Chapter 4 – Slaves of Freedom
Amy and her forces gather together outside their secret base. They brought a few of their own monsters that they made with magic and willing people in case Sharon and/or her forces found them. More of them come until there are thousands of troops around Amy and Irene.
Amy raises Irene’s hand along with her own and says, “Today is the day we’re going to dethrone the tyrant Sharon! We will have true freedom in this world and with Irene here, we will have victory!”
The armies yell out while Irene is unsure how to feel about her importance in this conflict. She rides on top of one of the monsters along with Amy who has her cutters out.
“Aren’t you excited, Irene?” Amy asks who is excited herself.
“I guess. I never thought I’d be a part of something like this.”
“This is the cost of taking freedom from those that impose their own idea of freedom. This is a rebellion against the rebels.”
“That’s a catchy tagline.”
“I think so too. I’ve been saying it to people and they join us solely based on the tagline.”
Irene and Amy finally arrive at Agartha to see it under siege by their combined forces. The walls have already been torn down and the city is being destroyed.
“Do you see this? The red carpet is being rolled out for the new queen,” Amy says with one arm on Irene’s shoulder and the other presenting the scene.
“If we could bleed, the carpet would literally be red,” Irene notes.
“It’s a good thing we can’t, but I admit, I feel kind of bad for the people who are standing in our way.”
“It doesn’t look like Sharon’s supporting armies are here. I wonder why.”
“Don’t wonder that right now because we have to put you on the throne. If they see you there, you could bring peace here.”
Irene can’t help but feel like she is the villain in this situation. This feeling is amplified as the two go through the city streets to see not only the damaged buildings and decorations but also the damaged people as well who lay on the ground in pain. Some curse at Irene and Amy as they pass by.
“Don’t mind them, Irene. They’ll recognize your royalty soon,” Amy says.
They reach the castle gates to see more destruction and see their troops finishing off Sharon’s guards. The troops then escort the two through the castle until they come to where Sharon is. She’s in a room surrounded by healing crystals that are putting her back together at a fast rate. Amy and her soldiers quickly go into the room to destroy them while Irene hesitantly waits outside it.
Amy points her cutter at Sharon’s throat and says to her, “Your rule is over Sharon.”
Sharon catches Irene in the corner of her eye and calls out, “Irene! I’m so glad you came back. Hurry and get rid of these people! It’s okay if you haven’t experienced combat yet. Hearts like us are the toughest around.”
Irene walks into the room. She says, “Amy, you haven’t told me what you’re going to do to Sharon after, but I think I got a good idea. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”
“Aww you know me so well, but this trash deserves what she did to other people.”
“This is the Amy you were telling me about Irene,” Sharon says, “I suspended my judgment that she was this Amy, but now I can see that my instinct was right.”
“I’m sorry, Sharon. I didn’t know things would end up this way.”
“I did and I don’t regret any of it,” Amy says.
“I understand, Irene. Hearts can be deceived when people appear to have the best intentions. Here, let me free you from their influence.”
Sharon gets up and incapacitates Amy’s soldiers with one attack.
“Oooooh crap,” Amy says as she braces for Sharon’s attack that launches her through two and a half walls. “That was painful…Very painful…”
“Stop it, Sharon! Just escape now. There are too many of them outside,” Irene says as she gets in front of Sharon.
“You’re right, but I have to make some of these people pay for the destruction of my capital city. They’ll receive no mercy from me especially Queen Amy.”
“Wait!”
Sharon elbows Amy through another wall, which reveals to her the army she is going to face.
She holds one arm up and says, “You will suffer for your crimes against true freedom!”
Sharon takes down hundreds of soldiers before finally being defeated by multiple monsters.
“Sharon!” Irene says as she makes it to her.
“Heh, I’m sorry Irene. I bit more than I could chew.”
A monster holds up Sharon’s body and Amy's armies scream in victory. Amy appears to Irene somewhat broken with parts of her face and body broken in two.
She tries to put herself together while she says, “Told you we could do it. Now let’s get this queen to her throne.”
Amy’s soldiers escort Irene to the throne room. Irene hesitates before sitting on Sharon’s throne. Amy and her soldiers kneel to her in honor.
“Tell us your command, wise queen,” Amy says.
“Don’t do anything to Sharon. Just put imprison her for now until we can get her to change her ways,” Irene commands.
“What about your allegiances? The people want to see Sharon suffer for what she did.”
“Causing more pain isn’t the answer. Find a way to release Sharon’s victims from her spell.”
Before Irene can say anything else, they see other armies in the distance from the giant holes in the castle who wave different banners from Amy’s or Sharon’s. Amy walks up to the balcony and Irene follows her.
Amy says, “Listen to me, all kingdoms and countries! The queen Sharon has been dethroned and we have a new heart here. She will bring us together and establish true freedom in this land!”
The armies stop.
“’Whew! For a second there I thought-”
They launch crystal boulders at the city and send their forces at it.
“Me and my big mouth.”
Irene runs away and jumps out a window in the throne room. She gets out just in time before the boulders completely destroy the castle. One look at the destroyed castle and the charging army scares Irene away from the city. She runs for miles until she’s on a hill overlooking the battle. Another army appears from another direction that appears to be Sharon’s support. There appear to be another two foreign armies approaching from another direction as well. Irene’s feet begin to weigh on her and she flies up to the clouds. She sits on one of them with her head in her hands.
Lacey flies up to her and says, “It’s been a while since I last saw you.”
Irene takes her hands away from her head before saying, “A lot has happened since then. A lot that I wished I didn’t go through.”
“You know I think I discovered the original intention of this place by observing this place and listening to the ancient animals. It’s supposed to be a place where rebellious young people can refine themselves to be better people. It appears that the freedom this place offers overshadows its purpose to most people who don’t seek it.”
“I’ve found it and I want out now. I can’t take this world anymore. It’s too free. People here are slaves to the idea of having their own way.”
“The hole that you entered is in that direction,” Lacey says while pointing north.
“I’ll go there then. Now I know where the other hearts went. Are you coming?”
“No, I think I’ll stay here and try to spread the truth of this place.”
“Good luck with that.”
“To you as well. I hope you find better freedom above than below.”
Lacey flies away before Irene lands on the ground and begins her walk back home.
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