Max Blizzard and The Scroll of Fate

by Patrick Hatt

  “What do I need?” Max’s eyes bulged as Adam and the being plummeted toward him. He flung the pieces in his pocket and shoved his hands against his ears, unable to take their thundering voices any longer.

  “That will be mine.”

  “Not now. Not ever,” the being stated. “Max, in order to complete it, you need to…”

  “He will never complete it.” Adam bashed the being across the face.

  Max jumped back on his cheetah and sped away as the pair hit the ground with such force that the whole realm shook.

  “A little is better than nothing. I’ll figure this out later.” Max made a pen appear and jumped off the cheetah. He held it over the fourth piece while he contemplated his wording.

  “Come here, boy.” Adam’s arm stretched toward Max like a tree limb while he and the being wrestled in the crater their fall had created.

  “Sir Dreadvent never escapes from the sandwich.” Max clasped the pieces tightly while a golden glow engulfed him.

  “Use your time wisely, Mr. Blizzard.”

  “This isn’t over, boy. I will have Eve back by my side. When your changes revert, my wrath will come down upon everyone you care about. You had your chance to live. Now every creation will die.”

  Max toppled to the ground and curled up into a ball as unbearable pain coursed through his body. His grasp around the pieces tightened so much that his fingernails dug into his palm. He cried out in pain before succumbing to it and losing consciousness.

  Chapter 17

  Wording

  Max yanked his head away from his sweat drenched school desk after he heard a pointer slam against the chalkboard. He clutched the Scroll of Fate pieces in his hand while taking in his surroundings.

  “Mr. Blizzard, answer the question.”

  “Come on, Max. We have to get out of here,” Frolic stated. “We’ll soon be shown who we are destined to be with.”

  “What was the question again?” Max tried recall anything about the new fate he had made but he found that he only retained memories he had created. He broke from his daze as Teacher Fifty Four Dash Five smacked her pointer against the chalkboard again.

  “No one will leave here until you solve this math problem, Mr. Blizzard.” She glared at him while keeping the pointer firm against the chalkboard.

  “Oh, that. Yeah. Give me a minute.” Max used his pen and pretended to work it out on the fourth piece of the Scroll of Fate.

  “What was that, Mr. Blizzard?”

  “Sir Dreadvent never escapes the bottom half of the sandwich because he never gets Trudesile’s Gem of Heaven.” Max smiled as the whole class stared at him in confusion. He then toppled over to the floor and scrunched up in pain.

  “Max, you don’t have to pretend to have a stomach ache every time we talk about this. It’s not like I expect it to happen overnight.” Trudesile smiled at him while she lay on her stomach beside him, twiddling her legs back and forth in the air.

  “Trudesile…you’re…you’re older.” Max ran his hands over his body and then peeked in the nearby lake. “I’m still the same.”

  “Thanks, Max. I’m only a few years older than you. It’s not like you haven’t liked looking.” Trudesile smirked at him and then took a bite of her sandwich.

  Max watched the few crumbs fall to the blanket they sat on. He recognized the blanket, but he stayed fixated on Trudesile. His pulse quickened as it had when he wrote on the Scroll of Fate piece but now his body remained totally at ease. Thoughts of Dina then clouded his mind and the blanket came back to the forefront.

  “She must have taken this moment from our future. Some future. Something.” Max sat up and clutched the blanket in his hand.

  “Max, are you really going to let the food I imagined up go to waste? Where is that mind of yours today?” Trudesile pushed his sandwich closer to him. “Have to keep those chicken legs energized.”

  “What? Are you Tru?” Max scurried backwards toward the pond.

  “Tru? You never called me that before.”

  “Dark Trudesile.”

  “Max, she’s buried. Why are you bringing her up?” Trudesile’s concerned face told Max that she spoke the truth.

  “What the…” Max pointed to the rubble remains of King Arthur’s castle. “What happened? Where is everybody? Where’s Lester, Dad, Mom, God…”

  “Max, did you hit your head? We are the only two left in Camelot. You know that.”

  “Only two? How?” Max flung his head from side to side in search of any other sign of life.

  “I know you feel guilty, Max. But it wasn’t your fault.” Trudesile tried to wrap her arms around him until Max backed away. “No one could have known about the Freleom and Eve. She killed all of our friends before we knew and thankfully we ended her. Taking a life is never easy, but hers needed to be taken, Max. You did the right thing.”

  “She killed Lester and God and Merlin?”

  “Lester died saving us. Merlin she got the jump on. The Freleom killed many others. We never did find the missing rulers. If you hadn’t thrown her into the Pedestal of Realms and used it to destroy her, we’d be dead too. Max, we already decided that we would enjoy what we have. We saved the realms from suffering and now we have to save ourselves by just being here in the moment with each other.”

  “What about Bazooka?”

  “We’ve been down that road, Max. We haven’t seen him since the pedestal exploded. We are stuck.”

  “I just keep making it worse and worse. How did Adam do this?” Max scoured the other three pieces for any sign of writing. “There is nothing.”

  “What is that?” Trudesile eyed the golden pieces in his hand.

  “Trudesile, there was a time when all I could imagine was being here in such a moment with you. You’ve grown even more beautiful than you were before I thought you died and you sound far wiser than I ever could. I would stay here with you forever, at least I would have before my mind became so jumbled, and part of me still wants to, but I know our friends aren’t dead. I also have feelings for your sister, even though I know that like this, those aren’t real, but those feelings are still there. My mind is such a mess with all of this.” Max sighed as Trudesile stared at him like he had gone mad. “Please. Take a seat. I have a story to tell you and I don’t know how long I have to do it.”

  Max recounted everything that had recently occurred to Trudesile. He watched her eyes bulge while he told her about her mother. He had never seen her so lost for words and he could sense the despair rising within her as he continued. He hated ruining the happy life she had so desperately longed for after all of the chaos, but he knew he needed her help if he were to set things right. He sat down beside her and rubbed his hand across her back while she contemplated everything he had said.

  “So my mother was Eve and she was split in two? How come I don’t remember any of this?” Trudesile mumbled.

  “I think it’s the same reason I don’t remember any of this. Neither of us in this current state truly lived that life. Unlike Adam, we don’t have the first being power within us to see all fates or whatever it is they do. He can live the changes without ever truly living them while we are lost.”

  “And you say I’ve grown wise. Max, what happened to you all those years before this?”

  “We came back from the sandwich with even greater imagination power. It only grew. One night my nightmare became real and my creations hurt other beings. I thought you died when we freed you of your dark side. I grew scared when I first attempted it and instead of creating a vessel I created a brand-new life. A baby that my parents took in. I shouldn’t have that power. I grew wise the hard way.” Max wiped a few tears from his eyes as he recalled all he had done.

  “Max, as far as I’m concerned we control our own fate. We can’t erase what we have done or what has happened. Like we, or I guess I, have done in this fate you created, we must find joy where we can and carry on. What Adam has done is despicable, but look at all of the good that has come from
it. I have a mother. I’m not dead. My dark half isn’t so dark. She’s happier than I could ever hope to be. The first beings are free from their prison. The threat of Atlantis is gone. We can’t erase this from existence. It must exist, Max. And you must make it so. This is your path. Follow it.”

  “But what about you?”

  “This will all be a like a dream. I’ll awake to a better world. What I’m supposed to be is back in that fate. If we are meant to find our way to this moment right here, then we will. I have faith.”

  “But there everyone we know dies too. Mom died right before me. That I can’t let happen.”

  “Like I said, we control our own fate. So use those powers you got and this Scroll of Fate and fix it. There is always a way, Max. From the moment you mentioned mermaids, you have continually taught me that.”

  “Thank you,” Max whispered.

  “Now how do we get this together?” Trudesile took the pieces from Max and tried to shove them together. “There must be something else.”

  “There has to be. The Cup tried to tell me before Adam cut him off.” Max pondered it for a few moments and then recalled what he had overheard Adam say. “He has God stashed away in the Observer Realm. He said he had the only half he needed. God created it and he tore it apart.”

  “So he must be the only one able to put it back together,” Trudesile blurted out.

  “But I have no way to get to the Observer Realm.”

  “Don’t you?” Trudesile held up the fourth piece. “How much room do you have left on this thing?”

  “A bit if I write very small. But it always gets worse.”

  “That’s what you got me for.” Trudesile grinned and then explained her plan to Max.

  “I think you have something there. Maybe we can control fate.” Max grabbed his pen and hovered it over the piece. He thought of the correct wording, losing all thought as Trudesile approached him.

  “Speaking of nudging fate.” Trudesile wrapped her arms around Max and kissed him. She rested her head against his and whispered, “Hold on to that for me, would you?”

  “How could I ever forget that?” Max smiled and gazed at her. “But just in case.” Max kissed her again and then he took a deep breath before scribbling a tiny message across the torn piece.

  “One last ride.” Trudesile clasped Max’s hand within hers.

  “Let’s hope it’s not last as in final.”

  The pair strolled through the portal that opened before them and found Titania and Oberon waiting for them as they entered Avalon. They accepted their glares of disgust toward them because they knew Oberon would hate their plan.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Oberon pointed to a tree that began to glow at its trunk.

  “What sorcery have you brought with you?” Titania questioned while the tree’s roots burst through the ground and formed a doorway.

  “We gave Avalon a doorway,” Max stated.

  “You did what?” Oberon stood ready to smite the pair until he quickly lost all motor function.

  “My love, what is going on?” Titania eyed Max. “What did you do?”

  “I’ll handle her. Go and make this right, Max.” Trudesile jumped in front of Titania while Oberon marched toward the now open portal.

  “See you in another life.” Max smiled, before whispering to himself, “I hope.”

  Max scurried by Oberon and into the portal. He ignored Bandaid and eyed the many rulers bowing before him.

  “Now it is time I become true to all realms, dearie.” Bandaid threw his arms in the air and the blackness within him surged to the top of his head. The blackness then began to engulf him as Oberon bowed before him with the others.

  “God!” Max spotted God and ran toward him. He shoved the pieces in his hand and jumped back when a huge golden glow erupted from it. He then found himself lifting off the ground and soon he was pinned against the dome’s ceiling.

  “Bandaid, stop this.”

  “Bandaid is no more, dearie.” Bandaid cackled and then smoke erupted from him and covered every ruler.

  Max wished he could plug his ears as the cries of each ruler echoed throughout every inch of the dome. He peered down as the smoke cleared and found no sign of any of the rulers. His eyes became fixated on the Scroll of Fate as it floated toward the floor.

  “You can’t keep me here.” Max summoned forth his cloak. He sent a strand toward the Scroll of Fate and snatched it. He kept it wide and used it to cushion his fall as he hit the floor.

  “Now you will bow before me, Max Blizzard. No one in any realm will dare stand up to me. Sir Dreadvent will reign supreme.” Sir Dreadvent’s red body form emerged as the smoke cleared from around Bandaid.

  “This can’t be. You were left in the bottom half.”

  “Correction. Most of me was. When we perished a little of me held onto Bandaid. I used that to control him and by controlling him, I brought forth every ruler and consumed them within. I now have the entire might of all of the realms. Nothing can stop me.”

  “Lester is so right. You really talk too much. Even Adam isn’t this bad.” Max attempted to write on the Scroll of Fate but found himself frozen in place.

  “I’m going to enjoy watching you squirm while I kill everyone that you care about and finally take over Camelot.” Sir Dreadvent waved his hand toward the open portal and Trudesile came flying through.

  “How’d he get here?” Trudesile tried crawling across the floor to Max but Sir Dreadvent waved her toward him and she could not resist.

  “You are going to pay for everything you have done,” Trudesile threatened. “Max, make sure you keep your promise and don’t let fate control you. Control it.”

  “Like this?” Sir Dreadvent wrapped his hand around Trudesile’s neck and grinned before snapping it and letting her fall lifeless to the ground. He then snapped his fingers. “Something you wish to say?”

  “Only that you fear me, so you are using these parlor tricks to keep me here. You couldn’t beat me before and can’t beat me now. Even with all of your stolen power.” Max kept eye contact with Sir Dreadvent, refusing to take in any sight of Trudesile as he wanted no memory of her dead.

  “Very well. Have it your way. Let’s end this.”

  “Gladly.” Max found himself able to move and then whipped out his pen and wrote something quickly on the Scroll of Fate. “See ya.” Max waved and stepped backwards after a portal opened behind him.

  “You can’t run from me. No one can.”

  “What’s the right words?” Max muttered to himself.

  “Writing your own eulogy. How fitting.” Sir Dreadvent towered over Max as he appeared before him.

  “The Bandaid before me expels Sir Dreadvent’s piece from him and all of the other rulers, sending them back to the realm in which they belong.”

  “That isn’t much of a Eulogy.” Sir Dreadvent’s menacing smile turned to fear as his body quaked and dozens of smoke streams burst from within him. “What have you done? What is that?”

  “If only you had remembered your other half.” Max quickly wrote on the Scroll of Fate and another portal opened behind him. He glared hatefully as Sir Dreadvent’s essence expelled from Bandaid and vanished. “Good riddance.”

  “What happened, dearie?” Bandaid whispered before his tired body toppled over beside King Arthur’s.

  “Something you’ll soon never have to worry about.” Max waved to Bandaid and stepped back into the portal.

  Max grew worried as he stood in darkness again while he watched the words he had written fade from the Scroll of Fate. He held up his pen, thinking the scroll had misunderstood his wording, and attempted to write again when the Scroll of Fate was snatched from his hands. It floated in the air above him and he tried to grab for it as laughter echoed out all around him.

  “Puck. I haven’t the time for this. Give me…”

  “Puck? You think I’m that strange duck. Strange boy I once knew. You need a clue. I felt and brought. This time you I surely
caught. I’m not alone. Hold the phone.” Bazooka appeared above him and twisted the Scroll of Fate from side to side. “Shiny. Me like. Shiny. Me need. Shiny. Shiny. Shiny.”

  “Bazooka, what happened to you?” Max attempted to use his imagination but found himself unable to do so. He then slipped his pen into his pocket, fearing what Bazooka would do with such power in his current state.

  “Got stuck. Stuck like that strange duck. Stuck all alone. Hold the phone. Shiny. Shiny. Shiny. My shiny.” Bazooka cackled and rubbed the Scroll of Fate against his fur.

  “You’ve been stuck alone here for years? Why not just die and go elsewhere?”

  “Silly, lad. No fun is had. Die and return. Stuck. Can’t earn. Shiny.” Bazooka floated further into the sky, laughing manically as Max reached for the Scroll of Fate. “What do you call a rabbit with no hair? Nothing? Stumped? I so wish I could get humped.”

  “Bazooka, I need that. I have to save everyone.”

  “Nope. Wrong. Want to try again for double points? What points? I don’t know. Like they matter.”

  “Bazooka, our friends died. I can save them. Let me.”

  “Dead stay dead. Don’t lose your head. Oh right. Wrong once more. You call it still a hare. Get it? No hair but still a hare.” Bazooka laughed to himself and then eyed Max. “Tough room. Shiny, we must up our game. What do you call a rabbit with no hair?”

  “A hare.” Max sighed as Bazooka’s eyes bulged toward him.

  “How’d you know? Wow. You are smart. Hold it while I tear Shiny apart.” Bazooka gritted his teeth and huffed as he tugged at the Scroll of Fate. “Weak. So weak. Not for the meek. No half for you. Want another one to come due?”

  “I don’t need another one. I need that. Give it to me.” Max brought forth his cloak and sent strands of it toward Bazooka.

  “Missed. Missed times two. Math. I hate that. Eww.” Bazooka laughed and faded from sight. He mumbled to himself as Max kept finding him and then let go of the Scroll of Fate. “Shiny is against me. Shiny must go away. No, no, no. Shiny must stay.”

  Max snatched the Scroll of Fate while Bazooka appeared and grabbed for it. He yanked it back into his hand and then pulled out his pen.