Mary's life story truly sounded like a hard one. Frank and Axel finished telling everything that happened. The Phoenix Flame wizards now understand Mary better than they ever had. It certainly explains everything. Hearing her story, Maru and the others were shocked and deeply unsettled. They had no idea Mary suffered from something like any of that.

"That's the whole story. That's how Mary got involved with those people." Frank said.

"So that's why Mary's been so focused on money. She's been trying to make enough to buy the island back." Gin said.

"This explains so much about Mary." Aster said. "You were right all along about her, Maru. Mary is a good person, but she's been trying to handle all of this alone."

"She's been trying to live and survive so that she can free the island from these people." Sandy said as he now feels guilty for ever thinking Mary was a bad person.

"Mary probably had to change herself and adjust to survive in Bronz's group." Axel claimed. "Maybe she had to become a thief, but she said that she would get that money no matter what. Saving this island has always been her top priority."

"Mary doesn't want us to get involved because she views this is her problem." Aster said. "After seeing what happened to this Sabu, she probably felt so powerless and helpless, and doesn't want to go through that again. I can certainly understand that."

"That's why she made it look like she killed me." Yukina said. "She did it to protect me and us. She doesn't want us to get involved because she thinks she's protecting us."

"That would be my guess." Frank said. "We hardly ever saw Mary after that, but that sounds about right. Then, we heard she was able to make it to main lands. We had hoped she found a way to escape, but there really is no escaping Bronz." Frank and Axel have also suffered at the hands of Bronz. They tried to live and survive with what Sabu taught them, but Bronz and his men made it difficult for them. No matter how much they wanted payback and revenge, they know they don't have the power to do so.

"What do we do now?" Gin said. None of them were sure how they can help Mary because Bronz holds a strong grip on her. Her entire life and being completely altered by that man. No one knew what to do, but Maru wasn't going to just stand around. He just started moving.

"Maru?" Sandy said with all of them wondering what he's thinking.

"Wait a minute!" Frank called as he and Axel hurried and cut him off. "I know you want to help her, but you don't know how terrifying Bronz can be!"

"That's right! We hate living under his rule like this, but..." Axel tried to talk to him. They both tried to talk some sense into Maru, but something stopped them. They saw something in Maru's eyes, a look that was intense and fierce. Something that got them to be quiet and allowed Maru to keep moving. "Whoa..."

"That look in his eyes... I've never..." Frank muttered as whatever they saw in Maru's eyes had them astounded. What is Maru thinking of doing?

...

Tennet

Officer Tennet has been the one and only officer on Citrus Island for many years, but he hasn't been much of an one lately. Bronz has taken complete control of the island, and for ten years he couldn't do a thing about it. The people look to him for law and order and he's let them all down. They've all lived miserable because Bronz and his men terrorized all of them since day one. Even though Mary made it to the main lands, they still weren't getting any help.

"Tennet, everyone is gathering together."

"Good. It's time we take action." Officer Tennet said. Ten years is a long time, and he thinks now is the time to take action rather tan wait for something that isn't going to happen.

...

Mary

The only ones enjoying any of this is Bronz and his men since they are the ones with all the power. They all just continued to lounge around and act like they were kings of the world.

"Well, I have to say that I'm a little impressed, Mary. I never thought you would actually have the guts to kill someone." Bronz said.

"Better her than me." Mary said. "By the way, Bronz... There's something I've been meaning to ask you for a long time now."

"What is it?" Bronz questioned.

"After being on this island for so long, aren't you bored or tired of it yet? Isn't there somewhere else you want to try and take?" Mary questioned.

"That is good idea. I've actually been thinking about that for some time." Bronz said. "I was thinking of making this island my forever home while trying to expand resources. Still, it sounds like it could be a hassle when I just want to kick back and relax. Maybe once I get bored with this place, but pushing those townsfolk around have sure been fun." Mary felt annoyed for him to say that, but she has to keep up the act. "Don't worry about it. Once they're all dead, we can figure things out."

"Wait. Dead? What are you talking about?" Mary questioned.

"I've heard that they've all been getting rather restless and want to take it out on me and my men." Bronz claimed. "We can't have that. I've tried to be reasonable, but some people just love to push my buttons."

"But there's no need to kill them!" Mary said. "Think about it. If you kill them, who else are you going to push around? Let me go back and talk to them. I'll have those morons come to their senses. After all, they have to be morons if they're thinking of fighting you." Mary knew that it wasn't going to be easy, but she has to do something to prevent people from getting killed.

"Fine with me. Go ahead, Mary." Bronz said. "Just do keep in mind that I too have the right to defend myself." Mary didn't stop to think about what he said. She just got going and headed back in hopes that she can prevent people from getting killed.

...

Mary

Mary hurried back as fast as she could. When she was far enough away from Bronz, she was sprinting back and was getting a little frantic. Once she made it back, she saw everyone has gathered together. Mary didn't like the looks of this.

"Hey! Everyone!" Mary called and got their attention.

"Mary?" Tennet said.

"What's going on?!" Mary said as she tried catching her breath. "Tell me this is some sort of joke. Bronz told me you all have been getting something like restless or whatever, and you're planning to pick a fight with him and his men! That's crazy! Just tell me you're all not really going to do something like that because there's no way you all would be that stupid! You will all surely be killed if you tried anything like that!" She was hoping for someone to come out and say that she was mistaken. That Bronz was just pulling her leg, but no one spoke up. "What is it? This is a joke, right?"

"No, Mary. I'm afraid it's not." Tennet said with everyone standing with him on this. "While you've been away, we've all been talking. It's been over ten years, and everyone is sick of it. All this time, we've been living in fear of those people. All this time, we've let them pushed us around and they did whatever they liked with us. We can't live like this anymore."

"And your answer is that you're going to fight them?! Don't be stupid!" Mary argued. "Bronz has just been playing with all of you until now! He could kill any of you if he wanted, but he never did! Don't you understand that?!"

"Of course we understand, Mary, but we must do something or else we're going to live like this forever. We don't want that." Tennet said. "It's time we fight and take a stand for our island! Our home! This has gone on long enough, and we're not going to put up with it anymore!" All of the people cheered in support with Tennet's claims, but Mary couldn't believe this. Mary has been trying to keep everything in line while she was with Bronz so that people wouldn't get killed, but their all practically saying they'll march right through Death's door.

"Are you serious?! Where is this all coming from?! I know it's been hard, but at least you're all alive!" Mary argued.

"We might be alive, but we're not living! This isn't coming out of the blue, Mary!" Tennet said. "We've been talking about doing this for a long time! We realized this has to be our time, we're the only ones to do something because you won't!" Mary was shocked to hear their putting the blame on her. "You were in the main lands! You could have gotten help, but you didn't! We're done waiting for something that isn't going to happen!"

"But they'll kill you!" Mary argued. "I didn't get anyone because this isn't their problem! I don't want more people to get killed over this!"

"We would rather die than live like this any longer! Now out of our way!" Tennet shouted. All of them shouted in full support of what Tennet said. Mary stood there in complete shock with all of them running past her. If it means they'll die, at least they will no longer live under Bronz's rule. Even with all of them far gone where Mary could no longer see or hear that crowd, she still stood there and remained in shock. Mary couldn't understand how everyone could do that. Everything she did was to try and prevent more people from getting killed. She failed to make the money needed to buy back the island, and now she can't stop everyone from getting killed. Just then, Bronz's words popped into her head.

"Just keep in mind I do have the right to defend myself."

"He knew... He knew." Mary realized what was going on now. This was why Bronz really wanted her back. He knew everyone was planning an uprise against him that could lead to their deaths, and he wanted her here for that. Was Bronz mentally playing with her all along? Regardless, this means everything she did will end up being for nothing. Unable to handle the weight of all this, she dropped down to her knees and screamed at the top of her lungs. All the suffering, agony, pain, and hardship she had to go through all leading to nothing. She kept screaming like that until she heard someone coming up behind her. She turned around and saw it was Maru. "Maru..." Seeing him also has her see that she played and mistreated good people for nothing. She tried not to get too emotionally attached to them, but she couldn't look at him. "What do you want? I told Yukina to get you and the others off this island. This has nothing to do you with you. You don't know what's been happening on this island for over ten years."

"You're right, but I can't do that." Maru said.

"I told you this has nothing to do with you!" Mary shouted. "Just get out of here! For once just mind your own business! I betrayed your trust! I betrayed your guild! You took me in and yet I stabbed you in the back, only thought of what was best for my own interest! I was a selfish person, only thought of myself, and tried to handled this all alone! My problems are my problems and not yours! So just get out of here!" She shouted and insisted Maru to leave and admitted to what she did. She sees her own actions towards good people and hates herself for it so much that she was crying. She could finally look at Maru with her finally able to show her tears. Mary wanted him to leave, but he stood as still as a rock. "Just leave..." She said with her turning away and kept crying. Maru did move, but not away from her. What he did was remove his locket and placed it around Mary's neck to her surprise.

"I won't do that." Maru said with him finally walking away from her. "Because you're my friend." Mary didn't understand why he gave her that until she remembered something. When they first met, he wouldn't let her touch it. For him to give her something so precious to him, he must really trust her.

"Maru..." Mary whimpered as she couldn't believe he would do that. Mary hasn't lost everything. Standing with Maru were the friends she made in Phoenix Flame.

"Yukina, Sandy, stay with her." Maru said with those two hurrying over to her. "Let's go." Gin and Aster agreed and went with him with Mary feeling like she doesn't deserve such great friends.

...

Bronz's Place

The townsfolk were able to make it all the way to Bronz's place. However, they weren't able to make it pass the gate because Axel and Frank were standing there.

"Axel! Frank! I was wondering where you two were! Open up the gates so we can give Bronz a piece of our minds." Tennet said.

"Sorry, Tennet. We can't do that." Axel said.

"What? What are you talking about?" Tennet questioned.

"Believe me, we would love to take Bronz down, but we don't have the power to do so." Frank said. "Right now, we're waiting for some special people."

"Special people?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry. They'll be here soon." Frank said. "When I saw those eyes, I felt something I haven't felt before. It wasn't fear or intimidation. It was dedication and devotion for others that can renewed our hope. I thought he was crazy for wanting to take Bronz on, but I actually think he and his friends have what it takes to take on Bronz. If they can't beat Bronz, I don't know who can."

"Hey! There they are!" Axel claimed as he could see them. All of them looked and saw it was Maru, Gin, and Aster.

"The guild wizards? Why? We're not paying them." Tennet said.

"It's not about money to them." Axel said. "They're just decent people standing for what they know is right. Just watch and see because I want to know what they can do." Bronz has no idea what's coming for him. He just sat in his chair with him and his men having no worries or complaints.

"Oh man. I can't imagine what's going on in Mary's head." Bronz said with amusement. "She must be feeling so bad for those people."

"You really are cruel, Bronz."

"I can't wait for those dummies to walk right in and this turns into a slaughter fest." All of them were laughing with delight at the kind of chaos that they're going to bring, but that was when it really started. The gates suddenly busted open and everyone stopped laughing. They all looked to the gates and saw Maru standing there with everyone else in the back.

"Which one of you guys is Bronz?" Maru said.

"Bronz? That happens to be me." He informed. When Maru saw him, he walked right over to him. Bronz never saw Maru before, but he doesn't know what's in for him.

"Hey! That's far enough!" Two of his men attempted to stop Maru, but Maru simply bashed their heads together and tossed them aside.

"You've got some nerve." Bronz claimed, but still didn't feel threatened. "Let me tell you something. This is my island and..." Maru didn't care what he had to say at this point. He just drove his fist right into Bronz. He hit him so hard that Bronz was sent flying into a concrete wall. Everyone was shocked, thugs and common folk, that Bronz was sent flying with just one punch like that. Once Bronz pulled himself together, he could see this was no joke.

"Who the hell are you?" Bronz questioned. After seeing Mary's tears and hearing her story, a fire was lit right in Maru. What happens from here is for his friend, for her tears.

"That's for what you did to Mary and her family!" Maru said with a rageful look with him now holding a dark light for all he wants to do now is crush this guy.