Chapter Ten

Disclaimer

I don't own Mabinogi nor any NPC's connected. Either Devcat or Nexon does.

A/N

In this chapter, we have a weakness in the detection of glitched fomors and a bad guy shows his face on Jack's homestead.

"Dan, did you say a Glitched Glas?" I asked while looking right at an alarmed Nao.

"That is exactly what I said. It had already killed all of us here. I told the player in question who was about to log out to rebirth to hang on for I can get reinforcements. The other escort logged out so you can get here. HURRY!"

"I'll be there as soon as I can, Dan. Hang in there." As soon as Dan hung up, I turned to Nao, "Care to tell me why my friend is facing a glitched Glas when I did not make any request lately."

Nao got a tears in her eyes, "But you have Jack but didn't realize it when you made it. Tell me Jack, how many other militants have a date with me? That's right, none. When you asked me to come here, you inadvertently made a huge request. Since I wanted to accept your invitation, Morrighan used her powers to alter reality to make it possible. We searched for the glitched fomor but could not find one."

"But you could not search Tir Na Nog since the Goddess has no real power there. Cichol, however, does. How am I going to get in there to help Dan?"

Just then I felt a very chilling presence behind me. Without turning around, I knew who was there. "Cichol, you have better leave before I rip you apart!"

"Or what! We both know you are no match for me and without my help now that glitched fomor will rip Mabinogi apart."

"Why should I trust you, Cichol? You killed this lady's father right in front of me."

"Jack…"

"That's Mr. Spider to you," I barked.

"Tisk tisk tisk… you really should be more polite to me Mr. Spider. I've killed people for less you know. Anyways I don't care if you trust me or not. However, if we leave that glitched fomor alone it will unravel the very fabric of thread that holds all of Mabinogi together and that is something we both can agree must not happen. Morrighan's power cannot get you into the area where the glitched Glas, only my power can."

I turned to Nao who was clutching herself. She was disgusted by Cichol's presence on the homestead as much as I was. "Nao, what do you think I should do?"

She looked at me and I could see the pain in her eyes, "You have no choice in the matter, Jack. We have to trust him but here me, Cichol. You do anything to harm Jack and I will rain all kinds of hell upon you. You know it was the Goddess' reality altering ability that created the glitched Glas. Imagine what will happen if I asked the Goddess to use that power to help me rid Erinn of you once and for all."

Cichol laughed menacingly, "Oh, I am so scared. You know it might be worth my while it just to see what exactly what you'll do. Nevertheless, you've needed not threaten me, I won't do anything to Jack. He once was a Black Knight and besides there may be more glitched monsters in Tir Na Nog in the future. I too realize Jack is the only one that can take care of them so to harm him is not in my best interest. He will come back safe and sound that is if he overcomes the glitched fomor."

I just thought of something, "Wait! If memory serves me correctly, I won't be able to transform in that area the glitched Glas is in." Both Cichol and Nao nodded their heads. "Well my mace now uses a portion of the Goddess power to take care of Glitched creatures. Will it have the same power in the area the glitched Glas is in?"

Nao looked at me sadly, "No she would not have that power. Not in the G1 final dungeon. In the dungeons before the final one, yes, but not in the final one."

"So how am I supposed to take care of this fomor? I get I am still the only one that can but how?"

Cichol was the one that came up with the solution, "I could imbue it with some of my dark powe…"

He never completed that sentence for Juni made herself known in astral form, "OH HELL NO! Just as Jack rejected the dark power before when he went back being a Paladin, I will reject any form of 'Dark Power'! No and I mean No!"

"Cichol, you heard the lady," I replied while smirking.

"Too Bad," declared Cichol, "All I was really going to do was make it possible for you to use the Goddess power in that dungeon like you normally would, miss. Heck, I can do it right here thus enabling Nao to make sure no ill affect is done afterwards."

"I don't know…" whined Juni, "Nao, is what he says possible? Will you be able to tell if any there are any harmful affects due to his dark power?"

Nao thought for a second, "I cannot say for certain, Juni. I do know though that Jack will have no chance in defeating the glitched Glas as you are right now."

Juni turned towards me, "Jack, I am frightened. I do have some memories of the mace while you were a DK. Did you know it was scared of you then? I just don't wish anything like that to happen to me."

"Juni, this will be your decision. I will tell you this much – if anything happens to you because of this 'Dark Power' then Cichol had better make sure his insurance is paid in full because nothing and I mean nothing will keep me from ripping him apart."

Juni thought for a second, "I know you will Jack for I would do the same. Alright Cichol, I agree to let you imbue with some of your power but you will do it right here and now so Nao can watch and scan me afterwards."

"Fair enough! Jack May I see the Mace please," asked Cichol politely.

I was hesitant until I realized Juni had given her permission. Even then, I was hesitant for Cichol never truly reveal everything to anyone until it's too late. I do not trust him after what happened between me and Staton after I went DK. "Wait! When I went DK, my relationship with Staton changed big time. Will that happen here, Cichol? Will Juni's relationship with anyone change due the addition to your 'Dark Power'?"

"That is a very fair question. I truly regret you did not know the full ramifications of your decision to be a DK before you chosen that path, Jack. I was more than happy to comply with the Goddess wish for me to release you if you so chosen to do so. I never want anyone that is not happy with his or her choice to remain as such. As for your question, nothing like that will happen to Juni. All I am going to do is create a conduit for her to use the Goddess Power as she normally would inside the G1 final dungeon. Nothing more."

So Morrighan had to get Cichol to release me from being a DK first in order to make me a Paladin again. I thought he was merely an agent nothing more. I have to watch more carefully in the future. With trepidation, I got out Juni's Mace. I watched in horror as Cichol unleashed his Dark Magic upon it. When it was over, it felt no different though.

"Juni?" I asked

"I fell different but not in the way I expected. Nao?"

We turned to Nao. She gazed at the Mace for a second, "I see. Morrighan says she did not think of that. Indeed, it is what he said. All he done was to allow Juni access to Morrighan's power in the G1 final dungeon. However, she also says there is an unexpected benefit. Up until now, it was only theoretical that Juni can cleanse the creature of the glitch instead of destroying it. With this upgrade, it will be very possible to cleanse the creature if you so choose. When you do chose that option, Juni will automatically know how to do it and not until then. Now I think you had better go, Jack. That glitched Glas will be and has been gaining strength by the second you delay."

I looked at her expectantly, "Will you be here when I am done?"

Nao looked back at me said, "I have to go do some errands like rebirths, resurrection, and help new players thru the soul stream. However, when I do feel your presence back on this homestead I will come running back. That I promise." Nao did have a look as if she wished to say more to me but held back for some reason. I wonder why.

A/N

No! I will not go into detail on the Jack's fight with Glas in the next chapter. My reason being I truly never fought Glas before. Others have fought Glas for me while I stayed in the room before the boss room waiting for them to kill him. I understand the first ones were not as lucky to have powerful help but I can't help that. I would dare say that if I could get my main back from the deleted pile I would delete all my other alts, make that one super powerful, and defeat Glas for others to repay those that did it for me in the past. Repay them by paying it forward.

Anyways, next chapter deals more about the love that is growing between Nao and Jack and what consequences it may have for Erinn and for Jack as well.

Please comment/review! See you next time.