Chapter 12: Heirs Of Fate 5, Endless Dawn 1
Zack: I shall tell you a story of another realm that I will never forget. With Midnight Erebus and my own powers, the spell on the children was broken. The youths were startled by the revelation that they hailed from different fates. Their true enemy stood revealed as the thief of their stolen histories. Yet those whose paths should never have crossed could find no common ground.
In a snowy wasteland, the children were making their way to Reptar's castle. As they walked, none of them were saying a word to each other.
"Um... shouldn't we say something?" Abigail asked.
"Yeah! Now that we all know each other, let's talk about something fun." George replied.
"No need for idle talk, George. All that's left is the coming battle." Chuckie said.
"But, shouldn't we pass the time while we get there?" George asked.
"Why bother? Yes, we share a destination and an ultimate goal. But beyond that, I see no reason to acknowledge them at all." Chuckie replied.
"So your just going to keep giving each other the silent treatment? That's so sad. And here I thought I made a lot of new friends." Abigail asked.
"Forget it, Abigail. It's better not to get involved with people from other worlds." Tommy replied.
Abigail groaned and turned to Zack.
"Ughhh! This is awful! Can't we do something, Zack?" Abigail asked.
Zack had his eyes closed.
"Um... Zack?" Abigail asked.
Zack opened his eyes.
"Your very different people from the ones I knew." Zack replied.
"What did you say?" Abigail asked.
"Oh, er, nothing. But yes, I agree. This is a problem. I'm sorry. I though you'd all unite as one as soon as I dispelled the illusion. Looking back, I didn't handle matters as well as I could have. I should have told you from the first that you all came from different worlds." Zack replied.
"Oh, I think this probably would have happened anyway. It's not your fault." Abigail said.
Zack smiled.
"Your a kind soul, Abigail." Zack said.
Abigail grinned.
"Awww, thanks. It's the truth, though." Abigail said.
"Yeah! If you didn't show up, we'd still be fooled into seeing fake things! Your the reason we didn't fight again, and I'm glad. Abigail hits REALLY hard." George added.
"So do you! I was shaking every time I had to fight any of you! So I was extra happy when it turned out you weren't bad guys after all. I thought it would be easy to rescue Papa and everyone if we all worked together. But that's not how it happened at all." Abigail said.
"Don't cry, Abigail." George said.
Zack sighed.
"I don't know where we go from here. Originally I was planning to take you all directly to Reptar's seat at Castle EuroReptarland. But with the tensions between you all, I'm not as sure as I was that we can win." Zack said.
"Hmmm... is there any way we can help?" George asked.
"Oh, I know! Erebus can become Shadow Erebus, right? Would that help?" Abigail asked.
"What's Shadow Erebus?" George asked.
"You don't know about it? Whenever Erebus meets another divine weapon, it transforms. Sky Erebus turns into Flaming Erebus, and THEN it's Shadow Erebus. Some people call it the Fire Emblem, I think." Abigail replied.
"Our sword can do all that?" George asked.
Zack frowned.
"How did you hear of this?" Zack asked.
"Some man told me." Abigail replied.
"Oh, him! Yeah, I met him too! But... I can't remember his name now." George said.
"Father, I don't understand." Zack thought.
"Anyway, he said we can save our loved ones with Shadow Erebus!" Abigail said.
"Huh! I bet if we had it, then everyone would start getting along!" George said.
Zack sighed.
"Shadow Erebus. Does everything come back to that sword?" Zack asked.
"Not this time, I'm afraid." a voice replied.
A brunette woman riding a horse suddenly teleported in front of everyone.
"It's you... Celeste." Zack greeted coldly.
"Leave, child. Your threats are empty. They will change nothing. I will remove you from this world before you ever lay eyes on the great King Reptar." Celeste ordered.
Tommy and Chuckie suddenly moved to guard Zack.
"Zack, is this our enemy?" Chuckie asked.
"Is she the reason we lost our parents? Then only one of us is leaving here!" Tommy asked.
The two advanced towards Celeste.
"Wait, don't! She's too strong!" Zack said.
"Oho... you think very highly of yourselves." Celeste said with a smirk.
She attacked Tommy and Chuckie with a powerful fire tome.
"GRAAAH!" Tommy cried.
"ARRRGH!" Chuckie cried in a girly tone.
"No!" Zack shouted.
Jesse, Harold, Savannah, Wally, and Nicole moved in to guard Tommy and Chuckie.
"Stop it! Don't hurt Chuckie!" Savannah cried.
"You've got some nerve hurting Tommy! If it's a fight you want, try me instead!" Jesse said.
"Back, all of you!" Zack ordered.
Celeste scowled.
"What appalling ignorance. You should have stayed in your world of illusion. Your deaths would have been far easier that way. But you insisted on facing reality, and now you shall reap your punishment!" Celeste said.
There was a flash of white, and Abigail, George, and Zack were thrown backwards.
"Urgh... what just happened?" Zack asked.
"Z-Zack! Bad news! They've all..." George started to reply.
"They've what, George? What has she done with them?" Zack asked.
"Their all gone! Wh-What now?" Abigail asked.
Back at the bottom of the canyon Zack had brought the group to, Tommy and Chuckie found themselves separated from the others.
"What overwhelming strength she had. Is everyone alright?" Chuckie asked.
"I'm fine. Anyone else?" Tommy asked.
There was no reply.
"Oh no." Chuckie said.
"Your telling me there's nobody here but us? Well, darn. This is awkward." Tommy said.
"Just what I was about to say... more or less. We must find the others before... hm? What's this?" Chuckie asked.
"Did you find something?" Tommy asked.
"I'm... I'm not sure. Come and see." Chuckie replied.
In another part of The Confederacy, Dil and Kimi found themselves separated from the others.
"Uh-oh... where'd everyone go? Guess it's just you and me here." Dil said.
"So it would appear." Kimi replied uncomfortably.
"Hey, relax. It's not like I was waiting for the chance to stab you in the back. I'm on your side! And I know your on mine when it counts. Now come on, let's go look for the others." Dil said.
"A capital idea. After you." Kimi said.
Celeste made her way over to Abigail, George, and Zack.
"You poor wretches. You'll never reach the road ahead, not even with the aid of a certain gem. Nothing you do now can help you to reach the glorious King Reptar. If you cease this fruitless struggle, I'll grant you a merciful end." Celeste said.
"I am no fool. And I will not yield to the likes of you. I will not lose another soul. And I will reclaim those you took from us!" Zack said.
"But you must know by now that there is no hope of that. No matter how much you and your false companions resist, the result is the same." Celeste said.
"Say what you will. But Abigail, George, and my friends still have time to save their loved ones. So long as they fight, I won't give in either." Zack said.
"In that case, enjoy being annihilated, over and over again. The splendid King Reptar's servants and the Confederate army will be your executioners." Arete said.
"Yes... Reptar's servants. The mere sight of your faces was enough to overwhelm us last time. But in truth, you are victims too." Zack said.
"What arrant nonsense." Celeste sneered.
She teleported away.
"Um, Zack... do you know that lady?" George asked.
"Not personally. She led an army I fought once, nothing more." Zack replied.
"But it really looked like what she said was bothering you. And she called us "false companions". What did she mean?" Abigail asked.
"That was only her trying to sow unrest. I wouldn't dwell on it. What's more important is that the Confederate army will arrive soon. If we dawdle here, we'll be easy prey. We must prepare to engage them." Zack replied.
"Yikes! Will we be okay? There's just three of us." George asked.
"No matter. We can do it. The key is to believe the others are safe, and to fight so you can be reunited." Zack replied.
"Oh, I already believed that." George said.
"Me too. I can't wait to see them again!" Abigail added.