Clay was settling into the castle. The Queen had been extra nice to him, and he felt safe and comfortable. Currently, he was practising in the Queen's secret training room in the castle. Queen Halbert sat off to the side, watching with pleasure. Clay took out the last dummy, putting his sword and shield away and walked over to her.
"You're pretty good with that sword," she smiled.
"It's a claymore," Clay replied. "I've trained with one since I first started at the academy."
She nodded.
"Macy says she got her skills from you," Clay said. "Is that true?"
"Why don't you watch and see?" the Queen smiled.
Clay watched her walk over to the weapons rack. She picked up a mace, even with it being heavy, and spun it around like a pencil. She glanced at Clay, who watched. A couple squire bots stood around the room. Clay watched as she took out each one with one swift motion. She ended, startling Clay, with her mace pointed at him.
"Impressed?" she asked.
"I am," Clay nodded. "You can kick butt."
"Why thank you," Queen Halbert replied.
"How long have you been able to use a mace?" Clay asked.
They both walked over to the weapons rack. Queen Halbert sat the mace back in its spot.
"Since I was little," she replied. "I used to fight as a knight, but then I married the King, and he made he stop. I still keep the skills and use them every now and again. It's the reason I wanted Macy to be a knight. To prove she's strong and really, I want her to have fun before she has to have royal duties to tend to."
Clay smiled. They walked down the hallway, talking. Clay found them outside his room. The queen lead him inside and closed the door.
"Where is the book?" she asked, worried.
"In the closet," Clay replied quietly.
He lead the Queen over, crawling into the closet. The Queen looked in, watching. Clay took the key on his bracelet and opened the secret compartment.
"I should have known that Merlock would put a secret room in his room," the Queen uttered.
"The book is safe in there," Clay told her.
He slipped it out, showing her. Then he locked it away again.
"Where is the key?" she asked.
"On my bracelet," Clay replied. "It will always be with me."
"Smart thinking," the Queen praised.
"Thank you," Clay replied.
Clay heard movement outside of the closet. He watched the queen moving around. He crawled out, noticing the Queen had moved over to the window.
"Is something wrong?" Clay asked.
She didn't respond. Clay rushed to her side, looking out the window. In the distance, he saw the group of monsters, tiny, off on the horizon.
"The other knights won't get here in time," Clay mumbled.
"Alert them," Queen Halbert said. "I'll contact Principal Bricklyn to have some students guarding the main entrance."
Clay nodded. She rushed out as Clay moved back to the closet. He pulled out his armor and helmet.
"Merlock, come in," he said, grabbing his sword and shield.
"Clay," Ava's voice replied through the headset in his helmet. "Is something wrong?"
"You guys need to get here fast," Clay said, moving out into the hallway and rushing down towards the main floor. "We've spotted the monsters coming straight for us. They must have figured out I'm here with the book."
"How!?" Ava cried.
"No idea," Clay replied. "Look, we've got kids from the academy reading a defense line near the main entrance. It will hold them off, but I can get out of the Capital before they arrive. Not without a vehicle, which I don't have."
"I'm setting course," Ava told him. "We'll be there in about half an hour. Can you hold on that long?"
"Hopefully," Clay sighed. "I'll alert you when they arrive. Just have the others ready for action when you get here."
"I'm sending them shortly. They will get there before the rest of us," Ava told him.
"Clay," he heard Macy's voice follow Ava's. "We're on our way."
"Yeah," Lance's followed. "And we've got new vehicles. It's really cool."
"Hold on, buddy," Aaron told him. "We'll be there soon."
"Ok," Clay replied.
Clay ran outside, seeing Principal Bricklyn arranging his students around outside.
"Moorington," he said. "What a surprise. Visiting the King and Queen. Where is the rest of the team?"
"It's just me," Clay told him. "I'm on a solo mission. The others are on their way. Hopefully they get here soon. I doubt it will be before the monsters arrive."
"Alright!" Bricklyn called to his students. "You're the first line of defense! Make Knighton proud! You're getting your chance to fight alongside Mr. Moorington. Show him what you can do."
"I'm not going to have a nexo power until Merlock arrives in the Fortrex," Clay whispered. "I've been told about 30 minutes."
"We can fend them off for that long," Bricklyn said with confidence.
"If you're sure," Clay said.
Then a loud cry filled their ears.
"Attack!"
Clay spun around, seeing the monsters storming towards them.
"Defense line one! Go!" Bricklyn shouted.
Clay watched a group of about fifteen kids charge at the monsters, hitting them head on.
"I've got it here," Bricklyn told Clay. "Go fight."
Clay nodded. He ran towards the fight. He found the kids forming a wall, pushing the monsters back from the castle. He found a gap, joining them.
"Clay, watch out!" a student yelled.
Clay turned, hitting a monster out of the sky. He looked up, seeing Burnzie throwing the smaller monsters at him. Clay charged at him, the kids filling in the gap he left quickly. He hit Burnzie full force, launching him backwards tons of feet. Then he realized his mistake, finding himself surrounded and outnumbered.
"Line two! To Moorington!" he heard Bricklyn shout. "Hurry!"
Clay glance up, shielding himself from the onslaught of monsters attacking him. After a minute, they had a small defensive circle with Clay, watching each other's backs. Clay glanced, seeing more kids in the wall to hold the monsters back from the castle. Somehow, they were managing to push the monsters back, away from the castle bit by bit. Clay was impressed. He slashed at a monster, then noticed the Book of Monsters and Jestro sneaking into the castle from another door.
"Bricklyn! Over there!" Clay shouted.
He ran through the monsters, towards Bricklyn.
"What happened?" Bricklyn asked.
"Jestro and the Book of Monsters got into the castle!" Clay cried.
"Go! Stop them," Bricklyn said. "We've got it here."
Clay nodded, rushing inside. He looked around and found Jestro and the Book of Monsters upstairs, walking off towards his room. Clay ran up the stairs, instantly being spotted.
"Where did you come from!?" the Book of Monsters cried.
"Doesn't matter!" Clay cried. "You need to leave."
"Not until we get the book!" the Book of Monsters cried.
Jestro looked between Clay and the Book, clearly worried.
"Where is it?" the Book of Monsters demanded.
"Like I would ever tell you!" Clay snapped.
Then Clay felt hands on his arms. He was lifted into the air by Sparkks, his feet kicking and struggling to escape.
"You will tell me," the Book of Monsters said. "Or you will die."
Clay struggled, and his sleeve slipped up. Jestro walked over, seeing the bracelet. Clay froze, seeing both Jestro and the Book of Monsters looking at it.
"Your him," the Book of Monsters smirked. "The protector Merlock talked about. Too bad."
"What does that mean?" Jestro asked. "The protector?"
Before a response could be said, Clay felt Sparkks disappear behind him. Then someone grabbed his arm, flying with him through the sky. He looked up, seeing Aaron on his hover shield, smiling at him.
"Nice timing," Clay said.
"You sure needed it," Aaron said.
"We're giving you a chance to escape," Macy cried. "Leave and we won't pummel you."
Then a loud crash echoed from Clay's room. Aaron set Clay down and he bolted for it.
"Aaron, go after him!" Macy called.
Clay ran into his room, only to be thrown aside. He heard Jestro's voice say to get out of there. More footsteps, and Aaron flew into the room. Clay jumped up, running after them. He ran through the castle, Aaron close behind on his hover shield. They got outside, seeing the monster army leaving. Macy, Lance and Axl stood outside, watching.
"No," Clay gasped.
"They're fleeing," Macy said. "What's wrong with that?"
"They're not fleeing," Clay said. "They're getting away."
"What?" Aaron said, confused.
He landed beside Clay and Macy.
"They got the book of revenge," Clay cried. "They have the book."
"It's pointless to go after them at this point," Ava told them through their headsets. "You won't catch them intime. Come back to the Fortrex. You don't need to stay at the castle anymore, Clay."
Clay sighed, knowing they had lost this time. They thanks Principal Bricklyn, along withe King and Queen for letting Clay stay in the castle. Then they left in the Fortrex. Everything was back to normal.
Later that night, everyone was asleep, except Merlock and Clay.
"Did something happen?" Merlock asked Clay. "You seem stressed."
"Merlock," Clay said. "You were wrong."
"What do you mean, my boy?" Merlock asked.
"Monstrux knew about the charm," Clay said. "He just didn't know who had it."
"How do you know this?" Merlock asked.
Clay went silent, looking at the ground. Terror ran through his body.
"He found it," Clay murmured. "He knows I have it."
Merlock looked at Clay, worried.
"We will tell the others," Merlock said. "You will make it through this."
"Why did you have to choose me, Merlock?" Clay asked. "Why did you choose me to protect it?"
"Because I knew you would," Merlock said. "I knew you would never rest until it was safe and Monstrux would never get it."
"But what if I can't," Clay asked. "What if he gets all the books, then gets me? I don't want to become Monstrux, Merlock."
"I know," Merlock said. "You have a whole team behind you who what the same thing. You're their leader, and they will make sure you're safe. I'm watching over you at all times. Now, get some sleep. You need it."
"Thanks, Merlock," Clay smiled.
Clay walked out of the room, leaving Merlock to his thoughts.
"I only wish I could take it back," Merlock told himself. "It's too dangerous for him. He's at too big of a risk for this. Monstrux is getting stronger, and will soon come after Clay."
"Don't worry yet," a voice told Merlock. "Only worry about it when the time comes. For now, he's fine. For now, he's in very little danger and not Monstrux's main target."
"I know," Merlock said. "I just don't want to ever see him hurt."
"He's like a son to you," the voice said. "I understand. But just worry about the books, then him. He would be of no use without all the books, Merlock. Remember that."
Merlock nodded, knowing that was the truth. Knowing he was right.
"Plus, Clay is a strong boy," the voice continued. "He can fend for himself. He just needs to learn a little more."
"Thank you," Merlock said. "Your son is safe with me. I promise."
"I know," the voice replied. "I'm always watching."
Merlock smiled, knowing he was gone. Every night, when the knights went to bed, he would talk to Clay's father's spirit, able to make him sure of his decisions every night. And now, he was sure everything would be fine.
That's the story. It's over. Seeing how much attention this story got, I will be making more Nexo Knight stories in the future, so don't worry. Just for your information, this would be the end of season 1 in Nexo Knights, and then it would follow along the same storyline for season 2. I hope you enjoyed this story!
Sweetheart114 signing off!