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Chapter 19: Desolation

It was total pandemonium. Auradon soldiers kept fanning out, covering more ground and taking their adversaries head-on. The villains had obviously not expected such fierce resistance, and Ben saw how a significant number of them stayed back, waiting for things to calm down before deciding to pounce. The undead were not nearly as effective within these narrow spaces, and a large portion of their forces slipped on the uneven ground as they tried to attack.

Ben kept blocking, dodging and parrying, slowly making his way further up the battlefield. All around him, he heard shouting, running and the clash of metal on metal. All his allies were with him, as even the Auradon soldiers who were kept in the rear now moved up, eager to prove their worth and to support the cause.

Aden and Royce suddenly moved past him, both of whom had abandoned their positions at the back to aid the frontline. This elated Ben, who only felt himself grow more fanatic and energized as he chased after his allies.

As Ben was forced to take on more undead soldiers, he saw Aden and Royce take on two villains. Aden threw a knife in the direction of a girl Ben recognized as Ginny Gothel, who cackled as she jumped out of the way. A dark-haired guy, Zevon, came out from behind her and threw a few vials filled with potions in the direction of the two. Royce ducked before knocking an arrow, taking careful aim, and firing at the exact moment Zevon took out another potion. The arrow hit the vial, which exploded and made a smoking liquid drip down over Zevon's arm. The dark-haired villain screeched in pain as his flesh seemingly started to melt. Ginny was shocked, and therefore unable to protect herself from Aden, who jumped in from out of nowhere, disarmed the girl and pinned her to the ground.

"Nice job!" Ben exclaimed as he momentarily joined up with the two.

"We're gonna take 'em in, bring 'em back to the camp…" Aden spoke as he took out a set of cuffs and restrained the still struggling Ginny Gothel.

"Rats! Buggers! Sods and slime!" Ginny ranted, kicking out desperately with her legs.

"Shut it!" Royce sneered, snapping a kick at the downed girl after he had restrained Zevon and joined up with Aden.

Zevon was whimpering, holding onto his disfigured arm and not protesting in the slightest. Royce was holding him up by his collar like a disobedient dog.

"We got this, Ben. You go take care of the rest, okay?" Aden requested as he got to his feet, pulling up Ginny as well.

Ben nodded, and quickly travelled further up the battlefield. He needed to find his allies, particularly his father or CJ, and join up with them. Everywhere he looked, he saw Auradon soldiers fighting together and pushing back villains and undead warriors alike.

Ben felt even more elated, but that euphoric feeling turned to dread when he spotted Evie and Carlos taking on two tall figures. One villain, who Ben recognized as Anthony Tremaine, already sported a bleeding cut on his cheek and was hacking at the two VK's with his sword. The other adversary, Clay Clayton, was just about to load his shotgun and take aim.

"No!" Ben shouted as he ran towards the fighting parties. Clay aimed at Evie, who froze, her sword dangling loosely in her hand. Right as the shotgun went off, Carlos let out a loud cry and jumped at Evie, pushing her out of the way. He was hit in his right leg, where the debris that the gun had unleashed lodged itself in Carlos's flesh.

He screamed in pain, clutching his knee, as Evie hastily crawled over to him. "Carlos! Carlos!" She tearfully pleaded.

"Lookie here…" Anthony Tremaine quipped. "Two VK's for the price of one… Harriet will be pleased…"

Before Anthony or Clay could even raise their weapons again, Ben let out a roar of anger as he plowed into them from the back, pushing them off balance and making them fall to the ground with a loud smack. "Evie, get out of here!" He shouted, raising his sword as the two villains scrambled back up.

Anthony lashed out with his sword, and Ben parried. Clay decided that he did not have enough time to reload his shotgun, so he raised the weapon like a club and swung it at Ben, who was forced back. The duel continued like this, with the two villains advancing, hacking, slashing and swinging, while Ben tried to remain standing and stay in the fight. He was losing though, and realized he needed help.

That help arrived in the form of Evie, who suddenly jumped in between Ben and his opponents and pointed her sword at the two villains. "You are done!" She snapped, before lashing out. Anthony and Clay were a little brought about, and had no answer for Evie's extremely energetic and fierce fighting style at the moment. Ben joined in as well, and together with Evie he managed to force their adversaries back.

Clay was the first to fall, slipping on the uneven ground after a slash from Evie, after which Ben moved in and knocked the guy out with a strike from his sword hilt. Anthony was visibly scared by this, and stumbled back to try and flee. Evie didn't give him the chance, jumping in and lashing out with her sword, hitting her opponent in the eye.

Anthony Tremaine screeched from the pain, clutching his face and clawing at his bleeding eye. Evie scoffed, exhaling loudly, before raising her leg and kicking at the fallen villain's face, knocking him out instantly.

"C-Carlos…" Ben stammered, pressing a hand to his side.

Evie's seething eyes immediately turned worried, and they hurried back to their fallen comrade together. Carlos was badly hurt. The flesh below his knee was practically torn off from the impact of the shotgun blast, and his right leg was drenched in blood.

"Get him out… Back to safety…" Ben ordered Evie as they bent down over Carlos.

"Ben…" Evie gasped, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

"That's an order…" Ben snapped. "You've done your part, both of you… And you've been great… But I need both of you alive for what's to come next…"

Evie swallowed heavily, but then nodded. She grabbed Carlos by his arm, with the younger boy groaning in pain, and draped it over her shoulder before trudging back towards the safety of the Auradon rear.

Ben felt somewhat glad to know that the two of them would be out of harm's way, at least for a while, but quickly reset his mindset to a hardened, battle-ready one.

He again made his way further away from the Auradon frontline. The flashing lights of the magic battle between Solomon and Lancelot were still occasionally flickering further back, and Ben had to give Lance credit for holding out this long. The fighting around him had largely turned into a stalemate, with neither party advancing much.

The Auradon vanguard had stalled, but was still fighting admirably. Ben spotted his father a little further, taking charge and shouting directions. "Ben! Are you unhurt!?" He snapped when he saw his son.

"I'm fine… But we need to get to Solomon… Lance…" Ben panted, taking a second to stand still and wipe the sweat and mud from his face.

"I'll clear a path with the vanguard. You cover my back and clear out the stragglers… I didn't dare to believe it at first, but we might win this, son…" Adam spoke in a raspy, but clear voice.

Ben just nodded, fired up again by his father's words. "Yes, father."

"Son!" Adam called out, right before Ben turned his back. "I love you, and I'm proud of you." He said to him, placing a hand on Ben's shoulder and squeezing it.

Ben's voice got caught in his throat, so he just nodded. Adam already turned back to his company of soldiers, raising his sword and yelling out more encouragements. Ben moved to the right side of the battlefield, hoping to find CJ and help her search for Archer.

He was then suddenly alerted when he spotted two identical red leather coats a little further back. Harry and Harriet Hook were taking on Jay and Lonnie. It was quite a sight to behold, and Ben would have been thrilled if the circumstances weren't so dire.

Jay was fighting Harry, both young men grunting and snarling at each other, their eyes filled with hatred. Lonnie was taking on Harriet, the latter of whom was duel-wielding sabers and cackling like a mad witch as she hacked and slashed at her opponent.

Ben's legs nearly gave out, that's how tired he was, as he made his way to yet another fighting party in an attempt to help his friends. Right as he neared them, Jay managed to trip Harry, causing him to drop down with a loud smack. From his position, Harry used his hook to dig into the ground before lashing out and throwing clumps of dirt right at Jay's head. He was hit in the eyes, and let out a cry of pain as he stumbled back, right into Lonnie.

This was all the distraction Harriet needed, because she immediately took advantage of Lonnie's momentarily disgruntled state and dove right in, driving one of her sabers straight into her opponent's stomach.

"No!" Both Ben and Jay shouted as Lonnie fell backwards, her eyes wide and shocked.

Ben again plowed into his opponent from the back, knocking Harriet over. Jay directed himself to Harry, who hastily climbed back to his feet. The four of them started fighting like caged tigers, with Ben and Jay forming a tight perimeter around Lonnie, who was coughing and pressing her hands to her bleeding stomach.

"Your girlfriend is dying!" Harry sneered at Jay, swinging his sword left and right. "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Bastard!" Jay practically screamed, giving it his all as he struck down at Harry with blows strong enough to cut through full-grown trees. He was rash and careless, blinded by panic and rage, and Harry Hook took advantage. When Jay lashed out again, Harry grabbed onto his arm and flipped him onto his back with a loud smack.

"Jay!" Ben yelled, still locked in combat with Harriet, who did not let up for a second.

"Say goodbye to your pretty face…" Harry snarled, stepping on Jay's sword arm with one of his heavy boots before pressing the blade of his sword against Jay's cheek and drawing blood. Jay started yelling out in pain, trying to push his opponent away, but he was trapped.

Harriet was pushing Ben back as well, and he had to put all his focus into trying to hold her off and stop her from getting to Lonnie. "Jay! Fight back! Fight back!" He desperately cried, as Harriet's strikes kept raining down on him.

"You're done…" Harry practically whispered to Jay as he raised his sword and prepared to finish it.

"No!" Ben shouted, but there was nothing he could do.

All of the sudden, a flash of steel, and Harry Hook was flung to his side with a cry of pain. A dagger stuck out from his side, and he cursed and ranted as he searched for his assailant.

CJ Hook jumped out from the fray, a determined and extremely hostile expression on her face. She sneered at her siblings, both of whom had frozen from shock.

"CJ!" Harry yelled, eyes wide, scrambling back to his feet while pressing a hand to his now bleeding side.

The youngest Hook sibling just wordlessly raised her sword, glaring at Harry and waiting for him to strike. The attack never came though, as Harry just stumbled back a few paces as he kept looking at his sister. "Give up, Harry!" CJ hissed, still pointing her sword. "Lay down your weapons… You're done…"

Harry still did nothing. The expression on his face went through a range of emotions, with confusion, anger and regret appearing most often. Ben could practically see the gears turning in his head. It appeared as though Harry would not be taking up arms against the sister he had once held dear.

"Aargh! You bitch!" Harriet barked, completely forgetting about Ben and Lonnie and instead storming at her younger sister with murderous intent. "Useless coward!" Harriet snapped at Harry as she passed him. "I'll do it myself…" CJ wordlessly raised her own sword and began fighting Harriet, both their blades flashing as they hacked into each other. Harry was still somewhat lost for words, and Ben saw both his sword and his hook trembling slightly in his hands.

Ben had more urgent matters to attend to, however, and immediately crouched down over Lonnie's shuddering body to try and help her. Jay soon joined him, the cut on his face bleeding profusely, but he paid that no mind. "Lonnie! Lonnie! Please talk to me…" Jay pleaded, wiping some stray strands of hair from his girlfriend's face.

"Ngh… It… It hurts…" Lonnie muttered, her face scrunched up in pain. She had both of her hands pressed against her stomach, but blood was still seeping through and drenching her entire midsection.

"You're gonna be okay… You have to be okay!" Jay stammered, pressing his own hands against Lonnie's stomach to try and stop the bleeding, but instead only causing her to yell out in pain.

"You have to go! Take her away! Back to the infirmary or a medic!" Ben urged him. Lonnie had gone incredibly pale, and her eyelids fluttered as she was seemingly on the verge of falling unconscious.

Jay kept looking at Lonnie for a few more seconds, the first tears starting to form in his eyes. He then turned resolute though, and picked Lonnie up off the ground. "I'll be back…" He told Ben, propping his girlfriend up in his arms before hastily running off, back towards the Auradon camp. Ben lost sight of him after only a few seconds, as dirt and rain clouded his vision.

With Lonnie hopefully taken care off, Ben could now focus on the task at hand again. The three Hook siblings were not done fighting yet. While Harry was standing off to the side, his face pale and his hand pressed to his bleeding side, Harriet and CJ were still locked in feverish combat.

"I beat you last time, so why not just surrender!?" CJ snapped, ducking and weaving as she occasionally lashed out with her sword.

"You are nothing but a spineless wimp and a traitor!" Harriet shrieked, both her sabers constantly clashing against CJ's blade.

Ben eyed Harry Hook suspiciously, but it appeared as though he wasn't planning on intervening in the fight between his sisters. Ben fully believed that CJ was capable of handling herself, but he also wanted to get back to finding both Archer and Solomon alongside her as fast as possible. He decided to help her.

He jumped in at the right moment to block one of Harriet's strikes with his sword, after which CJ was able to deliver a sharp kick to the older girl's stomach. Harriet stumbled back, but stayed on her feet, eyes seething with rage. "Weakling!" She sneered, eyeing both CJ and Ben. "Too scared to take me on by yourself?"

"I don't have to…" CJ replied, raising her sword. "I've got friends now…"

She and Ben advanced on Harriet, who quickly found herself overwhelmed. "Harry!" She called out, looking to her brother for help. Harry gave no indication that he even heard her, instead just leaning against the nearest tree with an empty, tearful look in his eyes.

Harriet soon tired, her strikes growing increasingly more desperate and uncoordinated. Ben and CJ teamed up nicely, their combined S.A.S. experience giving them a decisive edge in this fight. They struck at Harriet one at a time, slowly wearing down her defenses, until they managed to knock both her sabers out of her hands and force her to her knees.

"Aaarrgghhh!" Harriet cried out when she fell down, panting loudly. She looked up at CJ in particular with unrivaled hatred. "Y-You useless brat… You ignorant child…" She spat, practically foaming at the mouth.

"You've lost, Harriet…" CJ spoke in a strangely calm tone. "Face it!"

Ben looked in between the two sisters, his eyes also shooting over at Harry every once in a while. Harriet was down for the count, whereas her brother still apparently did not plan on intervening. It seemed as though this particular battle was now over…

"Surrender!" CJ demanded of her sister, pointing her sword.

Harriet did not answer CJ right away, instead just breathing deeply in and out. Her eyes were filled with betrayal and denial.

"Surrender!" CJ repeated, pressing the tip of her blade against Harriet's chest.

"CJ…" Ben mumbled in a warning tone, but she paid him no mind.

Harriet let out a low, growling sound as she balled her fists but made no move to stand up or oppose CJ. "I surrender…" She muttered, her voice barely audible.

This was enough for CJ, who lowered her blade and scoffed at her sister before walking over to her brother. While her demeanor was cold and calculating, Ben noticed a hint of pity in her eyes as she examined Harry.

"I'm sorry for the dagger…" She said once she got close enough. "But I had to stop you…"

"It's war…" Harry mumbled, sighing as he kept pressing his hand to his side. "What're ya gonna do?"

"You don't want to fight anymore?" CJ asked in a hesitant tone.

Harry shook his head. "Against you? No… I can't hurt ya, CJ… Not anymore…"

"Then go…" CJ nudged her head.

"CJ…" Ben spoke up from behind her. He was keeping an eye on Harriet, making sure she wouldn't try to run off or pick up arms again. He got where CJ was coming from, but he couldn't allow her to just let either of her siblings get off scot-free.

"They're done…" CJ told Ben, looking back at him for a second before turning to Harry again. "Go… Flee the battlefield… Get back to Uma for all I care… Just get out of here and stop fighting…"

"CJ…" Harry growled, his expression growing a tad angry.

"I don't want you to die, Harry…" CJ said, ignoring Ben. "But I'm done pretending we can ever just become 'brother and sister' again… You need to go, and I will decide if and when I would maybe want to see you again in the future…"

Harry let out a loud sigh, and then nodded.

CJ turned to Ben. "We can let them go, right? Harry's no danger anymore…"

Ben cringed a little. "And this one?" He asked, pointing his sword at Harriet.

"She's unarmed…" CJ shrugged, walking over to her older sister, who stared up at her in a rebellious fashion. "And injured…" She added, raising her leg before roughly stomping down on Harriet's ankle. A loud, crunching sound was heard, and the older Hook sister immediately let out a scream of pain.

"Aargh! You bitch! You broke my fucking ankle!" She cried, clutching her leg and rolling around on the mossy forest ground.

"CJ!" Ben exclaimed in horror.

CJ stared back at him with a totally blank expression. "Just a precaution… After what she has done, she deserves much worse than this, trust me…"

Ben was angry, and he felt slightly betrayed, but the battle was still raging around him and it didn't feel like the right time and place to argue with one of his allies. It was a heated moment, and Ben could also not really blame CJ for not being entirely in control of her emotions.

"You can carry her, Harry…" CJ pointed out. "Take her away… But if I see either one of you here again I will not hold back…" She went on, her voice and expression turning dark.

Harry, who still seemed somewhat dazed and glossy, walked over to CJ and handed her his sword and hook. "I'll see you again…" He mumbled before turning to Harriet and helping her to her feet before draping one of her arms over his shoulders.

"You fucking coward…" Harriet cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. "We will come for you… I will come for you…"

"Yeah, yeah…" CJ replied in a disinterested tone. It appeared as though she was genuinely ready to completely call it quits on her family.

Harry started dragging his older sister away before she was able to say another word. She protested slightly, but was unable to really combat her brother's efforts due to her broken ankle. They soon disappeared from sight.

"That was wrong, CJ…" Ben stated, taking a moment to breathe.

"What? Letting them go or breaking my sister's ankle?" CJ replied, almost in a scoffing tone.

"Both!" Ben snapped. "They're dangerous! They could cause more harm!"

"They're unarmed… Hurt… Done…" CJ shrugged. "They're not gonna get very far… And, by the way, don't we have bigger fish to fry?"

Ben once again examined the battlefield around him. Here and there, he was able to distinguish small parties of Auradonian soldiers, villains and undead warriors locked in combat. Further back, the light show that Solomon and Lance had been conjuring up had stalled somewhat, and Ben feared that the latter would soon be forced to give up. CJ was right to an extend; they had to move fast, or they would risk losing significantly more people.

"Okay…" Ben growled. "But we're not done talking about this… You need to try to keep your emotions in check, CJ!"

"So, I should try to take Solomon in peacefully as well?" CJ scoffed as she walked off, towards the sound of battle.

"Well, no… But, this was different… Those two had surrendered…" Ben pointed out, following her.

"Let me teach ya a little 'isle mentality', Ben…" CJ began. This was the first time Ben had heard CJ use his name. "Your opponent hasn't surrendered until they are either unconscious, gravely wounded or dead… If you do get the chance to take in Solomon, or Uma, or either of my fucking siblings, then make sure to really hurt them first, or just finish the job completely…"

Ben was really growing frustrated here, and he was ready to once again protest CJ's brazen claims, but was alerted by loud yelling and the sounds of clashing metal. He started running, with CJ beside him, and didn't stop until he had reached a clearing where a company of undead soldiers was battling the advancing Auradon vanguard, led by his father!

The Auradon soldiers were holding their own, but were facing off against an increasingly larger number of enemies. Adam was trying his best to have his men hold the line and to direct his attention to where it was needed, but Ben could see from all the way where he was standing that his father was tiring. He was covered in dirt, panting loudly and had numerous cuts on his face. His arms trembled slightly whenever he had to raise his sword, and Ben could see him stumble whenever he was forced to take on another opponent.

"We need to help!" Ben shouted at CJ, who just nodded.

The two of them quickly joined in the fighting, aiding the Auradon soldiers on the right flank. Ben tried to make his way to the center and get closer to his father, but warriors from both sides obstructed his path. More and more undead came running from deeper in the forest, bashing themselves against the Auradonian shields.

It was at this chaotic moment that Ben saw Archer again. He emerged from the back, with other undead sprinting beside him towards the Auradonians. Archer wasn't sprinting though; he was barely even jogging. His black eyes stared straight at Adam, and he held his steely gaze as he made his way through the fray in a determined fashion, his ordinary sword clamped tightly in his hand.

"Dad! Dad! Watch out!" Ben yelled, his voice barely even audible to himself above the deafening sound of the battle raging around him. He tried even harder to break through the rows of allies and enemies alike, pushing, shoving and lashing out with his sword.

Archer, in the meantime, just got closer and closer to his father, nimbly dodging or parrying any Auradonian soldiers that got in his way. It was as if he had been given strict orders, which he would now execute without any hesitation.

Ben hopelessly watched on, stuck in between a seemingly endless crowd of fighting parties. He was shoved around helplessly by both allies and enemies, more of whom kept running in from every side and only increased the scale of the brawl. Even with the chaos around him, all Ben could think about and focus on was getting to his father! He had to! Archer was momentarily being held up by a row of Auradon soldiers, but was rapidly cutting his was through. He was so close already, and Adam still hadn't noticed him!

"CJ! CJ!" Ben cried out in absolute desperation.

"What!?" He heard an agitated voice call out from behind him.

"Archer! There!" Ben shouted, looking over his shoulder at the fighting CJ while also pointing at the still advancing Archer.

He saw CJ's eyes widen, and she too began almost mindlessly making her way to the other side of the battlefield. She joined up with Ben, and it together they managed to make a lot more ground a lot quicker.

Still, they were too late…

Archer managed to cut his way past a row of Auradon soldiers, the last of whom just managed to yell out a warning to Adam before he was struck down. Adam turned around, panting and sweating, and suddenly found himself eye-to-eye with the revived Archer.

Adam had been fighting for a significant amount of time now, and he had to certainly be feeling the ramifications of exhaustion and muscle fatigue at this point. Blood and sweat were dripping down his brow, and almost every inch of him was covered in mud and dirt. His arms were stiff as he raised his sword and stared down his opponent.

Archer too was covered in mud, dirt and the blood of his slain opponents. However, opposed to Adam, he did not look tired. One of the side effects of being undead or revived was a complete lack of tiredness. He had no need of rest or respite. He could keep fighting and killing for as long as Solomon commanded him to.

The two met in combat. Archer struck first with a strong sideways blow that Adam managed to parry. He was pushed back though, and Archer immediately pounced. Archer had been the greatest swordsman in the world when he was still alive, and at least three quarters of that talent seemed to have persevered into his revived state. He was maybe not as fast or technically gifted as he had previously been, but he somewhat made up for that with increased durability and ferocity.

The tired out Adam was continuously pushed back, fully on the defensive as he tried his best to parry Archer's fast strikes and push him back to create some space. Ben and CJ were still caught in between groups of fighters. Whenever Ben finally broke free, he was again confronted by more undead enemies. Throughout it all, he couldn't keep his eyes away from his father for too long.

Archer dealt the first blow, bringing Adam off balance with a few strong strikes before slashing at his leg and delivering a large and painful cut. Adam stumbled back, grabbing at his now painful leg and gnashing his teeth as he watched his opponent get closer again. Archer began moving around the now much less mobile Adam, striking at him from every angle as the older man tried in vain to keep him at bay.

Ben grew more and more panicked, but he could no longer express said panic through yelling and shouting. He kept pushing himself further and further, feeling his muscles strain and all his limbs tremble from exertion in an attempt to finally break through and help his father.

Archer too kept advancing, now seemingly intent on ending the fight as quickly as possible. Adam could barely stand on his injured leg, and Archer kept making him lose his balance with increasingly harsher strikes to the former king's sword. Adam soon fell to one knee, not being able to anything other than try to keep up his sword with one arm and try to deflect Archer's blows.

After a few strong strikes, Archer hit his opponent's sword from the side and managed to knock it out of Adam's limp hand. The sword clattered to the ground, and Adam let out a pained groan.

Everything around Ben slowed down… The rain… The fighting parties… Everything turned into a vague haze of indiscernible colors and sounds… He was running, but barely looking where he was going… He tripped and stumbled, bumping into numerous faceless shapes and figures while his eyes were glued to his father.

Adam raised a hand from his position on the ground, perhaps to signal his surrender or maybe in the hope that there was the slightest chance of Archer's humanity shining through… Archer, meanwhile, reared back his sword, the blade pointed at Adam's chest…

Ben tried to meet his father's gaze, but he still hadn't noticed him…

Archer stabbed Adam right in the heart, driving his sword through the older man's armor until the bloody tip of his blade stuck out of his back. Adam's eyes widened, his hands moving to his chest. Archer kept his steely gaze on the wound he had delivered, out of which blood started pouring, drenching Adam's front. The old king opened his mouth and coughed up some blood… His breathing grew more shallow and erratic… Archer withdrew his blade, making more blood splatter onto the ground… Adam fell back, and stopped moving…

"Noooooo!" Ben cried out in utter despair. The sudden surge of dread giving him the necessary strength to bash the few undead that stood in his way aside. He stormed at Archer, who apprehensively raised his sword, but Ben paid him no mind. He passed his former friend and kneeled down next to his dying father, letting his sword clatter onto the ground.

CJ had joined him in his charge, but she had taken it upon herself to take out Archer. The two met only a few feet behind Ben, and the clashing of their swords rang in his ears. Still, he paid them no mind, but was subconsciously grateful that CJ managed to distract Archer in order to give him the time he needed with his dad.

"Dad! Dad!" Ben stammered, grabbing his father behind his back and trying to help him sit up straight.

"Ugh… S-Son…" Adam grunted, more blood seeping from his open mouth.

"D-Don't talk… O-Okay? W-We need to get you back… F-Fix you up…" Ben stuttered, feeling tears rapidly develop in the corners of his eyes as he watched his father grow more and more pale.

"I-I… I t-think it's… It's t-too late for that…" Adam mumbled, his right hand still moving around the gaping stab wound Archer had delivered. "Too late for me…"

"No, no, no, no! Don't say that!" Ben replied in a more resolute tone, though he did feel as though his emotions could overwhelm him at any moment. "Y-You're gonna be okay… You have to…"

"Son…" Adam murmured, his eyelids fluttering. "My time has come…" He whispered, barely audible. "You have made me so proud… So happy… K-Keep fighting… Fight for what you love… Never give up on love…" He raised his bloody hand and placed it on his son's cheek.

Ben started sobbing, tears freely dripping down his cheeks and mixing with the rain.

"Your mother… T-Tell her I love her… Always…" Adam went on, his breathing quickening and growing increasingly raspy. "A-And you… Do good, son… Do good… Always… Good…"

Adam's hand dropped to the ground with a smack, and his eyelids closed completely. As the rain clattered on both his own and his father's armor, and the battle around them continued to rage, Ben was there to see his father breathe his last… And then he was gone… And all seemed lost…