"Everything you knew about this world is going to change now." Galleous announced to everyone in his forge. They had put together a make-shift stone table on which to discuss their battle plans. The Knights of Ardonia, the Enderknights, and the other Ardoni, all looked bleak and grim.
"Towns and roads will no longer be safe for travel, our enemies will not falter, and many of our friends will not survive." Galleous took a deep breath. "Today, all of us are Knights of Ardonia as we fight the Second Great War."
"We'll need to recruit quickly." Put forth Hubris. "Find anyone who has skills we can use. Even if it means rescuing them from the hands of the enemy."
"I'll gladly handle that." Grek volunteered. "Your lights don't exactly make you stealthy."
"I will fly to the Ardoni clans and rally who I can before the Nether has time to spread north." Val suggested.
"If we can get the Magnorites of K'arthen on our side, then you'll see what real strength looks like." Onyx said.
"My friend, Igneous," Senn piped up, "went to K'arthen to resolve the war between them and Cydonia. When he return, I'm sure the Magnorites will gladly join us."
Grim purred in approval. "You helped the Magnorites when you were younger?" Ria asked. Grim nodded. "Well, you gotta tell us about it sometime!"
"You can count on the Enderknights to be at your side." Abbigail assured everyone.
"I need to get to Felora." Masani burst out.
"Oh right, you can talk." Mocked Onyx. "What do you want with Felora, anyway?"
Masani returned to her usual silent, brooding self.
"We will fight for Felden, Masani, as we will all the kingdoms." Promised the Tidesinger. "After we gather enough forces and organized our resistance, we will liberate Ardonia from the Nether." He hesitated, "I… once had an ally who may be able to join us. However, I am not sure whether or not he will answer our call."
"Ataraxia was founded as a safe haven for Ardoni, but will now become a refuge for all who seek it." Galleous said. "I may not be a fighter, or agree with using the Songs, but I will do what I can to help those who fight for Ardonia." He put both his hands on the table and leaned forward. "Go, Tidesinger, go summon this ally of yours. The Second Great War has finally begun."
The troop climbed a small mountain near the Heart of Ardonia, following the Tidesinger to meet his ally.
"What's this mountain called?" Senn asked.
"No one knows." Achillean replied, "Even if it did, it is lost in time." He leapt up a ledge with a small golden puff. "But this mountain is always known as the one where the first Nether portal was built."
"You mean there are others?" Ria asked, catching up to them. "Doesn't that mean…"
"Yes, which means that if they want to, the Nether can enter our world at any location." Achillean said, pushing snow to the side. "But it costs a lot of resources to maintain a portal."
"Wow," Abbigail said, "I'm kind of jealous. We only get one End portal."
The group continued up the mountain as the sun set over the mountaintops. The figure of a giant black dragon emerged against the orange sky.
"Thunderdome has been following us ever since we left Ataraxia." Trevor observed, "What does he want?"
"I don't trust him one bit after what he and Allister did at Crown Peak." Saxon agreed. "I need to get some potions ready."
"He won't attack all of us." Assured Abbigail. "Just stick together."
"We are here." Announced the Tidesinger as the group scaled one last hill. Senn looked around. The ground is covered in snow, ankle deep and soft. An empty square frame made of obsidian stood in the center, the sole inhabitant of this land.
"Is this the first Nether portal?" Ria asked.
"Yes." Replied Achillean. "It has been inactive for centuries. Be vigilant though. The enemy may be using it once again." He walked to the middle and began laying down gold blocks.
"Your friend lives up here?" Senn asked.
"Not entirely." Achillean responded.
Luna suddenly surrounded Abbigail with her tail and snarled. "What is it, girl?" Abbigail followed her gaze and saw Thunderdome trampling towards them with his head down. All the Enderknights drew their swords.
"He must pay for what he has done." Saxon said, "He and Allistar has killed too many when they tried to take over Crown Peak."
"You can't kill him." Denny lowered Saxon's sword. "He's one of us."
"He turned against us and attacked a city full of innocent people!" Trevor agreed, standing beside Saxon.
"They're right, Denny." Abbigail walked forth, raising her sword to plunge it downwards. "He has to pay for what he's done, and he knows it." She looked at the humble dragon in front of her.
"Wait!" Denny rushed to defend Thunderdome, placing a hand over the dragon's head. The dragon looked up at him.
"I didn't ask to be an Enderknight, but here I am. Thunderdome didn't choose to be raised by Allister, it's just what happened." The dragon purred in agreement, nuzzling his snout into Denny. "We just said we needed everyone and now we're going to kill one of the only two dragons alive?" Abbigail lowered her sword, "I'll take him, and train him as he should have been." Denny brushed his fingers across the marks on Thunderdome's scales.
The Enderknights sheathed their swords. Thunderdome trotted over to Luna, bowing before her. She held her head high and looked away from Thunderdome as he tried to coax her into a huddle. She slipped away, slapping his face with her tail.
The Tidesinger placed a beacon on top of the small platform of gold he made and stepped back. "Now, we wait." He announced.
The group looked at the beacon expectantly, but nothing happened. "We will give him some time." Remarked the Tidesinger. He sat down and leaned against the platform.
Time passed. Dusk gave way to evening, then into the night. The people found comfortable spots around the snow. Senn and Ria sat next to each other overlooking the landscape. Everything seemed so vast, so tranquil, so unreal. Their lives back in the village seemed like another lifetime, even if it was just less than a year ago.
"Is that the same weapon I made for you?" Senn pointed at the spear-like weapon.
"Yeah," Ria picked it up and laid it before them. She could never forget that afternoon. It was when everything truly started to change. Senn gave her this spear, Thalleous brought them Songs, and the Prime Song left their village. "had it enchanted during a mission to Etherea."
"Wow," Senn hushed, "What did you get?"
"Just the usual," Ria said. "Sharpness, knockback, fire aspect, and…" she paused, a smile emerging on her face, "Unbreakable."
"Do you mean unbreaking?"
"No, it is a very special enchantment." Ria said, caressing the handle. "Unbreaking is very common, it increases the durability of the object, but it will break eventually. Unbreakable, however," She leaned closer to Senn, her antlers flashing rapidly. He could feel her breath on his shoulder. "Means that a weapon never ever breaks, no matter how long you use it."
"When I saw our village in flames, I thought I left everyone." Senn put his arm around Ria. "But I know, we'll always be by each other's side." Their antlers pulsated violently as they touched together in a dancing flash of light. Senn and Ria drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
Midnight. Something woke Ria. She opened her eyes and looked around. The Endernights were sleeping next to the dragons, Denny slept under Thunderdome, and the rest slept under Luna. She stood up. The Tidesinger was sleeping alone, his head resting on the golden platform, reflecting the light from his markings.
"Ria?" Senn rubbed his eyes groggily, "Where are you going?"
She didn't respond. She was now approaching the beacon, mesmerized by its light. She touched it, and started her Song.
"KABOOM!" Lightning struck the beacon, sending her flying back into the snow. A dark mist issued from the beacon which had suddenly come to life, shooting a brilliant beam straight into the sky.
"RIA!" Senn rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"
"Errmm…" Ria opened her eyes, "What happened?"
"KABLAM!" Another bolt of blinding flash struck the beacon. Then another, then another. The individual bolts slowly became a crescendo of brilliant beams.
"Everyone stay back!" The Tidesinger shouted over the tumult. "He is coming!"
The black mist intensified as a pair of eyes, white, blank, devoid of life, appeared in the mist.
"What is it that you called me?" A deep, bass, voice boomed.