Holy SPIT! Does it feel good to be back or what?

First, I wanna say I'm really sorry for not updating in what, two months?
really sorry for that... :( I've been QUITE busy these past two months, sorry sorry sorry!

So, before I let you read this, I'd like to shoutout a thank you to Winddragon Eternal, who really helped me write this. Really bro, couldn't have done it without your help. Thank you thank you thank you! XD

So, what're ye waitin' for? On with d reading! XD

Of Good and Of Evil: The Final Stand

Chapter 9 – Aftermath

Silence…

The blank void of their minds were now the only things keeping them occupied as they felt a warm, gentle breeze pass them. They wanted to open their eyes, but they were filled with such awe that it felt so good to just lie there, motionless, letting the world consume them.

In their minds, they were just happy that their siblings were alive; happy and alive. But most of all, they missed the simple idea of just being in each other's company; together as a family just like they were many years back. That was all that mattered to them for now.

Nothing could've ruined their united silence, when a small voice called out to him…

"Alvin…" it called out; and as he opened his eyes, he saw him, standing proudly in front of him; he was clad in a silver trench coat, armour padding on his shoulders, elbows and knees; a glimmering blade hilt hanging on his back. His heavenly white eyes no longer the familiar hazel brown they once were as the silent breeze made them glow eerily. There he was… the very reason they were brought into all this craziness in the first place… it was all him… his fault… his callings…

"Max?" He asked, and the chipmunk in front of him smirked slyly at him and gave him a short nod in reply.

"Glad you still remember me, Alvin…" He replied, tightening the straps on the gauntlets he had on his paws.

"For a while there, I thought you wouldn't remember me if you saw me…"

"How could I forget you, bro?" He asked, looking at him sternly while walking up to him.

"You risked your life to save me, just like Christie did for Britt… then you two went missing for a year…"

"Because we fell into that hole?"

"Yeah… because of that hole…"

A short silence then came between the two chipmunks as they looked into the now rising red sun that came into the horizon. The memory of the two eldest munks began flowing into the red-clad chipmunk's mind. He could hear the screaming, calling out their names as when on a futile search for them. How, moments before they were lost, the eldest had whispered something into his ear; and at that very moment, they were gone…

How he had to console Brittany for losing her sister, whom she had loved dearly, in mere minutes after the tragedy; he kept her sobbing figure wrapped safely around his arms, letting tears of his own flow freely as he mourned their grieve loss. He remembered how Dave had to hold Miss Miller, who was tear-struck and heartbroken, from running into the coliseum to search for her eldest daughter.

Everyone cried… everyone shed their tears… and now, a year later, they meet again, for the first time, they now stand beside the other, looking solemnly at the sunrise.

Alvin took in a deep sigh before he looked back at his brother.

"Why..." he suddenly asked, which caught his brother's attention.

He turned around to face him, and sat down on the flat, dry ground; a small smile cracked on his face.

"Why what?" Came his reply as he unsheathed his sword, and began running a rock against the back and blade, sharpening it.

Silence… confound silence… the breeze whistling by them again as the chipmunk breathed another sigh, steeling his nerves as best he could.

"Why didn't you come back to us?"

He had stopped sharpening his blade midway when the question touched his ears.

"What do you mean?" His brother asked as he looked up at him, his holy eyes glowing brightly into his own.

"I never left your-…"

"You left us for an entire freaking year, Max!" He shouted, thrashing his arms in the air in exaggeration, making the other chipmunk drop his sword.

The red-clad chipmunk's mind was fueled with mixed emotion. There was no doubt that it had been a hellish year for him and his family. But he had no clue how to explain it to his brother. He began trying to hide his tears as he felt his heart pound strongly like a battle drum; his brother's bright white eyes awaiting his answer.

"I had to be the older brother for Simon and Theo…" he had managed to say. When had gathered more momentum, he looked at his face; he looked at his ownbrother with a look of frustration, anger, and sadness; tears were being held as best he could as he clenched his paws into fists.

"I had to console Britt and her sisters…" He continued slowly. "I was the one Dave pointed his fingers at when things got crappy… I had to be there, all the time! I took responsibility for making sure everyone was home, took calls for Dave, plan rehearsals… I even-!"

His words ceased when his brother locked him in a warm, loving, brotherly embrace. His jaw dropped as his breath caught; his tears held in began to slowly flow out of his amber eyes. His brother had placed his head near his heart, and the slow, steady beating brought peace into him and his troubled mind. He inhaled his scent, definitely familiar to his nose. It's the same crispy brown fur, the same familiar scent. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around his brother's waist, returning the hug, and let all the waterworks out as he sobbed hysterically onto his brother's clothing, staining it and his fur.

"Shh… it's alright, Alvin…" he cooed, nuzzling his cheek against his, comforting him. "I'm sorry I made you go through that… but it's alright now… it's alright…"

"It's just so unfair…" he continued, hugging his brother tighter. "We needed you, Max… you and Christie both. We were all crushed when you two went missing, and here you guys are all of a sudden, telling us about some freaking prophesy thingy that two crazy munks keep telling me about! I don't wanna do this, bro! I-!"

"Alvin… that's enough…" His brother then kissed the top of his head, like a father would his son; making him gasp in shock. His brother knew he caught him off guard. When they pulled away, they looked into each other's eyes; bright amber looking at a heavenly glow of white.

"In time, you'll understand why my beloved and I brought you guys here…" he said, pulling away and turning his back at him; walking slowly away. He picked up his blade that he dropped when he hugged him, sheathed it, and continued walking away.

"I will say this though, Alvin…" he called out while walking toward the rising sun.

He turned his head to face him, his heavenly white eyes glowing extremely bright; irradiating a bright aura around his face.

"It's far from over… it's only just begun…"

That said, he faced the horizon, walking slowly and proudly; leaving the red-clad chipmunk confused. What the heck did he mean by that?

"What do you mean?" He asked, trying to follow up behind the silver clad chipmunk.

"Why don't you ask your brother Max on that?" He replied, not looking back; hiding a small smirk.

"What?" He spat back, wondering what his brother meant. "Max, is this some kind of sick trick? What freakin game are you trying to play?"

"Nope… just telling you the truth, Alvin…"

He was well annoyed with his brother's antics. Enough was enough.

"Alright…" He said, crossing his arms. "If you're not Max, then who are you?"

The silver-clad chipmunk turned around, and his silver armor suddenly began glowing heavenly white. His eyes shimmering brightly as their eyes met.

"I am Periosha Raven Andrews…" The chipmunk boomed, "Your ancestor, and Max's predecessor…"

Before Alvin could say anything, he was suddenly stopped by a wall of bright white fires that had totally surrounded him, making him cringe as the flames brought him to his knees. He wanted to lash out a scream, but the flames had engulfed his throat, silencing him. As he collapsed to the ground, he saw the look on Periosha's face. It had the same distinct look his brother had; not only that, but also his smell, his height.

But it wasn't Max… just a fake… a phony…

Max didn't have white eyes, he didn't treat them unfairly. He was kind, strong, and unconditionally loving. He wasn't heartless. He didn't leave them behind. He was with them; he always was, in spirit. He and Christie would never leave them…

And as the flames finally covered Alvin's sight, he began sobbing; sobbing because his brother wasn't there. He thought that what he had felt the entire time was Max's presence; but he was wrong… he slowly closed his eyes, finally succumbing to the darkness as he felt a paw around his cheek. It was familiar. But, unlike Periosha's, there was… warmth… love… care…

'It's him!' Alvin screamed in his mind. 'It's really him!'

The warm paw then led him through the flame and into the pitch black abyss; the paw bringing comfort to the red-clad chipmunk as he finally closed his eyes with a look of warmth and comfort on his face.

Cloudy and distant shapes were slowly undulating before his very eyes, and as he could feel the life flowing gently back into his system, so was his other senses. His ears perked up as they caught the slightest of vibrations, which transformed itself into the soothing melody of the voices he once longed to hear.

"... but when do you think he'll wake up?" asked Christie.

"Can't say for sure, babe. I brought Alvin here and that's all that matters for now. You know he can't do it without his brothers and your sisters," said Max.

Her reply was a stern reminder. "They're your family, too."

A breath of a sigh followed.

"I don't know, Christie. I just have a bad feeling about all of this. Leaving Alvin and the others behind, and all we could do was just watch over them like fireflies. Did we do the right thing?"

"Of course," reassured Christie. "Were it not for us, Antimony would not be able to last another day! Max, we may be just two pawns on a chessboard, but we're playing a role that nobody else except us can perform. And that is to lead our brothers and sisters here, where we will make The Final Stand."

"Just like Periosha and the others did…" Max sighed. "You're right, Christie. I'm sorry for sounding all depressing on you."

There was the faint sound of lips brushing against each other's warm touch.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Max. We'll get through this together, because I love you with all my heart."

"And I you too, Christie."

Alvin slowly opened his eyes. As he stretched, the world above him appeared in shades of brown and green. Did the whole universe just flip upside down?

Then he blinked hard, and the red-clad chipmunk realized that he wasn't standing below the world, but underneath a huge tree as old as time itself. There were mounds of pastures surrounding him, with the occasional calls of the birds and the sweet smell of grass overwhelming his senses. If this was paradise, his only wish was that his brothers and the Chipettes would be here to bask in its glory.

He looked up at the tree once more, blinking to make sure his sight wasn't fooling him.

Sitting on a branch overlooking the valley, was Max; smirking lightly as the silver clad chipmunk looked directly at him. And right next to him, Christie cuddled up close to her soulmate, putting an arm lovingly around his shoulder.

Not wanting to fall for anymore tricks, the red clad chipmunk slowly stood up and looked at them hatefully; his eyes staring deeply into theirs as his mind tried to see through them.

"How do I know you're both real?" Alvin challenged them. "What if you're some kind of trick that Periosha's been pulling my leg with?"

"What about the others? Did they pass their initiations, too?"

"They'll be here soon. Trust me, Alvin… of all the munks whom you'd trust, I think you'd know me better than anyone else here…" replied the silver clad chipmunk.

Before Alvin could reply, bright flashes of blinding light began erupting all around him, each light glowing brightly its own signature color. Alvin immediately covered his eyes in defense as the two other chipmunks above him smiled eagerly at the sight.

"Whoa!" Alvin yelled, "What in holy nuts was that?"

When the lights had died down, there lay the five other chipmunks, Alvin's brothers, and the Chipettes. All of them lay quietly on the grassy floor, and slowly they opened their eyes and slowly began standing.

"Oh…" mumbled Brittany, "What h-happened? W-where are we?"

"It's about time you guys got here…" came Christie's voice from above.

"Man, they sure took longer than I thought before they sent you back to us…" chimed Max.

The five other chipmunks slowly looked up at the tree standing dead in front of them, and saw the two proud figures of their eldest siblings; now standing proudly with wide smiles on their faces as they quickly descended the great tree.

All were dumbfounded. All were shocked with awe as they saw the two familiar chipmunks stand visibly in front of them.

They weren't ghosts… not phonies… they were real… both flesh and bone… they were real!

"No…" Brittany screamed in a whisper.

"It c-can't be…" Theodore continued, tears forming in his eyes.

"Ah, but we are…" Christie smiled, tears forming as well.

"Here, and in the flesh too…" finished Max, his tears already flowing.

"Christie!" cried Simon and Theodore.

"Max!" exclaimed the Chipettes.

The younger chipmunks eagerly hugged their eldest siblings. Everyone shed their tears, especially the youngest of the group, who tightly hugged their respective eldest sibling as burst all their tears on their clothes. Max and Christie slowly patted their backs, shushing and comforting them as they all continued shedding their tears in this small, loving reunion.

"We thought you two were gone forever!" Eleanor screamed, hugging her sisters tightly.

"I kept thinking I'd see you again, Max! I'm so glad it came true!" continued Theodore, who laid his head on his brother's chest.

Simon, Brittany and Jeanette were all absolutely speechless. They doubted that they had survived; and now, seeing them alive and well, all three of them were guilty, yet totally ecstatic to see them alive in front of them.

'Thank God we were wrong…' they all thought together as they hugged their siblings.

But Alvin wasn't too sure if he should believe in what he was seeing.

'It could be another trick Periosha's pulling…' he thought. But Max quickly took notice, and looked and smiled at him lovingly; his bright hazel eyes shimmering with the sunlight that penetrated through the tree's leaves.

"Alvin, it's me… for real this time… it's me…" Max assured, stretching his paw out to him; his warm, brotherly smile pulling a chord in Alvin's heart.

"I-is it really y-you?" Alvin asked, trying to suppress his confusion and his tears.

"Yes, Alvin…" Max replied solemnly, "It's really me. No tricks, no phonies… just your older brother, living, and breathing, like you wished…"

Trusting his brother's words, Alvin finally let loose his pent up tears, and sprinted into his brother's arms, crying uncontrollably as his tears stained his fur. Max held his brothers tightly in his embrace, his own tears beginning to get the better of him as all eight siblings relished their moment of reuniting after an entire year of sorrow.

"I-I can't take anymore of this, Max!" He sobbed, "I can't tell what's real and what's not anymore!

Max smiled lightly at his younger brother. He finally reunited with all of them. He glanced over to Christie, and smiled brightly as he saw their tearful reunion. All four chipettes were crying to their hearts out as they embraced each other lovingly; with Christie hugging her sisters the tightest. She looked back at her soulmate, both lightly laughing at each other's tears as they both hugged their siblings one last time before they parted.

Max quickly wiped the tears from his eyes, trying to regain his composure. Christie quickly followed suit and stood beside her lover as they walked a small distance away from their siblings.

Their siblings had worried looks on their faces, but their eldest's smiles made their uncertainty vanish as they stared at each other, a long, bothersome silence breezed around them.

"Well…" Max coughed, breaking the awkward silence. "I suppose you'd want to know where you guys are, and why we're all gathered underneath this giant tree, right?"

The others were oblivious at first, but slowly nodded when they had regained themselves.

"If you really wish to know…" continued Christie, "please, follow us up, and see for yourselves."

Being natural climbers themselves, the eight chipmunks scaled the tree's height within seconds.

"It's seen better days, but it has been our home for the past few years," Max said.

"This," said Christie, extending her paw out to the open, "is the planet known as Antimony."

Nothing could prepare the Chipmunks and Chipettes for the unexpected sight that now beheld them.

It wasn't a valley they were standing on, but a cliff which seemed to look out over the horizon.

Except that there wasn't much of a horizon to look out for.

All across the horizon beyond the tree's cliff, the chipmunks and chipettes gasped looking at the horrifying sight that loomed in front of them.

Everywhere they looked, every bit of Antimony was either burned or burning in bright orange flames. Bloody plains and hills had scores of corpses, looking as though they were used as battlegrounds for what seemed like a never ending war. They looked to the right, and saw a burning city, with a huge stone castle at the furthest they could see. The towers were demolished; houses around the city were crumbled down to mere rubble or burning in a never ending inferno.

"What the hell happened here?" Simon managed to ask, his heart broken at what he was seeing.

"Long before Christie and I arrived here, war was waged on Antimony…" Max said with a hint of anger in his voice.

"And for years, the people of Antimony had tried their best to fend off and beat their enemies. For a while, they thought they had the upper hand…" continued Christie.

"But recently, an old enemy of Antimony, and apparently the universe herself, had returned after ten-thousand long years."

"According to the people…" Max cut in, "This enemy was betrayed by an evil demon that he had set free in exchange for power and his undying loyalty. Apparently, the demon used him to his advantage, and consumed his power and fed it to his other apprentice, who goes by the name of Phelan."

"Phelan was a chipmunk like us, blessed with the power of the night and shadows. But, the demon's influence consumed him, and he betrayed his allies and companions, and tried killing Periosha and his comrades."

"That's awful!" chimed Theodore, gasping in shock. Max and Christie lightly laughed at the youngest chipmunk's expression. It's been a long while since they last saw Theodore's face like that.

"Sure, it's awful, Teddy…" cooed Christie, "But Periosha saw to his betrayal and the demon's defeat when he made his Final Stand with his friends and comrades… they defeated the demon, killing Phelan in the process, and the universe was at peace for a very long time after that."

"But, due to recent events…" sighed Max, "It looks like Phelan has returned, and his corrupted spirit is out waging war on the universe again. And he's not alone…

"According to Prince Andre Howler, the wolf monarch who used to live in that castle, Phelan had recently discovered, and now freed, the one who was betrayed. He goes by the name of Tempest Eternal, and he's a real force to be reckoned with."

"As a final form of defense…" Christie continued, "He called out for history to repeat itself, and so he began searching and training for chipmunks who were born with special 'auras' that had originated from the original fourteen Guardians, Phelan included, to rise up and defeat Tempest once and for all."

"Sixteen young chipmunks were originally called from all over, with us included, a year ago. But, apparently the king had only found two of the fourteen. But, we were all trained in the elemental arts, and we were told that we had to become responsible for training the real remaining twelve; to teach them everything we know about controlling the elements, and bend them to your own whim."

"So, that's why you two fell down that hole?" asked Jeanette, looking at the two curiously.

"Well, yes and no, Jeanie…" Max replied, scratching the back of his head. "Originally, we were supposed to be called the way you guys were brought here: via the arbiter-,"

"You mean that scary tentacle thingy that came out of our living room floor?" Brittany half-screamed, which made the others freeze at the scary memory.

The two eldest laughed lightly at the pink clad chipette's spooked-out look.

"Yes, that thingy you were describing was the arbiter; and we were lucky that it called us to Antimony when we fell down that hole during the Manila earthquake."

The other munks then had saddened expressions on their faces. That shocking moment gave them nightmares for days on end, and the very thought of losing their siblings the first time brought a pang of pain in them.

"But hey," countered Christie, "We're here now, aren't we? And we've been keeping this last part of Antimony safe from all forms of evil for as long as we could. We're also thrilled to have you guys back in our lives again. We were crushed when we realized we had to live so far away from you guys for an entire year."

"But enough of that for now…" said Max, his voice now turning serious. "You six are the last missing members of the original fourteen guardians. The other six are to return here shortly. They were sent away on a small errand with the other tutors. They should return by sunrise."

"Now come on, follow us into the tree…" Christie gestured, pointing down to the base of the tree.

"This is the safest place to live in. We don't know how much longer before the evil finally breaches our stronghold, but it is our sanctuary."

"Not to burst any of your bubbles, guys, but this tree doesn't look like much," Alvin pointed out as he tapped on its solid bark.

Max and Christie were the only ones who let out a hearty chuckle.

"Oho, that's what you think," Max waved a finger in mid-air. "But you haven't seen the secrets that lie beneath this tree.

"There's a perfectly logical reason as to why this tree's the only one that survived," said Christie. "But you'll have to make sure we're not being followed."

With that said, she hopped down from branch to branch until finally, she came to the mass of roots entangled entrance to the tree. Gently raising her paws, golden sparkles of wind slowly separated the roots, exposing a hole in the tree, and she eagerly skipped inside. The others, led by Max, followed suit, and they all gasped at the sight.

Inside the tree was filled with numerous caverns that seemed to stretch out for miles inside the tree. Every part of the walls that surrounded was lit with shining stones that glowed eerily with different bright colors everywhere they walked. They led the six into a huge hallway that looked like a dining hall. There were three long tables that were placed parallel to each other; each good enough for twelve chipmunks; and one half as long placed in front of them.

All around the hall was full of shining stones and numerous windows that brought the sunlight into the hall. Six fireplaces covered the edges of the hall, with a doorway that Theodore and Eleanor presumed led to the kitchen. There were banners of a giant chipmunk's paw above each table, and one hanging above every fireplace.

The six were taking aback. It was absolutely mind blowing…

"It's so beautiful!" Brittany gasped.

"What is this place?"asked Jeanette, her widening gaze suggesting that all logic had truly been abandoned in this place.

"Welcome," said Max, "to the Hunter's Hall. Your home away from home…"

AND CUT! That's a wrap for now! :)

Reviews much appreciated... ;)

PS: Other than my stories, I'm open to editing stories, don't be shy in asking for help. I'll do my best to edit your stories, and I charge nothing other than asking you guys to be my friends.

So far, I'm editing chipmunk3xfan's stories. Yeah I know, weird right? So what? He's a friend of mine (I have Facebook proof of that), and I volunteered, so, while I'm not busy with mine or his stories, anyone who needs his/her story edited/beta-read, just PM me and I'll get to it.

Just don't ask me in June, cause I'll begin my pre-college summer classes. I'll be taking up Electronics Engineering at MAPUA Institute of Technology (or the Philippine's version of MIT in the States), so I'll be pretty busy all year long. But I promise to end TFS sometime this year, okay?

Any help, suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated too... XD

C ya!

"Living it my way..."
~Periosha