The HAWK raced through the timestream, heading for 601 AD. Lightning split the sky as the jet came back into the normal flow of time and headed for the group on the ground. Max landed the craft climbed out, a angry look on his face as hewalked over to the group.

"Hey Max. How did things...." Max shot a wicked look at Nadia that scared her. He walked off into the castle. "What�s with him?"

Janus walked up to them. "Corliras Malatar."

Nadia looked at Janus in confusion. "The guy who killed his father?"

Janus nodded, knowing that there was a pain Max had to face alone. ,p>

Max stormed into the idol room, kicking t he doors down. The floor was still stained with the blood of the six guards, their bodies vanished. "Darien!" he yelled. "I failed!! Is this what you wanted?!!! I failed!!!" Max, collapsed to his knees, sobing. "I failed. I failed Glenn, I failed my father, I failed everyone. I�m no warrior. I�m just a kid who happened to be immortal. I�m nothing. Why did this have to happen to me? Why?!!!!"

"Because you�re the only one who can do this."

Max looked up. "Darien?"

A specter appeared in front of Max, smiling kindly as it nodded. "Hello Maxlin. I�m sorry about your father. Some things just can�t be changed."

Max looked at his old teacher with anger. "Like hell!! You knew that Malatar was impersonating my father, and you did nothing about it!! What kind of man leaves his best friend�s son in the hands of his enemy!! Answer that!!"

Darien sighed as he looked into the boy's eyes. "Max, you�re going to learn that we must do what is right. I couldn�t go take you from Malatar without letting him know that David�s son truely was his own. It was the only thing I could do."

The spirit came down and sat down next to Max. "Your father was a good man. His skill was immense and widely known. He fought only to defend, never for the Prize. The only man who ever dreamed of challanging him was Corliras Malatar, a man from England. He was one of those, �I will be the last no matter what� types. It didn�t matter who he killed, mortal or immortal, so long as he was the last. He sent the challange to your father and....."

"And?"

Darien sighed. "No one really knows. They fell into a crater, and Malatar was the only one to come out. He was holding David�s sword in his hand. I fought him one day, not caring about my life. It was when you were about seven, I believe. I didn�t care if I was mortal, I just wanted to destroy the monster. I lost my sword and.... Well, you can figure what happened next. Anyways, he won, and... Here I am. I was attached to you, my spirit wouldn�t rest. I taught you everything I knew. Even then, that wasn�t enough for me. So, when Tykotious opened his gate, I sent you into the past and...."

Max looked at the ghost. "It was you who sent me here? I don�t believe it. You sent me through time so I could continue to learn how to fight? I don�t believe you!"

"Max!! I had no choice. You wouldn�t be here if I hadn�t have sent you through."

Max looked back at the spirit. "Yeah, but Glenn would still be alive."

"And everything they worked for would be for nothing. Don�t you get it? You are Earth�s, no, the universe�s only hope. You must fight Tykotious�s forces, and you must prevail. This is the only chance for the universe to survive. You destroy Tykotious, you destroy his reign of destruction forever. Please Max, for Glenn. For your father. For your mother. For me. Stop Tykotious before it�s too late. As a friend, please."

Everyone was sitting around a campfire when Max finally came out. They all stood up when he walked over to them, the rage still in his eyes, but he know had a look of understanding. "I'm sick of people dying because of me," he stated. "It's time I started fighting back against what's causing all this, and I don�t care if it kills me..." With a solem look, he turned to Glenn�s lifeless body, and lowered his head. "It's time I started doing what I've been taught to do...and it's time that a warrior finally finds his rest..."

They dug for an almost hour. When they finished, they lowered Glenn�s body into the hole, burying it with all the honor that the knight had earned. Max picked up the Masamune and thrust it into the ground, making it Glenn�s gravestone. "To a great knight, who will always protect...." They turned to leave, when suddenly...

"Hey, I think this kid�s finally got it Mune."

"I don�t know Masa. Are you sure?"

Max turned to face the new grave in shock. "What the?" Masamune glowed, and two creatures stood in it�s place.

"I sure hope so," the slightly larger creature stated. "If this kid�s going to use Illumina, he�s got to have it straight."

The smaller one nodded. "I know bro. He�s got to learn that swords and spells are not the only weapon against evil."

"Oh my god," Nadia gasped. She knew all too well who these two were. "Masa and Mune..."

The two creatures smiled. "Well, he left the sword when he could have taken it, didn�t he?"

"You got a point there bro."

"Let�s give him what he needs."

Max looked to see Excaliber fly off the ground and float in the air, shockewd at what was going on. "This can't be real..."

"With Masa�s wisedom!!!"

"And Mune�s courage!!!"

"THE TWO BECOME ONE!!!!!"

The creatures slammed their hands into Excaliber, making it shine brighter than the sun. "TWO POWERS UNITE TO FORM ONE STRENGTH!!!!!"

The light slowly disapated, leaving a shining blade in the air. Max gasped as he recognized the weapon. "Illumina!! I don�t believe it!" He reached out and took the sword from the air, eyes wide in amazement. "'The one once the Frog Knight wields the sword that holds the key'...he knew. Glenn knew all along that his sword was the key to Illumina." Max looked back at the grave, surprised that it had vanished.

Janus smiled, knowing what had happened. "He�s in the north ruins, with his friend."

Max looked towards the horizen, with a gleem of light in his eyes. "I won't let you down..." He turned back to the castle, and smiled. "All in favor of kickin' Ozzie's fat ass, say aye."

"AYE!"

To be Continued......