Yogi opened his eyes after transforming only to see right ahead of him standing a yard away were the 3 higher-ups who wanted him and Gareki dead.

This was going to be a competitive fight. They were strong. Every single one of them. He could feel it even though he had only been victim to the magic of one of them. Which was Gevic.

As far as he knew the man could only inflict pain with just a look. So he could only guess the other two, Jenesis and Zander had to have a unique power too.

It was odd how they were Avatars and yet they didn't have the genetic element over ice.

A bone chilling breeze of arctic wind moved past them as they all silently glared at each other, waiting for an action from one another to commence the fight.

Jenesis went from looking angry to having a slight smirk on her face.

Yogi noticed how her demeanor changed frequently from being relaxed to completely cold hearted to angry and back again. Bipolar much. He couldn't help but to think.

Jenesis placed a hand about her hip before speaking. "I bet you think you both have the advantage just because you've transformed. But in actuality you're both going to lose. And may I say how beneficial it is for me that both of you are here to serve your punishments for breaking the law."

Gareki took a step forward. His Guardian attire gleaming from the purple glow in the sky.

" We're not dying.," he said meaningfully while being completely serious. Vengeance was obviously what he wanted.

She raised her eyebrows in playful surprise. "You're actually going to kill us? Even though we're in charge of the entire Avatarian race?"

"You brought this on yourselves!" Gareki snapped. "You don't deserve to live after what you've done. You talk about law and order and about our people, but you're not following your own code. You don't care. If I had known that the higher-ups were like this then I would've put a stop to you sooner."

Jenesis crossed her arms. "We wouldn't have allowed you. You don't realize that we're strong and can hold our own when it comes to fighting just as well as you two. Even if you may be Guardians, do you honestly believe that your power can overthrow everyone in the universe? Well you're mistaken. Someone other than us has the exact strength you two have if not more.

Only we can uphold the law ." She gestured out to both Gevic and Zander. "You must've really cared about Larisa. Too bad. Like I said before this is all your fault, not mine. All you had to do was comply with my orders and none of this would be happening."

Yogi butted into the conversation just as Gareki opened his mouth to remark. "This is all stupid! Have you even considered what killing us will do for the universe? A Dark Age is happening right now as we speak and you want to kill us! Really? What about the greater good for the Avatarian race? Everyone in the universe will die if we die. Or is that Gareki was right about you not caring?!"

Gareki waited for her response. In a way he knew what she was going to say. If you broke a law than you had to serve a punishment no matter the cost. Didn't matter if they were Guardians or not which he found to be stupid.

Jenesis didn't respond right away. She looked thoughtful. "I do care to a certain extent. But I care more about my own needs. And if the Dark Age is happening then I'll have to take over it by using the Tempest Discs. But I can't do that unless you tell me where they are. So spill or I'll make you by force."

She gave a meaningful glance towards Avia and Seth.

"We already told you we don't know where they are or what they do ," Yogi argued.

"And I don't believe you." She turned to Avia and Seth who stood to the side accessing the situation with Gabriel locked in their grasps.

"Kill him." Was the simple order given out by her.

Gabriel's eyes widened as both Seth and Avia faced him. "No," he yelled. He was unable to use his magic thanks to ethereal flowing through his system.

A strong breeze of frigid air was given out by Gareki surrounding all of them in a world wind of snow.

It blinded both the higher-ups and Avia and Seth. Raising his arm he struck a bolt of blue electricity at Seth who flew backwards, sliding against the ice from the impact.

He didn't get back up.

Avia looked guarded as she held onto Gabriel to ensure he wouldn't get away while she yanked out her sword from her sheath at her hip.

She still struggled to see through the amount of snow flakes flying wildly in the air. Her long black hair whipped wildly in the wind.

She couldn't find them.

Gareki formed the telepathic thread with Yogi while continuing to hold out his hand that zapped freely with electricity at Avia. Prepping himself to shoot her.

After I shoot Avia I want you to grab Gabriel and run out of here as fast as you can. Find a safe place for him. Guard him while I take care of Jenesis and the others.

Yogi glanced at him as if he were crazy. By yourself?

Yes.

No. Yogi's expression changed from surprised to dour.

Gareki glared at him. Yogi, listen to me. We don't have the time to argue. We need to save him now before Jenesis and the others discover where we are in this snow storm I made.

No. Yogi insisted. You need to listen. You are not about to risk your life all for revenge. Do you not hear yourself?

Gareki's glare hardened. That's what you did.

That caught Yogi by surprise. He hadn't anticipated for him to turn the tables. He couldn't even find a response. Only thing he could do was look at Gareki in question.

Weren't you the one 6 years ago who lost your entire kingdom and ended up with your sisters locked away by your biggest enemy. And yet you risked everything. Everything! To save them. So why is it such a bad thing for me to make a risk right now?! I get that you're trying to keep me alive but you have to understand that my entire kingdom has been turned into ice statues. My mother who was the only one alive died right in front of me. My brother and father are also dead. Tell me why I shouldn't risk everything right now? Give me 1 good reason why I shouldn't avenge her?

Yogi stared at him.

That had hit him hard. Looking at Gareki now reminded him of himself 6 years ago. It reminded him of all the hardships he had gone through just to get his kingdom and sisters back. The loss he had felt as well as the pain and hatred. He knew exactly how he was feeling right now.

He realized that pulling Gareki away from vengeance was just selfish. His family was gone just like his parents but he still had his sisters unlike Gareki who had no one.

With that in mind, Yogi relented. I'm coming back for you. I'm not letting you fight them alone. You heard what she said. They're strong like us.

I know how to fight. Gareki thought sounding a little offended at Yogi doubting his strength. After all he was the only one here watching over the Arcial Realm taking care of all evil while he was away. He didn't need him talking to him like he didn't know what he was doing. He knew damn well when it came to fighting.

Just follow my plan. Come back since you want to so badly. But just know I can handle all 3 of them.

Yogi reluctantly agreed knowing that Gareki was upset because of his loss. Fine.

Gareki shot Avia with the bolt zapping on his fingers and watched her fall back. She landed unconscious next to Seth.

Yogi ran into the blizzard and grabbed Gabriel before any of the higher-ups could notice and was out through the glamorized wall.

Gareki watched him go before planning his next move.

He needed to defeat each higher-up separately. They were stronger together. But which one would he take down first.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind he heard and felt a rumble.

Looking down he saw that the ice was cracking.

He realized what was happening before it could come. He jumped back just as the ice broke in the spot he'd been standing in.

Zander shot up from the water and shoved him backwards with a force Gareki hadn't been prepared for.

He fell back harshly. Body skipping against the ice before sliding to a stop a few yards away.

Recovering quickly he glared at Zander through strands of silver hair that had fallen over his eyes before moving to push himself up only to feel pain course through his whole body causing him to fall back to the ice, tensing up.

Gevic had found him too.

The white haired man dropped into his viewpoint along with Jenesis.

She walked up to him as he struggled to get up from the ground. "I bet you thought you were clever. Did you really think that this blizzard would keep you hidden from us? I expected more from a Guardian like you. This is pretty pathetic."

Gareki clenched his jaw as he went to push himself up once more only to be shoved down with Zander's foot upon his back. "I would stay down if I were you," came his deep voice.

Gareki averted his glare onto him. "Fuck you." His voice was filled with despise.

That earned him a hard kick to the jaw. He sunk to the ground, feeling more pain settling into him along with the coppery taste of blood. He felt like dying. The pain was that intense.

"How much more pain can you take?" She kneeled before him. Her voice sounding too deceivingly nice. " before you give me an answer about the Tempest Discs. Where are they?"

He was getting fed up with this question. "I told you. I don't know!" He gritted out while blood mixed with saliva dripped from his bottom lip.

Her eyes squinted suspiciously. Nothing would get through to her no matter what he said.

"How about we try a different approach. And since the faerie disappeared let's do this on you now." she lifted her hand towards his forehead and that was when he snapped.

He couldn't allow her to take away his magic. Not after everything she had taken from him today.

Every fiber of his being ignited with magic from within and suddenly a bright beam of blue static shot out from the purple sky, landing right on him. The strong impact blasting away everyone that was near.

His eyes were glowing white again as he stood up, no longer feeling the pain caused by Gevic. The powerful beam that'd fell on him had formed a barrier to protect him against their magic.

His entire body radiated a light blue. It felt exhilarating and strong.

He had definitely missed the power of his Guardian transformation. It boosted his magic whenever he was in this form.

Jenesis slowly regained her footing. Her clothing had burnt marks from the static of the beam. Her own eyes glowed from anger.

"How dare you?!" She raged.

Gareki wiped his mouth before faceing her with white eyes shining brightly."I should be asking you that." Gareki had a boiling edge to his own voice. "How dare you kill my mother?! How dare you take down my kingdom?! You're not in the right to be questioning me when you caused so much havoc. None of this is my fault. You did all of this on your own. You went too far. And I'm going to make you pay."

Having that said he pushed his arms out causing the beam to disperse in a powerful wave of static over the ice covered ground.

Jenesis blocked her face from the impending static rushing towards her. So strong she couldn't keep her footing and had to use the ice to grip her entire feet in order to stay standing.

Once the strong winds had passed she dropped her arms down to her sides and glowered at Gareki with so much hatred.

"We'll see who pays first." She moved her hand out to either side of her before pushing them forward making a big wave of water shoot up from the ice and head straight for him.

Gareki stepped forward before holding out his hand were he made a shield of hard ice.

The water slammed against him but he held his place with no difficulty. After it past he threw aside the shield before punching the ground.

The ice crackled loudly before jutting up large spikes that moved rapidly towards Jenesis.

But before they could reach her, Zander stepped in front of her and shot his arms out where his hands built up energy in the form of glowing red balls. He threw them the ground and no sooner had they touched the ice the ground ignited in an explosion that shoved large pieces of ice at Gareki who formed a static shield around himself.

The explosion rocked against his defenses. He felt the push against his hands as he held them upwards in order to keep the shield standing.

It was more powerful than he had imagined. But the odd thing was he hadn't expected Zander to have the ability to make explosions other than within a person's body.

Clearly Gareki had missed a few details when it came to knowing the higher-ups. They had other magical skills up their sleeves that he wasn't all too excited to witness and become victim to.

Just great. He thought.

He took down his shield after making sure the explosion had diminished. It had left behind a black fog with little flames that immediately dispersed because of the ice.

He stood guarded, waiting for the next move.

And in a blink of an eye two more red balls of energy were falling out of the black smoke towards him.

He flipped to the right just as the orb exploded.

The next one he ran from and did a flip in mid air only to be shoved by the after effects of the blast.

He landed on his feet only to roll forward to an abrupt stop on his back.

Groaning he sat up with a hand on his forehead.

A loud crunch from the ice went off causing Gareki to look up only to see Zander had jumped over the smoke and flames and was now in front of him where he aimed a punch at him in which Gareki blocked with both arms forming like an X in front of his face.

"Don't challenge me," Zander threatened. His fist suddenly glowed red. He pulled back before aiming down where Gareki rolled out of the way, stood up and kneed him in the face before taking the back of his neck and shoved him down where his face slammed against the ice.

He yanked him up and was about to slam his face back onto the ice but Gevic came up from behind, took him around the torso and flung his body away from Zander.

Gareki landed in a crouch, now facing them both. Not even giving them a chance to make an attack he ran forward quickly and punched Zander with just as much force and watched him skid against the water before sliding roughly against the ice.

Gareki stood tall. "I like a challenge." He looked towards Gevic now who used his magic on him.

For a split second Gareki had felt pain but tackled Gevic anyway with beams of electricity leaving his glowing eyes.

Gevic fell away. Sliding next to Jenesis who glared at Gareki dangerously. "So this is how it's going to be?" she asked.

He faced her. His hands teaming with electricity eager to be used."I'm not going to let you win. You don't deserve that."

"That's too bad. Because I plan on winning!" Her hand shot out with a large pole of sharp ice heading for him.

He ducked out of the way before throwing one of his electricity balls at her.

She swung the big pole of ice making it take his attack.

He ran the opposite direction to get a good target on her before throwing the other one but before it could hit her her other hand shot out and absorbed the attack.

She smirked as she threw the attack back at him but it was more stronger than before.

Gareki blocked himself, ready to feel the blow.

But out of nowhere a fireball engulfed the bolt right in front of him before it could hit it's target. And as if the bolt was expanding inside the fireball it grew bigger.

He tensed up. His legs not cooperating to run.

In the blink of an eye Yogi was there, tackling him to the ground just as the fireball exploded blowing them both away.

The air rushed out of Gareki's lungs as he felt heat shove against his back, pushing his body in what felt like midair before he roughly collided with the ice.

He was so done with explosions at this point.

He shakily pushed himself up into a sitting position. Aching muscles but no injuries. He got lucky. His eyes caught sight of Yogi laying a few feet away.

He couldn't see his face. It was turned the other way as he lay motionless on his stomach.

He crawled over to him and pushed him onto his back.

He had a few cuts on his forehead but no severe injuries. The slight rise and fall of his chest told him he was still alive.

Relief shot through him. "Yogi?" He slapped his cheek gently.

Orange/red orbs looked up at him with a daze. Yogi took a moment to recover and evaluate where he was. Once he had, he slowly sat up with a hand clenched over his bicep. "We need to go." He muttered urgently.

"What?" Gareki face fell. "I'm not leaving! Not after what they've done! They deserve to die!"

Yogi looked at him. His expression had turned stern. "The Dark Age. It's coming."

That was all he had to say before a cool breeze of what smelled like decaying vegetation wafted past Gareki's nose.

Gareki's ears suddenly twitched as the sound of chipping ice came loud in the distance. He turned in the direction from where he heard it and his eyes glared.

There in the distance was a large black fog with purple electricity coming in their direction. The electricity coming off of it was chipping away the ice. The ground grew thick with inky black sludge that crawled It's way forward.

"We got less time to make a move which is all the more reason we should run now," Yogi warned while getting to his feet. "It's also happening outside the glamorized wall. It must've finished corrupting my planet before coming here. It's spreading quicker. "

Gareki could see that. He stood up as well before facing him. Still in denial about leaving.

He had told himself he would make Jenesis pay as well as the other two higher-ups. He owed his kingdom that much even if they had exiled him they were still his people.

Yogi stepped towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder making him do eye contact.

"We'll avenge everything you've lost today another day. But as of now we have other worries."

Gareki's eyes squinted with distaste before he finally relented.

"Where's Gabriel?" He asked.

"In a safe place. As soon as I left to hide him other faeries came for him in this portal and recognized me as one of the Guardians and offered us a place to stay before the Dark Age fully engulfed this area of the Arcial Realm. I told them to wait while I retrieved you. But we need to leave now. They can't wait long."

"You're not going anywhere!"

All 3 higher-ups came into view.

Both Guardians faced them. Ready to fight. Gareki especially.

Jenesis clenched her hands into fists. "This fight isn't over. I've lost my patience. I'm done asking questions. Now I'm just going to force what I'm looking for out of you."

She lifted both her hands up and suddenly blue flames were formed into two balls behind her. Bigger than her entire body. She threw both fireballs.

Gareki prepared to brace himself but Yogi blocked him from her attack once more by stepping before him where he raised both hands.

His actions made both fireballs halt abruptly. He then held his right hand flat before using his left to circle a finger over his right palm.

Gareki watched as both fireballs sunk into each other. Becoming a bigger ball of fire before becoming flat, spinning into a big circle of flames that he settled around Jenesis, Gevic and Zander.

All 3 of them were now surrounded by a spinning circle of flames.

Gareki was impressed. So he had learned a few new tricks with his Guardian abilities. He thought.

"Let's go," Yogi said before turning to run for the glamorized wall with Gareki in tow.

"What about the fire?"

"It won't stay like that for long but we'll have enough time to get out of here before they catch up. And they can't escape from it with attack spells. It works like a dome. Anything that's shot at it will only revert back to them."

Gareki watched him as they ran. He knew this wasn't the last time they would see those 3. They had Gabriel's stash of realm gate crystals. They could teleport to any realm now.

But Yogi was right. They were strong. Perhaps on the same level as they were. But he'd be damned if he just allowed them to win without a fight. He would avenge his mother.

Blood lines ran deeper then any disappointment Larisa had given him.

And what that meant was that no matter however disappointed she was at him for lying to her they still shared the same blood. They were family. So he had to avenge her.

Gareki saw a glint of something laying on the ground. He stopped for a second and picked it up. The realm gate crystal necklace Gabriel had given to him lay flat in his hand.

Jenesis must've dropped it during the fight. He hung it around his neck. Back where it belonged.

He continued running. Hearing the rumble of the Dark Age from behind before crossing through the glamorized wall where Yogi paused to look for the portal he'd been talking about.

Gareki came to a stop too and accessed the Lumines Forest that was once vibrant with royal blue vegetation. All he could see now was black, shriveled up plant life reeking the stench of the Dark Age.

The Arcial Realm was dying. And just like anyone who had called a place their home since they were born he hated to see it this way. He had lived here for so long but nothing this hectic had ever happened for him to witness.

The Dark Age hadn't completely taken over. A few parts of the forest still glowed vibrantly but not for long. The darkness was still spreading.

"There." Yogi's voice broke him out of his thoughts.

He looked towards where his mate was looking and saw a highlighted portal right there hidden behind dead trees a few yards away.

A beautiful female faerie waited beside it. Her clothing cascaded perfectly around her form. Pale white skin blended with the pastel pink silk two piece top and knee length skirt. Honey brown curls waved down her back. Eyes as pure yellow as Gabriel's with long elf ears that all faerie's had. She caught sight of them too. She waved them over hurriedly.

They jogged over and she ushered them inside before being the last to cross into the portal, closing it behind her.

They both stepped into a wide space with no walls or ceiling. A space that was colored with yellow and pink surrounding them. Floating objects drifted everywhere around them.

Yogi looked down and realized there was no floor. He too was floating. They all were. He stayed still not exactly sure what to do, afraid that he would end up falling in the endless void of yellow and pink.

"Where are we?" He asked her.

She floated back skillfully as if she'd done this plenty of times. "You're both in a time warp. A place that doesn't exist in the universe. We are in a blank space. But this place can be whatever you want it to be with your will."

Yogi remembered hearing about a time warp awhile back from Gareki. It was where he stored the runes when they had to collect them to meet Ivy and get Pastel back.

But he hadn't imagined that they too could be in a time warp only objects.

He looked at Gareki and could tell that this was news to him too.

Gareki spoke up. "By will you mean if we think something it can form in thin air?"

"Exactly." She gave a small smile.

He watched her skeptically. "Let's address something before we go any further. Why are you helping us? I know you know that we're Guardians but that can mean 2 things. You can be our ally or our enemy. Not everyone in this world looks up to us. You'd be surprised to hear that or maybe you're not. Just depends on what your motives are."

She lost her smile and exchanged it to a look of sincerity. "I know this all seems sudden that a random faerie such as myself would pop up and offer to help you but you must know that I wouldn't dream of any foul play. I specifically came to rescue Gabriel after his emergency call and just so happened to see that one of the Guardians was with him." She gave a glance at Yogi before looking back to Gareki. "The clan of faeries wishes no Ill will against you both. You can trust us and me."

She and Yogi waited for his response.

Gareki crossed his arms. "I'm watching for anything that goes out of line. For now, lead us the way to Gabriel."

She nodded once before lifting her hand out to the space of floating objects.

Using her mind she thought of a location and they watched a large willow tree faze into thin air, floating on nothing just like they were.

"This," she began," Is where Gabriel as well as the faerie clan lives for now. We chose to live in a time warp since the Dark Age has taken over our original home back within the Arcial Realm. And considering the time warp doesn't exist in a particular place the Dark Age can't corrupt our home here. But perhaps this arrangement will be temporary since you both are here to put a stop to this."

"We're finding a way to stop this. But we're still looking into it," Yogi offered.

She clasped her hands together. "Well the Initial Guardians found a way to stop this Dark Age. I can only believe that you both can too." She turned and pushed her way towards the giant willow tree with windows and a door.

Looking at it it only looked like a bigger version of Gabriel's home.

She opened the door for them and offered for them to step in first.

Once they did a crowd of faeries came into view all standing in the center of the tree. Chattering.

They looked up and examined the tree that happened to be even bigger on the inside.

People sized holes aligned the walls going all the way up. With lanterns situated above them all glowing an assortment of colors making the inside of the tree colorful.

The holes were sleeping quarters.

There weren't any stairs. Faeries had wings but most chose not to have them out in the open.

For reasons neither of them understood.

"Gareki!"

Gareki looked down to see Gabriel making his way from the crowd. A few faeries turning to look at him and Yogi.

Gabriel embraced him tightly.

"They didn't kill you both. Thank goodness." he pulled away and went to hug Yogi.

Gareki on the other hand noticed that more faeries turned to look at them with wide curious and shocked yellow eyes.

They murmured to themselves in which Gareki could hear all of them with his acute hearing.

"That's actually them! The Guardians! "

"Are they here to save us?!"

"Our prayers have been answered."

"I never thought I'd see them in person."

"They're gorgeous."

Gareki ignored the rest. All their complements were becoming jumbled up in his ears.

"How are you feeling," Yogi asked Gabriel.

The faerie pulled away from him. "Better. But that Ethereal stuff is no joke."

"Know what you mean." Gareki reflected on how his body had felt so weak under that poison.

"I'm glad you're both here. As you can see my people needed a reassurance that this Dark Age would be ended soon. Perhaps now that you're here you'll put their minds at ease."

Gareki sighed. "I can hear them. Every last one. Believe me I know how happy they are."

Gabriel smiled. "Well you both are still in your Guardian forms. Although I do believe they'll still recognize you even if you weren't. You both are pretty popular."

Gabriel averted his attention over to the female faerie that had brought them and began speaking to her.

"I'm glad you received my emergency call, Lafedi."

"You're one of us,"she said,"faeries don't leave each other behind."

Yogi walked over to Gareki. "I think we should be in our regular forms now."

"Good idea."

Both of their bodies glowed blue and orange before diming down revealing their original forms.

A figure suddenly dropped down from one of the holes nearest the ground. A man.

The man brushed aside his burgundy hair before turning his amber eyes onto Gareki who recognized him on sight.

"I thought I knew who you were and I was right to suspect," the man spoke in British accent just like Gareki remembered.

Yogi looked towards the Avatarian walking towards them and frowned.

Gareki spoke up. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Tch. Rude much?" the man walked over. "I at least expected a thank you for getting your ass out of the Covinent. Though I shouldn't have because doing that ended myself in trouble with them too."

"How?" Gareki questioned.

"They caught me red handed. I was heading back to my kingdom but was met up with a pissed off Jenesis who may I add almost killed me hadn't I escaped her." he lifted up a realm gate crystal hanging from his neck by a string. The exact one Gareki had. " I'm glad Gabriel had some more of these."

Gareki glared at him. "Right after I teleported into another realm you went to his house didn't you? You didn't actually leave when I told you to."

The man smirked. "Exactly. Sorry. But it worked out in the end. Gabriel had the realm gate crystals which was something I knew i would need. I knew Covinent would come after me."

Gareki shook his head in disbelief.

Yogi looked between them as they talked. Confused to who this other Avatarian was. "Sorry to interrupt. But who are you?" his frown deepened. For some reason he felt odd about this guy.

The man moved his amber eyes onto Yogi.

Yogi noticed the guy was breathtakingly handsome like most Avatarian men were but he didn't have anything on Gareki.

"Oh well if it isn't the Outsider himself. The Covinent certainly had a lot to say about you."the man looked between them before asking. "Did you both really mate?"

Yogi's expression hardened. "What kind of question is that?" he seemed to be digging way to deep in private information.

He shrugged casually. "I mean not to be rude or anything but the news is out there. Just a question of confirmation is all. Not that I blame you for crossing the line and mating with an Avatar because Gareki is an eyecatcher. Not to mention I can only guess his body is amazing."

He gave Gareki a glance. Checking him out.

Yogi stared at him like he was mental. Did he just. . .Oh hell no. He stepped forward but Gareki held him back and immediately. Changed the subject.

"His name's Donte. Donte Ivins. He's prince of the Northern Ice Kingdom. And . . .an old friend."

Donte still had a smirk on. "We're still friends. He just doesn't want to admit that because this moment is awkward."

Gareki kept a straight face. "No. We're definitely old friends."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"Well Donte this first impression is definitely telling me a lot about you,"Yogi said with an edge.

"Same,''he responded before turning his attention back to Gareki. "How long you 2 planning on staying?"

"How long you plan to keep talk-"

Yogi was cut off by Gareki jabbing him in the side. He was trying to prevent him from turning this into a fight. "Not for long. We have somewhere to be. We're only staying the night."

"To where exactly?"

"Damn you ask a lot of ques-"

Another jab from Gareki.

"We're going to the Underworld gate since that's where the Dark Age is being released from. We need to close it."

Donte suddenly became serious.

"Even if you do close them that won't guarantee the Dark Age will stop. It'll stop in the Arcial Realm. But it'll still affect the other 3 planets. It's already affected the other two planets in our universe. You need to stop the Dark Age individually on each planet."

"How do you know that?" Yogi finally got to speak without Gareki hitting him.

"Gabriel told me." Donte nodded his head at the faerie

Gareki glanced at him. "Of course he did. He's knowledgeable about all sorts of things. But what I need to know is if we can stop the Dark Age in the Arcial Realm by closing the Underworld gate then how are we going to stop it on other planets?"

Yogi glanced at him. "I thought we had an plan already."

"We need a new one. That one we had before won't work. I thought we could just stop this whole Dark Age just by closing the gates to the Underworld but if he's saying it'll still affect other planets we obviously need a new solution."

"Well I'm not sure but I've heard something about Tempest Discs from him," Donte informed.

Both Guardians perked up at the mention of them.

Jenesis was talking about the same thing. Yogi thought to Gareki.

We don't know what they do though. Unless it's what he's saying right now that they'll put an end to the Dark Age happening on those 3 planets. Gareki thought in response.

That could be it. But I would still make sure.

"What do Tempest Discs do? And where can we find them?"

Donte shook his head. "I told you, I'm not sure. But I do know where you can find info. But I would have to lead you there. I don't want to since I'm trying to lay low so the Covinent won't find me."

"Too bad,"Yogi cut in a bit harshly. " We are too. But you don't see us hiding. If you know info then you have to show us."

"He's right," Gareki agreed . "If you helped me once you can help me again."

Donte looked between them. He saw that he didn't have much of a choice. Sighing he reluctantly agreed. "We leave in the morning." he turned and walked away.

Yogi waited till he was out of hearing distance. " I don't like him."

"Trust me. I noticed." Gareki leaned against the wall of the tree.

"Why didn't you tell me he also saved you from the Covinent?" Yogi turned his attention to his Guardian link.

"Wasn't important." was his simple answer.

Yogi raised a brow. "Really?"

Gareki gave him a suspicious glare. "Jealous? Is that why you don't like him because we're old friends?"

Yogi faked an offended look. "Jealous? No! I'm just. . ."

Gareki gave him a blank look. "Jealous. You shouldn't be." he raised his right hand and showed his palm to Yogi where a thin scar from a blade marred his skin. "I belong to you. That's what this scar symbolizes."

Yogi looked down at his left palm where the same scar was. Maybe he was overthinking things with Donte.

Gareki was his. Nothing would change that.

†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡†

Later that day after the entire faerie clan had welcomed both Gareki and Yogi by throwing a small celebration with dinner and had showed them a ground-level found himself stuck in deep thought as he stared at himself in the bathroom mirror. Yogi in the other room laying in bed digesting the food offerings given by the faeries.

He couldn't help but think about the day's events. Nothing had prepared him to feel this. . .lost.

One thing specifically had him feeling this way.

His mother was dead. Earlier it had sunk in but hadn't stuck. But now it had.

He hadn't felt such an emptiness in his chest this intense. Was this grief. This is what it felt had to be.

Experiencing emotions for only 6 years had proved to be confusing and challenging for someone such as himself who had lived so long without them.

He found himself feeling more emotional than usual. He hadn't imagined to cry. At the time of her death only anger had come. Now he felt the creeping tears stinging his eyes.

He was the only one left in his family now. And that was what made the tears come stronger.

He sunk his head down before dragging a hand over his face and into his hair.

He inhaled to calm himself but it was too late. A tear slid down his cheek. That 1 tear invited another and another until he was full on crying.

They won't stop. He thought looking at the pitiful face staring back at him in the mirror. This is what it looked like to cry.

Suddenly he saw Yogi stepping into the bathroom entrance. Gareki quickly looked down and wiped his tears away.

But his boyfriend had seen them just for that split second.

Gareki sighed quietly, fixing his face into a blank one before turning to leave the room but Yogi blocked his path.

Gareki frowned at him but it lacked the coldness he would put behind it. Yogi knew something was really wrong now.

"You know it's not good to hide from me."

Gareki kept the frown on his face. "What are you talking about?" he put on a front. "I'm not hiding from you. Now let me through."

He moved to get past him but Yogi gently pushed him against the wall, moving to stand right in front of him.

Gareki stared him hard in the eyes. "Move, Yogi," he said seriously.

Yogi eyed him with just as much intensity. "And if I don't?"

Gareki's glare hardened but there was still a weakness behind it. He moved to shove him but Yogi grabbed his wrists and held them firmly against the wall above his head.

"Stop hiding it,"Yogi simply said. His voice staying on a calm note.

"Let go! Dammit!" Gareki's voice cracked.

"No."

"Why aren't you listening?!"

"Gareki."

"What?!"

"You're crying."

"No I'm -"

He felt them. The tears were falling again.

His face fell as he looked away from Yogi who held his chin and made him turn to face him again.

"It's okay. I won't tell anyone." he kissed him long and deep before hugging him. Gareki froze for a few seconds. His arms hovering over Yogi's sides. Finally he relented. He hugged him back. Sinking into his strong arms. The tears free falling harder now. "Everything's going to be fine," Yogi said quietly.

"I blame this on you," Gareki said in his chest.

"What exactly ?" Yogi wrested his chin atop his head.

"This emotion. You gave it to me."

"Do you regret it?"

Gareki thought about it."I never regret anything when it comes to you. That's why I made the blood oath with you. I knew it had to be you I would have to promise my life to. It was always you. "

Yogi stayed silent for a few heart beats. "You know I love you with every fiber of my being don't you?"

"I do."

"Good. Don't hide from me again."