Team FLME Volume 8

The Plague Doctor

After the opening, Fred is seen slowly walking out of the temple's main entrance. He sighs and slowly walks over to the side of the entrance. He pants and sighs, leaning up against it and closes his eyes and rubs his eyes. Images of Lord Fred appear in his memory, the perfect society he wanted was right there and he gave into it. He hears Lord Fred chuckle as his mirror image appears on the rock behind Fred.

Lord Fred: You were far too easy. No wonder why mom and dad hated you so much. You cried like a little one, so ready to go in for the easy track, to murder, to believe that it was a righteous path. You sad little man, you.

Fred quickly turns around and punches the rock. Fred yells as he slowly pulls away from the hole in the rock, his fist bloody and the rock completely shattered. Fred looks at his hand and yells, going to his knees in pain. Some tears fall from his eyes and Fred leans and rests his head against the rock wall.

From the main entrance of the temple, Tempus is seen watching Fred. He sighs and walks over to Fred and places a hand down on his shoulder. Fred slowly turns his head over and looks up at Tempus. Tempus gives him a sigh and slowly picks Fred back up to his feet. He wipes away a tear in Fred's eye and slowly walks back to the fire pit. Fred looks over as Tempus sits down and sighs a little.

Tempus: You may have failed the test, but that does not mean you failed as a human.

Fred: I...I'm a monster. I'm just like him.

Tempus: The test of self was meant to show your deepest desires. You desired for the same thing he did. And you had the will to act on it in that timeline.

Fred: I don't...I don't desire that.

Tempus: Evidently you do. The most noble of souls want world peace. It is their methods that make them fall from grace.

Fred: So...I guess my arrogance is what kills us all then.

Tempus: Arrogance does not make one a monster. Especially if they can truly see where that arrogance will lead them.

Fred: I took over the world! Enslaved it!

Tempus: Well, do you believe that path is necessary for peace?

Fred: No! Maybe. I don't know. I just escaped slavery, I don't want to impose that on anyone else. I just...I don't know anymore.

Tempus watched as Fred fell to his knees, trying to formulate an answer. He slowly got up and walked over to the young man. He softly placed a hand down on Fred's head.

Tempus: You now see your arrogance and where it could lead. The question now becomes, what will you do with it? Will you take the lessons you learned or run away to live a different life than you intended?

Fred: ...what if I choose the former?

Tempus: Then stand up. We have a lot of work to do. Are you willing to power through it all?

Fred looked back up at Tempus. Fred wiped his eyes a little and slowly stood up. Tempus grabbed Fred's arm and patted him.

Tempus: You can beat yourself all you want. But will not help anyone. A world of extremes cannot exist. With order, there must be chaos. And without one to counteract the other, there is nothing but pain.

Fred takes a few steps away from Tempus and looks across the Vacuo skyline. He takes a deep breath and glances back.

Fred: Then where do we start?

Tempus smirks and enters a fighting stance with his walking stick.

Tempus: Try to get me off my feet, young one.