The Fix-It Gang's POV
The room that was offered was practically three times the size of a single home to them. They had to take a minute to just take it all in upon entering, spotting the ceiling that seemed to be as high as the sky that reached so far up that they had to crane their necks all the way. As the other townsfolk, all spread out, exploring, the one thing that captured Felix was the window. The soft jingling of that hammer caught Ralph's attention. With the curiosity of a child, it seemed, Felix hopped lightly onto the resting nook to look out after pressing the curtain aside. As if in an instant, the hero was taken by what he saw.
"...oh... my... Land..." he sighed before resting his head on his folded arms while looking down at all this height.
"I am blown away~" Ralph was a bit smacked at the sight of the sparkling city below. "This is no game world, isn't it...?"
Felix didn't answer. His shocked mind was too occupied. After a long moment though...
"I never would've thought this would ever happen..."
"You? You thought that...? You were the most chipper guy in the arcade." Ralph said before he was able to see Felix's gaze glisten. "...hey."
"I'll be fine..." he managed a smile, a genuine one. "It-it's only that~ Even though Niceland was all we knew, the fact that our own existence was in jeopardy, I never felt so scared in my life, for all of you, the kids without their mother. Golly, they seemed so much stronger than me... Gosh darn it, I'm proud of them..."
"Whoa, pal. I have to admit that I've never heard you talk this way, after all those years working with you. Even though you've changed, you were always a strong one, buddy. I never knew how you did it for all those years. I'm bettin' those Racers learned it from you and Tammy."
When Felix looked like he was genuinely touched by those words, the Wrecker was about to continue before there was a light tap on the huge double doors. "U-um... Felix?" Gene softly called after he opened the door.
"Papa Felix?" cooed a small voice of the pink Racer, Taffyta Muttonfudge. That coo made Felix turn all the way around to see her and the entire group of colorful young ones all slowly coming inside.
Naturally, Felix began to silently count all fifteen of these frightened little scamps after hopping down with the whole lot starting to crowd him, completely knocking him down with multiple hugs!
"Look at all of you! Oh! You're all here!" the Handyman's voice twisted strangely out of mere tears of joy. "Oh, my darlings! I have been worried sick!"
"We thought you'd never come back! Or if you even made it at all!"
"When they told us you came, we had to come to see you!" Rancis piped, catching the Handyman in one tight hug.
Ralph stayed back, quite relaxed to see all this happiness suddenly fall into the wide room. Despite all that chaos of losing everything, it seems that this was an easy step in another direction.
As to how it was meant to be for the entire Keep. A place for healing. As I had always found this place to be home, more than anything, besides our new place in Paris. As Guardian, I found where I belonged and had settled down, time and time again. Lately, that time of peace has been thrown far beyond our reach. That private conversation left me shaken, but truly happy to the point that I had to stay out of the newcomer's sight and earshot. I had so much energy from that, that I had to have a moment out in the great gardens after I had been told of one happy moment in the hospital wing.
Today was a day of waiting since my dearest had to be on his way and would be here shortly before I was to embark on my promised quest. I would be here waiting for him. But for the time being, I had my wings to spread.
I left the hallways to the winding paths and brooks until I came upon the clearest, widest spot in the garden. Robin has come along with me as we approached this one spot littered with wide armor, all fitted and created to suit a creature the size of a dragon. I had hope in my heart and relief after a long time of struggle and this day was too beautiful to stay cooped up.
I had been in this human way for many weeks with my new crew, as it were, I was a tad nervous about transforming again. I knew for a fact that this part of the garden was visible to all of the windows in the higher levels of the castle. I had only hoped this wouldn't frighten anyone but I had magic to keep in practice.
"Keep that chin up, dear lady," Robin spoke before I had to chance to glance up at the hospital windows. "I believe no one can truly see you this far."
"I know, Rob. I've been out of it for a while. Little do they know, but it's worth a shot."
As I prepared myself in a specific magical stance, I certainly had an audience. Of only a pair of blue eyes, of course. He had no heart to just sleep the hours away, after so much had happened, he chose to remain by that window. He wasn't alone, however.
When the overly happy Racers came in, they talked and talked about the one woman who reminded them so much of the Sergeant when it was their turn to evacuate. That her promises were true since they were told they would see him again. Even though his thoughts were running him ragged, he couldn't help it when his eyes would droop. It was so hard to find peace like this, such as sleeping enough hours before the arcade would open. Only about four hours every night, for years…. So, this was almost too good to be true.
Thank you, Cassandra… For everything.
Just before he was to nod off, however, he saw a brilliant glint of light flash far in the garden below. Believing that it was part of the sunrise, Fix-It Felix plum nodded out, blowing out like a candle right by the sunlit window… just as one of the kids came by to lay by his side. There was a hint of a smile on both of their faces.
Feeling the warmth of magic within my chest, I took a deep breath and once I rose my arms high, this heat just erupted, at first seeming like I was thrown into the heat of an oven. I shut my eyes as I felt my muscles tense and stretch, feeling the sting of plumes coming out in a full flush of feathers. A golden trail of a sun gold enchantment surrounded me as my entire form grew to the size of a house, becoming… not a giant, but into a giant, golden Eagle! The armor that laid in the grass suddenly flew onto my being as the enchantment began~ soon appearing, ready and fit on this new body.
The pain subsided, allowing me the comfort and strength of these great billowing wings beating against the cool air. Robin knew well to stay back as I would change. As soon as I opened my eyes again, revealing to him a brown, amber glare. I gave a great, shrill cry, with great pride that I was able to successfully change.
"Now there she is! As bright as the sun!" Robin cheered on, finally running close.
"Come along!" I brightly called out. "If we are to reunite husband and wife, I better get to some practicing~" I excitedly broke into a jump as he took hold of my leg, bravely hopping onto my back as I took flight into the morning sky.
With my emotions rising high, I began to firmly have hope again. Not far away from these grounds, there was one place where we, as a team, would practice battle strategies and kept our skills up to snuff. We haven't been there in ages, but this was an obstacle course of sorts. A place that our two newbies would have to be introduced to fairly soon. With them having a day of well deserved rest, and the gathering taking the day as well, I had some time to myself, for once. Mind as well use it wisely. If Meaghan was truly alive, I had to be ready for this.
I did a sharp dip by shutting my wings for only a second, I made a sharp, fast turn over a grassy dune that revealed a series of mounted rocks, with a series of targets hanging off of them. Robin merely walked off the end of my tail as soon as he readied his bow and hopped off and I caught him with the palm of my right foot. This was risky, but he trusted me, because those sleek, sharp, black talons were killer weapons.
"Watch the claws, miss…"
"I know! Sorry, Rob!"
"Not an issue, just gotta maneuver here, that atta do it!" the Fox winked as he aimed and shot a target as I quickly flew passed at top speed.
"So, these recruits who want to take part!" Robin began to talk, mid-practice, during the flight. "You know what skills they have!?"
"First off, the Wrecker named Ralph, he's hefty, a lot more than Quasi is. He may be ground level, taking on horseman and the like. Nothing aerial, like this! God forbid that but… This has to be settled… As for Felix… He's small as you."
"How grand!"
"And apparently quick on his feet, like you~ Can dodge shots… god, forbid… but he has one magical property. One golden tool that can heal injuries!"
"A healer!" Robin's eyes lit up. "Why I'll be, a healer would suit us well!"
"I know… after all the scares we've had! But he has to be willing. I'm not sure now! He's the sweetest thing you'd ever meet… We need to get him and his wife back together~ He doesn't know it yet, but the Master has a plan! Say nothing until I say so, Rob!"
"Eyes ahead!" Robin warned and I almost struck my wing on one of the rocks.
"Well, this isn't bad after four weeks off~" I laughed, nervously. "His wife though, she's a gun wielder. Knows a thing or two about battles. That much I know…"
"You are just a natural with making friends, love!" was the last thing I heard until I found a spot to land after that first wave of targets.
"You think so, Robin…? It took them a bit to let me in." I was able to speak softly as soon as I shut my wings.
"I firmly believe," he began outright climbing up onto my head. "…the one thing Maleficent can never stand are strong bonds. You trust in them as they trust in you, as I do. As Quasimodo always had… Who says that they might not… y'know, stick around?"
"I do and I don't want that." I lightly laughed. "What would I do without any of you? I'd be a wild thing lost in Prydain for all I know if it weren't for you guys. And as of this day, I have the feeling I'm not the only Guardian anymore… After all this time, I feel that normal beating in my heart."
"At ease, lass, at ease… Once we're all gathered once again, and as you fly, this sun will always shine."
"That fae hasn't knocked us down yet. Kingdoms still stand to this day. I think we can hold on a little longer…"
That was what I have always forgotten. One could only go on for so long… so feeling the need to be vulnerable at times like this was natural. I couldn't find it in me to stay mad anymore. Something happened to Meaghan, I knew that deep down. Would it be fear, anything back in the modern era could have grabbed her back. I too had nearly forgotten that place even existed. What if she was in need of help somewhere? Our gathering was tonight and I was sure the Master had many things going on besides our newest citizens.