Next Mage
35.Choices, choices...

~Marilla's POV

"Okay then. Let's make a deal."

The Ragnarok--rather--the man who had been under the Ragnarok's control, smiled slyly.

"I will give you your friend back, and leave you alone after that, but," he paused dramatically. I sighed and looked down. I knew it. There's always a catch, I thought.

You're right, there is, the Ragnarok's voice oozed into my head. I bit the inside of my cheek and ignored it. I turned back to the man.

"But?" Oliver questioned, his voice quivering a little.

"But, you will let me take over the tiny, little planet called Earth without any interference. I mean, it's not much to sacrifice, right? It's so puny and insignificant," the Ragnarok said dismissively. I bristled, but at the same time I felt torn.

Choices, choices... The Ragnarok snickered. I clenched my fists. Who to choose? Your best friend and your safety...or your home planet?

Everyone was muttering uncertainly, and the recruit mages were looking around anxiously. Some of the mages turned to look at me and the recruit mages. I sighed.

If I were to give up Emma...

We would be able to save the world, but that wouldn't be confirmed. And the worst of all...I would lose my best friend.

I hate you, Ragnarok. If you can here me, I hate you.

I closed my eyes.

If I chose to save Emma, I would have my friend, the best best friend in the whole entire world, but....the whole entire world would be destroyed. There wouldn't be a point of living, unless... "That's it!" I cried, and everyone turned to look at me. I glared at the Ragnarok.

"The decision has been made," I said fiercely.

"I choose to save Emma."

~Oliver's POV

"I choose to save Emma."

A shocked murmur rose from the small crowd of recruits.

"Give up our homes?" A few whispered.

"What?" One said in a surprised tone.

I glanced at Marilla uncertainly, but she nodded. I bit my lip, unsure.

"A wise choice," the Ragnarok hissed with narrowed eyes. "My servants will be in Earth with your friends, right in front of your house. If you aren't there...I will kill them."

Then all of a sudden, Zen's body was limp and he was falling to the ground. Immediately the crowd began to talk. Marilla was being bombarded with questions. "Why?"

"Where are we going to live now?"

"What about our families and friends?"

"WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE WHOLE WORLD? AND UNIVERSE?"

I hurried over to Marilla, who had a worried expression on her face. She held up her arms to calm them down. They quietened.

"Look, it's not like we're going to give up Earth. We can just get Emma back, then defeat the Ragnarok. Simple," Marilla said. A few relieved but unsure expressions appeared. "Okay?" Marilla questioned. The crowd nodded, but Marilla looked

at me.

"Okay."

dashy line thingo

We jumped into the portal. James, Destan, Hanako, Terra, Cam and Carissa followed after us. Kuro had wanted to come, but Marilla thought it would be too dangerous if the Ragnarok took over his body again. He had agreed reluctantly. When we arrived, we were, in fact, in front of Marilla's house.

"I guess we'll just have to skip school today," Marilla sighed. The others looked at each other worriedly, and Hanako looked especially anxious.

"My parents are really strict though..." She protested, and I looked at her apologetically.

"You can still go to school if you want," I said. Hanako shook her head.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world. Or school. I need to help you guys in any way I can."

We walked up to the house, and suddenly three Ragnarok mages appeared, carrying Emma, Laila and Elvira separately. Marilla gasped, ran up to the first Ragnarok mage, and then shielded her eyes just in time. She gazed down at Emma's pale face; she was unconscious.

"Emma!" Marilla gasped, pulling her from the Ragnarok mage's tight grasp. She grunted. Marilla shook Emma gently, then looked up and shook her head. I nodded.

Elvira and Laila were also unconscious. I put my hands around Elvira's arms and heaved her up from the ground, where the Ragnarok mage had placed her. Her skin was icy cold. I shuddered as a strange feeling crept up my spine, like there was a mosquito tickling my neck.

I looked up and realized a Ragnarok mage was raising his arm to punch me.

dashy line thingo

"Look out!" Someone screeched, but it was too late. The Ragnarok mage's fist came into contact with my face with a crack. As I felt blood bubble at my lip, I gazed angrily at the Ragnarok mage's fist, careful not to look him in the eye. "You dirty liar. We had a deal," I growled. The Ragnarok mage grinned inhumanely, his grin literally stretching from ear to ear.

I know.

I gritted my teeth indignantly, but stayed still. Then, suddenly, there was a voice.

"What's happening out here?" Everyone whipped around in shock to see Marilla's mother and her boyfriend Adrian standing in the doorway. Mrs Waterson peered closer at our group.

"Marilla? Oliver? Why aren't you at school? And what happened to your face, Oliver? Who are all these people?" She questioned, eyes narrowing. Marilla bit her lip and I felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped down my neck. "Uh...um..." Marilla started, but Mrs Waterson was glaring at her.

"No, young missy, no excuses. You are grounded." Everyone turned to stare at Marilla, whose mouth was open in horror and humiliation.

"No, mom, let me explain--"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Adrian, Adrian, ran down the porch stairs and swung a fist at Marilla's face.