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Qualapec:

--- Quote ---She wore strangly feminine, large, round gold earrings.  Yep, she was amazing, but she was also our lesser niminesis, Reza.  Great.  Now what?
--- End quote ---

I stood there for a moment pondering what to do. As heroic as it would be to deliver a baby while simultaniously overthrowing a cruel patriarch and saving my friend's father I didn't want to deal with Reza.

"Mr. Gardner," She said, and I did not almost jump out of my skin, and I did not scream like a little girl. "Mr. Gardner," She said a little harsher, "Either enter or leave, but you are making a stressful situation worse for this woman, she thinks you might be a spy or an assassin."

As much as I would have liked to make Reza think twice about that little statement, I didn't feel the need to make the woman giving birth worry about me any more than she already was, "I'm no threat to this lady."

"Then who are you a threat to?" Reza said without even looking at me.

"The same person I've always been a threat to, the Emperor."

Reza laughed and looked back at me, "You are far from a threat to him. Trust me. However, if you insist on this foolish path, I will not stop you. Either you will bring about his fall, or he will bring about yours and the power of the Wildflower can wait for a more worthy man. Either way I could care less."

I blinked, "Why?"

Reza shrugged, "Because I win either way, and I lose either way. Therefore it does not matter."

I kept watch of her as I passed to the other end of the room, just in case. As a result I got a good look at the woman giving birth. She looked very much like Reza. They had to have been sisters. But what struck me more was the birthing woman's similarity to Debbie. They had the same nose, same eye-shape, same face-shape.

I figured it out just as I walked through the door. I pondered saying something, but decided against it. I couldn't rescue her right then, if only because it would cause more problems than it solved. I needed to focus on making sure Andre didn't hang, first and foremost.

The best way to do that was to take the Emperor out the equasion.

I followed Humbert's directions to a fault the rest of the way up to the Emperor's balcony. I didn't run into trouble, which was amazing considering how the rest of my week has gone.

The farther up I got the more decorated everything became, a sure sign that I was going in the right direction. As I reached the top of a final flight of steps I prepared myself for what lay beyond. The Emperor was a serious force. If he had enslaved and imprisoned all those worlds he had to have been a great magic power in his own right. What had happened to the last bearer of the Wildflower that caused the Emperor to gain possession of it?

I sighed, I had never been a man of faith, or belief of any kind. It was something I was going to put aside as long as possible. But all that aside, I knew my place in all of this. I knew that I had to go through that door, otherwise Debbie would have to watch Andre die, or she would become impatient and react out of anger, then die herself. All those soldiers who finally thought they would overthrow an evil empire would retreat as yet another chance cowered away. Earth would fall to the empire, and even if it somehow stayed free the whole idea that magic existed for a fact would tear the civilization apart.

My resolve refilled with thoughts of those depending on me, and I kicked my way through the door like a cop. I was about to add some bravado laden challenge to the grand entrance when I stopped in my tracks.

The Emperor stood before me, with a harsh, cruel smile on his face. I suddenly became overwhelmed with the feeling that even if I had a physical one-up on the man, he had this battle won mentally long before this even began. I saw why.

At his feet Debbie was slumped to her knees, defeated by some kind of a binding spell. Weakly she looked up at me, defiance burned in her eyes, even as her body remained defeated.

"I have an army of mages, young Wild-Bound," He said musically, "And I expected such a foolish rescue attempt. Did you honestly think I wouldn't catch her?"

Anger flowed through me, a child's anger at having been caught in the act, energy flowed through my hand to the Wildflower. Faster than I could register, he whipped out a beautiful Chinese sword (a less worn-down twin of the one Andre had used) and placed it to Debbie's neck, "I worn you, you are powerful, but I am older, and I could slice her throat even in the freak chance you managed to slay me. Sheathe your sword, we need not be enemies."

As much as I hated to admit it, he had me by the short ones. I couldn't bring myself to be responsible for Debbie's death. I sheathed the Wildflower.

"There," He said as though speaking to an animal he was training, "Now we can be civil." The Emperor sheathed his sword and gently guided Debbie to her feet, didn't jerk her up by her hair like most villains. He must have seen the look in my eyes, because he sighed, "Oh...I understand. It's the girl isn't it? Why you're doing all of this? While I'll admit that I had originally intended to kill her in front of Andre as a parting gift if she would be better served keeping you happy then I'll be happy to let her live. You need just say so. No sex though. That's my one condition."

I wavered a little. We were in a bad position, perhaps it was best to just go along with it, "It isn't just her. I came for Andre too."

He gave a small laugh that seemed fake, "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about Andre. He dies today. You, however, can limit the casualties."

The offer seemed tempting. I would be saving the lives of Debbie and the men standing out ready to attack the Imperial Palace. I let myself be tempted, just a little more, "And what of my homeworld? Earth? Will you refuse to invade it and absorb it into the Empire if I give you my assistance."

Debbie struggled against her captor and the binding spell, "No! Joey!" The spell tightened and she broke off.

The Emperor smiled warmly, "I would be perfectly willing to spare your world, again, if you ever need anything from me to make your stay more enjoyable all you need is to ask." Great, now he was giving me the Hotel manager sell, right before dropping back to 'evil emperor'. "There is, however, one catch."

"Isn't there always?"

"I want proof of your loyalty." He motioned out onto the balcony that the room connected to. Not believing myself lucky enough for him to turn his back to me, I went ahead and walked out to survey the sight before me.

Andre stood atop the gallows, the noose draped over his neck and tightened like a demented choker necklace. His hands were bound behind him, his ankles tied together. But his head was held straight, there was no fear on his face, just a sad, knowing smile. The man was smiling with a noose on his neck. I was a little imprssed. Debbie wasn't impressed so much as crying hysterically. My heart twisted a little, a part of me knew what was coming.

The Emperor knew I knew, and a cruel smile worked it's way across his features, "I want you, Joey Gardner, to be the executioner for this special event." His hand tightened around Debbie, a silent reminder of all I stood to lose and all I stood to gain by one simple action.

~She-Wolf

Anduriel:
Great.

Just great.

“And if I don’t?”

Yeah, like I didn’t already know.

“Andre will die anyway. I will slaughter the girl, travel directly to your world not only to enslave, but to  completely annihilate it, as you watch on. Millions more will die, and it will all be your responsibility; Joey Gardner.

He paused before offering up an afterthought:

“And then I will kill you.”

“Thought so…” I mumbled.

That little twisting feeling in my heart turned into a desperate contortion. There had to be a way out of this.

“There’s no way out of this, boy.” The Emperor intoned, as if he had read my mind.

Could he read my mind? I hoped not. Debbie had stopped crying by now, her eyes filled with rage, whilst the Emperor stood there with a smug look on his face. All I could do was stand there in silence. Well it was safe to say that this situation both sucked and and blew; did I kill Andre? Or did I destroy the world as we know it… by default?

Qualapec:

--- Quote ---Well it was safe to say that this situation both sucked and and blew; did I kill Andre? Or did I destroy the world as we know it… by default?
--- End quote ---

I'll warn you ahead of time, throughout this entire disaster, I never came up with a classic, honest to God plan.

I was biting my lip so hard it hurt.

Reasonably, it made no sense to start a war I couldn't win. It had been foolish for me to even go back to the Imperial Palace. I was simple minded to think that just because I had some shiny new talents I could stand up to a man several times my age, with several times my attack force, and several times my IQ. What was I thinking? Now I was trapped, without having accomplished anything.

"Joey," Debbie's soft voice cut through my conflicted thoughts.

I looked at her eyes, they were wet, but there was a strength behind them, "Do what you have to do Joey."

I don't know what exactly she meant by that. Was she telling me to sacrifice her for Andre? Or was she telling me to do what would be best for everyone, wich included offing Andre?

I took a deep breath. "Alright...your honor," Because I refused to call him 'highness', "I'll do it."

I don't know whether Debbie was relieved or crushed by my announcement, it was hard to tell as she sank to her knees and burried her face against the balcony railing. Her shoulders shook in silent sobs.

The Emperor seemed pleased that I had taken this path, "Good boy...Now get down there."

I nodded, feeling sick to my stomach. The Emperor snapped a finger, and before I could register what was happening white energy swirled around me. Spindles of energy enveloped me and lifted me above the balcony. I gulped. It was quite a way up. Apparently the shining entrance of floating energy caught the attention of the nobles gathered below. The crowed began a raucus cheer and chanted in a language I didn't know. I was a hero to them, decending to smite the enemy of the Empire. Not one of them seemed to recognize that the enemy of the Empire was the Emperor.

The shining energy carried me down to the gallows, my boots touched down on the wood with a dull click. Everyone in the audience was staring at me. Andre was staring at me. I couldn't meet his eyes. Premptive guilt was already eating a whole in my chest.

The Emperor stood up and gave his speech. Words in a language I didn't understand, both melodical and gutteral at the same time. They were entrancing, beautifully weaved together, he must have had the audience in the palm of his hands.

Aside from the Living Cloud, and a couple of guards, Andre and myself were alone on the gallows. Executioner and executionee. About halfway through the speech, "So...how about those Yankees?"

I tried to register what I'd just heard, I glanced quickly at Andre, the sight of the noose quickly made me look away again.

"Jesus, kid, it's just a length of rope," He whispered, as if it was no big deal. As if I was being silly about the whole thing.

I was a little confused, "Um...Aren't you going to die as soon as this is over?"

"Eh," He replied, "Everyone dies. I've had a good life, I guess. I've survived longer than most people of my upstanding profession. Outlived my sons, even." There was the slightest trace of pain in his voice.

I felt my own eyes watering, it couldn't have looked good, the executioner crying during the execution, "I'm sorry, he has Debbie. I had no choice."

Andre nodded, his smile widening a little, "You did the right thing. Although, get her out of here as soon as possible, there's too much bad blood between the Fearless Leader and myself for him to let her live for long."

The Emperor's speech was wrapping up, my heart was smashing around in my rib-cage. "Guess this is it, huh?"

He clicked his tongue, as if bored, "Yep. Nice knowing you." It was a formality, we hadn't exactly been fond of each other. Then honestly, "Good luck."

"You too." I don't know what I was wishing him 'good luck' for, his luck had pretty much just run out. Maybe I was wishing him luck on getting to heaven or wherever it was these people believed they were going. Or maybe it was a formality.

The Emperor finished his speech. The silence that fell after the applause, and the implication of it, was like having knives thrust in my ears. I swallowed and made my way to the lever. My mind involontarily started going over all of the things I'd seen on the History Channel about hanging's and executions. As my hands slid over the wood of the lever I remembered that most human necks traditionally didn't break. Andre could hang there, strangling, and it would be my fault.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Andre take a deep breath, and close his eyes. At peace.

Could I live with myself for that?

I sighed, and let my hands slide off of the lever. I couldn't do this to him. No matter how much of a jackass he was...

"Is there something wrong?" The Emperor's silky voice whispered in my ear. More magic.

"This is cruel..." I whispered back and assumed he could hear me. "I have a faster alternative."

I told him my faster alternative.

"...I'll think about it." He said in my ear, and a pop of energy signaled an end to the connection.

About a minute later I got his reply. The Emperor stood up for an announcement to the confused nobles. "Honorable nobles, due to the unwavering honor of the Wild Bound, this shall no longer be a hanging. But a beheading by the Wildflower itself!"

Oh God...what had I gotten myself into?

Anduriel:
There was a loud cheer from the gathered masses as The Emperor signalled to a couple of spider-men guards before sitting back down. He turned to look at me with a contented smile and all I did was stand there like the gormless fool I was. It was another one of those times when I hadn’t throught this plan through entirely. There was no closing my eyes for the gory-bits this time. This time it wasn’t a movie, I was actually going to cut off somebody’s head. Andre’s head. I wasn’t sure I had it in me.

By now Spider-thug one and two had made there way up to the stage. The first went over to Andre, removed the noose from his neck and practically dragged the condemned man front and centre, past me to where the second Spider-goon had set up a block. Andre was still wearing that damned hat, and was he still smiling? Yeah; he was definitely crazy… but brave with it.   

“Looks like you really are born to be wild huh kid?” he jibed as I withdrew the Wildflower, my hands were starting to sweat.

“Gonna get y’chance to off me with the sword after all.”

I had no choice; I needed to execute Andre to save Earth.

Need.

And it was at that moment I realised that I; Joey Gardner, am a complete idiot.

How could I have been so stupid as to forget? More than an idiot; I was the Wild-bound! Connected to this plain of existence. What was it Andre had said back in the helicopter? “Circumstances will go your way, things that are unlikely, and a few that seem impossible might happen if you need them to bad enough”. It was the most important part of my legacy, and it had only occurred to me now.

“I should be so lucky” I jibed back as I walked closer to the kneeling man; his head on the block.

I was feeling positive for the first time since I arrived at the fortress. For the first time I had the makings of a plan.

Debbie had told me to do what I had to do, when really I should have focussed on what I needed to do. And what I needed was to stop The Emperor, defeat him and liberate worlds. But I needed Andre and Debbie for that. We had to go.

We needed to escape

All three of us. Alive.

With that in mind I raised the Wildfire high above my head for everyone to see and focussed on my connection and our needs.

I waited.

And waited…

meg_evonne:
"I waited.   
And waited."

Andre's hands were positioned on the block, his head in the center.  The ruby bracelet that locked his power was on his left wrist.  Andre was right handed. 

I heard Debbie scream as I pulled the Wildflower down and it bit into the wood block to the left of Andre's head, severing his hand from the wrist.  The magic ruby bracelet locking Andre's power slipped to the ground along with Andre's left hand and I watched where the bracelet fell.  I'd need that later.  Andre screamed but the Wildflower had cauterized the wound and he shimmered into none existance.  I prayed he was re-materializing on the balcony where Debbie and the Emperor stood.

A simple twist of the Wildflower and I swung it to my right without looking and sliced Cloudicus horizontally in half.  For good measure, I followed up with a smooth counter slice of the Wildflower again and brought it down through the mage from the crown of his head through his smoking, stinky middle.  "How's that for slice and dice?"  No smoke, no movement, no more Cloudicus.  That was just a little bit too convenient, but once in awhile the Gods must smile and let's face it, there was nothing I needed more than Cloudicus to be permanent history. 

I reached down and scooped up the ruby bracelet--just the right size for the Emperor, who shortly would have no clothes--okay I obviously meant power.  The court yard was a mass of Nobels in movement, but going no where fast.  They'd be safer if they stayed where they were--but so be it, whatever happened at this point happened.  I'd think about the consequences of my soul later.  I raised the Wildflower and the rainbow of lights burst out heavenwards--the sign of attack for the forces at the forest's edge.  We needed the army to attack now.  If Andre was successful, the mind binding would be broken.... if not, we still needed to end this today.  I couldn't shimmer to the balcony and i needed to get there to add the power of the Wildflower to the attack AND I needed to make sure the Debbie was still alive. 

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