"Why not."
Soon Merlin and Shiroix were in the forest on the edge of Ala Bora, searching for a Small prize to take home. It was not long before they found a hare. It was a speedy one, and it would be well after night-fall that they caught it if they ever did.
A few hours later, when the sun was setting, Shiroix and Merlin were in a tree, looking down on the hare.
"On my signal, release your bow," said Shiroix, " . . . Now!"
As the arrows whizzed out of the bow, Merlin and Shiroix saw a flash of lightning not to far a way, followed by a strong gust of wind. Merlin never saw whether or not he hit the hare, for an eerie blue light began emitting from deeper in the forest, which steadily became less intense. Curious as to what had caused the light, Merlin and Shiroix walked toward the light. The sight they saw was one they would never forget.
What used to be a forest was now a scorched clearing, the light coming from the center of the clearing. As their eyes adjusted, Merlin and Shiroix saw a man on his knees leaning over what looked to be a large cube. The man's black clothing was in ribbons, flowing around him like a black cloud. His hair was jet black and he was breathing heavily. After some time, the man stood up, revealing he had a clean shaven face, cold blue eyes, and was about the same height as Bernie.
Walking towards the two, the man began to speak for the first time. He spoke quietly, but his cold voice commanded the attention of all.
"Come now, there is no need to be afraid of me. I'm just a lost traveler, that's all. Can't we be friends?" said the man, smiling a false smile. Shiroix, as it seemed, didn't trust the man, for he took his bow and shot an arrow towards the man.
Reaching his hand out effortlessly, the man caught the arrow out of the air.
"I see we don't like each other. Well, that can be fixed, now can't it?" said the man, taking his sword from within the confines of his torn cloak.
"NO!" shouted Bernie as he ran into the clearing, bringing his sword to meet the man's neck.
Once again, the man moved his hand and effortlessly took the sword from Bernie, and threw it out into the forest along with his own.
"If we must fight, my old friend, we do it the right way." said the man, taking a wand from his tattered cloak. It was going to be a wizard's duel.
"Get back home!" shouted Bernie.
Without hesitation, Merlin and Shiroix ran, Shiroix taking the cube that the man had dropped. They ran and ran, never looking back. They encountered Nasuada along the way, who was looking for them.
"Oh, there you are! Quick, get to the Bridge! NOW! Uther, you go with them," screeched Nasuada, "Bernie will be along shortly."
When the trio reached Ala Bora, they saw a massive battle. Dragons were fighting amongst each other in the air, the merpeople were fighting sirens, goblins, trolls, giants, and minotaurs were terrorizing the streets.
"What's happening?" Merlin tried to yell over the noise.
"It's the Dark," Uther screamed, "they've found us!"
Suddenly, Merlin was somewhere else; in the forest, watching as the man fought Bernie.
"You'll never win, my old friend," screeched the man gleefully, "you'll never win!"
"Then I'll die trying!" Bernie retorted as Nasuada entered the clearing.
"Another old friend! My, isn't this a lovely reunion!" laughed the man as Nasuda told Bernie to protect Merlin.
"This is for my son, the Light, and everything they stand for!" howled Nasuda as she brought her sword over her head to come down on the head of the man.
"I thought you might have changed," said the man, sidestepping Nasuada's blow which went straight into the ground with enough force to bury the sword, "But it seems as though you haven''t. It pains me to say this, but goodbye forever." the man finished as he put his sword through Nasuada's heart.
"NO!" screamed Merlin.
"Calm down boy! We enough to worry about right now!" shouted Uther. When Merlin had seen the duel with the man, he had fallen on the ground. Uther had picked him up off the ground and sprinted for the Bridge.
"Where's Shiroix?" Merlin asked, looking around.
"I don't know, but we have to get out of here and now! The Fall is going to happen any minute, and if we're here when the Fall happens, we die!" said Bernie coming up behind them.
Without another word, the three doubled their speed to the bridge. They were only twenty feet away and the trolls were close on their heels!
"We can make it!" screamed Uther.
Then the Fall began. The ground began to rumble, cracks started to spread and widen, the sea seemed to get higher, and the three were running faster than Merlin would have thought possible. Then the trio jumped over a crack to the Bridge and not a moment too soon. A few seconds after their jump, Atlantis fell. The Third War had begun.
* * *
"Bernie, can I come in?" asked Merlin, peeking his head in Bernie's tent. After the Fall, some wizards had started to make tents. As hard as he looked, Merlin couldn't find Shiroix.
"Yes. You have questions, and you deserve to have them answered."
Merlin came in and sat on a chair.
"Go ahead. Ask anything. I will try my best to answer it." said Bernie calmly, his eyes grim.
"Who was that man, and why did he call you an old friend, and how did the Dark find us, and-"
"Enough," interrupted Bernie, "All these questions will be answered, but first let me tell you my story."
Just then, something clicked in Merlin's head. He made a connection that would forever change how he looked at his uncle.
"You're not who you say you are, are you?" asked Merlin.
"No, I'm not."
"Then who are you?"
"I am the Prophecizer."
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