| abstract | - Two days later, the trio was back in Albion and Sparrow and Richard were currently sitting in the military training ground in Wraithmarsh. ‘I can’t believe how tired I am.’ groaned Richard. ‘Tell me about it. Normally I can go months with hard core living and without proper sleep, but I’ve never been like this.’ said Sparrow, glancing over at Richard’s comrades who were practicing their shooting. They had gotten a lot better, according to Richard. ‘What’s on your mind?’ yawned Richard, noticing Sparrow biting her lip. ‘Nothing. It’s just…I expected Theresa to come to us now that we have the sword, but she hasn’t.’ answered Sparrow. ‘She is the only one who knows about this enemy and she wants us to defeat it. Yet she hasn’t told us how or when it will come.’ ‘Maybe she’s getting forgetful in her old age.’ shrugged Richard. He was too tired to worry about anything. ‘Besides, I’m sure she would warn us before it attacks.’ As soon as the words left Richard’s mouth, the warning bells sounded the camp, warning them of a dangerous threat approaching Wraithmarsh. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. Couldn’t they have waited a few days before attacking Albion.’ growled Richard as all the leading officers and generals began yelling orders at the troops. When Richard was tired, it normally meant he was in a foul mood. ‘Who the hell would be attacking us anyway?’ he added to Sparrow as they headed to the meeting point to receive their orders. ‘You don’t think it could be the darkness, do you?’ said a worried Sparrow. ‘Better not be.’ growled Richard. Moments later they were at the meeting spot and found out that it was the approaching darkness. ‘All right, soldiers. This will be your biggest challenge yet for it is an unknown enemy that we will be facing.’ said the major. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen before. It appears to be a creature of legend for it is the size of a fabled troll which looks like a giant shadow. In order to defeat this enemy, we are going to ambush it from a distance with tanks and pray that it works.’ ‘It will not work.’ said Theresa, appearing in blue light behind the major. ‘Wh – where did you come from?’ asked a startled major while everyone else gasped, except Richard and Sparrow. ‘Think your warning is a bit late.’ snapped Richard, glaring at Theresa. Everyone turned and looked at him. ‘Now is not the time to scold me, Reaver.’ said Theresa, making most of the soldiers gasp. Everyone knew the legend of the fabled pirate king who managed to stay young forever, but Richard couldn’t be him, could he? Reaver is just a fictional character after all, wasn’t he? ‘How long till it arrives, Theresa?’ asked Sparrow, walking forward with Richard behind her. ‘By sunset,’ answered Theresa. ‘Right. In that case, we will need to –‘ ‘Last time I looked, Captain Sparrow, I was the one that gave the orders around here.’ snapped the major. ‘And how do you suppose you give orders when you don’t know what we are facing.’ snapped Sparrow. ‘Do you honestly think that you have enough experience against this sort of enemy?’ The soldiers and general gasped. No one had ever dared to talk to the major like that. ‘Watch your tongue, girl!’ growled the major. ‘I have been in the army for most of my life, which means I have more experience then you’ll ever have!’ ‘Oh, don’t make me laugh!’ said Sparrow, firing up at once. Her temper was not to be pushed when she was tired. ‘Listen, I have been shot out the top of Bowerstone Castle’s top most window, fell down and bounced of the rooves of Bowerstone Old Quarter, before finally hitting the streets after watching me sister die! I have trained with sword and gun since I was nine! I have fought giant beetles, bandits, ghosts, shadows, statues, guards, hollow men, banshees, troll and balverines that many times that I have lost count! I have protected people, saved many regions such as Bloodstone from a vicious banshee! I spent ten years, ten years living in the cursive spire having to torture prisoners and recruits, even having to kill them. I have had to play ridiculous games with this idiot –‘ she motioned to Richard, who raised his eyebrows at her ‘– where I nearly had to sacrifice my youth to shadows to keep him young. I helped save Albion from a mad and dangerous lord, before finally uniting and ruling over Albion dealing with its politics, while going out protecting the people and raising two boys with one ending up slaying all the trolls in Albion and the other saving the world from darkness! So don’t you dare tell me that I’m inexperienced!’ ‘That’s enough, Captain! Do you honestly expect me to believe what you say to be true? You were just repeating old legends!’ The major said coldly. Sparrow stood there trembling with anger before sending fire blades either side of the major, making her blue will lines appear. ‘Oh yes. Legends.’ said Sparrow mockingly. ‘Enough, Hero.’ Theresa said firmly. ‘We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves. We must all work together if Albion has any chance of survival. So tell me, Hero. Are you ready to become the mighty Lionheart once more?’ ‘You bet I am.’ growled Sparrow. ‘With a Hero of Skill and me, it won’t stand a chance.’ Half an hour later, when everyone finally believed that Richard and Sparrow were in fact Reaver and Lionheart, an evacuation had begun to Bowerstone. Sparrow had a lot of trouble getting Logan to go there, but he eventually had to admit defeat when Richard flung him over his shoulder before throwing him into an evacuation car. ‘I guess that’s one way to do it.’ Sparrow muttered as the car drove off. ‘We have no time to be subtle.’ said Richard. ‘We should go and meet the darkness half way.’ he added. ‘Right,’ agreed Sparrow and together they began to walk off until they heard someone calling their names and the sound of running feet. It was Richard’s comrades and Mark. ‘What are you doing?’ asked Richard. ‘We’re coming with you.’ Pete said simply. ‘we know that it will be dangerous and we might not survive, but you’ll need all the help you can get.’ ‘Just don’t get in our way!’ warned Richard, before walking off. ‘He’s happy to see you, deep inside.’ said Sparrow as they went after Richard. ‘Yeah. Deep, deep, deep down inside.’ muttered Mark. ‘Is he really the Reaver?’ ‘The one and only.’ smiled Sparrow. ‘And you’re really the Lionheart, first Queen of Albion?’ ‘Yep.’ Wow. And here I was thinking that they were just legends.’ ‘History is laced with legends and myths. Things that have been forgotten over time.’ said Richard over his shoulder. She eventually had to pull out her sword and use flourish attacks against them. Minutes later, there were the remains of dead beetles at her feet and she could slowly feel her strength leaving her. She shook her head and determinedly continued towards the chest. To the only hope for Richard’s survival. She shortly found it and she found the old rusty key, exactly where Logan said it would be. She hurriedly opened the chest with trembling hands and found nothing but paper recipes at first glance, but after shifting through it all, she found a bottle right at the bottom of the chest. The last Potion of Life. Letting out a sigh of relief, sparrow took it securely in hand and hurried back to Logan. ‘Did you find it?’ asked Logan as Sparrow climbed out of the hole covered in dust, cobwebs and Richard’s blood from when she first went down there. ‘Yes. And I found a lot more than a few beetles.’ she said as they hurried back to Richard. As they hurried back along the hospital corridors, they saw that the security guards were still there along with the police, who tried to arrest Sparrow as they hurried passed. ‘Seriously, I know you are only doing your jobs, but move!’ snapped Sparrow, fighting them away while Logan stood calmly in the arms of a police officer. ‘You can arrest me after I give this to my friend. Now move!’ she added as she lightly pushed them away with magic and continued to run towards Richard praying that she wouldn’t be too late. She ignored the police running after her and she knew that Logan would be all right. Knowing him, he was probably already calmly explaining the situation to the police. Sparrow tore into Richard’s room, startling Pete and Mark. Her hands fumbled with the lid of the bottle and was vaguely aware of Mark talking to the police that had followed her. She managed to open the lid and she slowly and carefully poured it in Richard’s mouth, while gently rubbing his throat to engage his swallowing reflexes. Once the bottle was empty, Sparrow put it on the table next to the bed and took one of Richard’s hands in her own. She prayed that the potion would still work, even after all these years. Did potions have expiry dates? ‘Come on, old pirate.’ whispered Sparrow. ‘You can beat it. You’ve cheated death for thousands of years, so you can’t give up now! You can’t leave me!’ As the seconds ticked by Richard’s condition remained the same and Sparrow began to lose hope and started to cry on his bed. As she cried, Pete and Mark bowed their heads, while Logan slipped into the room, followed by the rest of the police officers and the doctor who had told them Richard would not survive, and he went to his mother, hugging her lovingly and comfortingly. ‘I guess potions do expires after all.’ sobbed Sparrow, before looking at Richard quickly as his hand closed gently around hers. ‘Why is it every time we work together, I end up unconscious, injured or physically drained?’ asked Richard, slowly opening his eyes and smiling over at her. ‘Oh Richard!’ cried Sparrow, before gently taking his lips. Richard’s eyes widened with surprise before he lightly kissed her back. ‘I’m the second love, aren’t I?’ muttered Richard, when they broke apart. ‘I can’t believe it took me so long to figure out. I mean, I’m always calling you a minx.’ ‘Well, you know now and that’s all that matters.’ Sparrow said with a shaky laugh. ‘Oh, I was so afraid I’d lost you!’ ‘It’ll take more than a wound to finish me off.’ answered Richard with one of his famous smirks playing at the lips. ‘You all right, Logan?’ ‘Yes.’ said Logan. ‘I’ve explained everything to the police and doctor. I also promised them that I would lead them to where we found the potion so they can see if they can make more.’ ‘Sounds like a good idea to me.’ yawned Richard, looking around. ‘Where am I?’ ‘Bowerstone Hospital, sir.’ said the amazed doctor. ‘Really? Huh. Always wondered what a hospital looked like.’ said Richard. Sparrow and Logan laughed. ‘Morning Mum. Dad.’ said Logan, excepting some toast off Sparrow. ‘Yeah, morning.’ said Ruby, giggling slightly as she gave her father a kiss on the cheek. ‘What’s so funny?’ Richard asked suspiciously, automatically looking at his reflexion in a nearby spoon. ‘And you wonder why your daughter is so vain.’ said Sparrow, making Logan snort in his orange juice. Ruby stuck her tongue immaturely out at him, which he ignored. ‘Richard, for the last time, you have no wrinkles except in your imagination.’ ‘So what’s so funny, then?’ Richard asked Ruby, putting the spoon down. ‘Logan’s got a girlfriend!’ she said in a sing-along-voice. ‘Which means he’s going to get in trouble, right?’ ‘Oh that. You finally asked her out then?’ Richard said conversationally to Logan, who was currently trying not to laugh at the look on his sister’s face. ‘Yes. And we’re going out on a date to the movies this afternoon, after school, of course.’ answered Logan. ‘You went to your father for advice?’ said a disbelieving Sparrow and when Logan nodded she said, ‘Oh Avo help us all.’ ‘And why shouldn’t he? After all, I’ve had plenty of experience with the opposite sex.’ said Richard, pouring Ruby some juice. ‘That’s what worries me.’ said a straight-faced Sparrow. ‘Hang on, why isn’t he getting in trouble?’ demanded Ruby. ‘Why would Logan be in trouble in the first place?’ asked a confused Sparrow, taking her seat in between Logan and Richard. ‘Because Dad told her that she wasn’t allow to date until she’s twenty.’ answered Logan with a smirk that could give Richard a run for his money. ‘And he’s only sixteen! And the rules apply to him too, don’t they, Daddy?’ said Ruby. ‘No, they don’t.’ Richard said calmly. ‘But –‘ ‘Ruby, don’t whine at me. You know how I can’t stand it.’ ‘Fine.’ ‘Don’t sulk either. It’s most unbecoming of a young lady.’ Ten minutes later, sparrow was standing at the kitchen window watching Logan and Ruby walk to school. Logan, by some miracle, had gotten Ruby laughing again. Normally her sulks lasted for hours. ‘Well, Ruby’s no longer sulking.’ Sparrow informed Richard. ‘I can’t believe you told her that she wasn’t allowed to date until she was eighteen!’ ‘Then you shouldn’t have had that news report on about pregnant teenage girls.’ stated Richard, getting up and joining her at the window with his arms around her waist and chin on her shoulder. ‘Richard, Ruby’s seven years old.’ Sparrow said with a slight laugh. ‘Besides, what about Logan? He could get his new girlfriend pregnant.’ ‘Are you forgetting who re-gave him the talk? Besides, I know Logan’s not stupid enough to do something like that and sex is the last thing on the kid’s mind.’ answered Richard. ‘Are you saying that you think Ruby is going to be stupid enough to do that then?’ asked a still amused Sparrow. ‘I didn’t say that.’ said Richard, before gently kissing her neck. Sparrow closed her eyes and smiled. They had spent a year dating before Richard proposed to her, which was after he discovered that he would no longer be able to remain young after the discovery of the Shadow Court’s destruction. It took him a while to adjust to the marriage life and being Logan’s stepfather, but when Sparrow announced that she was pregnant; Richard paled dramatically and dreaded the arrival of a baby, which amused everyone. When Ruby was born, Richard did everything possible to leave the house since her couldn’t stand her crying, but then Sparrow made him babysit her while she took Logan shopping to get him some new clothes. Then, when they came back, they found Richard holding a happy and giggling Ruby with a huge smile on his face. From that day on, he became very protective of her. However, this didn’t stop him being the old pirate they all knew and loved.
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