The Promise

#### **Summary**

With Patrick out of commission, Abraham and Riley travel to Paris to take on Michael, while Fabian and Aurora travel to Barcelona to take on Anita, with the fate of Europe at stake

### **Plot**

**Gold Palace**

Michael is in the shower. He finishes up and dries himself off, going through his usual routine. He gets dressed and leaves his room. His secretary is standing next to his room with a list in his hand. Michael starts to walk as the Secretary runs through the meetings and activities of the day. Michael doesn't seem interested but he suddenly stops. He smiles and looks to his Secretary, telling him to leave. He then walks to the front door. He looks at his guards and walks to one, whispering something to him before he keeps walking and into the palace courtyard. He raises his hand and causes the gates to open. He then forms his axe and waits. He focuses as a small wind kicks up around him. He then opens his eyes, seeing Abraham standing at the gates. Michael smiles as Abraham forms his sword. He guards approach but Michael tells them to stand down and allow Abraham to approach. Abraham walks into the courtyard area. Michael tells Abraham that he has been expecting him. Abraham asks Michael if he honestly never saw this day coming, when he would escape prison and get his revenge. Michael admits he was short-sighted in that regard, but he shall not make the same mistake again. Abraham declares his challenge for the throne but Michael tells him he cannot, as he is not a regional King. Abraham counters by saying Michael's victory is void, as he did not win through fair and decisive combat. Abraham goes further saying that it would be Michael's chance to finally be rid of a potential thorn in his side. Abraham lastly asks why Michael has even formed his axe if he wasn't ready for a fight. Michael admits Abraham is right in all points. Both men stand ready. Michael then rushes to Abraham and swings his axe down

**Barcelona**

Anita is standing inside of the Bronze Palace. She has many guards standing before her as a few hundred people are standing inside of the palace. Carlos is there and announces the coronation of Anita, Queen of the Bronze Kingdom. Fabian and Aurora are standing in the crowd. Fabian asks Aurora if she thinks Patrick will be safe. Aurora reminds him she left him with the Silver Chairman then asks what the plan is exactly. Fabian replies they can take her together, but warns Aurora that she can't second guess herself, or have any doubts. Aurora tells Fabian she has none and that he is ready. Fabian smiles and asks if Aurora can create a loud noise. Aurora is confused at first, but she nods and focuses for a moment. Carlos takes the crown in his hand as Anita takes a seat in the throne. Fabian then asks Aurora to wait. Aurora asks why but Fabian asks her to trust him. Carlos places the crown on Anita's head. Anita
then stands just as Fabian places his hands over his ears. Aurora chants and finishes. A loud screeching noise is given off in the palace. All those in attendance lean over, their hands over their ears, Anita and Carlos as well. Aurora lowers her hand, making the noise stop. Fabian shouts to Anita who looks to see him. She stands, asking why he is there. Fabian tells her he is there to stop her. The people part away from Fabian, but Anita laughs. Fabian announces his challenge to Anita, for the throne. Anita tells Fabian the Bronze Kingdom is a hereditary title, but Fabian counters, saying she is a vassal of the Gold Empire and thus is subject to its laws, including the right to challenge a regional monarch. Anita still refuses the challenge but Aurora asks if she's really afraid. Anita clinches her fist but then smiles. She takes off her crown and forms her sword. Anita reminds Fabian that such a challenge can only be made in a one on one fight and her to which Fabian agrees. Aurora protests to Fabian but Fabian assures Aurora that Anita is right he can take her. Abraham and Patrick taught him a few things and he knows Anita's fighting style. Aurora further protests, asking why came along. Fabian admits he didn't fully think it through, but her even being there is giving him support. He further states that only he will be danger. Aurora is taken aback, but she gives a gentle smile and nods. She steps back as Anita tells all in attendance to leave. The crowds quickly head for the exit. Anita mockingly laments having to fight against her ex lover, but Fabian denies that she does. Anita rushes in towards Fabian and swings her sword down as Fabian swings up to block her off

**Paris**

Abraham skids back on his feet as Michael swings at his head. Abraham leans back, avoiding the contact but he swings his leg up, kicking Michael in the back of the head. Abraham then brings his hands down and brings his over to land on his feet. Michael swings at Abraham's waist but Abraham blocks him off and moves his axe up then down and kicks the back of Michael's knee, causing him to fall. Michael rolls forward and turns. Abraham comes at him but Michael's turn comes with his axe shaft hitting Abraham on the chin then hits him against in the chest before he swings his axe down again. Abraham swings his sword up, knocking it back. Abraham stabs at Michael but he bats his sword to the side and swings at Abraham's waist. Abraham jumps back avoiding the contact then stops. Both men smile as Michael cracks his neck admitting he hasn't had a good fight in years. Abraham too admits he misses the enjoyment and asks if they are done with the warm up. Michael nods as Abraham focuses and raises his sword. A white aura flares up around him, his coat flapping in the wind and the ground shakes. Michael watches, giving a nod. After a few moments Abraham relaxes. Michael admits he is impressed and that Abraham has become much stronger since their last battle. He then also stands ready and informs Abraham that while he was travelling Europe...he wasn't sitting on his hands. Michael begins to unleash his own power, a red Aura flares up around him. The ground shakes even more violently. Abraham is stunned but he readies himself. Michael's aura dies down as he too is ready. Abraham asks how Michael can hold so much power and how his body can withstand the pressure. Michael smiles and shows Abraham a red gem on his ring. Abraham is again stunned, saying its a Philosophers Stone. He further remarks that Michael still can't fight fair as it was how he beat him before. Michael asks Abraham why he should fight fairly. That in a matter of life and death, any human would do all they could to survive. Abraham asks Michael what happened to his pride. Michael laughs, calling Abraham old fashioned

He then rushes towards Abraham and swings his axe down. Abraham swings up to block Michael, but Michaels axe comes down. Abraham steps back, getting a cut down his shoulder. Michael chuckles, asking if Abraham couldn't hold his sword up. Abraham takes a moment, his Aura flaring up again but Michael comes in again and swings at his head but Abraham blocks. He uses his arm to brace his sword but Michael's control pushes Abraham over, stumbling him. Abraham turns and dives to his right, avoiding Michael's axe coming for him. Abraham gets back to his feet. He rushes at Michael and starts to swing at him from all directions but Michael doesn't look like he's putting in much effort at all. Abraham swings at Michael's legs but Michael blocks him off then pushes his shaft down, hitting Abraham on the head then Michael kicks Abraham in the gut. Michael commends Abraham for his strategy, realising he can't block him off, so he is attacking to force him onto defence. Michael stands over Abraham, telling him nothing he tries...will work. He raises his axe and swings down

**Barcelona**

Fabian and Anita lock swords. Anita manages to push Fabian back and she goes on the attack. Fabian is able to block her off and step to the side on occasion. Anita swings upwards but Fabian blocks her off and cuts her left waist. Anita shouts as she's cut but comes at Fabian again, more aggressive and determined, but again Fabian is able to block her off. Fabian locks swords with Anita and pushes her off. Aurora is watching as Anita shouts at Fabian for being on defence so much. Fabian shrugs as she comes at him again, Fabian beats her to the punch, and begins to attack her. Fabian swings from his right but Anita blocks him off. Fabian moves high but again Anita blocks him off. Fabian is relentless, but not aggressive. Anita tries to put some distance between them, but notices she's against a pillar. She dives under Fabians' sword after he stabs at her. Aurora speaks to herself, commenting on Fabians' footwork and positioning. She then curses herself for thinking like a Kemiya. Anita finally loses it and comes at Fabian, swinging almost wildly at Fabian. Fabian is able to block her off but is forced to move fast and stay strong. Anita does manage a cut on Fabians' arm but Fabian barely flinches as she stabs Anita in her thigh but shallow. She stumbles back as Fabian smiles, asking what happened to her cool. Anita is enraged and comes at Fabian again. Fabian stands ready and blocks off Anita gain

**Paris**

Abraham is sent rolling across the ground. He coughs a few times but he manages to make it to his feet, blood dripping on the ground. He is worn down but Michael looks like he hasn't broken a sweat. Michael slowly walks to Abraham but Abraham rushes to him and swings at him from the upper right. Michael blocks him off then he twists the shaft of his axe. He pulls off the lower piece, revealing a blade at the end of the staff. He stabs Abraham in the gut, despite Abraham's attempts to grab Michael's arm. Michael pushes Abraham back a few steps but Abraham stops. Michael is confused but Abraham's head shoots up, revealing his black eyes. Michael is stunned as Abraham manages to slide his sword off Michael's axe and slash him down the chest. Michael shouts as Abraham rushes at Michael. Abraham jumps and swings down at Michael who blocks him off, but Abraham lands on his feet and swings at Michael upwards. Michael again blocks Abraham off with his right staff then comes down at Abraham with his axe. Abraham raises his hand and grabs the shaft of the axe. Michael is stunned but Abraham head butts Michael in the face. Michael steps back as Abraham stabs at Michael. Michael manages to knock his sword away and moves his right arm over his left arm and stabs Abraham in the shoulder. Abraham doesn't register it as he swings his sword across Michael's right thigh. Michael again shouts but he pushes Abraham back with his right staff still buried in Abraham's shoulder. Michael asks how he gained the Darkness ability. Abraham replies that it doesn't matter, because he'll be dead in a few moments. Abraham then starts to shake. He raises his hand to head. He then clinches his fist, managing to push off Michael's staff. He looks up and shouts loudly, the black ink fading from his eyes. He then collapses to his knees, breathing deeply. Michael is confused but he walks to Abraham and kicks him over unto his back. He then places his axe back together. Michael declares he is the winner He raises his axe, bidding Abraham goodbye

**Barcelona**

Anita rolls on the ground, hitting the throne. She is cut in a good few places as Fabian stands ready for her. Fabian tells her he knows her tactics and that he learnt a few new things. Anita pulls herself to her feet, asking how Fabian could betray her. Fabian almost laughs, telling her that she betrayed him, that she never cared about him and all she ever told him was a lie. Anita is enraged and pulls her sword back. Fabian widens his stance and holds his sword upwards. Anita's eyes then look to behind Fabian, seeing Aurora. Fabian's eyes widen as he turns to look to Aurora. He then turns back to face Anita. Anita's sword quickly extends outwards at an incredible speed. Fabian barely has enough time as he shifts his body. He moves into the path of Anita's sword, getting struck in the upper chest. Aurora's eyes widen as Fabian is thrown back, landing on the floor. Aurora shouts to Fabian, but Anita's long sword crashes down on the floor. Anita retracts her sword, telling Aurora and its just the girls now. Aurora looks to Fabian then to Anita. Anita lines up another shot and fires it at Aurora, but it passes through her. Anita sees a dozen copes Aurora around her. Anita laughs and raises her hand making Iron spikes shoot up from the ground in a circle around her. Aurora steps back as the other copies vanish. Anita swings her sword, making an arc shaped beam shoot at Aurora. Aurora hides behind one of the pillars. She steps out and holds her hand up, making a line of fire shoot at Anita. Anita throws her hand up, forming an Iron barrier. She then pushes the barrier at Aurora who dives to her right. Aurora then moves her hand around, forming ice spikes. She moves around, firing them at Anita who smashes each of them with her sword. Anita then raises her hand again, as forms her own iron spikes. She throws them at Aurora. Aurora raises her hand, forming a shield that causes the spikes to disintegrate once they pass through. Aurora slams her hands together and forms a wave of water. She pushes it towards Anita but she forms an iron pillar under her feet, raising her up. She then throws her hand up, making an Iron piece shoot up from the ground, hitting Aurora in the gut. She is knocked unto her back, holding her waist. She takes a breath and is about to get up but a boot heel traps her hand. She sees Anita standing over her, sword at her throat.

Anita compliments Aurora on her power but tells her it was never an even fight. Anita then looks at Fabian then at her, smiling. She tells Aurora she knows how much she cares for Fabian, given her tone when she saw him get hurt. She leans down to Aurora, telling her its ok to die alongside someone you love. Aurora agrees, but tells Anita she isn't dying today. Aurora uses her other hand to grab Anita's cheek. Almost immediately Anita's skin starts to burn. She screams and steps back. Aurora then slams her hand unto some of the water. Her hand sparks and gives off an electric shock. Anita screams as she is shocked along with it. After a few moments, Aurora stops and Anita falls to her knees then unto her face. Aurora sits up, taking a breath. She then rushes to Fabian and pulls him unto his back. He coughs and holds his chest. Aurora asks if he's ok to which Fabian replies that he is, telling her he needs saving now. Aurora looks down at Fabian, thanking him for saving her first. Fabian denies it was anything but Aurora tells Fabian she was wrong about him all along. Fabian doesn't blame her but Aurora tells him to shut up before she leans down to kiss him. Fabian reciprocates but he starts to cough. Aurora parts from him asking if she did something wrong. Fabian chuckles but denies she did anything wrong, but that he is injured and needs to breathe deep. And that kissing her, means he can't. Aurora sighs and gently hits Fabian in the chest, smiling

**Paris**

Michael's axe comes down but Abraham moves his head out of the way. He raises his sword from his position and swings at Michael's hand. Abraham's sword comes down and strikes Michael's ring. Michael shouts as he backs off, his ring falling from his hand. Abraham stumbles to his feet, the ring now at his feet. Abraham is in agony, and breathing heavily. Michael looks at Abraham, then reaches to his ear, telling someone to take the shot. Nothing happens but he again calls for someone to shoot Abraham. Michael then hears a female voice on the other end. Abraham smirks, asking Michael if he really thought he'd come to face him without back up. Abraham then raises his hand with a thumbs up as Riley looks at him through a sniper scope, a man laying unconscious next to her. Abraham asks Michael why he challenged him. Abraham leans down and picks up the ring with the stone on it. Michael, a little worried, asks if he's going to use. Abraham admits it would make him powerful. He throws it away, saying he won't use something created by destroying lives and that he has all the power he needs. Abraham walks to Michael, still weak, telling him the fight is now fair. Michael swings his axe down at Abraham but he manages to block him. Abraham asks again, reminding Michael that he endorsed him as German King. Michael again swings at Abraham's waist. Abraham blocks him off but barely and swings at Michael's head. Michael uses his shaft to block Abraham's sword. He pushes his sword to the side and hits Abraham's in the gut with the base of his axe. Abraham speaks on, telling Michael he was once a good man and asks how he became at he did.

Michael tries to swing at Abraham again, but with little effort. Abraham reaches his hand up, grabbing the shaft of his axe. Abraham tells Michael he has lost his honour and has no pride. That the Philosophers stone corrupted him but again asks why he did it. Michael, now angry replies that he had to. He tells Abraham he was a useless Emperor and that he only wanted the throne because he knew he could have it. Michael tells Abraham he never wanted to rule and that he had to take the throne, to save Europe from him. He also knew he couldn't beat him head to head, and that he needed an ace. Abraham takes a moment and admits Michael is not wrong. He didn't have any interest in ruling. But he adds that seeing what Michael himself had done, he saw the damage a poor leader can do. Michael looks at Abraham, reminds Abraham they are still in a fight, and that there must be a winner. Abraham shakes his head, telling him the combat was never fair and decisive. He tells Michael to leave and never return. Michael is stunned but he pulls the lower part of his axe out and stabs Abraham in the lower chest. Abraham is stunned as Michael then sweeps Abraham's legs out from under him, landing Abraham on the ground. Michael then looks down, smiling as he raises his Axe. Riley then shouts into the radio, telling Michael to stop or she'll shoot. Michael does pause for a moment but Abraham grabs the shaft of the axe, his metal coiling around it like a thick wire. It quickly wraps around Michael, his body, his arm and his neck. Abraham gets up to a knee, holding his metal as he begins to tighten the wire around Michael's neck for a few moments before he releases Michael, recalling his metal to him. Michael gasps for air as Abraham gets to his feet, telling Michael he should kill him for all he has done, but he tells Michael he doesn't deserve an honourable. Abraham tells Michael that living with defeat, is a fate worse than death. He once again tells Michael to leave and never return and warns if he ever does see him again, Michael won't even get a chance to lay out a challenge. Abraham turns and starts to walk away. Michael tells Abraham he is weak because he is denying his first instinct, to kill. Abraham replies that his Darkness told him to follow that too, but Abraham has only acknowledged that killing maybe his first instinct but that he will not follow it unless he has no choice. Michael now angry, raises his axe and charges at Abraham but he suddenly stops. Abraham turns and sees a small blood patch on Michael's chest. Michael looks at it then falls to the side. Abraham looks up to see Riley on the roof. Abraham sighs and nods to her before he too slumps to the side, passing out

**Paris**

**3 months later**

Abraham walks out from his bedroom. His secretary is there, bidding him a good morning. Abraham starts to walk down the steps as the secretary lays out the days duties, but Abraham waves him off, telling him to cancel all appointments. The secretary is confused and insists all duties are important. Abraham agrees but tells his secretary he will do it all tomorrow, but that he has a promise to keep. He walks out of the palace doors and into the courtyard. He takes a deep breath then takes out his phone and sends a message to someone before he walks out the gates and into the city.

**Berlin**

Fabian looks over and picks up his phone. He smiles and looks to Aurora, sleeping next to him. He gently wakes her up but she tells him to leave her be. Fabian tells her Abraham just messaged him. She asks what he wants but Fabian tells her that today is the day. Aurora then sits up and looks at the message. She chuckles, saying its about time. Fabian lays back as Aurora lays on him. Fabian asks how it feels to be in the bed of a king. Aurora can't deny it feels good, but wonders if the bed of an Emperor would be even better. Fabian compliments Aurora on her ambition, saying she has come a long way from a slave. Aurora grows quiet but Fabian apologises to her. Aurora tells him its ok as he isn't wrong. Aurora reaches up and kisses his lips before she gets up and heads to the bathroom. Fabian looks at his phone again then looks out the window

**Streets of Paris**

Abraham walks down an alleyway. He walks on until he sees Patrick, sitting next to a motorbike. Patrick berates Abraham for making him wait three months. Abraham apologises, telling Patrick that repairing a broken country isn't easy. Patrick does agree, saying he's done a good job so far. He further thanks Abraham for a new bike, looking at it. Abraham tells Patrick that he did promise to pay him back and why he is there now. He then asks Patrick if the alley is wide enough for them. Patrick counters, by saying that if they need more room, they can move out. He then forms his sword and swings it around a few times. Abraham forms his own sword and readies himself. He then asks how Abby is doing. Patrick sighs, admitting he isn't finding it easy to be so open with someone and that she is helping her brother with his tramua. Abraham admits he went through a lot and that she must have a lot on her plate, considering she herself is now a Queen. Patrick then asks about Riley. Abraham tells him she is in Oslo and she is doing great with her pack. Abraham then asks Patrick if his debt to him is now repaid in full. Patrick agrees as they both stand ready to fight. Patrick then tells Abraham if he wins, he will become Emperor. Abraham reminds Patrick he is not a king and cannot challenge for the throne. Patrick almost smiles as he suddenly rushes towards Abraham. Abraham also rushes towards Patrick, both men swinging their swords at each other.