SEASON 2, EPISODE 6

Everyone is still shocked about the Tidesinger being alive.

RIA

The Tidesinger… how is that possible?

TIDESINGER

During the battle of Mount Velgrin, I fought with Ingressus and have been following him ever since. I can elaborate on the details later, but first I have a few questions of my own.

The Tidesinger walks away from them for a few steps and looks around curiously.

TIDESINGER

Where has the war gone? Where is King Rendor, and the rest of the alliance?

The Tidesinger turns back to them. Everyone looks around at each other just as confused.

RIA

King Rendor died many years ago… the Great War is over.

The Tidesinger looks down and thinks, trying to hold in any sign of emotion.

TIDESINGER

I see. Then it seems I have fallen out of time. Does Ingressus possess the other Prime Songs?

HUBRIS

Thankfully, no. Thalleous Sendaris relocated all the Prime Songs recently to prevent this very issue. Noone else knows where they are.

TIDESINGER

And how old is Thalleous now?

SENN

Thalleous is dead as well. He died hiding the last Prime.

The Tidesinger looks even sadder.

TIDESINGER

Then we mustmake hasteto ensure his death and many others were not in vain. Are you sure there is no one who might know where Thalleous moved the Prime Songs to?

RIA

No one. He didn’t want to leave any trail for the Voltaris.

SENN

Actually… I know where one is.

Everyone turns towards Senn.

SENN

Thalleous hid the Mobilium Prime Song in Crown Peak. I was with him on the journey.

TIDESINGER

Then we ride to Crown Peak immediately.

The Tidesinger starts walking off.

ONYX

Hold it right there, we follow Ria’s orders.

The Tidesinger stops, and raises an eyebrow, not necessarily annoyed, just curious.

GRIM

*affirmative grunt*

GREK

Onyx is right. It’s your call Captain.

They turn back to Ria, who is still a bit shocked by the situation, but gives the order regardless.

RIA

Crown Peak is the next logical step. Let’s move out.

Final shot of all the team, now including the Tidesinger.

Cut to the Enderknight team. They’re following the Eye of the End when it suddenly turns dark and falls in the dirt.

They are stare at it in silence.

SAXON

What.

Abbigail goes over to it and picks it up?

DENNY

Did something go wrong?

She picks it up and thinks.

ABBIGAIL

Let’s set up here for the night.

They’re all around a fire. Denny is cooking something for Abbigail. Luna is messing with the fire much to Denny’s disapproval. He turns towards her but Allister sits beside her on the log. He looks around and goes and sits down on his log. Saxon and Trevor are on the third log. Saxon has an enchanting table in front of him and appears to be fiddling with it and his sword.

SAXON

So I guess this is it? This is the entire team? Your glowing Eye seems to be taking a break.

Abbigail pulls out the Eye and sees it no longer glowing. Saxon stands up and walks towards the fire.

SAXON

Well I’ll be the first to formally introduce myself! My name is Saxon, and I specialize in potion brewing.

ALLISTER

You’re not talking about alteration potions are you? Isn’t that illegal?

SAXON

In all six kingdoms! It’s illegal… dangerous… and extremely difficult. Not a problem for me though, your pal Saxon has years of experience.

Saxon pats his chest.

SAXON

I don’t claim to be the best brewer… but I’ve made my fair share of potions- and I’m not just talking speed enhancements.

Saxon motions to Trevor, reminding him of the potion he gave to Trevor before.

SAXON

Once I made a potion of invisibility- I say once, because I lost sight of my buyer and he never paid up.

Everyone smiles or chuckles a bit.

TREVOR

*light chuckle*

ABBIGAIL

*light chuckle*

SAXON

So how about you, speedy? Tell us about yourself.

TREVOR

What? Oh ok, well I’m Trevor. I was an apprentice enchanter at TwinPass… hoping to train at Etherea one day. That’s mostly it… I guess.

There’s a brief moment of silence. Saxon tries to break it.

SAXON

So if I asked you to make my boots unbreaking, could you do it? Would save me buying a new pair after all this walking.

TREVOR

Oh no I can’t- I haven’t actually been able to enchant anything yet. I’m still learning.

Saxon waits again, but Trevor says no more once again.

SAXON

Give it up for Trevor everyone: the enchanter. *claps his hand a few times* Denny! You’re a farmer, right?

Saxon waits again, but Trevor says no more once again.

DENNY

Yeah- my entire familytoo. Wesupply much of the food for Hyperia… and… Diamond Heights.

ALLISTER

I thought I recognized your surname, I’m sure you remembered mine.

Denny glares at Allister and gets up and leaves. Allister slides closer to Abbigail as she looks a bit confused.

ALLISTER

So Abbi, are you ready to become the first Enderqueen- to rule all of Ardonia?

ABBIGAIL

I don’t plan on ruling Ardonia.

ALLISTER

The Enderkings have always ruled…well at least untilKing Rendor stepped down, and created the six kingdoms.

ABBIGAIL

Wasn’t that a good thing? The people rebelled for years in order to have free kingdoms.

ALLISTER

Ordinary people don’t know what’s best for them, Abbi. That’s why it takes a strong leader to rule them. As soon as Rendor gave up his power and retreated into the End, the Nether army attacked. The Great War never would have happened if it weren’t for him.

Abbigail turns away and thinks about it. Allister scooches closer. Luna looks up and growls lightly.

ALLISTER

Perhaps you’re putting too much pressure on yourself- I can help with that. Allow me to rule with you, as King and Queen.

Abbigail gets up and walks off, uncomfortable.

ABBIGAIL

I can manage on my own.

Allister looks after her and puts his hand on his chin as he thinks. Abbigail finds Denny chopping wood.

ABBIGAIL

Is everything alright, Denny? You kind of just stormed off there.

DENNY

*sigh* Sorry, I just- I can’t stand Allister!

Abbigail turns back to make sure Allister isn’t near.

ABBIGAIL

I mean, I don’t agree with him, but he has a point.

DENNY

Not that. He’s a Diamond Heights…

Denny struggles to find a way to describe Allister without swearing or coming across as insulting.

DENNY

… person. I saw the pendant around his neck when he first arrived.

ABBIGAIL

What’s wrong with that?

DENNY

Pinkolson farm has always done the hard work to feed people like those in Diamond Heights. Yet somehow we stayed poor and they just got richer-and they’re always looking down on us, like we’re no different than our farm animals. I’ve been to his house before, I saw the dragon egg on display. Of course it hatches for him…

ABBIGAIL

Dragons have always been known to hatch for the right person. Maybe there’s more to him that we’re not seeing.

DENNY

*sigh* Yeah… you’re probably right. Sorry, I don’t mean to come across as a problem.

ABBIGAIL

You’re not a problem Denny.

Suddenly they hear some commotion back from the camp. They turn and see the Eye drifting again.Saxon’s voice is heard faintly near the camp.

SAXON

Hey, it’s alive again!

ABBIGAIL

Well that sounds good.Rest up Denny, we can talk more about this later.

Cuts to the army at Ferndale. They’re still preparing for the attack. Kiyoshi rides up and dismounts his horse. He sees Nitsuke sitting to the side near a camp fire.

KIYOSHI

So how’d you become a Chronicler anyway?

Nitsuke looks up from what she was reading. There are books stacked up beside her.

NITSUKE

Hm? Oh. I uh- well I guess I used to read a lot growing up- still do.

Nitsuke lightly waves the book she was holding to further her point.

NITSUKE

Then I began to realize I could be the one writing these books. The only way I could please my family and still go on adventures was to become a Chronicler.

KIYOSHI

Becoming a Chronicler is a big commitment, I imagine.

NITSUKE

Certainly. In order to record history with minimal bias we have to make a few sacrifices- a family, most hobbies… a normal life.

KIYOSHI

And you were fine with that?

NITSUKE

I’ve always been a bit… introverted anyway. And the work I’m doing may live forever. Did they make the Captain of the Guard give up a normal life as well?

Kiyoshi gets a bit more serious as Nitsuke touches on a more personal subject.

KIYOSHI

No, Nitsuke… no I wasn’t forced to give up those things. That was my choice.

NITSUKE

What do you mean?

Kiyoshi comes over and sits by the campfire.

KIYOSHI

My father was the Captain of the Guard before me… and my grandfather before him. Obviously they expected me to become the next andbe married off to someone of equal wealth and power. But being the Captain is challenging work, and with the increasing attacks from the undead and now the Necromancer war… I just couldn’t keep up with everything they expected of me. I gave up a normal life so I could focus on one thing: protecting Felden. If the Necromancers beat us here at Ferndale and make it to Felora, I’ll be the first Captain whoallowed our capital city to fall under siege. I cannot and will not let that happen.

Kiyoshi frowns intently, and Nitsuke smiles at his resolve.

Cut to the Knights of Ardonia traveling. Hubris walks towards the group from away.

HUBRIS

A messenger bird just flew in- said we should stop by Ataraxia first. I think it’s for you, Tidesinger.

GREK

You mean we have to go back the way we came? When can I get off this horse?!

Ria glances at Grek but mostly ignores his question.

RIA

Let’s rest for the night; we’ll head out at dawn.

Cuts to night. Some people are relaxing. Grek is up cooking, clearly burning and ruining his food, but doesn’t seem to care much.

SENN

So Grek, if you’re one of the few, where are the rest of the Jaggathans?

GREK

Wouldn’t know- never met another one. I’ve heard we originated from oneof the uncharted islands east of Ardonia, but I doubt we still live there.

SENN

Why are there so few?

GREK

Before the arrival of the undead, we were often hunted and killed by other species.

SENN

Why was that?

GREK

We’re a warrior species. Fighting and killing fills us with adrenaline as well as the necessary “energy” for evolution. A Jaggathan only lives to be around ten years of age unless he fights and kills enough, in which case he will evolve to the next level and live another twenty… and so on. This process eliminates the weak Jaggathans, and allows the strongest to live well over a hundred years.

SENN

So before the undead arrived, you had to kill the other species to survive?

GREK

Exactly! You can imagine why we were hunted in return. But once the undead arrived, we found we could satisfy our needs by killing them instead. Jaggathan’s have been known to face hundreds of undead in order to guarantee an evolution.

SENN

You said you were class two, how many classes are there in total?

GREK

Four from what I’ve heard, but it’s unlikely we’ll live that long anymore. There just aren’t enough undead these days.

Hubris interrupts.

HUBRIS

You could kill the Deathsinger.

GREK

Now that might do it! But I’d be a fool to think I could defeat the Deathsinger.

HUBRIS

He may be powerful, but he’s not invincible. If you put a sword through him he’ll bleed just like anyone else. You’ll recall he only killed three of the four old masters. Aegus Nestoris, the master of my clan, survived. The Deathsinger was too weak for Aegus.

Tidesinger, who had been standing a bit to the side, grimaces slightly, and walks to the side around the camp.

ONYX

But didn’the appear in Nestoris colors?Only the master of a clan can initiate an Ardoni into that clan.Some folks believe Aegus may have sanctioned Ingressus.

HUBRIS

Rumors and lies. Aegus Nestoris never would have welcomed a Voltaris into our clan. The Deathsinger used dark magic or other trickery to appear in our clan’s colors

Senn, having fallen out of the conversation, begins tuning out the conversation. when suddenly the Tidesinger approaches.

TIDESINGER

Mind if I sit with you?

SENN

*a bit shy* Yeah, sure.

The Tidesinger sits down beside Senn.

TIDESINGER

I must confess, I am feelingrather lost as of late. I was hoping someone could expand upon what I missed these past hundred and fifty years.

SENN

*a bit shy* I don’t know if I’m qualified for that…

TIDESINGER

Did you know… before they called me the Tidesinger… I was a fisher from Nestoria? I had never used a Song in my life until the war.

SENN

You mean the Great War?

TIDESINGER

“The Great War”… is that what they called it?

Tidesinger appears lost in memory for a moment, before re-composing himself and returning his attention towards Senn.

TIDESINGER

We have much in common, you and me. I would like to hear the history from you.

Senn sits more comfortably with new-found confidence.

SENN

Alright… well everyone believed you and the Deathsinger were killed. The Great War ended… and for a very long time there was peace… or so I’ve heard. Aboutfifteen years ago Cydonia attacked K’arthen… or was it the other way around? Sorry, I only learned some of this recently myself.

TIDESINGER

Then tell me about where you come from. I gather from your name that you were raised in Sendaria?

SENN

That’s right. Sendaria… there’s nothing quite like it. Ataraxia’s floating islands, the forests of Conchord, Crown Peak’s…. peak. They’re incredible… but not like home.

Ria turns her head to listen, unknown to Senn.

SENN

And then the Voltaris came after the Prime Song, and destroyed my village along with everyone in it… and I was alone.

Ria turns back, looking sad again. The Tidesinger waits a moment and mentally prepares his response.

In the middle of this next line, it fades back to Igneous hurriedly returning to Maxwell’s house, there is no sound but the Tidesinger’s voice.

TIDESINGER

I as well lost my closest brother to the Deathsinger.  Since then I have traveled to many strange places and seen unimaginable things… yet everywhere I go there is a presence of evil. Before you can fight for what you believe is right, you must first learn and understand what is wrong. Otherwise, you may be destroyed by, or even become, the very evil you sought to fight.

When Igneous gets to Maxwell’s house he finds the place destroyed, and everything ransacked. He hurries out of the house but Magnorite guards surround him. The music rises and cuts out suddenly.

The Enderknights arrive at their next destination, and find a ruined entryway. The two dragons fly down and land beside them. The Ender Eye is hovering near the entrance. Abbigail takes it.

TREVOR

What sort of person lives in a place like this?

SAXON

Yeah I don’t think anyone lives here, Trevor.

ALLISTER

Looks like our dragons are sitting this one out. Wait here Thunderdome.

Thunderdome nods. Luna looks over at Abbigail worriedly.

ABBIGAIL

I’ll be fine Luna.

Abbigail holds Luna’s head in her hands, then goes indoors. Thunderdome looks at her somewhat sad, which worries Luna.

Cuts to them inside, they’re walking through the stone hallways.

ALLISTER

I know what this place is… it’s an Ender stronghold. A few of them were built around the world thousands of years ago, before the land was even known as Ardonia.

ABBIGAIL

Galleous told me we would be going to the End… a different dimension.

They stop when they arrive at the center.

DENNY

It looks like he was right.

Shows a portal in the center of the next chamber. Cuts to them surrounding it.

SAXON

So which one of us is going to enter the creepy portal first?

TREVOR

I’m guessing it’s not going to be you.

Saxon smiles.

SAXON

Oh yeah? I’m guessing it’s not going to be you either.

Denny jumps into the portal. They stop for a second.

ABBIGAIL

Did Denny just…?

TREVOR

Oh well, second isn’t bad.

Trevor jumps through next. Then Saxon jumps in as well.

ALLISTER

You know, Abbigail… there’s never been a female Enderknight before. Perhaps there was a reason for that.

Allister looks towards Abbigail, who is a bit worried. Shows Luna outside, feeling a bit anxious and worried as well.

Allister jumps through the portal. Abbigail jumps last, and the camera follows her as she goes between dimensions.

She lands on the ground under a small structure. She sees the others nearby. She walks over to them and stands beside them. Camera turns to reveal them all overlooking the End.

To be continued.