This is where it starts, with so much destruction left in your wake. Emelia, I believe your journey to save the world shall leave it in ruin. It will take you surrounding yourself with those who are strong enough to hold you back. So go on then. Mighty hero’s journey till your hearts are content because a time will come when it is time to stop the journey and come home. Except you are a mistake, Emelia. Can you truly have a home? Can a mistake save the world? That is what I’m not sure of myself?

A fluttering behind me makes me turn and smile.

“First, glad to see you.” I bow to him and he shake his shaggy hair.

“My Queen, finally it’s time to come home. The Ashfall has increased recently. I don’t think our kingdom will last much longer at this rate.” He says, eyes as full of passion as when I first found him.

“Oh, my sweet children, you all are so terrified, but what is to come will shock the world. A war that’ll cripple time and space and you think the ash is something to fear. My Dear First relax.” I give him a smile and see him calm.

“If we’re not to worry of the Ashfall, should the borders be spreading?” He asks.

I nod." The Ash will spread and bury the world in its decrepit embrace. Suffocate children in their beds, and the lovely adventurers that walk our world will cease for a time." I pause, turn and stare down at the world’s hope? Or destruction? which one I wonder.

“Then it’s truly beginning what you warned us of all those years ago Phoenix is coming back?” I turn to him and nod, facing him now. He looks much older.

Grey lines his beard, giving him a rugged look. He wears full plate armor and his dark horned Berserker helmet in between his arm and hip. I love his long, ashen green hair that stops at just above his shoulders.

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“Will Phoenix listen to reason?” He asks, hope lapping at his eyes like waves at the ocean’s edge.

“No, if he is risen, he will burn the world. He must be stopped and those children down there will be our only hope.” I point to the traveling keepers down below.

First, walks to the cliff’s edge and looks down below. Is that not Dominic’s grandchild?"

With a nod, I have to restrain him from jumping after her and surely killing her then and there.

“First no, she must live. She must first become Destruction,.”

“Mam, if I may, I’d rather not if we can kill the Destroyer now the world may yet survive. She will surely do worse to the world than Phoenix.” He says, hand still on his mighty great ax.

“You children are so afraid of death, do not be. It is now natural. But I understand the innate fear of not wanting eternal darkness. I’m working on calming that anxiety. Stick by my side First when I realize my dream, I promise death will not be that scary. Give me time and death will be beautiful.”

He is reluctant but like the good boy he is he nods “Very well my queen, shall we return to the Ash?” He reaches his hand out to me.

I oblige his kind gesture and take his callused and muscular hand.

“This war will crack the world. It will scar what’s left of the Heavens and the hells and make the world I worked so hard to build crumble.” I feel a tear fall down my cheek.

First, cleans it up from falling to the mountainside below.

“It may, my queen. I have hoped humanity could change their Fate. No matter how unobtainable it is. With you on our side, the world shall know peace.”

First smiles and my heart skips a beat.

“You charmer you sure know how to keep an old woman on her toes. But yes, humans are such beautiful creatures but are so stupid and use the gifts given to them to gain power. They’re a selfish race bent on destroying themselves as fast as possible. But I digress. They have a tendency to change their minds and hopefully will show their renowned ability to persevere. A species of light, of dark, anger and hope.”

Show me humanity. Show me why you’re the dominant ones now.

“Let’s go first. I’m tired.” Then we return to the Ash waiting for the War to come.