_____
Zach
____

"You must die."

Her words rang clear and bold through the silence. I couldn't believe my ears. For some strange reason I accepted it, what could I do honestly?

"If..." I choked.

"When... It happens, will Zara be safe?" I asked, after I got the words out, I could scarcely believe what I had just said. It sounded like someone else was saying, far away.

"There is nothing from the past Dragonflies that suggest she will share your fate." Suka informed, watching me carefully.

I nodded, feeling numb. I don't know what I expected to feel. Someone had just told me I was going to die, and soon.

"What about Skylark? Is she all right now?" I inquired, trying to get my mind off the cold and empty feeling in my chest.

Suka looked away. "I'm sorry Zach, she's under Tenebris's influence now. Mentally she is dead on the inside."

    I let out a shaken breath. "Do you you know when... When I'll...."

    Suka shook her head. "No one can predict their own death, not even me. but it will probably be soon, at the climax."

    I swallowed. "Okay, thanks for telling me Suka. I've got to go now, they need me. My sister needs me."

    She nodded at me, and I turned to walk alone back down the tunnel.

    "Zach, there's still a chance you could break the curse! It's not very likely, but you could be the first." Suka advised, fading back into the wall again.

    "Thanks, but, I think we all know that's not very likely." I mumbled to myself.

    I flew back as the sun rose. It was beautiful, I could feel the light of the sun warm my feathers and penetrate my bones. It was like something I had never really noticed for you know?

I wasn't going to tell Zara my plan, but if I was going to die anyway, I might as well be the one to let Tenebris posses me. It was the only way.

I began running scenarios through my head, about all the times I had encountered Tenebris.

All of a sudden I figured it out.

Back in the Cave of Time, Suka smiled.

"He's got the answer." She announced.

Ignis bounced off the wall, landing with a flourish.

"Tenebris will make his move soon, so that means we've got to make ours." He barked.

Sero lifted his hooves triumphantly. "Time for us to rise again."

Levitas smirked. "I've always loved this part."

Together the four of them melted into a vortex of color and ricocheted of the stone walls before blasting through the the pre-dawn sky. One could hear a faint pounding as war drums began the scream.

<>

It's short I know. Don't be angry with me you temperamental readers. For I promise his story will be a happy one. By the way, four chapters left, and one more heart to break.