Even before reaching the area
around the springs, Rosalia knew she was going to have a tough time. The forest
around the around is completely dead. It senses that Rosalia will need help,
but it's too weak to regrow anything and all the nearby fauna and creatures are
still recovering. Broken siege weapons and the shattering pieces of soldiers
litter the ground. The stench of death is pungent in the air and the sounds of despair
and anger echo.
Ahead of Rosalia is a large Flos encampment
that has been made into a miniature castle with a wall and various small guard
towers around it. The fighting has gone on for so long that you wouldn’t be
blamed for thinking this encampment was a small town for how large it is. There
are other encampments like it around the springs, but this one is the command
site and the largest. Rosalia heads into the camp once the guards recognize her.
A Flos commander meets up with her,
and says, “You’ve come a long way through dangerous obstacles to come here,
Rosalia. It’s impressive for a mother with a past such as yours.”
“I don’t think you want to cause me
any trouble.”
“Oh no, we don’t harbor any
feelings of hate towards you. We just want to get your son to the springs. I
don’t even think what you did counts as a crime that we can punish.”
“Good. Do you have a plan? My son doesn’t
have long.”
“Yes, but it’ll be messy. I think it’s
best if you stay here.”
“I have my black bull and the
forest can come to my aid. I can come with you.”
“Can’t you command your bull and
the forest to protect us? Why do you have to come with us?”
“I’m a mother. I’m supposed to
protect my child.”
“I see. Since it doesn’t look like I
can change your mind, we’ll start moving out.” The commander then turns to his
soldiers. “Come on, men! We don’t have much time!”
The forces of the Flos start
deploying and put protection mages around Rosalia so they can form a shield to
protect her. The other encampments deploy their forces to attack the Crystallis
ahead of time to clear a path for her. Once they head out, they see the
Crystallis army heading for them. Both armies converge on the springs in the
middle of the battlefield as their siege weapons launch their barrages on both
sides. The battlefield becomes a violent mess of soldiers as Rosalia makes her
way to the springs. The shield protecting her is quickly destroyed and the mages
who made them are taken out. Other Flos soldiers come to her aid, but they have
to engage with the Crystallis in order to protect her and aren’t able to stay
by her side.
A barrage of fireballs land near
Rosalia, which knocks her off the black bull. The area around her is mostly
clear and the springs are in sight, so she makes a run for it as the barrages
continue to rain from the sky. The black bull sees that one of them is about to
directly hit her, so it leaps out to protect her from it, but is shattered into
pieces.
“Thank you,” Rosalia whispers as
she runs with everything she’s got.
The springs are only steps away
when an arrow barrage comes down upon her. Most of the arrows manage to hit her
and pierce through her shield. The last arrows pierce through her core, but she
manages to put Rhodes in the springs.
“I love you, my little prince,” she
says as she shatters.
As Rhodes lays in the springs, his body
not only heals but he is also transformed.
Crystal robes made for a king, eyes
like the moon, hair as red as fire, and doll shell like the finest porcelain.
Since Rosalia’s death, the forest has gone on a rampage. It breaks through both
the Flos and Crystallis forces to the springs where it mourns her death for a
few seconds before focusing its rage on the Crystallis army.
Rhodes then says to the forest, “No.
Do not do this. Spare them. My mother wanted a world of peace and love, and that
is what I will give to her.”
Seeing that the forest has trouble
controlling itself, Rhodes begins to sing a song to calm it down. Rosalia and
his father join him in spirit to strengthen his song.
“You might be weak
But you are also strong
You might be angry
But I’ve seen you happy
You might hate
But you can love
And because of this
You are everything to me
You are all I’ll ever need
Even when the world is falling
apart
Even when life takes its toll
You will always be my everything
All the wealth
All the diamonds in the world
Everything in the universe is nothing
compared to you
Your value is limitless
Nothing is worth exchanging for you
If your life were in danger, I’d
give my life so you could live
And because of this
You are everything to me
You are all I’ll ever need
Even when the world is falling
apart
Even when life takes its toll
You will always be my everything
You are everything to me
You are all I’ll ever need
Even when the world is falling
apart
Even when life takes its toll
You will always be my everything”
The forest calms down and releases energy
that calms down everyone on the battlefield. The springs burst forth and showers
the battlefield. There is no longer any hatred between the two armies. No one
feels like fighting anymore and the two sides come together and apologize for
what they’ve done and promise to stop fighting. The vegetation around the
springs spring back to life as love being is spread. The springs themselves begin
to spread throughout the world because of the sacrifice of Rosalia and shower
the world with its calming waters.
Rhodes hears in his head his mother’s
voice that says, “The war will end very soon. I told you that I would make sure
that you would live in a world of peace, happiness, and love. I may not have
expected it to be this way, but I know you’ll be happy and safe. Find the love
of your life and don’t let them go.”
“I will. Thank you, mom.”
The
End
The song that inspired this song/poem is Everything Good by Ashes Remain.
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