Marguerite left her pistol on the floor, she had no need for it anymore. She stood by Veronica and saw that she didn�t even acknowledge her presence. Veronica�s gaze was locked on Dren where they were still joined by the trion. Marguerite looked at Veronica�s face and could see the fierce resolve that she always admired in her. She could also see the strain of the battle in her face but she knew that Veronica would never let go. Marguerite put a hand to Veronica�s cheek and brushed aside her hair. �Dear Veronica. Have strength.�
Marguerite remembered the dreams that had plagued her for weeks. The last sight she always saw in the nightmares was Veronica�s face, but now she knew it was only the face of a past Protector. This time, Marguerite did not recoil. With one final look at Veronica, Marguerite removed her hand and placed it over the two joined hands and the trion. As her hand touched the metal of the medallion, she felt a powerful energy coursing throughout her entire body.
Her body was still in the room connected to two others in battle. Her soul, however, had traveled to another place entirely. There was nothing but blackness in the distance. The only thing that existed in this place was a bright light in the center of the darkness. The light cast no shadows and illuminated nothing. It simply existed. To Marguerite it seemed as the light was largest at its base and ascended upwards to a single point infinitely far away. A pyramid of light, Marguerite thought. As she felt herself drawn towards it, she could see Veronica and she could also see Dren. Both were on opposite sides of the pyramid, Veronica inside the pyramid and Dren outside. Both were pushing against the light, both for different reasons: one to preserve it, one to topple it.
�Veronica!�
Veronica cast a glance in Marguerite�s direction but quickly returned her focus to the task at hand. �What are you doing here, Marguerite?�
�I�m here to help you, Veronica!� Marguerite ran towards Veronica and was standing on Dren�s right staring at Veronica through the light.
�You!� Dren shouted through his gritted teeth. �Remember what you have been told. Side with me and live your life with Roxton, or else he dies!�
Marguerite looked at Veronica and could see her straining against the sides of the light as it was pushed against her. Marguerite looked back at Dren and nodded. �I remember and I�ve already made my decision.� Marguerite put her hands against the light and it seemed for a moment to Dren as if he had succeeded. It looked as if Marguerite was helping him topple the light, but he was dearly mistaken. Marguerite passed right through the barrier and joined Veronica on the inside.
As soon as Marguerite joined her, Veronica felt the burden on her own shoulders immediately lessen. �Thank you, Marguerite.�
�There�s no place I would rather be, Veronica.� Marguerite and Veronica stood side by side within the light. Marguerite reached for Veronica�s hand and held it tight. They closed their eyes and placed their free hands against the sides of the light.
Within a few moments, through the strength of the two women, the pyramid of light expanded. Every second it grew larger and more powerful and very soon Dren could take it no longer. His strength gave out and he was lost in the light. The light continued to expand exponentially until there was no more darkness and nothing but light.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Arthur��
�Ssh, Abigail, try not to talk. Reserve your strength.� After Veronica had told him to check on her mother, he hadn�t left her side. Summerlee had checked her wound and saw it was more serious than he thought. The gash was deep and Abigail had already lost a lot of blood. Abigail had faded in and out of consciousness a few times giving Summerlee a few scares. He had put pressure on the wound and bandaged it as well as he could, but he could only hope to get her to the healer soon.
�It will be over soon, Arthur.� Abigail looked over and saw that Veronica and Marguerite were both still joined with Dren. They had all been joined for several hours, but she knew the end of the storm was coming soon and she had confidence in them. Both would preserve the future, it was their destinies.
Summerlee followed Abigail�s eyes and looked upon Veronica and Marguerite. At that moment he saw one final light burst from the trion and then all three bodies fall limply to the ground. He looked down at Abigail but she nodded her head towards them. Summerlee gently laid Abigail�s head on the ground and walked hurriedly towards them.
He passed by Finn who he already knew was dead and cast a mournful look in her direction. He checked on Veronica first as she was the closest. Her pulse was strong and steady but she was unconscious. He checked on Marguerite and found the same was true of her. He checked on Dren and found that he was not unconscious but dead. And lying there between the three bodies, the trion lay on the ground alone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Roxton had grown tired of pacing and had taken a seat at the table with Challenger and Malone. They had waited for several hours and the storm had not yet died down. All three were silent and hadn�t spoken a word to each other. All were worried and found they had nothing to say.
Suddenly a bright light flooded the room and all three men were temporarily blinded.
�Bloody hell!� Roxton exclaimed. �What was that?�
�Lightning perhaps?� Malone suggested.
Challenger shook his head. �I highly doubt it, Malone. But whatever it may be, that is no concern to us at the moment. The storm is over and we can be off.�
�Yes, let�s hurry! I fear we have waited too long already!� Roxton quickly led the way through the hallways and out the gates of the fortress. Malone took point and led them all back to Avalon not knowing what lay ahead of them.