Both Isaac and Thomas had taken a glance at the fallen Guardian of Wind beside them, and then they chose solace in each other. Isaac and Thomas beforehand had seen the brightest star in each other as utterly despicable. But now, their eyes met with an ounce of respect. A gentle, but no doubt, heroic nod of the head had symbolised the start of something. Isaac had walked up to Envy, with the morals of his companion within him. As for Thomas, he had accepted that even with great power, without strong chemistry, no real harm could be done. To waste such power on a single blow, was faithless to their own capabilities. He had watched on, hopeful, that brute force would be proved wrong this one time.

"Reason with us." Isaac said as he hesitantly lowered his hands.

"I believe this quarrel will no longer end in peaceful protest." Said Envy.

"I too. But we are willing to be peaceful." Isaac said with reason.

"No, no, no. It is quite clearly too late for that now. It is a shame, I wished more from you, general." Confessed Envy.

"You talk as if we are equals. We are not equals." Said Isaac.

"Perhaps soon then. Anyone could tell you were interested. The Scribe, the power, the arm. Every little bit about me fascinates you." Envy gave off a wicked grin.

"What, no! No...no...no!" Shaking his head, Isaac firmly rebutted.

"Isaac, remain calm." Thomas had called across to his shivering friend.

"You are conflicted, no? I can - no! I shall help you! Leave them all behind!" Implored Envy.

"No. I have a duty to do. Something far more fascinating than you." Said Isaac.

"And what, may that be?" Asked Envy.

"A duty, I'd say, to an authority far more superior to you." Isaac said, a warm smile sitting with him.

"Then I have no choice but to be disappointed in you." Said Envy.

"Enough. You will loosen yourself to us now. We have other business to attend to." Demanded Isaac.

"As do I." Said Envy

With his simple words, Isaac's patience had firmly been thawed away, and the façade of compassion to the manic Envy soon started to fade. Thus, Thomas had pounced into the matter with his sword standing tall towards Envy. A simple shake of the head confidently shifted across Envy, and then a final, magnificent smile which he used to charm their attention. It gathered childishly. So much so, their eyes averted the true danger of Envy. He quickly grabbed the sword beneath their eyes, and he pummelled it profoundly into the ground with uttermost energy funnelling within him.

A new canvas of art had opened itself up for the three of them. Thick like the towering trees of a forest, several of these things, these vines had covered the trio in cool air. The true foundations of the Greenhouse had opened to them. The smell of the plain was so incredibly rich with watery sugar, which had been sweating from the greenness of the vinery, that the three took a moment's pause to accept the pure beauty. Though, not entirely was it beautiful. Something of the vines had a timely charm to it that cried with fragmentation - a crack here and there, like a glass slowly being chipped away at by the process of age. Most of all, the aching, azure blue heart of the Greenhouse had an unearthly tint of light to it at every beat, it had felt almost unreal. But it was certainly there.

"What!? Why is there a -!" Envy had peered in shock, but a punishing blow to the thigh had startled him woefully.

An actual hit had managed to find its way onto him. 'Marvellous!' had been the tremendous sigh that travelled across the worrisome faces of Victoria, Axel and Lux. The three had been tending to the pains of their companions, and so following the battle into the heart of the fight would be unnecessary. Particularly, their thoughts were cherished more dearly on other sights.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"How is he doing? How is my son?" Lux had swiftly clung to Victoria with added worry.

"He will be fine, I will make sure he is okay." She replied with no doubts.

"He won't wake tonight, that is certain. But this gentleman won't wake forever." Axel said, observing Kasper. "Maxwell shall wake. I hope. We will need him soon." He gazed off into the distance.

"Hardly! My lov -! My bustling hero, Thomas, shall deal with Envy sufficiently enough. The stakes now are far higher for him." Victoria said with high esteem.

"I too wish to be a hero again, just to see Edgar be fit once again. But I am but a miserable old man now. Alone." Lux gently chuckled.

"You are not alone. Alsop is living proof of that." Axel added.

"Well, I suppose, Axel. I also have you, Anne and dear Mary. Though, she teases me!" Lux said bitterly.

"Uah! She does? How so?" Victoria had asked, refusing to crumple up, despite the minor rise of tension stemming from Axel aside from her.

"Though Alsop is...stubborn, Mary is forgiving and kind. She tells me of my son, through her caring letters. I haven't seen a letter in quite a while now." Lux said anxiously.

"Perhaps she is busy." Thoughtfully, Victoria said.

"Pardon me. I think myself best be used elsewhere." Axel guiltily excused himself as he stumbled away towards the gaping hole within the floor.

The rigidly cut circle in the ground had left an opening for him to be of some particular use, but only after the other two had done significant punishment on the fearsome Envy. The general idea floating about the minds of Axel, Isaac and Thomas was all the same. Envy could not be apprehended by mere brute force. Yet, even after piercing Envy's thigh, Isaac and Thomas continued to fight with their powerful blows. It took a fierce wave of spiritual power from Envy to displace the two from their feet. It was here, ceaselessly pushed across the ground, where they began to fully converse a strategy.

"Fighting him head-on won't work." Noted Thomas.

"Well, what else can we do!? We've already tried speaking with him!" Exhaled Isaac as he wiped his bloody lips.

"We must be smart, not strong. We must learn to work together, not alone." Said Thomas.

"How about we use our magic together? I know you want the glory of taking him down but..."

"I want this to end." Thomas quickly corrected Isaac.

"Then, we will combine our magic. You must go head-on with him." Ordered Isaac.

"Hmm?" Thomas gave a smile.

"I need to stay behind you to give the signal." Said Isaac, his finger repeatedly indenting into his head.

"Ah. Smart and together we are. Let's go!" Thomas championed the idea as he rose triumphantly.

Alas, the plan set sail. A fiery ball, that channelled with a fire comparable to that of a past experience Thomas had once encountered, was thrown into the air. Except, this fireball was from the hands of his friend, not foe. With these balls, came a thunderous clap to the skies, in which a bolt of lightning came roaring down through the Greenhouse like a heroic dragon's call. The bolt had not hit Envy, instead, it stormed into the sword of its maker, whereby Thomas swung back the fully charged sword incredibly far. Like a catapult, he powered the combination of thunderous might and fiery heat straight towards Envy.

A perfect distraction.

"Now!?"

The words leapt out of Thomas' mouth as he turned back to Isaac with heroic confidence. A simple whistle. With it came a look to the skies as a glimmer of light sparkled with youthful hope above them all. It had been Axel on standby. His excellent magical skill to craft the finest of materials had let itself be expressed here, very finely. The alluring distraction of pure power had allowed his own talents to be forgotten, and soon he had dawned upon the oblivious Envy a barrage of rocks. Axel was not inexperienced to know that completely concealing Envy in cover would allow him to resurface like before, so in this effort, he had only been partly covered - his brightly stained arm of metal still visible. Only one thing could pulse through Thomas' mind at the time.

"Gah! No!"

A chilling screech crept into the room, as Thomas had driven his hard-edged sword deep into the metal arm of Envy. The hard-challenged villain could all but settle still now. Thomas too. But his hunger for clear victory this time compelled him to pull away his sword for further damage. This proved a tough challenge though, as the sword had jammed well within the twists and turns of the arm. And so, his final blow would come from his very own hands. A clear light of thunder sparked into his hand, and then it fell deep into the stab wound that pained the thigh of Envy. This had been the final blow to the fight. The further yells of despair from the helpless Envy had braided the very hairs of the vinery around them sharply upwards in fear.

"Ah. It ends." Thomas had breathlessly dropped to the ground.

"Good job." Isaac said with a soft smile.

"I never thought I'd hear that from you, Isaac Rose. Thank you." Thomas laughed, lifting his hands to the empty air between them.

"Just this once." Isaac said, their hands colliding to lend strength.