Lilly made her way even further southwards to the Dam the betrayer had built to give himself more land in the Ashlands, and so, it held the water at bay Lilly took a position overlooking the Dam. Lilly squinted as the fog made it difficult to see, but Lilly saw six wraiths return, and an orange blast of Magic teleporting in, Lilly Slid down the mountain, and the Silently climbed atop one of the watchtowers, and assassinated the enemies there.
Lilly could see who teleported in it was the betrayer himself, and he had a prisoner. Lilly was Having trouble Seeing, but she did her best to hear the discussion. The Betrayer was throwing his prisoner around like a ragdoll.
"You know you weren't my first choice." The Betrayer said, swinging his Mace, the Prisoner did his best to block it.
"It's lucky that I was the one who got captured." The prisoner said weakly, but Lilly Still recognized it, it was Zathor, Lilly was about to let Xomera know when a blade came close to her neck.
"Say a thing to your goddess, and you're dead, Cannoness." The Illusionist said.
"It's a bit late for that, I've already told her." Lilly lied, "How's the face?"
The Illusionist Kicked Lilly off of the tower, but She was able to recover. The Illusionist landed on his feet behind her.
"I found this spying on us." The Illusionist said, "She says she's told her."
The Betrayer then looked at Lilly, who just gave him a glare of malice, and anger.
"Lilly?" Zathor said, "I thought you were dead."
"I might be here in a minute," Lilly said as she watched as the Betrayer raised his Mace to strike Lilly, as he did to Xomera in one of the Illusions Lilly was forced to live helplessly through, Aad he swung but Lilly rolled out of the way at the last possible moment, and the mace struck the illusionist, who was forced to teleport away.
"Take the prisoner, I'll deal with the Intruder myself." The Betrayer said, and the six wraiths teleported away with Zathor, Lilly could tell it was to the other continent.
"You have all been a thorn in my side for far too long," The Betrayer said, "You longer than Xomera and Zathor."
"Well," Lilly said, hiding her internal panic, and drawing Chillkiss "I guess that's what happens when you piss off the wrong Cannoness, but send a weasel, and have it Manipulate her for too long." Lilly did not want to explore the memories involving the false prophet.
The Betrayer charged at her, and all Lilly could do was dodge for safety. Lilly fired three Nerve poison bolts at the betrayer, but they just bounced off of his Armor, she would have to pierce his Armor with Chillkiss to get the poison to land, she had to be wary of the mace though, one good hit she was stunned, but four she was dead.
Lilly couldn't attack him head on, but she was able to dodge. Lilly Fought hard, but eventually he did something that Surprised her, he shifted to a more human form,one that Xomera had seen, but Lilly had never seen it, He drew a Blade and charged at her, Lilly dodged out of the way, but she was closer know, she slashed at him three times with Chillkiss.
She quickly smashed bottles of nerve poison onto his wounds, He recoiled in pain, but reverted back to his armored form, speed wasn't getting him anywhere, before he could swing, Lilly thrusted Chillkiss into his abdomen, the edges of the broken bits of armor became Ice. but with his left hand, he Lifted Lilly up by her hair, using her Ponytail as an advantage, Lilly though quickly, and drawing her dagger, she cut her hair at the edge of his hand, dropping her to the ground, and losing her favorite hairstyle at the same time, she then thrusted the dagger into his Knee before he could react, Lilly ripped Chillkiss out of his abdomen, and slashed out his Other Knee, bringing him to the Ground.
While he was stunned, Lilly held Chillkiss aloft, in a skyward fashion, and Drawing some of the power she was allotted as Xomera's champion, she slashed his neck, his head went flying, and his body fell to the ground, Limp, until it disappeared revealing itself to be an Illusion.
Lilly kicked the dagger she was using and let out a scream of anger and frustration as she fell to her knees. It was like no matter what she did to win, the betrayer always survived, and his cohorts won. Everything always felt in vain. Now the Betrayer had Zathor, and the Illusionist was probably laughing his arse off that Lilly had fallen for his tricks, again.
It was clear that the Illusionist wanted nothing more to subject Lilly to torment and regret over and over, and over again.
"Xomera, you're not going to like what I have to say," Lilly sighed telepathically, trying to hold back tears.
"Lilly? What's the matter? Why do you sound so upset?" Xomera asked, concerned.
"The Betrayer has Zathor and he's headed your way, I think he's setting up a trap." Lilly replied, trying to brush off the fact that she had fallen for the Illusionist's tricks again.
Xomera took in a deep breath, what she feared coming true rather quickly, more than what she was prepared for. "I'll handle it, but why are you so upset, Lilly?"
"It's not something I want to talk about with Andrea being able to listen in," Lilly replied,"It's not that I don't trust her, it's more that it's more personal than that."
"I can understand that. Get out of the ashlands, and contact me when you do. We can talk about it then." Xomera replied.
"Okay." Lilly said, and she set the blasting powder for the Dam, got to a safe distance, and with her last fire arrow, Lilly blew the dam up, and proceeded to walk to the exit of the ashlands.
Lilly hardly said a thing, or ran, she just… walked. She didn't even want to have that discussion telepathically, she wanted to have it in person. She wanted to be with Xomera in person, she was Lilly's best friend after all, and the person Lilly trusted more than anyone else, even herself.
The entire trip took Lilly three days, it was the southernmost part of the ashlands to the next region over in the north. When she came upon the gate and as she expected, the gate was under the control of the betrayer, Lilly began climbing it, she pulled her hood up, as it started raining, a storm had been brewing.
When she got to the top, Lilly was caught. There were six wraiths there. They turned towards her, three teleported behind her. There weren't any she recognized, which meant Gwendolyn was likely in the group that was hunting Xomera.
The First Wraith teleport struck Lilly, who Parried it. The Wraiths Behind her all moved to teleport strike at once Lilly Dodged behind where they were teleporting, the one who struck at her first, made a slashing attack at Lilly, which Lilly avoided and pulled the wraith closer
And banished it, leaving five more, they were all grunts, Lilly was almost insulted, at least, she would be if herself doubt wasn't at an all-time high, Lilly did her best to avoid attacks, and strike where she could, but the whole fight took three hours. Lilly wasn't performing anywhere near her best, but she finally banished them all
Lilly sat down and gave a sigh. She was exhausted. After a half hour of rest, Lilly climbed down the north side of the gate, and proceeded a mile away. Lilly rest against one of the few trees in the southern plains' region.
"Xomera?" Lilly asked telepathically.
"What's been bothering you, Lilly?"
LIlly gave a sigh, and said, "three years ago, before I ended up in the hells, the ritualist kidnapped Alayna, I set out to save her, first I ran into the cudgel, and I disabled him for a while, We discovered where he was holding Alayna, on the way there, I was separated from Mara and Greggory, a misdirect by the Illusionist. And then, he managed to keep me there, he showed me these things, used voices against me including your's and Zathor's, and Alayna's and so many, he showed me things, like the immediate aftermath of your death, and so much," Lilly came crumbling down emotionally again, this wasn't the first time Lilly has cried while talking to Xomera, but it's the first time she cried this much, Lilly gave an explanation of what happened with the illusionist, both times, in much more detail this time, and then she went to things more current, "Then I was Brought back, and you were too, I was hoping to spend more time with you, because I've failed you as a best friend, I couldn't stop the betrayer from, I failed so many people, and I wanted to make up for it, I was hoping to spend more time with you, and then you sent me back," Lilly needed a second to catch her breath, "It was the right choice, even though I don't like it. But, I was only able to give you a warning about whatever trap the betrayer was setting up, he sent Zathor over with six of the wraiths, including the king who was Gwendolyn's father over there with Zathor, while, I thought he stayed back to deal with me, I fought what I thought was actually him, I had brought him to his knees, and removed his head from his shoulders, and," Lilly needed to catch her breath again, "And his body faded away, revealing that I had only fought a puppet spun up by the illusionist, I fell for his tricks again…"
"Lilly, listen to me and listen to me well. You need to understand the voices he used against you, we're only a high level of trickery, why would Zathor or I go against you. You didn't fail me Lilly, you failed no one. You're human, you can't do everything, only do your best, and you have been. I sent you back over because I trust you entirely and know you can handle yourself and whatever is thrown at you. You're strong, and I'll be here for you for eternity. We'll have time to rest and spend fun moments with you soon, but now is not that time. I'm proud of you, what you've been able to do, and thankful for your warning." Xomera comforted.
"Thank you." Lilly said, she was still crying, but it wasn't crippling like it was in the snow after her first confrontation. There was something more Lilly wanted to tell Xomera, but she couldn't, it would never work, and Lilly accepted that, or at least she told herself that she did. "Please be careful when saving Zathor, the betrayer Likely has withdrawn all remaining wraiths and his three Captains to get every advantage he can on you."
"Last time he caught me with new magic, and a person I had to hide, this time I'll be the one dropping in on him, with pre-warning, prepared for anything, with a rage he can't extinguish. He won't succeed this time," Xomera replied, it only made Lilly worry more, it was clearly a trap built to kill her.
"You know he'll have preparations like that again, right?" Lilly asked, her tone still worried, "I think you have your plane shift back, but he will have things prepared to prevent it again-" Lilly was cut off by something she noticed out of the corner of her eye.
"I know what he's preparing. He's caught me at a bad time. Fresh and full at max power again, he waited far too long to have another chance on me. I won't need to run this time." Xomera said. Lilly didn't respond as she went to investigate the odd occurrence.
Lilly walked over to it, and was shocked at the sight, it was Amara, at ten years old, alone.
"Hello?" Lilly asked her.
Amara looked up towards Lilly, silent for a moment. "Why are you back here? Why aren't you with her?" Amara questioned, before shaking her head "They took my dad."
"I know, they took him to Tiplora before I could do anything." Lilly replied.
Amara looked towards her blankly, gripping tightly to her mother's sword that was sheathed. It was obvious she was planning to head there and try and save her dad, now that was useless.
"He'll be fine," Lillytried to comfort her, and then returned to her telepathic conversation with Xomera, explaining the appearance of Amara. "Amara's here, she was planning on trying to rescue Zathor."
"You can't promise that." Amara muttered, obviously on edge as she looked towards the ashlands silently. "They we're going to take me instead and kill him. I guess it ended up better this way, at least he's alive. For now."
"Of course, she was," Xomera sighed. "I hate to take you out of the action, Lilly. But maybe it's best you take her and go and find Greggory and Alayna if they're still in that group."
"I'm not sure she's going to agree to that." Lilly told Xomera telepathically.
"This is a moment I'm asking you to tough parent my child, else she gets herself killed. She won't be able to shift over here, and I'm thankful for that, but I need tabs on her with her father not around at the moment."
"I'll do my best." Lilly told Xomera.
"There isn't much we can do at the moment; we just have to hope they decide to bring him back." Lilly told Amara.
"I can't just sit around," Amara growled, looking back towards Lilly. "But there's no way a boat would reach in time, and I can't shift that far unless I'm fifteen feet into the ocean."
"There's not anything we can do here either, I've already blown up most of their forts." Lilly said.
"Well, I can't just sit around here and hope they bring him back!" Amara snapped "Or next thing I know, I'll have to judge him too!"
"Then what do you think we should do?" Lilly asked.
"You can shift us that far. It's been long enough, and you can make that distance like mom." Amara replied, Lilly hides her sigh.
"Your mother is going to handle it, she is at full strength, and she is prepared." Lilly decided to tell Amara, afraid of what Amara might say next.
"You can't seriously be in the thought process to let her fight alone?!" Amara said.
"I'm not, I want to be there too, but as her champion I cannot disobey an order from her, I'm not allowed to go back yet." Lilly sighed, she found herself agreeing with Amara, but there was little she could do.
"Then I'll find my own way across, her orders don't concern me." Amara mumbled, turning from Lilly and heading off to head to the nearest port city.
"Amara what if you go and you get yourself killed?" Lilly asked, "How do you think that's going to make Zathor feel?"
"I'll worry about that when he's around, free, and alive too." Amara growled.
"Then take some help, I know I'm not the only one you've run into." Lilly said.
"I've got no time for that, I'm already behind." Amara said.
"She's not listening." Lilly told Xomera, "She's going to go off on her own if I don't go with her."
Xomera let out an annoyed sigh, thinking over the options she had. "Then let her go for now, she won't get far on her own."
"You really think that's going to stop her?" Lilly asked, "All she needs is to stow away on a ship and get a little way into the ocean, and then she has enough reach with the plane shift."
Lilly hated having to tell Xomera that, but it was an accurate analysis of the situation, but she also didn't want to disobey Xomera's orders.
"I can't control her every action Lilly, and you need to focus on your own daughter at the moment. If that's the choice she's decided on, then so be it. I'll deal with it as I can."
"My own daughter has someone taking care of her, yours does not." Lilly said, again, hating every moment of it
"And you trust this person to take care of your daughter, 100 percent, when she is just as stubborn, and is making them travel someplace else? Go find your daughter, Lilly!" Xomera said.
Lilly was trying to decide what to do when her attention was turned by the the voice of someone she recognized, she instantly turned when she saw who it was, it was the dark captains. All three of them.
"Don't you have a trap to fail at?" Lilly asked them, peaking over to Amara, to see if she noticed, which she didn't.
"Don't try to call her for help." The Illusionist said, she can't hear or see you anymore.
"Good." Lilly said, drawing Chillkiss.
They all prepared to make their attacks, Lilly couldn't take all of them at once, The Best she could do was dodge a lot, and strike when she could.
"You really used to be my champion?" A voice said, if it wasn't for the fact that Lilly was in the process of dodging an attack, Lilly would have been frozen solid, it was the voice of Xelina, the Goddess of time and space, while she was Xelina's champion, Lilly was in a constant loop of being emotionally hurt, and returning, Xomera had to point it out for Lilly, but it wasn't too dissimilar to how things went with the False Prophet before Lilly learned the truth. But when Lilly realized the Emotional abuse Xelina put her through, Lilly stopped being Xelina's champion then and there. Lilly kept the champion Object because it was attached to Lilly's psyche and not Xelina.
"What the hell do you want?" Lilly replied telepathically, Hoping Xomera was able to listen in on the conversation.
"I was just flipping through the channels and noticed this one," Xelina said, "You have an hourglass, use it to freeze time for two of them, and then fight one of them."
"Well, congratulations, time and space, you're useful for once, now Leave me alone." Lilly snapped at Xelina. She didn't realize Xelina still had the Ability to speak to her telepathically, so Lilly was pretty angry at that, but Xelina was helpful for once. Lilly used the Hourglass, Just as fractured as it was three years ago, and used its power to stop time on the ritualist, and the Illusionist, so she could focus on the Cudgel.
"Xelina," Xomera spat telepathically, with distaste "Keep your foul comments to yourself you are slithering snake. Dare reach out to my dear friend through any other means other than through me once more, and I shall slice off your fingers, or talons if needed, and shove them down your two-face throat. Maybe then you can choke some sense into your lackluster pea-bodied brain."
"You should at least make sure your champion knows what's within her arsenal." Xelina replied.
"I know damn well what's within my arsenal, I made ninety five percent of what's within my arsenal, now go back to the pit of hell that you crawled out of, I don't blame most dragons for hating you." Lilly replied, she did not have the patience to deal with Xelina today.
"You should learn where you're welcome, and where you're not. Here is not one of those places, heathen. Now, you can kindly escort yourself into the fiery pits, or count your days for my patience is wearing thin." Xomera warned
"I'm impressed you still have any," Lilly complimented Xomera, it seemed for now that Xelina had left.
Lilly dodged out of the way of the cudgel's swing, and made a flurry attack, and then dodged out of the way again.
"I have a hair of it left, and I know my daughter is only going to push it." Xomera replied, Lilly noticed she lost sight of Amara, but it could have been because of the Illusionist, no, she actually lost sight of the girl, the time stop should have stopped the Illusionist's powers.
Lilly, then dodged another swing, and took out the illusionist's legs at the knees, his legs were still attached, as Lilly intended.
"Do you need these?" Lilly said, her voice sinister, and it clearly frightened the cudgel, and Lilly then Broke both legs, and kicked him away, she made sure to put the toe of her her boot into one of his wounds when doing this. Lilly turned her attention over to the other two.
"Which one of you bastards are next?" Lilly asked, then asked Xomera telepathically, "Who do you think I should deal with next, the Illusionist, or the Ritualist?"
"Oh, do save Dogla for last! That should be fun." Xomera replied.
"And for the Illusionist, should I make it quick and painless? I'm thinking the opposite, what about you?" Lilly asked.
"Oh, never make it quick, they all deserve the worst that comes to them." Xomera replied.
"Alright, then." Lilly said, before she released the time lock on the Illusionist, Lilly slathered her daggers in to separate poisons, one had nerve poison, and the other had a poison that made their bodies die much, much, slower, one Lilly had made specifically for the Illusionist f she ever got the chance to fight him again.
She walked around behind the Illusionist, and released the time Lock on him, she thrust the slowing dagger into him, Multiple times, the sudden attack surprised him, then Lilly Pulled him backward, his head almost ripped off of his body, she didn't realize it, but Lilly was in another Dragon rage.
"If I could subject me to every intricate thing, you ever put me through, I would," Lilly said, hardly noticing the dragonfire orange glow reflecting off his armor, "But I can't because, you want to know something about yourself? You just simply don't care, you say you want the Betrayer's power, but really you want to watch the world burn, and you don't torture people, you make people torture themselves. You think it'll keep you interested until the world burns, but you know what I think?" Lilly asked, thrusting the Nerve Dagger into his lower back, just to the right of his spine, and she twisted it, both directions, and threw him off.
"And what do you think?" He asked, the nerve poison having an effect on him.
"I think you're forgetting one thing." Lilly said, dropping the blood-soaked dagger, and Drawing Chillkiss.
"And what's that, Cannoness?" He asked.
"You're facing me." Lilly said, Calmly, fear began to spread across the Illusionist's face, he knew his Illusions would no longer work on her, not in this state at least. He drew his sword preparing for battle, He took a swing at her, and Lilly caught his arm, and crushed his wrist Lilly heard the bones snap, and break, and he dropped his sword. Lilly then Pulled out Chillkiss and held it skyward, and swung downwards in a sweeping motion, it didn't cut him in two, but it killed him, and Lilly banished him not to the hells, and not to the plane of death, but the plane of Chaos.
"You have a new captured Playmate in the plane of Chaos." Lilly told Xomera, and then turned to Dolga.
"Oh, how I will have tortures fun. I'll string him up, but playtime will have to wait." Xomera said.
"It'll be well worth the wait." Lilly said
And Unfroze Dolga, who, upon seeing the state of things, retreated back into the Ashlands. Lilly mockingly blew him a kiss. "Run, Dolga, run," Lilly said, "You have only prolonged the inevitable.
Lilly's stone cold, and sadistic demeanor was broken, by the sound of Approaching footsteps, running footsteps. Lilly turned around Drawing Chillkiss, in case it was another attacker, it was here Lilly noticed the Draconic Orange her eyes had been glowing, in the reflection of Chillkiss, but they faded back to her usual Green quite quickly.
Lilly recognized the armor of the rangers of the gate on the man, Lilly designed it herself while Xomera was in charge of the empire during the reforms. It had mobility and protection; the man's hair was long, and his beard was short. Next to him, the blue spirit of an elf lord ran, and behind that was an Elf woman, Greggory, Alayna, and a Dwarf.
The ranger recognized her, as if she was a legend in fairy tales.
"Apologies, my saint." The ranger said.
"What did you call me?" Lilly asked.
"I'm sorry?" The ranger seemed surprised.
"She doesn't know, Tarron." The elf ghost said.
"Know what?" Lilly asked, the elf ghost seemed surprised that she could see him.
"That the empire named you a saint." He spoke.
"Well, I'm most certainly not." Lilly replied, "What happened at the gate, ranger?"
"They attacked, we were overwhelmed, my family was used in a ritual to bring Festand back." The ranger said, motioning to the elf ghost when he said 'Festand'.
"Festand, Huh?" Lilly said, Approaching the Elf who was a few inches taller than her, "You know my family has gone through hell since you let the betrayer into your gates."
"Gwednolyn willingly took the sword," Festand said, "It's because of her own poor choices that she became a wraith."
"Oh, you're lucky you have no physical form I can hurt, if the betrayer hadn't set foot in Etras, my family name wouldn't have to be changed." Lilly said, it wasn't that she didn't like the name 'Meya', it's just that it wasn't the original, though, she would have certainly still preferred Meya, as 'Lilly Meya' rolled off the tongue better than 'Lilly Dragon-loom'.
Lilly walked through the ghost to proceed to Greggory and Alayna. Alayna froze upon seeing Lilly, and Greggory was just shocked to see her alive, but Alayna froze up entirely.
"Alayna?" Lilly asked. But did not get a response.
"Excuse me." Alayna said, Hyperventilating, and she ran off.
"How?" Greggory asked.
"Being the Goddess of Death and Chaos' best friend comes with benefits." Lilly said before running off to Alayna, Who Lilly had found a mile away, sitting on the edge of a cliff.
"Alayna?" Lilly asked.
"You were supposed to be dead." She said, "Just when I thought I had moved on, you showed back up."
"Alayna…"
"Do you know how bad my Anxiety has gotten in the past three years?" Alayna asked, "How much about myself I don't understand?"
"What do you mean?" Lilly asked.
"Three days ago, I transformed into a dragon! I was having an Anxiety attack, and it just happened! I have had fifteen panic attacks since, I don't know what I am! I thought I was Northborn, a human. It turns out I'm just another one of the countless winged creatures people hunt because they want to challenge themself."
"That's not true." Lilly replied, only certain people Hunted Dragons, but they did so illegally, and Alayna was not 'just another dragon.'
"I don't even know what is true anymore." Alayna said, "I can't keep my nerves in check, and as a dragon I'm a constant danger to anyone around me! It's better off that I don't even exist." Alayna was in tears.
"Alayna, please don't say that." Lilly pleaded.
"Why, it's true!" Alayna stated, "Do you have any idea how many times I have tried to kill myself? Of course, you don't. First, my biological mother died, and my anxiety formed, and then you died, and I couldn't take it, and I have tried several times to take my own life, so I wouldn't burden anyone ever again."
"Alayna, please tell me you are speaking the truth!" Lilly replied.
"I am, it would be so easy to slip off of this cliff, I would never be a problem for anyone again!" Alayna cried out.
"Alayna please don't, it won't make things better, it will make things worse." Lilly said, almost in tears herself.
"See?" Nothing I do Is right!" Alayna said, "I'm sorry"
Alayna Pushed herself off of the cliff And Lilly's Heart dropped, she pushed off too, Lilly dove off the cliff Like she dove into the Valley on Tiplora, And Alayna Noticed.
"Please, just let me do this!" She pleaded, tears still in her eyes.
"No!" Lilly said, "You can hate me all you want, but I'm stopping you.
Lilly finally caught up with Alayna, Lilly grabbed hold of Alayna with her right arm, and pointed her Grappleshot upwards away from the rapidly closing in ground, the grappleshot got hold of something, and it stopped this with a sudden halt, Lilly's arm dislocated, and she nearly dropped Alayna.
"Let me go!" Alayna pleaded.
"NO!" Lilly barked, and it clearly scared Alayna, Lilly used her 'cannoness' voice, which she had often used when giving Orders when she led the Order of the Temporal Dragoness, she made sure to shift back to her normal voice before speaking again, "This is not going to solve anything! It's a permanent solution to a temporary problem! You are valued here, I love you, you're my daughter, and I would move the whole god's damned world for you, don't ever assume that you're the one who needs to go!"
Alayna didn't say anything, but she stopped fighting back. Lilly breathed a sigh of relief at this. She Lifted Alayna up onto her shoulders, and Made sure Alayna held on, and then Lilly climbed back up the cliff. Once they were on top, Lilly sat Alayna down away from the edge.
"Don't ever let your anxiety hold you back from doing Amazing things," Lilly said, "Your mother and father created you, a child I could only ever dream of Having Biologically. This Obviously isn't something that's going to go away overnight, if ever, but I want to work through it with you. I love you to the moon and back."
Alayna said nothing, but ran over and clung onto Lilly, hugging her tightly, tears still streaming from her eyes.