AGATHA'S POV:
We rushed out of Everglade kingdom and towards my father's kingdom, I could only pray that nothing terrible had happened to the people I loved.
"Hang in there Ariel. We are coming to get you all out of there," I thought anxiously.
"You don't have to be worried Agatha, Drystan is unconscious, the plague should have vanished. They should be out of there by now," Kethan stated, without glancing at me.
"I'm not worried," I responded, wincing in pain from my last fall.
"We need to change direction, tell me about the second amplifier," Kethan added, slowing down his horse so I could catch up with him.
"Change direction to where?" I asked sarcastically, unsure.
"To find the second amplifier," he declared.
"That's cruel Kethan. Just because you died and came back to life as a toxic instrument doesn't mean we are the same. My family, your family, and every single person I care about are caught up in a freaking rat trap, and you sit here, shaking your butt in an invisible beat alongside your horse, asking us to change direction- really…" I reasoned out in disappointment.
"Yes! We don't have much time, we need to find the Amplifiers and destroy the plague," he responded.
"Is that the only thing you care about? I don't care about the amplifiers, I don't give a damn about any of this soured shit going on, what I care about…is the people I love, if we can't get the amplifiers, then let's just kill him. All man dies naturally," I replied relentlessly.
"Have you tried killing him? You have been amplified Agatha, so why are you still stupid? Drystan is no longer human, he's a plague. The only way to kill him is by killing the plague, the only way to kill the plague is by getting the amplifiers. And the only way to get the amplifiers is by you not being so emotional and foolish," he stated, coldly.
With a sad smile, I rode my horse in front of him and stopped, making him come to a halt, staring at me eagerly.
"So…I should watch them die while looking for the amplifiers? If all the people I love die, who then am I saving? You have really changed Kethan. I wish you die after this mission is complete," I declared and rode past him.
I kicked my horse in an attempt to make it faster, trailing after my twin sister and the rest of the survivors of my father's kingdom. After five hours of riding, my eyes drooped, weighted by exhaustion but my gaze remained fixed on the journey, refusing to stop. Breathing heavily, I challenged my weak body despite the weariness seeping into my bones. I felt drained, yet a spark within me refused to flicker out.
I looked at Kethan who didn't seem to be worried or tired, memories of how we cuddled on a horse while traveling for war came driving in, and I could only shake my head dramatically towards my misfortune. He wouldn't even let a strand of my hair get burnt. I wonder if my Kethan is still inside him somewhere.
Shortly, I got track of Ariel and the rest of the people. Rushing down from my horse, I dashed towards Ariel and the rest of the people.
"What happened?" I asked, breathing heavily.
"We were trapped in the plague, but soon after, it vanished so we rushed out here. Are you alright?" Caspian asked, walking towards me.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired," I replied with a smile.
"And Drystan?" Tempestina asked, with a worried expression.
"I gave him the herb you prepared. He will be out for a while," I responded, certain.
"That's good enough for now," Tempestina replied, tapping me by the shoulders in encouragement.
"We have no shelter, it's growing dark," Lunaria butted in, walking closer.
"I'm more worried about food, there are a lot of people," Tempestina retorted, staring at the survivors from my father's kingdom.
"I don't know Agatha. Let's rest here for a while and think of something new tomorrow," Tempestina added and I nodded in acknowledgment.
"Rest? Here? In the open air? In a forest? Is that not more dangerous than leaving the kingdom to begin with? Bird poops could fall on me from any angle, or even get my head bitten off by crazy animals," Ariel stated in disgust, pouting.
"If that is the only thing you care about…then I'm sorry to disappoint you, it's not on the list of our worried situations," Tempestina retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Agatha, I don't like her," Ariel cried out.
"I don't like her too, she's a w-itch. But…I need that rest she just spoke of," I muttered, yawning tiredly, I walked over to address the people.
"Beautiful people of Lendorr kingdom, I'm sorry you are caught up in this disaster. Every one of you has lost someone precious to you. Even if my father, your king is dead, I assure you that I'll protect and guide you home with my last breath. Till death do us part. but for now, lets rest in this forest. we will begin the journey to our new home tomorrow," I declared firmly, few cheered in response while some murmured in disagreement, but what choice do we have?
"You need to go after your husband," Ariel stated, walking towards me.
"My husband is dead," I retorted, walking away.
"But I just saw him…what is wrong with everybody?" Ariel screamed in frustration.
Suddenly, I froze, and a nagging sense of uneasiness settled in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. I noticed a faint trail of disturbed foliage as if someone had recently passed through.
Rapidly, the forest erupted into chaos, and arrows flew, piercing every living soul.
"Take cover!!!" I screamed as I watched the Arrows dive into Ariel, sending her collapsing on the ground.
I ran from where I stood, launching at full speed towards Ariel.
"You can't go out there," Lunaria stated, pulling me back behind the trees.
"My sister was shot," I yelled, yanking my hand off Lunaria's grip.
"I'll go get her," Caspian stated, running towards Ariel.
"Do you see where the Arrows are coming from?" Tempestina screamed from behind a tree.
"No, it seems to be coming from every existing angle in this forest," I replied in agony.
"Drystan," Tempestina declared.
"No, it can't be, he collapsed after taking the herb," I argued positively.
"The herb or anything else can't take down Drystan. Do you need another proof that we need to find the damn amplifiers?" Kethan asked out of nowhere.
"You knew?" I asked, my eyes filled with shock, sadness, and anger.
"Yes. I knew it wasn't enough to take him down. I knew all these people would die, I deserted them."