Songs of War: The 5th Song... Is A Person?!

Achillean and Allister

Riza flew to where Abbigail was, the Eye of the End easily visible with its purple-green aura. She touched down nearby, watching it go crazy trying to figure out who she was. As Abbigail turned around, wondering where it went, she moved to conceal herself further behind a tree as a human riding a dragon land.

"If you're looking for me, you're headed the wrong way," entered a male voice. He hopped down from the dragon.

When Abbigail asked who he was, he revealed himself as Allister Evanstein the Third. He introduced his Ender Dragon as Thunderdome. Weird. She didn't tie him and his dragon together like she did with Abbigail and Luna.

"Have you ridden your dragon yet?" he asked.

"No, I don't think Luna's ready for that," she responded.

Luna, slightly insulted, looks at Abbigail in shock. Riza raised an eyebrow. Maybe she should have left a book with information on the dragons with Abbigail.

"Well, if you could carry me all this time, why didn't you let me know?!"

Riza held in a laugh as Abbigail climbed Luna awkwardly, having to adjust her position to face forward. Allister slaps the side of his sword against Thunderdome, and they flew off. She frowned.. That is not how you treat an Ender Dragon.

As they flew off, she felt a familiar golden presence back at the Vault. She followed Abbigail and her group of Enderknights a bit further, holding out her hand to make the Eye drop to indicate they should stay there for the night.

As they began to set up camp, she flew towards the presence.

"During the battle of Mount Velgrin, I fought with Ingressus and have been following him ever since. I can elaborate on the details later," he offered, thinking of Riza and what she said. "But first I have a few questions of my own. Where has the war gone? Where is King Rendor, and the rest of the alliance?"

"King Rendor is dead, Achillean. The Great War... was over a century ago," she remarked as she landed, her cloak hiding her face and body.

"I see. Then it seems I have fallen out of time," he remarked, thinking she was one of the Knights. "Does Ingressus possess the other Prime Songs?"

"Thankfully, no," replied Hubris. "Thalleous Sendaris relocated all the Prime Songs recently to avoid this very issue. No one else knows where they are."

"And how old is Thalleous now?"

"Dead," responded Senn. "He died... hiding the last Prime."

He went on to say that he knew where the Mobilium Prime was, in Crown Peak.

The group agreed to head there at once under Ria's orders. As they were leaving, the Tidesinger slightly removed from the group, Riza began to cough. She collapsed on her knees and Achillean rushed to her, dropping his staff next to him as her tried to make out where she was injured. He pulled the hood back and saw her skin turning into that of her default human skin, and the slight glowing of her armored wrist bracers. He recognized her immediately.

"Um... we'll be inside the trees if anyone needs us," he excused them as he half carried her into the nearby wood.

"Riza, are you alright? How are you still alive? What's wrong with you?"

"Things are looking bad, Achillean," she began, ignoring his questions. "The Enderknights are divided and won't be of much help until later. The kingdoms are divided and selfish. Cydonia and K'arthen are on the brink of war, and Ardonia is weak. The End is dying and the Nether rising, this will not be my worst condition. Don't worry about me. Ingressus has a Prime Song and knows where at least one more is. Sulliman betrays people, Achillean. It's his business. Get to Crown Peak as fast as you can. That's all I can tell you."

"Did you look into the future?" He asked.

"Yes. But my body took a large toll before I could get to Season 3 - I mean - I only know of events in the near future. I'm sorry - I need to get back to Ingressus and I still have another place to visit."

"Wait - Ingressus? Why are you going to him? Where else do you need to visit?"

"I made a deal with him, Achillean. One that I cannot break. We are headed to the same place, and I may see you again at Crown Peak. But for now, this is farewell."

There had been a brief moment of silence as they stared at each other, taking them in. Awed that the other was alive. She popped a few pills in her mouth and smiled.

With that she put her hood back on and attempted to lift off into the sky, but failed due to her weak state. She used a Supporium song on herself and managed to fly up, waving at him as she left.

It was only for a split second, but she had reverted back to her Ardoni form and he had been able to see her eyes. Not the Nestoris yellow he was used to seeing, but the Voltaris red that the other Ardoni had learned to fear and resent. He frowned as he thought of what it might mean. Then, sighing, he turned towards the camp, catching a person who was watching them.

"Ria, was it?"

As Riza flew away, she couldn't help but think of that silent moment when they just stared at each other, mesmerized by the other's ability to somehow survive to get to where they were now. There had been numerous occasions where she had been attracted to Achillean as more than just a friend, but had always put it off as something acquired by spending most of her life with him. She was glad she broke the moment by ingesting some happy pills. Now was not the time for possible romance, not when they both have wars to face. Maybe later, once everything settled and all the misunderstandings were cleared. Besides, there was Ingressus.

"So, Abbi, are you ready to become the first Enderqueen - to rule all of Ardonia?" inquired Allister, sitting beside her next to the fire.

"I don't plan on ruling Ardonia," replied Abbigail.

"The Enderknights have always ruled - well, at least until King Rendor stepped down, and created the six kingdoms."

"Wasn't that a good thing? The people rebelled for years in order to have free kingdoms."

Allister droned on and on about how ordinary people didn't know what was best for them and blaming King Rendor for starting the Great War by stepping down.

"Perhaps you're putting too much pressure on yourself - I can help with that," he said in a Draco Malfoy voice. "Allow me to rule with you, as King and Queen."

It was at this time Riza decided to intervene. "Abbigail."

Abbigail, knowing full well who the person was underneath the cloak, stood and walked towards her, glad to get away from Allister.

"Yes, Princess?"

"Ugh, please don't call me that," she complained. "It makes me sound like I'm a spoiled brat or a privileged kid."

"...sorry."

"It's not your fault," she reassured her. "The Endermen still refer to me as such, despite my constant attempts for them to quit using the title. I don't feel... worthy of it. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah," agreed Abbigail. "I don't feel quite like I deserve my title either, when you were literally born to inherit the throne. And then Allister-"

"Okay, listen. If I wanted to choose Allister, I would have. But do you know who I chose? You. Not Allister, but you. I am not worthy of the throne after what I've done. I've killed and stole from others and I am not proud of it. But you cover my flaws. Although you do not know how to fight, you would have mercy upon your enemies, and that is your greatest skill. You were not raised rich like Allister, so you know humility. I know that you would not try to rule over the kingdoms as a tyrant like he would. You would care for the people of the overworld and the End, won't you? And I will guide you when you do not know the way. So have confidence in yourself and don't worry about what other people say."

"Alright," she nodded slowly, considering her words. "Thank you for believing in me."

As the two girls neared a clearing, they sat and Riza began to teach Abbigail the ways of the End.

"Now," she suggested after about a half-hour had past, "wanna spar?"

Little did they know, Allister was watching them with a gleam in his eye.