Timpani chuckled, imagining Mayne wielding a frying pan against a soldier. It would still be hot from the stove when he smashed it over the intruder's head.
She had never slept before though. She was created with super-endurance, and sleep had never been a consideration. Others seemed to need it.
"I've never slept before," She admitted. "I could try."
Gavotte nodded with a smile towards Xia. He wasn't the type who would ever disobey someone else's words, unless it was something completely amoral. Since his friends were all good people, he was perfectly glad to listen to them. "Thank you. I'll see you later, Xia," He said as he quickly left.
Jen was talking to Regina, and Gavotte didn't see a snake anywhere. He kept his senses sharp though. His powers would enable him to find any legless reptile that might be threatening his friends.
"I'm glad you're feeling more welcome," Gavotte told Regina as he sat down beside Jen. The tree was huge, and its trunk was very strong. It was a shelter that made him feel very safe. Maybe Regina wanted to sleep here too. After all, she did seem very lonely otherwise. Gavotte leaned his head against Jen's shoulder comfortably.
"Do you want to go to sleep now? It's very comfortable here."
---
Parliament Building
Alastair didn't even care, or bother to dodge, as the blade slashed the same arm that was already wounded. He just ignored the annoying girl altogether. Everything she did was just making him angrier, but of course he had been much angrier than this before. This was really nothing.
As soon as he killed this idiot, he would snap her stupid flimsy sword in two.
"Shut your dog mouth, girl," He snarled at her. He just attacked again and again, blindly, not even caring about his aim. He wanted to make this kid unrecognizable by the time he was finished.
---
Celestial Tower
Clotilda smirked as Jonah wrapped his arm around her. She felt like she would be Queen of the world, even though she forfeited that position when she got herself killed. It was her own fault really, but she didn't even care. It was totally worth it. If she had survived and her little brother died, she would never forgive herself. Besides, she was too violent to take her mother's place any day. She would probably blow everything up.
"I like Katharine. She reminds me a bit of Mom," She said. She had almost said Blair, but the savage jungle army was two-sided. Either Clove would love them, or she would get so annoyed by them that they would all start hating each other. Best to leave someone more mature to discuss with the wild woman.
"I never knew your dad came from the islands," Clove admitted. "While we wait-" She wrinkled up her nose at the thought of maybe waiting for a long time, "Can you tell me where your mom came from?"
---
The Mountains
Janice watched silently as Sorcha left. She shook her head with a chuckle, knowing the small girl would get her task done. Sorcha was tiny, but she was mighty. She was one of the best soldiers Janice had ever coached, especially for a teenager. There was no danger sending her out now. She would accomplish her duty and return alive. Janice wouldn't throw her soldiers into impossible danger, even if she seemed like that sort of person. She didn't want to waste their potential, and she didn't want to waste them. She cared deeply for her army even if she seemed to hate everyone.
She shimmied back through the horribly narrow tunnels. Every time she went through, it felt like the walls were closing in. Everybody else had that same experience. Janice knew overcoming fears of small, enclosed spaces would come in handy someday. If they were ever attacked here, the home field advantage would help them defeat any foes. They could shelter people in the innermost cave and defend their territory against anyone or anything.
When she returned to the cavern where soldiers were still doing push-ups, she crossed her arms. Her face twisted in a scowl of rage. She looked like she was about to kill someone, and then it turned into a smile.
"Alright team. You've done well, now you deserve a break. Get a drink, take a nap, eat something. Just don't break into the preserved food stock because we still have fresh food." Janice yawned, herself getting sleepy.
"I'll be right at my normal spot."
She left through the tunnels again, and kept going until she reached the sleeping chamber. It was one of the lowest-lying chambers in the mountain cave system. It also contained the only way in and out of the cave. The entrance came in the form of a small opening, big enough for Janice to barely squeeze through by crawling on her side. Sorcha had already left, Janice could tell by the disturbances in the snow outside.
Janice went to her spot. She sat down and leaned against the wall, making sure her broad back was covering the entire exit. No snow, no cold wind, would infiltrate her base now. If anyone else came to sleep, they would lie down in their place without fearing the cold coming inside. Janice always slept sitting up here, so nobody else would get cold.
She fell asleep comfortably. The cold wasn't a problem for the tough, rugged mountain woman. Especially since the knowledge that she was sheltering her people, made her feel warm from inside.
---
Birvale Beach
Ivana could not stand this woman. Her Aunt Annora had never been her favorite person, but right now she was even more annoying. Ivana always despised her because she had no fashion sense. Now Annora's fashion sense apparently included disgusting stenches.
Amber wasn't an idiot, unlike those brainless Aguado brothers. She probably had a plan. The others kept on arguing against it however, and Ivana was getting fed up.
"Amber and I are exhausted," She reminded the kids. "Remember, we just spent all our energy taking down Agatha. You can't possibly want to argue with her right now." She made eye contact with Vivien and the Birch siblings, hoping they would get the hint. This was part of some kind of plan.
I can't look into her mind. I'm sorry, Amber, but I can't get in, Luno's horribly annoying voice sounded.
Can 'Mrs. Aguado' hear that? Ivana asked him.
She can't hear me, don't worry!
Ivana was glad, but she didn't respond to him. She didn't like hearing his voice. She couldn't really stand anybody's voice right now because everyone was ticking her off by just existing.
Waverly had been relieved to see his mother again, but something was wrong. For starters, his parents were actually descended from Windwoods. Both of them knew how to keep a tidy house. It was weird to think this horrible smell came from somewhere Annora lived in, since she always smelled like cookies and so did her house.
He was too afraid to say anything though, but he hoped Amber would figure something out. There was no relying on Solara at this point. The Queen just seemed entirely confused.
"Yes, mother," Samuel said obediently.
When is my brother ever obedient? Waverly thought worriedly. Maybe he's trying to send a message... I hope Amber does something soon. I really want to get away from this situation.
Solara knew she had a disadvantage here. It was easy to bend the truth and confuse her, so she needed to rely on concrete evidence. She couldn't give this girl a guilty verdict if her words truly were honest. She also knew Amber was intelligent, and was certainly making some sort of plan. It would be counterproductive to speak without prior knowledge. Solara also couldn't back Amber up because the teenagers needed to make their own decision. She wouldn't be their Queen forever, and a new leader would need to naturally arise from their generation.
She could feel herself growing colder from the inside. The clock was ticking. Slowly but surely, her time was running out. And the next generation needed to be prepared to take her place.
Tell that to your father, Agatha cackled in her own voice this time.
... Don't.
You killed him, kiddo. I'm sure as disgrace proud of you. Agatha's smug voice was normally clipped at the ends of her sentences, but now she let them linger. You're just like me after all.
Leave Sunny alone, Luno told her with surprising determination.
What'cha gonna do about it? Agatha sneered. I'm slowly getting stronger inside your hothead wife's mind, kiddo. And when I control the sun, oh boy! You're all gonna have a blazin' fun day!
... I will not allow you.
Brave words, kids. But just remember, Agatha cackled, you don't stand a chance! Your hope is just a pretty lie, but my victory is the real ugly truth.
... You are wrong.
Y'know, for the sun, you're such a dim-wit. Agatha laughed at her own joke. Telling you just won't cut it. So I'm just gonna show you what I mean.
- The beach landscape and cabin blurred into a simple black expanse. She could see nothing but darkness. Somewhere in the distance, she heard cackling, followed by a familiar scream.
... Cilan?
She went towards that direction, and slowly her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She began to see the ground beneath her feet. It was blackened with smoke rising up in wispy tendrils. The sky above was completely dark, and strangely the wind did not move. This place was dead. Even the air itself was stagnant, reeking of smoke that reached up from the ground. There was no sound, save for the constant cackling and sobbing coming from ahead.
She reached them and realized her eyes had not adjusted. It was simply the light being given off from none other than Agatha. Now that all was dark, she was the only light. Her body emanated a sickly green glow, sometimes pulsing a dark red like blood. The light illuminated her surroundings.
"... Where is my son?"
Agatha cackled, and then let out a pitiful sob that sounded just like Cilan's voice. "It's so easy to trick you, dim-wit. I'd start calling you dim-wit officially now, but hothead still suits you best."
Solara was silent, regarding her patiently. She realized her own glow had completely died from around her. All was dark except for the eerie light coming from Agatha.
"Why? Because this is what you did." Agatha chuckled, and swept her arm in a grandiose gesture. Her light illuminated the landscape for only a second, a second too long. Solara had seen everything.
This was Hesenia. This was the heart of the Sanctuary, and everything was gone. There was no sign that plants had ever grown in this forbidding land. Where the cabin once was, a scuffed patch of rough debris remained, scorched into ash. And worst of all was the lake, now a hollow dry pit used as a mass grave. It was filled to the brim with the unrecognizable bones of those Solara had vowed to protect.
"... I would never do this."
"Not by yourself, sweetie," Agatha cooed. She walked forward and tickled Solara's chin with her sharp, clawed nails. "You just needed a little help."
- "... You must do it, my son," She pleaded as she clasped the boy's trembling hands. "You are Hesenia's only hope."
Cilan looked up into her eyes. Solara could see his tears threatening to spill over, and she knew he was fighting hard. She waited until he was able to speak.
He took a deep breath, and she listened intently.
"I can't, mother," He whispered. "I'm sorry. I won't kill you. I just lost Amber, and I can't lose you too."
The cold was becoming unbearable. Solara knew it would no longer hurt anyone to look into her eyes, not even the coldest ice elemental. She would feel cold to the touch, like a piece of spare metal left outside in the rain. Cilan's hands were far less cold, but Solara couldn't feel warmth- nothing could take away the deathly chill gripping her from inside.
"... If you hesitate, you will lose me and all of Hesenia," Solara told him firmly. No one else was around- only bodies littering the ground. They had all died in the battle against Agatha.
"I already have nothing." Cilan's tears began to fall as he leaned against his mother. "Agatha's still out there. I can't beat her alone. I've lost everyone and the other armies too."
"... My son..." She held him tightly.
He looked up into her eyes again. This time his eyes were no longer a soft brown.
This time they were the dead green of decay.
"I've lost, too. I can't fight anymore, mother. I'm sorry." Cilan closed his eyes. "Agatha was right. Our hope was a pretty lie, but her victory is the ugly truth."
"... No." She gripped him by the shoulders. "You can fight, Cilan. You can bring light back t-"
It came like a stab in her heart. The cold of Agatha's curse was all she could feel, to the exclusion of all else. This was how dreams died. This was how villains were born. The purest of intentions twisted into nothing but bitter hatred, an icy knife that would cut through any lifeline. With what was she clinging to life? Her duty to protect Hesenia.
There was no Hesenia anymore. Every empire, every army had fallen. They were the only ones left. Solara had failed in her purpose. She had allowed Agatha to doom the very people Solara once vowed to save.
There was nothing left but the cold.
Cilan smiled. "What light? No one is going to see it anymore."
Solara did not want to stand up. She did not want to take that deep breath, she did not want to raise her hands into the air. She did not want to break eye contact from her son. But she was no longer in control nor obeying her own will. She was empty of purpose, a puppet of Agatha's.
~~~~~"... All of this is my garden?" Young Solara asked her father, craning her head up to look at him.
She did not want to raise her voice for the first time, a guttural shout of unbridled rage.
~~~~~Juniper nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder. "All of Hesenia."
She did not want to consume her beloved garden in a blinding inferno, incinerating everything she had promised to protect.
~~~~~"... Then I promise to protect all of Hesenia," The young girl vowed solemnly.
~~~~~"This is my purpose. And as surely as the sun rises, I will always keep my promise."
... I am sorry, Hesenia. I am sorry I could not keep my promise.
Solara shook her head.
"Still resisting, dim-wit?"
"... This..." Solara imitated Agatha, bringing her arm out and gesturing at the destruction. "This is not Hesenia's future."
Agatha just laughed. "You think? I told you, hothead. Not even you can stop me."
"... It will not be me who stops you." Solara walked forward and looked her in the eye.
"... All of Hesenia will stop you. All of us together."
Agatha was silent, but the stagnant air was not anymore.
The slightest of breezes had begun to stir.
Solara gently squeezed Amber's hand, silently saying she was ready to keep everyone safe. If anything happened, she would be right here. She would be right here to do her duty.
She would be right here for them, even as her time neared its close.
