Quest of the Seekers: The Timeless Conflict

Year four at Hogwarts

Chapter 34: Bones Broken and Laid Plans

('sss)

Skullfox came up from above Regulus but he intercepted the attack with the staff and tried to throw a Choking Curse at him but Skullfox merely flew back to dodge it. Regulus didn't spare that mistake's moment as he charged at Skullfox to gore him with his staff but Skullfox intercepted him. As Regulus made the thrust, Skullfox's hand made a small clang as he punched it up out of the way.

"Nice try," Skullfox said before he kicked Regulus in the chest and made him fly to a stop at his father's feet.

Regulus slowly got to his feet under Skullfox amused gaze and his father's amazed one. Polaris Black had never seen a wizard duel in this manner before. He could hardly believe that he was seeing this from his youngest son who he always saw as the fighting type. With his eldest's rough attitude and short temper, Sirius had always been vulnerable to rough exchanges but this took his meaning of rough to a new level. He was completely enthralled in it all without minding the cold or the heavy snow piling around him.

Regulus was staring down Skullfox, trying not to let the pain from that last hit bother him. He knew that Skullfox couldn't be allowed to escape from him. Having a foxlore free and loose in their world wasn't an option and right now he was the only one that knew it was here that could fight it off. He wouldn't allow it to track Tyler as he still needed time to recover from his battle with Thunderfox and Lightningfox. He was one of the Slytherin Five now after all. If he was going to have this title then he will live up to it.

Regulus tried to shoot Skullfox with a nonverbal stunner before he charged again with his staff without even bothering to see if he did any effect. Skullfox sidestepped dodged the stunner and blocked his staff but Regulus kept on hammering at him. Skullfox's arms had thick bone armlets that absorbed Regulus' constant hits but Regulus was hammering so frequently that Skullfox didn't have an opening for a counter strike. Regulus hammered at Skullfox as hard as he could but his arms were starting to feel a growing burn and knew that he couldn't keep this up for much longer. Regulus jumped back and used the Sectumsempra spell at the bone armlets and watched as a straight crack went into both.

Skullfox looked at them and then at Regulus not looking the least bit happy. His eyes became slits and angry teeth crunching and saliva dripping followed. "Those were my favorite ones." Skullfox then glided right at Regulus and tackled him right into the opposing wall.

Regulus hit the wall and dropped both his staff and wand. His body felt like it was used in place of a hammer but he didn't get a chance to catch his second wind because Skullfox grabbed him by the back of his robe and launched him to the other side of the street. Regulus flew across the road and hit the concrete with a rolling thunk until he hit a building wall on the other side. Regulus tried to stand again but Skullfox launched a thick bone that struck Regulus at his side knocking him over and then returned to him like a boomerang.

"I must say Black, you are an entertaining one." Skullfox went over to Regulus and kicked him so hard that he flew off the ground and hit the wall and fell back down again. "I haven't had this kid of amusement with a human opponent for years." Skullfox kicked him up to the wall again and Regulus landed on his left shoulder. "You should feel flattered." Skullfox kicked him again and again and was smiling at Regulus' moans and pained air intakes.

Regulus tried not to give out a shout to not give Skullfox any satisfaction but the pain was almost too much not to shout. He also knew that no one could stumble onto any of this. He had to bear it but didn't know how much longer he could last. If only he was an elemental like the others then he could still defend himself but without his wand or his Serpent Staff he had no weapons left to use. He was writhing on the ground until he had his face resting in the snow. 'What the hell,' he thought as he clenched snow in his hands.

"Well Black," said Skullfox. "Have I rendered you speechless?"

Regulus tried his best to stand and wipe any emotions from his face as he stared down Skullfox. "No...I'm just preparing to strike you blind."

"Cute." Skullfox barely said that in time before Regulus launched the snowballs in his hands right at Skullfox's eyes. He held and frantically brushed them. "Why...you!"

Regulus ran past Skullfox and went for his staff but he felt something collide at him which blew him off his feet and into the street. Regulus managed to see a bone half as long as him fall next to him. Skullfox had his arms out pointing at him making it clear that it was his doing.

"Very tactful Black. I must say that you caught me off guard with that juvenile act but I won't let myself make the same mistake." Skullfox then went over to Regulus' wand and staff and took them in each hand. He then raised his right leg up so his thigh was straightened. "Believe me; I won't...MAKE...IT...AGAIN!"

Regulus watched as Skullfox raised the staff and his wand over his head preparing to snap them over his raised leg. Regulus screamed as he went to bring his hands down and saw the staff vanish into Regulus outstretched hand's palm where he closed his grip. Regulus was stumped on how it happened but he could care less at the moment. Skullfox saw the staff in Regulus' hands and caught on to his retaliation attempt and instinct had him ready to defend. At least, he would have had he not felt a tugging on his hand and saw Regulus' wand fly off and distract him. Regulus swung his staff and the bladed end separated Skullfox from his raised left hand. The bony hand landed on the snow where it turned to dust. Skullfox let out a shout as that happened and Regulus silenced him with a kick to the chest and made him bounce into the snow.

"How do you like getting the kicks?" asked Regulus with as much sarcasm as he could muster. While Skullfox scurried on the snow Regulus tried to see where his wand went until he saw someone hold it up in his sight. It wasn't the wand that had his attention though; it was the person who was holding it. "Dad?"

His father gave him an arrogant looking smile. "I wouldn't let something like that hold the wand of the Black's proud youngest now would I?" His father then banished it to his son who caught it right in the blink of an eye. He looked from his wand and staff to his dad. Regulus didn't know what to do right now. How much had his father seen? What was he going to tell him? Who would he tell?

Suddenly, there was a big crash as Skullfox broke out of the snow and flew up to hover over the two wizards. "Family honor. That's good. You could die with that virtue on what's left of your heart!" Skullfox made a spear of bone appear right above his remaining hand flung it like a speeding comet. In a blink, Regulus found the spear through his father's chest and was gripping it with both hands. Skullfox lapped up some drool on his lips and chapped them. "Bone with meat…I always been a fan of shish ka bob."

Regulus went cold as he watched his father fall back and lay motionless on the snow already starting to be colored in red. He started to grip both his wand and staff so hard that his nails were starting to pierce his palm's flesh. As if someone else had control, his wand was aimed right at Skullfox and two words were spoken that sounded like a faraway echo. Soon, green light struck Skullfox from Regulus' wand. Skullfox stayed in the air smoking as he tried to catch his breath. Regulus also was breathing hard and felt something slide down his cheek. He wiped it out and looked at it clenched in his fist. Regulus saw nothing but red and Skullfox and just started to rapidly cast the Killing Curse at him. Skullfox held on to his side as he darted around like a fly to dodge the incoming spells.

"I won't let you leave here alive Skullfox!!" he shouted with a small crack to his voice.

"Oh…you won't." Skullfox few higher into the dark sky and was out of Regulus' sight.

"Get back here and fight! It's not over yet! Get down now coward!" Regulus took his wand and melted the snow that was near him to move and try to search the sky for that foxlore but it did little to help. The snow wasn't falling any lighter and the clouds weren't getting any clearer but Regulus somehow knew that he hadn't retreated. "Where are you?" he said silently as he scanned the sky.

Just then a sharp wind passed at his left and he saw a sharp bone that looked like the one that killed his father in the floor mere inches from his left foot. Regulus jumped back at seeing it when another bone spear shot down at where he had just been standing. Regulus made a break for it when the spears started coming at him like hard rain. Regulus tried to see where they were coming from but couldn't see through all the falling snow. While Regulus looked behind him he didn't see that he was heading right back into the heavy ground snow where he slipped and fell. When he was down, he felt something pierce his shoulder and his thigh and saw bone stuck in those two places of him. He tried to pull the one in his shoulder out but as soon as he gripped it something slammed on his legs which made him scream bloody murder. Skullfox had landed right over him and was towering him with a twisted look of satisfaction. Regulus raised his staff to stab him but Skullfox kicked his staff away from his hand before he could. He also kicked away his wand from his other hand before he drove his foot into Regulus' chest. The pain from all this was completely taking over Regulus' mind that he couldn't see how there was anything outside of it. All there was and ever will be was pain, pain and more pain. There was on the ground with two bone spears in his left shoulder and right thigh with a heavy foxlore stomping on him like he didn't have a care in the world. That was all that existed to Regulus' mind right now.

Skullfox got off him after a few stomps and picked him up at the cuff of his collar. "Alright Black. Now that I have your undivided attention, I'm willing to make a deal. Reveal to me where I could find your special Slytherin and his three cohorts and I will see to it that you will die without further pain. It will be as quick as your father's was and trust me when I say that it was quick. I have to say that it's seems like a really good deal right now."

Regulus looked at Skullfox for a moment before he bowed his head down. Then he lifted it to face him again and spat a mix of spit and blood right at the bridge of Skullfox's nose where he dropped him on his back. "Go to hell Skullfox."

Skullfox wiped off his face and snarled at the wizard on the snow. "But not before you!" Skullfox raised his hand and conjured an axe of solid bone into it which he smiled proudly at for a few moments. "I'm going to enjoy this. New World torture should be more painful than what I have in the Parallel World. The people there are used to pain and suffering on this level. You humans here aren't." He was smiling like a kid that found a hidden present under the wrappings during Christmas. "You cut off my arm but now it's my turn to separate some limbs. Payback Time!"

Skullfox raised his axe high above his head and he started to leak out a few drops of drool from the back of his jaw. He went to bring it down over Regulus left arm but the axe didn't make contact. Instead it found its way to the ground about four feet away. Skullfox looked around confused as he felt something hit it away from his hand. He didn't see anyone but found a twig about a foot from where he was standing. Regulus was still on his back and was trying to inch towards his wand as inconspicuously as possible. Skullfox went for his axe but he found himself falling on his face as if he tripped on his own feet. When Skullfox looked at his feet he found them tied together by some kind of leafy vine that went out a block away. The vine drew Regulus' curiosity and he tried to see what was doing it but couldn't see anything but a shady outline through the terrible weather. The vine was starting to tug on Skullfox, who was fidgeting to get free. He was yanking on the vines and trying to snap them off his legs. He extended his claws out and hacked at the lines until there were toothpicks. Before he could get on his feet, a wooden stake came and pierced his upper left hand. Skullfox pulled it out before another wood shard hit him at the same place but on his right shoulder. He howled when it pierced his bone armor plating until he saw more stakes flying at him like a porcupine shooting thorns. He also launched a retaliating bone shard attack but could not hit anything but air.

Regulus struggled as he tried to get his legs to be straight enough to stand himself up. Every movement made his legs burn and for a moment, he could've sworn that his bones disappeared from his legs. This feeling brought new meaning to the phrase "Jelly Legs" and he wasn't enjoying it. Once he did get his feet to be flat, his knees were bucking and he thought he might fall again. The pain from Skullfox's attacks on his legs and his chest were almost overwhelming. He watched as Skullfox was trying to overcome all those wooden shards and stakes and completely ignoring everything else. Regulus reached for his staff but knew that he couldn't risk charging as he wouldn't make it halfway without falling and bringing him Skullfox's attention. Even if he wasn't hurt, he still couldn't charge because he would then be struck by that wood attack.

He then felt a tapping and turned his arm and staff around but there was nothing there and he couldn't see anyone either. He felt the tapping again and saw that it was his wand hitting against arm as if an invisible person was poking him with it. 'What was doing that?' he allowed himself to wonder before he took it without hesitation and took his aim at Skullfox gripping his wand as tight as he could.

'Father…this is in your name,' he thought as he raised his wand high.

Skullfox was really starting to get annoyed with the thorns and splinters that were aching him. Skullfox jumped to the left to avoid another attack and his foot grazed on his fallen bone axe. He let out a twisted snarl and manipulated it to fly and pointed it at the figure. "No more fooling around!"

He was just about to throw it when the words "Avada Kedavra" reached his ears and then he was struck with an incredible force. Once it collided with him, he lost all the breath he had and got a strong choking feeling and held his chest as he struggled to take in another breath. He was starting to let out a smoke as Regulus' spell worked its magic. Regulus just looked at this sight with no feeling but the rage of his pain and loss. Regulus took his staff and threw it at Skullfox like a spear. The bladed end struck Skullfox at the throat and before Skullfox could grip it, he crumbled to dust and the staff fell blissfully into the snow. Regulus looked at the staff and saw that it was starting to get blurry. His legs started to wobble and then he started to see the world spin before he felt the cold blanket of snow hit his back. His staff and wand where on the ground by his arms and made their own imprints in the ground. Regulus was renewed with the sensations of pain that now struck his body with an absolute vengeance. He could now barely move his limbs and it seemed only his head was willing to move for him. He gazed up over him to find the figure from before that saved him was now standing beside him. It was too dark to see into the hood but the street light post showed him a shade of facial features. The figure then lifted off the hood and Regulus caught a split second look into this person before he ran off. Regulus eyes became heavy and the word "Kreacher" left his mouth before it became still.

('sss)

Tyler sat right up from the couch he was lounging on. Jacke, Reggie and Brad almost jumped out of their skins. They had just finished dinner and were lazily lounging in the parlor couches of Tyler's home. They had all come to his house only a few hours ago as they promised to enjoy some post Christmas time before school.

"Tyler?" asked Brad. "Something wrong?"

Tyler just stared at his feet though they were completely out of his focus. "I…I think something just happened. Something…bad."

"How?" asked Reggie.

"It's a feeling. It's almost like…the feeling we had when foxlores were nearby but it worries me instead of going to my stomach."

"Are you sure?" Jacke said trying to sound relaxed but that didn't stop him to gaze around half expecting a foxlore attack. "What would a foxlore be doing here? We have the key hidden away now."

"That didn't seem to matter to Timefox, didn't it Jacke?" Reggie couldn't believe Jacke's memory sometimes. "He got through without the key last time. Who's to say that someone else didn't do it again?"

"Yeah, but Orichai said that Timefox barely got through and that was only a onetime thing."

Reggie wasn't beaten. "Orichai could've been wrong."

"Orichai…wrong. Hasn't been yet."

"Cool it already," said Brad before he through the throw pillows behind his back at them. "Tyler, is the feeling gone?"

Tyler tried to look into himself. "Yeah…it was only for a split second. Like the worst was just finished. I don't know. Should we be worried about this?"

"Maybe it's a fluke. Or it could be because you had a little too much of your mom's chicken soup."

Reggie took the pillow Brad lunged at him and aimed for Jacke's head but it was blocked by his elbow. "You're so clueless sometimes."

"And you think too much." Jacke said this in a way that made it sound like he won the argument and Reggie thought it best just to keep shut. "I say that if Tyler is that worried then we could see Orichai about it when we get back."

Tyler moved to lay his back flat on his couch with his right arm and leg hanging out. "And that's in four days. So how long are you guys able to stay? Please say for a good while."

Brad threw himself into a fit of laughs. "Sorry Tyler. I'm only here for the weekend and then I have to get back."

"The weekend? We have just four days. Wouldn't it be better to come to King's Cross with my family? It'll just be for one extra day. We'd be happy to see you off ourselves."

"Sorry, but it's tradition to see each other off and I also want to see Zeo a little more before I have to leave Jensen Peak.

"What?" asked Jacke.

"My hometown."

"Oh, well, I can say a good stay a good while for ya Tyler. I have my things packed and can come with you."

"So could I," said Reggie.

Tyler was surprised at that one. "Really Reggie? I thought you said that your parents were hard to crack."

"They were but I caught them at a convenient time," Reggie smiled and leaned back into his armchair. "Probably don't even realize that I'm even gone with how much they work and socialize."

"You being sneaky? I see I'm starting to leave quite the impression. Good."

"Don't flatter yourself again Tyler," Brad said rolling his eyes. It starts to get tiresome after awhile."

"Really? I've never thought so," said Tyler as shrewdly as he could that made Brad send another throw pillow but going for the spot between Tyler's eyes which was a solid hit. "Okay, enough horsing around," he said after wiping his eyes of pillow fibers. "What are we going to do about the Parallel World when we get back?"

"It's been a little over three weeks since we've been back. How long would that be in Parallel World time?" asked Jacke.

"That would be around a whole year that we've been out of Barrier Town." Everyone looked at Reggie as if saying, How? "What? I'm fast with the numbers…and I've been making a chart about the time difference." This made the other seekers relax.

"How about we head back the first weekend we're back at Hogwarts? Nothing too complex would be taught the week we come back right?"

"Wrong Jacke. Severus warned me that the teachers will come down on us because our OWL year will be that much closer now." Tyler remembered how serious Severus had told this to him and thought that his 5th year must have been hectic and shuddered at what his would be like.

"Well, we'll have the Parallel World time to help us handle any hard work."

"I'm impressed," Reggie said shaking his head. "That's actually a really good solid point."

Jacke threw him a glare. "I do have my moments you know."

Reggie shrugged. "But still…it could be a little risky heading off that soon."

Everyone took a vote on it and Tyler, Jacke and Brad were all for it while Reggie was slightly off but he was still out voted no matter what.

"What's wrong now Reggie?" asked Jacke.

"Do we have to go back so soon?"

"Well, we wouldn't want to keep the Guard and Nelson waiting on us. We promised we would come back as soon as we were able. Is there something else going on?"

"No Brad, it's just that….forget it. I'm in."

"Reggie, if you don't want to come we're not going to be forcing you too. We're only going to be sailing across the ocean from the island. Once we hit ground then we'll be coming back with the Key." Tyler looked at Reggie shrug and briefly wondered what was going through his friend's head.

Jacke saw Reggie was starting to get a little uncomfortable with all this attention and looked through his robe pocket. "Anyone for a game of gobstones?"

With that started the trail of winter holiday events that ended up back on the platform for the Hogwarts Express. Right now, Brad was still on the muggle side saying his byes to his parents, grandfather and to Zeo, Jacke and Reggie were looking for their house friends aboard the train, and Tyler was bidding farewell to his parents.

"Tyler, you try and stay out of trouble you hear?"

Tyler nodded. "Sure dad, I'll try. I always do after all." After his parents apparrated away, he cracked a little smile. "I try but it never seems to work."

Tyler took his trunk and lugged on board the train and stowed it away at the train's last compartment when Bruce and Lutz ran in. "Tyler, what the bloody hell happened?" "Is he alright?" "What's this all about?"

Tyler almost dropped the trunk on his foot with how they surprised him with this attack of questions. "Slow down!" They automatically went quiet at the bark of his voice. He almost sounded like he would attack them just then. "Sorry about that but you almost made me lose my foot!" He pushed the trunk in and out of the way. He took a deep breath and went to calm himself down. "Good, now, what is the matter and take it slower."

Bruce and Lutz suddenly fidgeted and took out a page of the Daily Prophet and handed it to him. When Tyler unfolded it he forgot all his previous anger with the two boys. There in big bold letters was a headline that cooled him down to the toes.

Attack on the Black Family's Father and Son

It has been found that at the night hours of December 29th, Polaris Black and youngest son Regulus Black were victims of foul horseplay that ended with Polaris Black losing his life as a spell pierced right through him. Regulus Black was admitted in St. Mungo's and is currently in critical condition. Apparently, the family's house elf had appeared to them and took them back to their home where the family matriarch Echidna Black saw to them and contacted St. Mungo's personnel and had them moved there immediately. Currently, there are no suspects to this violent attack but there is still panic and outrage at this violent crime and investigations have been started. (For obituary excerpt of Polaris Black go to page 17.)

Tyler couldn't believe what he just read. Regulus was attacked. And it was four days ago and he remembered the feeling that he just pushed aside because it didn't seem as big as the foxlores. Even though it was a small feeling it wasn't as big…it was ten times worse. Tyler let the paper fall and pushed passed Bruce and Lutz into the train corridor which had now started to pull away from the station.

('sss)

End of Chapter

I'm sorry for the big delay. I was away with a busy year and a new writing course to help me improve my story telling. I've also started a new story and that will coincide with the universe of this one and hope to upload for you soon.

The events that have now taken place in the Timeless Conflict have now set the stage for the actual conflict to begin it's conclusion. From this point on, the story will take the turn of a war like story with a lot more loss and blood to be spilled. I hope you are excited.

High Serpent King