Prologue

A/N: I don't own Glee or it's characters.

3:00PM

Four days Prior to Catalyst Deliverance

One day post Catalyst theft

Erthian elf kingdom: Village Kirahe, Outskirts.

Noah Puckerman was critically injured.

Worse than any of us thought he was. But why did he not tell us?

Leave it to Noah to create a huge mess of such a simple thing.

We rushed him into Brittaney's home, where her village healer did many things to try and fix the fool, and we were told it was hopeless.

He said Noah had lost all feeling.

Right before he started bleeding out of every possible hole in his body.

I tried to help sooth everyone. Calm them down. But my efforts were in vain. We were all panicked and afraid for Noah.

Quinn paced outside the large double doors that led to the Shaman Chambers; I think Brittaney called it, while the rest of us sat in the Great hall, quietly contemplating the events that took place.

One. Sue got the best of us. She tricked us into basically handing her the Catalyst on a silver platter surrounded by rose petals that said "Go ahead and kick our asses."

Two. Prior to Sue taking the Catalyst, she shot Noah with her still unknown powers, resulting in Brittaney's village healer not exactly knowing how to heal him, working on luck alone.

Three. Post Catalyst stealing, Noah refused any assistance from anyone who offered (most of us). Then he continued to fight after firmly stating he was perfectly healthy.

And now we are here.

I didn't notice the doors to the Shaman Chambers open, for I was busy drawing on the soil filled floor. I didn't notice the Shaman call me to follow him, until I felt a foot nudge my knee from where I was sitting with my legs crossed neatly on the floor.

I looked up to see Mercedes smiling sadly down at me, motioning with a small jerk of her head towards the doors.

I stood immediately, brushing myself off.

"Asriel," I'll never get used to these 'Chosen one' names, "Kirjava was asking for you. Only you." He added with a pointed look at Quinn who had just before asked, or rather demanded, that she see him.

I walked carefully, collecting my thoughts until one remained, "Why is Puck asking for me?"

I stopped briefly to look back at everyone else.

The ones that caught my eye first were Brittaney and Santana. They were sitting on one of the four tangled wooden benches. The Erthian girl was calmly stroking Santana's arm, a blank yet thoughtful expression on her face, while Santana picked absent mindedly at one of the few leaves growing from one of the twisted branches that made up the bench.

I had never seen Santana look that…Lost.

Next were Tina and Mike.

The skilful thieves were sitting on the floor next to Santana and Brittaney's bench, legs crossed, hands folded neatly at their abdomen. I think they were meditating. Of course I couldn't see their lips due to the thick black layering on them from head to toe, but I could see the cloth where their lips would be moving ever so slightly, as if reciting a prayer.

Their eyes were closed.

I shifted my gaze to Mercedes, Kurt, Artie, Sam and Blaine.

All five were on the bench on the opposite site of the hall from Brittaney and the others, a carpet of soil separating them. Each of them had a different look in their eyes, but all related to sadness.

Finn sat a little away from everyone else.

He held tears in his eyes.

Of course he did. Puck is his best friend. Almost a brother. Out of all of us he probably how the most right to cry without judgment.

Then I circled back to Quinn.

My Quinn.

It pained me to see her so sad about this. Puck had been with her since the start. Always making sure she was ok. Always protecting her. Puck is, like he is to Finn, a brother to her.

It's selfish of me to feel jealous that she was this upset.

That's when it hit me.

Everyone looks so worn. So weary and defeated.

I wanted to contemplate on this more but the Shaman clearing his throat pulled me out of my thoughts. "I think it is best if we hurry, Asriel."

That was code for "He's dying fast. Get in here before he's gone."

I gave a quick nod, slipping inside the large doors just before the Shaman.

They closed with a loud, echoing groan.

The Shaman motioned for me to follow him down the path.

I looked around, seeing nothing but tree branches, bent in such a way that they made a tunnel-like entryway. Sunlight peaked through the spaces in between the branches shyly, as if asking permission to shine on this somber afternoon.

There were many flowers woven through the branches. Many petals were floating, as though without gravity, through the air. They had a certain sadness to them. Like they knew someone good and brave was dying this day. Like they knew today was not a day to dance joyously with the wind.

The Shaman came to a slow halt at some smooth oak doors with many Erthian patterns and symbols on it.

As he opened the doors, a circular, large room revealed itself. This room had a blue tinge to it, a faint, yet strong, light blue aura. And it was certainly more caught up with modern technology.

As I stared at the many wires running through the circular room I noticed that the room itself seemed to breathe. It seemed to have a pulse. If one were to pay close attention they would see the blue glow get slightly brighter, and then dim every couple of seconds.

The Shaman saw my wondrous look, and humbly decided to explain.

"We may be creatures of nature and ways of old, but considering how much this world has advanced, we need at least a little technology to keep in touch with the other sectors, specifically your advisor, William, considering he is in the center of the hell Sue has created in the Kingdom Lyraneu. Right now, Kirjava is hooked up to one of the generators," He motioned to one of the four tall pillars that stretched lazily up to the top of the room. "That is all that is keeping him alive, if even. He is very determined to speak to you, Asriel. I think in the long run, that is what keeps his heart beating."

I fought the urge to tell him my name was not Asriel.

It was Rachel.

But I held my tongue. Noah was more important right now.

"Sadly, it is rare than I speak to him. With how far out the elven kingdoms are from your own, and how apparently strict Sue and her armies are, it is nearly impossible to talk to about anyone outside elven territory altogether." The Shaman led me around the four pillars until a layer of white edged into my line of sight. There was an opening in the back of the room, a balcony looking out on the elven lands. There were a set of tightly woven stick doors, held open by two statues of what looked to be dragon heads.

White sheers flowed effortlessly at the entrance. On the balcony was a small bed, fit for an ill person. On it was none other than Noah.

I instantly ran to his side, for he was deathly pale. His cheeks were gaunt and his eyes no longer held the fierce determination they did merely hours before. I took his hand worriedly while gazing at him.

Noah had been looking out towards the forest below, until he felt me by his side. He slowly turned his head.

"Rachel. You came."

Those words broke my heart. They sounded slurred and weak.

"Of course I did, Noah. You know I'd do anything for you. You're my friend." Noah nodded meekly. "I need you to do me," he stopped to take a breath. I waited patiently, "a favor. Call it payment for saving your life when all of this-" pause, "-started." I nodded eagerly, "Yes, anything Noah, I can assure you I'll do it."

A small smile played on the warrior's lips. "I need you to end this. Make sure you defeat Sue. Make sure everyone survives." I frowned slightly, opening my mouth and closing it again like a fish. "I also need you to take care of Finn." This time, I spoke.

"Finn? Noah Finn doesn't even like me." Noah only shook his head, "doesn't matter. He's probably out there with everyone else," Another pause," looking like a damn fool, crying and whatnot. Rachel. He's going to take this the hardest. I know Quinn will too. But she has you to help her while she's down. I am all Finn has, really." I looked down, away from his eyes. I couldn't take how they tore away at me. Leaving me vulnerable and exposing me as if my time of judgment had come.

"I…I will, Noah. I promise Finn will be ok. As will everyone else once we take Sue down and lock her away forever-"

"No!"

I gazed at Noah with wide eyes at his exclamation. "Noah…I thought you wanted us to defeat her?" Noah only shook his head, "I want you to defeat her, once and for all. I want you to kill her when the time comes, Rachel."

My blood ran cold.

Kill Sue? Kill another living being? It's not as though I had not killed before but those were desperate measures. Those were truly life threatening situations. The people I had killed gave me no alternative. If we all had Sue cornered, we could arrest her, put her in prison for the rest of her days.

"Noah I can't kill her. Not when there's another, non-violent way." I said slowly. Noah's eyes flared briefly, "Prison is only temporary, Rachel. Sue will break out and this will all start again. Her power is unknown, Rachel, unknown. That means there's no way of stopping it. We must destroy her and all knowledge of her powers. We must prevent the next generations to come from suffering as many of us have. Plus, you've killed before. What's the issue here?"

I sighed, thinking of a way to word this without wasting too much time that I didn't have. "Noah. When I killed those people it was not necessarily…me. I was hired to kill those people. In my faith, the body and soul are seen as separate entities."

Noah looked confused.

I tried again, "My people see our bodies as merely tools or vessels through which people can choose to commit an act of murder, similar to a sword. If a sword cuts down an innocent, is it the sword that is guilty; or the person wielding it? In this case, I am the sword. The person who has asked me to kill is the one wielding me."

Noah glared at me, "You are not a sword, Rachel." I gently shook my head, "But I am also not a murderer. I simply carry out the work that my contracts are too afraid to do themselves. I am their weapon. I am their Golem."

In a flash, Noah reached up and grabbed my long black coat, yanking it down until I was mere inches above his face. "Then be my sword. Be my Golem. Kill Sue Sylvester when the time is right." He hissed out the last sentence. I stared at him with scared eyes as he released my jacket collar, his hand falling with a thud and he began coughing madly.

Yet I did not back away.

Until the Shaman shouted something in Erthian and many other elves came rushing in, ushering me away until I lost sight of one Noah Puckerman.

. . . .

Noah Puckerman died 5 minutes after the elven doctors rushed me back into the Grand Hall where eager ears awaited.

Now we all stood outside.

The sun ironically shone brightly, as if signifying another has joined its ranks.

All of us were gathered around a casket that held our dear friend, safely securing him. Many were crying.

But I had no tears.

Only thoughts.

But I pushed those thoughts for later. Right now, one Finn Hudson needed me. The poor boy was a wreck. He was sobbing uncontrollably on his knees next to the casket, allowing his tears to flow freely onto Noah Puckerman's body.

Beside me was Quinn. Her face was a stony mask, yet tears still gathered in her eyes.

Across from me was Santana. She was also, crying. That's when I realized the magnitude of an effect this would have on us.

A lot of things happened that day.

Sue Sylvester took the Catalyst, the key to winning this everlasting war, right out of our hands that day.

I saw Santana Lopez cry for the first and possibly the last time that day. And there was nothing I could do to stop it. Nothing I could do to comfort her.

Noah Puckerman saved our lives that day. And there is nothing, nothing, we can ever do to repay a debt that large.

Noah Puckerman gave up his life that day.

And he took a little bit from each of us with him.

A/N: Review and whatnot, I could use criticism, thanks ~Gale.