The Weight of the World

[Airan]

Atlas hit the floor with only a grunt and a splash, wood creaking beneath his massive footpaws as he steadied himself and stood. Outside, the badger could still hear every scream and every crash of timber as the battle between the Waverunners and Blade's pirates continued to rage on, neither side submitting to the other. But, if it was one thing that he knew for a fact, it was that a serpent without a head would cease to struggle, and the pirates would scatter and flee the moment their king was slain. Just as they had before and just as they always would.

Atlas stepped forward, feeling the water begin to grow slightly deeper. The tools that the young rat, Plink, used to cause the explosion had done their purpose. The Zephyr was mortally wounded and it and everybeast aboard would soon be underwater.

Despite his injuries and his newfound lack of sight, the badger pressed onward, keeping his paw extended in front of him as he stumbled forward through the lower level of the Zephyr after his nemesis, and stopping when his claws rattled against something metallic. Cautiously he examined the noise, running his paw over it once more. The jingle of a countless number of coins and jewels piled in the room greeted his ears and the badger snorted. Of all the places for Blade to run to, it would of course be his treasure room. Atlas continued searching with his paw until he touched the grainy wood of one of the walls. He traced his paw over the surface, following its angle and using it to guide him through the rest of the room as he listened carefully for any sound that might betray the pirate king's presence.

Blindness was different than the badgerlord ever initially thought. It was not white, nor was it black, but simply nothingness as if he were standing forward and trying to perceive what was behind him. When he awoke in the cold, stone prison Blade created for him, he remembered wondering if he were actually dead. Nothing was around him, no darkness or light, just simply nothing, until a paw, a vermin paw, touched his shoulder tenderly.

"I'm sorry."

And while his sight was taken, so too was the red mist of the Bloodwrath that swirled within it. The badger could still feel it churning in his mind, but uselessly. Without his vision, no more could he see Hearth and the rest of the world burning before his eyes, murderous, cackling children or traitorous soldiers daring to betray him, pirates who spoke of peace but stood atop a mound of corpses, and other hallucinations that drove him to madness. It was strange to say, but without his vision, Atlas felt finally able to see.

There was a sudden splash in front of him as somebeast quickly darted through the room and tore open a door, before slamming it back shut with a click of a lock. Atlas growled and pushed off from the wall, trudging through the water as it began to grow deeper around him. The badger's arm brushed against the door handle and he quickly seized it, pulling on it but the lock held firm. He released the handle and took a step back before slamming into it with all of his weight. With a splinter of wood, the door tore from its hinges and splashed into the water that flooded the ground.

It was up to the badger's knees now and he pushed through it into the room cautiously, keeping one paw held in front of him and the other firmly on the wall. In the corner of the room, Atlas heard somebeast panting and smiled. Whatever room Blade held himself in apparently only had one exit and it was being blocked by a massive badger. He was trapped.

"You beasts certainly are determined, aren't you?" the ferret's voice came with a chuckle and a wheeze. Blade smelled of black powder and singed fur, a result from Plink's trick. Atlas followed the voice and took a step closer but was careful not to stray too far from the doorway.

"It's over, Blade," Atlas spoke calmly.

Blade continued talking, a hint of disappointment in his tone. "You know, Ciera told me that I should have killed you when I had the chance. Obviously, I refused. Do you want to know why?" Atlas didn't answer him, but after a few moments the ferret continued anyway. "I thought it would be poetic if you were blind t' the world while I made it and everythin' you ever built crumble around you, and listen t' beasts crying your name desperately but be unable t' stop it. I wanted it t' drive you truly mad, like it did me. For close t' ten seasons I've been held up on that island, unable to see or stop you from destroyin' every last remnant of my empire. Messengers brought me news of how you were filled with rage, taken over by the Bloodwrath. How you slaughtered the captains and pirates I once knew with no mercy.

"And, of course, I could do nothing about it. If I revealed myself, you would surely slaughter me as well. So, all I could do was hide, like a bloody rat, while I tinkered until I made something that I could destroy your world with, and get revenge for everythin' you took from me," Blade finished.

Atlas snorted. "Don't act like you care about those beasts I killed, Blade. They were and always will be tools to you."

The ferret roared with laughter, the noise echoing around the room. "No. No. You've got it wrong, Atlas, because you're correct. They are tools. All of them. But, that's not where I was goin' with that. No, you slaughtered them. Every last one and you took no prisoners. No, what I want t' know is why am I still alive?" Blade said. "With how you were described, I should be dead right now. Somehow you conquered it. The Bloodwrath. How?"

Atlas shook his head. "No, I still feel it brew in my head like a thundercloud. But, without it tinting my sight red, I've felt more at peace now than I have in the last ten seasons. For once, I believe I can be in control. I will not be that monster again."

"Is that so?" Blade retorted.

"Yes," Atlas answered, taking another step forward carefully through the water. "Blade. It's over. Around you, my Waverunners are routing your vessels or scattering them away, and soon the Zephyr and all the weapons you have built will have vanished in the depths. You've lost. However, I do not wish to be your executioner. I cannot give you your freedom, but if you surrender now, I can give you your life."

The room was quiet as the ferret seemingly pondered the question. Finally, he began to speak. "It seems as though I don't have many other options at this point, do I? You're right. I've lost. I surrender," Blade said as Atlas began walking towards the pirate's voice. "But, answer me somethin' first, Atlas. Do you remember now, or are your memories still clouded?"

The voice was directly in front of the badger now. "Remember what?" Atlas asked.

The ferret chuckled."When I did this!"

Atlas howled as iron struck his skull like a thunderbolt and sharp spikes rent through his flesh, the sudden force of Blade's mace sending him splashing into the water below. It was only a moment later before the weapon smashed against him once more and then a third time, Blade nearly stumbling from the weight of it.

"I made all of this, Atlas. The ships, the cannons. Do you really think I'm goin' t' let you of all beasts take it from me?!" Blade screamed. Atlas' breath was knocked from his lungs as the mace swung into his stomach, spikes puncturing deep holes in his flesh. "Nobeast will! Not Ciera, nor that blasted hedgehog or Scarcrab's brat..." Water rushed into Atlas' open mouth as Blade swung the weapon into his shoulder with a crunch of bone.

"And most certainly not you!"

Atlas felt the ferret's footpaw brush against his side and he quickly turned and lashed out with his claws. Blade yelped and jumped back from the attack, scrambling away with a splash of water before the badger could get a firm grasp on him. Atlas got to his footpaws and stumbled against a wall, allowing it to support him as he clutched at the wounds on his chest and head. The badger felt blood spilling into his paws.

"You always were a coward, Blade," Atlas panted. "You only kill what you know can't fight back, and the moment they do, you'll turn tail and flee. For once, face me like a warrior."

"I only fight battles I know I can win," Blade growled.

"You can't win this one," Atlas said, stepping forward away from the wall. "Neither can I. We're relics, Blade. Your age of piracy, my war for justice... they're as dead as we are. The world is always changing, and it left us behind a long time ago. Luckily, there are beasts outside fighting for the right reasons. Vermin and woodlander alike who will protect the world from broken relics like us."

The ferret chuckled. "You think if I die, that the seas will remain calm? That there will be peace? Do you truly believe the world will be at a lack for tyrants and warlords? There will always be another. Some ambitious, clever beast who will look to my legend and take my name for themselves. You can kill me, Atlas, but Captain Blade will never die. And where will you be then?"

Atlas smiled confidently, reaching into his mind to recite an old Waverunner pledge. "Be it ocean, shore, wood or glade, we?ll never falter, never fade. Where ever oppression comes to light, "Eulalia!? shall sound the fight!

"Of course it will." The badger heard Blade chuckle as the ferret moved from the corner of the room with a noticeable splash. "That's a lovely word, Eulalia. I was curious once on a borin' afternoon, and decided I wanted t' learn more about your species's language, more specifically what 'Eulalia' actually meant. It didn't take too long t' find. It means 'To Victory,' but I'm sure you knew that, Atlas."

"Yes. I do."

There was silence after that as if Blade had suddenly stopped moving in the water, but without his sight, Atlas had no way of knowing if that were true. Carefully, the badger turned around him, keeping  one paw held tightly on his wound and the other outstretched and ready in case the ferret tried something. Something splashed noisily behind him and Atlas turned quickly in its direction expecting an attack but nothing came. Another splash came to his right and he lunged at it, his claws curling around a piece of thrown driftwood.

Atlas let it slide from his paws back into the rising water and began to back up to where he knew the door was. Blade was plotting something. And then came a whisper in the badger's ear, the ferret's voice like a snake's from where he had been standing only a few taillengths behind him.

"Eulalia."

"ATLAS, BEHIND YOU!" Frederick's voice rang out as he dashed into the room suddenly.

Atlas spun quickly around and raised his arm, catching the head of the mace only a moment before it made contact with the back of his skull. The badger howled as the spikes pierced completely through the flesh of his paws, but he didn't let go, and before Blade could dart back away from him, Atlas tore the weapon away from the ferret and swung with all of his might.

Blade's scream was cut short as the mace crashed directly into his stomach, all breath taken from him in a single instant as the weight of Atlas' swing sent him sailing across the room and crashing into the wall with a crack and then a splash. Bubbles exploded on the surface as the pirate king howled and clutched at his chest underwater, kicking his legs as he struggled to get to his footpaws. The ferret's head broke the surface and he gasped for breath, stumbling backwards into the wall and watching as the water around him grew red.

Atlas stepped forward.

"Atlas," Blade begged, coughing up blood, "d-d-d-do you remember what you said? You told me that you didn't want t' be a monster anymore. I'll live my life in chains, Atlas. You don't have t' be my executioner."

The badger raised the mace. "You're right. I don't."

Blade's eyes grew fearfully as the shadow of the weapon loomed above, his scream echoing around the room before being drowned with a single crack and a splash.

Atlas stood quietly for a moment, holding the mace still in preparation for another trick. A quiet noise of somebeast wading through the water behind him reminded him of Frederick's presence. "Frederick," the badger said with a pant. "Is he dead? I need to know."

A single heartbeat passed before the hare answered him. "Yes."

"Good." The mace fell from Atlas' bloodied paw and sank  to the floor with a thunk. Blood dripped from Atlas head wound and his paw returned to his stomach as he limped towards the colonel.

"Atlas! You're wounded, sir. Let me- let me help you." The badger took his friend's paw and let him lead him out of the room like a young child and back into the treasure room. As he walked, Atlas felt the Bloodwrath begin to fade from his mind and body. Pain, something he hadn't felt for ten seasons, slowly began to erupt from every wound that Blade inflicted, burning like the hottest flames, and his legs shook underneath his weight. The ship lurched suddenly and Atlas lost his grip, gasping before falling to the floor in a heap.

"Atlas!" Frederick rolled him over carefully and did his best to pull the badger to where he could rest comfortably against the wall. Atlas felt the hare touch his wounded chest and winced. "Sorry, sir. We need to get you to an infirmary. We have beasts over on the Phantom that can-"

"No, Frederick," Atlas said with a shake of his head. "I believe... I believe that this is my last journey."

"What? No!" the hare shouted, but quickly composed himself. "With all due respect, sir, we can still make it. I can... I can... I can bally well carry you, wot. I can get you back."

"All by yourself, Frederick?"

"No, I can get others if need be-"

"And who would be willing to help you?"

The hare was silent.

Atlas smiled softly and placed a paw on the hare's shoulder. "I'm sorry for everything that I've done, my friend. I hurt you, and sent many more beasts to their graves with my paws. I wish... that I could have controlled myself, and even in the end I was still a monster."

"Atlas, stop it! I won't let you die, wot!" the hare protested.

Atlas shook his head. "No. This is the end for me. A captain should rightfully go down with their ship." He paused. "Frederick, thank you, for everything that you've done and for being my loyal friend, but the Waverunners don't need me anymore. No, they need somebeast like you. Somebeast who is willing to stand up to beasts like me when they know they've gone too far," Atlas said sadly. "When you return to Salamandastron, you will take over the Waverunners as its leader. Unlike with Killian, I'm of a sound mind now, I can make this decision."

"I can't accept, sir. I gave up when I was made a slave, and we only made it this far because of other beasts. It should be somebeast like Robert."

"No, Rosequill should be with his family, where he belongs," Atlas said. "You will make a good leader, Frederick. You just need to keep your wits about you. The world is changing fast. Don't let yourself be left behind. Former pirates and vermin will soon sail into Hearth looking for a place to belong. It's time we welcome them, for the good of everybeast. Do you agree?"

"Yes, sir," Frederick answered him. "I won't let you down."

"Of course not," Atlas replied. "And when the time comes that another badger takes the call and wanders through Salamandastron's gates," the badger started, "promise me that you will be as good to them as you were to me."The badger paused, feeling rays of sunlight shining on his brow. He smiled. "A new day is dawning, Frederick. With you, and those beasts outside to welcome it, I'm sure that it will be a bright one.

"I'll do my best," Swiftpaw answered.

"Now, I just have one request," Atlas said.

"What is it, sir?"

"I'd like to be able to close my eyes."

Atlas waited patiently as Frederick quickly rushed into the other room, and came back with a soaking wet sash. "I'm sorry, I got it off of Blade, I don't know if it's-"

"It'll do, I'm sure." Carefully, Frederick tied the sash around Atlas' face, letting it cover his eyes.  "Thank you, friend," Atlas said. As he let his paw fall from Frederick's shoulder, the badger felt what was like two drops of rain fall upon it. Though he could not see it, he knew the hare was weeping, and would be the only one who would.

But despite it all, Atlas smiled. The weight of the world was a terrible burden to bear, but it was in good strong paws now, he was sure. And as the life faded from Atlas' body, the dawn sun continued to rise.