Siesta tossed and turned until dawn broke, and upon that breaking dawn, she gathered Khaydarin, who had been idle in Louise's room since they returned from Albion, and Derflinger and headed down to meet Colbert, hoping desperately that he had accomplished what he had set out to do.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Khaydarin beeped rapidly with what Siesta assumed was excitement as they floated rapidly to the Sky Fury and began furiously scanning it. Siesta also spotted Colbert, who was floating several large, wooden casks with him, which nearly dropped as he waved excitedly to Siesta.
"Here is the dragon's blood-I mean, vespene gas," Colbert announced as he met with Siesta and the two walked in unison to the idle starfighter. Upon reaching it, he waved his staff, and the floating casks dropped gently to the ground. "I had to create a whole new kind of container for these to make sure none of it leaked out! The outside may be wood, but that's just for insulation and to protect the glass coating inside that REALLY holds the gas in, and look at this!" He pointed to where, normally, a simple cork would hold the cask shut. Instead, there was a handle-operated valve on a pipe that was sealed in place with melted glass. It looked ugly, but effective. "And you use this," Colbert produced a long, flexible, light flesh-colored tube with a small metal tube on one end, "to make sure it transfers without leaking."
"What is this even made of?" Siesta inquired as she held the hose in her hand.
"Sheep intestine," Colbert proclaimed. Siesta nearly dropped it in response. "It doesn't leak and it stretches to seal around the pipe, so it was perfect!" Siesta could find no fault in his logic, and promptly attached the hose to one of the casks and to where the fuel was input for the Sky Fury. She didn't smell anything weird, so she assumed it to be working properly, and as she kept her hand on the starfighter, she realized it was, indeed, working as intended. With a big smile, she turned to Colbert.
"Lord Colbert, you're a genius!" Siesta declared excitedly.
"C-can you please stop calling me 'lord' I've been meaning to tell you that for a while but just never really found the time. Just call me Colbert." the professor said with a small chuckle.
"Well, Colbert, it's still true that you're a genius," Siesta replied.
Colbert smiled wide and bowed his head, "You're too kind, miss." Once Siesta felt the Sky Fury was full, she sealed the pipe and removed the hose, causing some white gas to leak out. "Oh! I should probably make a note to put a latch on the nozzle as well," Colbert noted as Siesta set it aside.
"Hey! What's going on here?" A familiar voice asked inquisitively as Siesta and Colbert saw Kirche and Tabitha approaching.
"Oh! You're just in time. Siesta was going to finally make this dragon move!" Colbert proclaimed proudly. Siesta smiled at the both of them as she felt for the release that would open the cockpit.
"It's ready," Siesta announced as she opened the cockpit and hopped inside, the power of the Gandalfr directing her hands to all the necessary controls to bring the Sky Fury online.
Once the cockpit powered up, a strange, foreign voice came from within it. A feminine voice that sounded… off to her. In a moment, she felt a massive sting in the back of her neck, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Siesta! Are you alright?!" Colbert cried out with audible gasps from Kirche and, oddly enough, Tabitha.
Siesta rubbed the back of her aching neck, as more words came from within the cockpit.
"Translator chip: installed. Welcome back Captain Sasaki," the feminine voice that she didn't know could be described as robotic greeted her.
It thinks I'm my grandfather? Siesta wondered in confusion. Putting that from her mind she began getting the fighter ready for flight.
"Ignition systems: Online. Fuel Level: Ideal. Weapons Systems: Online. Transformation Systems: Online," the voice read off like a checklist.
"Wish me luck, everyone! C'mon Khaydarin!" Siesta yelled as she closed and sealed the cockpit once Khaydarin joined her inside, turning to wave at Kirche, Tabitha and Colbert. The power of the Gandalfr guided her hands to all the correct maneuvers as the ship began to hover and rise at a steady pace. Here I come, Louise.
She hit the throttle, and the Sky Fury screeched through the sky.
On the ground, Tabitha whistled, and Sylphid faithfully perched herself beside her master.
"What are you doing?" Kirche asked, perplexed.
"She'll be in danger alone," Tabitha answered, monotone as ever.
Kirche looked at Tabitha as she mounted Sylphid, with an expression that, at first, was one of confusion, then shifted to one of resignation as she sighed and smiled.
"I guess I can't go home now, can I?" Kirche asked herself rhetorically, as she mounted the dragon with her friend. The two of them took off, steeling themselves for the conflict to come. Sylphid attempted to follow, but the speed at which the Sky Fury traveled was ludicrous compared to even the fastest dragon. It was all they could do to merely keep the fighter in sight.
"Even Sylphid can't keep up!" Kirche remarked loudly as the wind whipped around the two friends. Tabitha, not registering her, looked to the sky to see the moons, even in broad daylight, as they converged on the sun's position in the sky.
"Just having you here fills me with courage," Henrietta proclaimed to Louise from atop her brilliant, white horse. The garrison had moved out just before the break of dawn, and the sun was high over them as they approached the village of Tarbes. Not but a few moments later, the Princess and other leaders in front of the army frantically pulled back the reins on their steeds as the enemy was spotted in the distance. High above them and looking deceptively small, they could see it: the former Albian, now Aleksandrian, Flagship. And around it? Even at this distance there was no mistaking.
Dragon knights, Louise identified. She could see their obvious movements and shapes. Albian Dragon Knights were a force to be reckoned with, and now, to have to face them in combat? The thought would have terrified her if she was unaware of the plan.
"I hope Siesta gets here soon," Henrietta remarked to Louise as all of the mounts began to grow restless, "We're going to need a miracle." Henrietta then turned to the rest of the army to address them. "Griffin Unit! Engage the Dragon Knights, keep them off the army!"
Without question, the Griffin Riders deployed into the sky to intercept the coming enemies.
"Mage knights! Prepare to board the Warship!" Henrietta drew her scepter and pointed it at the airborne ship. "CHARGE!" She ordered as the army screamed in response and charged forward.
How are they supposed to board the ship? Louise questioned as the rank and file soldiers charged from behind them, with Louise and the Princess and other principal ranking officers staying behind.
Above, mages atop the griffins and dragons engaged, with the Griffin Riders casting spell after spell against their dragon-mounted counterparts. Their efforts were in vain, however, as the dragons were far more agile and easily dodged the spells while counter-attacking with flames and their riders' own spells.
On the ground, as the army charged forward, they were met with cannon fire from the ships above, raining down destruction amongst the ranks and knocking many a soldier from their mounts with many others being injured or killed, crying out for mercy, deities, or their parents.
Guiche, among them, was bucked violently from his horse as a shell exploded in front of them.
"Keep going! If we're under the ship, we can counter-attack!" the field officer shouted at the dwindling army behind him.
There's no chance, we're all gonna die, Guiche thought hopelessly as he curled into a fetal position, wracked with despair.
Louise, in the distance, could see villagers evacuating for the tree line, though some she saw did not make it. How horrible… she thought to herself at the sight of the innocent villagers being bombarded irrespective of their proximity to the army. It stoked her ever-burning fiery passion for justice.
As she witnessed this, the sky began to grow dark, and she and the Princess and even some of the other officers and army personnel looked to the sky to see the moons becoming clearer as the sun became obscured.
The time of your reckoning is at hand, Descendant of the Void, a dark voice echoed in Louise's head, causing her to clasp it in pain.
No… who-? She began to think before the voice continued.
You know me as Amon, as the fallen one has likely told you. I may be slain, but I will have my vengeance upon every reality, starting with yours, Amon's voice cackled loudly in her head.
"Louise! Louise! Are you alright?" Henrietta's voice sounded muffled and far, like when she was under the control of Cromwell's ring. Though this time it was due to being overwhelmed by this powerful force in her mind, disabling her movement.
"Louise!" Henrietta shouted as her face was met with a hard slap. This snapped Louise back into the battle.
"What? What happened?" Louise asked, bleary.
"The eclipse started, and then you went silent and dead-eyed," Henrietta answered. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," Louise answered, shaking her head. "Yes, I'm alright."
As the darkness grew, a certain silence came over the battlefield, as though all were in awe of the celestial event. The silence was broken by a deafening, screeching noise that was growing louder by the moment. Everyone who could spare a moment looked, and saw it.
"What is that?"
"Some kind of dragon?"
"No, it's way too fast!"
"Siesta!" Louise suddenly, excitedly cried out, seeing the form of the Sky Fury come into view. By the time it was seen, the Sky Fury had already disappeared from view in the other direction, and flashes of light in the sky erupted among the Dragon Knights' battle line, followed by deafening explosions the likes of which most had never seen or heard. The Tristainian army erupted in cheers at this, their morale restored.
The dragon knights scrambled, trying their best to avoid the screaming starfighter, but all the agility and maneuverability of some of the most powerful creatures in the world was no match for a 26th century state-of-the-art war machine meant to compete with foes far stronger than any of them had ever conceived.
From within the cockpit, Siesta expertly weaved throughout the Dragon Knights.
"Target: Acquired. Target: Locked. Target: Eliminated," over and over the voice told Siesta as she took down the Dragon Knights one by one. Some of the foes attempted to retaliate, but met swift ends once their movement slowed enough to make them easy targets. The ones that Siesta didn't have time to lock on to, she simply ran through, and the immense speed and durability of the starfighter ripped whatever was in her path to shreds. Though Siesta couldn't hear it, there was a roaring cheer from below at each successful attack from her. She decided, as she knew where Louise was on the ground and felt she had done enough shock damage to the enemy, to head down and meet with Louise to give Khaydarin over to her.
She turned and flew low to the ground, heading straight for where she saw the commanding officers were hanging back from the rest of the battle.
"Transformation systems: engaged," the computer voice acknowledged as Siesta activated it at the perfect timing that would allow her to land before them with the current momentum. In a few seconds, the cockpit altered as gears and other machinery shifted to a vertical position and the Sky Fury transformed itself into what looked like a metal, bipedal golem with cannons for arms. She moved the stomping Sky Fury a little closer and opened the cockpit once again.
"Louise!" Siesta called out, a wide grin on her face.
"Siesta!" Louise called back above the din of the battle, riding her horse to meet her as the Princess and her other officers stared at this construct in disbelief.
"I thought you could use this, go on Khaydarin!" Siesta encouraged as the little golden probe beeped affirmatively and floated over to Louise, who took the familiar in her arms. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Siesta announced as she removed Derflinger from the cockpit as well and tossed him towards her.
"Ow! Not cool, partner!" Derflinger protested.
"What do I need him for?" Louise asked.
"He can translate Khaydarin for you! I now understand Khaydarin can be a lot of help to you in situations like these! Trust me!" Siesta replied, having to shout over the sounds of her own mech and the battle raging behind them. Just then, something hit her vehicle from behind.
"Warning: Enemy flyer on approach vector. Hull integrity at 91%" the computer voice advised.
"Time to get back to it! Good luck, Louise!" Siesta announced as she closed the cockpit and transformed the Sky Fury back into fighter mode.
"No! Wait!" Louise shouted in vain as the transformed fighter took off. Her gaze after her girlfriend was broken by the rumbling of the earth before her, as she saw a familiar, titanic golem rising to meet the Tristainian army.
Siesta took to targeting down more Dragon Knights, and just as it seemed she had finished, yet another, that looked slightly different, showed itself.
"Target: Acquired," She readied herself to launch more missiles, but before she could, the dragon had darted away with speed she hadn't seen before.
"Target: Lost," she looked around frantically, before something struck the hull of her fighter,
"Warning: vessel is under attack," the voice warned, "Hull integrity down to 84%."
Siesta whipped the Sky Fury around furiously to blindly avoid any further projectiles.
"Incoming transmission," the voice informed.
What? How? Siesta thought in confusion.
"You're not the only one with otherworldly artifacts," a familiar, feminine voice echoed throughout the cockpit.
"Wait, how are you-?" Siesta began.
"Ah, it's you? Meddlesome peasant maid? Well, no matter, this time you DIE!" Longueville's voice clearly rang through as, despite her maneuvers, another projectile struck her fighter.
"Warning: hull integrity down to 68%, evasive action advised," the computer's voice advised. Siesta looked down and saw Fouquet's golem rampaging against the army below.
Longueville's cackling rang through the transceiver, "You may have the edge in speed, but this particular wind dragon can outmaneuver circles around your contraption!"
Siesta felt another strike against the Sky Fury.
"Warning: hull integrity down to 53%," the sky grew ever darker as Siesta desperately tried to engage Longueville, who always dodged expertly at the last second.
On the ground, Louise, after watching her girlfriend fly away, realized she could no longer sit back and rode forward, despite Henrietta's vocal protests, to meet the rest of the army that was engaging Longueville's golem. As she rode, she encountered Guiche, horseless and cowering on the ground.
"Guiche! Get up!" Louise ordered.
"No! It's hopeless! We're all gonna die!" Guiche whined helplessly. Louise pointed her wand at him.
"Fireball!" she screamed as the typical explosion came from the end of her wand, thoroughly shocking the cowardly noble from his cowering.
"Yoohoo!" A familiar voice called out from above. Louise turned her head upwards to see the familiar form of Sylphid on approach and atop it, as ever, were the boisterous Kirche and her monotone prodigy friend: Tabitha. Sylphid landed, and Kirche and Tabitha swiftly dismounted.
"What are you doing here?" Louise asked, partially in accusation and partially in confusion.
"Well we couldn't just sit by and let you have all the fun now, could we?" Kirche smirked as she and the others took stock of the situation, most notably the approaching golem.
"There's no way we can beat that! We should run!" Guiche hollered as he attempted to flee. He was stopped by Tabitha grabbing firmly on his cape.
"Alchemy," she stated flatly. Guiche, at first confused, understood her. He took up position beside her, and waved his rose-tipped wand, causing a massive cloud of rose petals to appear. Tabitha raised her staff and sent them flying with a mighty wind, causing the golem to be completely covered in the red petals.
"But how is that-?" Louise began to question.
"Alchemy! Change to oil!" Guiche ordered, as the rose petals turned black and sticky across the entire golem.
"Flame!" Kirche cried out, as a jet of fire erupted from her wand, causing the golem to be completely engulfed in flames, turn charcoal-black, and collapse.
Was it always that easy? Louise questioned as she looked at the smoldering heap that once gave pause to the entire Tristainian cavalry. She looked to the sky just in time to see Siesta's fighter be struck by a bolt of energy, and could see it beginning to emit black smoke.
"Siesta! No!" Louise cried out, the rest of the group turned to her. "Tabitha, please…" she pleaded.
Tabitha, understanding, gave her a small nod.
I must ask to go as well, Studious Tabitha, Zeratul's voice echoed through all their heads. The Void draws near, and I sense I must be there to meet it.
Back in the sky, Siesta, even with her psionics, an advanced starfighter that could take down capital ships, and the power of the Gandalfr giving her expert control over said fighter, was having trouble. The hull integrity was dropping, and the cockpit was full of so many alarms and warnings that she could not register them through anything but her Gandalfr power.
"I have you now," Longueville boasted, as Siesta knew another projectile was incoming and readied herself for evasive action, "AAAAAAGGGGHHH!" Fouquet's agonized scream was all Siesta heard next, as she looked to her display to see that she had been thrown off course. Looking around, she saw, barely, Sylphid, and slowed herself to meet the blue dragon in the sky. Without warning, she saw someone jump from the dragon, and she quickly opened the cockpit and moved the Sky Fury to catch this falling figure.
"SIESTA!" Siesta heard the familiar voice of her girlfriend shouting as the figure was revealed to be Louise. Siesta, with a little help from Tabitha's wind magic, was able to catch Louise's hand and draw her into the cockpit. Luckily, Louise's small form allowed them both to fit within it comfortably.
"What are you doing here? That was reckless and dangerous!" Siesta scolded.
"I saw you were in trouble and I couldn't just not do anything…" Louise replied sheepishly.
"You're so silly," Siesta smiled with a soft laugh.
"Warning: incoming hostile," the computer warned.
"What's that mean?" Louise asked.
"It means hold on because Longueville's not done with us!" Siesta announced as she hit the throttle, causing Louise to yelp in surprise at the sudden rush of speed.
As this happened, the eclipse had formally begun.
"Looks like we've won, peasant!" Longueville's voice gloated through the transceiver.
Finally, the time of your reckoning has come, a dark voice rang throughout every person's mind throughout the battlefield causing them all to drop their weapons and grip their heads from the searing pain. Behold, and rejoice, in the end of your infinite suffering.
At those words, the voice stopped, and Siesta was able to focus once again, and what she saw struck a fear in her that she didn't know she could feel. From the blackness of the eclipse, there was a swirling, red void, and from within, a massive amount of figures were pouring out.
Void Shades, Zeratul informed gravely.
"Wait, Mister Zeratul, you're here, too?!" Siesta replied, shocked.
I am currently atop your fighter as we speak, Zeratul informed. Make haste for the eclipse, there is little time.
"What? But wouldn't that take us to your world?" Siesta asked, confused.
That is not quite so, Gifted Siesta, but there is no time to explain as of now. Draw close to the eclipse, and I shall handle the rest. I must ask that you trust me, Zeratul asked.
Siesta looked to Louise, who nodded to her with fierce determination.
"Alright, Mister Zeratul, let's do it," Siesta aimed the Sky Fury for the eclipse.
"Not so fast, maid!" Longueville's voice mocked, as the trio narrowly avoided another projectile.
As the eclipse reached its apex, the runes on Siesta's hand began to glow brighter than ever. Louise's eyes were drawn to them, and she could feel as though something were awakening inside her.
"Hey! It's time!" Derflinger's voice announced through the transceiver.
"Wait! Derflinger? How?" Siesta was becoming more confused by the second.
"It's the eclipse! Khaydarin is going crazy right now and they established this connection between us!"
[Warp Matrix Connection Established]
[Supply: OVERMAXED]
[Minerals: 19212021]
[Vespene Gas: 18841992]
[Available Structures: Nexus - 60 seconds, Pylon - 18 Seconds, Assimilator - 21 Seconds]
[Last Stand Protocol: Disengaged]
[Notifying Executor of Idle Worker Count: 1]
"Khaydarin wants you to know they're ready to warp in stuff," Derflinger informed.
It is as I hoped, Zeratul said as they were about to make contact with the swarm of shadowy figures emerging from the eclipse.
"Um, Mister Zeratul, the hull integrity is almost down to nothing, I don't think we can fight all these," Siesta informed anxiously.
There is no need, Gifted Siesta, trust your psionics and Gandalfr power to guide you through the Void Shades. Once we reach the edge of the portal's opening, flee, and land. Young Louise, you will know what to do, Zeratul told them.
Siesta, with full faith in her teacher, darted through the mass of emerging shadows in the forms of creatures she had seen in her visions of Koprulu before. As they entered the dark cloud, it turned inward, and began pursuing them.
"You idiot girl! Well, I guess I must thank you for doing my job for me. This battle is already won!" Longueville gave a hearty, mocking laugh as Siesta's radar indicated she was now turning to leave while it also indicated a massive blob of red from the sheer number of enemies before them. Siesta clenched her teeth in frustration, knowing she did not have time to pursue.
We are almost there, Gifted Siesta, do not falter, Zeratul encouraged as some of the projectiles from the Void entities were beginning to make contact and the hull integrity warnings intensified. As they drew closer to the void portal, Louise felt herself slipping away, as though she were under the influence of Andvari's ring once more. This time, however, it felt as though she were experiencing a surge of power, instead of a drain. The runes on Siesta's hand, she noticed, she could read as though they were her native tongue, and knowledge of things she could not possibly have learned before began to enter her mind.
Nexus, Pylon, Assimilator, these names echoed in her head.
"Yes! She's finally linked!" Derflinger's voice exclaimed.
"Linked?" Siesta asked as she dodged through the swarm of void shades.
"Her mind is linked to Khaydarin! Get ready to see some serious shit!"
Nexus, now, Louise ordered. She could feel an acknowledgement from afar. From Khaydarin.
Below them, as the tide of darkness approached both armies, there were cries of fear from all around. Henrietta examined the situation. The incoming wave. It was headed right for her soldiers and villagers taking refuge in the tree line. Knowing this, she gave the only order she felt appropriate
"Form up! Hold the line!" Henrietta shouted to the army. As she did, she saw the odd, golden sphere form of Khaydarin beeping and moving out into the battlefield. She watched, curious and perplexed, as the ball stopped in a wide open space, and lighting erupted from it, causing a massive flash of light that formed into a swirling black ball surrounded in shining, blue energy to manifest. The ball was causing a massive disturbance in the wind as she felt as though she was going to be sucked into it. The army, confused, ran in any direction BUT the massive ball of energy.
What could this possibly be? Henrietta wondered. She then looked to the oncoming tide of dark forces and, seeing that her own troops were going to be trapped in engagement with them, drew her scepter as she steeled her resolve.
The grand Hierarch of the Protoss, Artanis, was unsure how long his people had been adrift in the void. Thrust into it by an unseen force, he had done his best to reunite the other Protoss he had been able to find here. The energies of the void had wreaked havoc on their ships, leaving only the Spear of Adun, due to its massive hull, left, but even that, after some indeterminate amount of time, was being critically eaten away at.
It was your arrogance that brought us to this, a mocking voice said to Artanis. He turned to regard the black and red-armored Highlord of the Tal'darim, Alarak. To think you could slay a god and there be no consequences.
You would do well to be silent, 'Highlord', Artanis answered, putting sarcastic emphasis on the last word. As I recall, you were as eager to carry out that plan as any of us.
Bah! I merely wanted vengeance for my people, it was you who decided to charge into the Void to slay Amon himself, Alarak chided.
And yet, you lent me your forces for that expedition, Artanis answered.
What splinter groups decided to join you is no concern of mine, but this situation, which has wreaked havoc on all our peoples, is a result of your brash actions, Alarak stated aggressively.
We do not have time for such petty squabbles, a feminine voice chimed in, as another Protoss, clad in flowing robes and adorned with a veil and what seemed to be a crown of some sort that was perfectly molded to her head, approached the two bickering Protoss. What is done is done, and we must focus on the situation at hand.
After a moment's silence, Alarak turned from Artanis and the other Protoss. I grow tired of this conversation, regardless, he stated as he left the Spear of Adun's bridge
Is he right, Vorazun? Do you believe that I sealed our people's fate in pursuing Amon into the Void? Artanis asked the female Protoss, insecure.
The future is always uncertain, and as you have said, we must experience history as it is now, and not try to live in it as it was, Vorazun counseled.
Your wisdom always brings me great guidance, Matriarch, Artanis replied, gratefully.
Hierarch! We are detecting a massive fluctuation in the void energies! a voice came through the ship's communication system.
Elaborate, phase-smith, Artanis commanded Karax, the owner of the voice speaking to him. Before him and the rest of the ones on the bridge, upon a massive view screen, a video was projected, showing the realtime feed from beyond the Spear of Adun. It showed masses of void entities, who had been relentlessly attacking them throughout their entire time in the Void, coalescing on a single point that stood out in the swirling chaos and darkness of the endless Void as it was radiating light.
It appears a rift has opened within the Void, though I cannot say where it leads. One moment... Karax paused as Artanis beheld the rift that seemed to emanate sunlight. I am detecting life signs beyond the rift! Including Protoss and Terran! Attempting to discern… Karax paused again as the bridge started to come alive with hope and excitement. It is… no, that is impossible…
What is it, Karax? Artanis asked imploringly.
It is… A probe! And… Zeratul?
Artanis was filled with a mixture of disbelief and joy.
The Probe's warp matrix link has been established! It has been ordered to warp in a Nexus. Time to completion: 60 seconds. Karax announced as the bridge's energy grew.
Can you lock on to Zeratul's signature? Artanis asked.
Not as of yet, no, there is too much interference from the Void entities, Karax informed.
Artanis took a moment to think, mulling over his options until, eventually, one idea stood out against all others.
Karax! Are the Spear of Adun's weapons operational? Artanis asked.
Indeed, hierarch, but our solarite reserves run low, Karax answered.
Helm! Guide us to the rift, focus all firepower we can spare into the Void entities! Divert all power from plasma shields to the weapons and engines, what we cannot shoot, we will ram into oblivion! Artanis boldly ordered. Karax, once we are in range of Zeratul's signature, warp him aboard.
Understood, Hierarch, it appears his signal is moving towards us as well, atop a… Terran vessel? Karax acknowledged with confusion.
Old friend… Artanis thought to himself, thinking fondly of their possible reunification. Lock on to the Nexus the moment it is warped in, and align the Spear of Adun along its vertical axis. Engage!
Back on Halkeginia, in the midst of the battle for Tarbes, the Void Shades had begun to reach the Tristanian army and were cutting through them effortlessly. Void recreations of horrifying Zerg monstrosities they could not comprehend ripped terrified, screaming soldiers limb from limb and recreations of Protoss and Terran ships disintegrated them with weaponry of a higher caliber than they had ever seen.
"Founder help us," Henrietta pleaded as her eyes went wide with horror. She could see, as her forces dwindled, the wave of Void entities were breaking past her line, towards the trees where some of her soldiers had taken cover by her orders and where the villagers were taking cover as well.
Before she could respond to this, however, a great, crackling boom erupted in the sky, and all who could looked towards it saw a massive, stone spike alight with red energy pierce into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked nearly everyone off their feet.
Henrietta felt the last of her hope fade as tears began to well up in her eyes while she rode to meet what she was feeling now was going to be her inevitable fate.
"This is it. Mother… forgive me. Founder, have mercy on our souls," Henrietta said softly to herself as she closed her eyes and waited for inevitable evisceration by the otherworldly monsters she was riding to meet head-on.
In the sky, Siesta's critically damaged Sky Fury had almost reached the rift, her emotion fueled the power of the Gandalfr and her psionics to push them to limits she didn't think were possible as she expertly weaved through the onslaught of Void entities. As they drew closer, Louise began to mutter in an unknown language that even the new translator chip in Siesta could not comprehend.
"Louise? What-?" Siesta began as she was interrupted by almost colliding with a Void entity.
She is speaking Khalani, Zeratul informed. Her mind has become connected with the Probe, and she appears to be issuing orders.
Though Siesta couldn't see it, Khaydarin was down below hastily putting up a line of pylons in front of the tree line as the warp rift of the Nexus began to fade and form into its proper, pyramid shape.
The time has come. I will return. Flee with all your might back to the surface, Zeratul told Siesta as a light flashed above her.
"Wait! Mr. Zeratul!" Siesta cried out as she could no longer feel his presence.
Siesta, left alone among a swarm of Void entities, a giant Void shard dropped next to her village below, and her girlfriend cradled in her lap speaking an alien language with no regard for her surroundings, pushed all hopelessness from her mind as she did as Zeratul ordered and disengaged her thrusters, putting her in freefall. At the last second before they hit the ground, she engaged them once more to escape the entities chasing them.
Zeratul found himself in an ornate, golden hall lined with psionic halberd-wielding Zealots and various Protoss personnel running frantically as what he surmised was a ship was rocked and the lights flickered.
What is this? Could it be? Zeratul wondered as he was bumped into by a passing Protoss who looked like one of the Khalai but with his nerve cords having been severed as a Nerazim. The young templar looked to Zeratul and slowly realized who he was.
Prelate! I do not know how this has come to be, but you must go to the Hierarch, he will wish to speak with you, the templar informed.
Where may I find him, young templar? Zeratul asked.
The templar pointed down the hall, You may find him on the bridge, Dark Prelate.
My thanks to you, Zeratul replied.
En taro, Tassadar, the templar acknowledged as he went on his way. Zeratul followed the direction he was told and eventually came to a lift upon which he, alone, stepped. Along the way, several other templar, Dark, Khalai, and Tal'darim alike, marveled at him, as though they had seen a ghost.
My people yet live, Zeratul thought to himself, hopefully. I must ensure that it remains that way, he thought with determination as he looked down at his once-thought-lost brethren.
Once the lift had reached its apex, Zeratul was greeted by the sight of Artanis and his Matriarch, Vorazun.
En Taro, Tassadar, my young friend, Zeratul announced. With that, Artanis turned to him.
So it is true, Artanis marveled as he walked up to Zeratul. Once he stood immediately in front of him, he extended his hand to the old Nerazim. Zeratul took his friend's wrist, an act that was the closest any Protoss came to embracing each other. Zeratul, my old friend, words cannot express how deeply sorry I am for my actions, Artanis said apologetically.
You have nothing to apologize for, my young friend, Amon's influence is a powerful force, and I would gladly trade my life, again, to save yours, Zeratul reassured. But what of this Vessel you have uncovered, Young Artanis?
It is the Spear of Adun, Old Friend, Artanis answered. If Zeratul's eyes could widen, they would have.
One of the legendary Arkships? To be deployed only in our darkest of hours? Zeratul remarked.
The very same. Artanis answered plainly.
I must marvel at this later, for our people are in dire need, Zeratul replied, putting the ancient ship from his mind. You have likely detected the Probe beyond the rift.
Indeed, Zeratul, and we are attempting to cross through the rift at this time, Artanis informed. Unfortunately, the mass of Void entities are interfering with our navigation. We await the finishing of the Nexus being warped in beyond the rift to lock on to.
May Adun and Tassadar be with us this day, then, Zeratul said, his voice trailing and echoing off into the distance.
The Nexus has warped in, I am locking on to it now, Karax announced but a moment later.
A favorable outcome, indeed. Helm, lock on to the Nexus' signal. Templar! Ready your blades for immediate warp-in once the Pylons' psionic matrices are established! Artanis announced. The ship, thanks to the Nexus Louise had warped in, straightened out to be perfectly aligned with the rift, as its cannons blasted through chunks of Void entities that attempted to rip and tear through the great, pointed ship the size of a city. Zeratul hoped to Tassadar and Adun that they would arrive in time before the eclipse ended.
Back in Halkeginia, the combined bombardment from the Albian flagship and the void entities had proved overwhelming, as the Tristainian forces scrambled to retreat, what little was left of them.
Henrietta found herself, despite the protests of any soldier around her, right there at the front lines, meeting these creatures head on with all the might of her royal-class spell work to save as many of her soldiers as possible. Yet no matter how many of these beasts she seemed to eliminate… more seemed to fill their ranks. And faster than she could eliminate them.
"Highness! Look out!" The voice of a young man cried out to her from a blind spot just behind her to her right. Before she could respond, she was thrown to the ground by the source of the voice as she watched him be impaled by a scythe-like claw meant for her while he attempted, and failed, to let out a strangled, tortured scream.
Henrietta raised her scepter, summoning immense willpower into a wind blade that she used to sever the creature's arm, causing the young, lightly-armored man to be dropped in a limp pile before Henrietta unleashed another wind blade that bisected the creature, causing it to fade in a puff of black and red smoke.
The young man before her sputtered and twitched, blood pooling from his mouth and chest where he'd been wounded, as Henrietta crawled over to him, feeling the sounds of the battle fade away as she turned him over and beheld this soldier who had saved her. Her eyes went wide with horror as his ill fitting helmet fell away, revealing a face with not even a hint of stubble upon it. Nor barely any signs of age. He couldn't have been any older than herself. Than Louise. Perhaps even younger, still.
"I… I…" the boy tried to say through blood-spattering coughing fits that stained Henrietta's armor and face. She paid it no heed as she removed each of their gauntlets and took his hand in her own.
"Shh, be still. You will be alright. I promise," Henrietta's voice cracked as she spoke this lie, feeling hot tears stream down her face and plink upon his weathered armor that hung loose from his small form.
The boy stopped his breathing for a moment as his eyes moved to regard Henrietta, his hand squeezing hers, "I wanna go home…" His grip loosened at this, and Henrietta felt his body go limp in her arms.
She clung tighter to it as she released a sob, "I promise. I will get you home." She continued clinging to the boy's body for a time longer, sobbing into it before she felt she could produce no more tears.
That was when Henrietta let go of the body in a daze as she slowly lifted her head to regard the carnage around her. This boy was but one of many she could see. Boys. Not even men. Not even teenagers. Henrietta wanted to scream.
Instead, she found herself jerked from her stupor by a hand clapped on her shoulder. She looked up to see Agnes, bloodied both from fellow soldiers, and her own grievous wounds along her right side.
"Your highness! Get up! Get out of here! I'll cover you!" Agnes shouted as she grabbed and lifted Henrietta back to her feet with her left arm.
Still, the princess found her eyes trained on the boy's body, and she looked at her bare hand.
"Highness!" Agnes shouted, breaking her of this once more as she turned to see her musketeer Captain facing down another of these creatures. This one looking like it was adorned with blades upon its wrists as it charged them.
Henrietta's survival instinct kicked in as she blasted it away with spears made of the blood that soaked this battlefield, saving them both as she got her head back into the fight.
Whatever you're going to do, Mr. Zeratul, now's the time, Siesta thought as she attempted to flee the battle.
"No," Louise suddenly spoke up through her trance of Khalani. Siesta slowed the Sky Fury at that declaration. "Have faith," Louise's mouth moved. The words clearly came from her mouth, but the voice was echoing through her mind as though she were speaking with Zeratul.
Siesta, not completely sure what to do, acquiesced to this declaration, and landed the heavily-damaged Sky Fury in walker mode, facing the incoming onslaught of Void entities and the screaming soldiers they pursued. Louise began pushing on the cockpit window, which Siesta surmised was indicating that she wished to leave. She, trusting her girlfriend, opened the cockpit, whereupon Louise jumped out, and stared out at the battle, with Siesta following close behind, activating the blade of her gauntlet as she did and placing herself before Louise. Siesta couldn't hear it over the din of the carnage, but Louise whispered one thing as she stared forth at the coming Void creatures.
"Khassar'Detemplari."
At that, lights began to appear near the pylons, just a few at first, but then quickly grew in number, causing the area before the tree line to become awash with brilliant blue and white light that everyone present needed to look away from. As the lights subsided, they were all greeted by the sight of hundreds, no, thousands of abnormally-tall beings in gleaming armor ranging from gold to black. Each of these newly-appeared beings threw their arms out, causing ignition of blades from each arm of colors ranging from blue to green to red. Behind these arm-bladed warriors, great mechanical beings of various types also joined them, most on four legs, some golden, some a dark blue.
Once their forms had stabilized, another cacophonous sound was heard in the sky, as a massive, golden ship that dwarfed even the Albian flagship came through the eclipse rift, crushing many of the void entities in its way. The already airborne Void entities, at once, turned their attention to the ship, while a great war cry was heard from the warped-in Protoss as they charged forward into the ground-based entities.
Henrietta, seeing this, may have already been drained of hope, but now felt stripped of her willpower as she fell to one knee, heaving deep, effortful breaths as she regarded what she thought was a new threat. She scanned the battlefield for what soldiers of hers remained, spotting two amongst the smattering that looked to be clinging to each other in cold comfort as they became surrounded by these nightmare entities.
Henrietta felt a fire light within her upon witnessing this, and, lacking in proper willpower, drew upon her very life force as she rose to her feet, trembling, and charged the entities, raising her scepter as she did and summoning more spears made of the blood of her fallen people to tear the entities apart before they could do the same to the soldiers that cowered in anticipation of meeting their fate.
Positioning herself between the incoming tide of darkness and them, she fell to her knees and one hand as she began heaving, losing whatever contents her stomach clung to as she immediately felt feverish and achy. Only the mildest of consequences for what she did to save these two.
She turned her head around to regard the charging forms of what she thought were the new enemies, and then looked deep into the hazel eyes of the helmeted soldier who was regarding her with awe, and made a choice.
She crawled over to the pair and fell upon them, feeling if she could at least save these two, this would be worth it. Not but a moment later, she felt a terrible, piercing pain in the side of her lower back run through her, driving the air from her lungs and making her incapable of the cry she wished to unleash in response while she tried to hold firm in shielding these soldiers beneath her.
The remaining Tristainian soldiers, thinking they had met their end, dropped to their knees as the tide of Protoss warriors charged before them, only for the hopeless soldiers to be passed by with the Protoss warriors engaging the Void entities only, cleaving and blasting them apart.
The Tristainian soldiers took this opportunity to flee into the tree line, and watch the carnage between these unspeakably powerful forces unfold.
Henrietta herself went through these two phases. First of despair at thinking all new enemies had come for them. Then of bewilderment as they charged right by her while she attempted to lift her head to regard what was going on.
In the sky above, the Spear of Adun easily crushed the Albian flagship's relatively tiny form, causing it to come crashing down on the battlefield with a mighty explosion. The new, gargantuan ship in the sky, that had not fully emerged, then began to fire beams of light at the giant, red and black Void shard that had embedded itself in the earth earlier. As the Protoss forces handily beat back the Void shades, they began to directly attack the Shard as well.
Soon enough, the Void shard gave a last eruption of red energies as it faltered and collapsed into nothingness. The new, giant ship had now fully emerged, and though the eclipse was now ending, it blocked out the sun on its own.
Not long after the arrival of the Protoss troops, the battlefield fell silent as the last of the Void entities were being destroyed. The shocked and traumatized Tristanians, or what were left of them, stared on in stunned silence. They did not know if this intervention was one of benevolence or one of aggression.
Had one threat simply been replaced with another? Each Tristainian was gripped with fear and unsure if they wanted to know the answer. They would have their answer, regardless, as new flashes of light entered the quiet battlefield, followed by the forms of four new figures.
Louise swayed. Siesta, sensing the exhaustion in her, turned to catch her before she fell.
"Louise!" Siesta called out to her dazed girlfriend in her arms.
"Hey," Louise replied weakly. "Did we do it? Did we win?"
"Yes, Louise, your orders allowed many Protoss warriors to appear and kill all the monsters," Siesta assured her exhausted lover.
"That's… good…" Louise replied with a weak smile.
Meanwhile, Kirche and Tabitha, who had taken refuge in the trees with almost everyone else, observed the smoldering wreckage of the Albian flagship they happened to be near.
"What power these Protoss have," Kirche remarked in awe. Not a moment after she had said that, she heard rustling behind her and turned to see a tall man in battle-worn clothes, covered in soot and dirt. He wore a plain, royal blue cap and his long hair, which looked to be pale blonde and curled at his shoulders, bore hints of being well-styled but was now mostly a mess of dirt and twigs.
"I can come back, I'll get more troops and come back," he strained to say as he limped away from the battlefield.
"Hey! You!" Kirche called out to the man, who immediately turned and pointed his fist at the two.
"Be charmed by the power of this ring!" He ordered, as the girls fell to their knees in response.
"W-what? What's happening to my body?!" Kirche exclaimed.
"Ring of Andvari," Tabitha remarked through gritted teeth, "Cromwell."
"Yes, and as long as I have this no one will-" Cromwell's voice was cut off as his head was bashed from behind by a large stick. The girls, with their bodies suddenly back in their control, looked up to see Guiche, who tossed the stick away.
"So who's this guy, now?" Guiche wondered aloud.
Back at the Pylon line near the trees, Siesta had picked up Louise and was carrying her sleeping form over to a nearby rock with which they could sit. The sunlight was now out in full force once again now that the eclipse was well and truly ended and the Protoss ship had moved itself out of the way, revealing what was a serene field, despite the death and destruction that had occurred on it. It would have been exactly the kind of lovely day she wished to have with Louise alone some day, when things such as this were not occurring.
Louise began stirring awake, and as she did, she looked up at Siesta's adoring face.
"Good morning, Miss Valliere," Siesta said as she gave her an affectionate smile.
"What happened?" Louise asked as she moved her head to try and look around.
Before Siesta could answer, the sounds of approaching, heavy footsteps and clanking armor interrupted her. She looked up to see four Protoss towering over them, with only one familiar face among them.
Greetings, Terrans, I am Hierarch Artanis of the Daelaam, and I wish to speak with the Executor of this battlefield, Artanis announced, leading the group.
This is a waste of time, I see no other Protoss here, one of the other Protoss, one adorned in intimidating black and red armor and robes, stated.
Siesta was slow to understand what he meant. Eventually, she turned to Louise and gestured to the Protoss. Louise, also needing a second to process what was happening, scrambled to get up and took a knee, bowing her head before the Protoss.
"That would be me, Louise Françoise Le Blanc De La Vallière," Louise announced in as formal a tone as she could.
Surely this is in jest, how could a simian possibly be-? the intimidating Protoss was cut off by the raising of Artanis' hand. Artanis then took a knee to be close to eye level with Louise, though it did not do much considering how much more massive his form was.
We owe you our thanks, Executor Louise, for it was your Nexus that we followed to be free of the Void, Artanis said, gratefully.
Louise could scarcely believe what she was seeing and hearing. Me? I saved the day? Louise thought in disbelief.
And you, Gallant Siesta, Artanis continued as he rose to his full height. Your bravery in the face of so many foes to bring our brother to us is as worthy of the moniker of Templar as any.
Siesta could feel a pleasant buzzing inside her as she smiled at the Hierarch and bowed her head. Artanis nodded back, and he, the intimidating one, and the other that looked similar to Zeratul but adorned with more ornate robes, began leaving, with Zeratul staying put.
Will you not join us, friend? Artanis asked.
I will stay with my disciples, for now. Later, we will have much to discuss, Zeratul answered as he sat cross-legged with the girls. Artanis nodded as he and the other two Protoss went to return to their ship. You have done well, Executor Louise, you have more than earned your rest.
Louise smiled at Zeratul before rising and sitting down next to Siesta, looking out over the battlefield rife with destruction.
Henrietta, meanwhile, had finally risen to her feet along with the soldiers she had covered, who regarded her with a quick, grateful nod before turning to leave. Henrietta, holding the wound in her lower left abdomen that steadily leaked blood, beheld the carnage around her.
"Everyone who is still able-bodied! Set up a triage station! Now!" She ordered frantically as she spotted the Protoss leaders walking across the battlefield.
She limped to meet them.
"Wait!" she called out as she approached. The trio stopped and gave this bloodied, battered Terran their attention. "I am Princess Henrietta of Tristain," she began, biting back a pained groan as she bowed her head. "I am eternally grateful for your actions here, today. You have saved my country."
Think nothing of it, Princess Henrietta, Artanis replied. We will be returning to our ship shortly. We shall speak another time, he informed as he moved to get clear of the Princess and was warped away in a flash of light.
I have so many questions, Henrietta thought to herself as she stood, silently, where the Protoss leaders once did.
Following the departure of all the Protoss warriors on the battlefield, as promised, the Spear of Adun rumbled to life, shaking the earth that everyone stood on. It then turned itself skyward, and disappeared beyond the sky.
For the Tristainians, they had much work to do in cleaning up the mess of the battle. So many wounded to attend to. So many more dead to count. Henrietta looked around for the boy she had held in his final moments, interrupted by an approaching officer.
"Congratulations, Princess, thanks to your leadership, we have won the battle," the officer said.
Henrietta regarded the dead. The many, many children whose lives were cut short this day, her lip trembling as she gritted her teeth in a sorrowful rage before regarding the officer, "Did we?" Henrietta hissed. She once more cast her eyes to the field of dead before returning her attention to the officer. "Make sure they all get home." The officer saluted her as she walked past him, spotting water mages like her begin to work on some of the survivors.
Despite the current threat being eliminated, she knew that it was through no power of her own that any Tristainian survived this day.