Hi everyone! As you've noticed, I omitted the previous chapter because well... I just did. Anyway, I hope you like it and please review.

Oh yeah, and I'd also like to thank Shimy for giving me the awesome name for the villain.

Thud!

The massive doors shook as something rammed at them from the other side. Screams sounded from the other side of the door, indicating that a battle was still taking place.

Thud!

The guard captain was shouting orders as the guards barricaded the door. "The hinges are loosening. We can't hold them much longer!"

It would only be a matter of time before the rebels breach the door.

From head to toe, King Kashekim was fully clad in layers of blue and gold armor. He carried a special long, machete-like spear in one hand and a large, heavy shield in the other. Several royal bodyguards surrounded him and his wife who was carrying the sleeping child. Despite their best efforts to barricade the defenses, it would still not be enough to repel the invaders. Even the Mother Crystal outside couldn't save them without the presence of a royal family member.

Thud!

The noise woke up the child, who began to cry.

Kashekim and his men formed defensive positions at the door. "Katara, lead everyone through the passageway. We'll do our best to hold them."

His wife stared at him. "Are you not coming?"

"I will not abandon my people after all the destruction I brought upon them."

Before she could protest, a violent explosion ripped the door apart, shaking the entire room. The guards standing at the door were knocked back by the explosion.

"Go!"

Smoke poured in as three huge nightmarish forms entered the doorway.

"My lord, here they come!" The bodyguards stepped up to confront them but they were easily crushed by the machines. The surviving soldiers lost all their courage.

"Run!" They tried to flee but the machines swiped them away. It was a gruesome sight as Kashekim witnessed the deaths of his own bodyguards.

"Volley!" From their balconies, the archers fired off a volley of arrows. The machines responded by firing their blue electrical weapons, disintegrating the defenders' platforms.

It was too much for Kashekim to bear. In his rage, he attempted a daring charge at the machines. The wind was blown out of him as he was knocked back across the room. His weapons and shield clattered as they landed on the marble floor. Rebel soldiers streamed in, some of them carrying spears with blood stained at the tips. Kashekim recognized some of the warriors. They were the very ones who swore allegiance to him. They seized the king and held his arms back.

Vrishin, the leader of the rebellion, stepped into the throne room. He looked just like every other Atlantean only instead of a blue pendant he wore a crimson pendant around his neck.

"This is a big step down for you your highness."

"Vrishin, I order you to stop this madness at once!"

Vrishin smirked. "When I'm this close to victory? I think not. Let's look at it this way. You had these machines built so you can conquer the world. Now I intend to use them to finish what you started. And let's not forget about the innocent lives involved in your conquests."

The king was furious. "You will pay for this treachery!" he growled.

"Treachery? Was it not you who had these machines built in the first place? You'll have to take the blame someday. Now tell me, where is the spear?"

The king glared at him.

Vrishin grunted. "That's what I thought." He gave a signal. One of the machines seized Kashekim before slamming him against the wall. Vrishin strode over to him. "Where is it?"

Suddenly one of the statues slid open, revealing the secret passageway.

A dozen rebel soldiers climbed out, dragging the refugees with them.

"Vrishin, we found them trying to escape through these tunnels. The child here cries too loud."

"Is this all of them?"

"Yes sir, we even found the queen." They dragged Katara out from behind, who was still clutching her crying child.

Vrishin casually walked over to the queen. "Your highness," he gave a mocking bow. "And I see you have a child. She has your eyes."

"Don't you dare touch her!" she snarled.

"Now let's not get hasty," he motioned towards his men. Two soldiers gripped her shoulders. Vrishin then yanked the child from her arms before handing it to one of his men. "Hold her."

Seeing this, Kashekim tried to struggle loose, but the rebels held him back.

"I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this," Vrishin gave another signal at the machine. Raising its other arm, the machine revealed a row of gleaming razors in front of Kashekim's face. "Now tell me. Where… is… the spear!!??"

"Don't tell him Katara. He will only kill you too."

The machine waited for further orders. He only had to give the order and it would be over. "Last chance."

"I don't know," Katara began to sob. "I really don't know!"

"Wrong answer." Vrishin raised his arm to give the order but stopped, as something caught his attention. Walking across the chamber, he picked up the spear Kashekim had dropped. "Of course," he muttered. He raised the spear above his head. "At long last, The Spear of Destiny is finally mine!"

***

The group was led out the throne room towards the courtyard. Outside, the stench of blood and smoke filled the air. Parts of the city were ablaze. Bodies were strewn all over the floor as machines of all size swarmed in the air.

They reached the courtyard. From above, the Mother Crystal shone a crimson color as its search beams looked for a host. Vrishin wasn't the one to take any chances. He had the family's pendants taken away from them.

"Prepare to witness the downfall of your empire!" Taking the spear, Vrishin stabbed it right side up into the middle of the courtyard. The outer casing on its tip crumbled off before revolving around it. With a soft crackle, the spear began to glow with blue electricity. Soon the entire city was glowing with blue energy. The Mother Crystal turned from crimson color to blue as its search beams focused on Vrishin's pendant. He flinched as a large amount of electricity burst out of the spear before completely engulfing him. Vrishin gave out a scream as he writhed in agony.

Neither of the rebels moved as they stared in wonderment. The King Stones spun until they were just a blur. There was a bright flash before the King Stones slowly stopped spinning. As the glow faded, everyone saw that Vrishin had vanished.

The spear stopped crackling with energy before it clattered onto the stone floor and rolled towards Kashekim's feet. As he picked it up, some of the machines began shutting down while others flickered from red to blue color. He turned to face the trembling rebels. One of them gave Kashekim his daughter back.

Everyone including the rebels kneeled before Kashekim.

"Long live the emperor!"