SOme loose ends tied up, and a new hope for Mike.
When he regained consciousness, Mike found himself in a small hut. A blue haired man was tending to the stove in the corner of the room.
"Magus?" Mike asked weakly.
"Call me Damien." Damien turned to face Mike. "I see you're finally awake. You've been out for two days. When some of that rock that came from the sky hit your head, I thought you were done for."
"Rock from the sky?"
"The Ocean Palace blew up after Schala sent us away. The remaining pieces of the Mammon Machine had some sort of reaction with the explosion, which was powerful enough to bring the Kingdom of Zeal crashing into the ocean."
Mike couldn't even begin to imagine this. What else had happened when he was out cold?
"Not a single Enlightened One survived. But then again, perhaps we all deserved it. We grew dependent on a dangerous force, and became the puppets of a tyrant."
"Where did Pearl go?" Mike inquired. "I'm going to pay her back for what she did to Joel."
"You don't have to," Damien continued. "She, along with Schala and Chekov, died in the explosion. Chekov came out of hiding at the last minute to try and save Schala, but he couldn't. The explosion caused a tidal wave that washed away most of the land. This is the only refuge left."
"This is depressing," Mike said. "No matter what happens, there's no future to live for. What have I been fighting for all this time?"
"That is something you must decide for yourself. I fought to save Schala, but I failed. Even though I lost the most important thing in my life, I must go on, just like you. Schala sacrificed herself so that we could live. We can't waste that sacrifice.
"My suffering began right after Pearl ascended the throne. She sent me to the year 600, where I was kidnapped and brainwashed by the Mystics. It's ironic that even through all my travels in time, I have ended up back here."
This intrigued Mike. "What did she do to you?"
"Because I openly rebelled her, she decided to give me `special treatment'. She threw me into the Mammon Machine. That's what happened here." Damien pulled up his sleeve. His arm was covered in skin grafts.
"I have these all over my body," Damien said. "I was hurt so badly that half of me is not even human anymore."
"If you're not human, then what are you?"
"I have always been an uninvited guest. That much has not changed. When the Mystics found me, it turned out that the Mammon Machine burned most of my bones and tissue away. So, they replaced it with parts from various creatures. Even though I was a stranger, they saved my life. They wanted my Shadow magic that badly."
"You said you were brainwashed," Mike stated. "Is that how they got you to join them?"
"Yes. They bestowed the name `Magus' upon me, then left me to destroy the planet. However, my memories of Schala were powerful enough to break the enchantment. I summoned Lavos to try and destroy it in the year 600. However, its power is far too great. But you and your friend might stand a chance."
"I see. What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to help the remaining Earthbound Ones rebuild their village. That is all I can do now. But you, on the other hand, have many things left to do before you depart this mortal coil."
"What do you mean?" Mike asked.
"Your Wind magic may be weaker than my Shadow magic, but you have a power that I do not possess. You have the ability to protect those who are important to you. I have seen the noble spirit that drives you to the battlefield again and again, and it has helped me to realize something." Damien hung his head.
"I am nothing but a coward. I was so ashamed of myself that I disguised myself after returning to Zeal."
Mike couldn't believe what he had just heard. He was certainly not the hero Damien depicted him as. If there was a hero in the midst of the turmoil, it was Joel.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Damien reached behind the stove and handed Joel's sword to Mike. "I found this lying next to you. It was there all along, like a guardian angel."
Mike ran his fingers down the blade. He felt a twinge of pain before blood started to drip from his right hand. His wound did not matter. What did matter was the sword, which was all he had left of Joel.
"Well then." Damien headed for the door. "Take all the time you need to rest. I will come back later." He walked out the door.
Mike stared at the sword. Losing his parents was the open wound, but losing his best friend was the coup de grace. If he could only find a way, he would go back in time to stop Joel. However, that was no longer possible. He would never again spend precious time with the fair-haired seraph that changed his life.
Mike slumped back onto the ground and wept bitterly.
***
Mike pushed himself into a kneeling position when he heard Damien come through the door.
"Hello again," Damien greeted him. "I just found out something that may interest you."
"What is it?" Mike asked.
"There may be a way to bring your friend back."
Mike jumped when he heard what Damien said. "Are you serious?!"
"Staniv, the Sage of Life, was working on a device called the Phoenix Egg before Pearl sent him away. I just found out that he completed it."
"Where can I find him?"
"He told me that you could meet him at the End of Time. Once you obtain the Egg from him, you'll need to find the Sage Ivanov. Also, you'll want to get yourself some heavy-duty winter clothes."
Mike stood up. "Before I do any of that, can you do me a favor? Send me to Guardia Kingdom, circa the year 2001." He handed his pendant over to Damien.
Damien looked puzzled. "What for?"
"There's something I need to do first."
"I see." Damien pressed the jewels of the two pendants together. After a blue portal materialized, he gave Mike's pendant back to him. "I wish you luck."
"Thanks." Mike placed the pendant in his pocket and stepped into the portal.
***