Elementals: A New Era: Book One

Epilogue

He tried not to look at the blood that stained the ground as he dragged himself off the street and into an alleyway. His chest hurt from where the damned traitor had sent the fury of the sun through his fist into him, his left arm was burnt and broken, several smaller burns dotted his body, and a hole in his leg was the cause of all the blood loss. He felt his head rest against the cold brick wall of the alleyway, he took a moment to right his breathing and try to figure a way out of this. He had to get back to the Undercity. He suddenly felt his vision fade and his consciousness begin to falter. As his eyes drooped shut, he swore he could see a strange black and blue Wolf shimmering in front of him. He chalked it up to the blood loss causing hallucinations.
"Hey! He's over here," the Wolf called to something behind it.
The sound of wing beats and the feeling of the sun being blocked out made him realize this wasn't a dream. But it was too late. Before he could stop it, Mikaido closed his eyes.

*****

Stacey sat in the passenger seat of the truck as Andrew drove them to their destination, she looked out the window and down upon the sunny day illuminated city. They were driving along a peaceful road high in the hills around the city, she looked at The Agency as trees zoomed by blocking it for a moment. She heard a nervous shuffle from behind her and turned to smile at the boy that sat behind her, his hands fidgeting and his head lowered.
"It will be okay, I promise," she smiled at him.
Andrew pulled up to the small cottage-like house and watched as Stacey and the boy stepped out of the truck and made their way to the front door. Stacey clicked the doorbell and was greeted by a familiar face.
"Mayor Spencer," she nodded.
"Ah, Premier. Thanks for coming," the man spoke as his eyes fixed in Stacey and her white coat.
"What did you want to talk about?" Stacey asked as a dog barked from inside. The dog barged out the door and made its way to the boy, who knelt down and began giving it pets.
"I wanted to know if what Neo said was true, and of course to thank you for what you and your team did for the city."
"Well you can start by thanking him," Stacey pointed down to the boy. "Without him, we wouldn't have found the Undercity."
"Thank-"
"Matthew?" A woman appeared next to the man and looked down at the boy.
"Hey, mum and dad. Been a while," Matt looked up at his parents and smiled, his heart racing.
"Matthew?" His father began. "But we saw the Fire... you were..."
Matt's mother ran out and grabbed him, embracing him and crying into his shoulder.
"How is he?" His father asked Stacey.
"We can explain everything inside," Stacey smiled.
Matt wrapped his arms around his mother, and for the first time since that awful night, the raging Fire inside him calmed.

*****

Andrew watched as the four of them entered the house, he smiled and flipped open his phone, his smile quickly faded as a message from Mason appeared.
"We need to talk."
He gulped and messaged Stacey that he had to leave before pulling into the street.
Back at The Agency, Andrew stepped into the Infirmary, his eyes fell on the still sleeping form of Luke before seeing his boyfriend sitting up in the bed next to Luke.
Braxton ran about the Infirmary, treating patients in every bed. While most of the Elementals had walked away unscathed due to Mason's healing, the Military had taken some serious casualties.
"Over here stinky," Mason waved him over. Andrew smiled and walked over to the bed he sat in. He pulled up a Metal chair and sat next to the man he loved.
"I have to ask you something really important," Mason began. Andrew looked at him confused and indicated to continue. "Would you... still love me... if I was a giant Fire Bird?"
Andrew laughed and leaned in to kiss the man. "Yes, yes I would."
"Okay good, I was really worried that the whole thing with my dad would kinda turn you off me," Mason remarked.
"Well your dad did shoot me," Andrew took a moment to think. "So I actually think I don't want to be your boyfriend anymore." He pulled away from Mason and looked towards the floor.
"What? But you just said..." Andrew got down onto one knee and pulled a small box out from his pocket.
"I know we've been together a few months, but if our relationship can survive an apocalypse level event, I think we'll be okay. Will you marry me?" Andrew asked.
"Well considering you just gas lit me... yes you fucking idiot of course I will."
Andrew stood up and leaned into hug Mason, the man squealing as he squeezed him and the bruises on his back.

*****

Deep within the recesses of an Unknown world, a Metal figure jolted awake, its eyes flickering to life as its vision was filled with something new and unexpected. It reached out, looking at the planet that once floated in its paw, now it was shattered, a large jagged chunk missing from its top half. The being knew what this meant and created words that floated within the aether towards the others.
"Something has awoken," it did not speak, but the words were heard. "Something Ancient and Primordial. Be ready."
"Oh hell yeah," the Cheshire Cat grinned. "We're going back to Terra."