Chapter VIII: Estes,The Moon King (Final Chapter)

With fired up spirit rekindled by a newfound hope, Teetee, and I made haste back towards the Capital.

It was already dawn when we arrived, but we were just in time to rally our forces and prepare ourselves for war.

Speaking of preparations, Nana thought up of a very 'special' suprise for the Blood Queen, and went on her separate way to make sure it was prepared.

Not long after though, the horns of war had sounded.

Alice and her blight elves, along with the forces of the Lord of the Dark Abyss, are marching there way to a clearing infront of the Capital where our armies will meet very soon.

Meanwhile, we were gathering our brethren, to spread the fire that Teetee and I had regained to the rest of them.

With the help of the Lunafall Consortium and the most essential participation of Rosden and Mikko, we were able to quickly assemble every moonsworn templar (our mages in this fight), every glade guard (fighters), and every scout-ranger (marksmen) from the Capital and from every moon elven village in the Emerald Glade.

With the time we have left, I began to speak.

"Brothers and sisters, I have returned with our King, who will lead us to triumph against the darkness in this hour of reckoning!"

I could hear a faint cheering from the crowd, mostly from Rosden.

"Mother Moon had not forsaken us, and I am a living testament that she is watching the course of the coming war not from the heavens from where she sits, but from within each and every one of us, in this very moment."

The people were silent. It was a silence that was solemn, a type of silence one experiences upon regaining faith on someone or something.

"With a Mother to guide us, her children, and a Moon King to lead us, his people, then who can stand against us?"

I once again heard cheers, louder this time.

"The preservation of our precious glade is once again put in our hands. Let's show Alice who it is she is messing with! Let's show her that we moon elves are not to be trifled with! For I, your King, AM HERE!"

Teetee continued my speech. I was glad he did.

"HEAR! HEAR!"

Rosden and Mikko acclaimed in unison, the others agreed and followed them.

"Let's show Alice, that we are not a force to be reckoned with!"

"AYE!"

Exclaimed almost everyone with great power.

"Above all else, let's show her that darkness will never triumph over the light!"

"TO VICTORY!"

Everyone yelled.

It was then I knew, Teetee and I (mostly him) did a pretty good job setting ablaze the hearts of our brothers and sister and spreading hope like wildfire.

As Alice's forces awaited us, we prepared to march towards the battlefield.

"Before we head on, I'd like to do something first."

Teetee requested.

"Of course, your grace."

Responded Councilman H'undras, as the Lunafall councilmen were behind us when we made the speech.

Teetee turned back and began casting some sort of spell.

It was a powerful one, as I could sense incredible amounts of magic swirling about in his body.

After saying the words "Fandu'thal liye Mothra Lune" (which were ancient elvish for "Lead them home Mother Moon"), a big, incorporeal, crescent-shaped moon composed of raw magic appeared before Teetee and spun ecstatically.

It radiated strongly with healing energies. I feel it as it gave me more alacritous vigor than my entire youth ever did.

Indeed, Teetee truly has grown significantly stronger even though he was asleep all this time.

When the thing started easing down to the point that it hovered steadily before him, Teetee gestured it to ascend and in a whim, it did.

It flew high into the sky, and when it had reached its highest, the thing began to once again spin ecstatically and radiate with even more energy,

so much more that it glowed even brighter. The brilliant light it had emitted could undoubtedly be seen from all edges of the Land of Dawn.

After looking up to such a mesmerizing sight, I looked back at Teetee to see that his eyes had also glowed brightly with magic.

"It is time."

He said.

We began our march towards the clearing.

This is it. The eternity with Teetee I so long desired is nigh. Just beyond this darkness, there is a lifetime of light.

We arrived to our destination to see our opponent already assembled as expected. Judging from her bloodthirsty smirk, it is evident that Alice is sure she would win this war.

I made sure she won't.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the *mockingly* Great and Powerful Moon King! I'm so scared my knees are shaking! Not."

"We meet again, old one. The cowardly Blood Queen. I had expected more from such a title, though am disappointed to see what is infront of me now. The Lord of the Dark Abyss must've been desperate to give you that high a rank."

Teetee witfully responded Alice, who had visibly been vexed greatly.

"*fake laughs in an attempt to hide the rage* First of all, I AM NOT OLD! And most importantly, THE LORD OF THE DARK ABYSS IS INEVITABLE!

"Then show it."

"Oh I will. Your people, those elves cowering in false piety.... they merely hide in your light, a light that is too small for the sea of darkness I bring. It is a sea which the Lord of the Dark Abyss has granted me."

"You are mistaken there, old one. You'll be suprised to find that a light resides in each one of my brothers and sisters today. Together, it will be an ocean's worth more than enough to drown out that sea of yours."

"An ocean able to drown out my sea? Talk about fun! But sadly, coming from you who I outnumber 300 to 1, it just doesn't add up. Stop overestimating yourselves. Those little lights you are so proud of will be extinguished by me all the same."

After the thorough exchange of verbal blows between Teetee and Alice, silence became of the battlefield.

It was an unsettling silence, as one could feel tensions rising by the second. It's like any second from it could-

"ONWARD! SUCK THOSE MOON ELVES DRY!"

"FOR THE QUEEN! AND FOR THE DARK ONE!"

As hordes of dark forces where fast approaching us, I awaited only Teetee's signal to command our own.

"Let battle be joined."

The signal!

Teetee said it faintly, but I could hear him clearly being beside him all this time.

Without a second to waste, I relayed his order.

"LET BATTLE BE JOINED! NINTHIEL! ARATORH! OMNOLOR'E!"

"FOR THE MOTHER! FOR THE KING! FOR THE GLADE!"

We charged to face our foes head on at the middle of of the battlefield.

Our opposing forces collided and casualties from both sides were already evident.

Rosden, Mikko, and I along with my scout-rangers jumped towards the danger where we most like it.

We swiftly stroke down hundreds of opponents before we even landed, and stroke hundreds more when we did.

Keeping enemies at bay is our specialty. Those who were abke to slip through though, were easily taken care of by the moonsworn templars who were stationed in the backlines.

As the battle raged on, Teetee and I slowly drifted from each other, we were separated as he dashed on to face off Alice who sits far too comfortably in the far rear.

When I was briefly not yet preoccupied with shooting down 10s of opponents at the same time, I quickly noticed this and decided to start making my way back towards him.

"ROSDEN!"

I yelled.

"SIS! OVER HERE! I'M QUITE BUSY RIGHT NOW!"

"ROSDEN AND I ARE AGAINST THIS GIRL NAMED SELENA. SHE SAYS SHE ONLY HAS TIME FOR HANDSOME GUYS!"

"(okaayyy) I'M GOING AFTER TEETEE! STAY THERE WITH THE RANGERS!"

"YES MAAM!"

I went after him, sending an arrow to the head at anyone who dares stand in the way between me and my love.

"Hyah!"

10 enemies were slain in one shot, each with an arrow piercing their heart or head.

"Hiiiyah!"

10 more were foolish enough to follow their footsteps.

Thousands still block my path, but when I am done with them, there will be nothing but corpses left in my wake.

I was so near to Teetee when...

"Going somewhere?"

A strange looking creature suddenly appeared out of nowhere to block my path. It walked in all fours, carried with it carnal blades on each arm, and wore a hood.

Just beyond him, I can see Teetee facing off Alice. He is winning over her, and has her trapped in a magic ring.

Meanwhile, I too must win my own battles.

"I know not who you are, you seem stronger than any other minion I've encountered... but love is stronger! I advise that you let me pass."

"Oooh I'm scared. Just kidding! I'm not "scared", Helcurt! You may be a skilled marksman, but like all marksmen, you are weak against blindspots aswell as against fast-moving targets."

"Try me."

When I said that the battlefield suddenly became dark, as though enveloped with a great shadow. The darkness blocked my vision, and I could no longer see what was going on.

There was no way to tell if what you're striking is an ally or a foe.

I was trying to look for that creature, Helcurt, when he suddenly jumped from the shadows to attack me from behind.

I was barely able to dodge him, and one of his blades managed to cut a large wound on the side of my right shoulder.

I had to be extra careful.

Where could he strike next?

Helcurt once again jumped from the shadows, I was still unable to dodge his blades and ut sliced open a wound in the upper part of my left leg.

If this goes on I'll be all wounds.

Come on Miya, focus. What could you do against something you are weak at? Think!

A memory is summoned. I remember how I faced off that assassin back at the Xanadu. He too was fast, but what I did to counter him... YES! THAT'S IT!

"For the final strike."

I could hear Helcurt saying to himself.

The sound of his voice gave away his location, which was at my rear.

It is most likely that he will strike from there next.

This time, I'm prepared.

When Helcurt once again jumped from the shadows and from my rear as expected, I quickly activated my stealth.

This time, it is he can no longer see me.

"Now now, that's a dirty trick! Come out and reveal yourself to me you whore!"

From here, I had to think quick. This creature is much faster than the assassin I fought. But are his reflexes keen enough to dodge my arrows?

It's time to test that.

"May my aim be true!"

I shot an arrow from his back, breaking my stealth for a short moment.

The arrow flew swiftly, but Helcurt was able to dodge it.

It's as I thought. I figured he would have super quick reflexes too. The Lord of the Darl Abyss bestows all sorts of twisted talents to his minions.

I feel my stealth fading, it would ultimately be gone soon. I had to act quick.

Aha!

He may be able to dodge an arrow, but I bet he can't when hundreds rain down on him at the same time.

I fired a power shot to the sky, and it broke down into hundreds of lesser arrows, on their way to the unsuspecting creature.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"I'm right here."

Helcurt turns to me, and a devilish smirk once again marks his face.

"Ah, there you are. Now, where were we? Ah yes, TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!"

As Helcurt ran and jumped towards me, the arrows stroke him down while in the middle of the jump and pinned him lifeless to the earth.

"Next time, heed my advise."

The shadow that enveloped the battlefield had quickly dissipated. I've been kept off track for far too long.

I look around to see that Teetee is no longer fighting against Alice, who had teleported someplace else.

Teetee is now with Rosden and Mikko and the remaining scout rangers and gladeguards. They were ontop a mountain of corpses and were surrounded by thousands of enemies.

I hastily made way towards them and Mikko extended his hand towards me when I stod at the foot of the heaping pile of dead bodies.

"Grab my hand!"

I grab his and he pulls me up.

When I got up Teetee looks at me worriedly.

"You are gravely wounded."

When he said that, it wad only then that I noticed that I lost a lot of blood from the wounds Helcurt inflicted on me.

When I felt like blacking out, Teetee grab hold of me,

He harnessed alot of his powers to drastically heal not only my wounds, but also the wounds of everyone ontop of that pile.

I immediately feel revitalized. He ain't called Moon King for no reason that's for sure.

I got up and looked around the battlefield.

From the height, it is easy to see that we are now cornered by the enemy. This is it, our last stand.

"Where are the moonsworn templars?"

I asked, having observed that there is not a templar with us in this pile.

"They... all of them were taken care of by Alice while the shadow enveloped the field. It was bloody, and I wasn't there to protect them!"

Teetee responded. I could feel the disappointment in his voice.

"Hey, don't blame yourself! You still have me. You still have Mikko, Rosden, and the remaining scout-rangers and glade guards.

We will fight to the end with you."

"You're right! As always. But I don't think we are the only ones left."

When Teetee said that, I was confused.

... Until I heard the warcry of what appears to be thousands of leonins and felines from the eastern side of the battlefield!

"Is that?"

I asked in disbelief.

"Yes! It's Nana and Harith! Along with thousands of fighter leonins and arcanist felines!"

"So this was the special preparation she promised?"

"I'm glad it is."

The leonins and felines began charging towards the enemy forces.

The leonins clawed and threw their boomering at the enemies, even transgorming some of them into harmless molina creatures.

Meanwhile, the felines easily swept opponents with raw arcane power.

"Fight on brothers and sisters! Allies had come to our aid!"

"Uh sis, you need to see that."

"What?"

"THAT."

Mikko and Rosden pointed to the far western side of the field.

My eyes opened wide in shock.

"I- Is that?"

"Yes. The Royal Moon Army from Hayanaar commanded by General Irithel!"

"B- but how?"

"Remember the spell I casted before we started our march?"

"Y- yes."

"That moon was a beacon, a signal that guides every moon elf home where the mother moon wants them to be!"

"THIS IS AMAZING!"

With our forces combined, we are now the ones who outnumber Alice, whose forces are completely sandwitched by our allies.

I look up to Mother Moon, for I once again have her to thank for saving us!

"NINTHIEL!"

I screamed. My voice resounded all over the battlefield.

After a while, the moon elves from Hayanaar had answered.

"FOR THE MOTHER!"

I yelled once again.

"ARATORH!"

Louder this time.

They too, responded louder,

"FOR THE KING!"

And with all the breath that I have, I screamed to the top of my lungs,

"OMNOLOR'E!"

And everyone, including the leonins and felines who understood our language, shouted in unison,

"FOR THE GLADE!"

We pished back Alice's forces.

General Irithel made quick work of hundreds of foes.

One strike from her crossbow, hundreds fall.

She was always my role model of how I wanted to be when I grew up.

Mounted on her trusty wildcat, enemies get to do nothing but bite her dust.

The tide of battle had shifted into our favor.

And there, when the sun rose up to its place in the sky, victory is won by us!

I could see Alice leaving the battlefield.

"THIS IS NOT OVER!"

She yelled.

"SIS! WE DID IT!"

Mikko and Rosden approach me and we get into a family group hug. I see Teetee looking at us, and I extend a hand to him.

He takes my hand and I pull him into the hug.

Meanwhile, Nana and Harith, with the felines and leonins behind them, approach us.

"So... did you like my suprise?"

Asked Nana expectantly.

"Loved it."

I responded.

"Miya, this is Harith who I told you about. Baby, this is Miya, my gurl best friend!"

"It's nice to finally meet you, Miya! Nana's told me alot about you!"

"All good things I hope!"

"She mentioned that you mistakenly took eternium bob shrooms for empyrean shrooms. Anyone but Nana would also do that mistake, so it really isn't that embarassing."

"Great."

"We should really celebrate. Not only because of our victory but also because..."

Harith suggested that we celebrate. Aside from the victory, there is apparently something else we should also get drunk for.

I wonder what that could be.

"But also because?"

I asked out of curiosity.

"But also because Nana and I are finally getting married! She finally said yes!"

"Only after he agreed to explore the world with me."

Yas! You go explore the world together with your love!

"Nana that's amazing! Congratulations to the both of you!"

"Thank you."

"Speaking of weddings, why don't we get married too, Mimi?"

Teetee said from my back. It gave me chills down my spine, and blushes on my cheeks.

I turned to see him down on one knee.

"Miya Aster'el, Commander and First-Bow, I intend to keep the promise I gave you on a clearing very much like this when we were young. Albeit without the dead bodies everywhere."

Everyone took a chuckle.

"... I intend to spend a lifetime with you, and make a family with you. I intend to give you something to make you want to come home everyday. I intend to make you my queen. So Mimi, will you marry me?"

My heart skipped beats, but you probably already know what I will say next.

"YES! Yes, a thousand times over!"

Teetee's face lighted up. He stood up and kissed me sweetly.

Everyone rejoiced around us.

"But Teetee.."

I whispered.

"...Don't you have to do the Moon Kings' slumber again? Will I get to lose you fkr another millennia now that the war is over?"

"Don't worry..."

Teetee whispered back.

"A moon king only has to sleep once in his reign. But I hope you know that I can sleep with you a million times over."

"I like the sound of that."

Thus ends the chronicles of my people, and now begins an eternity with Teetee, Rosden, and Mikko together with our newfound friends.

Alice will surely return, and when she does...

We'll be there to stop her once more!

-THE END-