Part 24

Chris was still weak from losing so much blood… and nearly being dead. We had lost a lot of good men and women and so had the queen's soldiers. Those who wanted could join us in Westerville, the rest were banished or arrested by Justine's army.

Thad, luckily, lost the ability to read minds… but not after causing some havoc with it. He got a few people together, embarrassed a lot and annoyed even more. But Sebastian and Hunter protected him. Because it wasn't really his fault.

The battle was over, Sue was dead but that still left a problem… who was to take the throne now that she was dead? The people wanted Wes to take it but I know my brother… he's a farmer and a warrior. He wouldn't be happy living like a king. Speaking of my brother… where is he?

Chris and I headed out to find him and soon found him in the tower we used as our quarters. He was hiding from the public. No one knew the real face of the King of Thieves but everyone wanted to, everyone wanted Wes to go out and take off that mask and show them his real face. His warriors knew some of his faces but no one was really sure of what his real face looked like. Only Chris and I did that, we could always say when he wasn't wearing any masks or makeup. Wes wasn't wearing armor today or his soldier jacket. He wore trousers and an old worn shirt. Chris and I were wearing richer clothes because Justine was forcing us to.

"So this is where you're hiding", Chris said and limped up to Wes. Wes pulled up a chair with his foot and forced Chris to sit on it.

"Overprotective bastard", Chris grumbled with a smile. Wes just smiled softly. I smiled and walked over, leaning on the back of Chris' chair.

"What are you doing in here", I asked.

"Hiding", Wes answered.

"From what?" Chris asked.

"From fame. I didn't do this to become famous, I didn't do this to become king."

"They're still bugging you about that", I asked.

"Mike they want me to become the king of Lima but I don't want to…"

"What are you gonna do?" Chris asked.

"Find someone more fitting than me and then go home."

"Home", I said.

"Where is our home", Chris asked and we looked at him. "In Soulheim people will never see us as brothers… but here they know we are."

"We have to go back home and show everyone we are alive", I told him. "We belong there Chris and you belong with us."

"I will go to Soulheim to stay there, it's my home", Wes said. "And if mother and father won't let Chris stay with us now I'm moving out and I'm taking you both with me."

"But mom and dad will never allow that", I objected.

"I'm 20, an adult they can't stop me. I'd like to see them try."

"So speaks a true outlaw", Chris said. "Ow!" Wes had slapped him up the head. I just chuckled, then looked at Wes.

"So how are you going to get out of this mess?" I asked him and my brother smirk.

"Remember with what they say about the king of thieves having many faces?" he asked and I nodded. "Well I'm going to use that."

I had no idea what he was plotting but oh well it was Wes so whatever it was it was good. Then there was a knock on the door and Joseph Hughes entered. I haven't seen him since he saved Justin from that portal.

"You found what we were looking for", Wes asked and turned to him and Joseph nodded. Wes looked smug. "Good, I'll be right there." Joseph nodded and left.

"Wes", Chris asked. "What's going on?"

"Do you want to go home today", Wes asked us and we stared at him.

"What", I asked.

"Do you want to go home today", he asked again and I nodded slowly. Wes smirked.

"Be sure to be out in the courtyard by noon", he said and headed for the door. "And tell Justine that I'm ready to do what she and I discussed yesterday."

I blinked in confusion and looked at Chris and he looked at me.

"Make sure Naur, Callie and Emma are ready", Wes said and opened the door. "I finally have a way to get out of this mess." With that he left and Chris and I looked confused. But we would know soon enough… I think. But there was still something that bothered me and I had meant to ask Wes about it… a few times. But I kept forgetting it.

I wanted to know if he knew who that other figure was that along with David Martinez saved his life. I had no idea and neither had anyone else. Asking Martinez didn't help since he was blind and everyone else just had no idea.

Most of my closest friends in the rebellion had gotten minor injuries, but some had been badly hurt. But thanks to Thad and a few other great healers, they were getting much better. Fred had for exampled gotten hit by three arrows but he managed to survive and Jeff had gotten his throat slashed but Thad was there and healed him with his magic before he lost too much blood. But it caused kind of a funny reaction in Thad.

Apparently that thunder bolt had caused the energies or whatever it was that controlled the magic to go high wire… After healing Jeff he started to tremble and his speech got all strange… He couldn't stop until he did something else that was magical. But that caused other strange things to happen so he only used magic when he had to heal serious injuries.

Chris had been very worried about John and Luke but they had gotten by with just a few scratches, cuts and bruises. Quinn was back in jail and only had female guards that wouldn't be swooned by any of her suggestions. Becky stayed with Brittany at nearly all times and Tina and I were getting closer. As soon as I found her again I kissed her deeply and she kissed me… to everyone's cheers.

John and Luke were fine but they had been angry with me when they heard that I nearly died. They yelled at me for quite some time when they visited me. But I just kept smiling. My friends were okay after all.

Now as I walk through the castle, Mike went to talk to Justine, I feel a bit sad about going back home. I want to go home but I will miss all my friends. The Warblers from Wes' platoon and some of the others are going to stay in the city or help rebuild Dalton. Luke and John are staying in the city… they are going to be part of Trent's spy network. Justine asked him to be her spymaster and he agreed to be. John and Luke are going to be his closest men and he asked me if I wanted to join… but I want to go with Wes and Mike and they want to go back home… so do I so I have to go home.

I swallowed as I walked through a corridor. I looked out the window and saw that Schue, Kurt, Finn, Rachel, Mercedes, Rory, Sugar, Joe and Blaine were getting onto their horses. Santana, Brittany, Becky, Tina, Sam, Puck and Matt were there too, talking to them. Sam, Santana, Puck and Matt were going to stay in Westerville to be part of Justine's army. Brittany and Becky were going to open a shop for… something I'm not really sure what. Tina… I guess she's coming with Mike, Wes and I.

I can see that she and my brother love each other very much and I'm happy for their sake. Sebastian and Thad are leaving too but promised to come back and I think Hunter is going with them, I don't have any ideas of why though. But Wes once told me Hunter does what he does for a reason… he just doesn't always say what those reasons are.

Sunshine and Unique are returning to their homes. David, Fred and Rock are going to stay in Westerville as well. I watch the 'cowards' of the New Directions ride out with a few soldiers returning to Lima to tell everyone about Sue's downfall and to notify the masses of that a new king will arrive soon. But it's not going to be Wes… Wes doesn't want to be a king… he never wanted to be a king. It's not that Wes would make a bad king, no I know my brother would be a great one but he just doesn't want to.

He wants to be out there and work with his hands… not sit on some throne and in meetings. Justine doesn't like that either so she is out and helps a lot. She has put her council to work with the paperwork and they inform her when she is needed. Car-Michael is head of that which is good… he's a good man. I bet Justine will make him mayor of Dalton later on. Suddenly there was a trumpet sounding on the square and I hung out the window to hear what was being said.

"The King of Thieves will show himself at noon", the man called. "He will unmask himself!"

Wes was doing what?! I stared. I couldn't believe my ears! What was he doing?! I turned and ran down the hallway but collided with something and fell. This something turned out to be John and Luke.

"Chris", Luke asked and grabbed my hand as I got up and tried to run. "Where are you going?"

"I can't stay and talk now Lukie", I said and tried to run but he held me in place.

"We just wonder if you know why Wes is going to show his face", John asked. "Is he going to pronounce himself king now?"

"I don't know Johnny."

"What do you mean", Luke asked confused. "Is he planning something else?"

"I don't know", I said.

"I don't know as if you really don't know", John asked. "Or as if you do know but won't tell us?"

"I really don't know", I said. "Wes doesn't want to be king so why should he pronounce himself as such?"

"Maybe he changed his mind?"

"Wes change his mind", Luke asked. "Have you lost it Johnny?"

"No but what-"

"Chris!" I heard a voice call and Mike came out of nowhere and grabbed my arm. Tina was with him.

"What are you doing here littering about", Mike asked. "We have work to do remember?"

"But I was just", I began but was dragged off. "Catch you guys later!" I called to John and Luke. Mike was just as confused as I was, I knew he was but Wes had told us to gather our things so we did.

When lunch hour struck everyone that could was gathered on the courtyard where a small stage had been built. Chris, Tina and I were in our travelling clothes, per Wes' request and were standing among the rest of the people. Emma, Naur and Callisto were there at the back of the crowd, waiting for us. Justine was standing on the stage with Car-Michael and the council. Justine looked as beautiful as always and she stepped forward and held her hands up.

"People of Westerville and Lima", she called. "Let me introduce the King of Thieves." The crowd cheered as Wes stepped onto the stage wearing that armor again. With him was Joseph Hughes and David Martinez.

"Hang on", Chris said and gripped my hand pulling on it. "Mike…"

"What is it", I whispered as Wes moved over the stage to stand by Justine.

"Something's fishy here", Chris said.

"What?"

"Look at Wes", he said and I did. I didn't get it at first but then I did. Wes seemed to have grown because he was a little bit taller than Justine now and she had always been taller than him. His eyes were different too. And… the armor seemed to have shrunk as well. It still fitted but some parts that had been sitting closer together wasn't as close anymore. This guy was broader over the shoulders than my brother. What was going on? Wes looked out over the crowd as Justine spoke:

"The King of Thieves has come to a decision. The soldiers of Lima has said that they wishes for the King of Thieves to become their king and he has this to say to them…" She turned to my brother and he looked at the crowd.

"I cannot be your king", he said and I gaped. That wasn't my brother's voice! It wasn't even close! Who was this clown?!

"Who not", a soldier from Lima yelled.

"Mike look at Justine", Tina said and I did. She was staring at the King of Thieves with big eyes that were teary. That's when I saw Joseph Hughes face clearly. He was grinning wide.

"It's because I am planning to marry the queen of Westerville", the King of Thieves said and turned to Justine. She looked at him with big eyes and the King of Thieves gripped his helmet and lifted it off of his head. The hair underneath it was black, the skin tan and the eyes almost black but I knew one thing for sure. That was not my brother. It was someone else completely, but the crowd that didn't know Wes' face cheered loudly and the Warblers followed suit because they had figured, like I have, that Wes wanted to keep his face a secret. Chris and I cheered as well and Tina soon followed. The King of Thieves turned around to face Justine and she had tears going down her cheeks.

"It's not possible", she sobbed and then ran to him. "Austin!" she threw her arms around him and kissed him. It really was him, Austin Diaz, the man we had all seen dying and all seen burned and who's ashes was spread a few days before the battle. The crowd cheered louder and when the kissing couple parted for air Austin turned to the crowd.

"I cannot be king of Lima I would not suit the role", he said and then smiled. "But someone else can, someone else can lead the people of Lima like a real king should." He turned to David Martinez. "My dear friend and captain. Martinez, will you accept the crown I am giving to you?" The blind man smiled.

"If the people want me to", he said and the crowd cheered loudly. David Martinez was known after all among the soldiers of Lima and if the King of Thieves saw him suitable as a king… then who were they to object? But that had me wondering… where was Wes?

"This turned out better than I planed", a voice whispered behind me and I turned and saw my oldest brother stand behind me, a hood pulled up to hide his face, but I saw his smile even though his face was shadowed.

"You planned this", I whispered.

"I don't want to be king", Wes grumbled. "Martinez will be a great king and leader and I don't want to be famous either… which is why I tried so hard to stop people from calling me your highness…"

"But", Chris began. "How can Austin-"

"We'll tell you all that after this public announcement… and before we leave."

I nodded and we watched the celebration and cheered loudly when David Martinez accepted the crown and the blessings of the Gods. Lima had a new king and he would be a far better king than any of the previous queens and kings on Lima's throne.

"Okay explanations", Sebastian demanded when Wes' closest men, the New Directions that stayed, Justine, David Martinez, Wes, Chris and I and Austin where alone in Justine's private chambers.

"What are you talking about", Wes asked with a teasing grin.

"You are the King of Thieves", Sebastian yelled and pointed at him. "And this guy died! We all saw it. We saw him die, we saw his dead body, we saw it burn to ashes, we saw the ashes spread to the wind… we saw him die and now he's here?!"

"Can anyone explain that", Nick asked and all the Warblers looked at Thad.

"Don't look at me", he said. "I have no idea."

"You are the only one with magical powers", David Warbler pointed out.

"I can't bring people back from the dead!"

"Why not you can read minds", I said with a teasing grin.

"It was just a temporary thing!" Thad said flailing his arms and everyone laughed. But then we all turned back to watch Austin. He was holding Justine in his arms and he bit his lip.

"It's hard to explain", he said.

"Try", Car-Michael said and crossed his arms.

"Austin is a human phoenix", Joseph Hughes said as he walked into the room. "Which is why he wanted his body to burn and his ashes spread for the wind. Because mingled with the wind and flame his soul and body would restore."

"A human phoenix", Thad asked in awe. "Really?" He looked at Austin who nodded.

"How long have you known that", Hunter asked. We were all in awe.

"Since I was born", Austin said. "I was born from wind and flame so to speak…"

"Huh?"

Austin explained it to us. Human phoenixes are very rare and can only be born if the woman bearing the child has made love to a real phoenix. Don't get carried away now phoenixes can take any form but you know what they are because they are always burning, which makes the whole "mating" part really dangerous and sometimes painful. But since the father is a fire bird the child sadly always causes the mother to die when the baby gets born because the child is born aflame… the flame starts within the mother and flare to incredible power when the child is born.

Austin was left in the wilderness to die but he was found by Joseph's nomad caravan and the leader and his wife took Austin in… until they realized what he was and the father started to fear him.

Human phoenixes can start fires by thought and shoot fire as well. They also have fire burning on them without hurting them and they love to sleep in the flames of a fire. Austin was doing all this and his adoptive father chased him off when he was 20. Austin travelled around, trying to find his birthfather and birthmother and find the answer to what he was. At a wizard's library he found out the truth and carried it with pride. He still has no idea of who his father is. But he doesn't care.

"So you are like immortal", Artie asked.

"Not really", Austin said. "I age as any normal man will do but when I die… if I'm put on fire and spread for the wind I will restore again."

"Will your kids have the same power?" Justine asked, remembering what had happened to Austin's birthmother. Austin shook his head.

"They will be normal children", he said and kissed Justine's forehead. "You have nothing to fear." She smiled and pulled him close.

"Okay we got an explanation to that", Hunter said. "Now it's your turn." With that he turned to Wes, Chris, Tina and I.

"What is it Ranger", Wes asked with a smirk.

"Why didn't you stay in that armor to decline the throne? Why did it have to be Austin? And why didn't you tell us? And why are you, your brothers and Tina in travelling clothes? And why are your horses saddled and packed?"

"The King of Thieves have many a face", Wes said and smiled at the creator of those words, Thad. "Sometimes he's old, sometimes he's young, sometimes he's a woman, sometimes he's a son, sometimes he's a cripple or a warrior with grace one never knows because he does not have one face."

"And your point with that being", Trent asked.

"We fed on the myth so that no one knew that the King of Thieves looks like", Wes continued. "So to make the unmasking believable I put someone else in that armor in my stead. I have let another one being made… with Austin's measurements so that it will fit better."

"The armor is yours after all", Austin said. "It would be a shame to not let you keep the gift."

"But why Austin", Nick asked.

"Our skin-tone is about the same", Wes explained calmly. "The same goes for the hair and eye color."

"But not the shape", Tina pointed out.

"No one cares about that."

"True…"

"And I also choose Austin so that the King of Thieves would have a reasonable cause to decline the throne."

"So you knew Austin was alive?" Justine asked.

"I wasn't sure", Wes explained. "Remember when Joseph came to the camp?"

Everyone nodded.

"I informed him that Austin was dead and he told me what he knew", Wes said. "About Austin being a human phoenix. Joseph went searching around the Westerville City but found nothing. None of us were sure until Austin saved my life at that portal."

The word had barley left his mouth before I found myself hugging Austin. He looked shocked but then hugged me back and I felt Chris slam into us.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you", I said over again and Austin chuckled.

"You are most welcome", he said.

"Okay", Sebastian said sounding annoyed. "Back to an earlier question."

"Which one", Jeff asked.

"Why did you decline the throne Wes?"

Wes sighed.

"I don't want to be king", he said. "I've never wanted it. I didn't join this battle to become king of Lima. I joined it so that I could be free, so that everyone could be free. So that everyone could go home."

"But you'd be an amazing king!" Luke said and John nodded eagerly.

"No I wouldn't", Wes said and sighed. "I don't belong in that world. I'm a farm boy, a hunter, a brother, a worker and a soldier. I belong to the big outdoors… not on some throne. My head is not made to carry the heavy weight of a crown. I'd never be able to handle it."

"That's just bullshit", Car-Michael said and Wes stared at him. "When you lead us from that tree in the woods to go to Dalton I thought to myself: 'There is one I could follow, there is one I could call king'."

"Car I'm really touched", Wes said. "But since I don't want that title… I wouldn't make a good king. I'm not a leader."

"Are you kidding me?!" Thad yelled. "You've lead us in this rebellion, you led us to victory!"

"On the battlefield I can be a leader", Wes said. "I can lead an army because I'm a soldier. I can't lead a people. Justine can, she is an amazing queen and David Martinez is like her. But I'm not."

"What do you lack that we have", Justine asked softly.

"The will to lead", Wes said and smiled at her. "Reluctant leaders are the worst… just imagine what a reluctant king would be like."

The room was quiet and everyone was thinking. I knew everyone was thinking that Wes was wrong about himself not being a good king, truth is that he would be a great king… if he wanted to. But that's just it… he doesn't want to be a king.

"I've already been a king", Wes then said with a soft smile.

"Long live the King of Thieves", Nick said with a small smile and Wes hugged him. Jeff jumped onto Wes' back and squeezed him tight.

"I have a last few questions though", Sebastian said, looking a bit grumpy.

"What are they", Wes asked.

"Why are you, your brothers and Tina in travelling clothes? And why are your horses saddled and packed?"

All eyes in the room turned to Wes, Chris, Tina or I and all four of us looked away from all of them. It was Artie that understood first.

"You're leaving", he said and Brittany gasped and hurried up to hug Tina. I heard a yelp as Chris got tackled to the floor by Luke and John. Matt and Artie hurried up to me, well Artie rolled up to me. Wes got encircled by his Warblers except for Sebastian, he came to my side and Trent who went to Chris and his other gossip whores.

"You can't leave us", John yelled into my ear and I winced. "We can't just be two gossip whores! We need our third!"

"Yeah you're like the… like the… like the pebble you put into a slingshot!" Luke said and I gave him a look that said. Really? "Okay bad example… but but you're like one of the sides in a triangle! If you remove one you just get a… a…"

"A strange boring old V Chris!" John shouted.

"A strange looking V!" Luke echoed somewhat. I looked at Trent and he looked torn between chuckling and joining in with them.

"Give me a hand here", I asked him and Trent applauded. "Ha, ha, ha very funny."

"Yes it is but back to serious talk", Trent said. "You are not leaving. I need my top spies."

"You haven't had me for that long!"

"Doesn't matter, you are still one of the best. You got street smarts, you are intelligent… that's more than can be said for these two." He nodded at John and Luke.

"Hey!", Luke and John objected. But Trent ignored them.

"Look Chris you got what I need and I know you'd enjoy it… so why don't you want to do it?"

I sighed.

"Because I want to go home", I said and they stared at me.

"Look guys", I told them. "I am really touched that you want me to join the city watch or army or whatever but that's not what I want." I looked at all of them.

"You can't just leave", Sebastian said.

"Hey you are one to talk", I said. "You, Thad and Hunter are leaving!"

"Because we are forced to", Sebastian said. "Our rulers are demanding we get back so we can start working as ambassadors between Lima, Westerville and the elves… Hunter is coming with as a human representative."

I looked over at Hunter.

"Does he know that part?" I asked.

"He told me he was going with us as such…"

"Elves", Puck snorted. "I still can't believe in that or in people burning without it hurting…"

"Then how do you explain Austin standing there", Matt asked.

"Anyhow", Puck said changing the subject. "Mike you are staying."

"I can't", I said. "It's not what I want…"

"But we want you to", Artie tries. "Even Sebastian and Thad are going to come back here… with Hunter after declining the whole ambassador thing."

"But it's not what I want guys…"

"What do you want", Matt asks.

"I want to go home."

"Look", I said at the big group surrounding me. "I want to go home."

"This is home", Justine pointed out.

"I meant my home", I said and sighed. "Look the battle is over and we are all free to go home right?"

They all nodded.

"Well my home is a little village in Lima called Soulheim and I want to go back. I've been away for far too many years. I want to go home and see my parents, help with the harvest, see what's changed and what hasn't and I have something very important to do back there."

"And what would that be", Hunter asked and crossed his arms. I looked back at where Chris was still trying to push John and Luke off of him.

"Doing what's right", I said and they followed my gaze. Hunter sighed.

"Of course…" he mumbled.

I noticed all their sad faces.

"Hey don't be sad", I said. "It's not like you will never see me again."

"How do we know that", Nick asked.

"Yeah what if you fall down a hole or something and dies!" Jeff said and flailed around with his arms. "Or eaten by Hattifatteners!"

I gave him a look.

"Jeff Hattifatteners can't eat me…"

"But what if!"

"Hold it", David Warbler said. "What the hell is a Hattifattener?!"

"Hattifatteners are tall, thin, ghost-like creatures, resembling long white socks", Thad said with an impassive look on his face. "They have round neck less heads with two round eyes. Below their heads on either side are four or five finger-like projections that resemble hands. They are silent and serious, they can't hear or speak, but their sense of feeling is extremely strong. They can sense even the most minor tremblings of the ground… and that can scare them. They communicate by telepathy and their eyes change color with the sky. They also seem to be melancholic creatures. However, even though they resemble animals, Hattifatteners grow from seeds. Planting Hattifattener seeds where someone has taken up residence is an effective way to get rid of him or her. Hattifatteners travel the sea in small boats, meeting every year on a lonely island and they are always going somewhere."

"And how do you know this", Unique asked him and Thad shrugged.

"I've seen them", he said.

"Okay what haven't you seen or heard of", Nick asked and pouted.

"Meh lots of things", Thad said, signaling that the subject should be dropped. I shook my head fondly and smiled but then felt Jeff hug me tightly.

"Don't leave us Wes!" he sobbed.

"Aw Jeffy", I said and rubbed his back.

"Don't leave us! We don't want you where we can't see you!"

"But Jeffy I'll come back to visit and whenever you need me."

"How do we know", Jeff sobbed and I looked up as I heard Chris, Tina and Mike say the same thing to the people around him. I whistled and Mike looked at me. I told him something in our language and he pulled his flute out from the inner pocket of his jacket. Chris grinned and hurried to take a violin lying on a table. They started to play and I started to sing, rocking Jeff to sooth his sobbing:

Whistle down the wind
Let your voices carry
Drown out all the rain
Light a patch of darkness
Treacherous and scary

Howl at the stars
Whisper when you're sleeping
I'll be there to hold you
I'll be there to stop
The chills and all the weeping

Make it clear and strong
So the whole night long
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I will not abandon you my precious friend

Jeff looked at me and I wiped away his tears before turning so that I could face everyone in the room.

So try to stem the tide
Then you'll raise a banner
Send a flare up in the sky
Try to burn a torch
And try to build a bonfire

"Shouldn't be too difficult", Austin said and I saw his hand light on fire. Justine watched him in awe but I just smiled and kept on singing:

Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I'm there

So whistle down the wind
For I have always been
Right there

Howl at the stars
Whisper when you're sleeping
I'll be there to hold you
I'll be there to stop
The chills and all the weeping

Tina smiled and joined into the singing, Chris even managed to sing while he played.

Trio: Make it clear and strong

So the whole night long
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I will not abandon you my precious friend

Tina: So try to stem the tide
Chris: Then you'll raise a banner
Wes: Send a flare up in the sky
Try to burn a torch
And try to build a bonfire

Trio: Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I'm there

Hunter smiled, as did Sebastian and they joined in.

Quintet: So whistle down the wind
For I have always been
Right there.

Everyone was crying or trying hard not to cry. I knew people would be sad to see us go… but we had to. But that didn't mean we wouldn't come back. After all… our friends were all in Westerville city.

TBC See I'm not evil at all :D And I don't own the Hattifatteners ;)