The sky opened.
Not like a storm.
Like a wound.
Dark figures poured through the crack, falling from the fourth world like rain.
Thousands of them.
Some had wings.
Some had horns.
Some had glowing eyes.
Others looked completely human.
But every one of them carried the same black mark.
The mark of the forgotten world.
I tightened my grip around Shawshank's hand.
"How many are there?"
Celestia stared upward.
"Too many."
The silver army gathered behind her.
The sea creatures formed a line behind Shawshank.
And the humans who had been freed from Nerath's control ran toward the safety of the shore.
For the first time, all three worlds stood together.
But nobody knew who they were supposed to fight.
The fourth-world army landed silently.
Then their leader stepped forward.
It was the man who had called himself the first king.
He raised his broken crown.
"Three worlds."
His voice carried across the battlefield.
"You stole our home."
The First Queen stepped forward.
"It was never yours to begin with."
The man laughed.
"You erased us."
"We protected the worlds."
"You protected your throne."
The First Queen's expression changed.
I stepped between them.
"Stop."
Everyone looked at me.
The man smiled.
"There she is."
I stared at him.
"What do you want?"
"You."
"Why?"
"Because you carry what belongs to us."
I looked at my chest.
"The power?"
He shook his head.
"Your memories."
I froze.
"My memories?"
"Yes."
He pointed toward the fourth world.
"When your life was divided, your memories were divided too."
My heart began pounding.
"The memories you lost…"
He looked at the First Queen.
"…were sent to us."
I turned toward her.
"Is that true?"
She didn't answer.
That was enough.
My voice shook.
"You gave my memories to them?"
"I had no choice."
"There is always a choice."
She looked at me sadly.
"You weren't ready to know."
"I was never given the chance!"
The ground shook.
The first king raised his hand.
"Give us the girl."
Shawshank stepped forward.
"No."
The first king looked at him.
"You again."
Shawshank's golden mark began glowing.
"I don't care who you are."
He stood beside me.
"You're not taking her."
The first king smiled.
"You still don't understand what she is."
"I understand enough."
"She is the key to reopening our world."
Shawshank looked at me.
"Then we'll find another way."
The first king's expression hardened.
"There is no other way."
He raised his hand.
The fourth-world army charged.
"DEFEND!" Celestia shouted.
The battlefield exploded.
Silver soldiers flew into the air.
Sea warriors rushed forward.
The fourth-world creatures collided with them.
I stood frozen for one second.
Then I heard a cry.
A young girl had fallen near the battlefield.
One of the creatures was about to strike her.
I raised my hand.
"STOP!"
The creature froze.
The entire battlefield froze.
Everyone turned toward me.
The golden crown on my chest burned.
I looked at the creature.
"Leave her."
It slowly lowered its weapon.
Then it stepped away.
A murmur moved through the armies.
I looked at the first king.
"You want my power?"
He nodded.
"Then stop this war."
He laughed.
"You think you can command us?"
"No."
I looked around.
"I can ask."
I turned toward the sea creatures.
"Stop fighting."
They lowered their weapons.
I turned toward the silver army.
"Stop."
Celestia hesitated.
Then she lowered her sword.
The fourth-world army remained still.
I looked at the first king.
"Your turn."
He stared at me.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then he slowly lowered his crown.
The battlefield became silent.
I thought it was over.
Then Nerath laughed.
A deep, terrifying laugh.
"You fools."
The darkness behind him began spreading.
The first king turned.
"What did you do?"
Nerath smiled.
"I gave them exactly what they wanted."
He looked at me.
"War."
I felt something cold inside me.
"What are you talking about?"
Nerath pointed toward the fourth-world army.
"They didn't come here for revenge."
The first king's face changed.
"Nerath…"
Nerath laughed.
"They came because I promised them something."
"What?"
Nerath looked at me.
"Freedom."
The black marks on the fourth-world army suddenly began glowing.
Their bodies twisted.
Their eyes turned red.
The first king screamed,
"You lied!"
Nerath's darkness spread through them.
One by one, the forgotten became monsters.
The first king dropped to his knees.
"What have you done?"
Nerath answered,
"What I have always done."
He looked at me.
"I turned fear into power."
Shawshank moved closer.
"Bjei, we need to leave."
I shook my head.
"No."
"Bjei—"
"If I run, everyone here dies."
I looked at the armies.
Then at Nerath.
"I started this."
Shawshank held my hand.
"You didn't."
"But I can end it."
He stared at me.
"How?"
I looked at the three worlds.
Then at the fourth.
"I don't know yet."
Suddenly, the black mark on my chest split open.
Golden light poured from it.
And a voice whispered inside my mind.
"There is one final world."
I froze.
The voice continued.
"The world you were never told about."
My eyes widened.
I looked at the First Queen.
She was already crying.
"What's the fifth world?" I whispered.
She shook her head.
"Don't ask."
"Why?"
Her voice broke.
"Because that's where your real mother is."