SEASON 3, EPISODE 2

It is dawn, sun has yet to rise.

The Meridian docks can barely be seen in the morning light. A few Wither Skeletons patrol, making sure no civilians attempt to escape via ship.

The calm silence is suddenly broken as an Enderdragon swoops into view and breaths fire downwards. In a single sweep over the pier, the entire docks are lit ablaze.

The Wither over the city flies to engage, and suddenly Luna arrives from behind and attacks.

Scene cuts to north of Meridian. Knights of Ardonia are waiting behind cover.

TIDESINGER

The Wither took the bait! Knights of Ardonia, begin your attack!

With that, everyone charges towards the barrier of netherrack and lava the Nether army has set up. The Tidesinger and Hubris both fire offensive songs to break their ranks, then everyone else charges in and the battle begins.

Lightning strikes ahead and Herobrine appears, much to the Nether’s surprise, and he charges forward and is the first to hit the barrier and begins taking on many of the Wither Skeletons on his own.

Back to the Enderdragons, they are fighting the Wither. This one is far more experienced and dangerous than the previous Wither, and is able to successfully defend itself against both Dragons, hitting them with projectiles constantly.

Back to the frontlines, the last of the Wither Skeletons are dying as the Knights charge across the Meridian bridge and into the slums just outside the castle.

Arrows begin raining down, causing them to take cover behind tents and small buildings.

HUBRIS

We’ll never breach the gate against those archers.

RIA

Trevor, Saxon, you’re up. Clear the walls!

SAXON

Here Trev, drink this.

Saxon hands Trevor a potion, and drinks one himself.

TREVOR

What is it?

SAXON

Strength boost. Come on we’re wasting time!

Trevor drinks it quickly and they both pull out Enderpearls.

SAXON

Ready?

Trevor tosses his enderpearl.

SAXON

I was asking, I didn’t meanthrow it now!

Trevor appears on the wall of the city and stumbles to the floor from the teleportation. He quickly collects himself and begins fighting off skeletons on the wall.

Saxon throws his enderpearl next. Trevor turns and watches the enderpearl fly over him and miss the wall completely. It lands somewhere in the city, but before Trevor can look further, he resumes fighting.

Cuts to Saxon, who climbs up out of a pile of hay. Beside him a pig stares, and oinks once.

Above the city, both Luna and Thunderdome fly at the Wither from opposite sides. They each strike the Wither and it falls from the sky with a loud explosion.

Back to Trevor, he finishes killing the last skeleton on the wall, then hops down into the courtyard and kills a few guards.

Back to Saxon, he’s leaning on the outside of the pig pen as he empties his boot of mud.

A Netharan with a large axe approaches Trevor, and they fight for a moment, but Trevor is thrown down. Saxon suddenly kills the Netharan from behind.

SAXON

What are you laying around for? Come on!

Saxon helps Trevor up and they go to the gate and flip the switch.

As the gate gears begin moving, a large team of Nether forces move to attack Trevor. Trevor quickly slips under the opening gate and outside.

The Nether army waits.

The gate slowly rolls upwards, revealing the entire Knights of Ardonia posed and ready to fight. The two dragons land just behind the crowd and Abbigail raises her sword. 

Cuts to a bit later in the fight. Some Wither skeleton bones crash into view from around a corner, and the Tidesinger walks into the walkway.

TIDESINGER

Our priority is to protect the civilians of Meridian. Senn, help see to it that the people are safe. Ria, find the armory and free the Cydonian soldiers. Everyone else- let us rid the city of these demons!

They charge back into the fight.

Cuts to Crown Peak. Pythus is pacing around, largely agitated.

PYTHUS

Curse them all! I will enslave every last one of them. How is it that our greatest forces are unable to quell this pathetic rebellion?!

Pythus turns towards Skorch.

PYTHUS

And where is Ingressus? Did I not summon him some time ago?

SKORCH

The Deathsinger did not feel inclined to walk all the way down here… he says you can come to ­him if needed.

Pythus’s face tightens as he is annoyed at the Deathsinger’s defiance.

Sulliman’s voice is heard as the scene cuts to his balcony overlooking the city.

SULLIMAN

Sometimes when I sit here, I ask myself “what did it take to be so successful?” I have only one answer… and that’s to do whatever it takes- make any sacrifice.When people are calling you crazy you’ve just gotta show them otherwise.

Camera slides back as he’s talking. Reveals him slouched lazily on his sun-chair overlooking the city. The Deathsinger, as usual, stands instead of sits.

DEATHSINGER

I am glad you chose to give up the Prime Song, and it has certainly garnered you success. However, I would not take pride in your deed, Sulliman.

Sulliman leans up slightly and points towards Ingressus.

SULLIMAN

Ah… that is exactly what I am talking about. Pride, honor, respect… they’re just words.But this house, my wealth… and the fact that I’m the last human living freely in the kingdoms… that is something I treasure.

Deathsinger is slightly disgusted at Sulliman’s heartlessness. He walks over near to Sulliman causing Sulliman to shirk away slightly and avoid his eye contact.

DEATHSINGER

Your success has saved you thus far, but be careful who you betray, Sulliman… not everyone is as heartless as yourself.

The Deathsinger walks off, and Sulliman relaxes slightly.

As the Deathsinger walks around to the street he is met by Pythus, Skorch, and a few of his guards. Pythus is very angry.

PYTHUS

Ingressus! The Knights of Ardonia are attacking Meridian! 

DEATHSINGER

*calm* I know… I heard your shouting from up here.

Pythus gets a bit closer and points at the Deathsinger.

PYTHUS

Don’t you mock me, Ingressus, this concerns you as well!

DEATHSINGER

What concerns me is that your forces, including a Wither, were unable to defend against a single band of rebels. The resistance is growing in strength and yet you do nothing.

PYTHUS

The Knights of Ardonia and the Prime Songs were meant to beyour responsibility. I knew speaking with you was going to be a waste of time. I’ll deal with Meridian myself.

Pythus storms off. The Angel of Death lands beside him as he walks.

PYTHUS

Fly to Meridian and open the conduit long enough for a strike force to move through. Skorch, travel to Felden and reinforce our defenses.

SKORCH

Of course, my king.

The Angel of Death flies off and Pythus, Skorch, and the guards all disappear out of view from the Deathsinger.

Tygren walks up beside the Deathsinger.

TYGREN

With your permission, I wish to join the fight at Meridian.

Deathsinger raises his eyebrow.

DEATHSINGER

For what purpose?

TYGREN

For another opportunity to strike at the Knights of Ardonia of course. We can’t allow the Nether to have all the fun, I’d like to kill a few of the leading Knights myself.

Returns to Meridian as he says this. Fighting continues. Long camera shot showing all the different characters doing fights. At the end, there are a lot of Wither Skeletons charging down one of the streetways. Herobrine rushes down through them killing the majority of them.

Senn is trying to protect the civilians.

SENN

What are you doing out here? Get back inside!

Senn ushers some people back into their homes.

Cuts to the armory, the door bursts open and Ria enters and kills the Wither skeletons. Behind her are some unarmed Cydonia soldiers.

RIA

Take up your arms!Join,and fight for your people!

Cuts to Tidesinger, who is greeted by a Cydonia official, accompanied by now-armed Cydonia soldiers.

HASAN

*amidst battle* I appreciate the rescue, but this won’t be enough to hold the city once the Nether retaliates.

TIDESINGER

*amidst battle* Rest easy, we are not as alone as you might think.

Outside in the streets, Hubris, Grek, and Grim are fighting. Grim walks into a small enclosure and finds an Iron Golem chained up. The Golem attempts to strike at Grim thinking he is an enemy. Grim instead calms him and cuts the chain.

The Iron Golem approaches Grim, towering over him. He hands Grim a small rose, which causes him to smile.

Back out in the street, the Iron Golem smashes through the wall and steps out into the opening.

Cuts to the center of the city. A few knights have taken the beacon platform. Suddenly the Angel of Death drops from the sky and kills all of them quickly, then places a nether star into the beacon. It turns on, sending a beam of light into the morning sky.

Nether reinforcements arrive, including a few blazes. Tygren steps out, and the Angel of Death takes the Nether Star back out, and flies up and away.

The blazes are setting fire to the city. Masanistarts firing arrows at them to kill them.

Abbigail and Denny fly after the blazes, but they dodge at the last moment and continue pelting the city.

Onyx is beating up some Wither Skeletons.

Tygren’s Aggressium song flies down the road suddenly and nearly hits Onyx as he jumps out of the way.

He gets back up as Tygren is approaching.

TYGREN

The Knights of Ardonia must be desperate if they’re calling upon Magnorites! I always thought your kind was dangerous and strong- you don’t quite look like either.

ONYX

Raaah!

Onyx charges Tygren and fights close quarters. Tygren is surprisingly pushed back and thrown down. Before Onyx can land another blow, Tygren warps behind Onyx, spins around and fires his Song once more.

It hits Onyx straight on and he fractures into pieces as the Song continues onward and erupts on the wall behind where he previously stood.

Tygren turns and smiles.

Cuts to the walls of the city. Herobrine is killing a few Wither Skeletons when the Angel of Death swoops by overtop and cuts at him, knocking him down. He repeats this a few times, causing Herobrine to fall back.

Cuts back to Senn, he’s ushering another two civilians through the city.

SENN

This way, hurry! You’ll be safer in here.

As he rounds a corner he stops suddenly. A whirl of energy flies towards him and he throws up his shield, saving himself and the two civilians.

As the energy dissipates, he sees Tygren standing at the end of the empty street. Together they face each other.

SENN

Go back the way we came. Find another place to hide.

The civilians hurry away. Tygren then addresses Senn.

TYGREN

I’m so glad that our paths keep crossing. You watched and ran as I killed Thalleous,put up a pitiful fight at the Vault, and have returned to shame yourself once again. It’s no wonder you are clanless-no clan would welcome a weakling like yourself. I’ll be doing them a favor really.

Senn appears somewhat hurt by Tygren’s insults, but tries not to show it.

SENN

You’re going to pay for the atrocities you’ve committed, Tygren.

TYGREN

One doesnot pay for such things… one is rewarded. Like this for instance.

Tygren holds Thalleous’ sword out and twirls it around lightly.

TYGREN

A beautiful sword… for the best of the Voltaris to wield.

Senn continues to stand his ground, and instead insults Tygren back for a change.

SENN

You and the rest of the Voltaris… you’re all just pawns of the Nether. In the end, you’re nothing without them.

Tygren activates his song in anger, and Senn, with nowhere to evade, runs and jumps over the ball of energy which passes harmlessly below. He lands in front of Tygren and strikes at him. They exchange a few strikes, then Tygren kicks Senn back a bit. Senn rolls away as Thalleous’ sword strikes the wall where he was previously standing.

In the rest of the city, the Nether army is dwindling, and retreating out the front gate. Herobrine is able to surprise the Angel of Death by leaping off one of the towers and cutting at him. His flying becomes limped and he staggers away into the distant sky.

The Knights of Ardonia push the Nether towards the bridge. As they cross it, Abbigail lines Luna up with the bridge, and runs the length of it, lighting it on fire.

Back to the fight between Senn and Tygren, they are now up on a wall. They continue to fight, but it is clear Tygren is the better swordsman. Finally, Senn is thrown down, sword landing a bit behind him.

TYGREN

How ironic it is… for you to die by Thalleous’ blade.

As Tygren raises to strike Senn a fatal blow he hears a sound behind him, and turns to see Ria zooming down the wall towards him using her Mobilium Song. He swings to face her just as she collides with him and they begin fighting. Senn grabs his sword and both Ria and Senn go after Tygren simultaneously. Tygren and Ria occasionally use their Songs to move around on the walls.

Finally Ria hooks her spear on Tygren’s sword in such a way that it comes to a stop, then she twists and it flies in the air and she catches it with her other hand. Upon doing so she continues twisting and sends herself into a final burst of speed towards Tygren, kicking him over the edge.

Tygren falls into one of the small pits of lava, and with a loud hiss and bubbling of lava, he is killed.

Ria turns towards Senn and smiles, happy that the killer of her father, family, and Thalleous is now dead. Senn smiles back, when Ria suddenly hands Senn Thalleous’ sword. He holds it for the first in amazement, surprised at how large and heavy it is.

Cuts back to the battle at hand. The Nether army continues retreating across the now-burnt bridge, Herobrine is hot on their heels. They are fleeing towards the dunes of Cydonia, when they suddenly halt in their tracks.

To the north, a row of figures appears on the nearest dune. A K’arthen banner can be seen. Many Magnorites are present, and at once the K’arthen army charges forward, allying themselves with Cydonia once again.

Cuts to after the battle. Soldiers are piling bodies. Outside the city where there is more space and the air is clearer, many of the knights sit crouched, catching their breath.

The Tidesinger is speaking to a messenger bird.

TIDESINGER

Fly to Felden with all haste. Tell them it is time.

The bird flies off. Ria addresses some people.

RIA

We have a few hours before we continue on. Use this time to gather your strength; we’re not finished just yet.

As she walks away, camera pans over to Cydonia official talking with the K’arthen army.

HASAN

I never thought I’d see our kingdoms fighting side by side again during my lifetime, but I’m glad the day has come.

BORGEN

And the K’arthen people are likewise glad to rejoin the rest of Ardonia.

HASAN

How did you ever defeat the Nether in your own kingdom?

BORGEN

The Nether never made it to K’arthen. Remember that our beacon had been disabled since we left the union- they had no way to surprise us with an infiltration. They did attempt to take Tartarus, but our tunnels and soldiers held them off.

HASAN

And now the two strongest armies of Ardonia are united- smart move.

Cydonia Official pats Borgen on the shoulder. Camera pans away to Grek and Hubris. They watch as Herobrine goes to the side, holds his sword up, and with a strike of lightning, is gone.

GREK

Aaaand there he goes again.

HUBRIS

I’m sure he’ll return as he always does. The Tidesinger mentioned something about “cross-dimensional beings” and their fragile mortality.

GREK

Right, yeah, whatever that means.

Hubris goes to the side where Ria and the Tidesinger area.

RIA

How many did we lose?

TIDESINGER

Casualties are always high against the Nether. Wither skeletons are stronger than ordinary undead.

HUBRIS

*solemn* We lost Onyx during the fight.

Ria looks troubled.

RIA

Onyx was one of the first to join the Knights of Ardonia.

TIDESINGER

He died saving a great many lives today. Many more will fall before we confront the Deathsinger, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

As he says this, we see Senn out on a pier, pretty morning lighting. He’s looking over Thalleous’ sword, which is now his. Borgen walks up behind him.

BORGEN

You’re Senn, right?

SENN

Yeah… that’s me.

Borgen pulls out a small stack of books and approaches Senn.

BORGEN

These belonged to Igneous.

Senn’s eyes widen a bit, realizing what this might mean.

BORGEN

He wrote about his travels in some of them- he wrote about you. We uh- we thought you should have them.

Borgen hands the books to Senn. He tries to compose himself.

SENN

*a bit sad* I was hoping I’d see him again someday. What happened?

BORGEN

He ended the oppression of K’arthen and our conflict with Cydonia. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his sacrifice. I’m sorry…

Senn looks at the books for a moment, then looks happier.

SENN

Igneous always said his life was short, and he wanted to make a difference. I’m glad he was able to.

BORGEN

Magnorites have a tradition… we name all our mountains and cities after heroes and leaders:Tartarus, Kaelos, Markar. One was nearly named Malakai, but I think the new name will be much more appropriate.

Senn and Borgen both smile, knowing that a mountain will now be named Igneous.

Cuts to later in day. The sun has moved behind some clouds and casts beautiful rays of light over the city.

Abbigail stands up on one of the small towers in Meridian, looking out over the city. She turns and jumps down to where Luna and the other Enderknights are waiting.Trevor is attempting to enchant his sword still.

The sword begins glowing.

SAXON

Heyyyy… look at that. Your first enchantment!

Trevor’s eyes widen, but when he goes to pick it up it sparks him and fizzles out.

TREVOR

Ow!

SAXON

Well… maybe not quite yet.

Denny is to the side trying to feed Thunderdome.

DENNY

You must be hungry after all this fighting.

Thunderdome turns and looks excited.

DENNY

You want something to eat?

Thunderdome nods his head repeatedly.  Denny reveals a large plate of fruit salad.

DENNY

*happy* I made you a giant fruit salad.

Thunderdome looks annoyed and turns away.

DENNY

Hey! You can’t always live off farm animals! You need to eat your fruits and greens too!

Denny pushes the salad in Thunderdome’s face, who just leans further away.

DENNY

Fine, I’ll just leave your food here, and hang out with people who appreciate my cooking.

Denny sets the salad down and walks towards the other Enderknights. In the background, Luna approaches and picks up the salad plate and walks off. Thunderdome is surprised, and follows Luna.

DENNY

So… anyone hungry?

SAXON

If it’s more travel food- I’ll pass.

TREVOR

Yeah I’m not too hungry…

He fans off his hand where he was shocked a moment ago.

DENNY

Not even for freshly baked ­cookies?

Denny proudly holds up a bunch of cookies.

SAXON

Oh heck yeah!

TREVOR

I’m starving!

ABBIGAIL

Thanks Denny.

Denny hands out cookies to everyone and they gobble them up.

During this scene, we see Luna eating the salad. Thunderdome attempts to get some of his food but Luna blocks him out. 

Trevor starts talking while still eating his cookie.

TREVOR

*while eating* Where’d you learn to cook so well?

DENNY

This is actually one of my own recipes. I was never the best farmer, so I mostly helped out with the meals. You’ll have to try one of my Pinkolson family cakes.

ABBIGAIL

After this war is finally over… we’ll have to stop by your farm again and have one.

Denny points to Abbigail and smiles as he eats his cookie. Thunderdome leans down behind them and eats the rest of the plate of cookies.

Off to the side near the water, Senn is twirling Thalleous’ sword around to get a sense of balance. He spins it and it collides with Ria’s spear, who is now standing beside him.

RIA

*friendly* How about you give that weapon a test against a real opponent?

SENN

You sure you aren’t too busy?

RIA

I need to make sure my soldiers are trained and ready to fight.

She poises for attack. They both smile, and begin sparring.

Cuts to Felora. Below, Niika descends into a cave system, and emerges inside Felora. She sneaks around to avoid drawing attention to the cave entrance. She approaches the beacon pad and finds it guarded.

She waits a second, then strikes down the two Wither Skeletons and rushes out onto the pad.

She puts the nether star into the beacon, and turns around as Wither Skeletons block all her exits.

As she turns and faces them, the beacon powers on, and not a second later, the combined forces of the Knights of Ardonia, K’arthen, and Cydonia begin beaming in.

To be continued.