Chapter 9: The tower
Tutor had proven to be a faithful and trustworthy ally in the end, who had covered their back and promised to hold back any Longcoats who tried to break into the brain room and stop them from their mission. After rescuing D.G. and getting cover by the Resistance, the four friends had entered the witch's tower and were now on two different paths that would hopefully lead them to the end of war.
While Toto was watching the corridor, the three guys made their way to the last door, and when they had reassured themselves that everything was safe, they entered the room.
Not knowing what they would see they walked through the double doors and right in front of an exposed white-reddish brain lying in a bubbling tank. As the men spotted the organ Cain could see that tension rushed through Glitch's body at the forgotten but still too familiar sight.
Slowly they walked closer to the tank and the brain that was connected to the machine , looking at the organ as if it was containing all life's answers. For both Glitch and Cain it was hard to look at it since they both knew now that it was their only connection to something they had lost . For Glitch it was his memories and body, for Cain a friend.
Besides the fascination Raw could sense that there suddenly was a much stronger bound radiating between the two and he was willing to not only help D.G. but also help his friends to regain the friendship they had to sacrifice.
Time was running short and they needed every second of it and Cain was a man of action.
"Glitch?"
"Hmm?"
"It's time to get reacquainted with yourself again," the Tin Man approached Glitch from the right and spoke to him softly, but when Cain asked him to be connected to the brain in the tank the confusion on Glitch's artificial face was more evident than ever.
"But Cain, how do you want to do it? How can you believe that it will work? I'm not... I'm not the man you used to know anymore and it's impossible to connect my straw filled head with the machine. It...it won't work," Glitch protested, letting his gaze sink to the floor.
"Look, I know it is hard to believe that this is half of your brain in this tank but you need to trust me here. Remember when we were in DeMilo's wagon?" Cain took Glitch's chin into his hand and raised his head so that his buttons would meet his friends eyes.
"You said yourself that you believe in magic inside of you. That this magic animates you , that it gave you some of your old memories and that it makes you seem human, isn't that what you said?" Cain asked.
"Yes, but Cain..." but without even getting a chance Glitch was interrupted again.
"I believe that this magic will be able to connect you to the one thing you lost. It will enable Raw to break through to the other half of yours and it will help us to get the code and stop Azkadellia. Whatever magic is keeping you alive it must be mixed with that stubbornness of yours...It is strong, you are strong, and now I don't want to hear any more protests is that clear?" Cain was determined to end this war and he was determined to help his friends no matter what.
Glitch nodded and Raw looked at him in awe.
"Connect him to it," the Tin Man demanded and although Glitch still seemed unsure, the viewer obeyed and all three waited for any reaction from the Scarecrow. Obviously nothing happened when Raw touched Glitch's cotton head and when he brought his other hand to the cold surface of the tank the two friends held their breath.
Nothing happened.
No stirring from Glitch, no reaction from Raw, not a sudden sign of Ambrose reaching through and trying to contact them. Both Raw and Glitch just stood there, Glitch looking at the tank. Raw's eyes closed desperately trying to find some hint of a memory or activity from the brain.
Still nothing happened after five minutes Raw let go of the head, his arms sinking down.
"Raw cannot see," he whispered sadly as he felt how the bound between Glitch and Cain was weakening and the atmosphere around them got tenser and thicker.
Cain's face was as blank as Glitch's, unable to show any kind of emotion. Knowing that there might have been a chance to talk to Ambrose had given him hope and seeing that it was impossible now seemed to bring back the old desperation that had imprisoned his heart for all these years.
No one dared to speak for they all knew that without Ambrose and the code they wouldn't be able to shut down the machine and support D.G. and no one dared to imagine what would now happen to the princess and the O.Z
O.O.O.o.o.O.O.O.o.O.O.O
After she had climbed up the ladder leading to the balcony of the tower, D.G was now observing how her sister was standing on a round podium, an intense beam of green light engulfing her. The machine was still working and D.G. hoped that her friends wouldn't fail or get caught.
Azkadellia was wearing a stunning silver dress and the Emerald of the Eclipse was hanging down her beautiful long neck. When D.G. walked out of hiding and towards her sister, she was shocked by how determined she looked and how much of the witch was now breaking through. The power of the emerald made her stronger and it almost looked like she didn't need the body of Az anymore.
"Azkadellia! There is still time to stop this!" If her sister was trapped inside her body, and if the emerald wasn't only influencing the witch's power but also Azkadellia's there was a slight chance that D.G. would reach through.
"Look up. The power of the Emerald is about to lock the eclipse in the sky and bring permanent darkness to the OZ," the witch countered, passionately.
Maybe she could free her sister, but maybe she and the witch were sharing a body far too long now and it was impossible to part them. Maybe there was a chance to save Azkadellia , but maybe she had lost the fight and had become one with the witch already.
"A fierce new world is awakening," she added.
The words that left Azkadellia's lips only made it harder for D.G. to believe that her sister was still inside, but she wouldn't want to allow herself to accept that all was lost. She was the key and she was the reason why all of this had happened to her sister and family. She couldn't stop now, she had to go on.
"No listen to me, my SISTER!"she pleaded. The emphasis laying on sister which surprisingly caught the attention of Azkadellia whose gaze focused on D.G.
"This is not what you want. Remember who you are." Now she had the witch's attention so she needed to use it. The confusion on Az's face assured her that she had been wrong and that her sister was still there. Now she only had to go on and encourage her sister's spirit to take control of her body again.
"Your sister is dead!" The sorceress snarled with the voice of the witch that brought the tears to D.G.'s eyes. She wasn't strong enough, she knew that D.G. was there and she had listened to her words but the witch was stronger and wouldn't allow Azkadellia to come to the surface.
"No," D.G. exclaimed, determined.
Maybe if she couldn't take control on her own she needed someone to take her hand and pull her out. She had promised herself that she would do anything she could to save her sister and the O.Z and she didn't care what it would cost.
Taking a step closer to the sorceress she outstretched her hand, wanting to grab her sister's hand but the witch wouldn't want to allow it and sent her stumbling over the edge of the balcony. Fortunately, she got a hold of it which stopped her from falling down into the unknown darkness beneath, however she wasn't strong enough to lift her up yet.
O.o.O.O.o.O.O.O.O
"Try it again." None of them had spoken since the failure but Cain wasn't ready to give up yet.
"But Cain, we failed. I told you that it wouldn't work," Glitch countered, reaching for Cain's arm to support the Tin Man, but the blond slapped it away.
"That's because you don't believe in yourself!" Cain replied, anger written on his face.
"Raw, I want you to connect him again! Glitch, we will try it a second time. I'm going to tell you something and you will listen okay?" As if someone had pulled a switch Cain visibly calmed down again, the anger vanishing. Glitch was fascinated by that sudden change and only nodded in return again.
A second time Raw touched the straw man's head before he placed the other hand on the tank. Like the first time, nothing happened but suddenly Cain stepped closer to Glitch and laid one hand on the creature's opposite shoulder.
"You remember the first time we met Ambrose? We were much younger back then and less of a mess. Neither of us was paying attention to the surroundings because I was new to the palace and you... well, you've always been a little scatterbrain. We walked into each other and when I saw you I thought you would be just another of those stick in the mud kids that I had met before…." Cain was getting closer to the spot of Glitch's head where his ears were supposed to be and his voice was slowly turning into a whisper.
"Cain, I don't know what...," Glitch interrupted turning his head to the Tin Man, but Cain forced his gaze back to the tank by pushing the cotton head back into his old position.
"You promised to listen! Focus the brain and try to think," the blond ordered.
"You soon turned out to be a really nice guy who offered me to share his horse with me, and besides that you've done a lot of other things that made me like you very fast. You taught me many things and because of you I learned a lot about myself. You mentioned that you remember the smell of hay, that's because we would spend hours in the stables. You said that your remember balls, that's because your mother made you attend a lot of them. You need to focus, Ambrose, concentrate on the things that you can remember, try to forget everything around you and just pay attention to what lies in front of you." Remembering their past for Glitch pulled at Cain's nerves but what he said seemed to have an effect on the Scarecrow.
As if being mesmerized the straw man lifted his right hand and brought it to the glass tank himself, never breaking eye contact with the brain.
"The smell of hay you say?" Glitch asked while his gloved hand patted the cold glass.
Suddenly a shiver went through the animated body and shortly afterwards Raw started to gasp.
"You would do that for me?"
"Sure we're friends now, remember?"
" I don't even know your name, I only know that you're the prince."
"And you are the first one who doesn't treat me like a prince, I like that. My name is Ambrose Gale. You can call my Ambrose, since I haven't found a nickname that suits my liking or have enough friends to give me one."
"Hello, my name is Wyatt Cain jr. Nice to meet you."
Glitch led out a surprised scream before his whole body started shaking and everything was silent again.
Glitch's head dropped forward and now rested on his chest. A wave of shock rushed through Cain's body but before he could shake his friend to see what had happened, the Scarecrow raised his head again and Raw started speaking.
"Raw can see."
That came unexpected and for a moment Cain had to steady himself after the shock. Glitch still focused on the glass tank in front of him but Cain wondered who would now speak to him. For a moment he was afraid to address the man but they had already lost too much time and they needed to shut down the machine.
"Uhm … okay ... hey, Glitch I need you to remember something for me. Glitch, can you hear me?" For a moment Cain thought that they might have broken Glitch and that the connection wasn't working after all, aside from that he still wasn't sure if they would really talk with Ambrose any second.
"My name isn't Glitch and you know that, Cain. It's Ambrose,' the Scarecrow suddenly whispered with a trance-like voice, the message needing to sink in first.
This was their first conversation after a very long time and although they couldn't use it for a chat, Cain was overwhelmed from the sudden happiness that he could feel in his whole body.
"Okay, yeah, you're right. Ambrose …that was pretty good. I knew you could make it. Listen I need you to remember how you designed the sunseeder and how to shut it down." Now that they had a connection Cain was confident that everything could work out as long as no one interrupted them now. Before he went on he took a quick glance at the door. Nothing, perfect! While he checked their surroundings he could hear Glitch, no, Ambrose, say that he needed to go to the keyboard numbers that were controlling the light pulsing, so he obeyed.
"There about a million of them, which ones do I turn off?" he asked, placing his hands on the edges of the keyboard.
"Proper shutdown sequencing and to reverse light pulsing is imperative!" Ambrose yelled at him. Cain secretly hoped that it was the machine speaking and not his friend for he wasn't used to such harsh behavior from him.
"Okay, okay... which numbers," Cain said, returned turning his head to Glitch and bringing him back to the purpose of the brain session.
He could see how Glitch seemed to focus again, for he raised his head higher and straightened his shoulders just a little bit, like Ambrose used to do when he was holding a speech about his newest invention.
"10...66..."
Cautiously Cain's fingers searched for the right numbers before he typed them in and pulled the orange lever. A little bit unsure, he watched what happened and when they heard a buzzing sound Ambrose continued with listing up the numbers that would shut down the machine.
"14…18..."
And Cain typed
"16…66..."
O.o.O.O.o.o.O.o.O.O.
The beam of light that was engulfing her got weaker and she couldn't explain why. She got a feeling that someone was manipulating the machine and shutting it down, but that was impossible! On the balcony she had no control over the happenings inside and she couldn't allow herself to step down from her podium now, so she yelled her orders instead and hoped that Raynz and the other men would hear her.
Her plan was flawless and she didn't allow any failure.
O.o.o.O.O.o.o.
Raynz and a couple of Longcoats made their way to the brain room to check why the machine wasn't producing enough energy anymore and to stop whoever was trying to manipulate their plans.
Toto tried to stop them and used the surprise caused through his shape-shifting to his advantage, but he hadn't expected to get electrocuted by Raynz.
Being more concerned about intruders the Longcoats and the Alchemist, in addition of the little seer Kalm, made their way to the brain room even quicker now.
O.O.O.O.O.o.O.O
" I think it's working!" Cain exclaimed in joy as they were making process.
"17...89...," Ambrose went on with his list of numbers.
As the dials in front of him started shaking and changing like crazy, Cain let out a satisfied laugh. Ambrose was just about to give them the final numbers as a collection of Longcoats suddenly came rushing through the double doors and into the brain room. Since he had his back to the door he may heard them coming but he didn't see the electro stick that a bald alchemist pressed to his shoulder. The sudden and striking pain sent Cain to the floor and forced him to stay there.
With another move the alchemist used the stick to get rid of Raw, who was sent backwards into the direction of the window due to the power that was emerging from the horrifying device. Cain saw how a Longcoat grabbed Glitch from behind and wrapped his arms around the creature's slim shoulders.
The alchemist was just about to threaten the Scarecrow with the stick until he noticed the condition of the man in front of him.
"One more and it will be your last. You won't feel the electric shock but I'm sure you don't want to find out what will happen to your straw if I use this on you." A devilish grin decorated the alchemist's face, making Cain angrier than ever.
It hadn't taken long until he had recovered from the attack and while the Longcoats were busy with Glitch, he was re-loading his gun. Unfortunately, he didn't notice when another Longcoat came walking through the doors, who also happened to notice his actions and who fired his gun even before Cain could pull the trigger of his own. The sheer force and pressure that was emerging from the shot sent him flying through a side door where he landed on the floor and darkness welcomed him.
O.o.O.o.O.O.O.O
The strangers hadn't only injured Raw, but they had shot Cain. Glitch didn't know if either of them was still alive. After the Longcoats got rid of his friends the bald scientist guy had ordered the little version of Raw to tell them the numbers that would return the machine to its old destroying glory.
Although Glitch was glad that he had been able to build a connection with his old self, an experience that had been strange and beautiful in many senses, he now wished that the little viewer would fail so that he couldn't tell them how to bring the machine back to life.
When the cub touched his burlap skin he wasn't surprised to feel the trembling, and for a second he didn't only worry for his friends but also for the cub. With a low voice that shook as much as his hands, he recited the numbers that Glitch had just given Cain only a few seconds ago, just in a reverse order.
He couldn't allow them to ruin their plans. They didn't have the right to invade his thoughts and to make him a victim of their cruel wicked game again. Not now that he was aware of who is was and what he had sacrificed. Not now that he knew that he could help D.G. to stop Azkadellia.
Although he feared the threat of the bald scientist, he pulled himself together rather quickly and tried to distract the little viewer by throwing in random combinations of numbers. However the scientist wasn't one to fool with so he ordered one of the Longcoats to cover his stitched mouth and make him shut up.
O.O.O.o.O..o.O.O
"One more number, Kalm," the bald–headed scientist ordered the little cub one last time , the sharp glistening of the electro stick making the viewers limbs go stiff.
Glitch wished he could do something to make them stop but he didn't want to bring the innocent child into danger, nor did he know what he could do. His mind was blank –ironically he thought that this must be how a Scarecrow was supposed to feel.
Kalm struggled with the last number, whatever it was that enabled the connection between Glitch and Ambrose seemed to refuse any kind of cooperation, which only led to the torture of the cub.
" I need the last number for full power," the alchemist yelled forcefully using his weapon once again.
Through gritted teeth the little guy stammered the last numbers that would reverse everything the three friends had accomplished and the pure joy on the face of the scientist cut like knives.
"Ahhh GOOD," he remarked frightfully.
O.O.o.O.O.O.o.o
"Finally…permanent darkness...it's over...I won." The witch looked up into the sky where the anti-sunseeder had locked the suns behind the moon and she watched in triumph how the darkness conquered the country.
D.G.'s fingers were getting weaker and every movement of them hurt like hell. Still she needed to concentrate on all her resources in order to get out of her desperate situation. She tried to suppress the pain and think of her friends and family instead. Thinking of them finally brought the strength that she needed so she managed to pull herself over the edge of the balcony again and with a soft thump she let herself sink to the floor.
"Two little princesses dancing in a row, spinning fast and freely on their little toes. Where the light will take them no one ever knows. Two little princesses dancing in a row, spinning fast and freely on their little toes, where the light will take them no one ever knows," she sang over and over again hoping that the familiar song and sound would reach through to her sister and bring her back.
"Do you remember that time in the cave? When you remembered what all those symbols meant? You're so smart. Your adventures have a way of getting me into trouble, that's what you always said. You said your adventures have a way of getting me into trouble." The memories of that day brought back the tears she had shed in the cave, but the words needed to be said. She needed to remind Azkadellia of who she had been, of how close they had been , of times without the witch and she needed to apologize.
As she was crawling towards her sister she could see the twisted emotion on her face, on the one hand there was the cold angry stare of the witch, a stern look that only radiated darkness , on the other hand she could see that façade crumbling , leaving a confused and helpless expression that definitely was her sister's.
"Do you remember my spinning doll? How we made it fly together? Concentrate..."
Just concentrate Deeg.
Another memory was thrown at the witch, another memory that showed signs of Azkadellia on that face. She seemed to try and honestly remember what had happened in the past.
"And do you remember the bear? I was so scared but you stood up to it. You were so brave, that made me brave." On and on she threw the tidbits of their past at her and with every word she crawled closer to Azkadellia and with every line she reached deeper into her body, grabbing for her sisters consciousness.
Just hold my hand Deeg, nothing can hurt us when we stay together.
Only reaching for her sister metaphorically though, had already failed before the witch had sent her over the edge of the balcony, now that Az seemed to gain more and more control it was time to reach for her literary so she made a second attempt and outstretched her hand for her sister.
"Hold my hand. Nothing can hurt us when we are together," she pleaded.
"Take it," her voice being nothing more like a whisper.
It looked like Azkadellia was now fighting with the witch's spirit, her body language expressing the tension inside, her breaths getting deeper and more forced.
"Take it! Take my hand", now it was more of a demand rather than a plea.
Her sister was visibly struggling , the witch still building a powerful source.
"I'm sorry I let go AZ"
"I'm scared."
"I'm here and I will never run away again, take my hand." Pleading, force and desperation mingled into the hope that she would be strong enough to grab the hand.
As the last promise left her lips she could see that Azkadellia's hand was twitching as if it wanted to move into her direction, she was doing it! D.G. had built up enough trust to reach her sister and to encourage her to fight the possession.
"NO! You're talking to the wrong girl!" The ugly face and body of the ancient witch appeared in the place of Azkadellia.
The witch wasn't one to give up easily though, which only made it harder for the two sisters. Az seemed to be in real pain now and D.G. was struggling with her own mind, trying to find the right words that would weaken the witch's power and release her sister.
"Take my hand!" Her voice was stronger. Azkadellia was breathing harder, pinching her lips and looking desperate, as if she was about to faint from the pressure.
"NO!" The witch appeared again, showing that both she and her sister were two completely different beings.
"Take my hand." It was a memory of them being children again, little D.G. doing nothing more than asking her older sister to take her hand so that the magic of them could protect them from all evils.
Little Az was close to tears, the witch having held her captive far too long. The fear was evident on her face, she was scared and she wasn't sure if trusting her sister would help her to get free. However, how could she blame her sister's deed when all she did herself was fear the witch as well? D.G. had been a little child, she had been innocent, and like so many other people she was innocent now. The witch destroyed the happiness of everyone she knew and she would destroy everything that was left to the people. She couldn't risk that, it had to end. She and her sister were the only ones who could stop her now.
Slowly and carefully her hands moved in the direction of her sister. The witch was strong, the emerald made her more powerful than ever. Moving her hand even a little bit proved to be hard but when their fingertips touched it was like an invisible barrier was broken and she could feel warmth and strength floating through her body.
She broke the distance in no time and when their hands were entwined a bright glow of magic engulfed them. Slowly her sister pulled at her arm and after annuals of being trapped in her own body she suddenly was released from the witch.
The Azkadellia that stepped out of the glow from the emerald was an Azkadellia who had regained her own body and her control again. Breathing was suddenly much easier, her mind clearer. Finally she could remember all the good things she had experienced as a child. There was no witch interfering in the back of her head and no one who controlled her actions and movement.
She was free and the witch was left behind without her.
O.o0.O.O.o.o.O.O.O.O.O..o.O.o.o
In silence and awe the alchemist and the Longcoats stared outside the window, waiting for the witch to succeed and the darkness to stay permanently. Absolute madness and scarring obsession were written on the alchemist's face making Glitch wonder if his tummy would twist when he had one.
He couldn't give up now. Maybe there was still a chance to stop them. The Longcoat who was holding him captive was strong but Glitch knew that he was a skilled fighter. When the man was inattentive the Scarecrow used that second of distraction and stepped on the Longcoat's foot sending him a step back, the next thing he did was a quick flip of his body, using his free leg to kick the Longcoat against an opposite wall. Another turn of his body and he saw the electro stick coming closer, he was able to escape the threatening glow that could have sent him on fire, however he didn't see the blow coming which sent him to the floor.
O.O.O.o.o.o.O.
Raw's whole body was in pain. When the electricity had touched his skin it had felt like his heart wanted to explode. His limbs still felt like little needles were stuck inside, the blood that had been boiling was flowing faster again but he felt like he couldn't move.
When he heard the ruckus and opened his eyes he could see that Glitch was fighting the Longcoats and that the alchemist sent him flying to the floor with the other end of the stick. He wouldn't be unconscious but inattentive and unable to defend himself for a couple of seconds. The alchemist was grinning wildly and looking much too sure of himself and Raw saw it as his chance.
Despite the terrible feeling when he stood up, Raw was determined to take up his own fight. Collecting all the courage that he had (something he thanked D.G. for) he walked towards the alchemist with drawn claws and a roar on his lips.
First he got Kalm out of the way, ordering the alchemist to leave him alone.
For a second time the alchemist used his weapon on Raw, telling the viewer that creatures like him only needed a little encouragement to obey. This was too much for the seer, he was in rage and no electro stick would stop him now.
"Raw needs no courage! " he growled before he grabbed for the powerful weapon, the only thing that made the alchemist strong, and used it to his own advantage. Although it looked like the alchemist was wearing some kind of fabric made out of rubber, Raw was able to force the bald man into a corner and to beat him with his own weapons. The paralyzing power of the stick first made the man limp, then he went unconscious.
O.O.O.O.O.O
The punch didn't hurt nor did it distract him for long. When he got up again he saw that Raw was taking care of the alchemist and since he had beaten up the Longcoats there was no one left who needed to be eliminated.
All he could do was run to Cain who was still lying on the floor, eyes closed. It was strange now that he had seen his old memories again he could remember the strong feelings towards the unconscious man in front of him. He now knew that he had loved him once, this fact alone making him feel dizzy.
With a strong slap he hoped to wake Cain and when the Tin Man opened his eyes he couldn't help himself from greeting his old friend with a warm, "Good morning sweetheart"
Cain had to grin at that, while Glitch offered him a hand and lifted him up.
"Do I know you?" Cain asked mischievously and if Glitch didn't knew better he would have thought that there were butterflies flying through his tummy at the sound of this voice.
"That depends. I still haven't come to terms with my true identity yet," Glitch mumbled and followed Cain who was walking towards the machine and the brain in the tank.
"We will figure it out together, I promise. But now we have to shut down the machine. We have no time to risk more interruptions." Cain said and with a move of his head he ordered Raw to connect Glitch to his brain.
He typed in the numbers that they already knew, only asking Ambrose to remember the final number that he had wanted to tell them before the alchemist had stopped them.
Surprisingly the last part seemed to be blurry and Ambrose's damaged brain was showing signs of desperation when the last number wouldn't want to come to the surface.
The time was ticking away and no matter how hard both Raw and Glitch tried, they couldn't find the number.
They needed a quick decision as soon as possible and although Cain was scared about the outcome and he hated himself for even considering it there was only one solution coming to his mind.
Glitch was still alive because of the magic so it was possible to still keep him alive at any cost. The brain in the tank contained his memories and maybe it even contained the part of his friend that he was missing so much. However, it was nothing more than a brain in a tank. The real Ambrose, his friend, was standing in front of him in the body of a Scarecrow. He could help him with his memories and he could live on as a Scarecrow and still be happy …somehow.
The brain was only an organ, it wasn't his friend. Yet he was asking himself if it was fair to shoot the one thing that could save Glitch and that would restore him to his old self again.
And for another time Cain had to decide: Friendship or his own life?
"I can't think...I...I can't think," he heard Glitch stammer.
"I know what to do." Grabbing for his gun as if he was in trance Cain watched Glitch's reaction as he turned around and pointed the gun at the brain in the tank.
"If you can't recall the reverse number, I have to shut it down." As the words left his lips he already felt guilty before he even saw the shock his friend expressed through an opened mouth and crinkled burlap.
He didn't want to see his friend like this. No matter if Glitch would live on he would never forgive himself for this.
"I'm sorry, Ambrose." No emotions, there was no place for emotions.
He heard Ambrose gasp in fear before Raw interrupted him.
"No no wait!" He screamed anxiously.
Maybe it was because of the pressure of the gun, or for another reason, but all of a sudden Ambrose triumphantly screamed the numbers that they needed.
"1208, the Queen's and my birthday of course! Commence the reverse pulsing!" He exclaimed pointing his finger at the keyboard.
Cain let out a sigh of relief, his hands still trembling as he typed in the last numbers and pulled the lever for one last time.
The only thing he could think about was the gratefulness he was feeling in this very moment. Only a second longer and he would have shot his best friend, brain or not.
O.O.O.O.o
A minute ago the witch had attacked them with her magic, their entwined hands building a protecting fence around them.
Now the light of the emerald and the machine were slowly fading and the witch started to melt.
"The guys must have been successful then," was the only thing she could think about before she let herself fall into the open arms of her sister.
They had won.
A.N: Oh my that is the longest chapter so far , I think ;) Well well in the end I couldn't prevent that Raw goes into Glitch consciousness because it's an essential tool of the series and I hope that you are still with me and fine with my whole 'magic solves everything' theory. Also I swapped places in the famous Glitch/Cain Good Morning Sweetheart scene XD I hope that is okay…since Glitch can't faint I had to change that too but I wanted it to be in the story and I mean although it was cute to see the gruff Cain say something like this to Glitch , does it really matter who says it as long as they say it? I hope you like it ;) Thanks for reading , more on Saturday.