The Grand Battle [Game Over!]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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Arnold appeared suddenly near Drake and Ari. The absence of his smile surprised both of them enough that they paused their argument.

"There's a problem," he said, simply. "And I'm reasonably sure it won't benefit any of us to leave it alone."

"What is it?" Ari asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Arnold let out a sigh before responding.

"I quietly provided Eximo with... something... that can reveal the truth behind the lies that fill this library. Don't expect me to explain why. What matters is that Eximo wouldn't use it until I needed it to... and Aeon has it now."

"Wait. You provided it with... You KNEW that they would come to this library?" Drake asked, incredulously.

"No. But I knew they would come to a place where it would be useful." Arnold's smile reappeared for a moment, before vanishing again. "It's a small hand mirror. I don't think Aeon has realized what it can do yet, so we need to get it away from him before he does. Obviously, it's best for me if Eximo winds up with it, but I doubt you two will try to do that."

"So why are you telling us this at all?" Ari asked.

"Why? Because if Aeon or Amethyst can read the books here freely, they're sure to find a way to escape. I'm reasonably sure none of us want that."

The other Gentlemen paused for a moment.

"This does not affect my plans significantly," Ari said. "If a contestant dies, the mirror will be useless." He vanished, the implication of his words clear.

"Well, now you've done it," Drake said with exaggerated anger. "He's still trying to end the round, the only difference is that now he knows this mirror is important!"

"Well, yes. He's my backup plan. You and I will have to make sure he isn't necessary."

Drake groaned. "I hate your plans."

***

Aeon was about to head back to the shelf of biographies, when he saw the gigantic spider climbing over the top of the bookshelves a few rows away.

I've been in this fight too long, he thought. That doesn't even seem very strange any more.

Then he thought about where it might be headed. It's probably not after these 'Gentlemen'; they're too strong for that. It's not after me, and Eximo is behind me, so it's not after him... that leaves...

Amethyst.

He decided to follow it. He was going to need her help, one way or another.

***

Eximo noted the change in Aeon's movement, and continued pursuit.