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Chapter Text

He often wonders if this is what the others feel. He feels hollow and alone, but he can’t help but only to listen to the voice from the other world he oh so loved. “Oliver. Come back, your soulmate is gone but not the feeling of your brokenhearted,” It said. Right, he is now brokenhearted, he doesn’t know or remembered how it happened but now that he’s a teenager, now that he’s 18 almost 19. “I need help…” He mutters and gets up from his bed. He looks at his Wizard Companion and flips the pages only to find the sign and the spell for duplicating yourself. He doesn’t want to worry everyone here in Motorville so he cast it and replicates himself, same clothes as well as emotions and characteristics, “No one can tell the difference.” He mutters to himself. He’s different now, he doesn’t and can’t remember what caused it. Sure he’s over the death of his mother but now, this feels different, very different. He doesn't know why he can't shake that feeling of Darkness creeping up. He's the Pure-Hearted One, he shouldn't be affected by the Dark Djinns' magic. “Gate open,” The voice said. Oliver closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He cast the spell and said: “Gateway Open!” A glow appears and disappears from his room leaving his clone.

He fell from the sky wearing clothes from the other world and landed in the middle of the ocean. “Leave everything to me, Oh Dark-Hearted one,” It said again. Oliver closes his eyes and takes one last breath. It doesn't take long for him to cough up and land somewhere safe. He opens his eyes and sees the hooded man. “Who are you?” Oliver asks and coughs up the salt water. He sits up and looks at the man. “Welcome back Dark hearted one,” The hooded man said and bows down to him. Oliver looks confused, “I think you're mistaken I'm not the Dark hearted…one,” He said and paused. He feels the hollowness again. The very same feeling back in Motorville.

“Your Dark-Hearted One, I assure you I will guide you in bringing more heartache and chaos. If. You let yourself be consumed by the venom from the serpent.” He said. ‘The serpent?’ He thought and finally felt the scaly reptile around his torso and arm. “Will the venom take away this horrible feeling?” He asked him. The man nodded. Oliver hears the sounds and cries from a distance.

“No Oliver! Don't do this! Don't listen to him!”

“Oliver, you can fight the urge of a brokenhearted! Your friends can help you! You don't have to do it alone!!”

Oliver closes his eyes and stands up. “You seem to know more about the Djinns spell that's been cast on me, the feeling of a brokenhearted…I…wonder how much I had lost…” He said and looked at him. The hooded man nods and gestures for the boy to follow him. “Your faithful followers are waiting for your arrival, the sooner the venom sits in your system the sooner you'll be free,” He said. Oliver nods. The hooded man and Oliver walk through the door and his eyes widen seeing them sitting around the table. “Ssso the boy’sss here what a ssurprisssee.” The King of Cobra, Aapep said. Oliver then hears the laughter of the familiar being. “Well well well! The Pure-Hearted one, so brokenhearted to the point he seems lost and has nowhere to go,” Vileheart said with another laugh. “We defeated you all, how?” Oliver questioned and felt the hollow heart aching in pain. “All due time, oh Dark-Hearted One, let’s not waste anymore, listen very closely,” The man said, Oliver closes his eyes and looks at them, He sees Vileheart and Aapep alive, not only them but so is the Zodiarch illusions minus Gallus.

“We will aid you in recovering what you lost, in return we wanted what’s been stolen from us from the very beginning.” One of the Zodiarch said. “Stolen? Sorry to burst your bubble but, you all were causing havoc and destroying everything,” Oliver said, only to feel the bite of the snake that’s been wrapped around him. “Now now, oh Dark-Hearted One we don’t want you to let go of the Darkness that’s been residing inside of you,” Vileheart said with a laugh. “No, no that’s wrong…There is no Darkness…but why do I still feel hollow and alone! I don’t understand!” Oliver said frustrated. “The venom from the sssnake will ssseep through the sssstream and sssoon you’ll sssee reasssonsss my prince,” Aapep said. Oliver's vision start to get blurry and passed out.

The hooded man laughs and looks at the boy dressed in clad of the royal attire of the Miasma. “Your Dark-Hearted One, how are you feeling?” The hooded man asked him. Oliver leans on the back of his hand, he looks dead in the eye of that man. “The feeling is as hollow as I’ve become, isn’t that right…Cetus,” He said petting the snake. “It is bothersome I will say. After all, the Darkness should come now that I’ve arrived.” Oliver said, his voice hollow and unrecognizable. He takes off the locket and ripped two pages from the Companion, “They need to be hidden and away, if anyone finds this, if anyone hears about the spell they would surely try to bring the Pure-Hearted One,” He said. Oliver starts to laugh and pets the snake. “How long I wonder, how long till the world falls into Darkness?” Oliver asked with amusement.

The hooded man smiles sinisterly and bows down to the boy who fell into the Darkness, “I’ll bring the Miasma to the world, tainting everything in its path,” He said. “Good, and take these and hide them where no one can find them,” Oliver said and hand them over to the man. “Of course your Dark-Hearted One,” He said and bows down, he then walks away. “Cetus, how long has it been that I’ve been brokenhearted? I felt no different and yet I feel alone in Darkness surrounding me,” Oliver said and sighed. Cetus wraps it around the boy and bit him again, “Thank you for keeping me in check. Now then, let’s go and get back to our plan shall we,” Oliver said to the snake. He gets up and starts walking with the snake slithering behind him and out of the throne room.

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Somewhere in Hamelin, there were complaints that the water coming from the factory had turned inky purple, it made the civilians restless not knowing if its black magic or something else. “This seems bothersome, especially when the factory that purified the water from the ocean is working just fine,” The older man said to his younger brother. “While the machines are doing fine, I can’t shake the feeling that it is something sinister,” The younger brother said. “So you think it is dark voodoo magic Marcassin?” He said to him. Marcassin sighed and looks at his older brother, “Swaine don’t you think it’s odd that the water is now purple?” He said to him. “Then let’s go and see if something is wrong with the ocean,” Swaine said with an irritated sigh.

Meanwhile, Oliver walks around with his hollow feeling and the taint of the Venom spreading from his hand up toward half of his neck. “What a painful process Cetus, to think that causing havoc is painstakingly draining, but it isn’t helping me, I need to contact them asap,” He mutters, he hears the hiss from the serpent as a reply. He walks into the room where everyone is waiting for his arrival. “You took your time Oliver,” Aapep said Oliver tsked as the taint spread a bit further, “Quiet Aapep, now then shall we discuss what can save me from going further into the hollowness,” Oliver said and sits down, with Cetus curling around him. He can hear them laughing with amusement, “Of course Dark-Hearted One, but you have to remember that you made someone hide the locket and two certain spells for you to heal from,” The Rat Zodiarch said. Oliver nods and sighs, he has forgotten what he’s done. He wonders why he did that, why he made this decision, but the fact that the taint, the venom is starting to spread slowly, it made him think irrationally. “Don’t remind me about my stupidity, let’s just discuss what I had lost,” Oliver said, trying to think straight and figure out how to fix what’s been broken in the first place.

“Getting to the chase are you? Very well, your kindness for others seems to be disappearing, I’m sure you notice that when talking to the Cobra King,” The Dragon Zodiarch said. “So I need to find someone who has tons of Kindness, but that is not all is it, Vileheart,” Oliver said, glaring daggers at the abomination. Vileheart laughs sadistically, “Oh you are correct! Such a shame you have zero trust in others, I would say, even though you trust your own judgment and soon…the wrong people, you are starting to sever your bonds with your friends.” He said. Oliver ponders a bit, “So I have no belief in others except that of my own,” He concluded. “That doesn’t sound right, I have to talk to them, I need their help with this predicament!” He shouted. “Even when it was you who started to Taint? You ordered the man to spread the Miasma through the ocean, It is a matter of time before you’ll be forever alone,” The Tiger Zodiarch reasoned with him.

“Alone…is this how it’s going to be? Alone with nothing but my hollow heart, with zero Kindness and partial Belief,” Oliver mumbles and sighs. “Come on now Oliver, it’ll go in your favor after all, with no Love in your heart, you will see reasons for your goal to destroy any happiness that’s been befallen.” Vileheart said with a laugh, “No Love for everyone huh? No wonder I didn’t care about the sea familiars living in the ocean. No wonder I’ll let the water be polluted with the thick layer of Taint. I lost quite a bit of my heart,” He said and looks down.

“It isss too sssoon to come to that conclusssion. You have nothing to worry about right now,” Aapep said to the boy. “Slowly but surely we need something more powerful …something I can trust with…” Oliver said with a sigh. ‘Why is it so tiresome? Did I lose my Enthusiasm somehow?’ Oliver thought for a bit. “It is so tiresome and draining,” He muttered and pet the snake. “No matter, let's discuss further,” He said and look at them with a glare and a smile creeping up.

“How odd, is it me, or are the creatures getting affected by this spill,” The Queen of the Lost Land said. “Bwah sounds like some terrible pollution going on,” The Captian of the Sky Pirate said. “This feeling…it felt familiar but from where I wonder,” The Queen mutters.

The polluted water doesn’t appear in Perdida and Hamelin however, even in Al Mamoon and Ding Dong Dell the water came. For Al Mamoon however, the fountain that spewed rich dairy milk changes into the polluted version of it, no one knows how it happen except for the Great Sage, the Guard of her moojesty, and Sage's daughter, Esther. Something about the taint is familiar and yet they couldn’t place it where they felt it. Then in Ding Dong Dell, the rain fell and the river back turned into the same polluted water. “Meow, It can’t be?” His Meowjesty mutters and became serious. “Drippy, contact your friends this is quite serious, we’ll be having a meeting with the Sages and the Royals,” The King said. The Lord High Lord of the Fairies looks closely at the tainted water and gasped, “Blimey, there is no way he’s returned,” He exclaimed.

Everywhere in the world, the pollution continues to spread, letting the Guardians restless and the friendly familiars turning aggressive towards their kind. It was a matter of time before someone finds the locket and the two pages of the Wizard Companion.

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The Emperor of Hamelin, Marcassin walks through his study and couldn’t believe his eyes. “How is it possible? Didn’t you three defeat him?” Marcassin questioned as he looks at Swaine, “Shadar is alive,” He said. “You can’t be serious Marcassin? He's dead, Oliver doesn’t have a soulmate anymore,” Swaine said, feigning ignorance, he doesn’t want to believe that the Dark Djinn is alive and wants to cause havoc again. “Besides, even after he died, he was manipulated, when he was in despair,” He continued. “That doesn’t make sense as to how his magic is tainting the ocean, Swaine.” Marcassin said, “If you’re sure it was the Dark Djinn perhaps we should contact Oliver, I could’ve sworn I felt a faint of his magic in this world,” Swaine said. “I’ll teleport to his location, surely he must know what’s going on,” The Emperor said. The two brothers nod, Swaine, will keep investigating the Taint while Marcassin is going to where the Pure-Hearted One is.

Marcassin cast the spell and teleported to where Oliver could be, only the be in front of a stranger, sitting on the throne with a snake next to him. “Who are you? Where is Oliver?” Marcassin questioned, looking seriously at the boy. “Been a long time Marcassin?” The one on the throne said, looking bored but soon some spark came back and sit upright and not lazily. Oliver gets up and walks slowly toward him. “I don’t blame you for not recognizing me, I mean it’s been… years,” He said. Marcassin looks closely at him and his eyes widened, “Oliver! What happened to you, you look…different,” He said. Oliver chuckles a bit and pets the snake slithering next to him. “I don’t know, really… The last thing I remember is my life in Motorville and then I feel hollow, apparently, I’m now…brokenhearted, which is odd considering Shadar is gone and any traces of his magic has disappeared,” Oliver said. He said it so nonchalantly as if it wasn't bothering him, although it doesn't stop him from being so distant, his voice is cold and mean, almost deranged. He felt nothing but loneliness even when he was in the presence of one of his friends.

“His traces hasn’t disappeared, there is some sort of taint in the ocean affecting every single familiar,” The young Emperor said. “I know…I am responsible for causing that,” Oliver said. Marcassin looks at him with disbelief, he doesn’t want to believe what he said, but he also looks at the weird inky taint spreading more, though it isn’t very visible now due to the clothes he’s wearing. “How did you get brokenhearted in the first place?” He asked him. “Who knows, but I couldn't care less about that, all I care about right now is destroying any peace and happiness from others ,” Oliver said with a glare, “Cetus…be a dear and bring him, I need the man to do something for me right now,” He said looking at the serpent. The snake hisses and slithers away not before the being bit Oliver and lets the venom spread further and further in.

“Oliver, you have no Love for others at all, you're so distant,” Marcassin said, and he noticed him not wearing the locket. This is odd, considering he always has it on him in case some people have been brokenhearted. “No Love, no Kindness, partial Belief and possibly no Enthusiasm… I lost a great chunk of my heart pieces. I suppose it was over time that I didn't notice it in the first place. Though it is a matter of time till I lose everything and become more hollow and alone.” Oliver said and looks away. “Then let us help you find those pieces, I certainly hope you didn't lose any faith in us right?” Marcassin said. Oliver can't help but laugh at that.

“Sorry to burst your pathetic lowlife, but in no shape or form shall I need your help, especially when I have some people who helped a fair share if not all that's been left to destroy, but the locket, as well as the two spells, are hidden away,” He said looking a the man in front of him. “Oliver, surely you didn't mean that!” Marcassin shouted. “ I wasn’t stupid enough to order someone to hide it so no one else can find it and bring the Pure-Hearted One back. I'm sorry everything is a blur, I don't remember who it was that I heard it from,” He said and looks at the snake who came back. “Cetus seems to be the only one to be here for me right now,” He said and pet the snake.

“Do you know where you hid them? Do you know who we are facing if it isn’t Shadar but you being the puppet of someone else game?” Marcassin asked him, determined to find any answer or something to help his friend. Oliver shakes his head, “I do not remember, I don’t remember where it is now or why I had decided to rip them and hide them away.” Oliver said, looking away. “Your Dark-Hearted One, what is it that you need? Oh? Well if it isn’t the Emperor of Hamelin Marcassin,” The Hooded figure said with amusement. “Now I see why you need me here. Sad to say, I cannot help you,” He said.

“especially when it comes to how not one of your friends could help you…with your predicament,” He whispered near the young wizard's ear. “He doesn't care does he?” Oliver mutters as his eyes narrowed down, he then looks at Marcassin. “You should go back, I do not need you or anyone else to help me with my predicament! I'll handle it alone and will deal with this alone!” Oliver starts shouting at the young Sage. Marcassin is taken aback but glares at him, mainly at the hooded figure, “Oliver, you have to let us help you! Let us be there for you like you were there for us!” He shouted at him. “Enough!” Oliver yelled and draws the runes. Evenstar. Marcassin's eyes widened, “Oliver!” Marcassin shouted.

There is a huge smoke and Oliver as well as the hooded figure looks at where Marcassin was standing. “Make sure that no one finds this place, they are nothing but a nuisance !” Oliver ordered him, he soon calms down and hold onto his head, feeling a headache right about now. ‘I seriously need some fresh air, the thick miasma feels too much right now,’ He thought and walks away. “Your Dark-Hearted One?” He said, looking at him.

Oliver gasp, breathing in the fresh air. He looks outside and at the ocean, “How beautiful…but why does it look lonely? The familiars…so…so…lonely…” Oliver muttered. “Why am I still empty…this should fill SOMETHING inside of me?!” He said frustrated. He doesn't understand why Marcassin is here, why he rejected his offer to help. He and the others are his friends! So why did he reject him? It doesn't make sense. It NEVER makes sense to him.

But do they have to make sense? His situation is as confusing as it is.

Why does it have to make sense when he's slowly going deeper in? Clearly, something must've gone wrong if he has to seek help from the former villains that he and his two–  three friends had defeated.

He acknowledges and finally, figures it out. He doesn’t realize how much despair there is in his heart, nor does he want to find out how it happened. Oliver sighs and walks back inside now having the answers he was looking for and now he knows what to do. Filling up his hollow heart with something to bring more despair.

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Marcassin gasps in pain as blood rushes out of his arm, “Evenstar is a very powerful dark spell, he probably has more despair inside his heart,” He mutters. “Marcassin!” The young sage hears his older brother shouting his name, “Swaine, I’m going to be fine,” He said and sighed, he still wondered about the conversation he had with him. He wonders if it happened during Shadar's reign or if it happened way earlier but wasn’t manifested yet. How can he tell his brother what happened to their friend? “Fine?! You don't look fine! Let's get this treated, the bloody fairy wants to see every ruler at Ding Dong Dell,” Swaine said. Marcassin stands up and with the help of Swaine, they walk to where they have medical treatment.

“What happened? Did you find Oliver?” Swaine asked his younger brother, Marcassin sighed, “I found Oliver but, I think it is better to tell everyone what happened,” He said to him. “Alright, alright, keep your secret for now then,” Swaine said with a sigh.

It has been a couple of hours since most of the rulers are in the castle of Ding Dong Dell. “I'm sure we are here because of the wild familiars running rampant and the water being polluted,” Drippy said. “Well duh, why else are we here for,” Swaine retorted. “Same as ever after a couple of years,” Esther said with a sigh.

“Speaking of which, have any of you found that young boy?” His Meowjesty asked. Marcassin clears his throat: ”I…have and sadly…he isn't the same as he used to be,” He said. “Well, what do you mean? He is still the same one who saved all of us,” Her Moojesty spoke. “He's broken-hearted…and he lost a good chunk of it too,” Marcassin explained, shocking most of them in the room.

“Come on again? Broken-hearted? Ollie boy? Blimey heck how did that happen?” Drippy said. “Your guess is as good as mine, he sounds off and almost unrecognizable. He seems to be under someone's spell or influence of something,” The young sage said. “Well then we should try to collect the pieces of his heart,” Esther said.

“Easily said than done, Ollie boy has the spells and the locket,” Drippy said. “Yeah about that…”

“Don’t tell me that boy did something?” Her Moojesty trusted advisor spoke out. “He told someone to hide it somewhere,” Marcassin said sheepishly.

“Well, isn't that great, how can we find that?” Swains said, shaking his head. “Wait, can't you teleport to him again?” Esther asked him. Marcassin thought, only to feel a headache, “Sorry, it seems I can't reach him. It's probably the mist or someone has intervened,” He said. “Now, how can Ollie Boy be broken-hearted? He's the pure hearted one in it! He shouldn't be affected by it that much,” Drippy said, thinking of some possibilities of what could've happened. “I think you forgot something, that boy lost his mother a couple of years ago,” Swains said. “That could cause part of the reason he's broken-hearted, I mean he was 13 when it all happened,” He continued. “Well, yeah, but now he’s completely broken-hearted!” Drippy said. “Enough chatter, we should focus on the task at hand,” The advisor of her Moojesty spoke.

“Would you look at that, my past friends,” The broken savior said with a chuckle, drowning in sorrow and deeper in the pit of poison. He glances at the recreation ball from the White Witch. How ironic. “May they try to find those spells and locket, but they wouldn’t be able to defeat me.” He said, and look over to his enemies, he so foolishly trusts. “How about we try something new, perhaps giving them some hope and rip it out,” He said with a grin.

“No! Oliver! Please! Don’t stray so far!”

Oliver shakes his head and looks back at it. “Ho ho ho, may I assist?” Vileheart said, piquing the boy's interest. “I’m listening,” He said. ‘I’m sorry I can’t stop this, my mind is getting clou ded by the min ute,’ He thought. He doesn’t know who the voice belongs to anymore, it feels like he has forgotten something after he slowly succumbs to this madness he seems to take control of.

Drippy, Esther and Swaine wanders off in the forest to meet a certain tree imp, Marcassin would love to join but has to stay behind and talk to the world leaders. “What would Oliver even gain from all of this, It’s not like he’s been influenced or anything,” Esther said. “Who knows, but we should first-hand help him and his broken heart before e ask him all sorts of things.” Drippy said.

“Who dares, disturbing my slumber?” The three of them hear the voice of the being they are searching for.