Gauntlet

The coming months were among the hardest, but happiest. Once Alizar regained a fraction of her strength, her and a small band of fighters traveled back to Flint’s mountain to recruit his medic to help restore all who bravely fought. But once rested and restored, the group that had grown so fond of one another all eventually went their separate ways.

Hyde returned to his forest, reduced to ash after the Prince’s treachery, but many saplings were grown in the Capital, and traveled by cart to the forest, and flourished as the great tree’s fallen cinders nourished the ground. The animals one by one slowly returned to Hyde’s protection. And a band of the Capital’s townsfolk who yearned for a simpler life took refuge in the forest and its year-long humidity.

Instead of returning to Marko’s family farm the young man who had plenty of time to think about the future while his limbs were trapped in stone. He mostly thought about the amazing things Alizar was able to do, so after she freed him, much begging took place, and finally, Alizar broke down and agreed to let the dopey farm hand become her new apprentice as their goal now was to find a witch or wizard who knew enough about artifacts to undo what the Prince had done, trapping his aged body in the sheets of metal. And maybe. Maybe, teach Marko some magic.

And as they searched, the Prince had been posted to stay in the local gardens over the spring and summer, although he couldn’t move his body by himself, he told stories of his years out adventuring, hunting for artifacts to children, and although he hated it at first, the greenery around him, singing birds, and chipmunks arguing over nuts brought a simple ease to the Prince’s emotionally draining life as he would often be caught watching clouds pass, enjoying his old age.

Her brother being a scarecrow in the city’s gardens also brought a calming sensation to Aurora’s life as she had often squabbled with her brother, and as he was the last of her living family, she wanted to try her best to salvage whatever kind of relationship they could still have. She daily would go and be the one to spoon-fed him his meals as his immobile body could only manage to chew, smile, and shit.

But of course, this was only one of Aurora’s many new duties. After being elected the queen of Haberdash, she tried putting her best foot forward and leaving the broken glass ceiling absent from the Capital she instead installed many more elevators, expanding the downtown life and created opportunity where destroyed villages rubble left sitting offering support and opportunities to young citizens who were ready for a fresh start to rebuild these villages back to their former glory.

Of course that was all San’s idea, as when she left her opportunity to rule a kingdom, the word got out that she came from the village of Dowzen, an army of eager fighters came with her to rebuild her village, train with her, and learn her ways. The Princess often making the horse ride down to visit.

Tyson and Matilda continued their journey to abolish the horrid orphanage that raised and sold Matilda like they did many others. The owners didn’t stand a chance as Matilda got the much-needed physical therapy she needed, beating the snot out of the men and women who abused her for years. Unfortunately, the orphanages they purged were far from satisfactory, so once they were sure they had freed all the children, they went back across to the mountains where Flint’s arena was, long abandoned after his death, Matilda and Tyson took it upon themselves to fix it up, add some much-needed windows, and make a home that would always welcome everyone.