The Final Battle

"How are you feeling?" Liber asked Celtic and Bane as they joined the others on the Training Island.

"Rested." Celtic replied. They'd spent two days resting on the Island of Fire and Cold.

"Now back to training." Dt said.

"Can I train with you?" Shadow asked.

"I don't think..." Echo started to say.

"I see no reason why he can't." Bane interrupted.

"It would be best if you did." Celtic looked at Shadow.

"Shouldn't that be Liber's call?" Wiz asked. None of the Generals seemed willing to accept Shadow.

"He can train. He's earned my trust." Liber said.

"But..." Pickle started.

"Shadow, you have earned my trust." Celtic looked at Shadow again. "If you had any intention to harm me, you had ample opportunity to do so."

"I've changed sides. I know what side I want to stand on." Shadow spoke. "Justin and Kululu are wrong. Celtic, and all of you, are the hope for a better future... not just for the Kingdom, but also for me."

"If Celtic, Liber, and Bane trust him, I don't see any reason he can't train with us." Ellie agreed.

"..." Wiz started to say something but a look from Latias shut him up.

"It's settled. Shadow will train and fight along side us." Nate said. He turned to Shadow. "Remember that anyone of us could, and will, kill you if you betray us." Shadow nodded.

"Shall we?" Dt suggested. "We don't know when Kululu plans to attack, so we need to be ready for anything."

"Let's get this over with." Pickle said. The group made their way into the Colosseum.

"Celt?" Dt pulled her aside. This time Bane wasn't leaving. "I'm sorry for pushing the other day."

"I understand why... we need to be ready for battle. I understand, but you need to trust that we know what we're doing. You need to trust that we are focused." Celtic said. Dt nodded and the three entered the Colosseum.

"Eddie failed." Justin entered the room. "He is being held in the dungeons."

"He's of little use to me now anyways." Kululu replied.

"What is the plan?" Justin asked. He'd been on edge the past few days, waiting for Kululu to make his move.

"We will attack the day after tomorrow... They'll be tired from training so much." Kululu answered. Justin nodded and then left.

"Celtic?" A figure emerged from the shadows. Celtic had been looking at stars after another vision.

"Justin?!" Celtic took a step back. Justin grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him. "Let go..." He placed a hand over her mouth.

"Keep quiet!" He hissed. "I'm not going to hurt you if you just relax." He removed his hand when she nodded.

"What do you want?" Celtic tried to get out of his grip but he only tightened his hold.

"You know what I want..." Justin inched his face closer to hers.

"Get any closer and I'll scream." Celtic said as she moved her face away from his.

"You'd be wise to keep your mouth shut." Justin grabbed the back of her neck. "The battle's coming very soon. Be prepared." After the warning, he moved in closer. A pain shot through his arm. "Gah!" He loosened his grip when he realized what happened.

"You're lucky I didn't do that sooner." Celtic hissed.

"I come here to warn you, and that's how you treat me?" Justin went to grab her again but someone grabbed his arm.

"Touch her like that again and you'll be sorry." A familiar voice made Celtic look at the newcomer. "Get out of here, Justin."

"Who would have thought you, of all people, would show back up?" Justin looked at Heat. "I'm leaving... but mark my words: the battle is set. The day after tomorrow will decide your fate." He left after that.

"Celtic?" Celtic heard Bane's voice. When she saw him, she rushed into his arms. "What happened? You're shaking like a leaf." Bane held her tight and looked at Heat.

"Justin was just here." Heat said. "He mentioned something about a battle coming soon."

"Celtic, did he hurt you?" Bane pulled back to look at her face. The look in her eyes said it all. "If he ever touches you again..." He pulled her tight against him again and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll go mention this to the others..." Heat said, feeling a little awkward standing there.

"Thank you, Heat." Bane nodded as Heat headed inside. "Celtic..." He rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I'm sorry." Celtic's voice was soft. "I should have..." Bane placed a finger on her lips.

"No, it's not your fault... don't ever think that." Bane lifted her chin so she had to look at him. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again." He kissed her forehead.

"As you wish." Celtic smiled at him and then kissed him softly. They headed inside after a few more minutes.

"Why do you even care?!" Celtic and Bane entered the room to see Heat and Wiz arguing. "You left remember?"

"That doesn't mean I don't care. That doesn't mean I want to see her get hurt." Heat replied.

"Gust!" Wiz called his element.

"Quake!" Celtic sent a blast of the Earth element at Wiz; knocking him off his feet.

"That's what you..." Heat stopped when he saw the look on Celtic's face.

"Was that necessary?" Wiz asked as he got to his feet.

"Earth..." Echo started.

"Enough!" The air in the room shifted when Celtic spoke. "The battle is coming and yet you bicker amongst yourselves. If we expect to defend our future we must trust one another and work together."

"Celtic's right, we can't let things get between us. We need to focus on defending the hope, the peace, and the future of the people... and of the Kingdom." Liber said. The room was silent for a few minutes.

"We should get some rest. We'll run though strategies tomorrow." Nate broke the silence.

"Give up, Liber." Kululu said as his army faced Liber and the others on the battle field. "You can't win."

"Even if that were true, we still would not give up easily." Liber replied.

"If you won't give up, then you will die." With that, Kululu signaled the attack.

The battle was getting worse, and Justin was starting to realize he'd made a mistake by teaming up with Kululu. It was becoming quite clear what Kululu's intentions were. Justin scanned the battlefield and spotted his target. Bane was nowhere near her. He started to approach, when he watched her get knocked to the ground by one of Kululu's men.

"Fire...!" Her attack was cut short. "Ahh!" Her scream echoed over the battlefield as the man's dagger plunged into her shoulder.

"If she dies; we win." Justin turned to the sound of his voice, eyes wide. "You really believed I'd spare the one thing that could ruin everything?" Kululu's laughter was pure evil. "I'm not going to make my move yet, though. She looks like she's having fun." With that Kululu headed back into the action.

"Protect Celtic!" Liber's command rang clear amidst the sounds of battle and the roar of the dragons. Justin hadn't obeyed an order from Liber in years... so why was he so compelled to now?

Celtic was struggling... she wasn't conditioned to handle all eight elements at once-regretfully, that was her fault. This enemy was strong but she kept blocking his attacks... except the one that had left her shoulder bleeding. The loss of blood was not helping her strength any. "Electro... shock!" She thrusted her halbred into her attacker as lightning bolts encased it. Breathing heavy, she got to her feet. Scanning the field, she watched as her side seemingly had no hope.

"Celtic." She froze at the sound of his voice. Turning slowly, she locked eyes with Justin.

"Ice..."

"Wait..." Justin held his hands up. "You have every right to kill me... after everything I've done... but, please, let me protect you. On pain of death, I won't let Kululu kill you."

"Why?" Celtic's eyes narrowed, suspicion lurking behind them.

"You're the only one who can help defeat him and he knows it. He's going to kill you before this battle is over." Celtic saw the sincerety in his eyes but doubt still lingered.

In the midst of all the action, Bane found himself separated from Celtic. Now he scanned the field and his gaze locked on the sight of Justin facing Celtic... but they weren't fighting. He found himself moving in that direction but before he got there, a blast of energy flew by him, knocking him to his knees. "What was that?" He looked over at Ellie who was the closet to him.

"Kululu..." Ellie got to her feet. "He's targeting Celtic."

The blast was so sudden, Celtic wasn't sure what was happening. Before she could react, Justin threw himself on top of her, protecting her from the impact. "Justin?" No response.

"Ugh... that hurt..." Justin's voice was weak and strained. "Are you alright?" He stood on shakey legs and helped Celtic to her feet.

"Yeah." Celtic winced a little when she picked up her weapon.

"Are you okay?!" Bane came running up to her. He noticed the blood. "Celtic..."

"I'm fine, Bane." She smiled weakly at him. Celtic took a deep breath to steady herself. "Justin, you were right... and thank you... not sure I would have been able to survive that blast."

"Right about what, exactly?" Bane tensed; he didn't like the idea of Justin so close to his Enchantress.

"Kululu is determined to kill Celtic before this battle is over." Justin answered. He understood the defensive stance from the Archer. "He knows that she's the only thing that will lead to his distruction."

"Ice shroud!" Celtic shot an ice shield around them as another blast came. "..." She felt the wind get knocked out of her the moment the blast made impact.

"Hey, easy." Bane grabbed her elbow when he saw her stumble.

"We've got to kill Kululu!" Andy shouted. He watched both blasts aimed at Celtic.

"Distract him... I'll do the rest." Liber said. They tried as best they could.

"Meteor shower!" Latias and Andy shouted together. Firey rocks went flying at Kululu... easily deflected.

"Electro shock!" Bre, Joy, Ellie, and Wolfie threw electrofied spikes at Kululu. It was a direct hit but he was still standing.

"You fools!" Kululu shouted and sent one more blast hurling at Celtic.

"Ahh!" Justin's cry followed the impact.

"Justin?" Celtic struggled underneath his body.

"..." Justin coughed. "Bane, protect her..." They were his last words. Celtic pushed his lifeless body off of her. Bane helped her stand.

"He was the biggest fool of all!" Kululu laughed.

"That might be so... but he was the one who led to your destruction." Liber had taken the opportunity to sneak around behind Kululu.

"Ahh!" With a clean sweep of his blades, Liber defeated the last threat to his Kingdom.

"Liber, look out!" Celtic shouted when she noticed Kululu was about to attack. "All of the elements, lend me you powers. Elemental Shift!" A huge blast of energy flew towards Kululu killing him instantly. Even though it hit Liber, he was unharmed.

"..." Everyone stood in silence; the sound of the blast deafening.

"Bane, I..." Celtic said before losing her balance.

"I got you." Bane caught her before she fell. He, then, picked her up and carried her to the healers.

"She's always over doing it." Pickle shook his head.

"You'd think she would have learned after the last time." Wiz agreed.

"I can still hear you." Even on the field of battle, their laughter rang true.

"Who knew Justin would actually care about someone other than himeself... enough to sacrifice himself." Andy commented.

"Out of all the commands he disobeyed in the past... I'm glad he chose to obey that one." Liber grinned.

"What happens now?" Wolfie asked.

"We go home." Pickle replied.

"There are a few things that need to be done before we part ways." Liber looked at the group around him... his family. "I don't think this is the place though." He looked at the battlefield as the Earth dragons continued to bury the fallen.

"We'll convene on the Main Island." Dt added. After a few minutes of silence, they made their way to the Main Island. Celtic stood next to Claddagh and looked back at the field.

"We can't look back." Bane stood next to her, his hand resting on her hip. She nodded slightly. "Do you regret anything?" Celtic looked at Bane; she understood the implication in his question. She turned to face him.

"No." Celtic rested a hand over Bane's heart. "I have no regrets." Bane placed his hands on hers and smiled.

"Good. That is good." He kissed her deeply and then they made their way to the Main Island.