Big Yellow Taxi Chapter 37: CauldronBorne, a hellboy fanfic

((Lots to cover, only two more to go! Enjoy the action! A moment of silence as well for one of the greatest performers of all time. Goodbye, Michael, we will miss you!)))

Chapter 37

It was decided that Red and Nuada would go to the containment room to retrieve Wink while Abe and Dr. Krauss went toward the entrance to try and head off Puck and Ravi being brought to the containment wing. Liz and Nuala were told to head straight for the plane and wait for the rest to meet them within 20 minutes. Liz had stressed to her husband, and indirectly to the prince, that there was no telling how much time they had to work with and that the retrieval needed to be as swift as possible.

"You better be able to keep him from decapitating anyone. You hear me, Legolas?" Red demanded firmly as he and the prince moved down the hallway. Nuada growled. "Well?"

"Wink is not without sense and compassion. He will not attack without being provoked or ordered to do so," the elf replied angrily, allowing the demon to lead the way without feeling too powerless. "And do not call me Legolas."

"In here." Red approached a large, steel door and began pressing several keys on a nearby panel. "This is where your sister said they put him. I can't smell him, so I find it hard to believe."

"Is there any portion of this building that isn't either equipped for torturing or imprisoning?!" Nuada exclaimed in horror at the sight of the series of large containment cells behind enormous metal doors. Red chuckled in amusement.

"Welcome to my world, Legolas," the demon muttered as he walked over to an illuminated list of detainees and their current conditions. "Cute; he's in number thirteen."

Nuada growled softly and fought furiously against the urge to attack the demon. He clinched both fists and approached the door marked 13. "Do not call me Legolas, you repulsive mortal," he grumbled. He glanced at the door in curiosity as he tried to decide how best to force it open. Red watched in amusement for a moment. The prince seemed as bewildered as a child standing pitifully in front of a new baby-gate. The demon's smile faded as Nuada walked back over to the demon and folded his arms angrily. "Are you going to open the door, or am I going to assume you are an enemy with no intention of assisting the rest of us?"

"As long as you're not including my wife in that 'the rest of us' comment," the demon grumbled as he lifted a small flap near Wink's description and pressed the grey button beneath it. The large door bearing the 13 slid open slowly, revealing a pitch black cell with no sounds or recognizable scents coming from within. Nuada frowned. Was this a trap? Would the humans and the demon have deceived him simply to return him to some other form of containment? No, his sister had not sensed any treachery and she would know more about their intentions than he at the moment. The girl was as precious to them as she was to him, and news of her kidnapping had been just as distressing and urgent for the team as they had been for the elf. He stepped inside slowly.

"What the heck?!" Red suddenly exclaimed as the sight of a tiger came bounding into the room towards him. "Whoa! Big cat!"

"Play?! Not play?" Ravi called as he frantically moved down the hallway. Nuada turned and noticed the tiger just as he was noticed as well. "Not play!"

"Ravi?" Nuada said in bewilderment. Where was Puck? The prince stared at the animal in confusion for a moment. Why on earth would the creature, having recently been separated from his mistress, be interested in playing ? When the tiger called out the same once again, the elf realized that the creature was calling the phrases as if they were names and not actions or requests at all. "Wait! Titania is play and I'm not play, that's what you've meant all along," Nuada said thoughtlessly to himself as he knelt and readied to face the beast. Red looked at the prince in confusion as the tiger skidded to a halt in front of him and began sniffing furiously. "She is not with us, my friend. We are to go and retrieve her. Can you follow me long enough to do that?"

"Play!" Ravi cried sadly, turning his head to the side as he visibly pined for the girl.

He snorted and turned back to the prince giving a low growl to show that he was in agreement with the prince's plan to rescue the girl. Nuada smiled and placed a hand on the tiger's head affectionately. The tiger grunted and pulled its head away in irritation, twitching his tail to emphasize to the prince that he did not appreciate the need to go and fetch the girl. Red approached and firmly took the tiger by the collar, hauling him away from the elf for a moment. The elf frowned, feeling similarly about the situation. He rose and scanned the open door carefully. Could Wink truly be in there? He didn't hear any sounds whatsoever and Wink usually at least breathed more loudly than any other creature. The prince drew in a deep breath and moved cautiously into the room.

"Mr. Wink?" he said carefully. The words of the tiny creature that had delivered the news of Wink's demise still burned in his mind. How he had ached for such a loss. Wink had been the only true friend the prince had known since being separated from his sister. The thought of having to live without the strength and brutish tenderness that the troll had offered was as painful as the thought of living as an orphan. He cleared his throat, feeling his mouth grow dry and his stomach flutter with anticipation of being reunited. His eyes scanned the dark room more carefully, still unable to see much of this area. The prince, like all elves, had the ability to see without as much light as a human needed, but this unnatural enclosure made even that blessing for naught. "Wink?"

"Little prince?" the troll muttered from a small distance away. Nuada turned in the direction and narrowed his eyes, trying to locate at least a hint of his friend. He heard the sound of scraping, hoof against the strange floor of this facility. The elf's lips curled upward into a bright smile as he heard the sound of his friend, although more slow and quiet than usual, moving behind him. He turned and came face to face with the lumbering figure standing over him. "Nuada! My little prince! Oh! How worried I was! You're alive! My precious little prince is alive!"

"Wink!" the prince cried happily. The voice of the elf was cut off as the troll heaved him up in one arm and pressed him tightly to his chest. Red entered the room and flipped one of the switches on the panel. Light filled the room as Nuada gasped for breath and struggled to let the troll know he was suffocating. "gasp . . . Wink . . . cough . . . my friend . . . gasp . . . please put me . . . cough . . . down now."

The troll grunted and set him on the ground gently. Using his enormous, yet unscathed, hand to place on the elf's head and look him over carefully while telling the prince the horrors he had suffered at the hands of the humans at the same time. Nuada listened, taking the time he knew he owed the creature for being so loyal and, essentially, loving for so many years. Red noted the sight of the prince simply standing and listening to the grunting troll. The demon frowned and stormed over to the elf, seizing him by the shoulder while still keeping a decent grip on the tiger. Wink roared furiously and moved forward to attack the red creature that had helped to land him in this situation. Nuada felt the urgency of the task at hand return at the demon's presence. He frowned and stepped in front of him; folding his arms and giving the troll a stern look. The troll stepped backwards, holding up his maimed metallic hand as he pointed to it and whimpered about the damage the demon had done to him. Nuada frowned and reached out to take his friend's appendage in both hands.

"We're running out of time, Legolas," Red exclaimed angrily.

"A moment. It is the least we can afford him for the time being after the horrendous ordeal he has been subjected to at your hands and the hands of the putrid humans you serve," the elf retorted hotly. "And for the last time, I am not Legolas. Call me that again and I will remove the awkward tension there will be in having you along." Red frowned and raised a fist angrily as the prince glanced over the troll's mechanical mess lingering at the end of his wrist. Nuada sighed and gently patted the steel. "Not to worry, old friend. I can fix this in no time at all."

"This is ridiculous," the demon grumbled as he turned back to the door. The troll whimpered once more, asking the prince if he was sure that he could repair it so quickly and back to its former strength.

"Of course I can. I made the first two, this one is by far the best, most durable, and most versatile," the elf replied as he turned and motioned for the troll to follow. "Come along, Mr. Wink, we are returning to the homeland to reclaim my father's throne."

"Can we get going before Titania ends up looking like him?" Red interjected. Nuada scowled at him and moved past, doing his best to ignore the demon as they continued out of the room and down the hallway. "This way. We need to get to the plane unseen and it's going to be tougher now that Mr. Winky and the tiger are with us."

Nuada looked toward the demon and shook his head. "His name is Wink, Anung un Rama. Do you have no respect for the titles of others?" he said with visible irritation.

"Not really," Red replied casually. He stopped for a moment and listened carefully, smiling. "Sounds like Abe and Krauss are ahead of us and they've got you're rabbit buddy with them."

"For Aiglin's sake, demon, his name is Puck; I have said so previously. You shall have to learn to address beings properly if you are to survive in the magical realm." He moved more closely beside the demon and stared carefully into the hallway ahead. "How can you tell that they are head of us?"

"I can hear Abe rambling off something about the exact location we need to reach and a more annoying voice arguing about needing to get to you and get the tiger back," the demon explained. Nuada frowned. He couldn't really hear a thing. He grasped his head for a moment, suddenly feeling weak once more. He hadn't been allowed the time Jenna had told him would be best to allow the plasma to start benefiting him. "Come on, we can use the tiger to distract Manning or anyone else that tries to stop us."

Nuada thought for a moment about Ravi being used as a distraction and the possibility of the tiger ending up being seen as a monster just as he had been and then being imprisoned or worse. He reached out and grabbed the demon's arm, stopping him from moving forward. "No," he said. He quickly knelt in front of the tiger and looked deeply into the creature's eyes. "Ravi, my friend, I need you to stay here while we retrieve Titania. I need someone to watch over my nephew and protect him."

"Are you crazy? Jenna'll freak out if you send . . ." Red began protesting.

"She has more sense about other creatures than you do," the elf snapped, not turning towards his awkward ally. "Go and find him; he is an infant with scent similar to mine in the care of a human female. Can you do this?"

"Not play," Ravi grunted and tried to lick the prince's face one more time. Nuada held the tiger's muzzle away. Red sighed heavily and turned back to the hallway. The prince gently patted the tiger's head once more and then pointed in the direction of the rest of the compound that would lead him close to the library where his nephew had been sleeping when he arrived. His nephew. It was still a strange thought for him to grasp; his sister being married and having already birthed a child. Then again, it was equally as strange to think about the tiger he was sending to watch the boy who belonged to the somewhat human girl he was off to rescue from the faerie king he had not thought about since his youth. It was all incredibly odd and had been this way since his return from exile. He would have to remember not to spend so much time in isolation ever again.

"Come on, Nuada, we need to go now," Red snorted as he reached down and took the prince by the sleeve over his shoulder. The elf scowled and allowed this for a moment. The demon had taken only four steps forward when the elf suddenly took hold of his ally's elbow and firmly yanked it forward, kicking one leg of the creature forward as well. Red cried out in surprise as the prince stepped backward, and let the demon crash to the floor on his back. The elf smiled in triumph as the demon began cursing. He had taken just about enough harsh handling from any creature for a lifetime and was now in the state of mind and position to begin making it known how unappreciative he was of such gestures. Wink snickered in approval as they turned and continued down the hallway swiftly without the demon, trying to concentrate on the position of the others using the fading link with his sister. He made only three turns, glancing carefully when he heard a human operative nearby so that he and the troll could dodge their view. The demon was as slow to catch up with them as he had hoped, making it to the hangar at the very same moment. Nuada stared at the plane in shock. This was the transportation they would be using? He had seen a few of these in the skies overhead. The skies? He froze and felt a twinge of natural anxiety overwhelm him. Red stopped a few feet behind him and glared at him. "Keep moving, elf, or I'll leave you here," he ordered. Wink grunted at him angrily while Nuada said nothing and continued to stare at the plane apprehensively. Red huffed and took the prince by the arm once more, ignoring the lesson he should have learned a moment before. "Come on."

"There are other ways to reach England," Nuada said softly. Red turned to him with one brow raised in confusion. "The faerie portals are more swift and the one near the market will take us to Bethmoora."

"Hey, if you want to try and weasel your way out of this compound, make it back to the troll market, and dodge the faerie guy that wants to kill you since he'll probably have all of those rigged with traps by now, be my guest," the demon said with a dramatic wave. Nuada glared at him once more, wishing momentarily that he had fangs similar to the tigers' to bear at the brute. "No? Then get on the plane."

Wink grunted softly and moved past the two towards the plane. Nuada breathed deeply. This was not going to be a pleasant journey no matter how they traveled, but it would be all the less tolerable being forced into one of the foul, human contraptions that continued to poison the earth and rape the sky. Still, if this would take him to where his precious Titania waited, it was worth any evils great or small.

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The flight was neither eventful nor pleasant. Nuada and Nuala sat anxiously at the very back of the plane, huddled against one another for comfort as if having reverted back to a childhood trauma that required the strength of the other to overcome. Puck had done his best to ignore the sight of the enormous troll who stood uncomfortably in the central portion of the plane, unable because of his size to accompany the prince to the backmost corner. He grunted in agitation as he tried to glance into the back every so often. Puck had been able to go and sit with the prince, introduced himself to the princess, and found himself snatched uncomfortably into the prince's grasp in rabbit form as the journey continued. Nuada anxiously stroked the rabbit's back and head as he explained how he had been healed by Larce and what he had learned of the trolls that were awaiting them across the sea. Abe felt uncomfortable trying to take hold of his wife while she knelt clutching her brother. It was likely that the prince would seize the opportunity to alleviate any frustrations by starting a tiff with the fish man and Abe was in no mood to lay him out once again.

"Beginning initial descent into the Salisbury region of Great Britain," Dr. Krauss announced from the pilot's seat. The backmost part of the plane was filled past what should have been safe capacity, but the necessity of using the craft went beyond basic precautions. "Everyone prepare for landing."

"Finally," Red muttered. He looked at Liz and smiled. "I thought we'd never get there."

"We still have to land," she replied anxiously as she glanced out one of the small windows. She frowned and turned around. "Hey, Nuala or Nuada one of you, why is the entrance at Stonehenge? I thought your throne room and the palace that belonged to your family was that place in Antrim. What happened to that?"

Nuada said nothing, still clutching Puck to him like a security blanket. Nuala breathed deeply, finding more of a voice than her brother at the moment.

"The palace we seek is of the Faerie Ring, a land that was set aside to be entirely sacred from the upper world of mankind. It was hidden long ago to preserve us, but the need arises for us to come to the surface and reclaim the throne of the magical globe rather than simply keep the throne of Elfland," Nuala explained. The plane began to dip and turn, lowering in an arc towards the green earth. Nuada and Nuala both suddenly took hold of one another, Puck caught uncomfortably between them as they glanced around in fear. "What's happening?"

"We're landing," Abe said. "Hopefully we won't be too noticed. These areas are heavy with tourists and can be pretty heavily watched."

"There aren't supposed to be any tourists out there this week, something about the weather," Red added.

The plane came to a smooth halt on the ground quite a distance away from the pathways that led to the circle of stones. The group exited the plane, glancing around carefully for any humans that might be observing them. Luckily, so far Red had been right and there were no other people around for what appeared to be miles and miles. Nuada breathed deeply and looked with fond recognition at the henge in the distance. Nuala smiled as well. Neither had seen this place since their childhood and even then they were only allowed brief glimpses of the sacred circle. The group slowly wandered down the path worn by tourists and caretakers toward the ancient ring. Wink grunted and stayed as close to Nuada as possible. Puck snorted every now and again at the troll with slight disapproval. He would need to have a conversation with the prince about this companion.

From beneath the plane, unnoticed to the group as they moved a great distance away, a bottom flap swung open and allowed a large and rather desperate man to fall gasping onto the ground. He lay for several moments, breathing deeply. The suit he was wearing was soaked with sweat and still warm from being so near the landing gear. Thomas Manning had never done something so bold before, hiding onboard a craft in order to get in on any action with the team. He had done his best for years to get away from action with the team. He groaned and felt his head spin as a cool darkness washed over him. He would need to rest a few minutes before continuing on and he didn't want to risk slowing the group that was rescuing his daughter by calling out for help. He sighed and told himself that he would rest a few moments and then be up on his feet and on his way. He was not going to let that horrible, horrible elf have any exclusivity with his little girl.

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"Now, how exactly do we get in? This isn't like a doorway or a portal, is it?" Liz asked as they pressed forward.

"The circle of stars holds the start, the tomb of their study the end. We are headed for Newgrange from here, so I'm assuming that it is a portal of some kind. The path to the Faerie Ring opens when calling up fire as friend were the instructions after that," Nuada quoted. The group stared at him in confusion. "Light then the top of each marker . . ."

"There aren't any markers out here," Red interjected, waving his stone hand towards the flatlands around them as they grew all the closer to the henge. Nuada glared at him and then smirked.

"The very living rock would be the markers, each signifying a 'hinge' as it were a door. Light then the top of each marker, with flame thrown by mortal command." Here the prince looked towards Liz. "I believe you are going to be the key in making that possible, Elizabeth Sherman. The last instructions are to follow the deathless defenders and enter the Danu's last land."

"Danu?" Red laughed.

"Danu, as in the Tuatha de Danan or the highest royalty and first races of the Celts in Ireland. Danu was a mother goddess similar to Isis," Abe explained. Nuala looked at him with a greater deal of adoration than before. How marvelous to have a creature so versed in her people's history without having schooled him herself. "I thought the deathless defenders were sent to the otherworld."

"The otherworld, Abraham, is simply in reference to the realms not within reach of mortals. Humans took it to mean the netherworld or other side where beings go when all earthen purpose is past them," Nuada corrected with a gleam of triumph in knowing something his brother in law did not. Abe frowned at him and then nodded as they reached the edge of the stone circle. The group began to look around in confusion. They were sure that they could hear singing from not far away; singing with music reminiscent of a pub. Nuada and Nuala recognized the type of melody and tone of voices as being in preparation for marching to battle. The voices themselves belonged to goblins, the only of the less savoury creatures that had any musical ability whatsoever.

"If the Morrighan calls me, I'll press on just the same.
I'll cease not til King Balor's son is on the throne again!
If the Morrighan calls me, I'll press on just the same.
No, I'll cease not til King Balor's son is on the throne again!

Well Oberon was crowned as King so many years ago.
And ever since we live a sorrowed life of misery and woe.
Yes, Oberon's a tyrant; above, about, within.
He's made our lives a living hell, now we'll make hell for him!

It all began so long ago, way back when we were free.
King Balor and his children went away across the sea.
We sorrowed for a moment, but never harboured doubt.
Now Prince Nuada's come again to put the brute to rout!

If the Morrighan calls me, I'll press on just the same.
I'll cease not til King Balor's son is on the throne again!
If the Morrighan calls me, I'll press on just the same.
No, I'll cease not til King Balor's son is on the throne again!

Well, when I heard the battle cry, I went to join the fray.
I scarce had spoke, then Jareth came to send me on me way.
"Good lad you're half a goblin, what can you give this lot?"
"Kind sir," said I, "A half of me is all the give I've got!"

So then I asked the captain to explain the battle plan,
He said, "We'll march until we reach the Danu's dying land.
Dark Faeries will besiege us, as we're burning down their door,
We'll catch 'em by the wings and throw 'em screaming across the Moor!"

Now as for dark King Oberon, his end will not be swift,
We'll thrash him good and wrap him up as a coronation gift.
And as the prince receives him, before the company,
We'll say, "Silverlance is your master and forever more he'll be!"

No, I'll cease not til King Balor's son is on the throne again!

No, I'll cease not til King Balor's son is on the throne again! "

Nuada moved to the centre of the circle as the song faded into whooping and cheering. "Jareth?" Nuada called from the centre of the circle. The whooping and cheering suddenly ceased and all grew very cold and silent. Clouds suddenly moved overhead as if summoned. The group waited silently and patiently. Nuada narrowed his eyes and moved forward. "Jareth? Show yourself!"

"Prince Nuada!" a familiar voice cried from a few feet away.

"No, lassie!" another voice called as the air around the large stone structures began to ripple and warp like water. Red watched in astonishment, hearing Abe give a gasp, as the sight of hundreds of goblins and trolls became visible. The group cried out in surprise and relief as they saw Titania come running towards him. "Well, now you've done it! The glamour won't work on 'em."

"It never would have," Jareth announced as he stepped into the centre of the circle and knelt before the prince. Titania hurried past and firmly wrapped her arms around the elf, nearly knocking him to the ground. He laughed and put his arms around her as well, placing his cheek against the top of her head and holding her as tightly as he could. The two breathed deeply, fully relieved at the sight of one another after being so harshly separated. "As you can see, your highness, the girl is in good order and the army is ready to march when you are."

"Titania," Nuada said softly. "I have missed you, so! How I worried for you."

"I was so worried about you, too! You were wounded! What happened? Did the bleeding stop?" Titania asked in one anxious breath. The girl suddenly noticed her friends standing behind the prince and smiled. "Abe! Liz! Red!" The girl moved away from the prince and hurried to embrace each friend in turn. Liz moved forward to be first, grasping Titania as tightly as the prince had. Red moved behind his wife, accepting the second hug.

"You okay, kid?" he asked with a fond smile. "Those goblins and Keebler McStabby didn't do anything they shouldn't have did they?"

"Not to me," Titania replied. She glanced past the demon and smiled more brightly. Red released her and allowed her to race towards Abe, placing her arms around him with the same familiarity she had done for Nuada. Nuala watched in confusion, turning from Abraham to her brother and asking silently if this was the girl in question. Abe gently put his arms over the girl for a moment. "Abe! I'm so glad to see you! I was afraid I might never see you again after the weeks I've had !"

"It is a relief to know you are well, Titania, to say the least. This has all caused quite a stir," Abe said placing a hand on the side of her face affectionately. Nuada did his best to keep from scowling at this display. Titania had every right to greet her friends for a moment. Nuala looked the two uncomfortably, unsure of whether or not to introduce herself. She turned to her brother once more in confusion. This human was most certainly the one that had his every attention, the child that he loved. But she was indeed a child. She couldn't have been very far along in girlhood, barely able to tell that she was pleasing to other creatures. What had caused such a stir of emotion for this girl in him? Abe looked toward his wife and then at Titania, turning her to face the she elf. "Titania, this is Princess Nuala."

Titania bowed her head and smiled. "I've heard quite a bit about you from your brother," she said softly. "You're beautiful."

"Likewise," the princess said with a smile. She turned and looked around at the enormous crowd of goblins, trolls, hobgoblins, odd breeds of faeries, and other creatures that had gathered to take up the sword for her brother's reign. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes for a moment. Thunder began to rumble overhead. A loud cawing caught the attention of everyone in the group and the army alike. Nuada frowned as the raven form of the Morrighan came to land in the centre of the group in the circle. "Aunt Morrighan?" Nuala whispered in disbelief.

"You look well, Nuala," the Morrighan said with a smirk. She turned to Nuada. "Recovered entirely from the wound that ended the last and most impressive quarrel you two had, have you?" Nuala frowned in shame. She was not remorseful for having dealt the death blow that had caused her brother's rebirth as well as her own. Nuada growled softly at the woman and moved to stand protectively beside Titania. "And I see that Jareth retrieved Titania in good order. It is only owed after the world of darkness he brought on you as an infant."

"What?" the prince asked in confusion. Nuala and Titania looked away as Jareth moved forward. The prince narrowed his eyes at the goblin who had already confessed to Titania what had transpired between himself and the prince millennia ago. "What is she talking about, Jareth?"

"I believe it is what I was trying to tell you before we left, brother," Nuala said. Wink grunted, sensing tension and being surrounded so unexpectedly by creatures he had never seen before. "You are heartbroken, brother."

"Oberon has been hard at work for many years before he roused a rebellion against Balor," Jareth explained. It was only right to tell the prince what he would be up against. It would be expected that the dark king would use the prince's one weakness against him. He sighed heavily and knelt before the elf, reciting in as much concise detail as he could the sin he had committed in cursing him as a child. Nuada's face twisted with anger, sadness, and shock all at once. He breathed heavily, stepping backwards and clenching one fist to his chest. "Your mother was wise to shelter you as she did or we would not see you returning to the throne, your highness."

"And how can this curse be undone?" the prince hissed. "I want it removed NOW!"

Jareth winced at the volume in the prince's voice. "Sire, my realm is in creating the curses, I am but a humble goblin," he explained. "It is the nature of elves and humans to break curses and spells."

Nuada looked back at his sister who frowned, silently telling him that she did not know how they were to break the curse at all. He turned slowly back to Jareth. "The battle; Oberon will know of this, he will use it," he realized sadly. "There can be no good end to this."

"On the contrary," the Morrighan said with a smile. The group turned to her and waited for an arcane comfort with conditions that would likely undo any relief in the comfort. "Oberon will be cautious of using such a weakness seeing as you know his."

"Then we go to war as though there is no curse," Nuada said, feeling a renewed strength and slight confusion. Oberon had placed a human heart alongside his own years before. All one had to do to entirely destroy the dark faerie, was pierce him once with the magic end of his spear. Magic weaponry doing any sort of damage was fatal to a human heart whether superficial or otherwise, or so the prince thought. The Morrighan smiled inwardly, knowing that the prince was dead wrong. The prince found it a little odd that the past would have been brought to his attention if it would not matter in facing the brute. He sighed and turned to the army waiting for his command. "My people; Oberon has claimed clan after clan of goblin, troll, and faerie to serve him without freedom. He has kept us from the sweetness of the otherworld that we have deserved since the great rift. And now he sits ready to purge all but his putrid kind from the realms. We march to the Faerie Ring, to Newgrange the tomb of stars, where we will burn every trace of his filthy essence and those like him, from our lands forever! We march to claim our lands once more!" As the crowd began cheering, shouting, and raising their weapons in excitement, the prince turned to the team standing behind him and stared directly at the pyro. "Now, we will need someone to light the way, as it were."

Liz nodded and stepped away from the group. She stood in front of the largest single stone and clenched her fists to her chest. "Fire is mine, fire is in me," she said. "Fire is mine, fire is in me. Fire is mine, fire is in me." The Morrighan smiled and lowered herself to the ground, warping into the raven once more and taking flight. Nuada watched the black streak of death lift into the sky, readying to cleanse the battlefield of blood once they had begun to cross blades with Oberon's forces. "Fire is mine, fire is in me. Fire is mine, fire is in me," Liz continued to chant as flames enveloped her body. She opened her eyes, the blue covered by orange warmth. She focused on the top of the stone before her. "Fire is mine!" she shouted as she raised her hands and instinctively forced energy from her fingertips towards the top of the stone marker.

The fire did not stay on the top of the stone marker and flicker as a torch. Instead, flames began to swirl around the entire stone structure and glow brightly around the stone as if the entire marker were made of wick. Liz gasped and took a step backwards as the first stone glowed. She smiled brightly and felt a greater flame burning within her. She had made something incredibly beautiful and it was only about to get more incredible. The rest of the team watched in amazement as the pyro lifted her hands once more. The ground began to tremble and the goblin horde whispered amongst themselves. The earth was about to reveal something ancient, something not seen for years. As the pyro turned and began thrusting bursts of flame onto the other stone markings, the group watched the enveloped markers begin to rise from the ground. Nuada and Nuala both froze while the rest of the team moved back a pace. Titania grasped Nuada's arm and stood beside him trembling. The troop of the troll army began to cry out in surprise and move backwards as well. Each marker rose hundreds of feet into the air revealing larger portions of rock buried beneath the earth with sacred markings similar to those found in the troll market. Two of the markers fused into one solid piece with an archway carved into their centre to the left of the unusual crowd. Over the arch were carved the words 'mortals, here turn back or yield to the will of magic as the legends show the way'. The prince smiled and clasped the girl's hand more tightly.

"Is that the doorway?" Abe asked softly. Nuala turned to him.

"It must be," she replied. She turned to her brother and smiled. "Now what do we do? Who will go?"

"All of us; Oberon will use any separations against us," Nuada replied glancing down at Titania. "We cannot risk leaving anyone behind and to his vices."

"You're going to take a little girl, your sister, and my pregnant wife into battle? I don't think so," Red interjected. "I say the girls all stay here with the troll."

Liz turned, the flames slowly dying down and slipping back beneath the surface of her skin. She frowned at her husband for a moment. "I heard that. And, at the risk of really regretting saying this, I think the prince is right," she said trying to keep from showing how much this was beginning to shock even her. "We go together and we stand less of a chance of losing someone or someone being used as a weapon."

"We must hurry, the cauldron of the deathless few will sense the coupling of the demon and Gael's heir nearby," Jareth said quickly. Puck lowered himself to the ground and transformed to his more human form as he took a position beside his master. "I will lead the army, sire. What would you have them do?"

"When we reach the throne room," the prince began, " . . . leave nothing of Oberon to stand. None of his servants and none of his creations."

Jareth smiled and bowed low. "It shall be done." He turned and faced the rest of the army. "To war!" he cried happily. The troll army shouted in reply as Nuada moved forward to the archway and looked over it with admiration. As experienced and knowledgeable as the prince was, he was still as uncertain as any of the rest of the team as to what lay before them beneath the earth. Dr. Krauss moved forward and stood beside the elf at the archway, seemingly the least impressed by all of this.

"Well, I suppose we follow some sort of carved path, then," the entity said. Nuada said nothing and stepped into the archway onto the stairs that lead beneath the surface. Thunder began to rumble more loudly overhead. The team followed silently as the boisterous band of monsters made their way to the arch. Wink grunted and followed as close to the prince as possible without stepping on Puck who was still glaring at the troll every so often. The walls that became tunnels, which were strangely visible despite the lack of any source of light that could readily be detected, had more than simply riddles or warnings carved into them; there were intricate murals of epic battles and primitive portraits of warriors and kings, the very essence of early myth and legend. Titania breathed deeply as she looked over the carvings. Abe recognized the features of some of the beings pictured; Taleisin, Finn MacCool, Bran, Lugh, and eventually King Balor himself. Puck gave the best directions he could while reminding everyone to please be as silent as they could while approaching the central chamber of sorcery. The group froze as the form of a creature that looked very much like Puck approached them from around the corner. As he rose to stand in a more human form, the group cringed. He was round, like Puck, but his face had been twisted with hatred and his hair barely sat atop his head in small clumps.

"Oh my, won't this be fun!" he rasped. Puck frowned and leapt in front of his master and Titania. "Oberon will be so amused."

"Keep to this path and it will take you directly to where the cauldron waits with Oberon, sire, of that you can be sure," Puck said. The elf looked down at his friend in confusion as he reached for his spear. "I will handle this, your highness. Andraste and I have much to settle. Go and take the throne."

"Fool; I'm going to do what should have been done to you when you first aided this abomination," the pwca, Andraste, spat. Puck growled and leapt forward, throwing one fist toward his enemy. Nuada contemplated doing his friend a favour and dispatching Andraste immediately, but it was clear by the tone of Puck's voice that the injurious hardships he had recently been forced to endure would be thoroughly made right in this chance to handle an enemy himself. He kept hold of Titania's hand as the group moved past the pwcas and hurried into the rest of the subterranean palace. As they approached the large open doorway to the central room, the group could hear the sounds of Oberon's legions of dark faeries and evil creatures shouting and chanting in preparation. Everyone drew in a deep breath. This would be a confrontation unlike any other.

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Thomas Manning awoke to the sound of a harsh clap of thunder. For a moment, he could have sworn he had seen a strange woman in black clothing standing over him, but as his vision cleared and his consciousness fully returned, he could see that he was entirely alone. He turned and began to stand, trying to move to the stone circle quickly. His eyes nearly fell from his skull at the sight of what was once merely Stonehenge, now a ring of flaming pillars that grazed the sky. He looked at the archway as he felt the ground begin to tremble once more. The pillars groaned and started to slowly slid back into the earth. He gasped and felt instinct demand that he get into the archway at once. He obliged, staring at the walls around him in confusion. The area seemed as illuminated as the outside, but without the use of fire or other visible sources of light. He shook away curiosity and amazement and pushed all of his focus into one thought, retrieving Titania and getting home.

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The entire floor of the chamber was ablaze with action. Blood sprayed in nearly every direction in many dark colours as axes, swords, cleavers, and blades of stone sang through the air and sunk into the hard flesh of all the magical creatures at odds. Wink had managed to dispatch no less than five dark faeries and hobgoblins within the first two swipes of his metal claw. He roared as the prince ordered him to go and join the others in the chamber while he and the team would go and see to Oberon. Nuada watched the battle a moment longer from the edge of the chamber doorway. There was a winding slope leading up to the ledge that became the stairway to the platform where he could clearly see the form of the iron cauldron. Oberon would, no doubt, be nearby. The rest of the team had been told to stand aside as the armies met, and were now looking at the scene with disgust. Nuala turned away, breathing heavily as Abe put his hands on her shoulders. The prince stepped back into the hallway and gestured toward the slope.

"So now what?" Red asked as he glanced uncomfortably at Liz. The sight of the carnage had made the demon all too aware of the mortal danger facing his wife and unborn sons or daughters. The elf looked over his shoulder at him, trying to draw strength from the sight of the larger and far more intimidating demon. Even when first facing him intoxicated, Nuada had known that he and all his centuries of strength was no match for the power of the demon. Oberon wanted to use Anung un Rama. Perhaps there would be a way to use the demon's strength to distract him while dealing a mortal blow. "How are we going to do this?"

"We? I will face Oberon and reclaim the throne. You are nearby in case something should go awry with one of your friends," the prince replied proudly. If the demon was in the mindset of being put aside, then perhaps anger would build into a drive to head off Oberon first. Titania watched her friends walking slowly behind Nuada and suddenly felt more frightened than she had in all of her life. She had never truly been on any of the missions and the incident in the gnome quarry had nearly devastated her. This was going to be far more intense. She shoved aside those thoughts, trying to banish doubt by reminding herself that she had the prince to protect her now.

He was not able to protect you before, a voice in the back of her mind said. She froze. The group turned and began asking if she had seen something. Titania remained motionless as the voice continued to speak. You must defend him, now. He needs you; they all need you. Hurry forward, you will be able to save them. The group watched in shock as Titania seemed to dart forward at lightning speed. Horror washed over Nuada's visage at sensing the presence of a spell moving past him.

"No, not now," he growled and hurried after her. The ledge was not far ahead, and Titania was already well out of view. How had she managed to gather such speed? The group followed the elf as swiftly as they could, halting behind him as he stood staring angrily at the form of the dark king. Oberon was still wearing his stolen royal robes from ages past, still sporting a foul grin, and now extended his enormous black wings. The ugliness that had consumed him for all of his reign became more plain to all as the span of the midnight dragon's wings spread around him. The sight of the king alone was not what had stopped the prince. Titania stood only two feet from the king, staring past him in a trance.

Oberon laughed coldly, lowering his wings a fraction so that the sight of the girl became clearer for the group as well. "Doubt is such a lovely tool when it comes to controlling the minds of mortals," he said with a wicked hiss. He reached behind him and gently ran the edges of his cragged, grey nails through her dark hair. Nuada growled more loudly and moved forward. Oberon scowled and reached toward his belt, revealing a cruel blade fashioned from onyx. "Come any closer and her blood will fill the cauldron and awaken its evil."

"Titania, come here," Nuada said as calmly as possible. The girl did not turn to face him. He breathed deeply, pushing panic aside. "Titania, come to me."

"She cannot hear you," Oberon chided. "Your voice is not nearly familiar enough to rouse her from enchantment."

The prince's eyes flashed with hatred and hope. He turned to glare at the others behind him. "Do not stand there, call to her!" he ordered. He turned back as Oberon began laughing and reached for the blade. The group began calling for Titania, desperately begging her to turn and come toward them. The girl did not move as Oberon scowled at the odd crowd. He gripped the hilt of the onyx blade and held it out towards the prince. Suddenly, he swiftly turned and placed the blade at Titania's chest. Nuada's heart began to race. The girl was only human in body, but why had her spirit not fought against the dark king's magic? Had she become too weakened over the years of living with mortals? No matter what the reason, she was now in terrible danger. The group continued to call desperately for their friend, taking a few steps toward the stairs. "Titania, please, look at me; hear me! Come away from there now!"

"I call upon the spirits and flesh drenched earth that thirsts for the blood of the weak. Come, blood distilled in the line of kings and Celts, and wake the deathless few," Oberon said majestically. Nuada's eyes saw every memory with Titania, sweet and bitter, suddenly flash before him. He gasped and raced forward, drawing his sword and thrusting it at Oberon's chest. The dark king caught this sight from the corner of his eye and gleamed with excitement. In one movement, he caught the girl by the shoulder and pulled her to stand in front of him. Screams filled the room from the ledge and platform as the silver blade ran deep into Titania. She gasped and looked into the prince's eyes with shock and confusion.

"Noooooooooooooo!" Nuada screamed furiously. Oberon roared and spread his wings, stepping backwards swiftly and then hurling his faerie form up to the cauldron. He raised Titania over his head, still groaning and gasping, and threw her harshly into the cauldron. As the king flew back down to the platform, the prince dropped the sword, not hearing the blade clattering to the floor of the chamber and hitting many creatures and rocks as it fell. "Titania."

"She is not dead, my prince, not yet. Your aim is very poor and while she will bleed to my purpose, you have yet to truly pierce her heart," the faerie sneered. Nuada snarled and breathed sharply, clenching his hands into fists as he watched a red cloud begin to descend from the cauldron. He noticed that Titania's small hand still lingered over the side of the cauldron. She had caught the side and was trying to climb out! He turned his gaze back to Oberon. The only way to spare her life was to destroy this monster once and for all. "Now, I am sure the cauldron will be satisfied with her blood. I will retrieve her flesh for you on one condition; Anung un Rama must rouse the deathless few."

Red and the others, who had reacted in like manner, pulled out their weapons. As useless as they had been assured they would be, they knew they could do some measure of good by holding them at the ready. They moved toward the prince, glaring hatefully at the faerie and ready to deal damage if need arose. They had been told on the journey into the chamber that only a magical weapon would be able to kill the king. Had the prince known that the opposite was true, he would have called for the demon to aim and fire at the brute before even walking out onto the platform. Instead, they would have to settle for an all out brawl. The elf snarled and drew in a deep and calming breath, centering himself for the girl's sake.

"You have no power," Nuada said angrily, remembering Titania's words about the greatest way to undo magic or liberate one's self from it. Oberon frowned at him. "I have not come to quarrel about a worthless kettle. You are out of your realm, Oberon. This palace, these armies, and all the magic within belongs to the Bethmoora clan, to my father, to me."

"So you will destroy me and claim the throne, will you?" Oberon laughed. Nuada narrowed his eyes and silently drew his spear from his back and held it in front of him. Oberon's laugh faded as the prince's weapon extended to its full potential. The dark faerie snarled. "Do you know what you face, boy?"

"You feared death, you desired cleverness, and you seethed with foul craft. You have a human heart, empty and demanding of power that you will never see, beating alongside that which should have died in your own darkness," Nuada hissed. Oberon grinned triumphantly. His legend had spread to even the exiled prince. "Humans are the only creatures who could live for centuries with such darkness."

"And yet to stand firmly to defend one of their lifeless young," Oberon mused as he began to stride down the stairs toward the prince. Nuada stood firmly and continued to hold his spear before him. "Is it curiosity that drives you, or lust for the chance to humble one of their young?"

Nuada growled and held the spear aloft. "Your voice bores me, Oberon. Do you wish to fight me for the crown or shall you show wisdom and yield to my mercy?" the prince asked firmly and proudly. The dark king laughed, extending his horrible, sheer black wings once more. They had the shape of dragons' wings though made of the smog that strangled the cities Nuada hated passionately. It was as if this creature had been warped and reformed by all of the cruel filth of man's furtherance on the planet. Oberon held his hands out to either side, extending long, black claws from the tips of each finger. Nuala gasped and took a step toward her brother, her hand aimed for his shoulder to draw him back. "Abraham, defend your wife and keep her from harm's way," Nuada ordered without turning to face her. Abe nodded swiftly and took Nuala by the arm. Nuala argued with him for a moment as he carefully pulled her backwards. Red, Liz, and Dr. Krauss moved forward; each taking a position beside the prince. Nuada glanced to his left noting that the demon stood there with gun at the ready, then to his right where Liz stood taking her weapon in her hand and holding it aloft as well. The elf smirked and turned to face forward once more. "This is not your battle, Elizabeth Sherman; nor is it yours, Anung un Rama."

"Hey, I'm the son of Sheol, everyone's fight is my fight," Red replied clicking the trigger into place.

"I'm not letting Abe get hurt again," Liz added. Nuada glanced at her with one brow raised. Liz looked directly into his eyes. "Or Tania."

"Very well, then," the prince said turning back to Oberon and raising his spear. Oberon reached to his belt and withdrew an enormous blade that appeared to be a narrow, onyx stalagmite. "Be ready to assist when I call for you, not a moment before. A wound from a human or human's weapon may yet destroy him without hope of rebirth if I am wrong."

"Then I guess it's curtains for him," Red added with a smirk.

Nuada said nothing as he began moving forward. Oberon bore his razor fangs at the prince as his visage shifted into its natural deformity. It was frightening even for the elf, but Nuada remained silent and gripped his spear tightly. Oberon screamed menacingly and flew forward, slicing downward at the prince with his blade. Nuada shouted and raised his spear above him, thwarting the blow with sparks flying from the iron hilt. Oberon growled and drew backwards, his wings extending and flexing back. The elf narrowed his eyes and leapt into the air, curling both legs beneath him as he raised the spear and then aimed its magic blade for the king's heart. He dove downward as Oberon shrieked and moved to the left.

Nuada landed, extending his legs enough to catch himself and tumble to the left as well, stopping a few feet from Oberon and lifting the spear. Oberon raised his blade in one hand and thrust it down over the prince once more. Nuada quickly met the blade with the long side of his spear. The force of the king's hand on the blade kept it firmly on the hilt of the spear as Nuada tried to push himself upward. He growled and stood slowly, still keeping the spear under the king's blade. Oberon suddenly reached out with his other hand and clawed for the side of the prince's head. Nuada and Nuala shouted simultaneously as the brute's claws left deep gashes on the elf's face and ear. He forced the spear upward, knocking it's blunt edge into the king's nose while tossing the onyx blade from his hand. Oberon screamed and fell backward, holding his nose as dark blood began to course from him. Nuada leaned forward, grasping the side of his head tightly. Nuala did the same and breathed a soft spell, willing her energy to heal her brother. Nuada felt the blood cease to pour from the gashes as they healed. He moved forward and took the spear in both hands, trying to slam the tip into the faerie's chest. Oberon darted to one side and made it back to his feet as the prince continued to pierce the air and the surface of the stone floor.

"Wretched half prince!" Oberon snarled. Nuada smiled wickedly and twirled the blade around himself once. "You'll pay dearly for this insolent display!"

"You'll be in no position to accept payment," Nuada countered as he thrust the spear toward the king once again. Oberon caught the spear below the blade in one hand, holding it with a strength that caught the prince off guard. Nuada stared at him in disbelief as he leaned forward.

Oberon thought quickly. There was only one way for him to defeat the elf. He needed to fulfill the curse, to bring him to the breaking point. "Cease now, elfling, and I will ensure that the girl does not take the foul memories of you into the afterlife, she will not remember how you plunged the blade into her and have always wished for this moment, to see her lying dead," he hissed. Instinctively, Nuada turned towards the cauldron. His heart leapt forward, shrieking at the sight of a hand still lingering over the side of the cauldron. Titania's flesh appeared as pale as his own. In a blink, the hand slid slowly into the rest of the iron pot as red mist continued to rise. A sharp twinge of hatred laced sorrow ripped through the prince, tearing the shard of grief at his heart more furiously until it had torn down to the very last shred of the apex. Nuada growled and reached forward to seize the king by the throat. His fingers wrapped firmly around the faerie's neck, pressing hatefully into his wind pipe. The elf felt his heart beating thunderously, out of control as his breath grew short and shallow. His eyes began to glow a deeper, more red than ever before. Nuala shrieked as she noted the dark markings on him growing more vibrant by the second. Liz and Red stepped forward.

"Nuada, no!" Liz called.

"Hey! You're letting him get you where he wants you!" Red added as he took several steps toward the prince and the dark faerie. "Nuada!?"

The prince could barely hear the two as the shard ripped the final portion of his heart free of its other half. He gasped and gripped his chest with a shrill scream. Nuala felt an icy blast move through her as the link disappeared entirely. It was cold and lonely even in the presence of all these beings to be without her brother's mind. She dropped to her knees and began to wail. Abe knelt, but looked toward the sight of the prince still battling the dark king and his own curse. Oberon's eyes widened, his smile broadening as he took in the sight of his triumph. Nuada stepped back, clutching his chest. He dropped to his knees as well, suddenly filled with uncontrollable remorse and sorrow. He saw himself standing, trembling, helplessly at the sight of his mother reaching her hand out to him as it grew cold and became stone. He saw himself walking away from the simple palace beneath Manhattan, hearing his sister's cries in the background. He saw himself reaching his own hand toward the form of his father lying motionless on the pipe-throne as the butcher blade protruded from his chest. He felt the dagger from his sister's hand plunge into his chest as the sharp pain continued.

"Nuala," he wept softly. He suddenly felt the same cold in his heartbreak, the loss of his sister's presence. It was the most isolated and dejected he had ever been in all his long years. He cupped his hands over his face, weeping as the curse reached fruition and filled every fiber of his being with desperation.

Oberon laughed and reached behind him, retrieving the blade. Red growled and moved forward as the faerie loomed over the prince with the blade. He turned to the demon and gave a wicked grin. "Come any closer, demon, and I will cleave him in two," the king snarled. Red froze and raised his gun to fire directly into the king's head. Oberon laughed once more. "Lower your weapon and prepare to wield mine. The lives of your friends, your mate, and your children, depend upon it!"

"Death to Oberon!" a shrill voice suddenly said from several feet away. The dark king, the demon, and his companions from the bureau looked around in confusion. The strange form of a large raven flew in from one of the tunnels at the far end of the room. Liz gasped and stepped in front of Red as the raven came to rest in front of him. Red looked in bewilderment at the raven as it began to grow, folding its enormous wings over its shifting body until it was large enough to stand as tall as the dark king. It lowered its wings, revealing the pale form of the Morrighan, her dark eyes focused in wicked delight as she grasped a bloodied sack in one hand. She turned slowly and faced Oberon. "I have swept the battle field and picked the corpse of every dark faerie from its face. Every goblin fallen has been washed from the stone that cradles Bethmoora's throne. Now, there is only one last cleansing."

"You insufferable she-witch!" the king hissed. He raised the onyx blade and held the tip out towards her. "What possible cause do you have for being here?!"

"To cleanse the last of the blood from the palace," she said with a wry grin. Oberon gripped his blade more tightly and advanced toward the Morrighan, ready to commit an ultimate sin against his kind in killing one of the sisterhood. The raven-elf smiled and reached into the sack. As Oberon extended his wings around him and approached, the Morrighan pulled forth a severed head, grasping it tightly by its locks of straggly grey hair. Dark blood trickled between her fingers and over her hand and arm as she held the head out for the king to see. The cragged grey skin was spattered with blood that had pulsed momentarily from a hole in the forehead. The eyes were blank and still widened in terror while the mouth, lined with jagged fangs, lay twisted forever in a final scream. Oberon froze and gasped in recognition. The Morrighan smiled as she threw the head of Oberon toward him, laughing evilly. "You are finished! Undone by a mortal!"

"Impossible!" Oberon shouted harshly. "There are no mortals here who do not cower before me or linger in remorse for their precious elf prince!"

"Truly?" the Morrighan asked with a hidden joy. She turned and allowed the sight of another human to come into view. Oberon narrowed his eyes and focused on the distant being just as he noticed the silver, rounded end of a pistol as well. BANG! Oberon froze, gasping. The Morrighan snarled and reached forward, taking the onyx blade in her own hand and raising it to the right. Oberon glanced down at the form of the fallen head near him. Blood began to course from the bullet hole in its forehead, oozing into a dark pool around his feet and robes. He screamed as the Morrighan swiped one powerful blow with the blade, severing the king's head. Red and the others watched in amazement as the Morrighan reached down and retrieved the head. There was only one head, not two. She smiled victoriously and shoved the ball of filth and blood into the sack before kneeling and warping back into raven form. She clutched the end of the sack in her talons and flew towards the edge of the room once more. "Well done, Thomas Manning! Oberon is dead! Long live Prince Nuada Silverlance, lord of the nightlands and leader of its peoples!"

The group watched the Morrighan fly past the figure of Thomas Manning, still holding the pistol aloft and shaking as he stared at the fallen body of the king and the prince kneeling not far away. Red breathed heavily as Liz rushed towards the kneeling prince. He reached out one arm and caught her. She looked up at him in confusion as the red mist that had filled the lower portion of the room began to slink back into the strange cauldron at the top of the stairs. Titania's pale hand began to slip into the cauldron more fully. Liz frowned, fighting away tears, as she pulled free of her husband and raced past the elf and faerie. She stumbled up the stairs and caught the edge of the cauldron, looking in furiously. Titania floated peacefully in the pool of goblin blood then suddenly began to sink. Liz screamed and reached, taking hold of the girl's hands as she pulled her upward. The girl was completely motionless making not even the slightest sound of breath or pain as the pyro pulled her free and carried her down the stairs. She panted heavily and watched as Nuala and Abraham moved beside Nuada. The prince suddenly looked up and noticed Liz setting Titania on the ground at the base of the stairs. Red came and stood beside her, gazing silently at the girl's lifeless form. From the other side of the room, Thomas Manning cried out.

"Titania!" he shouted and began furiously trying to reach the central portion of the room.

"Titania," Nuada whispered. He shoved his sister and brother in law away, crawling towards the girl as tears began to stream more silently. He reached one hand toward her face, trembling with grief beyond human reckoning. "What have I done?"

"This isn't how it ends," Liz breathed angrily. She looked into Nuada's eyes with fire beginning to dance from the tips of her hair. Manning suddenly scrambled up the majority of the stone steps to the platform and knelt beside the elf over his daughter. He panted heavily, and took the form of the girl in his arms away from Liz, calling to her repeatedly. Liz looked at Nuada in desperation. "You have to do something! Bring her back!"

"I cannot," he realized aloud. He trembled more violently and placed the hand on her chest. His entire being felt strangely hollow, as if his heart was no longer beating at all. Nuala and Abe moved to his side once more as Manning began sobbing heavily. The princess placed a hand gently on her brother's shoulder. "Titania . . ."

"Brother, there must be something we can do," Nuala said urgently. "You know of the old ways and spells more passionately than I. Surely there is something, something you can do."

"Not while his heart is broken," an old voice announced. The group turned, growing used to the sudden appearance of strangers in this place. The papery Modron began approaching the team with the rest of the sisterhood not far behind. The twins bowed their heads momentarily as the females stopped a few feet from them. "His curse must be lifted in order to break the spell."

"How do we break the spell?" Liz asked hurriedly.

"Why, have none of you read the passage?" the Modron said with shock and slight disappointment. The group stared at the woman with anger forming. She sighed. "If love but for a moment finds, sorrow in his weary mind, desperation's healing is the purity in true love's kiss."

"That's been done!" Abraham exclaimed. "I know for a fact that he and Titania have shared at least one kiss."

"Who said anything about the kiss coming from the human girl? How could she possibly show him true love? She hasn't lived nearly long enough to prove truth or love to him, silly fish-mortal," the Modron replied with a corrective wave of her hand. The parchment-laden crone turned and smiled at Nuala, her violet eyes glistening with power in revelation. "True love is granted past sin and ages of the earth, it is tested fully and proven with unconditional reciprocation. There is only one being here that has ever truly loved Prince Nuada."

"Who is it?!" Liz and Red asked furiously. The Modron smiled brightly.

"Princess Nuala," she replied.