so fast!? I though this was a magic user world!?" Morgan looks to Belladonna, who briefly says this. "Wysteria used to be a military trading post...it has storm gates all around it...thats probably how...", another shot is fired, Belladonna grabs Cedric and Magnus, and is followed by Morgan, "Orion Come on!" She shouts, "Go! Me Kieran Wolf and Kane can hold them off!" Orion shouts. Morgan runs outside with Belladonna, buildings are falling over, cannons exploding everywhere, students shoot there magic into the air, a Human student comes up to Belladonna, "What do we do!? I have some newer students safe in a tunnel down the road with some other upperclassmen!" He shouts, "Tell them to hold off for as long as they can, any Ember and Tempest students should hit the cannons before they hit, Earth and Chaos can Launch them back to the boats!" She shouts. "Morgan, I need you to go down that tunnel right there, across the street, down it, is the School of Spirit! Get those students to see where any kind of movement is! Clockworks still have some kind of mana essence on them so they can locate them! Have Equilibrium attack those sources." Belladonna walks down the street followed by Magnus and Cedric, who picked up a sword, and spear from some fallen guards. Magnus runs back up the street. "Ill stay with you. Belladonna told me too." He says, Morgan shrugs and walks down the tunnel as instructed.
"Kieran get down!" Wolf shouts, a clockwork swings a halberd barely missing Kierans head, sees Wolf, and starts walking towards him. Wolf takes out a book from his hand, the storm magic symbol appears in front of him, and a high voltage beam of electricity hits the Clockwork dead center causing it to explode. "Haha! Bulls-eye!" He jokes, He turns behind him and sees several more, climbing through the window, Orion runs by them and slashes there heads off, the clockworks stop right there, and fall off the balcony making clinking sounds as they fall. Another Ship lands and more are boarding. "Damn...I'm totally exhausted...so many...I think its over guys.." Kane says, sitting down, his staff a few feet away, out of breath. Just then A smaller ship rams into both ships, totaling them into nothing but pieces, the ship has a black flag a Red Circle, and red star inside it. Two males walk out. One with Grey hair, about Orions age, with red eyes, and another, long black hair, similar to the other, and red eyes. "Ulysses and Cyrus Orne. The Witchdoctors who fought for their lives in the rings of Krokotopia, as slaves, to earn freedom." Orion says, "Got here just into to save your ass too Orion, we can't keep doing this you know, it IS a little annoying." Cyrus, the black haired one says. "Wait, wheres Inari, and Tara?" Orion asks. "We told them to stay home, it would be safer." Ulysses says, "Our wives arent as good of fighters as yours ya know." Cyrus says, another boat crashes into the rest of the wreckage from earlier, and two girls jump out. "Sorry you guys couldnt let you have all the fun." One of the girls, with long jet black hair says, she has hazel eyes, that almost look yellow, she jumps to Ulysses, and kisses him on the cheek. "Dunno why you keep trying to act tough." she says with a smile, "Oh by the way, My name is Inari! That girl over there, with the darker skin, blonde hair, and green eyes, is Tara." Inari says to Kieran. "Hi.." she says blankly. They run out the building in hopes of seeing SOMEONE they know fighting, but its utter chaos, students and clockworks alike are strewn thought the streets, friends crying for help or over fallen comrades, "This is horrible..." Orion says. "I have this." Kieran talks to a human female student, sitting by a Pig student and another Human, "What happened to them?" He asks, "A clockwork came, and stabbed Ray, the pig, and his best friend, Marcus got angry, and tried to fight them but got cut badly," she hiccups. "Hey, Cyrus, Ulysses, you guys are witchdoctors? Right? You two help me heal with wounded,"Kieran says as he seals with wounds with a gentle flame. Kieran then puts his hands over both of them, a green light is emitted, what appears to be energy forms of pixies are flying around his hands, and phase into the two unconscious males. They instantly wake up. "Holy crap! Huh...what?" Marcus, the human one shouts waking up. He stares at Ray who slowly rolls over and gets up. "Bloody hell...what happened?" He asks dazed. "Now go to the tunnel down the road, by the shops in the lower area. Some students are taking cover there." Kieran orders. Kieran is about to walk down the road. "Cyrus come with me. You too Kane. Ulysses, Wolf go with Orion." Kieran orders. Kieran walks down the street with Kane and Cyrus to find people that need help to heal them and direct them, while Wolf, Ulysses and Orion go fight against more clockworks. "This is a good idea, lets split up..." Orion mutters. "Whatever, as long as it might save more people than kill." Orion is simply walking down the street and shooting clockworks as he walks, but then, he stops. "Wait...Wolf..Didn't Kieran say his cousin and other brother where here?" Orion asks Wolf. "They called me before I arrived at the headmasters tower, they went somewhere in Grizzlehiem. Something about a Grendel named 'Tyrfing.'" Wolf answers, They run down the streets and arrived at a wall, covered in vines. "Crap...How do we get past? Ugh I knew I should'a brought Bonnie or Subodai with me, they would of been able to-Wolf...Why are you walking that way?" Orion turns his head to see Wolf get down on his hands and knees. "C'Mon. This Hole leads there." Wolf crawls through the hole, Orion goes in the hole, followed by Ulysses. "Here we are...Tanglewood Way. It had lots of over growth, and after we took care of that, they've been working to try and fix it, it appears they made some progress, only to have it smashed by this attacked." Wolf says. The streets are completely empty, except for a few fresh Green Men corpses and some wounded students hiding behind walls. Up the street a bit, there is what sounds like a battle, several students, are fighting some Armada troops. "Wolf, Orion, help them fight, I can see what I can do for the others." Ulysses says. Wolf and Orion run towards the spot where the fight is occurring. "Hey! Gear-heads! Over here!" Wolf shouts obnoxiously, Orion fires a barrage of shots at the soldiers, causing them to short-out, and lose power. "Heheheh, its almost to easy, they're so wet from the rain its completely overriding there battery...or whatever they run on..." Wolf jokes, "Okay, well, One of them took out the ship they came from by shooting a fireball at a cannon, apparently, it just so happened it was right next to the ammunition room...Stupid Clockworks...a few survived the blast and made it to ground, and started attacking." Ulysses says as he runs back to them. "Well, we should head back towards the central area." Orion says. "Pigswick Academy." Wolf says. "Right." They run up the street as they head back.
Back at Belladonna's Office...
"Well...they left us behind...again..." Inari says. "They'll be fine, Inari. Its US we should be more worried about. This is probably the main attack zone, most of the students probably are stuck here while a few where in other spots of the city." Tara says to Inari. They stand there for a while, in silence, the only thing breaking it is the sound of the pouring rain, the sound of the howling wind coming through the broken window, and the occasional roll of thunder, or explosion from a cannonball. Suddenly, theres a sound from the back of the room, from under a small pile of rubble, from when the first ship attacked the office, the rubble shakes, then is pushed forward. A Boy, about Fourteen years of age walks out of them, short red hair, split at the forehead, so it falls on both sides of his head, and has yellow eyes. He is wearing a Orange and Red tunic, an Orange and Red hood, and black boots. "Dammit Kieran, next time you could at least try to help me out..." He mutters. "Uh...who are you?" Inari asks. "Oh..I'm Kierans younger brother, Blaze." Blaze says. There is a loud rumbling. They run out the door, and see the Largest Ship in the whole battalion head towards the library, it fires a shot at its roof, blasting a giant hole in it. The ship grows closer to the library, as it prepares to set a boarding plank, to invade the central part of Wysteria. "I need you guys to cover me. I have an idea. If any start moving on that plank, shoot them or whatever. "Alright, On it!" Inari says readying her musket. "I wasn't called 'Eagle-Eyes' for nothing back at Skull Island." She starts sniping a few as the decide to try and walk down the plank they set up. "I guess Ill have to shoot them too." Tara pulls out two double barrel pistols and fires at the soldiers that Inari misses. Blaze runs up to the Library, a few soldiers made it in, and see him. They shoot at him, missing every shot. "Whoa! Hey! Watch it!" He shouts at them, he puts his hand out in front of him, the storm symbol appears, then a purple-ish aura makes a bubble-like shield around him. "Since those are sparklocks they are shooting at me, this storm shield charm should help." Blaze readies his Darkfire Bow, which he got from his sister, Victoria, for Christmas. "Have a nice mouthful of this," He says, firing several magical fire arrows at once, hitting all his targets. Blaze twists the handle of the bow, and its it two halves, he uses these halves as blades and slashes several more Clockworks, Inari and Tara had missed. Blaze runs up the ships plank. "Hey! Theres Blaze!" Tara shouts. "He's going in? I wonder what he'll do? Maybe drive it away and make them think its a retreat?" Inari says. "He could possibly use it to attack the othe-" Tara is interrupted by a massive explosion, the ship Blaze had entered, exploded, sending balls of fire everywhere and bits of Armada clockworks all over the place. Students who were fighting see the explosion and are nearly tossed off there feet from the gust of wind from the explosion. "...No way...Blaze was in there...Did they blow it up to get rid of him?" Tara asks, shocked, not noticing a yellow streak fly across the sky, this, Yellow streak nosedives down by the two, scaring them. Tara screams, then looks, a golden Wyvern, sits there playfully, with Blaze on its back, scratching its chin. "Whose a good girl? Whose a good girl?" Blaze says, annoyingly. "But...You...Uh..." Inari questions Blaze. "Oh..Uh, Kieran taught me that Fire Wizards, can eat fire with enough training, or at least become somewhat immune to it, and it can heal them rather than hurt them, So, I went to the room where they kept all there cannonballs, lit one, and ran out, jumped off the plank, and called Kierans Golden Wyvern, Ember." Blaze explains. "But how are you not hurt!?" Inari shouts, "No, I got hit in the head by a log or too. It hurts." Blaze says smiling. Blaze's hair is covering his face. "But I don't think its that bad." He says, turning his face to Inari and Tara. Blaze doesn't notice, but his there is some blood covering the left side of his face. "What...Is there something on my face?" He asks. "No...Not...Necessarily" Inari answers. After a few hours, all the soldiers where defeated. Wysteria, in ruins. Buildings completely leveled, streets filled with bits and parts of the Armada soldiers, and students or guards that died in battle. Belladonna follows Kieran, and his group to the world gate. Just as they arrived, Merle Ambrose comes walking through it. "Ah, Merle, I was just about to come to you to thank you for sending the students here to warn me." She says, "Belladonna, I am sorry to say this, but I didn't know of this until I had decided to talk to Bartelby, he told me where the students went, so I came here." He says. "I see. Anyway, its because of your students that I'm alive at the moment. We lost about 200 students. Its no where near half of the Student body we posses but, it is still inconvenient, and, inhumane. If your students hadn't arrived when they did, more could of suffered." Belladonna says. "Ill send the Old Ravenwood Alchemy teacher here, she has a few students at my school who can help rebuild the city for you." Merle answers. Belladonna turns to Kieran and Orion. "I am sorry if i seemed, unreasonable earlier. Ill try to take heed next time. Thank you." She says. With that being said, she walks off to her office. "Well, Guess we'll See you in a few days Orion. Me and Inari got to go back to Krokotopia to check on our daugther." Ulysses says. "Oh hey, how old is she now?" Orion asks. "A year." Cyrus answers. "Tara needs me to take her to Grizzlehiem so, we'll catch up later too." Cyrus, Ulysses, Inari and Tara walk to their boats, and set off. "Well. Guess we should head back to Wizard City?" Morgan asks Orion. "Yeah." He says. "Oh Hey, where were you during the battle?" Orion asks. "I was in the tunnel helping out some students with wounds, then Kieran came, and helped with the wounded. Shortly after he arrived his wife called him on his ruby, gem thingie, and asked what was happening. Hahaha, She was so worried, but, not at the same time." She says. "I can see how..Kierans a strong fighter, but I'm not so sure if he's always thinking..." Orion says. "Its actually because I have a small magic academy of my own, where I teach Alchemy, Special Battle Tactics, Dueling, and Teach certain spells too." Kieran says. "I dont teach it all..actually, my friend Eric teaches Dueling, I teach Alchemy, my brother, Wolf Moonflame teaches History of Avalon. Kane Skullthief teaches battle tactics, and my wife teaches certain spells. My cousin teaches about what weapons are more useful for what kinds of way you plan to attack." Kieran says. "It also has a small amount of villages I made for travlers." He says. "Well, is this Academy still active?" Orion asks. "I think so. Olivia has had to find part time teachers since, Well, I've been kind of busy in Avalon. I know she hired my other brother Kane Moonflame to work there." Kieran says. "Kieran...To many people in your life have duplicate names.." Orion laughs. "Thats the real world...worlds...for you." Kieran laughs. They walk to the world gate, as they are thanked by students from all over the school. When they arrive to Ravenwood, its night. "Well, Kieran I'm off to my ship." Orion says. "Actually I had Wolf's girlfriend tell them where My Palace is. They're probably there by now." Kieran says. Kieran gives Orion another ruby. "Point it to the sky, and just wait. It'll teleport you there." Wolf says to Orion, with a flash, Wolf is gone. "See you there!" Kane laughs, as he teleports. "Lets go Orion." Morgan says, she holds on to Orion, they are warped there. The Palace windows are lit up like bright stars, music comes from the small town behind the walls. People from all over the spiral are cheerfully dancing around, a few Magma Colossui, are guarind the gates, Look at Orion and the others, and nod for them to go. The sight is like nothing Orions ever seen, small little huts and tents are everywhere, there is an opening for people to train (Currently Occupied by a Viking from Grizzlehiem, and a Knight from Avalon) People from Marelybone to Avalon, and even from Cool Ranch or Azteca roam the small, busy streets of the Palace. Two children run up to Kieran, one a fox from Avalon, the other a Wolf from Grizzlehiem. "Mr. Moonflame we made this mace for you!" The Wolf boy says enthusiastically. "Ah, cool. Thanks Ulrich." He says, patting him on the head. Kieran latches it to his belt and opens the doors. "Kieran!" A female voice shouts. A Girl with light blue hair, and light blue eyes runs and tackle-hugs Kieran. "Oh Hey Olivia, your not at the Academy?" He asks. "Scarlet took my place." Olivia says. "I'm so glad your okay, I was actually worried. These the friends that helped you with your issue in Wysteria?" She asks. "Yeah. They are." Kieran says, they walk across the entrance room, to a small wall with a door, Kieran opens the door, there is a small table with several chairs and lots of food. 3 People are already sitting. A Male, about Kierans age, with Purple hair, and Silver Eyes. His name is Wolf Moonflame. Another Male, with Blonde hair, and Hazel Eyes, this is Kierans step-cousin. Kieran Ravenblood, he is from Grizzlehiem. Finally, another male, with Blonde Hair and red eyes. His name is Kane Moonflame. "Hey Kieran!" Ravenblood shouts, "Hey, Rave," Kieran says. Kierans brothers address Wolf Shard, and Kane Skullthief by there last names, rather than first names, to avoid confusion. Although with all the Moonflames, it gets hard. Kane Moonflame's nick name which he prefers rather than "Moonflame" is "Goldilocks," since at one point, his hair was really long, and Scarelt, Wolf, Kieran and Blaze Moonflame's sister, made fun of him for it. "Hey Goldilocks" Skullthief says to Kane Moonflame. "Hey Skullthief." Kieran and the others all sit down. Olivia scoots next to Kieran. As they eat they laugh and joke, Orion realizes that although Kieran and Himself have lots in common, such as being forced to mature at an early age, as Orions parents where murdered by the Armada, and he was left for dead in the ruins of the skyship, to whereas Kieran, was forced to follow a Rouge Wizard throughout the spiral, and ultimately defeat him, after two years of following him. He notices slight differences, Orion, never really knew most of his family, and doesnt remember it much at all, Kieran, lives with his remaining family members, and has a normal life, like anyone else would, aside from having to be thrust into action to defend others. ("Its a way of Life,") Orion thinks to himself, as he laughs and eats with his friends, almost like they where another family, one he never had.
(End of Fifth Chapter)