Timeless Legacy

staying behind

After Mal finished her song, she heard a desperate cry from the castle.

"Help me, Mal!" Celia's voice rang out, filled with fear.

Audrey's mocking voice followed. "Yeah! Save your little friend, Mal!"

Mal's heart pounded as she transformed into a dragon, her massive wings unfurling as she took to the sky. She flew up towards the top of the castle, spewing fire at Audrey, who merely laughed, deflecting the flames with powerful spells from the scepter.

"Help me, Mal!" Celia cried again, her voice trembling with terror.

"Careful not to fry your little VK buddy," Audrey taunted, holding Celia close as a shield.

Elina, hearing Celia's voice, froze in her tracks. "Celia!" she gasped, breaking into a sprint back towards the castle, with Uma and Harry quickly following.

"Whoa!" Uma exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as she saw Mal in her dragon form, struggling against Audrey's powerful magic. Mal attempted to ignite the ember with her dragon fire, but nothing happened. Uma gripped Harry's arm tightly, worry etched on her face. "She doesn't stand a chance without the ember."

Elina, her voice pleading, turned to Uma. "Uma, please, help her!"

"Help me, Mal!" Celia called out again, just as Audrey struck Mal with a blast of magic, sending her spiraling downwards.

"Come on!" Uma urged, nodding to Harry and Elina as they raced towards Mal, who had crashed onto the ground.

Audrey's wicked laughter echoed through the air as Celia tried desperately to free herself. "Hold still, you little brat!" Audrey snapped, her grip tightening as Celia cowered in a corner.

Uma, seeing Mal's struggle, picked up her glowing shell. "We're stronger together," she said, her voice firm as she approached Mal, who was trying to get back on her feet.

"Stronger together," Uma repeated, standing tall as she held Harry's hand, looking at Mal with determined eyes. "Regain your might and ignite," Uma chanted, her voice growing stronger with each repetition. "We are right here, Mal. We are right here. Regain your might and ignite!"

Harry and Elina watched, their eyes filled with hope as they urged Mal on. Slowly, the ember in Mal's hand began to glow, the power within it reigniting as Mal's eyes softened, finding strength in her friends' support.

"Yes!" Harry exclaimed, joy flooding his voice as he hugged Uma from behind.

With renewed strength, Mal took to the skies once more, flying straight towards Audrey. Audrey, still consumed by her madness, fired another spell at Mal. But this time, Mal was ready. The ember in her hand blazed with power, meeting Audrey's attack head-on.

"Come on, Mal!" Celia shouted, her voice filled with hope.

"Get her, Mal!" Harry cheered. "You got this, girl!" Uma added, holding onto Harry, her eyes never leaving Mal.

"Yeah! Come on! Yeah!" Elina jumped up and down, her heart racing.

In a fierce clash of magic, Mal's ember overwhelmed Audrey's spell, sending Audrey crashing down. The moment Audrey hit the ground, she fell into a deep sleep, her appearance returning to normal, with her hair and clothes transforming back to what they once were.

Mal, now back in human form, landed at the top of the castle where Celia rushed into her arms. "Oh, Celia. It's okay. I've got you," Mal whispered, holding her tightly as she looked at Audrey, now lying motionless on the ground.

"Audrey?" Mal called out softly, kneeling beside her and touching her gently. But as she did, her heart sank, realizing the truth of Hades' words. "Oh no," Mal murmured, the weight of her realization pressing down on her. "You're only half Hades. The ember won't do everything for you that it does for me." Her voice was filled with sorrow as she looked down, feeling the burden of what had happened.