The four remaining heroes now found themselves falling straight into a holding cell in the dungeon. Ashton looked up at the trapdoor which landed them in the cell. "Maybe I could just use my powers to fly back up the door," she theorized.

"Forget it," Ben responded. "These bars are made of similar materials as the chains which held you before. Though not capable of draining power, it does cancel out power from anyone within a 10 foot radius. Not even Lauren's ukulele would play right."

Lauren sighed as she strummed her instrument just for off key and out of tune notes to play. "It's true," she added.

All of a sudden, a random guard approached the door to the cell going, "Thanks for the reminder." He then took each of their weapons and placed them in a chest by the exit of the dungeon.

"Did we really lose?" Ashton questioned. Everyone else just sat in silence, wondering how it all came down to this.

Eventually, the minutes turned into hours. Drew became paranoid. "There has to be some way we can get out of here and stop Jenson," he stated.

"And Isaac..." Lauren disappointedly added.

"Just because my sword is on the other side of the room doesn't mean I'm not connected to it," Drew said. He continuously tried to call out 'Aranía', just for nothing to happen. Lauren reminded him how he has to be holding the sword for that to work.

Another guard approached the cell. "Are you trying to escape?"

"Of course not, Sir," Ben replied. "Just making use of our spare time."

Drew pounded on one of the bars going, "I still can't believe Isaac gave him our dragon bone sword!"

"Oh?" the guard responded. He quickly pulled out a sword from behind him. The heroes were shocked at the sight of a guard holding the dragon bone sword. "You mean this sword?"

Drew reached behind him to grab his sword. He quickly grunted as he remembered that their weapons were taken. He shook it off then turned back to the guard yelling, "How did you get that!?"

"Oh, I had a little help," he answered. To the heroes' surprise, Lady Claire stepped out from behind the guard. Was the princess now against them too? She was there when they rescued her, she should know the truth! The guard just chuckled telling them, "Relax." The guard removed his helmet and the heroes were even more stunned.

"ALEX!?" Ben cried, recognizing his brother.

Ashton giggled as she teased, "You look different."

Alex rubbed his face over his now clean shave. "Not one word. I'm not fond of it either. I needed to do this to fit in and be more convincing. You're welcome," he replied. He began to unlock the cell door while mocking, "And you all thought I was going to be the backstabber..."

Lauren's face filled with guilt. "Sorry about that..."

Drew began to ask how they were able to get the sword from Jenson. Alex went on to explain that since Claire was the princess, she was able to help him with a disguise to get into the palace and blend in. She also had easy access to the throne room. While Jenson's back was turned, she could reach in the bag he sat down to retrieve the sword and bring it back to Alex. From there they could now free the team.

"Since I'm so small, I was unnoticeable," Claire added. "When I heard Jenson falsely blame Alex, and the rest of you, I wanted to help Alex as soon as I saw him!"

Ashton knelt down to the child. "And now we need to go help your father. Come on, Hun. Wanna help us save your dad from that horrid detective?"

Lady Claire giggled before going, "Let's do it!" She grabbed the weapons from the chest and gave them to the heroes.

However, as soon as the group left the dungeon, two guards stopped them. Alex placed his helmet back on and told them, "Lord Elijah requested to have the prisoners sent to him for interrogation."

The guards didn't seem quite convinced until Claire stepped out and announced, "It's true. He told me to make sure they didn't escape and were brought straight to him." This coming from the Lord's daughter made the guards shrug and solute to Alex and the princess.

The heroes made their way to the door to the throne room. Drew then went, "Alright. Claire, you distract your father and get him to leave. The rest of us will deal with Jenson and Isaac."

Once everyone understood the plan, Claire rushed into the throne room as Drew peeked through the crack in the door. As soon as the coast was clear, the others barged in. Isaac gasped at the sight of his friends. He didn't say a word and embarrassedly turned the other direction.

"Prepare yourself, Jenson," Ben began. "It's not the Lord who will be going down, but rather YOU."

Contrary to Isaac, Jenson simply smirked. "Clever children. Escaping and still thinking you can top me."

Alex immediately took off his helmet and threw it to the ground as he cried, "WE AREN'T CHILDREN!!!"

Lauren's eyes widened as she slowly stepped back. "Uh oh..." she mumbled.

Jenson mocked how he was the one with the powerful sword, so they couldn't stop him even if they wanted to. Drew pulled out his Arachnid Authority Blade as he stated, "We've got powerful weapons too... Aranía!" Around twenty giant spiders emerged from Drew's sword. They all stared at the detective then turned and looked back at the fighter who just closed his eyes and gave a simple nod. The spiders then rushed toward Jenson.

Lauren quickly pulled out her ukulele and announced, "Make way for the ladies." Immediately casting thunderwave, Lauren was able to push Jenson straight into the wall. Ashton then shifted into a jaguar and pounced onto the detective.

"Don't deal too much damage," Alex began. "We still need Lord Elijah to hear the truth from him."

The girls simply rolled their eyes. Ashton clawed Jenson again then reverted back to her natural form. "Nah. I'm gonna give this guy as much damage as he deserves," she stated. Lauren then grinned as she helped Ashton back to her feet and began playing more tunes.

Drew's spiders continued to attack the detective. He pulled out his sword then used it to block Jenson's attacks on the women.

Jenson showed his irritation as he went, "What am I doing? My new sword can shatter you all to pieces!" He reached in Isaac's bag and widened his eyes as he realized, "Where did I place my sword?"

Alex smirked as he replied, "You mean OUR new sword?" He pulled out the dragon bone sword then tossed it to his twin brother.

Ben joined in the fun as he braced himself then held up his sword. The sword gave a large glow as Ben cried, "Divine... SMITE!" The paladin jumped up and landed himself onto Jenson. The dragon bone sword was now embedded into Jenson's chest. The detective was now so hurt that he could barely move.

Lauren cheered before pausing and going, "Why didn't you just end him here and now?"

Ben simply replied, "We don't want to kill him quite yet." He put his arms around both of the girls concluding, "We still need Lord Elijah to hear the truth from him."

Ashton giggled. "You make a good point. That was well put, Ben."

"Well put!?" Alex exclaimed. "I just said the exact same thing!!"

As Jenson attempted to stand, Drew quickly stood in front of him and directed his sword toward Jenson's throat. The detective narrowed his eyes as he looked at the fighter. Jenson twirled his finger. One at a time, the heroes became wrapped up in vines, incapable of moving.

Alex automatically asked Ben if he could cut through the vines. Ben denied stating, "Not if I can't reach my sword." The paladin looked to his left and followed, "Ashton, can you shift out of them?" However, the druid was unable to change form due to being unable to move. Vines then wrapped around the heroes' mouths as well, leaving them all incompetent of speaking.

Jenson turned and looked at the halfling who was just silently standing there with hunched shoulders and furrowed brows. "And YOU!" Jenson cried. The detective painfully removed the dragon sword from his chest. "I hope you realize you have been no help!!"

The dragon sword began to glow. Isaac quickly flinched and closed his eyes. He gave a small shriek, just to hear an actual painful scream in front of him. Isaac opened his eyes and gasped at the sight. Drew instead had been hit with the sword. Isaac witnessed as Drew fell from the vines which had held him and onto the ground. The fighter had adjusted himself to guard the way between Jenson and Isaac, sacrificing himself for the cleric.

Isaac just stood still, unable to process the events before him. He then turned to the detective questioning, "What are you doing!?"

Unaware that Lady Claire and Lord Elijah had reentered the room from behind him, Jenson went on to explain, "Why are you complaining? I promised to never hurt your family. Well, your family is still safe and sound in the woods."

"No..." Isaac began. "No, these guys ARE my family! They mean just as much to me as my parents and siblings. We've grown together on this trip. Drew, Ashton, Lauren, Ben, and Alex. They also are family to me! And you just killed one of them!!!"

Due to Jenson's weak state, the vines around the room also became weak. As the vines turned brown, the other heroes slowly slipped from the vines. Ashton rushed toward her brother. She knelt beside him and began to weep. There was no longer signs of life within the fighter. The druid gently removed the sword from Drew's chest and grasped it against her, crying even harder.

"There's nothing you can do now," Jenson gloated. "One down, five to go. Then Lord Elijah will see me once again as the big hero! I executed 'the villains who abandoned his daughter'. With his trust for me built up, he won't even suspect me giving him his own execution!! Elijah will be gone, and with me now as his trusted right hand man I will be the next Lord!!"

"Is that so?" everyone heard. They turned to see Lord Elijah and Lady Claire finally revealing their presence. "I believe YOU will be the one with the next execution, Jenson," Lord Elijah finished. He turned to the heroes and signaled them with a nod.

Ashton glanced at the dragon bone sword and shed a tear. She looked down at her brother then up at Isaac. Ashton reached out handing the sword to Isaac. She said nothing, but her small smile was enough to signify. Grabbing the sword, the halfling knew just how to redeem himself. Given the fact that the throne room had the highest ceiling in the palace, Isaac looked up finding himself capable to form a dark cloud at the top of the room. The cleric soon told all of the others to stand back.

Incapable of moving, Jenson remained lying on the floor as others took large steps back. Isaac soon pointed the dragon bone sword towards the detective and called lightning down. A lightning bolt struck right on top of the weak detective, making him shake and slowly burn. Next, another bolt of lightning came and filled the dragon bone sword with a lethal amount of electricity. The cleric adjusted his posture just before using the newly powered up sword to give Jenson one last blow. The detective was now covered in ash and his platinum blonde hair turned black as it stuck out in all directions.

"You're not the one connected to this sword anymore," Isaac concluded just as Jenson officially collapsed and became deceased.

The halfling then turned around to face his friends. He could hardly look at them, afraid that they would still be upset. However, they all had gentle smiles. Isaac still continued show his remorse and apologized. The other heroes assured how he had already proven his vindication.

"There's just one thing left to do," Lord Elijah said.

Two days later, everyone in the village gathered in a field by the palace. Eight foot tall statues were scattered across the memorial ground. People were gathered in front of one covered by a tarp. Lord Elijah went on to dedicate this spot on the grounds in reminisce of a true hero. The field was reserved for royals and people of honor. Elijah removed the tarp to reveal the new statue of the wood elf fighter Drew.

No one was as teary eyed as Ashton who quickly turned to cry on Ben's shoulder. Each hero gave their own speech on behalf of the fighter who risked his life for another. During Isaac's speech, he announced how shocked yet grateful he was that Drew sacrificed himself for Isaac despite Isaac's earlier betrayal. It showed how much of a hero Drew really was.

Soon, Lord Elijah opened the base of the statue. The casket holding the fighter was placed inside the base of his statue and then the door was sealed. Now everyone could come and reminisce on the hero who helped the Lord remain in throne.

Lauren stood wrapped in Matt's arms. "I wonder if Jenson's having a ceremony too," she pondered.

Alex smirked as he replied, "Oh, he is. But it's not quite as special as this."

Down in the tavern, a few outlaws watched as the detective's ashes were buried under a baseboard in the corner. The ashes of several crooks were in the same spot so you couldn't even tell which ashes were separate people. A random thug simply carved Jenson's name on the wall in the corner under a list of other names then simply went, "Alright, that's that. Back to whatever you were doing before."

Alex was quite right. Jenson's ceremony was not as special as what Drew had earned.

The End