Bizarronia

Heavy hearts and unshed tears seemed to follow them as they walked the dark path behind the tree. Three trials they faced, now they marched to meet the Witch.

The scenery changed, not unlike the other two times. A splendid rose garden grew under their feet, the dark sky showed no stars and no moon. A thunder roared, the wind greeted them as they faced each other once again.

Those who entered the trials looked tired and hurt as the walked to the center of the garden, where a sole crystal table stood. Behind it, and leaving her cup of tea, was Beatrice, the Endless Witch, smirking widely as she saw them arrive.

"Not bad, not bad..."

With and elegant move she took out her pipe, and pointed at Apollo. "She forced you to kill her, didn't she?", a chuckle, as she pointed at Firion. "You had to lie to yourself about your friend, even as he died in your arms".

She took a long smoke, before pointing at Yuan. "And you must have experience killing your old lover! At least you did it cleanly this second time!", Beatrice laughed loudly, and pointed at Django. "Was your father a hard opponent? I see denial shields you from what you don't like..."

Beatrice stood up, the tea cup and the table disappearing. "You killed an innocent girl just to see if you could fly again. So heartless of you", she chuckled, pointing at Evan. "You all were very entertaining. It did help to cure my boredom a little! But things must end for them to start again, and your las trial is here... They shall lose everything for only one to gain everything in return"

"I wonder.. who of you will it be? After killing your own hearts, killing a bunch of strangers shouldn't be difficult at all, should it? Only one of you will prevail to see the sun tomorrow..."

Her loud cackles boomed alongside a thunder, as rain started to fall. The Witch moved her hand and a gigantic steel cage fell on them. It was the last game...

Beatrice smirked, her face illuminated briefly by lightning.

The moon lit the path to the forest's entrance. Old stone steps greeted them, but their eyes couldn't go farther into the darkness than the last of them.

A small stone monument was beside the steps. It was difficult to see, but there were two figures carved in the base: a couple. The woman could be seen easily, but the figure of the man was violently broken. They seemed to be guarding a tablet with an old inscription.

( Even with the little light the moon provided, it was easy to read... )