"Really?" Paul queried.
Cindy nodded. "You said that you first experienced the thought scanning about two months ago, right? You also met Doug about the same time in our world, right?"
"Yes. But isn't that just a coincidence? Why would the person who controlled me have to meet me?"
Everyone looked around to where Doug should have been standing. He was nowhere to be seen.
"Because I needed to know if you really were the correct Paul," rumbled an ominous voice from the shadows where Paul had emerged.
Doug, now clad in a blood red robe and black cape, stepped forward into the pool of light furthest from them. "Nice to see that you finally figured it all out." He looked much like his previous self, except that his hair shone with previously hidden streaks of gray. He appeared to have aged thirty years since they had seen him.
He smiled wickedly in the light surrounding him. "Unfortunately, my mind control spell was broken when Paul attacked Crystal. I would have loved to have you all destroy him for me. Of course, his mother Julia would have been mad at me for doing all this." His malevolent and wicked chuckle filled the room.
"Mother? Julia?" Paul murmured. In a sudden flash, the memories returned. That dreary winter day... alone in his room... his mother's concerned voice asking why he was attacking the towns... his false reconciliation... his hug around her shoulders... his hand jabbing her with the poisoned needle. Paul held his head, shaking it violently, seemingly unable to comprehend the memory, unwilling to believe it.
"You bastard!" he screamed. "You... you... you made me kill her. As a test of the power of your spell!" He was shakily pointing at Doug, tears flowing freely at this point.
"That's despicable and cold!" Scott fumed, glaring at the evil mage.
Doug just laughed, amused. "Isn't it though?" There was no remorse in his voice, just amusement.
Looking at Paul, his voice took on a tone of annoyance. "My powers over you have obviously weakened since the exile. You had no trouble with killing your mother, yet you had trouble with merely hurting your" --Doug paused and smiled, laughing softly-- "ex-girlfriend."
Paul growled softly at the mage, hands clenched in tight fists, tears still falling from his cheeks. He wanted to speak, but the rage burning inside him kept him silent. His mind raced, picking out spells to throw at the confident wizard.
Sharon, meanwhile, couldn't stand the tension anymore. Something had to be done. She glanced down at Cindy and Crystal. "Are you two going to be fine while we beat up this deceiver?" she asked quietly.
Cindy nodded. She whispered back, "Do what you must. We should be fine."
That's all Sharon needed to hear. Without further provocation from Doug, she began the chant for her largest spell.
Paul glanced around as he felt the magical energies surge near him. He smiled, knowing he had some help.
Rich, also noticing the energy level rise near Sharon, started to cast a protection spell for the party. Suddenly, though, he couldn't move. It was as if he had been tied up tightly and rooted to the floor. He could barely move his arms and legs an inch. The feline squirmed in his invisible bonds, unable to complete his spell. Quickly scanning what he could see of the rest of the party, he realized that everyone but Doug was in the same predicament.
"What'd you do to us?" Scott yelled at Doug, struggling against the magic restraints to little avail.
"It's a simple hold spell," Paul replied. "Shouldn't take me long to dispel it."
Doug advanced on the incapacitated group, grinning and speaking as he strode confidently. "It'll take you a little longer than you might think, my good puppet."
Paul glowered at Doug for the reference. "Why'd you make me do all this?" Paul shouted at Doug, trying to buy time to cast the dispel magic spell the hard way.
The evil mage glared at Paul, stopping in midstride. "Heh. You don't even know who I really am, do you, Paul? You don't even remember your first mentor?" Venom dripped from his voice as Doug continued. "The one that your mother felt was a bad influence on you? The one that taught you everything he knew and was embarrassed when you nearly surpassed him at the tender age of twelve? The one who would have had the throne to himself had your mother not interfered so often with our schooling?"
"Your brainwashing, you mean?" Paul retorted, struggling. "You were preparing me for the mind control later, weren't you? You wanted the throne from day one, didn't you?"
Doug bowed, a sneer plastered on his face. "But of course. I wanted to ruin your family, ruin your life, and take the valley for myself. And I was this close to doing it, too. But that Kyther expelled you to that stupid world instead of letting me kill you properly."
"So, why didn't you just take the throne for yourself once it was empty?" Rich asked, still trying to fight the hold spell. "And why would you want to kill Paul now?"
Doug stared back at the feline, contempt in his gaze. "Isn't it all obvious? Isn't it easier to rule a kingdom when the people adore you? By making Paul into their enemy, then having him kill off the remaining part of the ruling family, and finally killing him myself, I would have had an easy ascension to the throne. Paul's family name would be tarnished, and I would have been the new, much-loved king.
"But Kyther and his band of heroes were hired before I could establish my presence in the valley. Then, they banished Paul, and Kyther ended up nearly taking the throne instead of me."
Doug advanced toward Paul, smiling wickedly. "So, you see, Paul, in order for me to take the throne, I needed to bring you back, make you continue your reign of terror, and kill you myself."
"That's crazy and stupid!" Lisa exclaimed. "Are you insane?"
Doug continued as if he hadn't heard her. "And that took too many years of searching for my tastes. Kyther had hidden you well. I spent six years of training and searching for the right world, and three more years, undercover on that pitiful world, just trying to find you. But when I finally found you, you were like putty in my hands again.
"Unfortunately, you brought along these extra people. Your will was too strong in that world, so you brought along some help. Since I couldn't reveal my true motives, I decided to let them help me kill you off, and then, I'd kill them off when we finished." He paused, looking over the group. "Unfortunately, it looks like I'm just going to have to destroy everyone at once now."
Doug strolled in front of every party member in turn, looking in their eyes.
"These wimps weren't much help for you, though, were they, Paul? Too bad you can't do anything to me at this point, right?
"Poor Scott, unable to perfect his horrible sword skills. I was hoping that by befriending you, you might take a shot for me if such times came. Too bad I'll be dealing them to you, right?"
Scott glowered at Doug. "You were using me?"
Doug ignored the remark and continued on. "Poor Kevin, who can't throw anything at me except his stupid insults. Poor Sharon with her temper flaring and totally unable to do anything about it. Poor Rich, a third-rate wizard if I ever saw one. Poor Lisa whose optimism is so badly misplaced."
He stopped in front of the bull, looking him straight in the eyes. "And poor Tony. I made your character weak for a reason that's probably pretty obvious now." He chuckled.
Tony scowled. He felt rage building inside him, an anger he had never felt before. How dare he make us look like fools! How dare he call me weak! The minotaur futilely struggled in his magical confines.
"Isn't that funny?" Doug taunted the bull as he approached Cindy's prone figure. "The same one who selflessly protected me only yesterday can't even protect the one he loves the most."
Doug knelt down, fingering Cindy's long hair. He pulled a needle out of a small vial sewn in his robe, looking up at the bull. "Wouldn't it be a shame if the only person in your party who can cure poisons gets poisoned? Especially if she's too weak to cast the poison curing magic?" He rolled the needle in his fingers, smiling wickedly.
Tony watched the mage with wide eyes.
What can I do? What should I do? I can't help anyone, especially Cindy, like this. Doug's right. I am weak. Tony felt a tear fall as Doug continued to taunt him, pushing the needle closer toward a wide-eyed Cindy. Tony didn't hear any further mockery; his own thoughts rang too loudly in his head. He caught a glimpse of Kevin who looked defeated in his bonds, the same Kevin who had told him a few days ago that the group needed him to be at his peak.
Be at my peak? Tony recalled the phrase. He felt a surge of power and energy from the confidence given by the words and memories. Kevin obviously thinks I'm the strongest one. Let's see if he's right. Reaching deep into his reserves, he struggled, reaching for his sword. He managed to place his hand on the hilt, but did not have enough strength to break the magic around him.
The motion attracted Doug's attention. "Oh, you think you can break my spell?" Doug heckled. "Not even the great Paul can break free," he added, grinning wickedly and pointing at the still struggling Paul.
Paul looked over at the mage, fire in his eyes. "You won't live to regret those words," Paul retorted.
"And neither will Crystal." Doug resumed his taunting. "Who to poison first?" he asked, still fingering the poisonous needle. "Let's start with Cindy, shall we, Tony?" He pulled his hand back, preparing to thrust the needle into Cindy's abdomen.
"NO!!!" Tony screamed. A rush of adrenaline and power filled his body, disrupting the hold spell around him. His sword was quickly unsheathed as he violently broke free of the invisible fetters. A swiftly placed kick to the midsection sent the surprised wizard at his feet flying back.
Doug rolled from the kick, landing a few yards away. He clutched his chest and abdomen and knelt, looking at the bull.
"How did you break out?" he asked incredulously, grimacing from the pain. His evil smile returned quickly, though. "No matter. You won't live anyway. And neither will Cindy."
Tony, who had been glaring at the fallen wizard, glanced sharply down at Cindy. The needle had still connected despite his attack and was hanging loosely in her arm. Cindy grimaced at the small bit of pain.
"Cindy. Hang on." Tony stated to the elf. He looked up at the now standing mage, who was casting a healing spell, stepping in between Cindy and Doug. "I may be the only one fighting you, but I will beat you. Count on that."
He felt a hand on his right shoulder. "Don't worry, Tony. You won't have to fight this one alone." Tony's eyes met Paul's.
"How did you--?" Doug started to ask, his healing spell complete.
"Dispel magic spell, without the gestures. It takes a bit longer to focus the energies, but it can be done."
Doug growled at the pair. His figure started to glow, a magic aura growing around him. Tony tried to step forward, but Paul's hand on his shoulder held him back.
"Let's flank him," Paul whispered, looking into the bull's eyes. Tony nodded.
"Time to die!" Doug yelled. Tony glanced back at Doug in time to see a bolt of magical energy about to hit him and Paul. He pushed Paul as hard as he could, falling backward himself. The spell barely passed between them. A scream alerted Tony that maybe what he had just done hadn't been the best idea.
The bolt slammed into Cindy, the explosion hurtling both her and Crystal backwards toward the windowed wall. Cindy had screamed as the spell hit her, knocking her unconscious.
"Cindy! No!" Tony yelled as he scrambled to his feet. He whipped his head around to face Doug. "You heartless fiend!"
Paul sat up. Tony's push had jarred him a bit, and he shook his head to rid it of the cobwebs. He saw Crystal from the corner of his eye and realized that she had been hit by the spell they had avoided.
"Crystal!" he shouted, standing up. "You'll pay for this, Doug!" Paul looked at Tony. Their eyes met. They nodded and began their attack on the mage.
Doug cackled as he began casting another spell. But as he watched the pair approach him from opposite sides, he realized too late that he might be in trouble. Having now to choose one target, he chose Paul on his right. The pair of orbs raced toward Paul, deflecting harmlessly off a magic shield Paul had erected around himself.
"Wrong choice," Paul admonished, smiling at Doug. Tony raced toward Doug's back, sword glinting in the sunbeams. As he neared, Doug turned to face him, brandishing a short metal staff that had been hidden under his robe.
Tony's slash was blocked deftly by the mage, much to the bull's surprise. Tony's momentum carried him to the right of Doug. As Tony tried to slow down and face the wizard, Doug swung the staff backwards, sweeping Tony's legs from under him with the bottom of his staff. Tony fell hard to the ground, slightly stunned by the quick attack. His sword slipped from his hand, skittering a few feet away from him.
As he finished the backswing, Doug whipped the staff forward again with his right hand. This swift motion meant the staff connected with Tony's chest as the bull hit the ground. The minotaur, who had a moment to sit on the ground, was laid down flat by the strike, his breath knocked out of him.
Abruptly, Doug stepped to his left. A small magical blast flew by him, ruffling the folds of his robe and passing right over Tony's prone figure. "You're going to have to do better than that, Paul," he said, smiling, his back still to Paul. "Plus, you should know that I also have my magic shield up."
"I figured you might," came Paul's reply. "Too bad it won't help against what I have planned."
Tony, slightly recovered, rolled to one side and sat up, staring at a chanting Doug. "Well, that didn't work as well as I had hoped," Tony muttered to himself. He jumped to his feet, grabbing his sword at his feet as he did so.
Doug grinned evilly at the rising minotaur. "Looks like my staff practice paid off. You underestimated me." Thrusting his hand at Tony, a magic blast split the air towards the bull. The blast hit Tony's chest squarely, causing him to fly back toward the still incapacitated group. He smashed into Kevin in midair, the pair of bodies intertwined, tumbling backwards.
Kevin grimaced as they landed hard on the stone floor. He lay on top of Tony, the hold spell broken.
"Watch where you get flung next time, okay?" he complained, kneeling on the bull's chest.
Tony pushed the cat off him, grimacing at the multiple bruises. He was about to yell at Kevin for making a wisecrack at a time like this when an idea hit him. He stood up slowly, pulling Kevin to his feet. Doug stood where he had been for a while, watching them rise from the ground. Paul watched everything, having just finished breaking the hold spell on Kevin.
Tony patted the feline's shirt front, wiping off the dust and gently touching two of the gadgets hidden within Kevin's shirt. As he finished, he looked at Paul, making a small gesture toward Doug. Paul nodded, preparing a new spell. Tony looked at Kevin, who figured out what Tony was trying to tell him. The cat nodded slightly, preparing for the new plan. The minotaur stepped forward, picking up his sword as he did so.
Doug grinned evilly. "Oh, it's three on one now. You still think you can beat me with your sword, Tony? Or you with your magic, Paul? And I won't even mention the impossibility of Kevin even touching me with anything besides one of his pathetic insults." The mage glowed with a fluorescent aura, readying his next spell. "I'll make sure you don't survive this next attack!"
"We'll prove whose insults are pathetic in a little bit," Kevin retorted, smirking at Doug.
"NOW!" yelled Tony, charging at the mage.
Reaching into his shirt and grabbing the first of the indicated items, Kevin whipped a smoke bomb over Tony's head and at the mage. It exploded at Doug's feet filling the air around Doug with a thick gray haze.
"Oh, trying a stealth attack, are we?" Doug's confidence surged as he finished preparing a special spell for Paul.
Paul blasted a fireball spell into the haze, aimed at Doug. The spell deflected harmlessly off the magic shield Doug had around himself, dispersing some of the smoke screen. As Tony entered the cloud, Doug fired his shot back at Paul. Paul, unprepared for the counterattack, attempted to dodge it. The magic, however, found its mark, punching through his shields and sending Paul reeling backwards.
Tony sprinted toward Doug through the smoke. He felt the staff blocking his attack again as he swung.
"Pathetic!" Doug yelled, parrying and blocking the attack. With a swift step to the side, leaving his foot in the bull's path, he smacked Tony in the back as the bull flew by. The trip combined with the strike sent the minotaur falling abruptly to the ground. Doug pivoted around and pulled back his staff, preparing to deal a fatal blow to the stunned bull. "Now you perish!"
With that said, the mage pitched forward uncontrollably, his staff clattering to the stony ground. The smoke, clearing slightly, wrapped itself around the body of Doug as he fell to the ground. Tony rolled to avoid being caught underneath the body as it descended. He caught enough of a glimpse back at Kevin through the dissipating cloud to watch him slowly pull back from his throwing stance. Doug hit the ground, face first, a dagger cleanly embedded at the base of his neck.
"That's what you get for insulting and underestimating me," Kevin yelled at the body.
Tony coughed slightly, as he nursed his multiple bruises. Standing up, he complimented the feline, "Nice throw. I was hoping you had figured out what I wanted you to do."
Kevin and Paul rushed over to the injured bull. They helped him to his feet, despite his repeated attempts to brush off their help.
The others, released from their bonds, fell exhausted from their struggles to their knees.
"I thought we were goners," Lisa exclaimed.
Tony looked over toward Lisa. His eyes passed over the prone figures of Crystal and Cindy in the background.
"Cindy!" he bellowed, running over to them. Paul, noticing Crystal, followed right behind him.
The others took notice of their fallen comrades and gathered around them.
Both were in obvious pain from Doug's earlier mistargeted spell. Rich, first to reach Cindy, pulled the poison needle from her arm. He prepared a healing spell for her. Rich took a long look at Cindy's injuries and sighed heavily. He glanced over at Crystal who was also seriously injured and being tended to by Paul. I don't think Paul and I will have enough energy to cast the number of healing spells needed to save both of them.
Tony sat on the ground, grasping Cindy's hand. Tears glistened in Tony's eyes as he stared into Cindy's. He wanted to speak, but every time he opened his mouth, the lump in his throat interfered. He felt a furry hand on his back and looked up at Kevin. Kevin just patted him on the back a few times, his eyes glistening. After a few moments, he walked toward Lisa, who was looking out the windows, a bit depressed.
Scott and Sharon stood uselessly around the two injured, wearing melancholy expressions.
Rich finished his first healing spell, waving his hands over the elf's chest. Cindy grimaced in obvious pain as the magic coursed through her body. Rich glanced over at Paul, who was just holding Crystal.
"Paul, don't you think you should be trying to heal her?" he asked. Paul continued to comfort Crystal. Rich queried again, a little louder and more panicked this time. "Paul, are you going to start--"
"I CAN'T!" Paul screamed back, tears brimming in his eyes. "That... last spell..." He choked on his words, understanding the seriousness of the situation. "Partial amnesia... I can't remember how to cast healing spells!"
Rich bit his lip. If he can't cast healing spells, then... He stopped that line of thought. He knew what it meant.
"Just heal up Cindy so she can save herself," Paul commanded, as he placed Crystal gently back on the floor. Looking at her, he added, "Just hold on, Crystal. Once Cindy's fine, you'll be fine." Crystal smiled back weakly.
Rich watched them, preparing another healing spell for Cindy. He glanced at Tony, who had been watching Paul and Crystal also. The bull nodded slightly as the cat looked quizzically at him. "He's right. That's the only chance we have of saving both of them. Please continue," Tony whispered, sliding backwards, releasing Cindy's hand.
The feline wizard completed the healing spell, rubbing the magic into Cindy's abdomen. She grimaced for a moment, but as he finished, she tried to sit up.
"What are you doing?" Tony asked, concerned.
She smiled at him. "I have to... cast the antidote... when--"
"Go ahead then," Rich replied, moving back to give her room. "I'll prepare another healing spell while you're casting."
One of Paul's tears fell from his cheek, splashing silently on the stone floor of the hall. He reached down, hugging Crystal. Crystal whispered in his ear, "You really do care about me?"
Paul released his tight hug, sniffing slightly, and set Crystal's head gently back on the ground. "If there was anything I could do," he stated between sniffs, "I would be doing it now. You were the only love in my life." Crystal smiled through her pain.
Cindy struggled into a kneeling position, being helped by Tony. She smiled at the bull. "Thank you, Anthony."
A light green aura soon erupted around her as she chanted and concentrated. The miasma around Cindy condensed into her hands, which she placed gently on her own stomach. She was quickly re-engulfed by the aura, which over the next few moments, morphed from green to violet. As she finished, the purple glow around her dissipated. She pitched backwards suddenly, quickly caught by Tony, who placed her gently back on the ground.
"Cindy!" Tony whispered, frantic as he caught her.
She smiled back at him. "Sorry... it took... a lot to cast...."
"Just rest, and let Rich heal you, okay?" Tony let out a sigh of relief as the feline began another healing spell. He then stood up, stepping behind Paul.
The bull knelt down next to Paul, patting him on the shoulder. Paul was muttering, "Why did this happen to me?"
"It wasn't your fault, Paul. Stop blaming yourself." Tony rubbed Paul's shoulder sympathetically. "Everyone will be fine soon enough."
Paul sat there, silently crying and shaking his head, for a few more seconds. He abruptly pounded his right fist against the stone floor, quickly propping himself on his knees. "Everyone but Crystal, unless I do something!" With that said, he started chanting.
"Paul! What are you doing?" Rich frantically asked, feeling the magical power in the air increasing.
The air around the party started to swirl around them, gaining speed. Paul's chanting became fast and furious as he concentrated on the spell. Without breaking his form, he yelled, "Everyone get close to me, now!"
Kevin and Lisa, not next to the others, rushed up behind Paul. They sensed the urgency in his voice, but had no idea what he was doing.
"Paul! What are you doing?!?" Rich reiterated.
The air around them howled at a full gale by now. Rich sat down and was about to ask again when Paul answered. "I'm saving everyone here, okay?"
With that said, he completed a complex set of gestures with his hands. His palms began glowing a pure white, illuminating the hall.
"Goodbye, everyone. Enjoy your lives!" Paul screamed above the wind.
"What do you mean by that?" Kevin shouted back.
Paul smiled, and placed his hands flat against the ground. The glow spread from his hands to the floor and grew all around the party that was assembled. The light engulfed the party. Kevin thought he heard Paul say, "I'll save you, Crystal," before all his senses blacked out on him.