Tangled Magic Chapter 37, a kaleido star fanfic

AN: Ok, this is part one of two of the end. I was trying to keep it at one more chapter, but I realized that there was a lot to wrap up! It seemed overwhelming to have all of it in one long chapter.

The study was quiet as Leon stood by the window.

His eyes were somber, his face a mask of calm that he did not feel inside. Many thoughts begged for his attention—the issues with Sora and his sister both heavily dominated his mind. However, the bright red mane of the dragon steered him down another train of thought. The witch had called out to it in the castle, but was shortly killed afterwards.

He thought the call had been neutralized with her death.

'The dragon was following something else.' For how else would it have known where he was? Leon had not been in his father's manor for ages; he most likely would have been in the forest, had the dragon been following its own mind.

Then, there was the matter of where it entered the manor…

His fingers trailed over to the pouch where the witch's amulet was. His brows furrowed as he recalled that it had been in the room Sora had been resting in. 'It must be a beacon for the dragon. Why else did it take the trouble of climbing a tree to get to the second floor?' It would have been much easier to have entered through one of the windows on the first floor or the kitchen back door.

'Perhaps we can use this to our advantage.'

Even if they were to undo the curse on the prince, there was still the suspicion the king had of Leon and Yuri, plus the challenge that the Head Fairy presented. Her actions towards Sora incurred his anger, especially after he saw the state the fairy left her in.

Grey eyes flashed a stormy blue as he withdrew the amber ribbon from his pocket.

'The Head Fairy has much to answer for.'

When the two "grave keepers" reached their next point, Morin quickly loosened the opening of the bag, allowing for air to enter in.

They flipped their cloaks inside out to reveal colored traveling cloaks. The younger man loosened his hair and smoothed it down with his hands. Morin tossed him a white and bronze sash and deftly tied it around his waist. After that, both men heaved bolts of rich cloth and fancy rugs from the crate hidden in the bushes. The items were placed in such a way as to cover over Sophie on the cart without it the weight blocking her passage for air. Morin untied the mule from the tree and hooked the poles to the harness on its back.

Now appearing as merchants, they were ready for their last part of the journey.

What was supposed to be a terrific day was quickly turning into a disastrous one.

The Head Fairy restlessly snapped her fan open and closed as she stood in the courts. Since the king found the meetings in the court to be tedious, he often left the task up to his advisors and herself.

Powerful she may consider herself to be, but even she had to obey the king.

Her fan snapped sharply, causing her fairy aide companions to look in her direction. With an impatient twirling of her forefinger, they turned back to their conversations. As the afternoon court session began, she took a long sip of her drink. 'At least I can unwind for a bit.'

A servant came towards her. She withheld the sound of irritation in her throat.

"What is it now?"

"Begging your pardon, Head Fairy. However, I have a message from the guards inspecting the restricted wing."

Mizu handed over her glass and took the note with a curt, "You may go."

Hazel eyes read the report. The room in which the sister mirror was placed in was empty and only a large scorch mark could be found in one of the hallways. 'So the witch is dead then.' That was a pity, but she got what she wanted from their deal. It was no real hassle on her part. Her eyes drifted over to the report about the rest of the hallways.

Her painted lips twisted into extreme agitation.

Folding the note back, she gave the closest aide instructions to entertain the court afterwards. That done she made sure to walk at an even pace and gave the appearance of cool impartiality as she left the courts.

Many were awed by the presence the Head Fairy had.

From the library window seat, Sora roused from her nap.

Her eyes stayed closed as she felt the fading rays of the sun on her face before the trees outside blocked it from her. After a few more minutes, she opened her eyes, figuring that she had napped for long enough. With a lazy stretch of the arms, she noted how much better her body felt.

Though, her mind was still troubled.

She blinked as she felt the soft blanket on her legs. 'I didn't even notice that somebody covered me.' Her hands pulled the blanket off of her and started to fold it. She didn't have to wonder who had done it. 'He's still looking out for me.' Her lips let out a small, sad smile.

She gently placed it next to her and then stood up.

The library door opened, startling her. Neitol paused by the door and then gave a little bow. "My apologizes. I did not think that you would be awake yet." The older man went over to the table and collected the tea and ointment that had been left for her.

"You don't need to apologize," he heard her say. "I'm the intruder here."

Neitol let out a low hmm and slightly shook his head. "You're a guest." The cups tinked as he placed them and the saucers onto the tray. "You have as much right to be here as I do. This place is not my home; I only look after it."

She was silent and Neitol, thinking that she would not speak again, made to pick up the tray. Her soft voice paused his hands.

"Did you make the tea?"

His hands paused at her quiet voice, but then continued to place the items on the tray.

"Did it have a positive effect on you?"

She gave a small nod, mindful of her healing neck. "I feel so much better."

Neitol smiled with a bit of mischief. "Then, yes, I was the one that made the tea."

She laughed, and the atmosphere in the library lightened.

Prince Yuri—Leon was finding out with growing irritation—was not the most patient of men.

Leon resisted the urge to kick the prince out of his study as he shot question after question at him. Most revolved around the popular "who, what, where, why and how" questions people often ask after experiencing highly energized events.

Though all the prince did was watch and criticize.

'Royals.' He tiredly let out a silent sigh. He just hoped his cousin got his late note.

A few moments more and there was finally a pause in the prince's questions. Still seated, Leon rubbed his temples as he responded.

"As far as I can tell, that is the missing prince. I'm not certain how to break the spell, seeing as the witch is now dead." Leon heard the prince take in some breath to start a new round of questions. Not wanting to let him talk his ear off for the next ten minutes, Leon fixed the prince with a flat look. "I do not know for certain if the curses on the women are still there. However, Prince Astiere is still a dragon, so it would be safe to assume that Sophie and the Princess Layla are still cursed."

Yuri closed his mouth. Leon felt so relieved in finally stopping the questions. As he was picking up his herbal tea, a silver brow ticked when he noticed the frown on the prince's face.

"How do you know about Princess Layla?" Yuri asked with heavy suspicion.

After Neitol told her where Leon was and then left the library, Sora softly padded her way over to the study.

She had knocked, but whoever was talking must have covered the sound. Nervously, she debated whether it would be alright to just walk in or not when she heard them talking about the curses.

She quietly opened the door a little. Neither occupant heard or saw the door open. Her eye could see that they were further into the study and standing in such a way that the door was not in their immediate sights.

Her hand had started to widen the opening in order to come in when Yuri asked about how Leon knew about Layla. Her body stilled; her eyes were wide.

She had told Leon in confidence.

Her bottom lip was between her teeth as she fretted about the situation. If Yuri knew that she told someone about the curse—especially a stranger to the kingdom—about a secret and domestic affair, she wouldn't be able to escape the heavy judgment. A punishment would most likely be issued, with undoubtedly a removal of her title as aide. She was sure her mentor would be behind that last punishment; they never did get along.

But Layla…could she leave her friend?

'Will she be disappointed in me?' The hand on the doorknob shook a little. Even if she stepped in and came up with something, Yuri would be suspicious of her speaking up all of a sudden and not letting Leon speak. Her situation was left in Leon's hands. By telling him in the first place, she had unknowingly given him that power.

The explanation would have to come from him.

By the way she was acting around him, she wasn't certain about what he will do.

Leon slightly paused in drinking his tea.

With an inward curse to himself, he thought of what to say. He remembered too late that Sora had asked him not to let people know that he knew that Layla wasn't sick, but cursed.

To betray her trust in him…that would definitely be a damaging blow to an already fragile situation.

"It was simple enough to assume," he started with some arrogance in his voice, "having heard the entire ruckus over an 'illness.'" Leon smoothly took a drink of his tea and then set it down. "When I looked for the witch over in the Hamilton Kingdom, I naturally heard the talk in the pubs and other public areas. It was curious that so much trouble would be stirred and various search parties would be organized for only a sickness."

Yuri slightly glared at the silver haired man's superior attitude, but thought about what he said. "So was this around the time you ran into Fairy Aide Sora?"

Leon's face gave nothing away. "Yes, it was. Though, I did not know who she was for quite a while." His eyes thoughtfully looked up in recollection. "It wasn't until I suspected that she was a fairy that I put two and two together and concluded that the witch was most likely causing trouble in another area as well."

What he said was mostly true; he had come to his own conclusions before Sora had told him what was going on.

Yuri's head absently nodded as he took in the information. Suddenly, though, violet eyes narrowed. "I trust that you followed proper behavior?"

Leon's own eyes narrowed at the insinuation. "I believe I have already told you to spare me your lectures." With a scoff, he turned his head away.

His eyes widened at the sight of Sora over by the door.

When Morin hitched up the mule, he had noticed a note was tucked under the animal's harness near the shoulder.

Booming business in town.

Morin ripped up the note after reading it. 'So location B instead of the original plan.' He'll burn the note when there's a chance to either make a fire or if the inn had a fire he could quickly put it in.

"Change of plans," he told his partner.

Yuri turned his head over to the fairy as Leon stood up from his chair.

Having forgotten her new state of dress, Yuri uttered some noise of surprise and then collected himself. "Fairy Aide Sora. I trust that you slept well?"

Her eyes were on Leon. His eyes were back to neutral, but inside, he tried to decipher what she was thinking about. Honey eyes went towards the prince and she gave a little bow.

"Yes, I did. Thank you for asking, Prince Yuri." After a slight pause, she added, "The blanket was appreciated, especially with the sun not being so high in the sky now."

She did not look towards Leon, but he knew that last phrase was for him.

He was glad that it helped.

"I was going to see if you were up," Sora's head turned towards Leon as he spoke, "we have some pressing matters to discuss and go over before the sleeping powder wears off on the dragon."

Sora's face sobered. "That's actually why I've come."

Leon's arm stretched out in a silent offer for her to sit down. The carpet lightly tickled her bare feet as she walked over to the empty arm chair. Both men sat down when she did.

Leon moved the fruit bowl over towards her.

With a small "Thank you," Sora picked out a few grapes and put them into her palm.

"I have been meaning to ask you to examine a certain item that the witch left behind," Leon started after letting her finish the grapes on her hand. His hands carefully pulled out the wrapped amulet from his belt pouch. He unwrapped the amulet and held it out to her.

Upon seeing the object, she scooted to the edge of her seat.

Purple swirled around and a hint of dark green as well. Her eyes widened and she quickly covered the amulet over with the cloth. Her hands glowed yellow and rapidly her magic was absorbed by the cloth like black ink seeping into paper.

"Is there someone watching the serpent?"

Yuri blinked at the frantic question. "Captain Jerry is keeping watch. Why do you ask?"

Her ears were turned towards the window, waiting to see if the serpent had awakened. Leon lightly frowned at her tense form, but soon relaxed when the tension eased in her body.

Still alert, she responded, "This amulet is still active."

Yuri made some surprised sound while Leon nodded.

"I suspected as much," Leon said as he watched her hands slowly dimmed and the magic in the cloth settled, returning to its original color. "It's what drew the dragon here, correct?"

"Yes," she stated. Her hands withdrew from his hand with the amulet. Her fingers accidently brushed the side of his hand, causing her to twitch a little, but she continued to bring her hands back without missing a beat. "But there's more to the amulet than being a beacon."

Leon tied off the cloth around the necklace. "How so?"

"There was some green magic among the purple," she said with her eyes on the fruit, "I think that's Mizu's and it allowed May to use her fairy magic." Having calmed herself after the touch, she looked back at him. "Before, May had never transformed into animals. However, back in the castle when I was fighting her, she was able to. Animal transformations are not uncommon among fairies seeing as they are beings of the forest. Some woodland witches can do it, but I really don't think that May was one of them. They're usually benevolent beings."

"Do you mean to say that a Head Fairy was in league with a malignant witch?!"

"Did you put a barrier on the cloth?" Leon asked, blatantly ignoring Yuri's question.

Sora slightly shook her head at his disrespect. "My magic's just there to disrupt it; it won't last for long."

"Will it prevent the dragon from detecting it?"

"To a certain extent. It's sort of like a niggling feeling that will persist until he actually finds it. The sensation grows stronger as he nears it. But my magic will also prevent Mizu from finding its signature." Sora addressed the prince next. "You are correct, Prince Yuri. I do not know how it started, but it was so."

Her focus withdrew as she thought. Stealing a glance at Leon, she dared to ask, "Could I have a few minutes with Prince Yuri?"

Not having anticipated the request, he arched a brow, but then nodded. Swiftly, he stood up from the armchair and strode out of the study. Sora's eyes followed his progress across the room until the door closed. Taking a breath in, she met with Yuri's curious gaze.

"Pardon for the suddenness, however, I thought it would be more comfortable if L-Nobleman Leon was not in the room." Her hands folded in her lap as she decided on how to word her question. "Prince Yuri, I would like to ask you something that is vital to the curses, though it could possibly be seen as out of line."

After he gave her the permission to ask, she inquired, "Do you love the Princess Layla?"

"Of course I do. Why would anyone doubt it?"

"I originally did not, but it's just that," her thumbs twiddled around each other, "What with the suppressed memories, I just wondered if maybe…" her voice lowered as her sentence neared its end, "Maybe it brought out feelings for Sophie."

The room was quiet as Yuri stared at her. "Love both of them?"

Sora silently nodded.

Yuri sat still and then suddenly stood up. He paced behind the armchairs with his hands behind his back. "Love…both…" he murmured as he reflected on his emotions.

Her thumbs continued to circle around and around until Yuri halted in his steps. Her head shot up towards him, waiting to hear the verdict.

"Perhaps, in the beginning…" he trailed, his hands unclasping and finding the back of the chair. "But now," his head shook. "Once, I might have fallen for Sophie. But Princess Layla, when we danced, walked around in the gardens, her rare smiles and laughs…those memories and feelings overwhelm the past ones."

Sora only felt half of the relief she should have. 'I'll have to tell Leon at some point.' She was saddened for him, but they had known that this would happen with one of the two cursed women.

"Thank you for telling me."

The innkeepers had been keeping an eye out for Morin and his helper.

Thankfully, they managed to get Sophie in without much hassle or unneeded attention. Morin rolled his shoulders as they walked down to the kitchen area of the inn. As promised, there were two small meals for them on the counter.

"We're finally done," the younger man cheered as he took a hearty drink from his goblet. Morin ripped off a piece of bread and dunked it into the soup. He had debated about sending the note now, but the steaming meal was too delicious to pass on.

'Cousin Leon can wait a few minutes.'

They really needed this break.

Leon was let back into the study.

He took a look at both of them and then sat back down in his previous armchair.

"We need to get moving," he stated. "Prince Yuri needs to return and the issue with the dragon must be dealt with."

Sora looked at her hands in thought. Her eyes took in the healing burns from the cold irons and an idea began to form. "There's something we can try to break the serpent's curse," she said. "And possibly clear both of your names in the process."

Leon leaned forward as she spoke.

Their meeting in the study brought things into motion again.

Sora, for one, was glad to be aiming for something. She was in the washroom slowly slipping into some loose trousers.

While they were in the study, Neitol had gone home to retrieve different clothing for Sora. Now that the cuts along her limbs were healed over—only thin pink lines were visible as the new skin had formed—she could wear new items that were more acceptable. 'I'm sure Yuri will appreciate the change.' She softly giggled as she tightened the ties around her waist and then gingerly slipped out of Leon's under-tunic.

She was thankful she could put this newer, smaller tunic on without any help. Her cheeks flushed in memory of Leon's help hours ago, very glad that she didn't have to call for him again. She lightly shook her head, deciding that such feelings were not allowed, especially not right now.

Their hasty plan required her complete concentration.

Sash tied around, she put the short boots on and then left the room.

On the ground level stood Leon and Yuri both in court wear. Both held the fragments of the mirror that she had taken with her from the bolted room in the castle. When she came down from the stairs, both looked up.

The plan was actually an adjustment to Leon's earlier plan, seeing as Yuri's disappearance would cause a ruckus sooner or later if he did not return to the castle. Yuri would go back with Captain Jerry, and if prompted about his absence earlier in the day, he'd answer with some fabricated story about being invited to a noble's house and having stayed far past the time he had intended, thus causing him to sleep there as well. If needing a house name, Morin's would be brought up.

Leon trusted his cousin's ability to improvise on the spot. In their younger years, he recalled Morin being able to talk out of many scenarios and punishments, even as a child.

He was a gifted orator, a master of speech and presentation.

Both men will go to the courts—separately—as originally planned, however, they were now in charge of placing the fragments in the courts.

It was vital that it be done if their names were to be cleared.

"Are you certain you have enough magic for this?"

Sora paused in settling her bag strap on her shoulder. "We need to act quickly, so it will have to be enough." Seeing his frown, she sighed. "I'll conserve where I can. It's all I can promise you."

Jerry came back from outside. "Neitol's taken the chains off of the dragon. It stirred a little, but it was still out."

With that, Yuri and Jerry headed out the front door. Leon followed them to the door and halted Prince Yuri for a moment. Low words were spoken and secretly out of Sora's view, Leon passed the prince his fragments except for one.

"Don't forget to put one before the gate," Leon reminded.

"Yes, I understand the importance," Yuri refrained from saying a biting comment, but his tone spoke of his slight irritation.

With that, Leon closed the door on Yuri. Leon gave a half smirk at the indignant face the prince had at Leon's rude action.

About ten minutes passed and Sora made to step outside when Leon's hand gently grabbed her arm.

He was supposed to go now, but he could not let her take the risk on her own. It was uncertain whether or not she had accumulated enough magic for the endeavor. He was not willing to chance on the side that she did.

Instead of asking her about changing the plan, he had decided to tell her at the last moment that way she couldn't refuse him.

"Teach me," he stated, "that way you do not have to use magic so soon."

Her eyes darted from the backdoor to Leon. "There's not enough time to teach you how to mirror travel. It's too risky for beginners."

"Then use my magic."

"I don't have time to draw it into the medallion!"

"That is rectifiable. I will travel with you for the first part."

"The point is to clear your name; not further incriminate it!" Her eyes narrowed on him. "If someone sees magic coming out of you, the consequences could be dire!"

"I gave Yuri my fragments. He will be in charge of the inner courtyard. "

Some movement outside made her withhold the coming words. With a muttered, "stubborn troll," she grasped his hand and told him to bring out his magic. His eyes glowed as he did so and concentrated it into their clasped hands.

"Make sure to take in air before we mirror travel," she warned before she stepped past the doorway. Her bag jingled a little as a short chain of cold irons had been put into it for later.

Leon followed, watching as the dragon groggily got up onto its deadly claws.

With one hand, she shook the previously untied cloth off of the amulet. Almost immediately, the dragon's eyes narrowed onto the swirling object. It shrieked, the magic in the necklace making it shrug off the haze of sleep.

Sora lifted their joined hands to the pre-set up fragment on the ground nearby and some magic—a hint of yellow guiding a mass of blue—encased the fragment.

"You want this," she taunted as she swung the amulet, "Then come and get it!"

Quickly, she tugged their hands as she made Leon move with her. "Jump with me!" she rapidly shot at him and together, they disappeared into the mirror, with the dragon following them close behind.

Having read that Sophie, the "guest" of the king's, was no longer in the room she was supposed to be in, Mizu was frantic.

The issue with Sora's escape had made the guard at Sophie's door foolishly leave his post. Sometime during that and her orders to check out the other hallways, someone stole the sleeping girl! The guard at the entrance to the restricted wing claimed that a pair of physicians came through, but it was nothing out of the ordinary.

"They were making their usual rounds," he had said. "They even had the paperwork for it."

That, of course, prompted Mizu to visit the Head of the Court Physicians. Currently, Mizu stood by in the office as a guard questioned the man.

"Who was on post for the rounds this morning?"

The robust man looked over the mountain of papers on his desk. "It's somewhere here, I know it is…it's a rather loose schedule, really, since it's just checking to see that those in the restricted wing are still alive and breathing. Most swap shifts at the last minute without informing me."

"So you are telling the Head Fairy that, even if you found the schedule, it's most likely inaccurate?!"

"Erm, yes, I'm afraid," the physician responded as his foot kicked something under his desk. Curious, he bent down to look at it and saw that it was a rather large sack of pearls and gems. His eyes widened. 'When did that get there?' He was glad that the desk was not open in the front or else they would have seen the bag. A formal note was on top of the pile; he snatched it, quickly perused its contents. 'A certificate of death…'

He blinked as he realized what the bag was for.

"What's got your attention?" questioned the guard when the physician's upper half stayed bent over.

"Oh," the physician started as he made his decision, "I found a notice from this morning from those doing the rounds. It must have fallen from the desk earlier." His hands, still beneath the table, quickly and firmly pressed his seal ring against the pre-set up wax on the paper. "These things come so often, I tend to forget what I've approved."

He presented the certificate to the guard, who in turn held it up for the Head Fairy to read.

Her jaw dropped almost comically. "What's the meaning of this?!"

"It's a certificate documenting the passing of one of the occupants within the restricted wing." The physician folded his hands on top of the desk. "It's not so outlandish, given the poor conditions within those rooms. I've tried to better them, made several petitions, yet, they continue to go unanswered."

Her jaw snapped closed. "I want to see the body."

"I'm afraid it is out of my hands now." The man shrugged. "The occupant has been taken to the graveyard and is six feet in the earth."

With a heavy frown, she snapped at the guard to go look in the graveyard. With a huff, she stormed out of the office. The second guard that had been waiting outside of the office followed the fairy.

"Head Fairy, the magical fixer has finished— "

"Finally!"

"However, she said to tell you that she put together the pieces that she could find."

Mizu stopped walking. "Pieces she could find? Are there pieces missing?!"

"Apparently so, Head Fairy."

She snapped her fan out agitatedly. 'That rotten fairy!'

With her fan, she pointed at the guard. "Make a case to your Head of the Guards for the arrest of Nobleman Leon. He's undoubtedly a part of this fiasco." It was too much of a coincidence that the body of Sophie disappeared around the same time that the redhead escaped.

The second guard bowed and left. Mizu hurriedly walked over to the restricted wing.

'Time to find that trouble maker.'

Captain Jerry was a speeding arrow.

Running with the prince under his arm, Jerry was making sure that they would reach the castle as soon as possible. He knew that the position was a bit humiliating for the prince, but the plan included them getting the mirror pieces in place.

After all, Sora could only distract the dragon for so long until Mizu showed up at one of the mirror locations.

Then, the public witnessing would occur, if things were done right.

It was a rather loosely put together plan, however, seeing as they were pressed for time by the dragon and the actions of Mizu, they were going to have to make do with what they had.

The gate of the castle was within sight; Jerry slowed down in order to get Yuri on his feet. Yuri pulled out a fragment and set it on the ground behind a bush.

Then, straightening his clothing, they walked back onto the main road and past the gate.

Within the strange dimension between mirrors, Leon felt disoriented.

They were moving in a void, no floors no ceilings…just blank space. He thought he was running, but it felt like walking through something thick and heavy. As she had told him, he had taken a breath of air and was currently holding it in. He was not sure if he could let it out and breathe back in, so as a precaution he simply held his breath.

Up ahead of them, different blot shaped things were suspended in the void.

Sora turned her head around, looking for which fragment to enter.

Seeing a large, dark one, she stretched their hands to it and concentrated. The black blot zoomed towards them—or did they suddenly move towards it? Leon wasn't certain—and their forms resurfaced through the large fragment.

Both let out their breaths and took in new air.

They were back in Sora's old cell, with the mirror she had broken mostly intact. "We need to move," she said as Leon shook the slight dizziness from his head. Swiftly, she slipped the necklace to hang from the crook of her elbow and pulled out another fragment. "Can you test the doorknob?"

When they were at the door Leon jiggled it, finding that it was unlocked. 'Makes sense. There is no one in here; why would they lock it.'

"We can open it."

"Good. You can open it once the dragon comes through." She loosened her hand from their connection, but Leon held on.

"You can let go," she murmured.

His hand stayed where it was. She looked at their hands and then turned back towards the mirror. Her eyes narrowed as something dark appeared on its surface.

"It's coming." Leon's other hand readied on the doorknob.

The guard patrolling the restricted wing hallways paused in his steps as Mizu approached. He gave a bow and then waited to see if she would pass him or speak.

"How goes it?"

"All is silent and secure, Head Fairy."

Her hand holding the fan relaxed. "Very good. Carry on then, guar—"

A loud crash and then the following thud and high, animalistic shrieking made both stock still. Mizu shot the guard an annoyed look and the guard snapped to attention, gave a short salute and then ventured towards the sound.

The door to the cell slammed against the wall as it was violently thrown open.

Leon and Sora barreled out of the room as the dragon's long body quickly filled up the small space. They ran as the dragon shrieked.

"You can go now!" Sora panted out as they turned the corner. "I'll power a fragment and you can travel through it!"

"You said it was risky for beginners," he pointed out with a slight strain of his voice as they ran.

"It's risky when rushed! The serpent won't be in there with you so you can," she paused in order to lift their hands and shoot a blast of magic to momentarily stun the dragon. The magic hit its face, making it crash against the wall. Hurriedly, she pulled them into another hallway.

"You'll have time to look and concentrate!" she said in a rush and then took in some air. She tugged her hand away from his, but he still refused to let go. Frustrated, she half hissed at him, "You need to go now! Mizu will be coming and you can't be here when she does!"

"And leave you to her mercy?" He shook his head.

She groaned at his stubbornness. "Don't be a fool!"

Her eyes widened as he gripped her chin and his face moved into her personal space.

"I will not let her hurt you again," he lowly murmured. "Once was enough."

Her stomach twisted as his hand loosened from her chin and lightly ran through her short, choppy hair. "Don't do this," she pleaded. "I can't—it's just—don't." Her eyes were glassy as a light layer of moisture formed.

The dragon shrieked deathly close by. Leon's hands dropped from her hair and from around her hand. She frowned as he crouched down and then let out a sound of surprise when he lifted her up.

"Hold on," he quickly instructed.

Without further thought, her legs went around his waist and her hands around his neck. The dragon came and made a lunge for them. Leon lightly jumped and kicked off the wall. The added height made the dragon miss and hit the wall. Deftly, Leon flipped over the dragon and ran down the way they originally came from.

If they needed Mizu's attention, going near the entrance to the restricted wing seemed like the correct idea. He placed Sora back on her feet but grabbed her hand before she could object to it.

"At least draw back your magic," she mumbled next to him. As long as Mizu thought that she was the one that brought them here, Leon wouldn't be in danger of being discovered as a magical being with active abilities.

The blue in his eyes faded away until only the natural thin veins in the grey irises were present.

The guard had been gone for a while.

Mizu felt a sense of dread as she slowly walked towards the direction of the man went.

"Guard, what's going on?"

A yell sounded and that piercing shriek vibrated through the halls. Mizu watched with wide eyes as the guard was thrown against the wall, crashing into the empty suit of arms. The man groaned and then his head lobbed to the side.

Two very familiar figures shot out from where the guard had been.

"You!" Mizu screamed with venom at the redhead. She was pulling out her wand when the duo suddenly ran down the opposite way. A long body with dark scales and a bright red mane soon came and followed after them.

"T-The prince?!"

Horrified, Mizu made her wings appear and shot after them.

AN: Thank you for sticking with this story! :D