We are all headed to the battlefield where the great battle will be fought. It's a huge open field in the mid-west of the United States. Thankfully it is protected by magic, so humans will have no idea a battle is taking place. The humans haven't responded well to the zombie type creatures plaguing their streets. It's a shame that the magic world and human world can never exist together.
I'm worried about Emmy and Calder. This final battle will not be easy on them, and with Emmy being pregnant it adds to my concern. I know she is protected by some very powerful magic cast by Life herself, but still, I can't help but worry. Calder has a huge responsibility with helping Emmy lead the team. Lately Calder has had to be the main leader of the team since Emmy is having a hard time balancing pregnancy and fighting a war.
The team is setting up their tents while the Reapers and Warriors start to join us. We will need all the manpower we can get. I'm letting the team get set up and come to terms with everything that is going on before I whip their asses into shape. I fear they aren't ready for this final battle, hell I'm not sure anyone is. It's hard to believe we have reached the end. I worry about what will be left after it's all said and done.
I find Gemma with Rollo in our tent. Gemma is still too weak to fight, but she will help provide medical aid with Kenzie. I'm not happy that Gemma is even near the battlefield in her current state, but she is thick headed, and once her mind is set on something there is no changing. I've tried and failed on many occasions.
Gemma smiles at me as she walks up towards me. She puts her hand to my face, and lightly strokes it with her thumb.
"You look worried, love."
"Worried doesn't even begin to cover it. I'm not sure there is even a word for the amount of worry and anxiety that it weighs on me."
"We are all worried and anxious. We are facing the greatest battle of all time. This battle determines the fate of our world and the human world as well. There's so much riding on all of us to make sure Emmy kills the Enchantress."
"Emmy is my biggest concern right now. What if she loses the baby during the battle? What if what happened to you happens to our baby girl. I can't bear the thought." I feel tears prick the back of my eyes. I'm not one to cry often, but when I do it's never a good thing.
"I know my love. I fear the same thing. Emmy is protected by the most powerful magic in this world. I don't think she will have the same fate I did, and even then, Calder didn't die. Emmy is strong. We will never have peace till the Enchantress is gone.”
"I know. We did raise some pretty strong kids, didn't we?"
"Yes, we did,” Gemma says as she kisses my lips.
I help Gemma finish things up with the tent and then we go to check on our kids. Emmy and Carter are set up, but Calder and Kyndle aren't set up. I can tell they have been off relieving some stress. Kyndle's hair is a mess, and Calder's clothes are disheveled. The last thing we need is Kyndle getting pregnant during this damn war. Although I can't blame them, adrenaline is high right now, and we all need to blow off steam at the moment.
Jason has cooked a pretty good meal considering he is just working with fire, some pots, meat, and veggies. We sit down to eat as more soldiers from the Reaper and Warrior organizations come to join us. Jason is so busy cooking up a storm for everyone, it's a good thing he has some help considering he is cooking for a damn army.
The rest of the night everyone sits around the campfire talking. We are spending time together while we can because tomorrow is going to be a different day. Tomorrow we start plotting for the final battle. I'm going to give the team a pep talk. Daren seems to think I'm good at pep talks, so he has volunteered me to talk to the team tomorrow. I have no real clue what I'm going to say to them other than don't get killed because we want you to come back alive.
Morning comes to all of our dismay. Gemma and Kenzie have gone off to the medical part of the camp to help get things set up. Kenzie's skills for potions will come in handy, and Gemma is very good at organization. Jason is off cooking. I know he would much rather be cooking than doing anything else. Cooking is Jason's happy place, and hell out of all of us one of should be doing something we enjoy.
Darren, Ivy, Stella, Kyndle, and the team are gathered around me in the main tent. There's a large wooden table with a map of the field laid out in front of us. The team looks older as I look at them. They have all had to grow up and do things that kids their age shouldn't have to do. I know they are all legal adults in the human world, but to me they are still kids.
"I know none of us want to be here right now. We all have wished that the Enchantress was already dead, and this final battle didn't need to happen, but that's not how it's meant to end. You kids have been through so much, more than anyone your age should have been through. I wish this wasn't your fate, but we don't get to control what happens to us, or what fate has in store for us. There are many soldiers from the Warrior and Reaper organizations. They will be looking to you, the team, for guidance, hope, and leadership. Remember one thing: strength is only how well you hide the pain. Don't let them see your pain, you save that shit for your private moments, for those that are close to you. You must support each other now more than ever. Put aside your petty differences. Don't fight over stupid shit. You save the fighting, the anger, hate, and the rest of your emotions for the battlefield. Use those emotions to give the battle you're all. I don't know how many battles we will be fighting, if they will be small or big, but no matter what we will win this. The Enchantress will meet her end."
Emmy steps forward. We hug.
"Thanks dad,” Emmy whispers in my ear After I let my little girl go, I step back to let her hand out orders to her team.
"I have thought about where I want everyone to go. I think you all will be happy where you are placed. Don't question where I've put you. My decision is final so don't bother arguing with me to change my mind. Brie and Avery, you two are to go to medical. Your skills are strongest in healing, and we will need you two there. We don't have too many skilled healers, it's unfortunate, but you two possess enough skill to handle what might come your way."
Brie and Avery nod their heads in agreement. So far so good. Emmy and Calder have chosen where to place their team, and in my opinion, they did a great job at it. Brie kisses Ryan goodbye, and Avery does the same with Bex. They must live immediately considering the medical part of the camp isn't very strong which is a big concern, but I have faith that between Gemma, Kenzie, Brie, and Avery the medical part of the camp will be whipped into shape. Besides, if for some reason the medical gets compromised Brie and Avery are skilled enough to defend it. I know Emmy plans on placing some foot soldiers around medical to help keep it guarded.
"Carter, Alice, and Ryan, I need you three along with Daren, my dad, and Stella to work on strategies for offense and defense. You will also be on the front lines with Ivy, Daren, and Stella when the time comes. Bex for now I need you to be educating the soldiers on everything and anything that is important. For example, I need you to fill them in on how to kill the different parts of the Enchantress's army. Not everyone who is joining us will have the proper knowledge on how to fight the Enchantress's army. Bex, I know you know how to sort through the information provided by the front lines, the Reapers, and the Warriors that come in."
"I can make pamphlets and other material to hand out to the soldiers. I can also give briefings to groups of soldiers about survival tips, fighting tips, and whatever else might come up,” Bex says with a smile on his face.
Bex is a total nerd but thank the heavens he's on our side. His brain is filled with so much useful information it's not even funny. Whatever knowledge Bexton has bouncing around in his head will certainly come in handy.
"That's perfect. Go for Bex. If you need help let me know we will get you the help."
"Alright,” Bex says as he leaves the tent.
"Calder, you are in charge of air support since you have Kyndle. I need you two working with the others on strategies. Calder, you're also working with Mason, the leader of the Reapers. I believe he wants you so you can start some early training since one day you will be taking his place."
"Fine,” Calder snaps.
I knew Calder wouldn't like working with Mason just yet. Calder wants his freedom first, and he will have it, but right now it's a great time for him to shadow Mason as he leads the Reapers into battle. I'll have to talk some sense into my son. Make him see that spending time with Mason is a good idea.
Everyone splits up to go to their assignments. It's just Emmy and I now. Emmy is sitting in a chair sharpening her sai swords. I pull up a chair and sit down near her. Emmy is angrily focused on sharpening her sai swords. She has given everyone their orders, but Emmy has the hardest part out of all of us, she has to kill the Enchantress. Only she can do it, and if she fails, we all fail. It won't matter how well we fight, if the Enchantress survives this war, we are all fucked.
I put my hand on Emmy's arm to stop her movements. Emmy stops what she is doing and looks up at me. I can tell she is holding back tears.
"Dad, I'm scared." Emmy's voice is barely above a whisper.
"I know Little Bird. It will be okay. Don't ask me how I know this, but my gut tells me that this will all be okay in the end. You are strong, stronger than any of us."
Emmy laughs as a tear spills down her cheek.
"I don't always feel so strong. Sometimes I feel like I'm just going to break, like I'm going to shatter into thousands of pieces, and I'll never be able to put myself back together again. Like Humpty Dumpty." Emmy laughs at the last part and so do I.
"Unlike Humpty Dumpty, you have a thick skin. You have already survived so much; I know you can survive this too. You may feel broken and shattered, but we have all been there. You're a Caine, and Caines always survive. you will fucking survive this, we all will."
"We may survive this, but will we all come out whole?"
"That I don't know Little Bird, but I hope we can all move on from this. I hope no one ever has to be in our shoes. I hope after all this we all can find a little peace. Emmy what is your plan? How do you plan on killing the Enchantress?"
"I have something up my sleeve. I've been working on something that no one knows about. Thanos gave me the idea when they came to visit. I wasn't sure it would work, but it does."
"What idea is that?" I ask genuinely curious as to what Death himself could have suggested.
"You fight fire with ice,” Emmy says as she stands up.
I don't understand her riddle. I stand with her. Emmy puts her sai swords in their sheaths, and then slings them on her back. Emmy has gone from scared to determined. I don't think anything could stop her; she looks deadly.
"Dad, I'm going into the woods to train. I have to do this by myself. Don't follow me, and don't let anyone come looking for me. In three days, the final battle will begin, and I will be there, but first I must take care of something. I love you."
Emmy kisses me on the cheek, and like a ghost she is gone. She teleported somewhere. I don't know where, and as worried as I am about her, I trust her. I have to trust her. Emmy knows what she has to do in order to be ready for this final battle. I don't know what it is, and somehow, I know it's better that way. I will respect her wishes, I won't follow her, and I will make sure no one else tries to find her. Whatever she had to do, she had to do it on her own.