Chapter 9

Tarin ran straight for home base, and found his friends waiting. Tarin lowered his head.

“I’m sorry, I just needed time to think about all of this.”

Tarin’s mom nodded, “How was your time to think?”

Tarin sighed, “It was as confusing as I thought it would be. Méndez is what I thought him to be.”

“Evil.” Colton said.

I shook my head, “An elf.” They all still looked curious, “I guess he was tossed into this world at some point and was naturally drawn to the magic of the multiverse, having traveled through it before and that’s how he got his powers.”

Tarin’s mom nodded, “That, surprisingly, explains a lot.”

“Yes it does.” Said a voice, a light came from the far side of the room. They all turned to see the Master Knight standing in a circle of light, “Mr. Jacobs, I hope you have made a good decision in the proposition I gave you?”

Tarin tensed, he hadn’t told his friends about the time talk he had with The Master Knight yet! Tarin nodded, seeing that this was part of the prophecy. “I have, and I know what this is Knight. My decision.”

The Master Knight smiled, “No, it isn’t. That comes later, but for now, it is a part of the prophecy. It is where Tarin Jacobs and his friends will go in the future, we shall see where the other side goes. What do you choose, all of you?”

I turned to my friends, Max stepped forward. “What is the proposition exactly?”

The Master Knight nodded, “To return to the MDSC, not as students or scholars. But as teachers.” The room fell silent, “I need people who can really control the forces of magic, which is what has been given to all of you. This is indeed part of your decision Dash, but a part you will soon understand.” Like before, he vanished in a flash of light.

The room was silent until Tarin decided to speak, “Listen I was going to say no bu…”

They all looked at him, but not with anger. Colton stepped up.

“If this is the path we have gone down, and this is the only way out. I say we'll take it.”

Sorra nodded, “I would like to learn more about magic.” She turned to Lily, “If you let me.”

Lily smiled, “Of course, and I actually agree. Sure the magicians created my worst enemy, but they also made me. Without them, technically I wouldn’t be here.”

Aaron flew into the air, “A teacher eh? I think it makes sense, and it could be cool for us.”

Max nodded, “I would love to teach kids how to do what we do, it would be inspiring for us all.”

Colton ran up to the ceiling and stayed there, “Tarin, it’s up to you now. Your call.”

Tarin smiled, “Let’s go save the world.” Then he got an idea, “And we’ll die together, in the least.” Tarin muttered. “I have an idea.”

They all went to the One World Trade Center, at the base of the building. Nothing was happening, yet. They waited for a solid twenty minutes until…

Aaron shook his head, “Maybe she decided not to…”

Just as Aaron was talking a massive tendril smacked him and Max to the ground, but it disappeared instantly after.

“So,” Said a voice as evil as death, “You finally figured out where I was, It took you a long time.” Tarin cast a lightning whip spell, and thrust it at Velmora. Velmora’s own tendril caught it and dispelled it, “Magic! Ah, I never thought you’d go back there Lily. Not after me.”

“I did nothing to make you this way! You decided this yourself.” Lily shot a barrage of light blasts at Velmora, but she evaporated into mist.

“I think you're lying Lily dear, you just believe your new friends too much. We’ll have to get rid of them.” Suddenly at least fifty shadow figures appeared from the shadows of the building, and started walking toward them. “If you want your friend back, take the climb.” Velmora reappeared and pointed up, “If you want to live.” She pointed down, “Surrender the game.”

Tarin thought for a second, going over the lines of the prophecy. Wait! 

He shall battle his friends the servants of death

He shall lose his friends for the fight to the end

You shall go to the highest of feats, but you shall die with your friends in the least.

“We have to fight them, then only I can climb the building. It’s starting to make sense.” Tarin yells to his friends as the shadow servants approach.

Max nodded, “He shall battle his friends the servants of death.”

“He shall lose his friends for the fight to the end! Fight for a bit, then go to fight Velmora!” Lily said.

Tarin nodded, he dashed through all the servants and ran right over them. Making them dissolve into nothingness. “You all have to come up after I defeat her though, You shall go to the highest of feats, but you shall die with your friends in the least. We meet back up at the top of the building and save Myer and defeat Velmora, but fake our death.” Tarin had found the foul play in the plans of the prophecy, it never specified when it was their superhero persona or their real selves. If Tarin was right, then they all needed to fake the death of the Xeno Force. Tarin beat up a few more shadow servants then considered them to be enough, and that his friends could handle them. He turned to his friends, “Be safe, we need everyone for the prophecy.” He ran up the building to the top, where he feared to meet death.