The Unnamed Saga: The Four Thrones, Chapter Twenty: "Nation's Fall, Part 2"

Chapter Twenty: Nation's Fall, Part 2

 

Open on the pained expression of a Fionan soldier.

Show their features ease, their eyes going glassy.

The Fionan soldier falls.

Reveal Dawn behind the soldier, bow up and string vibrating.  Zara stands at her side, dressed now in a travel cloak and boots.

Dawn leads Zara by the hand down the Silverthrone hall.  It is early morning.  The sun is down.  The hall is lit by brilliant flashes of magical light that cast colors across the wall and floor.

Show the end of the hall, sky blue light showing beneath the doorway.  Something hits the door audibly.

The door bursts open in a flood of sky blue light.  Two Fionan soldiers come tumbling from the hallway, one sliding across the wall, the other rolling along the floor.

The soldier on the floor comes to a halt.  The soldier across the wall lands beside them.  Elsea enters the hallway through the broken doorway.

Elsea: "Princess!"

Zara: "Oh, Elsea!"

 

Elsea and Zara embrace as Dawn stands away from them with her bow resting.

 

Dawn: "Elsea, is Siri..."

 

Elsea looks at the ground guiltily.

 

Dawn: "I see."

Dawn looks away.

Dawn: "We need to hurry, then."

 

Elsea: "Yes, princess Dawn."

 

Dawn takes the fore, leading with an arrow nocked.  Zara follows with Elea in the rear.

Show them going down a hall toward a set of stairs.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Silverthrone entrance hall where a semi-circle of archers have Zelos and Glenn pinned down behind a wall.

Glenn peeks out as an arrow whips past his face.

Glenn ducks into hiding beside Zelos.

 

Zelos: "They're good, but they're not Kratos."

 

Glenn: "Few are."

 

Zelos: "We should count ourselves lucky then."

 

Glenn: "We should think."

 

Zelos: "Right, right."

Zelos looks down the hall they are hiding in.

Zelos: "I think this hall leads to a staircase back up.  We could sneak our way down, double back around, and..."

There is a sky blue flash off screen while they speak.

They peek out from behind the rubble.

Show the archers lying dazed on the floor with Dawn, Zara, and Elsea stepping around their bodies.

Zelos and Glenn meet Dawn, Zara, and Elsea.

Zelos: "We were just on our way to find you."

 

Zara: "Or to find a way out."

 

Zelos: "We wouldn't have left without you."

 

Zara: "I know."

 

Dawn: "Okay, ladies, enough flirting.  We have more important things to worry about.  Like escaping."

 

Glenn: "Agreed.  Plans?"

 

Dawn: "Nothing, unfortunately."

 

Zara: "I'm also out of ideas.  This attack seems thoroughly planned."

 

Zelos: "I'm pretty sure most plans are."

 

Elsea: "Um, excuse me, I may know a way.  There is a royal escape route, like in Fiona, a tunnel beneath the castle.  It leads to the dock.  It was meant to allow for the king and queen a safe escape to water and perhaps the mainland...In case of Fionan attack..."

Elsea looks at Glenn and Zelos.

Elsea: "Oh!  I apologize..."

 

Zelos: "Don't be.  It was clearly the right idea."

 

Glenn: "Where is it?"

 

Elsea: "Well, normally we would take the halls, but they're crawling with soldiers and more than a few mages.  So, I'd suggest we go the long way around the castle and use the back entrance."

 

Glenn: "Good.  Let's move."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the Silverthrone castle garden, the barren flowerbeds empty and surrounded by corpses.

Show the castle walls with smoke rising beyond them in the distance, the sky cast in a sickly green aurora.

Show the airship hovering above the castle, soldiers dropping down by rope, bursts of magical light erupting around it.  A faint red light grows from the garden, rising against the green light cast by the airship’s sails.

Show Mary in the garden, the magical runes upon her body shining a blinding red, further runes being burned into the dead grass at her feet.  She draws them into the dirt with her hands.

Show Mary writing runes into the air before her, facing the airship.

Show Mary write another rune into the air to her right.

Show Mary cast a rune to her left, the light of the other runes growing in intensity.

Show Mary writing a fourth rune behind her, the four previous runes nearly blinding, the airship glowing in the distance above her.

Show Mary facing the airship, her skin blindingly red.

Show Mary glowing in the distance, the party approaching her with Glenn and Dawn leading and Elsea trailing and keeping Zara and Zelos before her.

Elsea grabs at Zara and Zelos’s shoulders.

Elsea: “Please, wait!”

 

Zara: "What in the world is she doing?  Trying to dance them to death?"

 

Elsea: "She is casting a spell, my lady, and it's going to be quite the spell."

 

Glenn draws his sword and charges Mary.

Glenn: "Mary.  Mary!"

 

Mary stops and looks at him.

Mary: "Sir Knight!"

 

Glenn: "Stop!  Now!"

 

Mary: "I understand your concern, but I assure you that I am trying to save the city, not destroy it.  Look up, if you would."

Show the party from above, each of them cast in green light.  Dawn appears resolute, holding her bow tightly in her hand.  Elsea and Zara are horrified.  Zelos is disgusted.  Glenn stops, his blade now at his side.

Mary: "A monstrosity built by Metis' hand, or so was the tale told me by a frightened soldier.  It is full of soldiers and mages most assuredly plotting Silvara's downfall."

 

Zara steps away from the group, tears in her eyes.

 

Zara: "Mary, I'm afraid to say, the city has fallen.  For now, we must retreat."

 

Mary: "And we will once I make myself known.  Just a moment longer..."

 

Glenn: "And you swear the city is safe?"

 

Mary: "Not with that beast in the air!"

 

Glenn looks back at the airship.

Glenn sheaths his sword.

Mary: "Smart decision, that, now step back, if you would.  This might be dangerous."

 

Glenn and Dawn push the others back to a safe distance while Elsea stands before them and conjures a sky-blue barrier of magic before her.

Mary kneels and puts her hand upon the ground.  The runes on her flesh and the runes around her cast the area in a blinding red light.

The magic pours into her body, leaving the ground and making her entire body glow with magic, a red aura surrounding her like a swirling flame.

Mary stands and casts her hand into the air.  The magical light becomes a singular point of blinding red light in her palm.

Red plasma pours from her palm and fans through the air.

Show the mages on the airship drawing runes and summoning shields of various color.

Show a thin barrier formed of different colors appear to meet the blinding red flash of flame and light.

Show the barrier bend inward.

Show the barrier fade, red flames cascading into the airship’s underside and spreading across its form.

Mary slouches, breathless, as the airship drifts out of the air, red flames lingering upon its frame, smoking pouring from it.

Mary smiles back at the party.

Mary: "I...did it..."

 

Zelos joins Mary and helps her to stand.

Zelos: "I'll say you did.  Very impressive, Mary!"

 

Mary: "Why...thank you...pumpkin."

 

Show the two of them, Mary leaning into Zelos, with green line framing them from behind.

Show the airship drifting downward, pouring from its side.

Show the airship stabilize.

The airship rises while spells rain down from its sides once more.

 

The green light from the airship burns brighter.

Everyone watches as the ship levels out.

Spells start raining down from the airship again.

 

Mary: "Oh, damn it all!"

 

Zelos: "Come on, you're too weak to fight it now."

 

Glenn helps Zelos to carry Mary toward Dawn, Elsea, and Zara.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Silverthrone by morning, the sun rising on the party as they walk through the ruins of the castle.  Dawn and Glenn lead, with Elsea at the rear.  Zelos helps Mary along.  Zara is passing under a broken support beam that is blackened from fire.  Blades of sunlight show.  Flashes of magic appear from offscreen.

They stop at a partially broken wall.  The interior walls have been broken, exposing aspects of the outside.  The bodies of soldiers, Silvaran and Fionan alike, litter the ground.

Elsea steps forward, her hands and eyes glowing.

Elsea uses magic to shift rubble aside while Dawn and Glenn stand at the ready.  Zelos puts Mary to rest on the ground while Zara stops beside him.

Show Zara watching Zelos who looks about the ruins.

 

Zara: "You seem distracted."

 

Zelos: "This is a full assault."

 

Zara: "It's not your fault."

 

Zelos: "I know. I just can't figure out what they're thinking."

 

Zara: "Maybe Metis really..."

 

Zelos: "He's my brother."

 

They go silent.

 

Zara: "Zelos, I know it's hard for you to hear, but you know, even the most evil of people have families."

 

Zelos looks at Zara sternly, and she holds his gaze.

Zelos: "He's my brother."

 

Zara: "Yes, well, your brother's attack has taken at least three of my family members and my home.  Consider that."

 

Zelos kicks a stone while Zara storms off with tears in her eyes.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn and Dawn keeping watch while Elsea is busy at work clearing the rubble.

Dawn: "Do you think what she said was true?"

 

Glenn: "Who?"

 

Dawn: "That magician."

 

Glenn: "Mary?"

 

Dawn: "Yeah, her."

 

Glenn: "About that ship?"

Dawn nods.

 

Glenn: "I doubt he built it alone, but yes, he was involved."

 

Dawn looks at Zelos.

Dawn: "But he won't hear it."

 

Glenn: "Doesn't matter.  We don't have time for blame.  We have to survive."

 

Dawn: "That I can agree with."

 

Show a boulder, wrapped in sky-blue light, tumbling to the side and revealing a fractured wall with a sturdy door built into it while the party turns to look.

Elsea wipes the sweat from her brow.

Elsea: "Excuse me, everyone, I am finished."

 

Dawn: "Good job, Els."

 

Zara: "Yes, very good!"

 

Glenn: "Alright, everyone.  Inside."

 

Glenn and Zelos keep watch while Dawn takes the lead with her bow nocked.

Zara and Elsea help Mary down, walking the center while Glenn and Zelos wait.

Glenn and Zelos share a look at the door.

 

Zelos: "We might just make it."

 

Glenn: "Looks that way."

 

Zelos: "You go.  I'll take up the rear."

 

Glenn: "Are you sure?"

 

Zelos: "Yeah."

 

Glenn enters while Zelos watches.

 

Zelos: "Glenn?"

 

Glenn looks back at Zelos.

Glenn: "Yes?"

 

Zelos: "I'm sorry."

Zelos draws Glenn’s sword from his scabbard while shoving Glenn in the chest with his foot.

Glenn falls backward while his sword comes out.

 

Glenn: "Zelos, what..!"

Glenn catches himself while Zelos shuts the door.

Zelos wedges the blade into the door handle to prevent the door from coming open.

Show the door wriggle while Glenn beats on the other side and Zelos stands, waiting.

 

Glenn: "Zelos.  Zelos!  You stop this right now!"

 

Zelos rests with his back against the door.

Zelos: "Glenn, I'm sorry, but I can't go with you all.  This is a full-scale assault.  Kratos will be here, and so I can't leave."

 

Glenn: "Zelos!"

 

Zelos: "I need to talk to him.  I need to fix this!"

 

Glenn: "Zelos, you're in over your head here!  You don't know what you're doing!  They'll kill you!"

 

Zelos: "Glenn, I'm going to fix this.  I have to.  You just go and protect Zara and Dawn.  They're all that's left of Silvara now."

 

Glenn: "Please, Zelos. Please!  Don't do this."

 

Zelos: "It's done.  Right now, you're just wasting time."

Zelos leaves while Glenn continues to beat on the door.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Kratos moving about the ruins of Silverthrone castle.  It is midday.  Magical blasts explode in blinding flashes of color around him.  He moves carefully, with his bow up, dirt and soot across his face and beard.

Show Kratos looking up at the airship in disgust, the airship hovering overhead, streaks of magic jumping from its sides.

Kratos climbs over a pile of rubble and finds Zelos seated at the bottom.

Kratos trains his arrow on Zelos.

Kratos: "I had thought you would run!"

 

Zelos stands.

Zelos: "Fionan royalty know no cowardice."

 

Kratos: "No, we don't."

Kratos descends carefully and keeps his arrow fixed on Zelos.

Kratos: "I've went through a lot to find you.  Now that I have found you, I have a few questions for you.  Why did you kill our father?"

 

Zelos: "I...I didn't, Kratos.  I had nothing to do with it, and neither did Zara!"

 

Kratos: "And my family?  I suppose you hand no hand in that, either!"

 

Zelos has tears in his eyes as he stammers.

Zelos: "They...When...?"

 

Kratos: "You didn't know?"

 

Zelos: "By the gods, no!  Of course not!  How...Who would..."

 

Kratos hesitates, his bow fixed on the crying Zelos.

Kratos lowers his bow as he approaches.

Kratos embraces Zelos.

Kratos: "Zelos. It is good to see you."

 

Zelos returns the embrace.

Zelos: "And you, brother.  What is going on in Fiona?"

 

Kratos: "Madness, from the sounds of things, and I think I know exactly why.  We'll talk about it later.  For now, we must go.  We can't have them finding us."

 

Zelos surveys the ruins of the castle while Kratos holds him by the shoulders.

Zelos: "But aren't you leading the attack."

 

Kratos: "In a sense, but I was only here to find you.  Now that I have, it's time to go."

 

Zelos: "Where will we go?"

 

Kratos: "Into hiding somewhere.  We can't have the army find you.  They've been ordered to kill you on sight."

 

Zelos: "Who would order such a thing?"

 

Kratos: "Metis, I think.  Probably trying to cover his tracks. Now, let’s hurry.”

 

Zelos: "But..."

 

Kratos: "No arguments.  Let's go."

 

Zelos nods.

Zelos: "Kratos."

 

Kratos: "Yes?"

 

Zelos: "I'm glad that you're alive."

 

Kratos smiles at Zelos, who is smiling in return.

Kratos: "I wouldn't die without clearing your name first."

 

An arrow catches Kratos in the chest as they smile at each other.

Kratos and Zelos go wide-eyed as two more arrows cluster in Kratos’ chest.

 

Zelos: "Kratos!"

Zelos looks up toward the rubble as an arrow catches him in the face, leaving a shallow cut and removing his eyepatch.

Zelos falls to kneeling while clutching his eye.

Show Crane atop the rubble, eyes wide and wild, an arrow nocked, her body gaunt and haggard.

Crane: "It's too bad that he won't see you die, boy!  But I can still make you suffer!  Bleed you slowly before setting you on fire!  Setting everyone on fire...This world will burn without my Burgess in it!"

 

Zelos staggers to his feet, hiding his golden eye behind his hand, blood running down his face.

Zelos takes an arrow to his shoulder.

Crane laughs as Zelos falls onto his back.

Crane: "Don't you worry, boy.  I swear on my dead love's soul, I will kill that traitor brother of yours.  I'll kill everyone he knew or loved.  I'll kill anyone even associated with the crown.  One by one, I'll kill them all!"

Crane stomps on Zelos’ wound and holds an arrow to his head.

Crane: "But first..."

 

Emissary, off-screen: "Stop!"

 

Crane spins and points a drawn arrow at the Emissary.

Show from above as archers surround them on all sides.

 

Emissary: "We brought you into the battle to help us."

 

Crane: "I am helping.  I'm about to kill the traitor!"

 

Emissary: "And prince Kratos?"

 

Crane: "He...He killed my Burgess.  He deserved to die!"

 

Emissary: "Miss, lower your bow."

 

Crane looks around frantically.

 

Crane: "Never!"

Crane looses the arrow.

It hits the Emissary in the shoulder.  He stumbles backward.

A series of arrows fill Crane like a pin cushion.

Crane jerks.

Crane smiles as she falls.

End the scene with the archers closing rank on Zelos.  He is huddled, holding his eye.  Golden light spills from between his fingers as the magic threatens to go out of control.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the Black Castle interior hallways.  The castle is dark and devoid of life.

Show Metis’ room, empty and cleaned, everything in its place.  The wardrobe is slightly ajar.

Show the spiral staircase from above, the long, winding stairs leading into the darkness, the shadows darker and rounded.

Show the alter, the torches dimmed, the shadows thick and swollen at the center of the screen.  A wet crunching fills the silence.

The shadows recede, dropping the broken remains onto the altar.

Show Metis crouched, the torches around him coming to life.  He has sweat on his brow and a sick, haggard smile cut across his face.

Metis stands and smooths his robes.

Metis: "Now that you've finished your meal, I feel there is much to discuss."

 

Book One End.