"You have one choice," the general of the dark army stated, "Your fighters are all exhausted. You're surrounded. We will let you go; but you have to give us the dream teller. You have nothing without her."

"What?" Danique breathed as she felt the blood rush from her face. No one responded, "What!?" she said louder.

"Danique..." Luca started, "Alannah told us we wouldn't all survive this."

Danique whirled on him, "You knew!" It wasn't a question. She spun back to the others, "You all knew?"

"Hmm, it seems you're the only one against it. What? Do you want to come with your friend? I wouldn't mind that," the general grinned, his terrifying features turning even more demonic."

"Hold her back, Luca," Alannah said quietly, "This is my role. I'm ready." 

She turned to the group standing behind her and had the audacity to smile.

"NO!!" Danique lunged, but Luca caught her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, burying his face in her shoulder, "I'm so sorry."

"No," Danique whispered, shaking her head angrily as tears slid down her face.

She repeated the word over and over, struggling against Luca's iron grip on her. How had he gotten so strong? He shouldn't have been able to hold her. Why was Alannah walking towards that- that thing? Why wouldn't she stop? Why was no one fighting this?

They had all known. They had known this was coming. They hadn't told her because they knew she'd fight it. She'd be the one that wouldn't let go. 

She slumped and Luca relaxed his grip slightly.

"No," she growled, and broke one hand out of Luca's grip, flinging it towards the sky.

The dam unleashed itself. 

The sky turned to fire and the sun went dark.

"NO!" Alannah spun around, slashing her arm on the claws of the creature holding her, "No! Not yet! Not ever! You can't do that!"

Danique ignored her. Luca let go. She titled her head, white eye burning with what appeared to be actual fire. "Let her go," Danique snarled in a voice that was not her own, "She's not yours to take."

"Danique," Zaria choked, voice hoarse. 

She had been laying on the ground, exhaustion and pain overtaking her insane physical prowess, but now she forced herself to her feet, "Danique. This is the only way. You can't burn your way out of this one. You'll end everything."

"You told me I should." The tears on her face weren't tears anymore. They were lava. She wasn't a human. She was a vessel for the power of the Great Spirit. And she could burn this world. To hell with second chances. To hell with "destiny". She could end everything and begin everything anew. She could be the god.

"Please," Zaria whispered, begging her sister to stop.

"We'll rule the new world together," Danique said, and brought her hand to the ground.

And everything went dark.

...

"Rune?"