The Truth Is Sometimes Worse Than The Lie

Worlds Collide

I stopped short, "Oh, I apologise. I thought you were someone else."
In front of me stood Laurence in his Shadow Knight form.
He stepped forward. "Another version of me that you just so happen to be dating?" He asked.
My eyes went wide. "H-how..." I took a moment to recompose myself. "Laurence, what are you doing here?"
He smiled, "I'm here to see you." He then took my hands in his. "Come back with me Luna. Please. We can't win the war without you."
I took my hands out of his and turned away, "Laurence, you can't win the war with me. In case you've forgotten, we are on opposite sides of the war."
He put a hand on my shoulder. "We don't have to be."
He said with a hopeful smile. My face immediately darkened. So that's what this was about.
I shot a glare at him. "No. I'm NOT going to tell them. We both know that I'd just be playing with their emotions."
His smile faded, "But Lu-"
I cut him off, "No buts Laurence. You can't make me tell them and you can't tell them yourself. You know the deal." He hung his head, obviously frustrated. Before I could register what I was doing, I cupped his cheek with my hand. "I'm sorry Laurence. I really am but right now isn't the best time I-"
He cut me off, "Promise me." I looked at him confused, silently telling him to continue. "Promise me that you will come back. That after whatever you have to deal with, you'll come back."
I smiled softly. "Of course. I swear to you that I wouldn't even dream about never going back. I promise Laurence. Now go back and kick some Shadow Lord butt for me." 
He smiled and went through a portal that I summoned for him. I stood there for a bit, not realizing that there were tears streaming down my face until they had soaked the neckline of my shirt. I quickly hid it with magic and took a moment to recompose myself. I made the rest of the way back to the group and when I got there I got attacked with a hug. I yelped a bit as Laurence's arms surrounded me in a loving embrace. I looked up at him, confused.
"I saw what happened. Luna, as much as it pains me, I think you should go to him." Laurence told me, holding me in his arms.
I looked away, "Laurence..."
He smiled sadly at me. "How about this. You split off and one form goes to that world and the others stay here and formulate a plan. That way, you can take care of this and win the war."
I turned to Zane who silently told me that he agreed with Laurence. I sighed, "Fine, but first. We're making that plan. Zane and Lucinda. You look for Garroth. If you see Katelyn, try to avoid her. Kim, you and Aph are with Laurence. Get into the main facility and shut everything down. Zak will be there to help you."
The two groups nodded and I was about to split my forms when I heard Sylvanna clear her throat. "And what about me?"
I smiled, "You have three choices. Try and knock out Katelyn, rescue any prisoners of the DW's, or wait for the boats to get here and direct Katherine, Scar, Jak, and Violet to the tower."
She smirked, "I'll take a rescue mission any day."
I smiled, "Okay, I should still have your sword."
I closed my eyes summoning a small portal to the pocket dimension where I had stored everything earlier. I felt around and reached the hilt of a sword that I knew was Sylvanna's. I pulled it out and tossed it to her. She caught it with ease. I then pulled out Zane's sword, my knives, and an assortment of weapons for the others to choose from. Before I closed the portal I felt around and my hand closed around my jacket. I pulled it out and set it by my knives. I heard Aph gasp and looked up.
Her eyes trailed the jacket, "T-thats Aaron's jacket."
I smiled at her, "Ah, so Darek did give him one. I assure you that I did not steal it. Darek gave me and my team all one before we went to search the woods surrounding the lodge for Ein. We were also able to customize it. I chose the default, which is red." I explained, then looked at them. "None of you are anywhere near battle ready."
I first looked to Zane. I snapped my fingers and he was in battle armor that bore the Ro'meave crest.
He smiled at me, "Looks perfect Lulu."
I smiled then turned my attention to Aphmau. I would have just put her in her armor from previous universes but that would be to risky. Aphmau was always too exposed. Instead I conjured up a simple purple chestplate with Irene's symbol on the shoulders, two silver wrist guards, and armored shorts. It looked somewhat similar to one of Irene's choices when she was still called Aphmau. I looked to Zane and Sylvanna who both nodded, approving my choice. I then went to Lucinda. She was the one who probably wouldn't be doing combat other than spells.
She saw me looking at her and spoke, "Um, no. I can change my outfit myself thank you."
I smiled. "Actually, if you don't want to you don't have to change." She looked curiously at me so I continued. "You are a witch, I assume that you prefer magic to combat. Therefore less risk."
I then turned to Kim. Kim looked uncomfortable and slightly shifted under my gaze.
I swore I heard her mumble something under her breath so I spoke up. "What was that Kim?"
She spoke up, her voice now a bit deeper, "I said don't try anything, Shad's right hand man."
My eyes widened.
Lucinda looked to Kim, "Ghost!"
I held up my hand to stop Lucinda.
I recognized the presence I felt. "Em-"
Kim stopped me. "Do NOT say my name. You have no right to speak it. After what your brother did to me and my village."
I sighed, "Fine. Ghost. You should know better than anyone that first impressions can be deceiving."
She snarled at this. "And you should know to stay in line shadow knight."
I smiled and chuckled. "Actually, you are talking to Luna Ro'meave. Not a brain dead shadow knight."
She growled. "I don't care your name or stasis. You work for HIM!"
I stepped forward, "But do I do it willingly? Cause that's the real question."
Her eyes widened. "O-of course you do-"
I cut her off with a bitter laugh, "The answer is no. I don't. I don't have a choice in the matter. I would have already joined the rebellion if that was the case. That is what I'm going to fix the moment I'm done here. For someone so smart, you rarely ever use your head Emmalyn."
Her name slipped out on accident. 
I saw that Kim had regained herself and knew it was her when she spoke. "Wh-what happened?"
I walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're lucky. You have the ghost of someone both extremely smart and extremely skilled in swordsmanship."
She looked at me in surprise but it was Aph that spoke. "Wait, so the ghost that has been haunting Kim is one of my friends?"
Emmalyn spoke up. "No. I'm from Irene's time. Or at least, her second time."
I smiled. "Yup. Emmalyn was a scholar of Irene. It's a shame that none of her work survived the war." She looked at me in shock. "Yes. I am familiar with your work Emmalyn and as soon as I was able, I looked through government files to see if there was anything. There isn't." I felt even more eyes widen. "Yes. I have access to government files. Not important."
Lucinda spoke up. "Who ever said that it couldn't be hidden?"
I smirked. "Do you doubt my ability to be able to hack into government systems?"
Emmalyn snorted. "Do you doubt my ability to be able to hide my things? Zane did teach me that. A spell book is the only thing that's resurfaced."
Zane shifted uncomfortably. "Um... I'm sorry?"
I smiled at him. "Different Zane. And Emmalyn if you ever want to find the rest, I'd love to help. But back to the task at hand. Emma. Is it okay if I model it after your war armor?"
She slowly nodded.
I closed my eyes to conjure it up but Emmalyn spoke, "No need. It's in the tower."
I looked at her. "Then can you summon it? I don't want you going in unprotected."
She nodded and suddenly Kim was in simple battle armor that was tinted blue.
I smiled. "Okay. Laurence-"
I turned to him. He opened a portal to the pocket dimension. I turned to Sylvanna who did the same as Laurence.
I then turned to the rest of them. "Okay, I'm going to split off my forms. One will stay here and the other will be leaving. This might be slightly disturbing."
They all nodded. I closed my eyes, focusing on splitting my shadow knight form. I felt a presence leave me.

Sorry this took so long to get out to you guys. One more chapter will be posted today to make up for that.