Chapter 7

Deresa

Deresa dragged the Queen up the final flight of stairs and dropped her unceremoniously onto the platform on the end. She was still bound, but the cloth in her mouth had fallen off, and she looked up angrily.

"You'll never win…you'll-" the Queens protest was drowned out in a scream as Deresa shocked the woman. The woman went to another platform a short distance away.

"I'm getting tired of you. Be silent." She looked around from the platform, viewing the top edge of the spire, where its high parapets stretched into the sky, and blocked the view of the surrounding ocean. She looked back at the Queen who was panting heavily.

"This is astounding. Even now, the Spire is awe-inspiring. However, it's power is vastly greater than its appearance. And, from the look of you, your power to resist has just about run out." Deresa grasped air with her hand and magically lifted the Queen off the ground.

"This is where Lucien and your father stood as well. But, unfortunately, this won't go as well for you as it did for King Sparrow." Deresa held the other hand up, and a bubble of energy formed around her. Suddenly, the Queen felt herself grasped by some dark power and then her very life energy was being drained from her. She screamed in pain, but soon she couldn't even scream anymore.

"Ah…what power. All three forms of heroic energy, filling my very soul. Soon, I shall have enough too…" The Queen suddenly fell onto the platform, coughing from the pain in her chest. By the time she looked up, all she could she was a cloud of smoke, then she saw Deresa go flying into the Spire wall to her right. The woman started to levitate, but was pushed even harder into the wall, impacting and fracturing the stone with a resounding crack. The smoke around the platform cleared and Theresa stood, in full view, her red and white cloak an opposite to the black and dark blue cloak of the imposter.

"Deresa. Leave. You have come across something too powerful for you to understand. And also remember that I protect Albion, in addition to the many…" Theresa was knocked back violently into the walls of the Spire top and Deresa floated back onto the platform.

"No, you will not stop me! No one will stop me. Albion will be destroyed, along with all the inhabited lands of the world, and I will build a new empire! One where all people are equal under my queenship! I will be unmatched, and un-"

"Shut up child! You don't know what you are saying. I've had opportunities to kill you before, and I've let you live many times before because of mercy, but no more!" Deresa was hit by a gigantic whirlwind, then force dragged back to Theresa, who cracked her knuckles, then gave the hardest beating the Queen had ever seen given. Deresa was not helpless, however, and blocked many of the punches and hits, but could not avoid the sheer power of Theresa's fury.

"It's true then…you do have the ability of all three hero's traits." The Queen said unthinkingly.

"Though you may not believe it, I am you kin, distantly. Though I do not focus much on my strength or my skill, they are at a heroic level." Theresa explained between dodges and punches. Even as she was strained in her fighting, she sounded thoughtful and philosophical. Deresa caught one punch and using her feet, flipped the woman back. Deresa jumped to her feet and wiped the blood from her face.

"Come now, my Queen, I am your kin too. Have you not told her, that you created her worst enemy!" Deresa dodged a kick and hit Theresa across her face, "Tell her! Tell her that I am your daughter, and that you made me what I am!"

"You were not meant to live! I am too powerful, too strong. I cannot have heirs, for the farther they are from me, the higher chance they will become corrupted. This is the way it was meant to be, and, failing in this, everyone can now see that the greatest threat to Albion is my heir. My prophecy has come to pass." Theresa launched a burst of light power, and Deresa was blown back, but stopped herself from being pushed off the platform. The Queen at that moment felt a hand on her back, then the hands moved around her arms and dragged her back. She turned her head and saw Page holding her, with Reaver, Garth and Ben next two her. Reaver looked dumbfounded.

"What the hell? There are two Theresas." Reaver said.

"Don't worry, I know which is which!" Garth yelled. He held his hand back, summoned a great ball of light, and fired it straight into the real Theresa, sending her flying off the Spire.

"Good shot Garth. Now, let's kill this imposter for good…" Reaver was suddenly dragged to the woman, who threw him to her left, onto a platform marked with a crossbow, the old symbol for the heroic discipline of Skill.

"I have to thank you Garth. Without you, I'd don't think I could have stopped that bitch. Too bad she was really on your side!" Garth launched a fireball, but Deresa blocked it and yanked him toward her with tendrils of Will energy, dropping him behind her on his old platform. She looked to Page, and the woman was torn from the Queen's arms and thrown onto the platform to the left. Deresa, smiling sickly, turned to Garth.

"You remember this clearly, don't you, dear Garth…You'll remember this too!" The bubble of energy formed around the enchantress and she began to draw energy out of the three heroes. The yellow line drew from Reaver's chest, the red from Garth, and finally a blue from Page. However, the Queen noticed that in fact, another yellow line was leading to the woman, from Ben, who was simply floating lifelessly above her. Deresa was drawing power from all four platforms, but Ben had taken the hit for the Queen. She saw Page had dropped Avo's Lamentation next to her, and crawling weakly, but also silently, grabbed the weapon.

"You see Garth, you could not have stopped me even if you wanted. Watch!" Deresa put her hand on her chest, then seemingly grabbed the lines and raised them above her head. Suddenly a burst of power launched from the gathering traits and fired into a Spire parapet, knocking it down into the ocean. From the opening, ships, which were nothing but tiny ants from that distance, were visible.

"Now let's see, a Francian and two Aurorans…you won't miss those, will you…" Deresa pointed her hand, and three giant beams of power launched from her hand. Though not visible to most, all three beams found their mark, and destroyed the ships completely.

"Goodbye. Now Garth…do you see that I could not…" Deresa was cut off the Avo's Lamentation was driven through her and she looked down slowly and touched the weapon, the steel dripping with her blood. It had a solemn glow about it, and it only seemed to get brighter as the Queen pushed it deeper. The heroes fell to the ground, free from her terrible spell. Reaver was the only one on his feet, and he leaned on his cane heavily.

"I…no…I cannot be defeated…" Deresa murmured. Reaver straightened himself slowly and looked up. He could see the woman was still alive, and started to draw his pistol, ready to finish the woman just like he had to for Lucien. He smiled at the memory and said loud enough for all to hear "Do shut up."

"Reaver!" Deresa looked at him, and suddenly their thoughts were connected. An image suddenly came to mind and he began to shake. He could see it clearly now…the woman was the leader of the shadow court. Ombra was the one on the left, Spectre the one to the right.

"If you kill her, you will earn immortality. She will be the greatest of sacrifices, and you will eternally be youthful. Kill her Reaver! Choose your own life." Reaver fell back onto the platform.

"Im…impossible…how?"

"I am the leader Reaver! You must see it!" Deresa held out her hand, and the Queen went flying back.

"No…I must choose…" Reaver's head drooped. However, some unknown force was moving his hand. Something was overpowering his will to live. It wasn't guilt which led him to the Spire, it wasn't fear of his life which made him help Garth prepare for this moment, it was something deeper. Garth was his friend. He hadn't truly had a friend in hundreds of years, and the effects of his care for Garth were overpowering his will to live. As he looked up, he'd made up his mind.

"Do as you always have Reaver. These are the greatest of sacrifices. Garth, his niece, Hammer's son, and Albion's pathetic Queen. They will earn you immortality eternally Reaver! Betray them to me, and be…" Deresa was stopped suddenly by a bullet through her head.

"I am no one's slave! I make my own fate." Reaver shot the woman again, who stumbled back to the edge of the platform. The Spire began to shake and rumble, and Avo's Lamentation was launched from the woman's body, landed next to the Queen. Reaver stood up at full height, his arm straight out and his pistol aimed at the woman's head, "I choose Garth!" Reaver fired the weapon again, and Deresa's lifeless form was blasted off the edge of the platform. As she plummeted down through the Spire, her form disintegrated into small black pieces which burst up from the Spire's side. Reaver slumped over, leaning heavily on his cane and crying out in pain and frustration with the decision he'd just made. However, as the heroes where trying to recover, the rumbling of the Spire grew more violent, and suddenly, eight tentacles of darkness reached over the Spire's parapets.

"No…what is this…even with her death, the darkness is not defeated…" The Queen said, trying to lift herself from the floor, "It's hopeless. Albion has thrown everything it could at this. But it has out lasted us…and we've been defeated." She was suddenly sent back to the ground as an explosion shook the platform and when she looked up again, Theresa was standing in the middle of the platform.

"We have not been defeated. You have played your parts magnificently. Now allow me to succeed in mine. Awaken heroes." Theresa suddenly drew her hands up, and Garth, Ben, and Page recovered suddenly.

"What the hell, what happened?" Page muttered, looking in confusion. The Queen also stood a lot better and felt like she could walk, though Reaver, understandably, was still bent over.

"Hurry Page. You and the others must get out so that I may empty the Spire of this darkness." Theresa said, holding her hands out and summoning a great amount of will to herself. The Spire then fired a bright blue beam into the sky.

"What happened? I thought she was our enemy! Why are we letting her fire that into the air?" Ben said, standing upright and getting between Page and the beam. The Queen grabbed Ben's arm and started to drag him out.

"We have to go now! Theresa was really our ally, and she's purging the Spire!" The Queen yelled, pushing Ben and Page forward. Reaver and Garth went after her down the stairs. Behind them, the blue beam turned white as it continued to burst from the innards of the Spire.

"She is emptying the Spire of life to get the Corruption out of it." Garth yelled as they raced down the many stairways of the Spire.

"Look, back there." Page yelled, pointing to the darkness gathering behind them and forming into monsters and creatures trying to stop them. The Spire also appeared to be collapsing, huge sections crashing around the group as they traveled more and more downward.

"I hope those fools get the signal for the boat! If it's not there, we'll be in trouble, though not as much trouble as they'll be, right Reaver?" Ben said, looking to Reaver for a smile. The immortal was silent, however, and remained silent until they reached the port area and saw an ironclad. It chugged slowly into the port, the Spire literally collapsing around it.

"Looks like you're going to pay them double for this." Ben said, slapping Reaver on the back.

"I think that's King Louis!" Page responded, squinting hard and seeing a blue and white flag.

"...at least Garth will be safe..." Reaver whispered as the heroes reached the boat. Ben was first and he jumped over onto the deck where several Francians caught him. Reaver attempted to throw Garth, but the mage stopped the immortal and force pushed the Queen over to the ship. Just as he was about to jump hunself, a roar sounded in the Spire port. Then, without warning, eight tentacles burst from the water and grabbed Garth, Reaver, and Page. The other tentacles wrapped around the boat, preventing it from leaving.

"Dammit!" King Louis yelled, drawing his swords again, "I thought we slew all these monsters! Come on men! Fire everything!" The Francians turned their cannons on the possessed kraken, blasting the creature in the head and making it roar. Garth charged a lighting spell and shocked the tentacle holding him, making the appendage thrash and twirl. It spun the mage then threw him, sending him into the wall of the Spire where he fell, lifelessly, into the water. Reaver, drawing a number of conclusions and obviously obsessed with Garth's safety, ripped the light band from Page's arm and threw it into the water. It floated over to the mage in the chaos and as it touched him, he was suddenly possessed by his father. Garth burst from the water and, levitating over it, raised his hand and Page and Reaver were sent flying onto the deck of the Francian ship. Garth used a giant force push and sent the ship out into deep water. Then summoning a great fireball, thrust it into the water, boiling the kraken to death. Its body floated to the surface, released from the evil of the darkness. Garth crossed his legs as he floated, and began to call forth a great power in his hands.

"Father, I use your power. Give me the ability to save them all." Garth's will lines created an amazingly bright blue light, then all the ships surrounding the Spire were sent flying away by a larger force push spell most experiencing had ever previously conceived. They all covered at least a league with the blast, and they were a good range away from the Spire as it suddenly exploded in light and sound.

"Garth!" Reaver yelled, running to the edge of the ship. Page yelled the same thing as she rushed from the quarter deck. King Louis, the Queen and Ben simply hung their heads. The explosion surrounding the Spire contracted, and the old tower, with seemingly no damage, was all that remained.

"Garth…no…" Reaver said, falling to his knees and leaning on the side of the ship. Page was in Ben arms, crying wildly. Even the Queen's eyes were red as they watched the Spire.

"Garth…we both sacrificed everything…I never thought it would feel this…hmm…" Reaver said, closing his eyes, expecting to die in moments.

"Tell all ships to return to Bowerstone. We'll take note of loses there." King Louis said, pointing back toward Albion waters.

"Yes sir."

"Garth…died…to save all of us…" The Queen said weakly, "and we should honor him…"

"Oh please, leave his memory alone. That all he really wanted, to be left alone, and thats what I want too…" Reaver said, standing and looking out at the Spire.

"What? Reaver what's going on?" The Queen asked.

"That witch was in charge of the Shadow Court. She didn't tell me until I'd made up my mind, I would have betrayed you if I could…look, Louis, leave me on a nice island around here, I'll die there, with nothing but the memories of Garth, Hammer, and the happier times of my life."

"Wait…You, Reaver, chose us, chose Albion, over your own life?" Page asked in disbelief. Ben could only stare at the former immortal, who hung his head in shame.

"I can't believe you'd do that!" Ben said.

"Don't make me regret it! Or I'll come back from the dead and take you all with me," Reaver threatened angrily, then turned around, back to the sea, "Oh who am I fooling? I've gotten soft. Death was going to come the moment I started caring about anyone again." He took off his hat, which he just remembered was now half a hat, and dropped it into the water.

"Garth, know that I did that for you."

"Now Reaver…come, don't get sentimental on me. We wouldn't want you reconnecting with your humanity, would we?" Garth asked, leaning on the railing of the boat. Reaver pointed at him.

"Oh, Garth, your sarcasm is…Garth?" Reaver jumped up and grabbed the man, "You're alive!"

"Indeed…"

"How did you survive the purging?" Page asked, checking him for wounds.

"I didn't. Theresa gave me my life back. She said it was a gift…for saving the world…again." Theresa suddenly appeared on the ship.

"Indeed Garth, and I shall give the five of you gifts as well. The first is for you King of Francia." Theresa stepped aside and Gaston stood there. Even the champion was shocked by the fact that he was alive.

"What…what's going on?" King Louis asked.

"Your sacrifices need not be permanent. You wish for Gaston back more than anything, and here he is."

"My lord!" Gaston said, still appearing dazed from his rebirth.

"Gaston!" King Louis ran to the man and hugged him, "You're alive! You're here…and…thank you Theresa." King Louis held tightly onto the man as Theresa turned to Ben.

"I can give you little other than this, Mr. Finn…" Theresa gave Ben Dirty Harriet, however, now the weapon had Hero marks across it, similar to Avo's Lamentaion.

"Your pistol and rifle have been fused into a single weapon, the Holy Harriet. Wield it bravely, sir Finn." Ben took the weapon and looked at it thoughtfully.

"For you Reaver…"

"Oh dear…"

"My daughter's immortality was like yours, based on the youth of others. She had approximately 150 years left. I give them to you, the last extension of your life, courtesy of the shadow court and my daughter." Theresa touched Reaver's chest, and he felt a weight on his heart lifted. He'd gotten so used to it, it had seemed normal to him, but now it was gone. Or, at least, a lot lighter. Reaver looked up, almost happy, though the situation was still much worse off than he was.

"And to you, Queen of Albion, I cannot resurrect all those fallen over your battles with these monsters, but I will bring back those killed in the two most recent battles, the Battle of Bower Plains and the Siege of the Spire." Theresa raised her head, and several ships suddenly rose from the depths, filled with Albans, Aurorans and Francians.

"Thank you, Theresa."

"And finally, to you Page…"

"Wait, whatever it is, I don't want it. There is only one thing I want…the Corruption, whatever it is, I know its not gone, but you have the power to end it. For my gift, stop the Corruption from returning to this world, forever. You can keep whatever other gifts you have, because I don't want anything but that!" Page demanded. Theresa turned to the sunset and breathed deeply.

"I will see it done." Theresa murmured, as she stood before the seven heroes of the war, King Louis, Gaston, Page, Ben Finn, Garth, Reaver, and the Queen who had, for a time at least, saved their homes and their world.