Devastation rained from the sky. A brilliant meteor shower of black and white crashed into titan after titan. The aftermath of each meteor caused grass, dirt and mud to explode into the air. Sora dropped to one knee, bending the orb as strongly as he could.
Brie noticed how much he struggled to contain the meteors. A few hit portions of the settlement, including the main castles, killing hundreds, if not thousands of innocent vampires.
"Stay calm everyone!" Dorian said as he rushed to find someone from Sora's party.
"Where is Celeste, I need her, now!"
"I'm really not sure!" Leila cried.
Celeste heard Dorian's cry, as she used her telepathic abilities specifically searching for her name.
"I need you to send a message to everyone in the settlement. Tell them to retreat, stay indoors and get in their basements. Have the Originals assemble with me in Sorbella. I know we've lost many vampires, but we need to make sure Sora is ok!" Dorian said deliberately.
"Got it!"
Celeste sent out the message and used some of her magic to ease the settlement's panic. The Original families stayed composed, despite their losses.
As the group formed in Sorbella, Dorian quickly asked for a body count.
"No biologicals for us, but about 10 of our turned. We were due for some new children anyway." Soren answered.
"Odetta was lost in the tower with 5 of our turned." Valen Grimwald answered.
"None of our biological but about 15 of our turned, as well as maids and workers. Three or four hit our tower. What are we going to do, Dorian?" Magus Moonveil asked.
"I'll let you know after we've finished," Dorian said. "Caspian and Octavia, what about you?"
"Only three turned, but a large portion of our castle was destroyed, killing hundreds of our workers and staff." Caspian answered matter-of-factly.
"Fallon and Delilah were caught in the blast, so we've lost three of our biologicals. Our youngest used his quick thinking to save hundreds. We didn't have much damage to our castle, fortunately. Nothing else to report, your Majesty." Eryx wrapped up.
"I am terribly sorry for your losses. Celeste will repair the settlement, but she won't be able to bring back the dead. We must ensure no one blames Sora. This is our utmost priority. He had no other choice and saved us all. The titans would have trampled our entire settlement. I'm sure our residents heard the rumbling."
Celeste appeared and informed them they needed to get back to the settlement, quickly.
"Well, let's not keep them waiting," Camilla said eagerly.
*****
Brie immediately noticed how exhausted Sora looked and teleported to him. She hugged her husband from behind.
"Stay strong. You're doing so well. I love you."
"I can't control this much longer! How many people have I killed?! I can hear the screams."
Sora was crying. Silver tears flowed from his eyes, but he continued to power through.
"Don't worry about that, Dorian and the others are here watching in support. I will repair the damage to the city. Stay focused." Celeste said as she put her hand on Sora's shoulder.
Sora noticed something strange touching him.
'Huh? What's going on?'
"We're with you, son." Cyrus said proudly as he hugged Sora from the front. Sora couldn't see him.
'I feel so much stronger. What is this?'
Sora finally stood up and began controlling the meteors into titans. His aim was improving as he felt an increase in strange sensations touching his body.
"Keep going, you're so close dear!" Jessica said confidently as she rubbed Sora's head.
"Mom? Like Earth Mom?" Sora said as his tears began flowing more quickly.
"Yes, my dear. We're all with you."
Sora felt tiny sensations touching his legs, his arms. His entire body continued to feel increasingly strange and increasingly powerful.
He had full command of the yin and yang orb and meteors now. He was sniping titan after titan and didn't feel exhausted.
"Keep going big bro! You got this!" the identical twins said.
"For real! You saved so many of us back then, you're doing the same thing now! It's so cool to watch!" The Orphans cheered.
Sora's beautiful silver tears became those of happiness. He could feel the love and compassion of those aiding him.
"You finally feel it!" Chronos said with a laugh.
"I told you that you and Brie would make a great King and Queen someday." Rook bragged as Sora felt a giant increase in power with three giant palms now firmly on his back.
"You're kicking ass dude!" Xepher Grimwald exclaimed.
"Not a day goes by that we don't miss you. We are sorry if you felt we were ever too hard on you," his foster parents said.
"Everyone here loves you Sora. You've impacted all of these souls in a positive way across both of your lives," the owners of the Orphanage said.
Sora felt all of their presences on his body and the strength he gained made him finally burst into joy.
Lastly, Aphrodite flew into his heart.
"My beautiful baby boy. You know I am the goddess of love. This is my power manifested in you. You're lucky to have Brie and your party. They would all sacrifice themselves for you. I know you're sad about those you feel you've killed. They were the first ones here to assist you from Paradise."
"Really? Even those I've killed are here because they love me?" Sora asked in amazement.
"Don't fret mate. All us vamps lived hella long lives. I didn't exactly think a meteor from a god would kill me, so I'll have stories to tell in Paradise for eternity! What a beautiful way to go!" Fallon Blackmore said to him.
"But why can't I see any of you?" Sora asked.
Brie noticed the battlefield was finally silent.
"You can see me."
She let go and went in front of Sora and kissed him with all the love in her heart.
'Release'
"Don't mourn for us. Celebrate us. Please. Tell Dorian it was fun! Every moment of it." One of the Ashwood turned said.
"You've been through far worse than this, my son. From the alleyway, through the fire to growing up alone. I've watched you grow up and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm just sorry I wasn't there for you to see. You've been through more pain than anyone I've ever watched, but you always get through it." Jessica said, still rubbing his head.
"You've come so far. Don't let loss set you back. All of us are resting in Paradise now. Don't pity the dead, for we lived lives of happiness. Treat your party with that same love. All of us always think of you in a positive way big bro!" the identical twins said in harmony.
"Until next time. I love you!" Aphrodite whispered.
Sora felt the kiss on his cheek and wished he could see them.
"Thank you all so much. I love you all. You saved us today."
He felt them all finally leave, and he continued kissing Brie.
The party and Original vampires cheered and Celeste quickly teleported to rebuild the vampire settlement.
All the vampires in the settlement cheered. The party shot off magic into the sky as Brie and Sora kissed on the battlefield.
The power of love brought them the thing they needed most. Victory.