The annoyances began on Monday.
During Defense Against the Dark Arts, I was paired up with Prewitt (it wasn't until today I realized his first name was Leander) to practice the spell combination of Avis and Oppugno. I first knew something was up when all he could produce were flocks of lovebirds, as opposed to my hawks, falcons and kestrels... and then the praise he lavished upon me when my birds popped through his Protego and clawed at his face was... decidedly saccharine.
Then the other shoe dropped, and at the end of class he asked me to attend the Hogsmeade Christmas Eve Gala with him. The look of pure scorn I gave him was answer enough - he slinked away with his metaphorical tail between his legs. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Sebastian laughing to himself as he watched Leander disappear into the crowds.
Next during History of Magic, while I was busy doing my Charms homework, an origami crane flitted over and settled down on top of my book. Opening it I found a note from a Duncan Hobhouse, having written down a purple-prose-laden attempt at a poem with which to ask me out to the Gala.
Like hell I was going with someone known as Puffskein Dunkein. I rolled my eyes and made a show of crumpling the note into a ball and setting it on fire with a weak Incendio. I could see him slouch over in his chair in disappointment a few desks over, whimpering pathetically.
Tuesday was even worse. First Everett tried asking me out in front of everyone in Herbology, offering me a bouquet of Angel's Trumpet flowers. For his trouble I Transfigured the bouquet into a Chinese Chomping Cabbage while he was still holding it, and he screamed as it chased him around the greenhouse. During Potions, Garreth asked me to the Gala and offered me a bottle of what he said was his new-and-improved Butterbeer, although it smelled an awful lot like a questionably-brewed love potion to me... the dolt wouldn't know subtlety if it slapped him in the face. With a smirk I tricked him into thinking Professor Sharp was approaching, then quickly dumped the contents into Imelda's water flask. She managed to stop herself before taking a sip - I'd never seen anyone, let alone half-Transfigured into a baboon, run so fast as she tried to dropkick him through a window. A few House points being docked was an acceptable price to pay for that ludicrous display.
It didn't stop after classes, either... during dinner at the Great Hall, more students approached the Slytherin table in an attempt to ask me out - multiple boys from the 4th-years all the way up to the 7th-years, and even a few of the girls! Sadly, being within visual range of all of the professors, I couldn't just hex the lot of them and send them away, but soon I got sick of repeatedly telling them all "no" and retreated to my Room.
Was this was it was like to be popular? Sweet Celestia, what a pain in the arse! Hasn't the novelty of me being the new 5th-year worn off yet?! This Gala must be pretty fun if so many people are trying to find a date for it.
~
Wednesday morning I braced myself for more unwanted suitors at breakfast. However, an owl soon dropped a letter into my lap, and it was thankfully not from a fellow classmate. Ever since I'd told him I'd helped Lodgok out with retrieving that helmet, Fig had been journeying to the Map Chamber every day, waiting for the Keepers to deem it the right time for me to proceed with their trials.
And it would seem that today was finally the day. It was hard to pay attention in Flying and Beasts classes, and after Beasts let out I found Sebastian in the library to tell him about it. He expressed an interest in accompanying me to one of these trials someday, but mostly wished me luck and offered to turn in my Astronomy homework for me if I wasn't back in time. Once that was settled, I began the short journey to the Map Chamber... I think Amit might've been working up the courage to ask me out since he was approaching me with a bouquet of red rosebuds, but he sighed in defeat as I marched right past him. About ten minutes later I had entered the chamber, already finding Fig conversing with Rackham and Charles.
"You would be wise not to underestimate Sunset," said Fig. "Her aptitude for magic is beyond anything I've ever seen, and I've been teaching a long time."
"It is a joy to have such a student," Rackham nodded in agreement.
"It... can be," Charles answered hesitantly, glancing at me as I approached.
"I got your owl," I said as Fig turned towards me. "I'm so ready to get out of this castle for a while."
"Indeed... I do hope we can both trust that Lodgok fellow you met, the rumors I've been hearing about Ranrok searching the region for something are quite disturbing," Fig's lips pursed.
"Ranrok is searching for something? I feared as much," Charles interrupted. "I've heard an unusual amount of activity - goblins and wizards, I surmise - when visiting my portrait at my castle."
"So I've heard... saw it for myself, even," I nodded. Fig shot me a puzzled look. "Rookwood Castle, correct?"
"My former residence, yes... That castle is also the location of your next trial."
"Did you happen to see anything I might use to my advantage?" I asked.
"I did not... in fact, I did not make myself known," Charles slumped slightly. "I only recently returned there and did not recognize, nor trust anyone that I heard. I stayed out of sight so as to not tempt my portrait's destruction."
Portrait's destruction...? For some reason, my mind flashed back to the ruined portrait Sebastian and I had found in Feldcroft, in Isidora's old house.
But that wasn't important now... I hoped. I forced the thought from my mind, in favor of another one I feared was related.
"There's one particular wizard running around in league with Ranrok... his name's Victor Rookwood. Think he might be your descendant?"
"My descendant... a Dark Wizard?!" Charles gasped. "I'm afraid we've no time to waste! Despite the obstacles that clearly await you, you must get to Rookwood Castle immediately! Not only is it the location of the next trial, it is home to a source of power that would be devastating in the wrong hands!"
"Whoa, what?! Why didn't you say that in the first place?!" I gaped angrily. "What am I still doing here, then?!"
"I do wish we had the luxury of time... however, I do not doubt your abilities. Find my portrait there as soon as you can!"
"I'm on it," I confidently nodded. Both Charles and Rackham wished me luck.
"No time to waste," said Fig. While I cursed these Keepers' incompetence under my breath we hastily made our way out of the Map Chamber and out of the castle, then Apparated to an area just outside Rookwood Castle, out of sight from anyone who might have noticed. Once we'd set our eyes on the castle's blocked entrance, however, Fig cleared his throat and turned to me. "You said that you knew of this castle, and that there were goblins and Dark wizards interested in it... how?"
"Do you know Sebastian Sallow?" He paused for a moment to think, nodding once when he recalled the name.
"Ah, yes. Charming young man, Mr. Sallow... Little mischievous, but a talented wizard nonetheless."
"Well, a while ago we went to Feldcroft to visit his sister... he told me about it then," I explained, jutting a thumb back towards the nearby hamlet.
"I see... and I do hope you haven't told him anything about this ancient magic business going on?"
...
"Uhhhhh..." My eyes drifted to the side. Fig's lips thinned as his eyes drooped halfway closed.
"...Sunset?"
"Well... he was with me when the trolls attacked Hogsmeade, and when Rookwood and Harlow tried to kidnap me in the Three Broomsticks... I had to give him some kind of answer for why those things happened. He never would've stopped asking me otherwise," I shrugged apologetically.
"The cunning of Slytherin, I see," Fig rubbed his eyes. "I hope your trust in the boy was not misplaced." The sentiment made me recoil slightly. What the hell was he getting at, of course I trusted Sebastian!
"It wasn't," I frowned, feeling a little more than mildly offended by that statement. "He's-"
...
My...
...friend?
Is he... actually my friend...?
"...Trustworthy. He won't tell anyone," I finished, hiding an uncomfortable blink. "And he's the only one who knows anything, I haven't told anyone else." Fig stared at me for a few moments before shaking his head with a sigh. He turned back towards the castle and cast a quick Cobolorum Revelio as well as a Homenum Revelio, grunting with displeasure after each cast.
"Professor Rookwood was right... the place is crawling with Victor Rookwood's lot and Ranrok's Loyalists!" he groaned. "I'm sure you'll agree that we need to find a way in other than the front gate... Let's go." We Disillusioned ourselves before moving towards the castle, my ears picking up that Fig was headed to the left towards a path that wrapped around the exterior walls. Following him eventually led us to an auxiliary camp of goblins that were guarding a breach in the wall, easily climbed through once they had been dealt with... which I did by silently casting a reverse Bubble-Head Charm on one goblin after another. After a few moments they all realized they could no longer breathe, and they watched each other panic and turn blue in the face before eventually suffocating in silence.
We climbed through the breach and dropped into the castle's courtyard. Immediately I heard an argument taking place just past a pile of crates - Fig and I quietly crept up behind them and peered over the tops. Just a few feet away, Rookwood and Ranrok were angrily conversing in hushed whispers as more of both of their underlings went about their business.
"If I'd known your plan was to dig up half the country-"
"I wouldn't have to dig if you could simply manage to bring me the child," Ranrok growled.
"We wouldn't need the child if you hadn't sent a dragon to retrieve the container I spent months and countless Ministry favors tracking!" snarled Rookwood.
"You let them board the carriage... My options were limited once I knew it would be inconveniently beyond my reach at that infernal school!"
Well, that explains that...
"Have you not acquired enough power here?! I allowed you to tunnel under my family home-"
"Allowed me?!" Ranrok bristled. "You are here only because you are descended from a Keeper, and may at some point inadvertently become valuable." Not liking what he heard, Rookwood spun around and began to leave, which only drew more of the goblin's ire. "We had an agreement... I will share with you the power that I discovered if you locate the stores of magic that are yet to be found! So... unless you want another demonstration of my power... A power that you one day hope to wield..."
The armor Ranrok was wearing began to glow brighter, with a sickly, dark aura. Rookwood turned around and paused for a moment at the sight, a cross between disgust and curiosity on his face.
"...Bring me the child." Rookwood watched as Ranrok stomped away out of sight, a loud crack ripping through the air before he Apparated away himself. Now that a few more questions had been answered for me, I stopped for a moment to think about what I'd heard.
"They're working together, alright, but I'd say it's far from a solid alliance," I hummed.
"We already knew they were after you, but now we know they're digging for stores of magic," Fig's lips thinned.
"And Rookwood is definitely Charles' descendant," I added, the gears turning in my mind. "So that's why he and Ranrok are working together... it sounds like Ranrok's after ancient magic, too."
"Yes, I caught that as well... Professor Rookwood said that you'd understand more once you complete the next trial."
"Let's get inside that castle," I nodded, my eyes scanning the courtyard. Over to the left was a set of stairs that led along the perimeter of the wall to the right, where there was a relatively unguarded door that granted access to the castle keep. Between us and that goal, however, were several goblins and Dark wizards. Another quick cast of both Cobolorum and Homenum Revelio revealed that strangely, none of them were actually inside the castle proper.
An idea formed in my head. I hissed to get Fig's attention. "Back here."
"Hm?" I heard him shuffling along after me. Once my back was against the wall I reached out to grab my mentor's arm, then after determining where his hand was I pressed it against the wall and cast Epoximise to magically cement it there, doing the same with my own left hand. "What are you planning?"
"Something I've been wanting to try," I grinned, focusing on a point in space directly in the center of the courtyard. Once I'd made the proper calculations in my head I glanced around for a spare sack; after finding one I summoned it close with an Accio and enchanted it with Capacious Extremis. Once the spell had taken effect I then refocused on the spot I'd picked out, held up my wand and recited the complex incantation that would create a mysteriously-tangible hole in the ground.
Then I teleported the sack directly over that hole, and watched it drop inside.
In a flash of light, both items suddenly exploded. Then the blast imploded on itself like a supernova, forming a portal to the aether. A powerful suction like a tornado reached out from within, immediately latching on to all the spare crates and supplies scattered around the courtyard and vacuuming them up. The goblins and Dark wizards soon found themselves being dragged towards the portal as well, unable to stop themselves. While they tried in vain to freeze themselves to the ground with Colloshoo, Fig and I felt ourselves being dragged along with them, but though our bodies were quickly rendered horizontal in midair, the wall to which our hands were attached held firm. Their feet were soon pulled out of their boots, and their screams sailed past us and cut off abruptly as they disappeared through the portal in a bend of light, never to be seen again.
It only took about ten seconds for our enemies to be sucked into another dimension. Another ten seconds later the portal's suction began to waver, and another ten seconds later it fizzled out entirely, the portal blinking out of existence.
I'd always wanted to see the effects of that catastrophic combination in action.
"Godric's heart," Fig stuttered as I canceled the Sticking Charms on our hands. "What on earth was that magic?!"
"Just a quick way of clearing the area," I shrugged. With nobody in our way, we canceled our Disillusionment Charms as well and simply strolled up the stairs and towards the door to the keep. It was locked, but nothing a simple Alohomora couldn't fix.
Once open, I could see that the castle had been largely ransacked: entire sections of the stone flooring were missing, replaced with rickety wooden boards. Tapestries and artwork had been carelessly ripped from the walls and were left in shreds. A mountain of refuse had been piled up against the keep's main entrance, down on the ground floor. I moved forward, but as soon as I set foot on the wooden floor it crumbled beneath my feet. With a shout and a burst of agility that surprised even me, I leapt off of the collapsed boards and onto a nearby crate as it clattered to the ground. I took a moment to balance myself, then hopped safely down, cursing the shoddy construction.
"I suppose that's the quick way down," Fig remarked as he simply Apparated to my level. Glancing around the room I spied the same runic markings I'd seen before - the wisp of flame that denoted the Keepers' presence - tucked away in dark corners. I struck them all with a simple spell, and I heard a click as I hit the final one; behind me, the doors to the castle's lower levels swung open on their own.
Together we entered the castle's cellar, greeted immediately by a beam of sunlight that shone down from a huge hole bored into the ceiling. The packed dirt floor was torn up by what looked like the treads of a large tank, leading to another hole blasted through the left wall, glowing an ominous red.
This doesn't look good...
"Goblin tracks... they're a step ahead of us," frowned Fig. "Let's see where they lead." We quietly, carefully made our way over the uneven ground and stepped through the hole, gasping at what we saw.
What appeared to be a massive chamber beneath the castle had been utterly ruined, the destruction forming a circular indentation that hinted at a bomb going off. Shards of twisted metal sat at the bottom of the crater, dripping with red energy that fizzled into an ethereal smoke, causing the entire room to glow as though it was radioactive. Cautiously I approached the metal, feeling the heat it radiated even now.
To my fascinated horror, it felt similar to ancient magic, but... not quite like I'd seen before. A feeling of dread clawed at my nerves the closer I got, and the scent of metal overpowered the notes of ozone and warmth. It was coppery, tangy, pungent... like blood.
Not to mention that I should've been excited to find more of the elusive magic. I felt nothing positive about being so close... there were no positive emotions to be felt anywhere near it.
"This must be it... the store of magic, and the source of Ranrok's power," whispered Fig.
"It's been drained dry... if they've taken it all, then why are they still here?"
"Ranrok said there's more to be found, and if he's right about that... it may or may not be located here. Wherever it is, we need to find it before they do! Where is that portrait?" Thankfully, the portrait was hanging above a fireplace in a study at the end of a hallway connected to the chamber, left surprisingly untouched after the goblins had taken their prize.
"I heard something... I was hoping that was you," Charles' portrait sighed in relief as we approached.
"Professor, the goblins and wizards are digging up your castle to find stores of magic... and it looks like they got it. Something was broken open in the other room," I spoke, gesturing.
"No...!" The painted man gasped as he shook his head, his face paling into a sickly white. "Things are more dire than I could have imagined! If, as you've told Percival, a goblin in his vault was wielding a powerful magic, then they have somehow learned- ...it cannot be!"
"They also know about you, as a Keeper," I frowned. "Victor Rookwood is, unfortunately, your descendant for sure."
"This makes no sense! How did-?!" Charles cut himself off again mid-sentence, and took a deep breath to compose himself. "...We shall discuss this later. Right now, you must complete the next trial - the power you stand to wield must first be fully understood... the trials will ensure that. Power without knowledge is dangerous, indeed. In the wrong hands... we will simply have to outwit Ranrok, and my unfortunate namesake."
"Just tell me what I need to do."
"I shall reveal the path," he stared pointedly. "Professor Fig must leave you, now." No sooner than he'd finished speaking that I suddenly felt a presence of energy in the room. A tentative step caused familiar sparks to soar to my right, and I followed them until I was standing on top of another reservoir of ancient magic. It flowed into me like a gentle stream, and a flick of my wand transformed the empty wall before me into a portal leading to darkness.
Feeling the magic seep into my body, warming me from the inside out... it was a comforting feeling after the dread I'd felt from the earlier room. Was that ancient magic tainted, somehow?
"I would join you if I could... I shall await your arrival in the Map Chamber," Fig sighed in resignation. "Be careful, Sunset."
"I will... I'll see you then." I turned back to watch Fig Apparate away before stepping through the portal.
~
Again, I found myself in a long, dark, empty corridor. I groaned to myself and rolled my eyes as I began walking.
Nothing of note happened until I'd walked for about ten minutes... which felt like forever when I was waiting for something to happen. Sparks of ancient magic appeared at my feet and led me to the corridor's end, where a reservoir lay in wait.
I stepped inside, and was nearly overwhelmed. The font of energy within was vast and deep, the whispers nearly as loud as shouts as the magic swirled around me. Feeling it seep inside my veins made me so hot I began sweating. After I flicked my wand to activate what would happen next, I blasted myself with a Ventus to cool down.
I opened my eyes... and I was immediately confused. Somehow I was right back in the Map Chamber. But certain things about it seemed off - none of the massive portraits were active, nor was Fig there. The black marble circle at my feet had lost its thousands of points of light, plunging the chamber into dim darkness. My mind raced as I pondered what the meaning of this trial might be.
It was answered seconds later. A distant explosion caught my attention, dust and pebbles falling from the ceiling high above and clattering on the floor. It was quickly followed by another one, more powerful than the last... the floor shook for a moment.
What the... is the castle under attack?
Curious, I made my way out of the Map Chamber and up the staircases. Finally I ran into the storage room, and came face to face with what was clearly a Dark wizard. Dressed in black, his cloak seemed to smoke as though it was on fire, the smoke taking the shape of melting, screaming skulls. His face was covered by a dingy metal mask, in the shape of the face bones of a skull missing its mandible.
"Oh geez, hello," I grumbled in surprise. The Dark wizard wasted no time in raising his wand, already alight with a spell. But I was faster, and after deflecting it with a Protego I Depulsoed him into a large pile of crates. They creaked with heavy weight as they toppled over and crushed him underneath.
Another explosion echoed in the distance, and the castle shook again. I wondered how many of these Dark wizards were attacking the place. Was my trial to kill them all? No, that seemed too easy... it'd take a while due to the sheer size of Hogwarts, but it wasn't at all a difficult task.
Regardless, I stealthily made my way through the dungeons. I only came across two more enemies until I reached the Slytherin Common Room, where the large number of wizards trying to break down the wall gave me pause. Why were they so interested in this area? They were so focused on their attacks that it allowed me to charge up a strong enough Diffindo that cut down the entire group in one swing.
Once they had all fallen, the familiar silver snake appeared on the wall and granted me access. I ran inside, finding the common room disheveled and deserted... except for two worryingly-familiar voices.
"You're too brave for your own good, Anne... we need to evacuate!" I heard Sebastian yell as I ran down the final few steps of the staircase. For some Celestia-forsaken reason, his sister was standing two feet away from him.
"Anne?! What the hell are you doing here?!" I recoiled, shouting. The three of us flinched as another explosion rocked the entire castle.
"I could see the smoke all the way from Feldcroft!" she explained. "I had to- ...I couldn't just leave my brother!"
"Yes, you could! You were perfectly safe out there!" Sebastian argued back. "What in Merlin's name were you thinking?!"
"Of saving my twin brother!" she retorted, her tone growing snippier. I shook my head; these two weren't going to accomplish anything at this rate other than getting themselves killed. Why were they even the only ones here? There wasn't a single sign of any of the other students remaining. Not to mention Feldcroft was a good distance away from the castle...
...Forget it. Act now, think later. "Enough bickering! We gotta get out of here, now!" I shouted over them. "This whole place is-"
The castle rocked again from a booming impact much closer than the others had been, the solid stone floor shaking under my feet. I heard the sudden, shrill ring of glass shattering, immediately followed by the rush of water. Anne and Sebastian fell silent as we all turned our heads towards the noise - over at the other end of the common room, the Black Lake had breached the windows.
"Run... run!" I ordered, already racing for the stairs. While they passed me and ran for the exit to the common room I tried to raise the floor to form a wall, hoping to cut off the rising water, but the room proved far too resistant to my magic. Not enough damage had been done to weaken the thousands of enchantments and mysterious ancient magic that held it together. With a frustrated grunt I started back up the stairs, the three of us together knocking into each other in our haste.
We exploded out into the dungeons, and I was met with a bolt of magic barely missing my head. I ducked out of instinct and shot a Confringo back in its direction, then threw up a Protego as my eyes darted around, counting the Dark wizards I could see hiding behind fallen rubble or blind corners. Beside me, Sebastian waved Anne behind him as he began firing back at them. It caused enough of a distraction for me to focus and aim carefully, sniping the enemies as they recoiled from his attacks. Bits of stone and metal were thrown and crumpled their skulls, Diffindos cleaved their bodies in two, Descendos tore down more chunks of the castle and crushed them underneath, and Confringos and Incendios set them aflame. The air was soon choked with dust, heat and screams.
Strangely, however, they all seemed to ignore me, even as their numbers steadily fell. Instead they seemed far too interested in attacking Sebastian and Anne, forcing the both of them to defend more often than strike back. At times even I would have to extend my Protego around one or both of them, just to make sure they were fully covered.
But it wasn't much of a concern. Nothing I couldn't handle. Is this my trial? Make sure they both survive? Heh... piece of cake.
Soon I'd ripped the final Dark wizard in half, and he collapsed to the floor. But I could hear shouting up ahead, and more bits of rubble and dust rained down on my head as the castle shook again. It seemed as though the bulk of their forces were holed up in Central Hall... it was going to take some effort getting these two to safety.
"C'mon... we're gonna have to fight our way out," I snarled, even as more enemies came running around the distant corner leading out of the dungeons. Sebastian and Anne stayed close behind, casting supporting spells of their own as I pushed forward. My wand burned hot in my hand from the sheer amount of magic it was putting out - Baubillious for blinding and causing distractions, Fumos for providing cover in the form of a smokescreen, Aguamenti for turning the polished floors slippery and combining it with Glacius to freeze large swaths of an area, volleys of Confringo and Bombarda to blow obstacles and enemies alike out of my way. Diffindos and Depulsos tore them apart and slammed them into the walls, the cracking of their bones echoing through the smoky, stagnant air.
Truly... I was a one-woman army. All too quickly I found myself staring down the last of the attackers, standing before the staircase leading out. The Dark witch seemed to hesitate right before casting her spell, as though she had had second thoughts about what it was she was doing. But it made no difference to me; I smirked as I capitalized on her moment of weakness and froze her solid before shattering her into a thousand pieces.
Most ponies - and people, it seemed - simply didn't have the stomach for fighting. They didn't have the heart to strike down their enemy when push came to shove, even if it meant the difference between life and death. They were wired to choose flight, freeze or fawn instead... they were the prey in a world full of predators.
Not me, though. To me, every fight was a competition, whether the stakes were for mere accolades or my own survival. Every victory was a trophy in itself, the prize proving myself superior to my opponent. It was a prize I'd handily won so many times I'd lost count years ago.
And I was going to keep on winning. To lose now would be to forfeit my chance at mastering ancient magic, to become the most powerful witch in the world... to prove to Celestia how wrong she was about me. Not to mention being defeated by some random nobody would hurt far worse than whatever spell might hit me.
The spiral staircase proved to be a brief rest, as more Dark wizards were just past the threshold, waiting for me. Making our way to Central Hall was slow and strenuous, it seemed as though for every enemy I eliminated, three more crawled in from behind their ranks and joined the fight. Sweat began to bead on my forehead, and my arms started to grow heavy, my casting slightly less precise. I compensated by widening the arcs of my attacks, and picking up detritus from the floor and Transfiguring them into either weapons to hurl at my foes, or shields to absorb an attack.
Yet they still continued to primarily target my two companions like automatons, despite the absolute terror I was proving to be. After a few minutes neither Sebastian nor Anne could cast anything offensive, focusing entirely on shields and keeping themselves alive. While a Fianto Duri cast upon both of their Protego shields kept me confident they'd remain unharmed, I couldn't help but feel a little offended that I wasn't who these Dark wizards were trying to kill. I was a far stronger adversary than the both of them put together! How dare I be treated like just an annoyance?!
I tried not to let it get to me, though. Instead I fought back harder, pushing past the pain and fatigue coursing through my arms. But by the time we finally reached Central Hall, I was gasping for breath. There were more Dark wizards crammed inside the hall than there had been in the rest of the corridors, almost like a Gemino curse that got way out of hand.
With a scream of effort I laid into them, casting a massive Depulso shockwave to knock them back. The hall was soon alight with a dazzling array of spells firing back and forth, blinding and mesmerizing. I ordered my body to dance, duck and weave around the attacks as I fought, each step growing more sluggish and clumsy. Worry began prickling at the back of my mind... I was quickly becoming exhausted. Did I bite off way more than I could chew this time?
No, never... I just need to-
I heard Sebastian shout in pain behind me, and something wet dripping on the floor. Whipping around, my eyes widened in horror to see a large gash reaching diagonally across his left ribcage. He struggled to keep his breathing even as he tried to keep himself standing.
"Damn it," he groaned, casting Ferula on himself after spitting out a mouthful of blood. Once the bandages had pulled themselves taut against his chest he fired back at the witch that had wounded him. She grinned coldly as she easily deflected it, but I saw it wiped off her face as I hurled half of the marble fountain of magical creatures at her. At once I felt a deep sense of justice and protection, coming to his defense like that...
...It was enough to make me pause. I blinked at the foreign sensation.
I didn't need to do that. He was perfectly capable of defending himself. Doing it for him would only distract me from my own battle! And I really couldn't afford to be distracted right now! Besides, if he couldn't defend himself, then he was dead weight to me-
I hesitated again, chastising my own mind for thinking that way. He was not dead weight! Not even close-
My peripheral vision suddenly brightened, alerting me to a volley of spells coming my way. I threw all my concentration into my Protego just to survive the onslaught. But then I heard a chorus of Avadas, and within that split second panic ripped through my heart. Before the second word of that incantation could be called out I cast a mass Accio on all the rubble and ruined stone that littered the ground, and formed it all into a thick shield that covered my Protego.
The stone shield was immediately besieged by Killing Curses. Each impact made me flinch as the blasts kept coming, the shield slowly but gradually crumbling.
We were surrounded. While I wracked my brain for ideas, the labored breaths of my two charges rang in my ears.
I was dangerously close to failing them... and I...
...No! I don't fail... I never fail!
"Sunset... save Anne!" Sebastian cried out suddenly. I blinked.
"What?!"
"What are you talking about?!" Anne and I both shouted, confused.
"Please... Anne means everything to me. I know she'll be safe with you!" His deep desperation flooded my heart, made palpable as my eyes slid over to him. He was holding his side, red slowly spreading through the white bandages, staring through the cracks of the shield with resigned determination.
A sigh escaped my lips, and my gaze softened. The cold fear reaching down my spine retracted, replaced by a comforting warmth.
Of course, Seb... wait, what am I thinking?! I shook the thought from my mind - a couple of tears fell from my eyes. I hadn't even noticed them forming.
"Stop it... we're all getting out of here together! I'm not gonna let either of you die!" I growled, even as a particularly strong spell impacted my shield, making my knees buckle. It wasn't going to last much longer. I needed to think of something fast.
"Sunset, please..." he begged quietly. His words, his voice reverberated in my mind. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't block it out. I couldn't think of anything else.
Only him.
No, damn it! I don't care about Anne! I care about-
...about...
...
My shield took one final impact and shattered. At nearly the same time, Sebastian roared as he began casting wildly at the legion of enemies around us, fighting with all his heart and soul.
But there were just far too many of them. Within seconds he took hit after hit, reopening the wound on his chest and soaking the bandage completely through. The Dark wizards all around us halted their attacks as he swayed in place, lightheaded, like millions of cats toying with a single doomed mouse.
"Promise me... promise me you'll keep her safe..." he sighed, barely audible. My body moved like I was drowning in a bowl of molasses, turning towards him to run to his aid.
Sebastian... I-
"Avada Kedavra!"
The curse resonated hollowly through the air. Before I could even register what had happened... I saw a blinding green blast, and heard a familiar voice grunt from an impact.
Sebastian had just been hit with the Killing Curse.
NO
"NO!" Anne screamed, as I too screamed his name uselessly. My entire body locked up and froze as he fell forward and crumpled to the floor. Time seemed to grind to a halt as I watched his limbs splay out around him, the last time he would ever move.
...
...
...No...
I could hardly believe what I was seeing, I no longer felt like I was inside my own body. In an instant my mind was wracked with guilt and despair, my soul flooded with a desperate, all-consuming ache.
No...
I had failed... I had failed him. I'd...
I'd lost...
...my friend.
No...
Slowly, the guilt and despair that froze me solid began to thaw, anger and rage and a deep, hidden passion heating me back up from my very core. My body suddenly felt light and lithe, and my soul screamed for redemption... the kind only vengeance could hope to manifest...
...Vengeance. My mind begged for it, screamed for it.
I wanted to avenge him.
I wanted to avenge him!
"I'll kill you... I'll kill you..." I glowered, tears dripping from my eyes. Power within me flared up like never before, like an erupting volcano. Wanting nothing more than to tear out the hearts of all these bastards that had taken Sebastian from me, I reached deep inside and grabbed that power, throttling it, forcing it upwards until I felt it pulse painfully through my veins like I was being strangled. I could feel the ancient magic swelling like a tsunami inside my soul, ready to lash out and annihilate all that stood in my way. My vision grew brighter, more focused... I could see every little nervous twitch of the enemies before me; the uncertain steps backwards they took as both my eyes and my horn burned and streaked with ethereal light.
"...I'll kill you ALL FOR THIS!" I roared, hurling my wand at the closest wizard. A massive bolt of lightning snapped out from the tip and struck the wizard directly in the chest, his body instantly sent into painful convulsions as it leapt to the next wizard, and the next. Within a split second the entirety of Central Hall was aglow with blue plasma, a chorus of screams and shrieks of agony echoing off the cracked marble walls and mirroring the torturous, uncontrollable shuddering of their bodies.
And then, just as quickly as it had happened, the lightning faded away. All of the Dark wizards that had been struck by it fell dead where they stood, their bodies charred and smoking from the heat. I nearly collapsed as well... actually, consciously using ancient magic had been unexpectedly exhausting to channel. But the power was well worth it.
Anne's stifled cries behind me brought me back to reality. Blinking, I dashed over to Sebastian, still lying on the floor...
...I had to see for myself. My voice trembled as I touched his arm - it was already growing cold.
"S-Seb...?"
It took some effort, but I turned him over.
I wished I hadn't.
No... nononononononono...
There was far too much color in his face, where the blood had rushed due to gravity. One eye was slightly more open than the other, both rolled back into his head at an unnatural angle. His mouth hung partially open in a grotesque expression.
There was no denying it... he really was dead.
My eyes widened until they stung in pain, and I gasped loudly, dropping his arm as I backed away. Guilt and despair overwhelmed my senses once again, joined by a churning maelstrom of grief and sorrow. My breaths grew rapid and shallow, and I felt myself becoming sick and dizzy.
NONONONONONONONONONONO
And then suddenly, like a slap in the face, all of it vanished. I remembered where I really was. What I was really doing.
This was a trial... Rookwood's trial, not reality.
Sebastian was perfectly fine in reality. Immediately I began repeating the thought to myself in my mind.
He's fine... he's not dead... It's not real... it's not real...
But even though I knew that... it was hard to convince my rattled brain otherwise.
not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real not real
"U-Uh... S-Sunset...?" Anne whimpered. I blinked at her voice, my vision clearing up from being muddled with tears.
The illusion's last words echoed in my mind... even though I had killed all of the Dark wizards in my way, Anne and I weren't quite safe yet.
In my heart, I had accepted that duty. I couldn't let that promise go unfulfilled.
C'mon! Get it together, Sunset! You're not done yet!
With a newfound burst of resolution, I grabbed Anne's hand and dragged her with me, past the illusion's corpse, past the corpses of the slain wizards, towards the heavy wooden doors that led outside to the castle grounds. I blew them open with a Bombarda, and we ran single-mindedly into the darkness beyond.
~
It was a few moments before I realized I no longer heard Anne's steps behind me, nor did I feel her hand in mine. I stumbled to a stop, my sides stinging as though sliced with scalpels, and gasped for breath. I'm not sure how long I spent simply recovering from the ordeal I'd just experienced.
What a cruel trial this had been, making me think Sebastian had been killed like that! Though I was furious at the Keeper that had sent me on this insane quest... the more the fresh memories raced through my mind, the more confused and overwhelmed I felt my heart becoming. Since when did I care so much about his well-being?! Since when would I ever listen to what he had to say in a life-or-death situation?! And since when would I ever bother to avenge his death?! I'm Sunset Shimmer, Celestia-damn it, I don't give a toss about anyone other than myself! Everyone else is a pathetic weakling compared to me! I don't need him... I've never needed him! I've never needed anybody! I DON'T. NEED. ANYONE!
...
...
...
No... I couldn't ignore my own emotions any longer. Not when I knew damn well what they were, not when I could no longer deny what they meant.
I did think of him as a friend. The very first one I'd ever had.
Somehow, he had managed to charm his way into my heart, to prove to me that he was worth knowing and getting to know, where countless others had failed so miserably to even pique my interest. And somehow, I had grown fond of him, wanted to have him around, felt strange when he wasn't, like I needed his company. I cared... so damn much about that boy, without even realizing it was happening.
He was my friend.
My friend...
Friend...
It felt so natural to me, like blinking or breathing... and yet, the mere thought was terrifying; my antithesis, my anathema. In the shadows of my subconscious, I felt like I was losing myself the more I sought out this ancient magic, losing what made me me. It was changing me from the inside out... forcibly changing who I was, how I acted, what I felt for those around me...!
But in spite of it all... I still craved that power.
I would still do anything to have it all for myself... even if it meant losing myself entirely.
A confused scream bled forth from my lips, echoing into the dark abyss I found myself in. The emotions, the feeling... it hurt my brain, and I clawed at my hair and pulled in anguish. The power I felt before when I was avenging Sebastian's death bubbled and boiled back up within me, flaring like fuel thrown into a bonfire. It leaked from my eyes and streamed from my horn, soft tendrils of blue-white light only barely illuminating the ground I sat upon. It seemed to reach a threshold at the apex of my scream, quickly snapping me out of my thoughts as I realized I could now control it.
The trauma I'd experienced... it allowed me to finally tap into the ancient magic I'd been absorbing throughout the trials. I blinked as I willed the power within to settle down, to lie dormant until I needed it, and it listened. It felt like a snake twisting and twining around the natural stores of mana deep within my soul, ready to strike if called upon. But I had no real need for it right now.
Right... I can have a crisis later. Right now, I had more important matters to see through to the end.
Finally turning my attention towards the darkness, I found myself in an immense chamber of stone, nothing but a Pensieve and a giant statue of Charles looming over it before me. As I approached I saw silver light stream down the curve of the statue's eye and drip down into the waiting Pensieve. In response the liquid ejected something wrapped in liquid metal, parting in wispy shapes to reveal what looked like half of a wand, split right down the middle.
Gently, I took the piece of wood from where it hovered and examined it... the polished wood was reddish-brown, perhaps made of cherry? Remembering Rackham's words, however, it likely wouldn't do me any good as it was, so I spirited it away to my pocket dimension with the other artifact.
Then I took a deep breath, and sank my face into the Pensieve. Within moments I found myself walking alongside Rackham, Charles and the other two Keepers along a dirt road. Looking around it appeared that we were back in Feldcroft, the surroundings familiar despite being cloaked by a perfect, starry sky.
"I must say, I'm curious to hear of Isidora's travels," Charles spoke as we approached a house. Before he could knock the door swung open, Isidora appearing eager to greet them.
"Do come in!" she chirped. The four Keepers smiled politely as they entered, Isidora pointing them towards a table. It was empty save for a single glass jar. "Please, have a seat."
"Isidora, we are all most intrigued to hear..." Rackham began as he sat down, but his voice trailed off as Isidora brought out her wand and picked up the glass jar, then moved towards a nearby door.
"We're ready," she calmly called out. I heard some shuffling noises, and the door soon opened to reveal an old man. "I've something to show you," she said, turning back towards her guests. The old man slowly walked towards Isidora, his face unreadable. "Father, these are my colleagues from Hogwarts," Isidora gestured.
Her father turned briefly to look at them, then wordlessly turned away and slumped down into a nearby chair. With how little his face, his head, his arms... his entire body moved, it was like he was a living ghost. Merely a shell of a human, with zero expression or emotion to speak of. His skin was pale, his eyes held no spark of life in them.
"Father... hasn't spoken since my brother died," Isidora explained, turning back to the others. "On my travels, I confirmed that which I've always believed... that we have the power to take away pain."
The four Keepers stared at her blankly. Spurred on by their inaction, Isidora sat down in front of her father and made herself comfortable. Then she lifted her wand and pointed its tip directly over her father's heart. I leaned forward in curiosity as white-blue light stained with red seemed to bubble up from underneath her father's clothing and attach itself to her wand, swirling like a tiny swarm of bees.
In an instant, I felt it - a flash of deep despair, of overwhelming sorrow, of a dark depression so powerful it hung over the man like an ill omen. I heard its cruel, maddening whispers, and I smelled it, too, as though I'd just shoved my head into a bucket of fresh offal and breathed deeply. It was almost exactly like the tainted red energy the goblins had taken for themselves.
"Isidora..." Rackham breathed. Her father gasped as the light pulled itself free from his chest, blinking a few times as Isidora held up the magical specimen for all to see. A proud smile spread across her face. "...What have you done?"
"I took his pain," she answered simply. Looking back over to her father, the difference was obvious - color returned to his skin, and his eyes flicked around the room like an excited child. His mouth twitched, his nose flexed, his arms and fingers and legs trembled with nervous energy. While he seemingly saw the world with new eyes, Isidora dipped her wand inside the glass jar, where the swirling orb of tainted emotions remained behind, then sealed it with a conjured cork.
"This is uncharted magic, Isidora," exclaimed Rackham, standing up in shock. Charles and Fitzgerald stood silently as well, while Bakar seemed to regard what he'd just seen with apprehensive interest. "You can only see what has been sealed in the jar, and we do not know what power that may hold! ...But the traces of that magic are different from what I've seen before," he finished, pointing at the jar.
Isidora wasn't listening, though. Instead her father reached out to her, and she took his hand. An endless wave of gratitude washed over me.
"...Thank you," he smiled. Isidora smiled in return as he rocked gently back and forth.
Suddenly, I felt myself being pulled from the memory, and I lifted my face out of the Pensieve.
I couldn't believe what I'd just seen with my own eyes.
Pain... Isidora found a way to remove emotional pain with ancient magic! Now this was an exciting breakthrough; even as advanced as both Equestrian and human magic was, between them there were no known spells or remedies that could completely remove someone's emotional pain! Even the best alchemical potions couldn't achieve those full effects!
Now I was even more determined to learn about this magic! Just think of what I could do once I'd mastered it! Why, I could even-
...
...
...
...Wait.
Emotional pain... not physical. My heart sank as I thought about Sebastian, and his sister. Whatever had cursed Anne, it had a physical component to it, too. Once I'd figured out how Isidora had done it, while I might've been able to cure her mentally... it wouldn't do any good if it was all just ruined by her next flare-up.
That won't do... I promised him I'd help him find a cure, but...
A portal had appeared to my left, mirroring the Map Chamber in its reflection. At first I could only blink at its appearance, but all I needed was a moment to compose myself before stepping through.
I was more than ready to leave this accursed place... this accursed trial.
~
Fig was waiting for me, standing and watching the portraits. His eyes lit up as I approached.
"You're back!" said Rackham.
"And in one piece, no less," Charles added. "It is good to see you again."
"Professor Rookwood told me about what happened at Rookwood Castle," Rackham frowned.
"In light of the dire circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is most fortunate that someone so competent is following this path," said Charles.
"Can't argue with you, there," I smirked.
"Are you ready to move on?"
"Actually, I wanted to ask you something," I held up a finger. "What exactly was that glowing energy that Isidora extracted from her father's chest?" Charles and Rackham turned towards each other, sharing an apprehensive glance before turning back towards me.
"It was... pain," Charles answered with a grimace. "You will understand more about her actions as you complete the trials." I waited a few moments for him to continue his train of thought, but quickly realized that he had nothing more to say.
"...That's it? That's all you'll tell me about it now?" Rackham and Charles stared impassively at me as I stared in mild annoyance. They sure didn't give their portraits much information when they made them... or they were holding back for a reason. I shook my head disdainfully. "...Alright, fine... what's next?"
"Some introductions are in order," Charles smiled, glancing to his right. Moments later a familiar woman walked into the leftmost portrait, regarding me primly. "Allow me to introduce former Hogwarts Headmistress, Niamh Fitzgerald."
"How do you do?" she spoke quietly with a nod. "I must say that I was not entirely surprised to learn that a student had been completing the trials. I've always believed Hogwarts students capable of anything they set their minds to."
"And I'm dead set on being the best there ever was," I grinned. "Sunset Shimmer, in case Professors Rackham or Rookwood haven't told you yet."
"I am certain that you are more than capable of completing my trial... However, I must first... how shall I say? ...Prepare the location of your next trial."
"We trust your judgment, Professor Fitzgerald," said Rackham. "You should know better than anyone how to manage the inconvenience of... well..."
"A vainglorious and exasperating Headmaster? Indeed, I should," she groused. "I shall confirm that everything is in order immediately."
"Of course," Rackham nodded before turning to me. "Professor Fitzgerald needs some time to clear the way forward... until then, you should continue to hone your magic. If you learn more about Ranrok and Victor Rookwood's activities, in the meantime, please let us know."
"Alright..." I muttered, doing my best to hide a groan as the three painted professors moved out of their portraits. Why couldn't I just blitz through the rest of these trials right now? And why were they so reluctant to tell me about the pain Isidora had extracted?
Something didn't feel quite right anymore. They were drawing parallels with Celestia that I didn't particularly like.
"Hopefully you will soon hear from Lodgok, and we shall learn how he fared with the helmet you retrieved," Fig sighed as he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Until then, it would seem we are once again at the mercy of the Keepers."
"For wanting me to learn more about this ancient magic, they sure aren't very good at teaching," I grumbled, staring at the mass of lights on the floor. "I have questions about what I saw, but they don't seem to want to talk to me about it."
"I gathered as much... what did you see this time?" We left the Map Chamber together as I told him about the memory I had witnessed, the pain I had seen extracted, and we discussed what it all could have meant as we climbed up the stairs back into the castle, though we came to no solid conclusions.
~
It was past 1am; Fig accompanied me to the Slytherin Common Room, promising to look into what I had learned before taking his leave as I made for the bathrooms. Once inside and alone I stumbled over to one of the sinks and leaned unsteadily over the bowl, as though I might throw up any second.
My entire body shook with nervous energy, as if I had drank a week's worth of coffee in under an hour. It was difficult to keep my breathing steady, to not let my own emotions spiral out of control... no, I had to stay grounded.
I had to... do something. I wouldn't stop feeling this way until I did.
My mind flashed back to a certain book Celestia had assigned for me to read long ago... at the time I found it ridiculous, childish, almost insulting. But now... now I wished I had kept it, rather than set it on fire as soon as I was finished skimming through it.
Friendship For Dummies. Surely it would've been able to tell me what I should do about this? I tried my hardest to remember the words.
Friends care about each other.
Friends trust each other.
Friends keep their promises to each other.
Friends can tell each other what is on their minds.
Friends...
...I felt a need to tell Sebastian about this. A deep-seated ache that clearly wouldn't resolve itself until I did.
I wanted to tell him that I cared for him, too, that I appreciated everything he'd done for me ever since we'd met... that's what a friend does, isn't it?
...Oh, what exactly am I supposed to do? I'd never experienced this before.
I supposed I just needed to follow that book's advice.
I needed to talk to him.
I started with our common room, figuring I'd simply work my way up the castle if he wasn't there. But there he was, alone on a couch in front of a fireplace, reading yet another spellbook. I blinked slowly, the events of the evening catching up to me as I slumped down next to him. The grin on his face quickly washed away into mild concern.
"Oh, dear... you don't look too well," he frowned.
"It's been a long night," I sighed deeply. Sebastian marked his place and clapped his book shut.
"Did your trial go well?" he asked, turning his full attention towards me. I nodded wordlessly, willing the muscles in my eyes and neck to look up and to my right.
I met his gaze. In the light of the fire, his eyes sparked like embers. They were the color of rich wood, like polished mahogany, cherry, or chestnut. The color of a fine bar of imported chocolate, and just as sweet. The color of the sky when the sun was setting, the auburn red a final cry of light's defiance before fading into the darkness of night.
And the freckles... they were the stars.
The twinge - that mysterious feeling deep within my gut that I had since grown so accustomed to - pulsed stronger.
"Something on your mind?" I didn't answer immediately, but looked away to stare at the floor for a moment, gathering my courage... Only partly due to fatigue, but mostly because I suddenly needed the encouragement that a touch would give, I rested my right temple on his shoulder. I felt him tense up, and he glanced away nervously, blushing.
"The trial made me... realize something," I began, my mind struggling to pull together the words I wanted to say with total, sincere honesty, for once in my life. "You've... been a good friend to me, Sebastian, and I... feel like I haven't really returned the favor."
"Now that's not true," he soothed, moving his shoulder. Before I could sit up he wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me closer, gently holding on to my upper arm to keep me in place. Now it was my turn to blush, feeling myself shiver all over from the sudden warmth. He leaned the side of his head against mine.
I could smell something floral, faintly fruity and herbal, heady yet light - coconut, ylang-ylang, jasmine, bergamot... sweet thyme? Just strong enough to sense, but calming and reassuring all the same. For a moment I nearly forgot what I was even talking about.
...No, I can't get distracted now.
"It is... when I first met you, you seemed like the only person around here worth a damn," I closed my eyes, my voice nearly a whisper. "You openly mentioned all kinds of things I found interesting, from illicit spells to secret places... and I wanted to learn about every one of them. I... admit I didn't care much for learning about you, yourself," I frowned, my head tilting downward.
Sebastian didn't answer, though he didn't move, either. Feeling a pang of guilt, I continued.
"But... the more you taught and showed me, the more impressed I was... and the more I did find myself caring. I never thought I'd find someone here that was so much like me - so impeccably skilled with magic, equally as devoted to learning new things, just as sharp-tongued and snarky, the same unwavering drive to reach your goals..."
Being so unbelievably attractive as- ...wait, no, that's weird. Don't say that.
"...Well, I do think of you as a friend, now. A very good one," I looked up at him, smiling shyly. "I appreciate everything you've done for me... truly. And I promise to repay you for it, starting with helping you find your cure. I want to help you, and see both you and your sister happy and healthy again... no matter how long it might take."
Another few beats of silence. Inwardly I wondered if I'd screwed it up and said something wrong.
"I see..." he finally spoke. "In that case, I suppose I have a confession to make."
"Oh?"
"I thought similarly of you when we first met... someone starting as a fifth-year, escorted by the Ministry and one of our professors to Hogwarts? I was convinced there was something special about you, and I was determined to find out exactly what that was." I felt his hand glide down my arm, another shiver wracking my body. "The secrets of yours that I learned, however... I never would've even begun to imagine. From a country hidden from the world, educated by royalty, and able to see and use a form of magic few have ever even heard of... You even had the knowledge to grant my sister a reprieve from her curse, something I will never forget for as long as I live. And everything we've faced together, all the times we've fought side by side... I can't say I've ever felt more of a perfect rapport with any other companion."
He moved his arm away so he could turn to face me, smiling gently. "You truly are something special, Sunset. I may not have a Seer's gift, but I do believe fate allowed for us to meet for a reason, past finding a cure for Anne... and I'm happy to think of you as a close friend, now, as well."
Our eyes met again. Part of me wanted to be mad that he'd had the exact same intentions as I did when we met, simply using each other for our knowledge and secrets... but it was quiet, distant, as though I'd attached that part of me to a boulder and thrown it into the Black Lake, to drown and fade away in the abyss.
Instead, I felt... fondness. Adoration. An inner warmth that radiated throughout my body, caressing my very soul.
Moreover, I appreciated the irony. "...You sly bastard," I grinned through half-lidded eyes.
"You clever bitch," he smirked right back. Our smiles felt ridiculous after calling each other such names... a few moments later the both of us chuckled, gradually building up into full-blown laughter.
After we'd gotten that out of our systems, we sat there in contented silence. Time seemed to slow to a standstill, yet it also charged forward faster than I could reconcile... I didn't want the moment to end. Everything felt so perfect, so... right, like nothing else mattered in the world.
My eyes drifted over to a flyer for the Hogsmeade Christmas Eve Gala someone had left behind on the coffee table. I leaned up for just a moment to retrieve it, then gently laid my head back on Sebastian's shoulder. His arm moved back around me, warm and comfortable.
"Have you seen this?" I asked, unintentionally shoving it into his face a bit closer than I'd intended. He took the flyer from me and looked it over.
"I have."
"You're going with me, you know," a mischievous smile spread on my face. Sebastian chuckled.
"...Of course I am. I'd be beside myself if we weren't, don't you know how many times I felt my heart stop when the others asked you?" he whined playfully.
"Like I'd even entertain their thoughts," I rolled my eyes, still grinning. "Like I said... you're the only one worth a damn."