Finally, after a long journey, it was time.
It was time for the Batter to face the Queen herself, and purify her.
The long set of stairs led him directly to her. Upon his arrival, The Queen turned to look at him. "Batter, you are finally here...The wait for you has been a long one, but you shall not travel any further, for I will stop you."
Keeping his icy assurance as always, the Batter retorted. "I have defeated your guardians, and I came here to defeat you as well."
"Why have you done this, Batter?"
"You are The Queen in nothing but name. You put forth three horrible beings to manage your world then sat back complacently when the citizens suffered from them."
The Queen's patience was eradicated. "I kept this afloat, as horrible as it was, but you made it worse."
"It matters not. Just as your guardians helped you against me, my puppeteer will help me against you. You have no chance of survival."
The Queen was taken aback by this. "...Puppeteer? Whatever could you mean by that?"
"They were assigned to me to help fulfill my sacred mission. They cannot talk to us, but they see and hear everything. And now you will die by our hands." The Batter responded.
"Why would a being like this assist you on your genocidal crusade? Puppeteer! If you are truly hearing me, ask yourself why. Why have you eradicated this world? Why have you helped him? I beg you, come to my side and assist me with putting a stop to this madness."
"No, don't do that. I need you to purify this world." The Batter tried to persuade his master from heeding the Queen.
Meanwhile, the Puppeteer was observing the confrontation between the two. If they could communicate it, they would've told the Queen they were with her all the way. Ever since they killed Enoch, ever since they saw the zones purified, something didn't feel right.
Something felt OFF.
And now it was their opportunity to right the wrongs of the Batter.
In a moment, the baseball man felt the control his Puppeteer had over him vanish, as it had moved on to the Queen, who similarly felt the control come over her.
"Come then, Puppeteer. Let us put an end to this once and for all." The Queen declared.
Unflinching, the Batter countered. "I have already cleaned the zones. The world is almost purified."
"I will stop you before you completely destroy it." And with that, the battle began.
...
As the dust settled from the fierce battle between The Batter and The Queen, it became clear that The Batter was no match for her formidable power. Defeated and broken, The Batter prepared himself for the final blow, fully expecting his life to come to an end. "I might have not completed my mission, but most of the world is done."
However, instead of delivering the fatal blow, The Queen, in a moment of unexpected mercy, stayed her hand. "Please hold on, dear Puppeteer." She approached The Batter, her expression softening as she looked into his weary eyes. In that moment, she saw not an enemy, but a partner.
With a gentle touch, The Queen reminded The Batter. "We have a shared purpose: to protect and care for Hugo. We have both been neglectful because we were busy with something else, Batter, but I can feel it, this is our chance to make up for it." The memories of their early days together and their love for their son washed over them, reminding them of the bonds they had formed and the importance of their familial role.
The Batter remained speechless with an unreadable expression, while the Queen pressed on. "I know that I hurt you now because I deemed you a menace, but now I can see not a monster, but the person I belong with. My love."
She offered him a hand, and he took it hesitantly. "I have come too far."
"It's never too late to repent and change, dear."
"Where is he?" The Batter asked.
The Queen gestured for him to follow her.
Leaving their animosity behind, The Batter and The Queen made their way to see Hugo, their hearts heavy with regret for the time lost and the pain inflicted upon each other. As they entered his room, they found Hugo holding a piece of meat over himself in his room, his distraught face reflecting the burden he had carried in their absence.
"He has your eyes." The Queen commented fondly.
"They are full of fear." The Batter replied regretfully.
Upon looking at his self-made parents, Hugo could only utter these words while shaking. "I am scared of the darkness..."
"There will be no more darkness."
"An no more fear."
Being touched by their son's vulnerability, The Batter and The Queen vowed to make amends and to be the parents he needed. They embraced Hugo, promising him a future filled with love, understanding, and stability. Together, they resolved to rebuild their family, to heal the wounds of the past, and to create a safe and nurturing environment for their son.
In the days and months that followed, The Batter and The Queen worked tirelessly to fulfill their promise. Their love, once twisted and tainted by their own demons, began to blossom anew.
As Hugo witnessed the transformation unfolding within his parents, a glimmer of hope returned to his eyes. He saw their commitment to change, their unwavering dedication to being the parents he had always longed for. In return, he opened his heart to them, allowing their love to mend the fractures that had separated them.
Together, The Batter, The Queen, and Hugo embarked on a new journey—a journey of healing, growth, and redemption. They discovered the power of forgiveness, not only for each other but also for themselves. The scars of the past became a reminder of the strength they had gained, the lessons they had learned, and the love that had persevered.
And so, in their newfound unity, The Batter and The Queen triumphed over the darkness that had once consumed them. They became the parents and partners they had always intended to be, nurturing their family with tenderness, understanding, and unconditional love.