Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 40: Determination

After Coldsnap had gotten a significant distance away from the Ascendant, however, she thought she could hear a soft voice calling to her from her left.

"Pssst! Coldsnap! Hey, Coldsnap!" it said in a hushed tone. Coldsnap squinted her eyes and leaned forward, soon managing to see a figure actively rushing towards her as well. As it approached, its appearance immediately reminded her of someone she knew.

"Firebird?!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "What are you doing here?! I thought you were still in the Firelands with Keena!"

"Oh, don't worry, I am!" the illusion said cheerfully. "I'm just a figment of your imagination! To avoid confusion.....you can just call me Phantom Firebird!"

"Oh.....apparently I'm going crazy, as well....." the icy heroine lamented. "I knew I wasn't cut out for this...."

"Now, come on, don't say that!" Phantom Firebird replied. "You can't give up now; we need you!"

"No one needs me," Coldsnap argued. "Everyone can get by just fine on their own."

"Even me?" a third voice asked. The ice mage's eyes widened and she turned to her right, just in time to see an image of Keena approaching her, too. "Phantom Keena, at your service! Listen, Coldsnap.....I know you might not think much of yourself right now, but to me.....you're the greatest person to have ever existed. You're the one who drives me to always be at my best; to serve the Aspects faithfully and without question.....not to mention you're also the love of my life! You can't quit now......our life together is just getting started!"

This was the first thing that made Coldsnap slowly regain her tenacity. "Keena.....you're too kind. But even if I do get out of here.....how would I—?"

"Defeat Alpin and Flamestar? How about this; you're going to come back to life, break out of that little prison of theirs, and give those two Sect Leaders the thrashing of a lifetime?!"

"Yeah!" Phantom Firebird added. "Don't let them get under your skin, Coldsnap! I know you can do it! We've been friends for a long time, and you're the most bold, poised, unflappable girl I know! Teach them that you're not to be messed with!"

Coldsnap grinned. "You guys...."

Just then, phantoms of Mike, Alexis, Rosie, Kat, Alexa, and Michael also faded into view, with a vision of Ali also appearing alongside them.

"Don't give in, Coldsnap!" Mike called. "Although you've only been in our family for a short time, we truly did grow to love you as one of our own. We will always support you, no matter what happens. You're never alone.....not as long as we're beside you."

"And I, for one, have been blessed with an amazing sister. My all-nighters spent playing video games would be a lot lonelier if it weren't for you. So let's keep the Earth safe, yeah? Can't play together if everyone's dead, now, can we?" Alexis continued, attempting to lighten the situation with a bit of humor.

The apparition of Ali simply ran up to Coldsnap and leapt upwards into the heroine's grasp, allowing her to hold the cat gently. The softness of the feline's fur brought a sense of closeness and familiarity to Coldsnap, as if she were right back in her home on Earth.

"Come on, Coldsnap! Smack those good-for-nothing Sect Leaders!" Alexa cried.

Rosie tried her best to calm her other friend down. "Yes, yes.....but not too hard...."

"What are you talking about? She should hit 'em as hard as possible!" Kat argued.

Michael stepped forward. "We are all here.....for you....." he said. "You can win.....you always do.....just like.....on Overwatch...."