Chapter 293: The Fall of Alton Brantley Part 2 (1/2)

A young man was on his knees, bleeding out. A heavy downpour washed his sins away as he collapsed to the ground. Gasping, fighting for air, his vision became blurry as a single young girl stared down at him with little remorse. ”Are you proud of yourself, Archie? Did you find any value in throwing your life away like this? I had higher hopes in you, but it appears you couldn't even get past the first hurdle.”

Archie didn't respond, his ruined blonde hair covering his face as he stared on, losing any sort of will to live. As the girl stood up, turning away, she stopped hearing him whispering. ”I can't accept this…. I can't accept this…. I can't accept this.”

”You can't be serious…. Give it up, Archie, accept your fate and rest.”

Archie gripped the girl's leg, stunning her beyond belief. ”I can't give up on you. I want to be there to protect you; I want to stop anything bad from ever coming your way. I can only accept the outcome where you let me stand by your side. So please, don't give up on me like I will never have for you.”

The girl stared down at Archie, slurring her words. ”You really mean that? You stupid liar, I barely know you. I know nothing about you. Likewise, you know nothing about me.”

”That's wrong…. You're Stella, you have no last name and was forced into the position of taking on the role of the Gardener. It wasn't of your choice. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. You wish for us all to be free, free from our past and free from the chains of our stages. But the logic of one won't care for that. It will only be a matter of time before another stage overpowers you and takes the crown.”

Stella continued to stare; her blinding yellow eyes began to tear up as she hid her face under her indigo-coloured hair. ”Such show of emotions is seen as a weakness in the eyes of the Garden. I cannot judge or be judged, or else I fear my own death. Regardless of what happens, I must keep my act up and be the Gardener, the one to rules overall.”

”Liar! He yelled, making Stella snap. ”Liar.”

”Don't call me such things when all you do is lie to yourself, Archie! I saw you, watched you drown yourself in knowledge. It consumed you as you took in every book, folktale and legend into that thick head of yours. That's all you cared about! Why, why do you stand here and lie to me?!”

”The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one. The books, knowledge, power. All of that was to find a way. To find a way to free you, I'm not a good person. I'll accept that, but all I need to be happy is for you to be free.”

Stella looked away, wiping her eyes whimpering. ”You big dummy…. Fine! You should be able to stand now, Archie.” Archie found himself in no such pain with all his wounds magically healed. Dumbfounded, Stella turned back around, holding out a small bud. ”Here.”

”What is it?”

”Your promise.” She spoke with a bit of smile appearing. ”Eat this and let the seed of Acceptance grow within you.”

”Wait…. You want me?”

”I do indeed. Become my Acceptance Archie. Bestow the fate you see fit onto this world and find the one true Salvation you seek. There is no one else I wish to have it than you.”

Archie was handed the seed of Acceptance as it glowed a soft purple in his hand. ”I won't let you down, Stella. I promise I'll free you from your prison and break down this logic of the one forever. I'll carry out our wish till my last breath.”

”I hold high hopes for you, Acceptance.”

****

Vines wrapped around Acceptance, blocking the barrage of attacks sent his way. Forced back, he was heavily outnumbered, with not much way out. Alton slammed to the ground, moving his arm around, breaking the thin layer of ice from his arm. ”Just as I expected. You're nowhere near as powerful as the other stages. You're the brains and back of the Garden who can trick and manipulate the masses, but in a fight, you crumble apart.”

Acceptance gritted his teeth holding his hand out as dozens of giant vines ripped from the ground towering over the three friends. ”Is that what you see me as?! You couldn't even begin to imagine just how far I'm willing to go to succeed. I will not let Stella's dreams die with me!”

Sam flew down, ripping through each of the vines propelling herself back up, now facing to face with Acceptance. Throwing a punch, a flaming burst of scorching fire ignited all around him, already burning Acceptance's face. Looking to shield himself, he wasn't given a chance as Iris' cube snapped around, stunning the stage for a split second. Now set alight, all the vines burst away as Acceptance collapsed to the ground. Pulling himself up, Alton launched a sharp array of ice his way. ”Don't let him even get a moment to think; we have him right where we want the bastard!”

Iris clenched her fist tightly, smashing it down as her cube took the form of her fist, crushing Acceptance underneath her fury. ”This is for Monty and everyone else you've ruined with your greed!”