How was one to claim victory in a battle against one's own parent, against mother nature which has nourished us all?

The monsters had caused it to be volatile and attack us. However, after everything the humans had done to it, had it not the right to do so?

As the roots lashed out at us, I commenced feeling an understanding for the poor horses whom I had made to suffer the lashes of my whip in the past.

Moving aside from the sturdy fingers which sought to entrap us was more challenging for Marisol and me than it was for the youths. However, we managed to prevail.

My already jostled bones groaned loudly at every swift move I had to execute, and I believed that Marisol was wrestling with similar issues. Her bones might not have been as painful, but I assumed that the exertion was equally difficult for her.

"What do we do now?" Marisol asked, nimbly leaping over a root that sought to swipe her off her feet as if to prove my assumption incorrect.

"We surrender?" K asked, dodging yet another blow aimed at his head.

It appeared to me as if the roots could sense our most prominent weaknesses, and their goal was to exploit them.

I arrived at this conclusion as I observed that all the attacks were unique to those being attacked. Nevertheless, the main target for one person remained the same; only the ways of achieving it varied.

The one intended for me was striving to take advantage of my lack of agility. On the other hand, those focused on K centered on the visible weakness, his head injury.

"No, we have come this far. I refuse to surrender!" I exclaimed.

I recollected what I formerly stated: 'Sound trumpets! let our bloody colors wave!'

Though I had never believed that my heart would heed such a bloody call, it was time to do so, to fight for our lives.

"What do you suggest doing?" Marisol asked, breathing heavily.

"We fight back, as a family," I said.

Upon stating so, I reignited the flame in my soul. With a troubled heart, I allowed it to attack the roots which were about to engulf the reason for my existence. I wished not to injure nature, but I was compelled to defend what I cherished the most, Marisol.

The root withered and died the moment the light of love touched it.

However, instead of lessening the danger, I only increased it. In the place of one root I destroyed, two more were born.

"Let's try this together," Rebecca said as we came to stand back-to-back.

We did manage to keep the roots away. However, we could not exterminate them. After all, mother nature is prevailing, all-encompassing, and the monsters seemed to have drawn on that particular power.

"This isn't working. How do we stop these roots?" Marisol asked.

"I believe that the sole way for these roots to return to their slumber is for us to put those creatures where they belong," I said.

"And how do we do that, Shawn, my man? They're killing us." K said.

I was about to argue that the mere fact that we were conversing signified our continued existence when I realized that it was another odd expression of the time.

"There has to be something we are missing. Everything that was created can surely be destroyed." Marisol said.

Her words sparked a connection in my mind that I had failed to perceive beforehand. What she remarked was an irrefutable truth.

The power of the pen had produced those abominations. It stood to reason that it could be the tool of their ultimate demise as well.

However, I recalled that I had abandoned the pen from which they came in my chambers, disgusted by the evil it had unleashed.

"There is a way to cleanse the world of this evil. However, I am afraid it is an impossible task to complete now. If I had known sooner...Mayhap I could have..." I started stuttering like the dullards of this time who knew not how to properly articulate their thoughts.

"What is it, Shawn?" K asked.

"There is no use now. All is utterly lost. Forgive me, Marisol, for being such a dunce and thus unworthy of your love or even your mere presence." I said, sadness lacing my voice.

"Come on, Shawn, don't talk like that. I am sure you are too hard on yourself." Marisol said.

"I am afraid that is not accurate, my lady," I said.

"Shawn cut all the Shakespearean drama nonsense, and tell us what you need," K said, sounding angry at me for the first time that I could recall.

"I believe that if I had the pen with which I came to be in this very time, I would have been capable of containing the monsters, of sending them back from whence they came," I admitted.

"Oh, is that all? Then chillax, bro. I got you covered." K said.

Before my mind could even attempt to process the possible meaning behind his words, he presented me with the exact pen whose loss I had lamented.

"I do not understand. How is it possible that you possess the pen which I left in my abode?" I asked.

"I swiped it," K said with a mischievous grin.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked.

"He stole it." Marisol was kind enough to provide me with an adequate explanation.

"Technically, I didn't steal it. I would say I borrowed it since your door wasn't locked." K said.

"When did you manage to do so? For what possible purpose have you done it?" I inquired, stunned.

"Before we left to track down the monsters when Rebecca went to get her coat. I thought I might sell it on." K said, shrugging as if thievery was not a crime but a fun activity to engage in.

"K!" Rebecca exclaimed, not amused by his actions.

"Sorry, I thought he was pulling my leg, so I saw this as a nice way to return the favor and earn some money. Anyway, are you all gonna just stand here, judging me, or are we going to get rid of those ugly guys?" K asked.

Perceiving his adequate reasoning, I proceeded to lift the pen in the air in front of my body.

"Aim your light to the pen and reflect upon all those strong thoughts you had before. Envision these monsters back in their prison." I told them.

Upon saying that, I followed my own advice. As a result, the roots which were assaulting us mere moments before seized to do so and retreated back to the recesses they emerged from.

"No!" the devil screamed upon regarding the change.

"You can't stop us! We are stronger than you. You are just mere mortals!" the witch bellowed.

"It is possible we are mortal, but we are anything but ordinary. We are a strong family, and nothing can sever that tie." I said.

As I voiced those words of strength, an odd vortex issued forth from the pen and proceeded to pull the creatures towards it.

They attempted to resist the pull. However, no matter how powerful the creatures were, it was not sufficient to prevent the unknown force from shifting them forward.

The intriguing point for me was that though I was in the proximity of the said anomaly, I was in no way affected by it. It was as if all of its focus was primarily on the malevolent beings before it. I was uncertain if it recognized its prisoners or felt that I desired it no ill intent.

Finally, when the dreadful creatures from my nightmares were close enough so that I could see the fear in their eyes, the pen flew out of my hand. It then proceeded to float in the air and swallowed the beings one by one.

It devoured them up in such a haste that my eyes had barely enough time to comprehend what had occurred before everything was finally over.

Once the monsters were gone, the pen continued to glide in the air emitting a gentle buzzing sound. The vibration it produced reminded me of the one of beehives full of hard-working bees performing their chores to help the hive.

It was odd that the pen remained in the air, even after the creatures I had summoned were gone. However, I did not trouble myself with the extraordinary occurrence. As long as the vile creatures were gone, I was content in allowing the pen from my past do whatever it desired.

After all, it had saved our lives and possibly the world. As follows, I allowed it some leeway.