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Chapter XV: Watch Me Burn

"Yeah... That's right. Commander Moonclaw, leader of the Lupus Rebels, was in actual fact Elena's father. The story behind that was a doozy and it broke my heart listening to it. Not only because it was royally messed up but also because it resonated across so many other stories, so many other times.

"Cornelius Clox chose his duty over his family, abandoning Elena to pursue what he believed was for the greater good of Incendius. Leandros hid away Smallfang for exactly the same reason. You could even say Serena did exactly the same thing to Eton.

"And Adramalech and Shinniah-slash-Apollia? They did exactly the same.

"Duty... over family."

Moonclaw... was Elena's father...?

"That's bullshit!" Hunter shouted. "We saw her father's body! It was mangled, ripped to shreds and completely mutilated by Chronos!"

Elena stared into the big Lupus' eyes and turned away for a moment. It wasn't one of denial or pain. She was calculating, gripping her chin very lightly. "It was a Ghoul... No... That was never really proven... If not a Ghoul... then what...?" Her eyes slowly lifted, meeting Moonclaw's panicked eyes. If that wasn't enough to damn the commander, Hunter didn't know what. "Homunculi..."

Hunter backpedalled in surprise. "What!?"

"The body was a Homunculi," Elena concluded, her eyes fixed on her father. "Wasn't it? Chronos has a Blood Mage by his side. Both Ghouls and Homunculi are created by Blood Mages. That body was just a Homunculus... wasn't it? You faked your death."

His eyes instantly went to Moonclaw. Ears folded back and lips turned into a frown, Moonclaw took a step forward, huge paws rising gently. "Elena... you have to understand..."

"Go on," Elena responded calmly. It surprised Hunter just how easily she was taking this information. After finding out her father was alive and not just alive but a Lupus and the leader of the Lupus rebellion, she was taking it extremely well.

Even Moonclaw was shocked at her level headed response. "I... More than half a year ago, before I 'disappeared', Smallfang came to Clockwork. He sought refuge with me and he told me all about his birth... and the secret of the Lupus. I couldn't stand this injustice. I had to do something. I wanted to confront Leandros but I was just one man."

"So you turned yourself into a Lupus to start this civil war!?" Hunter roared. "Your daughter was left all alone and you've killed hundreds of people all to -"

"Hunter," Elena interrupted calmly. "Let him finish."

How can she be so calm!?

Moonclaw was waving his paws in broad expressions. "I began talking to the higher ups of Leandros' court, telling them about the truth. They started writing back and suddenly, I was the leader of the rebellion. I never told them I was a human and I knew all too well that if they found out, they would never accept me. I asked Smallfang to be the leader but he would not accept." The last sentence he added with a growl and a sharp stare at Smallfang. The Lupus prince just snarled back and turned away. "I... I felt that it was my duty to the Lupus, to the people of Incendius, to have this out in the open. So... I staged my own disappearance."

Elena folded her arms. "How? You disappeared during the Ghoul attacks."

"War was already on the brink," Moonclaw responded grimly. "The rebels had already gathered and I couldn't just keep sending letters and giving orders. That's when... When Harm Chronos tracked me down."

Of course...

"He was... curious about my actions," Moonclaw said, looking weak and almost puppy-like. "He discerned everything I had done and learned of my plight, particularly the fact that the rebels need a Lupus leader and not a human who was too cowardly to hide behind his own city. So, he decided to help me... on the condition that he use Clockwork to attract Aria and her Paladins to Incendius. I agreed... He staged the Ghoul attacks using his Blood Mage, Alaric. I 'disappeared' and he had Alaric create a Homunculus for me to cement my disappearance. He then had me transform with the aid of some shamans that were loyal to him and since then..."

The Lupus shook his head. "Elena, I don't expect you to understand or -"

Elena sharply lifted her hand, silencing him. "Daddy, I don't understand. I forgive you but I don't understand. I am not mad either." She shrugged, her eyes soft and welcoming. "For three months, you had disappeared. While I continued my search, as days went by, I lost hope. Eventually, that hope was the anchor that kept me from making progress. I let you go. You were dead to me and as far as I am concerned, Cornelius Clox is dead." She tilted her head to the side, a sly smile on her face. "Still, if Commander Moonclaw just so happens to be a father-figure in my life, I am not one to argue."

What!?

"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Hunter roared, waving Zero Hour through the air. Both Elena and Moonclaw took a step back away from the dangerous, golden blade. "Your dad just faked his own death and abandoned you to start some crusade for someone else!? You should be kicking, screaming, throwing things across the place and kneeing him in the balls! You can't just say 'I let you go' and suggest that if he wants to act like a dad again, he's welcome to! That's just... just..."

Elena snickered. "Hunter, you watch far too many of your... what do you call those moving portraits...? Movies?" She approached him gently gripping his sword arm and forcing him to lower it. "Like I told you on Mirecragg, I let it go. The best part of letting something go? When it comes back, you can start over. It's a bonus and you're wiser from it.

"Besides," she added, turning towards Smallfang with a sly smile. "I think Smallfang was hoping that a temper tantrum from me would distract from the fact that he is still Leandros' son and that he is effectively the cause of this war."

Smallfang leapt from the tree faster than either Moonclaw or Hunter could react. He collided with Elena, slamming her against another tree and holding her up a foot into the air by her neck. Lips peeled back in a snarl, he said, "I am not the start of this war! The Church kept the secret of the Lupus and my father agreed! It was his loneliness and hormones that birthed me! It is not my fault I was born!"

He slammed her against the tree one more time. Moonclaw advanced, growling.

"One step closer and I break her neck!" shouted Smallfang. His eyes darted back towards Elena. "Do you know what he did to my mother? He allowed me to live seven years with a mother but when people grew suspicious, he executed her himself to keep his secret! All so that he could deny me as his son! Tell me that is honourable! Tell me that is right!"

Elena regarded him with cool, collected eyes and a gentle smile. "I am not claiming that. Nor am I claiming that what you did was right. However, you're the only one that can stop this war, Smallfang."

"Who says I want to stop it?" growled the Lupus, hot tears welling up in his eyes. "If the rebels tear my father apart, so be it. If they lose and my father gets to become even stronger as more and more Lupus rally under his banner under the Alpha Protocol, then let him be! I just want to be left alone!"

"I think alone is the last thing you want to be," she replied. "Why did you come with us, Smallfang, knowing full well that we would meet your father?"

The Lupus released her, snarling loudly and storming a few feet away. He gripped the sides of his head, pulling at his fur. "I do not know! At Mirecragg, Chronos whispered a lullaby into my ear... the same lullaby that my mother used to sing to me at night! I... I just felt... I needed to... I don't know!"

Off in the distance, the Final Moments shook. Its hanger and secondary hull was suddenly partially consumed by glistening, blue orbs of light. When the orbs shrank back into oblivion, it looked like someone had taken a spherical cookie cutter and ripped it right out of the hull. The hanger was immediately jettisoned and the Final Moments was left with only its main body. It was still a formidable battleship, though.

Hunter watched as the skies continued being blanketed by a sea of explosions, magical blasts and fiery debris. The smoke from Ironfrost was blanketing the clear, pre-dawn. His eyes travelled to the north where the Sun Spire was just rising.

"You came back because you had something to do," he said. Smallfang's grunt told him he had the Lupus' attention. "No matter how you phrase it, you feel like you've made a mistake. Whether it's because you feel like a coward for running from your problems, leaving your mother's memory tainted like that or because you feel like you need to beat up your old man, I honestly don't give a fuck." His eyes went back to Smallfang. "You made a mistake. Now's the time to man up. Own your mistake. Then let it go."

He couldn't help but see some part of himself in Smallfang. In some way, they had both run from their problems; problems that could affect all of Tower Thirteen. Fearing the influence and consequences of the ghostly people that haunted him, he locked himself away in a starship where they had no influence. Smallfang feared the repercussions of his birth and ran from it. No matter what happened, people got hurt because of them.

"That is easier said than done," growled the Lupus.

"Then that's why you have us," answered Elena, striding up to him and gripping his paw tightly. "You didn't survive the horrors of Clockwork and the devastation of Mirecragg for nothing. You were given the chance to live peacefully in Corona but you decided to come here. All with us."

Hunter smiled and offered his gauntleted hand. "Hey, you helped me on my freak outs so I think it's only fair I help you with yours."

Smallfang's features softened and his face lost its anger. That lapse caused a stream of tears to roll down his cheeks, being absorbed into his fur. "I do not know. This 'freak out' involves an entire species."

"Yeah? Well mine involves the patron goddess of this world, a renegade Chronomancer and the equally insane Chronomancer that's trying to kill him. What else ya got?"

Smallfang's sombre mood broke out into a soft laugh. "I do not know..."

"I do," answered Elena, pulling him back towards the main city. "Let us leave this place before we are bombarded by Titus' mercenaries. Then, let us confront your father. Together."

For a moment, Smallfang prised his paw from her grip... Then returned and seized her hand tighter.

"Alright."

*****

During the Sunshadow War, the Vampiri had lost their original home of Mirecragg to the Darkened. The Lupus, however, never lost Ironfrost. While the Darkened overran them, the Lupus just kept popping up and using guerrilla tactics to keep the enemy forces on edge. The reasoning for that was simple: there was a network of tunnels, bunkers, supply caches and bases beneath the city that the Lupus eagerly used to keep the invaders on their toes.

Thousands could fit into the underground caverns and thousands did.

Though many died in Titus' bombardment, rebels and loyalists alike managed to slip into the tunnels where they all huddled together in the cold embrace of the black, stone walls. Magical, white fire was conjured by the Paladins that didn't produce any heat. Andy went to work with the cooks of both sides to provide meals while Serena and Aria went about healing the wounded.

Hunter could only sit by and watch.

He wished he could use magic proficiently but the last time he tried to heal anyone, that person was turned inside out. With almost four hundred years worth of Time, he didn't want to risk it. Though he mildly wondered what would happen if he tried to shoot a blast of energy at the Final Moments. He imagined it would incinerate Titus... but whether or not it would be for good was questionable at best.

He eyed Chronos in particular who was making his own rounds. That fiery sword in his paws and flanked by Phalgymr and Alaric, the Chronomancer was spreading red feathers onto the injured. Almost instantly, the injuries the feathers touched would erupt in a swirl of fiery light and seal up. He swaggered as he did so, giving Aria constant looks that infuriated her. It was almost a competition between them on who could heal the most the quickest.

"Man, what I wouldn't do for some good Chilled Fire right now."

Eton sat down beside him, one leg bent and the other stretched out. The Lupus was sweating and panting. The manly musk was strangely arousing and Hunter found himself snuggling up to the big Paladin.

"I'm glad you're safe," he murmured.

"Same thing to you, hun," Eton responded, draping one arm over his shoulder. "Must've been hell out there. When I saw those dropships come in, I was scared as hell..."

"You didn't' have to worry. I have Zero Hour, remember?"

The Paladin snickered. "Right, of course." Sighing, Eton said, "We got most of the people out of there safely. I'm glad we destroyed most of their ships but that battleship... Damn..."

"The Tiberius class was always a powerhouse," Hunter murmured softly. "Insanely powerful but incredibly slow. Its weakness was always the bridges between its secondary hull. There are no guns between those. An incursion team could slip in between them, bore a hole through the hull and invade. The generators are also dangerously close to that section so you could kill the whole ship with just a few, well-placed individuals."

"You sure know a lot about starships."

Snickered, Hunter gripped Eton's paw tightly and shook it mildly. "I'm a shut-in starship engineer constantly haunted by ghosts and desperately trying to be antisocial. When I wasn't in my room looking at porn, I was reading up on starships." He blinked. "I - I -I mean I wasn't jacking off all the time! Sometimes I had guys over - No! Wait! I mean -"

Eton laughed and shook Hunter lightly. "Babe, when are you going to realise that, as a Lupus, I've fucked and been fucked way more than you've jacked off. Unless you got your rocks off like... I don't know, ten times a day." He fixed Hunter with a pointed stare. "You didn't did you?"

"Of course not! Hell, before I came here I was having trouble admitting to myself that I was gay!" He grimaced. "Can we not think about the looming starship above our heads that is poised to bombard us and cave in these tunnels?"

"I'll try," Eton chuckled, lightly kissing Hunter's forehead.

Hunter eyed Elena and Moonclaw who sat at the far end of the chamber. Moonclaw looked extremely awkward around his daughter. Every time she moved, he flinched but she would always laugh it off and pat his knee playfully. It surprised him just how well she took the revelation of her father's apparent lack of death. It was amazing just how well she adapted.

She's really tough...

His eyes then went to where Leandros crouched beside his son, Smallfang. They were seated on the floor beside one another but with a sizable distance between them. Their lips were moving but neither of them were looking at one another. Whatever they were talking about, it bore heavily on both of them. While their features were steely, just the long rises of their chests and the way they were constantly fidgeting showed not only their similarities but just how hard it was for them to be talking.

I wonder what would have happened had I spoken with my father...

Eton nudged him and Hunter lifted his gaze.

Chronos was standing a few short feet away, Alaric and Phalgymr flanking him.

Great... now what?

"I was wondering if I could speak with you, Hunter," Chronos began.

"Wonder all you want, it's not like it's going to happen."

"This concerns Shinniah."

His eyebrows rose. As much as he hated keeping secrets from Eton, he reasoned that after the conversation, he'd tell his boyfriend everything. "Hey Eton, you mind...?"

"Sure," Eton half-growled, half-murmured. He rose and wandered over to where a few other Lupus were. Phalgymr and Alaric did not move. Chronos coughed and the two quickly dispersed.

The Chronomancer sat himself beside Hunter well out of arm's reach. "I have been told that you know about Shinniah's origins and indeed Apollia's involvement in all this?"

"Being a lover, constantly being reincarnated on the lives of an entire race and then being reincarnated again as the child of that very same lover... That's pretty fucked up."

The Wulfun snickered, pinching the bridge of his muzzle with amusement. "It was a different time." After a brief pause, he said, "I bet you're wondering why I'm helping those two, aren't you?"

"That would be great but somehow I doubt you'll give me a straight answer."

"You're catching on." Chronos waved ran a paw through his short, spiky hair. "Did you see that black sword that Shinniah used to pierce her own chest in front of Adramalech?" Hunter recalled that sword and nodded. "That wasn't the natural colouration of the sword. Shinniah had attempted to kill herself so many times with that sword that it became caked with her blood. When she waged war against the immortal phoenixes, only by killing herself could she turn the tide. Her blood became infused into the blade."

"That's fucked up."

"Indeed." Chronos locked gazes with him. "I want you to remember that sword. It's very important."

Hunter didn't even bother asking why. He doubted he could get a straight answer. "Anything else you wanted to share?"

"Yes." The Chronomancer looked to where Eton was chatting away with some fellow Lupus. "You care for him, don't you?"

"I wouldn't be his boyfriend if I wasn't."

"Good to hear."

He didn't like the sound of that and turned towards the Wulfun. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Chronos smiled smugly to himself. "All I mean is that it is good to know Eton found someone despite the Redaction Spell."

Hunter snarled and was halfway to rising. "Oh I get it. You're trying to psyche me out. You're trying to cast doubt on my relationship with him by bringing up the Redaction Spell. You think that as long as there's that hidden past, we can never be truly happy. Well, tell you what, it's not going to work!"

"How can you be so sure?" The Chronomancer tilted his head slightly to the side. "Let us not forget that he is still somewhat preoccupied by his hatred of Serena. Can you be truly sure that your relationship can endure the knowledge that at one point in time, perhaps in a different possibility or timeline, things between them could have been different? Can you look into my eyes and assure me that if you were to go up to him right now and ask him if it'll bother him, he'll say 'no'?"

For a second, Hunter envisioned that moment. Sadly, the moment he opened his muzzle and asked Eton if that possibility bothered him, the list of outcomes had Eton saying, 'I'm with you now, that's all that matters' at the bottom of the list. The first was Eton freaking out fretting about what the truth was. Another accused him of listening to Chronos' manipulations.

"Why do you even care?" Hunter growled. "I know why. You don't. You just enjoy pulling our strings and watching us freak out."

"True," came the dismissive answered. "But I do care. I just enjoy being an ass about it." Chronos rose, staring down at Hunter. "Just remember this, Hunter; I trained every Paladin since the end of the Purge of Time. That means Eton was my pupil at one stage. How do you think he will react to that piece of news? Once you figure that out, you'll probably get an idea on how he'll react to the other piece I have in store."

"What other piece?"

Chronos turned his head towards the broad tunnel leading to the cavern. There were several Lupus and other soldiers guarding it. It was big enough to fit a tank and a hastily erected barrier was the only think keeping any potential mercenaries from making their way through.

"Find me when you grow curious enough. For now, give me your paw."

"What? Why?"

A strange glint crossed the Wulfun's features. "Because I have this theory that we're actually cross-dimensional mirror images and if we so much as touch each other for an extended period of time, we'll cause the universe to collapse upon itself and being me, I want to blow everything up."

For a second... Just for a second, he actually believed the guy. Then, he rolled his eyes and took the Chronomancer's paw. A shock ran down his arm like hot, liquid metal was being pumped through his veins. He instinctively pulled out Zero Hour, flipping open the pocket watch. The hands of the clock began rapidly moving forward. From the four hundred years he had stocked up, it jumped to a thousand... and then two...

Chronos let go of his paw at three thousand years.

"Wh - What...?" Hunter stammered.

"You may have been a happy accident," Chronos said with a sly smirk. "But I enjoy putting you through mental anguish and torment. It's hilarious. I don't want you to die yet. Now get up, we have a guest."

Hunter could only gawk at the Chronomancer as shouts of alarm began erupting from the barricade. A large, metallic disc came shooting out of the darkness, zooming over the barricade and immediately coming to a halt at the centre of the room. Aria and the other Paladins were instantly on their feet, drawing their weapons. Bows and arrows, swords, primitive muskets and flintlock rifles were raised.

Chronos was instantly gone from Hunter's side. "Hold your fire!" he barked. "Lower your weapons! Aria, cool it!"

Slowly, tension eased as the strange, flying disc began to whirr and click. Strange panels began to flip open on the surface of the disc. Hunter recognised them for what they were; holographic panels. The disc was, in actual fact, a very old communications buoy designed to launch itself to locations and create a direct quantum entangled link from source to destination.

The buoy buzzed and sprayed out the refined features of Titus Shockarm from the waist up. The hologram was unlike the display on the transport in the Shadow Network; this one was only coloured in variations of blue and grey while the Network had live, high-definition holograms. It was clearly old technology.

"People of Ironfrost," boomed Titus. "My name is Lord Titus Shockarm. I am a Chronomancer."

Hushed whispers began spreading across the chamber.

"I am currently in command of the H2B Final Moments. This is the very ship that has just attacked your city and your petty rebellion. I assure you, this was all for a good cause. The thousands that have died all died for the sake of finding one man."

Aria pushed through the crowd, waving Gungnir in anger. "What you have done is unjustified! No one is worth this... this..." She struggled for the word.

"Massacre?" Harm offered.

"Yes!"

"Don't bother, Aria." Chronos nodded at the buoy as Titus opened his muzzle to speak again. "Titus was always one for dramatic speeches. He hates it when people interrupt him." A sinister smirk crossed the Chronomancer's features. "Isn't that right, Titus? You remember that time you were giving a presentation in front of the academy professors and someone kept asking you questions?"

"That was you!" Titus roared, instantly losing his temper. "They were not even questions! At one point you just interrupted me for the single purpose of interrupting me!"

Chronos looked away, tail wagging playfully. "Fun times."

Titus seemed to struggle with his rage and regained his composure with some effort. "People of Ironfrost -"

"Oh don't kid yourself, Titus," Chronos interrupted. "Didn't you do research on your target demographic before you send forward your probe? There are more people here than just those from Ironfrost!" The Chronomancer spread his arms wide. "There are people here concerned over the Lupus rebellion, volunteers vying for the secession of the Lupus from the control of the Church! Don't exclude them!"

The Goatex looked about ready to pop a vein. "Very well... People of Ironfrost and others -"

"Now that just seems purposefully offensive. 'And others'. That makes it sound almost like you barely care about them."

"Then rebels_."_

"But not all of them are rebels. A few are actually just members of the Church and hoping to lend medical aid."

"Fine!" Titus roared, his eyes wide in fury. "To all those listening to this message right now! Happy!?"

Chronos folded his arms, grinning broadly. "Like you wouldn't believe."

Hunter had to admit, watching the Goatex being tormented brought a somewhat sick pleasure to him. He couldn't pinpoint why. He had nothing against the man. Yes, he was a bit of a jerk to Aria and to Captain Rushwater and admittedly, he was imprisoned for a reason but wasn't he just trying to help...? Alright, he did bombard the city without thought of the people in it...

Wait... Why am I siding with him again?

Between Chronos and Titus, he wasn't sure who he should side with. Chronos was the ultimate enemy but he had helped save the city. Probably to his own agenda but he still saved everyone. Titus... he was out to hunt Chronos but threatened the city in doing so.

Who was the bad guy?

Was there even a good guy?

"As I was saying," Titus growled, his eyes clearly focused on Chronos, challenging him to interrupt again. "I am a Chronomancer and I am responsible for bombarding your city. I am responsible for killing thousands of your people. All for one goal." He pointed straight at the Wulfun. "To seize him_."_

Smirking, Chronos shrugged helplessly. "Well, you got me Titus. I'm trapped here in this dark, crowded cavern with nowhere to go. What are you going to do now?"

There, Titus' eyes glimmered with a maniacal glee. "Nothing, Harm Chronos. Nothing at all." He let those words sink in.

Thoughts of starvation, cannibalism and being buried alive filled Hunter's mind.

"End dramatic pause," Chronos announced loudly, making Titus grimace.

"I will end my bombardment," the Goatex growled. "Provided you give me that Wulfun." He straightened, offering his hand tauntingly to the people. "That's right. Give me Harm Chronos and this will all be over. No strings attached. You have until the Sun Spire_'s dawn light touches the city to take him into the eastern plaza. Lack of a reply will lead to constant bombardment from above_ and a flood of my soldiers into those tunnels until we slaughter ever last man, woman and child in sight!"

"Excuse me."

Hunter could swear the vein on the Goatex's temple was about to burst. "What!?"

Chronos lowered his paw. "How exactly are we meant to tell when the 'Sun Spire's dawn light touches the city' when we're down here with no visibility of the surface or the Sun Spire? We certainly can't go to the surface because you'll kill us, right?"

Titus shut his eyes in frustration. When he opened them again, they were blazing with fury. "You have twenty hours, thirty-seven minutes and nine seconds."

"Another question!"

"Y - Y - yes?" Titus asked, barely controlling his anger.

"If I give myself up, won't your people shoot me anyway and those associated with me? How are we meant to get to the eastern plaza if we'll get killed along the way?"

"You won't die."

"But the people 'giving me up' will."

"My men will not shoot anyone until your time is up. Happy?"

There was an evil glint in Chronos' eyes. "Very."

"So we are in -"

"Oh! Me again!" shouted Chronos, cheerfully raising his paws into the air.

"For Haamiah's sake, what!?"

The Wulfun lowered his paw and shrugged. "Nothing. I just like pissing you off."

The Goatex roared and leaned forward. "Listen to me! All of you! Leandros, Phalgymr, Templar Valkyrie, you all know the Church wants Chronos. It is your duty to have him brought to justice. I was brought back for that very purpose!" Titus jabbed at his chest with a thumb. "Do what your Church commands you! Bring me Harm Chronos and I will make sure everyone in Ironfrost gets to live to lick their wounds!"

For the last time, Harm Chronos' paw rose. There was something different about this time. It wasn't eager, cheerful or taunting. It was slow... calm... deliberate. The look in Chronos' eyes so chilling Hunter felt the temperature in the otherwise warm cavern drop.

"What now?" Titus growled.

"Just... one last question," Chronos responded.

"Then ask it."

Hunter's eyes went wide just as everyone in the cavern gasped.

Hovering right beside Titus' left ear, unbeknownst to the raging Goatex was a broad, masculine Wulfun muzzle. Slowly, as the muzzle pulled further and further into the view of the hologram, the cocky smirk, confident eyes, thick eyebrows and short, spiky brown hair came into view.

"What's to stop me from coming after you?" Harm asked right into Titus' ear!

Titus flinched, leaping back in horror and the hologram was instantly cut. The disc let out aloud buzzing and sparks began flying from its surface. It fell from the air with a loud clang, embedding itself into the ground.

All the while, Harm Chronos, the one standing amongst them, lowered his paw, darkly smiling. The entire room was utterly silent. All eyes were on the Chronomancer who just showed them he could be in two places at once. Whatever thoughts of giving up the Wulfun were cooking in people's heads was instantly gone. If the Chronomancer they were about to give up could frighten the Chronomancer that threatened them, then it was clear who they were to side with.

You sly son-of-a-bitch... That's what you wanted, isn't it?

Harm Chronos turned his back to the disc, striding casually away.

*****

"I say we just throw him to Titus! Those two can fight and if they kill each other, so much the better."

"We can't. What if people get caught in the crossfire! You've seen Chronos in action!"

"I agree with Serena but on a different point. If one of them does win, I'd rather it be the Chronomancer we didn't throw to the wolves."

"What wolves!?"

Hunter wasn't sure why he was attending the so called 'strategic meeting'. He wasn't a tactician or a politician. This situation called for a leader and he certainly wasn't one to be offering advice to the King of the Lupus who was vehemently arguing to surrender Harm Chronos to Titus.

Moonclaw, naturally argued against it. This divided the camps. Elena supported her father on the merit that Chronos had saved the city and destroyed entire ships by himself. Andy agreed with her, citing that they hadn't even seen a fraction of what Harm could do based on past experiences. Naturally Tanar followed his lead. Ford threw his lot in with Leandros bringing with him the support of Eton and Serena. Ophelia just happily played away in the corner. Aria surprisingly sat on the fence with Smallfang, the two keeping their own counsel.

Hunter pulled his headphones over his ears and played some music, downing out their arguments. The world was reduced back to simple machines that he could understand. From each of the movements of those debating, Hunter could make out so much; more than any of them could ever say out loud.

Leandros was angry and scared at the same time. He could see it in cogs representing the king's rapidly rising chest and the subtle movements of his shoulders. Ford was logical but he feared Chronos more than anything else. He was recalling the Fire Magic the Chronomancer summoned while still using Chronomancy. In his eyes, Titus was the weaker foe and they needed to use Titus to weaken the Wulfun as much as possible. Out of loyalty to their Marshall, Eton and Serena argued beside him though Eton's concern was elsewhere and Serena was really hoping to side with the Wulfun.

Moonclaw was arguing because despite everything, he still trusted Chronos. Elena was basing her entire argument entirely on logic and not even using a single shard of emotion for her father to cloud her judgement. It was truly admirable. Andy was just curious about Chronos, unwilling to see the Chronomancer die until he unravelled that enigma. Tanar allied himself with Andy, not Moonclaw.

Someone tapped Hunter's shoulder and he turned to find that it was Smallfang. The Lupus prince flicked an ear and began wandering away from the small alcove where the meeting was taking place. Hunter followed suit, tearing his headphones off his ears.

Once they were a good distance away, Smallfang said, "We have not truly spoken since that time at Mirecragg."

"Yeah," Hunter murmured softly. "Sorry. I can only take one Lupus at a time."

"I understand."

The cavern was mostly silent as the afternoon wore on. At least Hunter thought it was in the afternoon judging by how many hours had expired on Zero Hour. It amazed him just how few watches people had. Chronos had disappeared though his pet Blood Mage and Phalgymr had a large gathering some distance away, speaking to each of those that would listen. From his distance, Hunter could only assume they were talking about the Redaction Spell. The congregation was growing steadily stronger.

"I wanted to apologise to you," Smallfang began.

Ears perked, Hunter turned to the Lupus curiously. "Really? What for?"

Smallfang laughed softly, gazing off to the distance. There was a reminiscent look on his face. "That first night. I approached you and attempted to... shall we say... get you out of your clothes?"

Smiling back, Hunter said, "If I recall correctly, you did that. What came after wasn't that successful."

No one else paid them any mind as they made their way to a secluded location beneath one of the very many large, homoerotic columns shaped like naked, well-endowed Lupus that held up the dome-shaped ceiling. Smallfang nodded as they sat on the large feet of the statue. "I came to Cornelius seeking refuge. I couldn't go to the Vampiri as their plots and politics would discern me too quickly. Going to the north to Corona would undoubtedly find me in the paws of the Inquisition and going deeper into Lupus lands was just a general mistake. Clockwork seemed the best place to lay low."

He sighed loudly and stared up at the dark ceiling above their heads. Dozens of Solamps hovered in the air making the darkness look almost like a starry night sky. "I spoke with Cornelius and I know now that it was a mistake to tell him about my origins. I was just glad to have someone who did not immediately want to send me back to my father. Little did I know what Cornelius wanted to do with that information."

Who could have known?

Taking responsibility for other's actions sounded stupid to Hunter even if the original source of the problems was you. Looking at how Adramalech and Shinniah, that lesson rang all the truer. Adramalech brought back Shinniah out of love. He had no control over how she would react. Apollia, went to fight the Sunshadow War not knowing how Adramalech would react. That the two continued to bear the guilt just sounded foolish to him.

"If you start blaming yourself for Moonclaw's fucked up rebellion, I'm going to have to smack you."

Smallfang smiled and shook his head at the same time. "No. However, I must still do what I can to help put a stop to it." A heavy, ragged sigh escaped Smallfang's muzzle. "When this is over, I have decided I will be taking my father's place as king of the Lupus."

Hunter sat up in horror. "Wait, what!?"

"After all this" - the prince gestured at the crowded cavern - "do you really expect the people or anyone for that matter continue to have faith in my father? He stood by the Church and then it comes out that the Church sent a Chronomancer after another only for the first to devastate his city." Smallfang shook his head sadly. "I've heard the whispers, Hunter. They want the crown off my father's head but I'll be damned if I let it fall into anyone else's paws."

Cocking his head to the side, Hunter asked, "Why do you suddenly want to be king?"

"So I can fix this," answered Smallfang. "Only I can. I am the first naturally born Lupus, Hunter. I represent the hope for my people. I... I am the only one that can make sure the Lupus survive this and are able to stand on their own two feet afterwards."

"Do you even have political training? Do you know what it means to be a leader? An alpha?"

"No. But I hope to learn."

"You know it's not just going to be sunshine and rainbows after whatever Chronos has planned is over, right?" Hunter asked. "Incendius is a mess. The Vampiri are homeless. The Church will be defamed. You're one wrong word away from the Inquisition bombing this place to oblivion."

Smallfang nodded grimly, his features steely and stern. "I know. It will take ages for the Station to repair but I think, in fact hoping, that the unified devastation will unite everyone."

Puzzled, Hunter could only tilt his muzzle curiously. "What do you mean?"

The Lupus nodded once more towards the mass of people huddled together. Lupus, nonhumans and humans were all gathered around fires. Many more listened eagerly to Phalgymr, a Vampiri. Despite all the horrors and the war that raged around them, somehow, the people of Incendius had gathered together. They forgot cultural barriers, racial stereotypes and past grievances. Even the small number of white-skinned, scaled or furred Darkened stood amongst the people without prejudice. In one instant... they were just the people of Incendius.

And that's what he wanted... isn't it?

Hunter couldn't help but laugh.

"What is so funny?" Smallfang asked.

"Nothing," Hunter answered, leaping off the statue. "Listen, I think it's totally stupid to try to lead this Station but if you need any help, if you need me to come down and stab someone, build you a giant death machine or even just talk shit to someone, just ask, okay?" He held out his paw. "I'm here for you, man."

The Lupus smiled and extended his own paw, shaking Hunter's. "Thank you."

"No prob." Hunter hiked a thumb over his shoulder. "If you'll excuse me, I got a Chronomancer to find."

"Be careful."

Don't worry... He needs me for something.

Hunter nodded and turned away. He was tempted to first ask Phalgymr or Alaric about Chronos but decided that in a massive chamber full of people who were tempted to sell him out to Titus, Chronos probably didn't want to be seen out in the open. He navigated to a secluded place behind one of the statues and leaned against the cold stone.

"You're going to make sure they make it out of this okay, aren't you?" he asked.

...

"Of course. Everything I do, I do for the good of Tower Thirteen."

He turned to where Chronos stood a few short feet away, that smile cock smile on the Chronomancer's muzzle. "Even if that means killing hundreds of people?"

"Millions if need be." Chronos shook his head sadly. "We can't all survive this war, Hunter."

Hunter found a frown tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's not just Incendius, is it? This war. It's going to go across all of Tower Thirteen."

A dark smile crossed Chronos' features. "The Redaction Spell only worked to my favour. Now, everyone all over Tower Thirteen has a hidden past that I hold the key to. Imagine what would happen to the Church, to the very integrity of the world if I were to unlock all those doors, let all those memories come flooding back. Even Pradia and her Custodia Lumbra took days to regain their composure. In my first round, half of them were curled up into balls, unable to eat or sleep. When the snapped out of it... well..." The Wulfun let out a soft laugh. "You saw the look in their eyes."

Hunter did. It was hatred... pure, barely contained hatred. And it was Chronos who held the leash.

"Why?" he asked.

A short, derisive laugh escaped Chronos. "Pradia asked me the same thing."

He shook his head, almost sadly... and with a bit of... something? Despite sharing the same coloured eyes to Titus, Hunter realised Harm Chronos was not the same as Titus Shockarm. Titus did not regret his actions, he was proud of them. But Chronos... he was proud of them but he empathised with those he caused agony to. Hunter could see it in the Chronomancer's eyes.

A thought occurred to him.

"Moonclaw said that you created a Homunculus of him to fake his death and that you started the Ghoul attacks to cover his tracks."

"I did," answered Harm.

"Were any of those Ghouls... Were they even real people?"

The smile on Chronos' lips grew. "Depends on your definition. Did they have the same anatomy as any normal Tigris, human, Gaotex, Equios or Bovios? Yes. Were they fully capable of making logical decisions? Yes. Did they have souls? No." Chronos looked rather smug about himself. "Over the months, I had Alaric create two sets of Homunculi; one that looked dead and one that looked lifelike. If you check Clockwork's administrative records, you'll find an unusual number of people leaving the city before Cornelius began on his crusade. You'll also find an equal number of people moving in. I contrived reasons to get people out of Clockwork. Nothing lethal. Phalgymr helped, of course. I replaced those that left with entirely new 'families' of Homunculi that Alaric controlled. When the time came, I had them 'go missing' and just used their 'deceased' versions as 'Ghouls'."

Hunter couldn't help the smile on his muzzle. "So no one really died, did they...?"

"The corrupt Vampiri died. But if you're talking about the citizenry, no. Those that made it out with you were the only survivors."

"And what about Mirecragg. Were those Homunculi too?"

"Yes. I gave Phalgymr the resources to build his treetop city and over the years, I've been commissioning Blood Mages within the Vampiri to create Homunculi to populate it. Most of the Vampiri population were already in the Shadow Network on their way to Chillfarn by the time I destroyed the city. They were all in on it."

Hunter shook his head in utter amazement. "Why?"

"To make a point. To hit home and also to ensure I still have an army."

"An army for what?"

Chronos turned to where Phalgymr was talking to the gathered crowd. Malfemir was with him and they were both rather friendly with one another. "There is something beyond Chillfarn, Hunter. Something that the legendary Darkened were running from." His eyes went back to Hunter, chilling the younger Wulfun. "Imagine that, kid, the monsters that keep Incendians up at night, the shadows that the Lupus dedicate their lives to keeping away from the rest of Incendius were running from something."

Fear began creeping through Hunter's heart. "The Darkened weren't trying to break through Chillfarn to invade..."

Chronos nodded grimly. "They were trying to break through because they were trying to run."

*****

When the evening meal came, Hunter was still horrified at the prospect of something that the Darkened were afraid of. His eyes kept darting to the small circle the Darkened made, the group of pure-white men and women sitting with their legs crossed and their paws on their knees, palms up. It looked like they were meditating.

"Something bothering you, babe?" Eton asked.

Hunter nodded grimly. "Yeah..." He turned towards his boyfriend. "But how'd the meeting go? What do you plan to do with Chronos?"

He half-hoped they wouldn't give up Chronos. The Wulfun didn't seem at all like a bad guy. His methods were... unorthodox but after talking to Smallfang, he saw what this war was really doing. It was uniting the people... all against a great foe that even the Darkened were afraid of. In the not too distant future, he could see Incendians welcoming the Darkened back with open arms and reparations being made. It wouldn't be easy but it was certainly a better future than one that was torn by war and ruled by outlaws and a military desperately trying to maintain order.

Eton nodded. "Tomorrow, before dawn, we're going to bring him to the eastern plaza. The moment he does so, Andy is going to tear a rip and sneak into the Final Moments with Tanar and Serena. From there, Chronos will take care of Titus while the incursion team disables the ships weapons. We land the ship and then use it to bring Chronos, Titus and all the refugees to Corona for the Sunrise Festival."

"Are you sure bringing two Chronomancers into the heart of Incendian society is a good idea?"

"That's why we have these." His boyfriend took out a black rod. With a simple flick of his wrist, the rod suddenly sprang forward, becoming a glistening, black spear. "Spears of Longinus. Weapons designed to constantly drain away a Chronomancer's Time so that they can't regenerate. We stab one of these babies into either Titus or Chronos and they'll never be able to move."

Hunter wasn't sure how he felt about that. After learning about how no one had really died save for those that had deserved it, he was conflicted about sacrificing Chronos. Okay, the guy was an ass but what was he really doing? He was preparing the world for war... war with a foe that none of them could ever imagine...

... unless we define it...

"Hey, I need a bodyguard. Mind filling the spot?"

Eton retracted the Spear, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, we roleplaying now?"

"Not really. Come on."

Hunter sprang to his feet, tossing his bowl of curry into the pile of dishes. He crossed the vast cavern, making a beeline for the Darkened circle. Only Malfemir's blue eyes met him. Everyone else had their eyes closed and humming softly.

"Can I help you?" rumbled the Draconis.

Hunter wasn't sure what to say. He still had images of the Darkened being these black, writhing monsters of pure shadow. After his encounters with Valhemedra and the Custodia Lumbra, it was hard to think that the Darkened were just really pale versions of... well... everyone else. In fact, if he didn't have the grey crest on his chest and his fur was a little more white, he guessed he could have fit in well with them.

"Umm... Mind if we join you?"

A few other eyes opened in surprise.

Malfemir looked unfazed. "Of course not."

Eton leaned forward, his muzzle hovering over Hunter's ear. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I have no fucking clue," he whispered back. Somehow, despite his fear, he managed to sit down in the small gap the other Darkened had made for him. They had to move more to let Eton sit down.

"We are practicing the art of Mahariyogi," Malfemir explained. "It is a meditation technique where one hums and lets one's voice join with that of the others. It is a communal way of finding peace."

"Great."

"But I sense you did not truly wish to meditate with us," said the Darkened King. He nodded once and the rest of the circle closed their eyes, humming loud enough to drown out all other noises but not too loud that their voices were nullified. "How can I help you?"

"Beyond Chillfarn," Hunter said, "what's beyond there?"

The humming abruptly stopped.

"You are very forward."

"If I was any other way, I'd get lost."

The Draconis let out a soft laugh. "Indeed." He straightened, wings ruffling lightly. "Beyond the wall is what we call the Umbram Criminis, the Shadow of Guilt. It is an evil infection. It sprang up at the end of the Sunshadow War and only grew as the years passed."

"What is it?" Hunter insisted, leaning forward. The other Darkened began to hum again.

"We do not know. But it is evil. It feasts on raw emotions, on anger, hatred and the lust for vengeance. It draws you in with its temptations of power and the moment you give yourself to it, you lose yourself in its shadow forever. It twists your form into a horrific image befitting your raw emotions."

Malfemir sighed heavily. "Over the millennia, our proud civilisation withered away to that darkness. We had vast cities that dotted the land even after the war was over. The Brave Farmer did not wreak havoc all across our lands. He went straight for the heart of our society, he went straight for Umbra. He left countless cities untouched. Still, the Shadow took it all. It grew, it turned our people into monsters and we became nomadic. Eventually, we ran out of places to run."

"Bullshit," growled Eton. "You're the only monsters here."

"Eton..." Hunter whispered.

"No! I served on Chillfarn for over a year!" The Lupus jumped to his feet, jabbing a finger at the Darkened. "Those monsters I saw, those horrific... fucked up... things, they were..."

"So you've seen them..."

"Yes! And you've seen firsthand what the bastards that are corrupted by Chronos' shadowy magic can become! They can shapeshift! Hell, Malfemir even showed us what he could become when we first met him!"

He gripped Eton's paw and pulled him back down into the circle. "Eton, calm down. You're acting like me."

Wow... Did I just use myself as an insult...?

Should I be even more insulted that he actually calmed down?

"Those monsters you faces were the corrupted," Malfemir said sadly. "The hundred or so you see before you... we are the last of the so called 'Darkened'."

"What do you call yourselves?" Hunter asked.

"Just Incendians," answered the Draconis with a shrug. "We are the natives of this land. Incendius had no light and the glow for Chrysalis was too far from the mainland to truly give us light. So we were plunged into darkness. The food we ate caused our flesh to mutate over the years, becoming luminescent in the dark. Thus our white colouration. We grew accustomed to using Shadow Magic to our advantage to hunt and survive."

Eton growled. "That's bull -"

Hunter elbowed him in the ribs. "So this... Shadow of Guilt, it's in the Darkened Lands right now?"

"And it is seeking to get across Chillfarn. Only the light of the Sun Spire keeps it at bay. But it will come. Trust me. It grows stronger by the day." Malfemir straightened. "Master Chronos is gathering the armies of Incendius one way or another. He is amassing them at Chillfarn where the Warden is already loyal to him. When the time comes, we will make our last stand... with or without you all. Incendius will be defined by that moment... as will our race."

The humming of the Darkened grew louder. Malfemir closed his eyes and joined in.

The conversation was clearly over so Hunter left with Eton in tow.

Once they were a good distance away, Eton began.

"You're not seriously going to believe that crap, are you?" growled the Lupus.

Hunter wasn't sure what to believe. Incendius wasn't his home so he had no idea what kind of a culture shock it would be to suddenly find out that the boogeymen your parents told you about were actually victims of something even more menacing. But...

"I know it sounds bogus but Chronos -"

"Chronos!?" Eton hollered, catching the attention of those around him. He lowered his voice to barely a growl. "Hunter, Harm Chronos manipulated you and stabbed you in the chest! Are you telling me you trust the guy now!?"

Hunter growled back. "Look, I'm saying the asshole isn't a saint. He's a jerk, I'll give you that but is someone who saved the people of Ironfrost and the last remaining Darkened so bad?"

"How can you believe those guys are Darkened!?"

"What else could they be?"

"I dunno, the perfected models of the Darkened infused hybrids that Chronos was making using the technology he gleaned of the creation of the Lumbra and the tests he did with the Vampiri?"

A valid point. Hunter knew he was outgunned in this match. He wasn't sure how he could possible convince Eton that Chronos wasn't really bad... just... not good either. The issue was trust. Eton trusted him but trusting Chronos was a different matter. There had to be something he could do to prove to Eton that -

He gripped Eton's paw. "I've got an idea. Where's Serena?"

Confused, Eton said, "Back with Ford, why?"

Without hesitating, Hunter bolted with Eton in tow. They found Serena while Eton was still protesting. He didn't even ask her permission before seizing her hand and effectively abducting her. He took them both behind the same statue where he had met Chronos just a few hours ago.

"Hey! I know you're here!" he shouted.

"No need to shout." Harm Chronos emerged from the corner. "I have very big ears, you know."

Releasing his captives, Hunter went over to the Chronomancer, standing perfectly between them. "You can reverse the effects of the Redaction Spell, right?"

"No. I can make people aware of their memories before the Redaction Spell. I can't turn back time and make it so that the spell never happened. What people did after the spell is still on them."

"Great." Hunter turned back towards Eton. "Look, you're still mad at Serena but deep down, you know you can't be mad at her because it's so long ago. You just don't know how else to act around her." Before Eton could protest, he turned to Serena. "Serena, you just take Eton's rage because you feel like you deserve it. Well... here's the solution!"

He gestured towards Chronos. "Harm can make you remember what you were before the Redaction Spell!"

Serena lifted her hand gently. "And... what will this accomplish...?"

Crap... I had it...

Hunter grinned broadly. "It's proof that whatever happened, happened, right? You'll end up having two sets of memories. It's proof that no matter how you felt then, you won't change. Eton, you can stop being angry at her because no matter what you do, it won't change the fact that she betrayed you. Move on from it. Serena, you did what you did. Just accept it. After basically going through exactly the same routine figuratively twice, what else can you do? There's no use regretting it or wishing things were different. And for me, this will prove we can trust this guy on this one thing.

Eton locked gazes with Serena. For the first time, they actually looked at each other without any signs of guilt of contempt.

"I don't know Hunter..." Eton murmured.

"Look," Hunter said, stepping up to his boyfriend. "I'll stake our relationship on it. Like Chronos said, he can't change the past. What you've done, you've done. Remembering won't change that." He smiled softly. "I want to prove to you that, at least in this instance, we can trust him."

The Lupus was still unsure... but looking into Hunter's eyes, he just could not say no. "Alright... Serena, you okay with this?"

She smiled, letting out a soft sigh. "Yes. I am very tired of being guilty, Eton. It is time to let go."

"Yeah..." Eton nodded. "Yeah... I'm tired of being angry too." His eyes went to Chronos. "Alright. Do your thing. But I swear, if you so much as pull anything funny, I'll gut you personally."

Chronos didn't seem perturbed. "Just a word of warning... you do realise that if I do this, the Inquisition is going to be very interested in your case, correct?"

"Let them," Hunter said, stepping up beside the Chronomancer. "After this, they'll probably try to dissect us from all the time we've spent around you. Just do it."

Chronos' eyebrows rose. "So you're willing to stake your relationship with Eton on the fact that despite the Redaction Spell, Eton and Serena's relationship will not have changed."

"If you can assure me that nothing between us with change."

"Very well. You have my word."

Wait... I don't like the way he said that...

"Last chance to back out," Chronos said, lifting a paw towards the two.

I want to clear the air between these two... I want to know that no matter what, Eton and I will be together... and I want to believe that despite his methods, Chronos just wants what's best for Tower Thirteen...

He's right about the Darkened... I know it. I can see it in Malfemir's eyes...

"Do it."

Chronos folded his fingers until only one was erect, pointing straight up. He spun it around in a circle in the air once. Hunter gawked as strange symbols began racing up across Eton's arms and legs, dancing across his broad chest and seeping into his eyes. Serena gasped, doubling over as the runes began spilling out from her eyes. She desperately tried to cover them with her hands but the light spilled out between her fingers.

"Eton!" Hunter cried.

A sound like glass shattering filled his ears. The light let out one last flash before immediately dying. Eton's icy blue eyes were filled with tears and he blinked them away. Serena was left panting. To Hunter's surprise, Eton rested a paw on her back, helping her straighten.

Their gazes met...

... and bright smile crossed both their features.

"I remember..." Eton whispered, his face lighting up like nothing Hunter had ever seen before. "You had longer hair!"

"And you had a ponytail!" Serena exclaimed, leaping up in joy. Like him, she was leaping in joy. "Goddess, all those things... I remember you running off to join the Lupus and... and..." Her eyes went straight to Harm. "You... You were our instructor! You helped me reach Eton!"

"I was already a Lupus by that time..." Eton whispered, gently tapping his temple. "Goddess... I remember... When I woke up, the first thing I saw was you, Serena... and... Then... we graduated and..." His eyes widened and his smile slowly faded. Hers did as well.

"We... we spent the next five years working so well as a team..." Serena continued. "You had my back and I had yours... Because... because..."

"... we were in love."

Their gazes met...

Hunter's heart broke.

"Wh - What...?" he whispered.

Before he could say anything, Eton and Serena collided with one another, their lips pressed against one another in a passionate, loving kiss that felt like a hot brand pressing up against Hunter's heart. The tears of joy spilling from their eyes were drops of acid that filled his stomach and burned through his veins.

"Remember how I told you that half of the Lumbra were on the floor begging for mercy?" Harm asked darkly. "I didn't say it was the half that I freed from the Redaction Spell."

He spun to face Chronos. "You knew!"

The Chronomancer smirked at him. "Of course I did. I was their trainer, remember?"

Hunter staggered back in time to hear Eton and Serena's lips parting. "Why...? I... I trusted you... I put my relationship on the line to prove that you could be trusted! You gave me your word!"

"Oh Hunter," Harm said, shaking his head like he was scolding a child. "What makes you believe that I, of all people, am incapable of lying?"

Hunter felt like he had been struck in the gut and physically doubled over.

The Chronomancer stepped forward, standing beside Hunter. The air suddenly became very, very cold. "You know I like watching all of you squirm and writhe under my plans and ploys

"Well then... squirm."