Chapter 338: The Third Garden War Part 6 (1/2)

Walking through the battlefield, Acceptance stopped to take in the view. Arms folded, he shook his head displeased. ”So much pointless bloodshed. Where did it all get us in the end?”

”Big brother Acceptance!” Denial yelled, jumping ahead to the man. ”We shouldn't be here. There could be more of them.”

Acceptance scoffed at this, looking to the little girl unamused. ”Is that meant to be some kind of joke? This uprising was doomed from the start…. I should have seen that myself.”

”Oh dear, is it over already?” The Woman whispered, floating to the ground closing her umbrella. ”I would have imagined an uprising started by yourself; Archie would have brought more destruction.”

Acceptance stepped back, startled whispering. ”You knew?”

”Of course, we knew. How could we not? Your obsession with that failure of a Gardener Stella was the sole reason we allowed you to remain as Acceptance.”

”Now what? Are you going to take my Stage?”

The Woman snickered at this, walking through the pile of the dead. ”Of course not; why on earth would we do that for? We have big plans for you, Archie. You just need to hold on. Hold as much hatred for us in your heart as you like for what we did. As long as you simply accept fate, that's all that matters…. Hold on.”

The Woman walked over as Denial leaned forward, amazed. ”Whoa, someone is still alive.”

The Woman glossed down at the boy bleeding out his face bloody and blown off, leaving nothing to the imagination. ”The faceless soldier. Forgotten to time never to be heard from again. You were a part of the uprising, were you not?”

Holding a purple bud, Acceptance stared on in confusion. ”What are you doing?”

”Do you know why soldiers fight Archie? It isn't because it's their moral duty or to serve their country. It isn't even to protect their loved ones. A soldier fights to be remembered. I shall take a page from Stella's book and make sure this boy is never remembered or so help those who know his name.”

The dying boy gagged, his face reforming as purple flowers grew all around him. He screamed out in pain before falling silent collapsing. Archie stared on, clenching his fist. ”What have you done?”

”Can you hear me? If you are alive and well, speak my child.”

”Who am I?”

The Woman smiled, turning around. ”That doesn't matter. You will not be remembered for your past life know only this. The only thing you'll forever be known as now is my Depression. Do not disappoint.”

Depression looked around, holding his head staring at the dead soldiers lost. ”Depression? I understand….”

****

The main forces against Depression were in full retreat after him activating his long devasting whisper. Riley was at the back, floating backwards with a look of dread. ”How did we overlook this? I've never seen anything like it…. At this rate, none of us stands a chance.” Then, turning her head, she flinched as a set of her men flew into her dead to the world with the same twisted smile holding her down.

Trying her best to break free, she found all of them with incredible strength, one they didn't have before. Having no choice, she blew each one up, stumbling to her feet, trying to get back to the others. As she did, she stopped chuckling. This turned into a laugh as Riley tried to stop herself as best she could. Eventually, this failed as she fell to her knees, bawling with laughter tearing up over it. ”Lady Riley!” Haggis yelled, pulling the laughing girl to her feet. ”We need to keep running!”

Not far behind, Depression was walking, swaying side to side with his uncanny smile. His army of laughing soldiers was ready to do his every bidding. ”He's a monster…. He's stronger than even Denial. We can't win.”

Pulling Riley away, the two began running as ahead Destiny, and Alesha was close to meeting with Harmony and Tempo. Destiny screamed, holding her hand out. ”The rings! We need the Ten Judgement hurry!”

Depression appeared in front of everyone blocking their escape, causing them to stop dead in their tracks, horrified. Depression looked to Destiny smirking. ”There is no escape. My name is Memento acting as one of the Stages of Grief representing Depression. Your life is now forfeit under my Stage. Anyone who learns of my name will fall under the veil of depression and be drawn to suicide. Now bask in the feeling.”