Abbigail opened her eyes. The gash in her stomach ached and itched. A giant purple crystal, encased in a dancing cube of glass and hovering above a black pedestal, loomed in front of her. She could feel blood rushing back into her limbs, the beating continuing from her heart. The Endermen teleported in and out of her blurred vision. She passed out again.
She woke up at the entrance to the stronghold. The wound was gone and she had a new iron sword belted to her waist. Slowly, with one hand on the wall, she made it to the cave entrance, to be immediately knocked over by Luna.
"Abbigail?"
She wriggled out of Luna's paws, and found Denny approaching. She embraced him as if he was her long-lost lover. Luna joined in for a big group hug.
"It's so good to see you." Abbigail said through tears.
"We all though' you were dead…" Denny confessed, "but Luna wouldn' leave. Some'ow she knew you'd be alrigh'." They broke the huddle.
"Where are the others?"
"Allister took Thunderdome an' flew off to Crown Peak. We couldn' stop him, not with 'at sword. I don' think the rest of us were chosen as Enderknights fur our fighting abilities either. Saxon and Trevor arr on their way to Crown Peak by foot. I voluntear' to stay behind to look after Luna. The further I get away from tha' bastar' the better."
Abbigail sat down on a nearby rock and put her face in her hands. Luna nuzzled her gently.
"Abbigail?" Denny tried to break her hands free, "Are you alright?"
"All of this is my fault." Abbigail cried into her palms. "I'm not even sure I was meant to be an Enderknight, Denny…"
"I saw you stabbe' clean through the stomach, and yet you survived." He knelt beside her. "The End chose you, Abbigail. Luna chose you. I," He leaned forward, crossing his left arm over his chest. "chose you."
"Thank you, Denny." Abbigail wiped her face clean and stood up.
"Unngg!" A blue Ardoni, rolling a large barrel, emerged from the nearby trees. Denny leapt forward and drew his sword.
"Stop right there!" He ordered, pointing his weapon at the other's nose. "Are you friend or foe?"
"A good friend, I hope." The Ardoni set the barrel down.
"Galleous?" Abbigail approached him. "How did you find us?"
"The same way I found you the first time." The blacksmith replied. Luna looked away. "I see you have found the portal to the End, but I expected more Enderknights about. What exactly has transpired?"
"One of my knights took the crown, nearly killed me, and is heading towards Crown Peak with the intention of ruling Ardonia." Abbigail said, "He vowed to kill anyone in his path, and I could do nothing about it." She looked hopelessly at Galleous. "There was no female armor Galleous. I'm not even an Enderknight."
"That is why I am here." Galleous opened the barrel. "I told you, that there was one person left in Ardonia who can work obsidian armor." He pulled out the shiny new obsidian armor he made with Senn with a giant smile on his face.
Abbigail took the pieces in her hand. Immediately, they sprang to life, giving off a mystical purple aura. One by one, she put them on, feeling the pieces slide effortlessly down her body and coming together to shield her. It was a perfect fit.
"What should I do?" she downed her helmet and for the first time and looked out of it. The eye slits added a light purple hue to everything she saw. She wondered if Denny's did the same.
"Take back the crown." Galleous said firmly.
Abbigail nodded. She mounted Luna and flew off into the distance.
"What can I do?" Denny asked.
"Come with me." Galleous proposed. "I can help you train in combat, especially swords."
The day's hustle and bustle went on as usual in Crown Peak. Sulliman was relaxing as usual on his sunny rooftop retreat. Lying on a chair with his feet high, he closed his eyes, feeling the sun's warmth over his body, and took a sip from his glass. The finest wine from '82, and he deserved it.
A dark shadow spread over his palace. Sulliman opened his eyes to see a massive black dragon soar over him. He rushed downstairs, leaving his glass. He must secure his business profits before the Enderking seizes it.
"Tap-tap-tap!" Someone knocked on the door. Sulliman froze in his tracks. Could they be here already? Whoever is there, they must not find out. He flattened his jacket and put on his merchant's smile.
"Good day, gentleman." He found a red Ardoni at the gates. He wore a staff and a diamond broad sword on his back. "How can I help you?"
Thunderdome landed on the central plaza before the city hall, sending cracks skittering about on the stone paved ground. Clerks approached Alistar as he leapt down.
"Gather the ambassadors of every kingdom and bring them before me." He ordered. The men knelt before him and went to the offices around the plaza.
Alistar made straight for the throne room. Soldiers, recognizing his armor, knelt before him as he passed. He ascended the steps to finally reach the hall at the top of the building. There, an entire wall opposite his throne is built out of glass, overlooking the entire city.
He placed his sword on a perfectly shaped rack beside the throne and ordered the men to open up the dragon balcony. Thunderdome came in and laid down at Alistar's feet.
About five minutes later, five men and women entered the room and stood before Alistar. Each wore a different color of robes, representative of their nation's color.
"You stand in the presence of King Allistar, first of his name." Alistar's voice thundered around the room. "You will kneel before me, then pledge your allegiance to me." He ran his fingers over the sword, "or be destroyed."
The ambassadors slowly got onto their knees, except for one.
"How do we know you are the true Enderking and not just a usurper?" The ambassador from Hyperia demanded, "Legends tell that the Crowni would shine and the sword would glow in the hands of the true Enderking. But that is not happening, is it?"
"You dare question my authority?" Allistar roared. "Scum like you will not dirty my blade." He turned to his dragon, "Thunderdome, kill him."
The beast looked at the ambassador, then at Allistar, then back at the man. The ambassador had closed his eyes, ready to die as a martyr in the oncoming tyranny.
Allistar stood up. "I said," he pressed his sword against Thunderdome's scales, "KILL HIM."
The man had opened his eyes and looked at the dragon. Their souls connected as their gaze met. Regret brimming over his face, Thunderdome began to charge his roar. Sparks began sprinkling out of his mouth, when…
"Whaoom!" A dragon roar ripped through the air and Luna, with Abbigail on top, burst into the throne room. The ambassadors scattered, pressing themselves against the wall. Abbigail leapt onto Allistar who let go of Thunderdome and charged. Is killing this farmer girl once not enough? Fine, this time there will be no miracles!
"YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!" Allistar leapt and pulled the Endersword back.
"SO SHOULD YOU!" Abbigail caught the blade between her hands. The momentum made her knees buckle. She dug her feet into the marble floor, sliding backwards to break the impact.
When they came to a stop, Abbigail flew a kick into the other's chest. He released the Endersword and staggered backwards. "You, where did you learn that?" He panted.
"Oh, when you've been fighting as long as I have," Abbigail replied, "You pick up a thing or two from the likes of the Unyielding Legion." She switched the sword into her right hand. Instantly, the runes sprang to life, emanating the same purple glow as her armor, but steadier, stronger, more ancient.
"I can't believe it!" An ambassador cried, "Is she?"
"For the first time in history." Another said, kneeling down.
"An Enderqueen." The Hyperian ambassador said, kneeling down. "You have my allegiance."
Alistar's eyes flitted around the room. All the ambassadors now knelt before him, but not to him. Jumping onto Thunderdome, he dug his heels into the dragon's sides. Thunderdome's eyes widened, and they shot into the air and headed for the horizon.
"Come on, Luna." Abbigail mounted her dragon and chased after him.
The Knights of Ardonia came to the gates of Crown Peak, but a guard stopped them.
"I'm sorry, but all civilians are required to exit the city immediately." The guard said. "We are under attack."
"Thank you, sir." The Tidesinger replied, and pulled the group into a small clearing below the walls.
"Looks like we need to find another way into the city." He said. "I'll need to find out what's going on first." With a few golden leaps, he climbed to a nearby treetop. A brief moment later, he jumped back down.
"Dragons." He said simply.
"I thought the Enderknights were on our side?" Senn asked, "I was just learning to make their obsidian armor the other night."
"During the Great War they were." The Tidesinger replied, "However, generations before, the Enderkings ruled Ardonia with absolute power. If the Enderknights have indeed returned, we have yet to discern what role they will play." He looked around the group. "I think Senn and I should sneak into the city to retrieve the Prime Song. Too many people will cause suspicion."
Ria looked at Senn, who smiled in return. "I'll be fine." He assured her. "I've got the legendary Tidesinger with me."
Senn knocked on the door of the mansion. Someone fell over inside. Moments later, Sulliman swung open the door with a loaded crossbow in hand.
"Who are you two and what are you doing in my house?" He demanded.
"My name is Senn." He said, pushing the crossbow aside. "I'm a friend of Thalleous Sendaris. I was here many months ago when he gave you a Prime Song?"
"Oh," Sulliman withdrew his weapon. "Yes, I remember now. How can I help you?"
"Thalleous gave you the Prime Song to keep it out of the hands of another." The Tidesinger interjected. "We need it back, before the Deathsinger finds it."
"Oh, umm… you are too late for that…" Sulliman looked back into the room.
"I have already found the Prime Song." A voice said. The Deathsinger stepped into view.
"Ingressus!" The Tidesinger growled, reaching for his staff.
"Achillean!" The Deathsinger sounded as if he had come across a longtime friend. "I should have known you would follow me into this next war."
"Thalleous trusted you!" Senn bellowed at Sulliman. "He asked you to keep the Song safe!"
"Thalleous wanted to keep the Prime Songs safe?" The Deathsinger faked a swoon. "How touching. They are safe with me."
"And," Sulliman chimed in, "He didn't really tell me from whom to keep it safe from. He should know I am first and foremost a businessman, and well, given the nature of my business, I'll need all the um…protection I can get. The Prime Song will guarantee me smooth sailing during this Second Great War." He bowed to the Voltaris. "We have struck a deal, a most profitable deal."
Achillean stepped forth. "It matters not." He said, readying his stance. "You have fewer Prime Songs, less Voltaris kin, and no allies. We defeated you last time, we shall defeat you again."
The Deathsinger cackled. "We shall see." He hurled a chair at them and bolted up the stairs. It hit Senn square in the chest and broke into splinters.
"No! Not my mahogany chair!"
Luna flapped her wings as fast as she could, and by some miracle, she caught up with Thunderdome. It's almost as if he was slowing down on purpose.
"Bring me over them." Abbigail instructed gently. She readied her new weapon and leapt onto Alistar, kicking him off the dragon and onto a roof below. Abbigail followed, landing on the same roof with a thud. She bore down on her knight, sword raised.
"You betrayed the Enderknights," Abbigail shouted. "You betrayed Ardonia, and worst of all," She put a hand to her heart. "You betrayed me."
Alistar struggled to get up as he held a hand over his spleen. He forced a laugh and looked at the glowing blade in Abbigail's hand. A weak smile came over his face.
"You won't kill me." He shuffled against the wall. "It's not in your nature. You never could make the tough decisions. You are weak."
Abbigail tightened her grip, then breathed out, releasing the tension in her body. "You're right." She hanged the sword on her belt, beside the iron one. "I won't kill you." She took the crown off Alistar's head and placed it on her own. It came alive, radiating purple and crimson.
"In the past year, I have killed hundreds of Legionnaires. But for you, Allistar, there is no need for me to take your life." Luna landed beside them.
"She will."
Ingressus fused with the Song as he ran. Achillean bolted after him. The two came to the balcony and Ingressus turned to face the other.
"You were wrong about one thing, Achillean." The Deathsinger taunted, "It is you who has no allies. Where is the Enderking? Are the kingdoms united and ready to fight? When was the last time the Ardoni used the Songs of War?" He leapt off the edge.
The Tidesinger looked below. Ingressus had sprouted golden wings from his back and was now flying. Hovering over him, the Deathsinger welcomed the Angel of Death.
"I myself have re-forged an alliance with the Nether, and they are eager to reclaim the Overworld." Ingressus shouted. "You know I do not wish to kill you, Achillean. But if you refuse to surrender, then I will destroy everyone who stands in my way!"
The Angel grabbed Ingressus and pulled him away as Luna swooped down from the sky and roared flames at the two. Luna picked up Senn and Achillean in her claws and flew towards the city gates.
"Fly back to Pythus." The Deathsinger instructed, "Tell him it is time to begin the invasion."