Chapter 14: Heirs Of Fate 5, Endless Dawn 3
Later, the children arrived in the throne room of Castle EuroReptarLand.
"We're here. Reptar's chamber is just ahead." Zack said.
Tommy smirked.
"You'd think we'd have met more resistance getting here, huh?" Tommy asked.
"Thankfully, we didn't. They must have exhausted their forces already." Chuckie replied.
"Or maybe we've got them on the run now that we're all together!" Dil suggested.
"Whatever the reason, it's to our advantage to arrive at the battle fresh." Kimi said.
George turned to Abigail.
"Are you ready, Abigail? With all these people together, know we can make Erebus stronger. We can turn it into the Fire Emblem!" George asked.
"Yeah, let's try!" Abigail replied.
The two looked down at their respected Erebuses.
Alright! Erebus, can you hear us?" George asked.
"We need power to defeat Reptar!" Abigail said.
Abigail held up Flaming Erebus, while George held up Midnight Erebus. The two swords started glowing purple, starting to go into the Shadow Erebus form. But it was at that point that Zack closed his eyes.
"You are the ocean's gray waves..." Zack sung.
Abigail and George were overcome with a relaxed feeling that sapped their, as well as the other children's, strength.
"Wha?" Abigail asked.
"Ungh!" George grunted.
Flaming Erebus and Midnight Erebus stopped glowing.
"My strength is fading! How?" Chuckie asked.
"What the heck! I can't even move!" Tommy replied.
"Yes... I'm sorry, but I'm holding you in place. You won't need the sword's final form. Your part in this has ended. I will go alone from here." Zack said, completely unaffected from the song.
"What are you talking about? Zack, let me go right now!" Chuckie ordered.
"Have you been a pawn of Reptar all this time?" Tommy asked angrily.
"No. I would sooner die then serve him. But... I have been less then truthful with you. I told you before that you come from two different worlds. The truth is more complicated." Zack replied.
"Out with it, then!" Kimi snapped.
"You have all come from many different worlds, not just two. One for each of you, in fact." Zack said.
"But that would mean... we are all total strangers. In which case, where are the cousins and retainers that I know?" Kimi asked.
"Nowhere, I'm afraid. This world is all that remains. This is the world I'm from." Zack replied.
"We're in your world?" Dil asked.
"Yes. For each of you, history went in one of two directions. Events favored Japan or they favored America. But the history of my world is different. A balance was struck between the two. Warriors from both kingdoms fought together, trusting in one another. But it was all for nothing. The dragon defeated them. Reptar broke the seal trapping him and snapped Shadow Erebus in two. My companions were all slaughtered. Only my father and I survived." Zack replied.
"No." Dil whispered.
"And even then... in order to save me, my father sang until he disappeared." Zack explained.
"Back up a second. Are you saying that in this world, all of us are..." Tommy started to ask.
"Yes. The friends I knew are all dead." Zack replied.
"Son of a..." Tommy muttered.
"So that's what the man meant." Abigail said.
"The Silent Dragon now rules this world, just as he planned. But that wasn't enough. He invaded another realm, and then another. Those were your realms... worlds where the Silent Dragon is still sealed. Everyone you knew there has most likely fallen prey to the Confederate army." Zack explained.
"Everyone? No." Abigail whispered.
"I was fortunate to wear this pendant. It preserved my memories and kept Reptar's control from taking hold. My plan was to lead whoever of you were lucky enough to survive to him. Until we reached here, his doorstep, when I would take the final steps alone." Zack explained.
"We won't allow it. What do you hope to accomplish alone? You'd be marching to your death!" Chuckie asked.
"No. If I can reach Reptar, I don't need Erebus or any other sacred weapon. I have my song, complete with the esoteric fourth verse." Zack replied.
"A song? What will that avail you?" Chuckie asked.
"No one has ever been able to draw on the forbidden verse's power before. But that's what will defeat Reptar. And get your loved ones back, too. I'll gladly expend my life to restore everything to the way it ought to be." Zack replied.
"Your life? Are you saying you'll die?" George asked.
"Essentially... though dying in this way would release far too much power. Instead, I would have to absorb the curse entirely. This would prevent me from death and condemn me to eternal suffering." Zack replied.
"That's horrible!" George said.
"But also necessary. I've made my peace with it. If it saves you and your home worlds, I'd be proud to give my life." Zack said.
"This is monstrous! Abominable! Surely we have another choice! We can't have all come together only for it to end like this!" Kimi said angrily.
"She's right! You won't honor you old friends by throwing away your life! And your father! He sacrificed himself so you would live!" Dil said.
"I know. But what other option is there? I knew you'd be against it. That's why I made sure you couldn't stop me. This is out last hope. I can't fail. And I certainly can't let a bunch of strangers sabotage it!" Zack snapped.
"Strangers? But I thought we were friends." George said.
"You may have thought that. I never did. To me, you were tools I used to help me make my way here. A pack of strangers who only look like the friends. I... It doesn't matter!" Zack snapped.
"Who cares if we were soldiers or friends or whatever else? We're here now! Isn't there anything we can do to help?" Tommy asked.
"There is one thing. Remember me. I will never see the restoration of the worlds. You are the only ones who can remember me as I am now. So please, remember the one called Zack whom you once met. The man who lied to you, fought briefly at your side, and departed alone. Never forget me." Zack replied.
"That is NOT what I meant, darn it! We can still..." Tommy started to say.
"Don't worry. If I do manage to defeat Reptar, you will all return home. Until then, wait outside Castle EuroReptarLand. You can use this to get there safely." Zack said.
He took out a green crystal.
"What is it?" Chuckie asked.
"It's a translocation crystal that takes the user anywhere they wish to go. It only has one use, which means you cannot come back for me. I don't mean to ever leave this place, after all. That covers everything, I think. It's time we went our separate ways." Zack replied.
"No... not yet! Not when we were just getting to know each other! This is too inexpressibly, unspeakably, incomprehensibly awful!" Wally cried.
"Set us free, you dope! Let us out of this stupid trap!" Nicole ordered.
"You don't need to do this! We can send Reptar packing together! Come to your senses, man!" Harold shouted.
"You can't seriously be okay with this! Are you kidding me?" Jesse asked.
"Darn it, Zack! There's no way I'm letting you go! You and me are gonna see this through to the end!" Savannah snapped.
"Why, Zack? Even if that's what you think of us, I still think your my friend! Just like everyone else here! Zack, please!" George pleaded.
"I'll remember this moment. Your faces, your voices... whatever existence awaits me, I'll spend it remembering you all. I'm happy to have had a few last moments to spend with you all. But it has to end sometime. Goodbye." Zack said.
"ZACK, NO!" Abigail cried.
Everyone but Zack was teleported away.