"Whoa!" shouted Aaira as she was hanging for dear life on Little Star.
"What's wrong?" asked Little Star.
"Sorry, I'm not used to hanging from a basketball-sized moon!" shouted Aaira as she almost fell off while Berry and Heat were watching them.
"Don't worry, just don't fall." said Little Star in a smug tone.
"That doesn't help!" shouted Aaira as Berry laughed.
"So, how are you doing this?" asked Heat in a serious tone.
"We could try combing our powers and blasting through its hard and slimy shell." answered Little Star.
"Well, let's try it then." said Berry, as she and Heat glowed with their powers.
Berry used her magic to create a blue barrier around the gang on the ground and brought them to them, explaining the plan.
"So, we're just going to blast right into it? Like Bolt did?" asked Rain in a worried tone.
"Yes, so everyone is ready?" asked Little Star.
"Yes!" said everyone.
"Then, let's go save this child!" shouted Heat as Aaira, holding Little Star, sat on Heat's back while Berry sat on Heat's head and held her black horn.
Nightfall watched as the three started to glow with their powers. She looked at the rest of the gang, watching them check on each other's gear or small plans when they got inside, and knew that everything would be alright. She could feel that everything would be okay. She saw the giant comet looking down at them and shed a single tear. She knew why it was crying—it was afraid and lonely. She felt a hand on her head and saw Rain smiling at her.
"It will be okay, Nightfall; we're saving your daughter." said Rain softly.
Nightfall nodded and nuzzled her hand, taking Rain by surprise.
"What was that for?" asked Rain, smiling and confused.
"Because I can see your hurting, dear. Don't bottle your feelings away. We're here for you. I'm here for you. I'm a mother, and I can sense this kind of thing." spoke Nightfall, looking at Rain.
"Thank you, Nightfall. But let's focus on this mission; there's nothing wrong." fake smiled Rain.
"If you say so..." said Nightfall, feeling a bit sad for the human.
"Okay, everyone, hold on, this is going to be a wild ride!" shouted Heat.
"Ready?" asked Little Star.
"Yes. On 3...1!" shouted Berry.
"2."
"3!"
"Fire!" shouted the three as they took off like a rocket with the others locked behind them, blasting across the universe filled with black ink slime as they headed towards the comet. Their speed was a shooting star; from afar, it looked like a blue, black, and purple blazing star.
"Let's go!" shouted Berry as the comet eye glared at them, reaching towards it but never reaching it.
"Hey guys, we're moving, right?" asked Rain.
"I don't know, but we are, aren't we?" asked Nightfall.
"We are, so what's wrong?" asked Flare as she and everyone were looking around.
"Why are we not closer? Why are we not reaching the comet?" asked Berry
Wanda looked around and could hear the blasting of wind around them, so she knew they were moving, but yet, the comet had no sighs of moving, as its bloody comet tail wasn't moving like a comet would do, as it just froze there in place. Something wasn't right.
"We're moving, but yet..." spoke Heat, as the others were trying to figure it out.
"We're not moving." stated Wanda as she realized what was happening.
"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Nightfall, looking at Wanda.
"The reality of this universe, the laws and rules of physics, don't exist here. Nothing exists here now; it's a blank canvas covered in black ink, and the comet is using this power to trap us." said Wanda.
"Wait, if the reality of this world don't exist, than what about us, why can we still use our powers?" asked Flare, checking on her powers and seeing they're working.
"We can because we're not from this universe. Our reality rules are still affecting us. The comet is using its own reality rules to trap us and keep us here," stated Wanda.
"This will explain why I'm here with you all; I should only be within Aaira's mind. But I'm not." said Little Star.
"Okay, so what should we do then, Wanda?" asked Heat as she kept flying, even though it was meaningless.
Wanda started to think as she started to walk back and forth in the center of the blue barrier. The gang watched her as she was thinking and looking at the comet.
"It's not a comet; it's a universe." stated Wanda.
"A universe?" asked Heat, stopping and looking at the comet.
"Yes, I've been thinking, how can it control the laws of reality when it couldn't before? It's like I said before. A blank canvas is covered in black ink, but its ink comes from a universe of laws and rules like our own powers. The comet isn't a comet; it's a universe, a destroyed universe that is trapped in Nightfall's daughter." stated Wanda, as everyone was stunned by the fact that the comet is actually a destroyed universe. "I'm right, aren't I, Nightfall?" asked Wanda, turning to her.
"Yes, you are. After destroying their planet, they scatter their universe with their powers. Leaving one thing from that universe."
"And that would be...?" asked Heat.
"Our home..." replied Nightfall.
"I see, then maybe..." whispered Wanda as she started to think again.
"You're thinking about combining our powers to force a reaction between our powers and the comet's reality powers." stated Heat.
"Yes, how did you guess that?" asked Wanda, confused.
"Bolt told me once, she was trapped in a man made reality by her Discord. It was called the Null Space and using her speed and Abby speed, they broke through it by scattering the speed and light barrier, like we seen before when she created that sonic rainboom. If we do the same and I can create a sonic rainboom, we can-"
"We can scatter this reality and escape it. Yes, it can work if Bolt already did it." finished Wanda.
"But can you fly fast enough? We have seen your life, Heat; you might be fast, but not as fast as Bolt," asked Nightfall.
"That will be a problem, but we're not alone." said Heat, pointing at Flare, who was looking confused.
"Huh? Me?" asked Flare, shocked and nervous.
"Yes, we seen your speed. Its almost the same as Bolt. Help me in breaking the speed and light barrier. Can you do it?" asked Heat.
Flare looked around, and maybe she could do it. She was nervous because she was indeed fast; she wasn't as fast as Pink Bolt, a speedster in her universe, but she had to try. If it meant saving Nightfall's daughter, she had to. She wasn't going to be slow in saving another little girl's life—not again.
"Yeah, I can. Let's do it." answered Flare.
"Yes, we must hurry." warned Nightfall.
"Alright, let's hope this works." said Heat, looking at Wanda, who nodded.
Flare flew out of the barrier and helped Aaira into it, as there was no way Aaira's suit could handle the speed force. She was given Little Star, flew next to Heat, and put her arm around her neck. It was super warm.
"Let's do it to it!" cheered Berry as she popped her face between the two, making Flare, Heat, and Little Star laugh.
"Ready?" asked Heat, smiling and beaming with hope, as Bolt would be proud of her, counting on others rather than doing it alone.
"Yes!" spoke the three girls.
"Alright, then, let's scatter this jail!" shouted Heat as she and Flare started to move faster and faster until a white, black, and blue streak was seen as they soar across the endless slime sea.
They kept pushing, harder and faster, and Flare was having fun; it was like being free. As her speed and Heat's speed were scattering and hitting the light and speed barrier, they could see a rainbow cone forming around them. They all smiled and kept on going.
"More, come on!" shouted Heat.
"You got it!" spoke Flare, pushing and flying faster, as her speed was increasing with Heat's, while Star and Berry's element powers were combining with Heat's Super Harmony Diamonds powers.
They were now a blue, white, and black streak of light, the last remaining beam of light within this universe. Soon, the cone started to break, and finally, they became a beam of rainbow light as a huge sonic rainboom halo blasted behind them, finally letting them move forward and reaching the comet. The comet was shaking as its eye was wide open; it wasn't going to fail, not again. It was going to keep them there until the end. But it knew they were stronger; it couldn't control the laws and reality around them anymore. It could only watch and look at the beautiful sonic rainboom within the darkness. It started to cry.
"Mother..." spoke the comet, just as the gang touched the surface of its eye.
A bright flash covered everything.
"Mommy! Show me how to fly!"
"Sure thing, little sweet pea!"
Everyone could see the person who looked like Bolt and a small pegasus filly with a black mane with a bit of rainbow color, light blue skin, and a dark purple jacket as she tried to fly with her little wings, as they were in some garden with a huge tree in the middle.
"Sky, I don't think she's ready yet." said Nightfall as she entered the garden with snacks.
"Nah, she is; just look at her." smiled Sky as the filly was jumping in the air and doing little hops.
"I'll help you, dear." spoke Nightfall, putting down snacks and helping the filly up as her wings opened and flew a few inches off the ground.
"I think your daughter wants to fly with her own wings...and way higher than that," replied Sky, smirking, as Nightfall gave her a glare, but the filly jumped out of her mother's arms.
"Mommy! Momma! look!"
Sky and Nightfall looked to see the filly hovering off the ground.
"Good job, kiddo," smiled Sky as Nightfall put her down.
"Your wings are a lot bigger and stronger than before, so maybe they will grow." spoke Nightfall, rubbing her head.
"I want them to grow big and strong, so I can fly with my mommy!" replied the filly, smiling.
"How about right now?" said Sky as she grabbed her daughter and took off to the sky, leaving Nightfall behind to worry.
Up in the sky, above the city, the filly was scared as she hugged her mother and didn't want to let go. She was afraid; she had never been so high up and fast before.
"Don't worry, I'll hold on, and if you want, I'll teach you how to fly, like real pegasi." Sky smiled, looking at her.
"Really?!"
"Yeah, just let me see those wings of yours."
"Okay, mommy!" smiled the filly, letting go and opening her wings.
"Now, feel the winds against your wings. Feel the wind around you." spoke Sky, watching the filly and still holding her.
The filly did as she was told and felt the wind against her wings and all around her.
"Now, let's practice." said Sky, smiling and starting to fly a bit faster and higher as the filly tried to follow but failed.
"Come on, I know you can do it. just like when we were running together in the park. Just let the wind guide you," said Sky.
The filly looked at her mother and closed her eyes. She thought back to running and playing in the park with both of her mothers.
"Let the wind guide you." said Sky, repeating it over and over.
Soon, the filly opened her eyes and started to fly faster and faster. Her mother was surprised; she could feel the speed as the filly flew next to her, finally letting her go.
"You're flying." said Sky, smiling.
"Yay, I'm flying!" smiled the filly, flying with her mother.
"That was amazing," said Sky, smiling. As the filly stopped and was flying, as her wings were moving, the winds were hitting against her wings, just like when they were running.
"It is," replied the filly, looking at her mother and smiling.
"Want to do a cool trick?" asked Sky, grinning.
"Yeah!"
"Then, let's go!" cheered Sky as she grabbed her and rocketed straight up. The filly could feel the force of her mother's speed; it was hard to keep open her eyes, but she could see something, like a rainbow cone was forming. A second later, she heard a loud noise and felt a great force that she had never felt before in her life.
She could feel it and, soon, see it. Her mother showed her the most cool and wonderful thing in her life. She could see a huge rainbow halo flying across the sky, blowing all the clouds away. She was speechless, as she was flying with her.
"What do you think, little pea?"
"It's...beautiful."
"Just like you," spoke Sky, smiling. "Never forget that. You aren't my past; you are your own future."
The filly turned to her mother, only to reveal that her face was half covered in black slime.
"MOMMY!" said the filly as she could see the burned and charred body of Sky falling out of the sky.
The filly didn't move, as she was still in shock.
"Mommy!" cried the filly as her slime side was crying.
The memory vanished as the gang broke through the eye, scattering it, blasting into the comet hollow center, and seeing a city as prism lights were all over it. They kept going, but something was wrong with Heat and Flare, as they were still in shock and their bodies were turning solid colors like before. They crashed into a building, breaking it, and landing on a street.
"Woah, are you two alright?" shouted Wanda as she rushed to the four.
"We're fine. Just...what was that just now?" asked Heat, holding her head.
"A memory maybe...not ours though," said Flare as she looked at Nightfall, who was crying as she helped the others up.
"So, this is where you grew up?" asked Nightfall to herself as she looked everywhere. "Yes, I remember this area. It's near the water park."
Everyone was confused as they watched Nightfall talking to herself.
"Look, I was crazy once, so I can say this: she's freaking nuts. Are you sure we can trust her?" whispered Aaira to the gang.
"You shouldn't talk, Aaira!" shouted Lil Star as she pound Aaira's head, making an upset puff of cheeks sound, causing everyone to laugh.
"Hey, guys," said Heat, pointing at the prism lights, which were gathering and becoming a window with an image of something.
They walked up, and they could see another universe. In this universe, a human boy with rainbow hair was fighting against the US army, like they were trying to catch him. He called out his mother, and a tall, rainbow-haired woman appeared from the sky and slammed into the soldiers, blasting them all away. She reappeared behind her son and touched his shoulder, smiling, as they stood behind a destroyed city.
"This is another version of "us"?" said Rain, as she was amazed and shocked at the same time.
"What is this?" asked Wanda as she touched the window, seeing that it was solid and hard.
"Remember what we said?" replied Nightfall as she walked over. "We saw your lives and adventures. This was how. a window that only appears in the Wall of Between. For some reason, they gather around her."
"Why?" asked Berry as she looked out another window, seeing an anthro Twilight and carrying a blue cat with a bit of rainbow fur.
"Better yet, can you explain everything, and I mean everything? We need to understand what happened," demanded Terra, walking to her.
"Yes, you need to know everything," said Nightfall, raising her hoof. "Hold on, not here and not now. We need to find Sky first, right, Twilah?" asked Nightfall to herself. "Yeah, we have seen her memories, and we know what happened, but Sky needs to remember her real self, and it will be easier for both sides to explain," replied Nightfall to herself as she lowered her hoof. "You are right. Sorry, you two."
Everyone looked at each other while Aaira did a cuckoo sign with her fingers, which again got smack by Lil Star.
"Nightfall, are there other people within you?" asked Wanda, worried and confused.
"Yes, there's me, Twilight, and Twilah." answered Nightfall, smiling.
"Who?" repeated everyone.
"Oh yeah, sorry. The ones who touch the rainbow shards A human version and another alicorn version of "us" are in this body. I needed a body to control. Again, we'll explain later," replied Nightfall, rubbing her neck.
"I have a question that can least be answered. Where did this place come from? It's not like any city I've seen before," asked Flare as she pointed around.
"It's my home. Her home—this is Spark City. The remains of my universe"
During the events outside of the comet, Bolt and Blitz landed on a rooftop and could see the prism windows, which Blitz quickly explained. Before Bolt could ask a question, they could see an explosion not too far from them. They could see Layla flying out of the smoke and crashing into a building.
"Layla!? She's alive?" shouted Bolt as she blasted towards her, with a confused Blitz following her.
"Alive? Did she die?"
"We saw her and others being eaten by the slime monster you saw before. We thought they were killed," explained Bolt as she landed in the broken hole of the building that Layla crashed into. They could tell she was badly hurt, and her left leg was broken and bleeding, as she was trying to crawl away as she saw Bolt and Blitz.
"Layla!" shouted Bolt, but Layla swung her sword at Bolt's neck, but it bounced off, confusing Bolt. Why did Layla attack her?
"STAY AWAY!" shouted Layla as she crawled more "Stay away. I won't let you hurt me or anyone."
"What are you talking about? It's me, Bolt, your friend," said Bolt as she walked to her.
"...Bolt?" spoke Layla as she looked at her, tears in her eyes. "Are you really...Bolt? You look..."
"Yeah, the one and only. Just in my hyper form," said Bolt, smiling and giving her a wing thumbs up, which made Layla tear up and cry as she hugged her, confusing her again.
"Bolt! Thank god! Are the others here?"
"No, the others are outside of the comet."
"Outside?" asked Layla as she looked at her, confused.
"We're inside the comet right now. This is the remains of my universe," explained Blitz, but quickly back away as Layla summoned her rune magic and was ready to fight Blitz, but Bolt got between them.
"Hold up! What's going on?" asked Bolt, confused and a bit scared.
"We have been fighting "her" which felt like hours! She's unstoppable!" shouted Layla.
"Her? You mean..." whispered Blitz as she looked out the window and looked for something.
"We? Are the others still alive?" asked Bolt as Layla got up, limping, as she was in pain.
"Yes. The others are still alive, but I don't know for how long. We tried to escape and then fight back but no matter what we did, she regenerated." spoke Layla.
"Regeneration? Is she covered in slime?" asked Blitz, worried.
"No. She's..." replied Layla before something crashed into the building, blasting debris and smoke everywhere, cutting the conversation as Aero was laying there, badly bruised and breathing heavily, and a figure standing over her as the smoke wasn't clearing yet.
As the smoke cleared, the figure was Blitz, but her eyes were white, and a rainbow halo behind her back was spinning.
"Welcome home." smirked the clone.
Further back, when Layla and the others were eaten by the black slime, Layla, Eirika, and Aero awaken in a destroyed highway area, confused about where they were, but Eirika and Aero were more confused by the strange metal objects with wheels.
"Where are we? home?" asked Layla as she looked around, seeing there was no sky, only a rock ceiling.
"No. I don't think so," replied Eirika, as she and Aero poked the strange object until the alarm went off, making them attack it. Layla sighed as she saw the two attacking the already-destroyed car.
"I'll check ahead," said Layla, walking forward, leaving the two alone.
"Hey, look at this," spoke Eirika, showing Aero a flat metal-looking item as she took it out of the pocket of a skeleton pony but fell forward in the driver seat, spooking Aero. Aero was about to attack said skeleton, but Eirika calmed her down, showing her it wasn't alive like the ones back in their world.
Aero looked at the strange item and looked back at Eirika, who told her she wanted her to keep it. Aero wasn't sure, as it could be some sort of trap or weapon. She tried to knock it out of her hands, as she didn't want anything to harm Eirika, but Eirika fought with her until the glass surface turned on, spooking the two.
Eirika and Aero weren't sure what to do, as they didn't have much knowledge of this world or its items, so they touched it. The glass surface had numbers on it. Eirika quickly realized it was a puzzle of some sort. She tried different number inputs while Aero cheered her on.
Layla looked away from them and sighed again. She needed to tell them what a "phone" is to them; after all this was over. She walked further ahead of the highway, which had destroyed cars and other vehicles that weren't from her world. She could see the skeleton bodies in every vehicle, and as Layla could tell, whatever killed them all was done within seconds, as there were no bodies on the road, none at all.
She walked past and was at the end of the highway bridge. As the remaining road was broken, she looked around. There was no sign of anything. no signs of life at all. The only thing she could see was the lifeless city.
"What kind of world is this? Is there no one here?" Layla was thinking to herself.
She could hear Aero and Eirika shouting. She looked back and could see the two playing with the phone. It seemed Eirika got it to unlock, and the two were having fun, which made Layla smile.
"At least they are happy," thought Layla as she joined them and heard why they were fighting. It seemed Eirika found a game on the phone called Flames Emblems Heroes, a gacha game, but Aero wanted to pull on the banner.
Eirika was showing Layla that she could summon heroes from other worlds on the phone by using orbs, the game currency. Eirika showed her how it works, and she could summon five heroes at a time. She was amazed that his item could summon such great heroes.
"It's a game. They're not real people," said Layla.
"What about us? We're from other worlds too, you know?" Eirika replied with puffy cheeks, making Layla laugh.
"Okay, okay. Your right. You have a point. Besides, in the multiverse, maybe they're real."
Aero made horse noises as she agreed with Layla.
Eirika was happy, but a few moments later, the phone was out of battery and turning off. The two were depressed and wanted to continue the game. Layla told them she'd recharge later, but they needed to find out where they were; they needed to get off the highway bridge and get to the street below.
Aero used her wings to carry the other two as they flew over and landed on the ground. They continued walking and saw more and more destruction. The three were getting worried and nervous as they saw more and more bodies. All skeletons, as the buildings were broken, cars were destroyed, and there were still no signs of life. Soon, Aero made some horse noises, and Eirika agreed with her horse.
"She's right, we should find a place to stay for the night," said Eirika.
"No. We should try to find a way out of this world," said Layla, crossing her arms.
"Look, we were in a fight and walking for how long? We need to rest and recover our stamina. Besides, we can't do anything when we're tired." replied Eirika, crossing her arms too and copying her.
Layla sighed as she didn't have an argument for it, and she hated how Eirika was in the right. She sighed again and gave in.
"Fine, fine. We'll look for a place to rest," said Layla, as the other two cheered.
They continued their search and found a school, which was destroyed and in ruins like everything else. As they entered, they all felt sadness as they spotted the small skeleton bodies, which Layla could tell were once kids.
"What...what happened in this world?" thought Layla, sadly.
Aero and Eirika saw death on the battlefield; even children were killed by bandits or the Demon Dragon cult. It still wasn't easy to see, though, especially in this world.
They continued their search but were surprised at the rooms they were seeing, as they had pictures on the walls and desks, which had weird items like the one they found—all a mystery to them but not to Layla, as she had seen laptops before. But still, Eirika and Aero were curious about it. They were still sad to see the child skeletons and the destruction of the place. They entered a new hallway, as the doors were missing, and off to the side of the hallway, they could see an adult skeleton pony, as it was covering the small ones.
"Let's keep moving," said Layla, looking away and continuing their search for a place to rest.
They entered another room, which seemed to be a teacher lounge or an office of some sort. They look around, as the place was trashed but there were no bodies. They agreed to rest here. Eirika gathered all the paper she could see and started a fire. As they sat down, Eirika reached into the Aero saddle bag and took out the ration bags. She tossed one to Layla, who caught it, opened the bag, and saw what was inside.
"It's apples and berries," said Eirika, seeing Layla looking at it.
"Apples? Are they fresh?" asked Layla curiously.
"I wouldn't eat them if they weren't," replied Eirika.
"Fair enough."
The two started eating while Aero was watching the flames. As the two finish their food, Eirika asks Layla about the world they're in.
"Are we...inside that slime monster?"
"I think so."
"But...how? Did it absorb us?"
"I'm not sure, but it could explain why this world is so dead," replied Layla, looking out the window at the destruction and lifeless city.
"If that's true, how are we still alive?"
"I'm not sure...but if I have to guess, that monster didn't fully absorb us."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe my barrier saved us?" replied Layla, as she remembered the fight but quickly remembered something and spoke to Eirika with worry. "Hey, is your dragon...dead?"
"I don't sense Helios echo," whispered Eirika, looking at her dim and colorless rainbow sword.
"Oh..." replied Layla, not sure how to respond.
"She's not dead! She can't be! I just have to pray harder! Helios is...she's..." spoke Eirika, as she couldn't finish her sentence as she put her sword down. "Maybe it's for the best?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Helios was trying to stop the Demon Dragon, but she told me something after she gave me the sword. She told me my friend, Twila, a mage in training, carries a curse. a curse that can seal away the demon dragon. The cult gave her that curse when she was a child, to seal Helios away, but I freed her from them. Helios wants me to use Twila to seal away the Demon Dragon within her..." replied Eirika, not finishing her sentence.
"Kill your friend, in turn killing the Demon Dragon, right?" spoke Layla, which made Eirika nod her head and say, "That's messed up."
"That's what I told her! But Helios said this was the only way. But now that her echo is gone, I don't have the means to kill the demon or my friend. I should be happy, but..."
"You're not."
"I just... don't want her to die, but I can't turn my back on my world! Should one death outweigh millions of lives?"
"..."
"You know what's the worst part?" said Eirika, which made Layla look at her.
"What?"
"Twila is not only my friend, but she's like a little sister to me. A sister I never had... I can't do it! It's not fair! Why!?" shouted Eirika, crying, "Why can't I save my friend without killing her?"I was ready to kill the demon dragon! So why can't I save her?"
"..."
"Why did Helios tell me this? It feels so evil," whispered Eirika, crying her eyes out.
Layla wasn't sure what to say or do. She knew it was a bad situation, but she couldn't do anything to help Eirika. She was about to reach out and hug her, but Aero put her face on Eirika's head and nuzzled her, forcing Layla to pull back.
Eirika smiled and hugged her horse, thanking her. Layla watched the two as Aero lick her master cheek. She remembers her best friend, Nova, who was like a sister to her.
"I have a friend in my world; she has the chaos disease. Her name is Nova. We were once close like sisters; we did everything together, but she became infected and distanced herself from me. It got worse when her infected magic came to light one day and destroyed her home and the city block. She had weird flame magic; it felt warm but cold. My teacher, Nanna, took her in and tried to suppress the sickness by creating the device that's on my wrist. It worked, but one day she lost it and infected me," said Layla as the other two looked at her.
"Is she...?"
"No, she's still alive. After returning from her craze madness, she ran away after realizing what she had done to me. I told her I'd find a cure for her and all those infected by the sickness. I promise her I'll bring her the dawn. She told me she couldn't wait and to never stop being an optimistic idiot. I told her I wouldn't and that I loved her. She smiled and left. I hadn't seen her until three years ago. She gathered all the infected people and created an army. She used them to try to take down all the kingdoms in our world. She became..."
"Evil?"
"No, more like a terrorist. She wanted a cure but didn't trust the kingdom's since how awfully the kingdom treated the infected. She wasn't wrong to go against them, but hurting innocent people who got caught in the crossfire was wrong. I don't blame her for being infected, but the things she did were wrong."
"I see..."
"I finally faced her and tried to talk to her, but she didn't want to listen to my promises or hope. The infection started to make her go mad, and she killed her own forces that were with her. I might have to put her down, but I don't think I can."
"Because she's like your sister, right?"
"Yes."
"..."
"But I will protect the ones I care about. Protect the infected and those hurt by her madness, and I'll promise her the dawn she wants to see, even if it means killing her," spoke Layla, determined, making Eirika realize she was wrong about her.
"I'm sorry. I guess I was a little wrong about you. With the whole...evil-looking magic," said Eirika, smiling awkwardly.
"Don't worry about it. My teacher said a lot of people fear my magic, especially the dark runes, but she told me I should be proud of myself for using my infected magic for good." replied Layla, smiling and making the other two smile too.
Everyone went quiet, just looking at the fire, until Eirika looked at her sword and touched it. Layla has such determination to save her world, even if it means killing her best friend, that Eirika feels ashamed of herself. She was scared of the future and what she had to do.
"Hey, Layla..."
"Hm?"
"Is killing one person to save many a bad thing to do?"
"No."
"What?"
"Sometimes, we have to make hard decisions. Sacrificing one life to save many others It's not evil to do so. What's evil is doing nothing. Eirika, I know you are asking yourself: Is it worth sacrificing your friend to save your world? If I had the answer, I would tell you, but I don't. It falls on you."
"To make the decision, I know."
"Let me finish. It falls on you and your friend."
"What!?" said Eirika, finally looking Layla in the eyes.
"You aren't alone in making the decision. Your friend also needs to decide that her life is worth dying to save the world."
"But if I tell her..."
"You'll have a better understanding of her answer...and yours. Do you think you can make the decision to sacrifice her?"
"No..."
"Do you want her to sacrifice herself?"
"No! I would rather die!"
"Then the only way you can know what to do is by speaking to her. You can't let her decide for you or yourself for her."
"...right."
"Besides, talking with her might create another choice. choice where she doesn't die and the demon dragon does die. You just need to talk to her; have faith in her and yourself," smiled Layla, as she could see Eirika clutching her fists and crying.
"Thank you. Thank you for listening and helping me out. I'm glad I met you. I'm glad I was wrong about you."
"It's no problem. I'm always glad to help."
Eirika stood up, wiped her tears away, walked over to Layla, stabbed her sword into the ground, and kneel to her.
"Layla, make a knight oath pack with me. Please."
"Eirika, stand up, please."
"No, not until you agree."
"Eirika..."
"Please, I know we don't know each other that well, but I just want to make sure we can help each other."
"Eirika, you have Aero, and I'll be fine. Trust me."
"I do. But please, Layla."
"Okay, okay. I agree."
"Really?"
"Yea."
"Then I, Princess Eirika, make an oath pack with you, Layla. I'll follow your advice and have faith in Twila and myself. And..."
"And?"
"I want you to save your friend! Don't end her life!"
"Eirika, she might be too far gone."
"DIDN'T YOU TELL ME TO HAVE FAITH IN MY FRIEND!" shouted Eirika, interrupting Layla and making her stun.
"I did..." whispered Layla.
"Good! Then have faith in Nova! Have faith in your beloved sister, and she'll see the dawn in her own way and return from the darkness! Have faith, have faith..." cried Eirika as she couldn't hold her tears in.
Layla was lost for words. She was ready to put down her dear friend, even if it was the only way to save her, but yet, Eirika didn't want her to kill her and have faith in her, like she told Eirika to do. Why didn't she take her own advice? Was she ready to give up and kill Nova without letting her live? Just like that?
Layla was shocked at herself that she was willing to give up on her friend. Eirika was right; why couldn't she have faith in Nova? No matter how far she has fallen into madness, she always remembers her—like she was looking for her—no, like she was always looking at her like the dawn she promised her. The thing that will guide her through the darkness and madness. She had faith in her to save her and the infected.
"Okay," whispered Layla as Eirika looked up to her, seeing her crying.
"You'll save her?"
"Yes. I'll have faith in her and save her."
"You'll promise me?"
"Yes. I promise. I'll find a way to save Nova and all the infected," smiled Layla.
Eirika pulled out her sword from the floor, stood up, and placed the blade on Layla's shoulder.
"As princess, I knight you. From this day forward, you are known as Layla. The Knight of Dawn and the Protector of the Infected May you protect them from harm and show them the light," spoke Eirika.
"I will."
"May your words and actions be true, and may your strength be enough to face any challenge you may encounter."
"It will be."
Eirika nodded, pulled back her sword, and put it back on her back.
"As a future queen, I'll follow your lesson, and if I ever go against it, I'll give up my title and throne as proof of breaking the pack. This is my oath, and may it bind us."
"May the oath be true," smiled Layla as they shook hands.
"Thank you," smiled Eirika, happy to have a knight and friend by her side.
"I was wrong about you, Eirika. You're a great swordswoman and knight. just like Lady Spitflames. I'm glad we met."
"Me too, Layla. Me too."
Both girls finally started to get along, making Aero smile at them, but suddenly heard something and hurried to the window.
"Aero?" asked Eirika as she noticed her glaring at the window.
"Hey, what's up with her?"
"I don't know. She probably saw a rabbit."
"We haven't seen any animals," pointed out Layla.
"Oh. That's odd. Maybe a bird?"
"..."
The two went quiet as soon as they heard something. Layla got her sword out and walked to the window, trying to figure out what Aero was staring at or what they just heard. Eirika took out her sword and joined them. They looked but saw nothing, until...
"Last time! Pineapple on pizza is the best thing in the world!" shouted Dr. Wonder as she floated by.
"Only a witch will love something so evil!" laughed Flash as she was behind her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, witches are known for being evil."
"For liking pineapple on pizza!" shouted Wonder as she floated back to her.
"Yea! It's the devil's food!"
"Devil's fo...wait, you know, I can't believe you're making fun of my food choices. You have the stupidest and lamest taste ever. The best pizza ever is just plain cheese pizza! God, you are an idiot! Just a stupid, lame, boring, meathead!" shouted Wonder as she turned to the school window and saw Eirika, Layla, and Aero with the most "what?" faces on them.
"Oh, hey girls!" waved Flash.
"Pineapple is the devil food, though," said Layla with a small smirk.
"Christ..." muttered Wonder, as she was just done with them.
"See, even she agrees!" pointed out Flash, making Wonder glare at both of them.
Meanwhile, Eirika and Aero had never heard of "pizza" before but were just shocked to see two grown women having an argument about food. What was so wrong about a "pineapple"?
End of Chapter 10