AHA! AHA HA! Guess what I have~! For all you wonderful people out there who read this and send your lovely comments, I have created yet another chapter for your wonderful, beautiful eyes xD. Action packed, too :D. Yes I can hear your oohs and ahhs from here. Don't worry, more fluff is on the way I promise. Probably in the next chapter~! Just because I love writing it the most, next to fight scenes. I know someone's excited for the "protection" to come into play .. Ahem, Queenie, ahem ahem. xD Kidding, but you know…maybe. NO M RATING FOR THIS STORY I SAY! Ahem. Now that that's over and done with, enjoy this new installment to the fullest.
Enemy Forces
There was something unsettling stirring in Ally's gut as they made their way towards the forest of frozen trees. She couldn't really tell why she felt that way, and brushed it off as nerves. She was going home after staying in the Nevernever for weeks, not caring for her two siblings that trusted her with everything. She felt more than a little guilty. Their steps made no sound as they passed several creatures, avoiding anything big enough to crush them underfoot. They made no sound, and as far as Ally could tell Puck's glamour hadn't wavered once; so why did she feel as if someone knew that they were there? It was odd, but she figured it was just paranoia from her horrid memories of this place. She pressed harder against Puck and stared ahead. The branches were close together, and Ally and Puck had to slip through, dodging needles that looked sharper than normal. Sharp enough to stab through someone. Ally shuddered and continued on. Puck dropped the glamour once the were a safe distance inside, and pointed ahead. Ally followed his finger to see an intricately designed door that stood between two trees that acted as its frame. It was the same colour and texture as the tree bark itself, and she wouldn't have seen it as anything more than a large trunk without Puck's guidance. "That's it?" She gasped, reaching out to brush her fingers against the rough wood.
"This is it. The doorway home. You ready for this?" He came up to stand beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder and staring down at her with burning green eyes. She nodded, leaning into him. She was grateful for his solidness at that moment, that she could lean against him for comfort. He kissed the top of her head and left his lips there, smiling against her scalp. "Now all we need is the cat." He said.
"I am here, Goodfellow. Honestly, if you people would just open your eyes." Grimalkin sounded irritated as he appeared at their feet.
Puck sighed and rolled his eyes, breaking away from Ally reluctantly. "Wonderful. Shall we go then?" Without waiting for answers he pulled the door open with a jerk. Bright light poured out, and Ally recognized the smell of fresh coffee and baked snacks. The coffee shop. Puck turned to her with a grin and held out a hand, which she took happily. Together, they followed the cat through the door. All Ally had to do was blink and the scenery changed to the familiar place she loved. They were in the alleyway, so no one on the sidewalks or streets saw them, and it looked as if they had come straight through the wall. The door closed, sealing off the Nevernever to them for the time being.
"This trod will not open again to us; I hope you know another one nearby, Goodfellow. I loathe having to do everything for you two." Grim stated matter-of-factly, licking a paw.
Puck snorted and shook his head, heading out of the alleyway with Ally in tow, "Yeah, cuz you're the one who fought off all of this redcaps, fur ball."
"You're attitude is most unattractive. Perhaps I should claw out your tongue and do everyone a service."
"Sure, cat, after you charged them for it." At that, Grimalkin sneezed a laugh, and Ally couldn't help but smile. At some point during their trek back to Ally's apartment, she intertwined her fingers with Pucks, pressing her shoulder against his and smiling down at the ground, loving how it felt. He squeezed her hand and bumped her shoulder back with a playful grin. His thumb stroked the back of her hand.
She wondered when this had happened, these feelings they had developed for each other over time. She hadn't even noticed herself falling until the night he had kissed her. And now they had no trouble, save for a few awkward moments, touching each other casually like this. Sharing short glances and quick kisses seemed natural. Like breathing. Subconscious and easy. How hadn't she noticed before? It seemed so clear now.
"Oh how sweet."
They stopped dead in their tracks. They were in the middle of the park, exactly halfway to Ally's building. She new that voice, and the sound of it sent unpleasant shivers down her spine. Every nerve stood at attention.
Puck's mouth quirked up at the corner, and a predatory leer glinted in his eyes even though he wasn't looking directly at the person who had spoken. Grimalkin was gone. "Ash." He spoke casually, too casually. "So nice of you to drop by. I was just thinking of you."
They turned to see the prince standing still as a mountain; tall and immovable. Eyes like frozen glaciers stared directly at the summer faerie. "So glad I haven't been forgotten," the sarcasm dripped like poison of the sharp edges of his words. His eyes slid down to their intertwined hands, the only thing about him that moved, and they were instantly filled with disgust. "An eye for an eye." He murmured, almost to himself.
Puck dropped Ally's hands and stepped in front of her, his eyes burning like a flame whipping dangerously in a wind storm, "You won't touch her." His voice was hard, sharp. Ally suddenly knew he would protect her with everything, even if it killed him. That terrified her. She drew her dagger slowly, stuffing her hand in her jacket pocket so it was there when she needed it.
(Father?) she called out in her mind tentatively. She had no clue how this worked, she had only done it once and didn't know if it would work a second time. What if she wasn't the one who could initiate it? What if only her father could do such a thing? How could she help as only a clumsy teenage girl infatuated with an ages old faerie jester?
(Do not worry, my daughter. I will be here for as long as you need me.) he replied on cue. (Although I would not advise jumping into this fight unless absolutely needed. This prince and Goodfellow go back a long way. Prince Ash of the winter court is far more powerful than even I.)
Great. She had figured as much, but still. She worried for Puck.
"When you cost me my love? When you had her killed because of your ignorance? Your blind disregard for a situation that was bigger than even all three of us? Tell me why I shouldn't have the right to ruin her right in front of you!" Ash was shouting, but Ally had stopped listening. Puck had...killed someone? Ash's love? Had they been friends before? The way Ash was talking...Ally couldn't make sense of any other scenario than that one. There had been three, and Puck had somehow caused the death of one. A girl. Like Ally. That was how Ash had made it sound, anyway. Ally was terrified and confused. Was Puck really who she thought he was.
"Dammit Ash you know I never meant for any of that to happen! I regret that moment every day of my life!" Puck's voice dropped then, sounding pained and regretful, "You may have lost Ari that day, but I lost the both of you. I can never take that back."
"No. You can't." Ash drew his sword, speaking so quietly that the screech of the sheath almost drowned him out, "But I can make it right. For Ariella. For me." He lunged, but Puck was ready and he dodged just in time. His eyes locked onto Ally, and he smiled in a way that made her blood freeze. He was at her with the grace of a wolf, swinging his sword skillfully. She heard Puck shout to her, but all she didn't hear what he said.
Move, move, move! She screamed in her head, and without another thought she bent backwards in a way she had only seen in the Matrix. The sword swung so close that she could feel the frigid air wafting off of it. Puck's leg swung over her from behind, and she popped up behind it in time to see it strike Ash across the chest, sending him flying back.
"Are you alright?" He asked her hurriedly. She nodded numbly, too shocked with him to say anything. A quick kiss to her forehead and he was off again, rushing at Ash with daggers drawn. He spun, lashing out with a dagger, but Ash dodged narrowly, only getting a slight scratch to the cheek.
"Human! Up here! Do not cause Goodfellow a distraction!" Grimalkin's voice floated down in a harsh whisper from none other than Ally's favorite tree. She looked upward to see Grim perched on a fork in the branches, his fur standing on end. In another situation it would have been comical. She stepped onto the table that was still positioned near the trunk and pulled herself into the tree, partly concealed by leaves. It was enough to effectively hide her and let her watch at the same time.
Ally was enraptured and horrified by the fight that ensued below; Ash moving with the calculated, deadly grace of a snake and Puck with his strong, effective attacks that looked as if they were created to negate the Ice Prince's advances. They looked as if this was natural to them, and it made Ally wonder at the relationship they had had before all of this animosity and bad blood. It made her sort of sad to think about it. They must have been close, she decided, because Puck's relationships with people were always so. Close and unique. There was absolutely no way to tell who had the upper hand, and Ally wasn't sure that either of them did. It seemed the only way one would be able to defeat the other was if there was a surprise attack or one of them was injured severely.
Ash projected dozens of ice daggers towards Puck and they punctured him like a pin cushion. Ally felt every part of herself break, her spirit, her soul, her heart, everything. But then Puck disappeared and an unfortunate log took his place. Slowly she managed to put herself back together again, relief acting as the glue that stuck it all in place. He was okay. At least for now. She could still hope. Beside her, Grimalkin watched her with mild interest.
"You care for him quite a bit considering you barely know him." He said to her, not accusingly but more in his matter-of-fact tone he often used.
"I know enough," she said, though after the things that Ash said she wasn't sure if it was true.
Grimalkin noticed, "You sound unsure, human."
She jerked as if she'd been slapped, "I...I just-"
"Do not know what to make of the things the winter prince spoke of?" She nodded miserably. "We'll that is understandable."
"Do you know anything about it?"
"Hm, indeed I do, human. But realize that there are some things even I will not share." Well. He said that as if it was a surprise.
"I understand." She murmured, turning back to the fight. They both looked as if they were tiring, and sweat shone on their brows, dripping down their faces in thin streams. Ash was surrounded by about four Pucks, and a few of them threw little balls of fur at him. Two exploded into badgers, and one a bear. Snarls rose up in volume, and they all attacked at once. Ash swung and cut a badger from the air, in the same motion decapitating the bear. The last badger latched onto his free arm, tearing at the fabric and skin with its teeth and claws. Blood spurted from the wound as he tried to shake it off. Ally studied Puck, who held his side in pain, blood soaking his hoodie. His face was twisted in agony, and Ally was having a difficult time just sitting there. After a while of watching Ash struggle with the rabid animal, he found himself unable to keep up the clones, and one by one they disappeared. He dropped to his knees weakly, and his breath came out in puffs. Grim pinned his ears back and hissed at this. Ash finally was able to slice the badger off of his arm, and it fell to the ground as broken twigs. He grinned menacingly down at Puck and pushed the point of his sword under his chin. Puck hissed at the cold and his eyes squeezed shut painfully.
"No!" Ally screamed at the top of her lungs and leapt from the tree onto the table top. Ash seemed confused and he turned to find the girl rushing at him. He chuckled darkly and kicked her back so that she hit the table's edge hard. She cried out and Puck called to her in a voice that was hardly his anymore, hoarse and weak. Ash slowly stepped to her, closing a freezing hand around her throat and lifting her from the ground. He brought her face close to his, so their bodies almost touched, and whispered harshly.
"This is for Ari, little bitch." He raised his sword, but stopped short, his eyes widening and blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. They both looked down to find Ally's dagger sticking out from his ribs. She grinned at him, malice in her words as she whispered.
"And that was for Robin Goodfellow."
Ash dropped her to the ground, staggering back in shock. "This isn't over little wench." He said, "I'll find you and kill you both." Ally choked on the air she sucked into her lungs gratefully. She coughed and hacked as Ash staggered away to the trees on the far end of the park, where she had first seen him. Puck and Grimalkin hurried to her side.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," she murmured and Puck swiped her up in a big hug. She let him, closing her eyes and pressing her nose to his shoulder, running fingers through his hair. "Let's go home. We need to clean you up." She heard him chuckle and felt him kiss the spot below her ear.
"Ay." He murmured in amused agreement. They stood shakily, Puck slinging an arm around her shoulders but denying it was because he needed the support. She rolled her eyes and led the faerie cat and faerie trickster to her home. Hopefully Gretchen and Rory could handle a few extra visitors.
Oh look at that, my baby being all grown up and protecting her man :,). They grow up so fast. Sorry Ash, you know I love you, but your time is over. Your bro-bro needs some spotlight, too, cuz…you know him. Woo I really liked this one. Writing it, too, but how it turned out was just amazing to me. I don't know, just my opinion. I'm rarely ever happy with my work, leave me be xDD.
Queenie: IS THIS SOON ENOUGH?! XDD Sorry I wanted to try all caps, too. Don't hunt me down, I shudder at the thought of what the Queen of Air and Darkness would do to me if I upset her xD. I knew you would notice the implications of that little scene xD. Just thought I'd put it in there ;D. Thanks again :D you're awesome~! Much love~~
Daydreamer: oh em gee a hot chapter yessy yes yes xDDD. Maybe sometime in the near future I'll try to fit it in ;D. Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked that chappy ^_^. Stay Awesome~!
Livea: Oh I wouldn't take the girl away from Puck now, don't worry xD. I'm not that horrible. Thanks for reading :D I totally agree, Puck is amazing!
Ninja princess LW: Why thank you :D I try to change it up as much as I can~! Thanks so much for staying with the story, you're amazing ^_^.
Alex Grimm: I agree, I need to get off my ass and write more xD. Hopefully this was up quick enough for you. I'm glad you like it so far :D. Thanks a bunch.
xX Blood-Bond Xx: No prob. Thanks for sticking with me thus far, even though I'm so slow with the updates xD. Stay golden~! :D
