181

All he had to do was picture it. It used to take so much more effort…an emotional connection as well as previous knowledge. But now it just took focusing in on the life-force he was targeting—the little flames of life scattered over the realm. Transporting was easy now. Everything was too easy now.

He felt Pippa sag in his arms as the aura faded away, and they found themselves in the healer's room at the Central Fortress. Cole and Keyda had added the room and allowed Hershel to stock whatever he needed there so he wouldn't have to cart in supplies every time he did a Healing run. Just as he had suspected, the room was empty.

Pippa was listless in his arms—no doubt an effect of the transport—and he carefully sat her on a chair as he rifled through his supplies for the aromatic leaf that helped nausea. Pip rubbed her eyes as he looked, not saying anything. As his eyes fell on her shorter hair, Hershel felt another spike of guilt for what his niece had gone through.

And what she had to witness his thoughts reminded him, and he winced. But there was no time to humor such thoughts; he finally found the leaf and he turned and gently pressed it into his niece's hand.

"Chew this, Pip. And then we need to go find your parents."

"Are you sure they're here?" Pippa asked, looking up at her Uncle with weary eyes.

"Yes," he said softly, not bothering to explain how. He wasn't sure he even could explain it. He could sense life forces now just as he had been able to on the Island. It wasn't as easy now without the Island's will inside of him, but possible if he focused. He knew the flames he could sense nearby were his sister and brother-in-law…even if he wasn't really sure how he knew.

Pippa was already perking up.

"Let's go," she said, hopping off her chair and heading to the door. Hershel hesitated, and she looked back at him with big eyes when he didn't immediately follow. He was torn from his thoughts as a small hand slipped into his.

"They won't care that you look funny," she assured as she pulled him from the room. "They'll be so happy that you're home."

Something twisted inside at that, but he allowed her to pull him out into the hallway. She started going one way, and he tugged her hand back.

"They're the other way," he explained quietly, and Pippa smiled and followed him as he turned to head the opposite direction. Soon, they could hear Syn's voice echoing into the hall.

"… can't kill him, Tol…he's an Ancient. So what are you planning on doing if you do find him?"

Tolan's response was unintelligible from the hallway, but Pippa was already running to the door that her parent's voices were coming from. Syn was speaking again.

"We have to think of something else; I won't lose…"

"MOM! DAD!"

Syn's angry response was cut short as Pippa reached the door and threw it wide. Hershel was close behind, but he hesitated in the doorway. He peered around the corner. Syn and Tolan looked absolutely shocked. As their daughter barreled into them and wrapped her arms around them both, the spell seemed to break.

"Pippa…"

"Fluff."

There were so many emotions in the room; shock, relief, confusion, happiness, and even a thread of worry that spun through the air. They didn't know how she had gotten home, Hershel realized. They didn't know if Imgloss was close behind or not. But rather than focus on the worry, they sank to the ground and held their daughter—the whole family was a bundle of sighs of relief and tears. The pale figure in the doorway hesitated; he knew he should go in. But he also knew he would only tarnish such a tender moment.

"How?" Syn finally managed, and by now Tolan was looking at the door with his hand on his katana, as if expecting Imgloss to appear at any moment. When he spied a partial figure watching them, he immediately drew his weapon. But Pippa jumped up as well, her hands grabbing her father's around his katana.

"It's ok!" she exclaimed. "It's just Uncle Hershel."

Another wave of shock and disbelief. Tolan froze, and all the blood drained from Syn's face. Neither seemed to even know what to ask, but then Pippa was running over to the doorway where Hershel was debating between coming in or leaving.

"Come on, Uncle Hershel," she coaxed softly, grabbing his hand as she pulled him into the room. Seeing his daughter with some pale stranger snapped Tolan out of his shock once again.

"Fluff, get away from…" he started, but then Hershel was fully in the room. He heard Syn gasp, but Hershel's eyes were trained on the stony floor so that he wouldn't have to see the emotions that he was sensing.

"Hershel?"

Syn's voice was barely audible, and he sighed heavily before finally letting his eyes flick up to his sister. Her expression was surprisingly calm—almost slack. He opened his mouth to answer, but he didn't know what to say. So, he finally just nodded.

The curly-haired woman moved, coming over to him. She scanned him a little while longer, but then her eyes hardened.

"How could you?"

Hershel winced. Tolan and Pippa seemed surprised at Syn's sudden anger, but Hershel had been able to feel the hurt and anger that his sister was nursing inside. Syn's eyes had filled with tears, and Hershel couldn't bring himself to meet her eye for long.

Syn's voice was rising with every accusation. "You knew everything at risk…you knew what Imgloss would do if you left. You could have been killed yourself!"

"Syn…" he murmured, still looking at the ground.

"And still you went, Hershel! To that stupid Island…do you have any idea what you've put us all through?!"

His expression twisted miserably, but he felt his power simmering inside. Insulted. He grimaced, forcing the feelings down; his sister had a right to be mad. He had let them all down…put everything at risk. So, he stared at the ground without saying anything at all while Syn glowered at him. After another minute, however, her anger seemed to fade and he felt her reach out to brush the pale hair off his shoulder.

"What's happened to you?"

"It's a long story," Pippa told her sagely, and Syn glanced down at her daughter.

"I'm sorry, Syn." Hershel's voice was barely audible, and she looked back up at him as he continued softly. "I just felt…trapped."

"You weren't trapped," she snapped, pity and anger mixing together. "We were there for you…but you just…you didn't…"

"What's happened to Imgloss?"

Hershel glanced up at Tolan's question. The guard's face was stony as he stared at Hershel, though he had sheathed his katana.

"Indisposed," Hershel promised, and Tolan's brow furrowed.

"How?"

"Uncle Hershel chained him up," Pippa answered. "With his new magic."

Hershel could feel the question in his sister and brother-in-law's expressions, and he patted Pippa's hair. It was shorter now, but just as fluffy as ever.

"I should return to deal with him," he admitted, and suddenly Syn's hand was clasping his wrist.

"Hersh…you can't just…" She was still trying to process, and finally huffed at her inability to say what she meant. "He's an Ancient," she finally said, as if that explained everything. "You can't deal with him. But now that the real Master Healer is back, he'll have to…" She trailed off then, and he realized that she just realized that his tattoos were missing. "Wait…"

"His healing magic took off the tattoos," Pippa said, jumping in once again in her effort to get everyone on the same page. Syn was incredulous, and from his place a few feet away, Tolan seemed to be taking everything in somberly.

"Not my magic," Hershel started, but then he shook his head. There was far too much to tell, and even if he could get them to understand everything that had happened, that didn't mean that they would forgive him. Or understand why he did what he did.

"I will explain everything, but not now." he finally said, looking up to meet his sister's eyes for the first time. His gaze was steady, and her eyebrows rose as she seemed to realize what that meant.

"Your sight…"

"I'll see you later," he promised, and then turned to leave. Syn and Pippa grabbed him at nearly the same time.

"You're going to just leave?" Syn demanded in angry disbelief. "After everything…"

"Uncle Hershel?"

He glanced back, choosing to focus on his niece rather than his furious sister. Pippa's eyes were wide.

"You should stay," she said, her voice small. For the first time since they had gotten to the fortress, a smile tugged at his mouth.

"I have unfinished business I have to deal with," he reminded gently. "But you're safe now, Pip. You're home."

He glanced at his sister's angry expression, hoping the apology was making itself clear in his face.

"She needs to eat something," he explained softly, and then he managed to pull away from them both. He could feel their hurt and confusion but he pushed it aside and slipped out the door. He could have stayed; Imgloss wasn't going anywhere. His family had obviously been worried about him for the last few weeks or however long he had gone. But he couldn't face these emotions; the sadness and hurt and anger grated on him and provoked the power inside.

He walked quickly down the hallway, trying to put distance between himself and the room. He could just make out Syn's voice as he turned the first corner.

"Oh Pip…your hair."

He passed guards and others in the hallways, and they tried to stop him or question him. But he would dodge out of the way, or throw up a small aura wall to block their approach as he passed and disappeared down another hallway. His power willed him to transport; there was no reason to be weaving through these endless corridors when he could just pop back over to Imgloss. Finish what he started.

He scowled again, but it was aimed more at himself than the Ancient lying bound in a far corner of the realm. Hershel had made it to the front doors at last, and he paused as he walked into the bright landscape. It still caught him off guard, being able to see everything so clearly. After a few minutes, the Pale Master finally made his way across the grounds. Out here, a few people stared, but no one tried to apprehend him. After all, he was still dressed as a healer. With his white hair, he probably looked like an older man. Most of the guards or servants here just ignored him, which was fine by him.

He was nearly to the exit at the wall when he sensed someone familiar nearby.

"Hershel."

He paused and turned to see the Western Leader looking at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, and Myrah grabbed her hoofer's bridle as she walked over to where he was.

"I was coming to speak to the ruling family…and yours." Her tone was as no nonsense as ever, but he was happy to see a softness in her eyes. Perhaps she didn't hate him after all…and there was no sense of wounded anger in Myrah as there had been in his sister.

"But it seems that you beat me here," she continued, and then there was a hint of a smile. "Were you able to find your niece?"

"Yes. She's with her parents."

Myrah must have picked up on the strained way that he said it, because she brought her hoofer a little closer. Hershel sighed and pushed his hair out of his face; he was going to need to cut it.

"Don't let me keep you, if you've come to speak with the Rulers."

"I was only coming to inform everyone of your return," she explained. "But you managed to defeat Imgloss and get here before me. There's no reason for me to speak to them now." Her expression flickered with something, and Hershel recognized the feeling as guilt. "Things are strained between your family and I," Myrah admitted. "As well as with Theodynn."

Hershel was a little surprised by the confession, but then Myrah was studying him again. She scanned his form as if trying to get used to all the ways he had changed. Hershel hadn't seen himself since that moment with Lunise and the black mirrors, and he shuddered at the image in his mind. It had terrified him. He wasn't sure how Myrah or anyone else wasn't filled with horror at the sight.

"Where are you going?" she finally asked. "I would have thought that you'd want to be with your family. After all…"

"I still have to deal with Imgloss."

She looked surprised and he sighed.

"He's indisposed at the moment, but I still have to go back and…"

Hershel's words trailed off, and Myrah's beautiful copper-streaked eyes flicked over his face.

"And kill him?" she guessed. "Can you kill him? He's an Ancient."

"I don't know," Hershel admitted softly. "But I think I nearly did."

By now a servant had come over to take the Leader's hoofer to the stable for her, and she allowed him to. Which was odd, if she wasn't planning on staying.

"Do you have to get back to him right away?" she asked, and Hershel frowned. He closed his eyes to do his search, and finally shrugged.

"He hasn't moved since I left him. It's probably safe to assume he'll remain stuck until I return."

His eyes opened as he felt Myrah's hand slide into his.

"Then you can walk with me."

It wasn't a question. In fact, it was honestly only a breath away from being a command. Hershel couldn't help but smile; old habits die hard, it seemed.

"Alright."

They left her hoofer behind as they passed through the open gate in the fortress's wall. Neither spoke, and neither seemed to have a destination in mind. They just walked, enjoying the silence and the sunshine and each other's presence.

"Do you want him dead?"

Her question was asked without judgement one way or another, and he squeezed her hand as he thought about her question. His mind drifted back to his battle with Imgloss, and he shuddered.

"I've never wanted anyone dead," he realized softly, talking to himself as much as her. "But when I saw him…"

The power inside thrummed self-righteously. Trying to tell him that he had nothing to feel sorry about. Imgloss had crossed the line. He deserved death, or a punishment worse than it.

"Hershel?"

He shook his head as he pulled out of the power-infused thoughts.

"Things happened to me, at the Island," he explained. "I don't recognize myself, Myrah. Physically or otherwise."

"What do you mean?"

He rubbed his face; how could he explain what he still couldn't understand?

"Imgloss had to be stopped. I arrived at his hiding place knowing that much. But then there was so much anger…and I couldn't see anything else. I didn't even realize Pippa was nearby until she was screaming."

Myrah was quiet as she listened, her thumb tracing circles in his hand.

"Was she alright?"

Hershel sighed.

"She's uninjured, in the physical sense. But I have no idea what Imgloss did to her these past few days. What he's put her through emotionally…"

The power flared again. His eyes filled with light, and he had to stop walking to once again fight the feelings down. It came too easily…it all came too easily now.

"I need to go do something with him," Hershel finally said. "But I'm…afraid of what I'll do."

The words hung in the air between them, seeming more vulnerable out in the open than they had felt in his mind. He waited for Myrah to be confused, or judge him. But she just reached out brushed his hair out of his face.

"Afraid of going to far? Or not being able to go far enough?"

Hershel thought of the moment…the Ancient hanging in the air, the aura greedily stealing the air from his lungs. The power inside of him had felt overpowering in those minutes, and he hadn't even cared. Punishment felt more than just necessary…it felt like a game. Like he could make Imgloss pay, really actually pay for once in his life, and there would be no consequences. Hershel shuddered hard now as he thought about it; it was like he had lost himself until Pippa's scream had brought him back.

"Of going too far. I already got close."

His words came out soft, and Myrah fell silent.

"What else can you do with him, if you aren't going to kill him?"

Hershel shrugged miserably.

"I don't know."

"Maybe you could just leave him where he is for a while. A few years ought to teach him a lesson."

Hershel smiled tightly at that.

"The Dragons would find him eventually," he decided, and Myrah's eyebrows raised.

"The dragons?"

"That's where he is. He found some far, secluded corner in Dragon's territory to call home and moved himself there."

"How did you manage to find him?"

"It's hard to explain."

She studied his face again. "It seems that most things are hard for you to explain now." Her voice was soft, and he looked over to meet her eyes. Dark pupils with copper streaks stared into his.

"Yes," he agreed simply. He was still trying to understand all these changes himself; he wasn't sure how to explain them to someone else.

"Hershel?"

He tilted his head slightly to let her know he was listening, and she cleared her throat.

"Did you mean it when….I just mean, I was serious about not putting you at risk. So I need to know that…"

She stumbled along, and he finally moved to take her other hand.

"I do love you," Hershel offered softly, not sure if that was the question she was even asking. "It's one of the few things right now I don't have to question or wonder about."

Myrah's mouth hung open a little, as if she was still trying to find the right words to ask. Hershel continued quickly.

"And we won't have to worry about anyone hurting me over it again; that much is also certain. I won't be told any longer what I can and can't do, or who I can and can't love. I finally have the power to defend myself, and I mean to make the most of it."

He glanced down at the pale locks of hair blowing in the breeze and sighed.

"You told me you loved me in my tent all those weeks ago. But…I wouldn't blame you if you no longer feel that way, given how I am now…"

"You mean pale?"

She interrupted him, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Is that usually how love works?" Myrah murmured. "That once someone no longer looks the same…when their hair turns white or grey…" she moved a lock off his shoulder to illustrate. "That the feelings fade and go away?"

Hershel stared at her, and she smiled softly.

"If that's how this is supposed to work…then I'm doing it wrong. But I've been doing it wrong for months. Thinking of you when I should have been forgetting, wanting to be near you when I should have been wanting to stay away. The longer I waited the harder it got to continue."

It felt like everything was buzzing; his heartbeat, the power inside of him, his mind. Hope and fear and guilt and love all churning for attention as he moved closer to her. He released her hands in favor of putting his arms around her waist, and she stared into his eyes.

"I don't understand love," she reminded. "But I know enough to know that my feelings haven't changed for you, even if they were supposed to."

He could tell she was genuine, and it was like being filled with honey. Warm and golden and slow all at once. He had been so afraid she would hate him…or at very least, be repulsed by the way he looked.

One of Myrah's hands had found its way to the back of his neck, the other resting on his chest. For a moment, he felt a flash of fear as the touch brought him back to the Island—when Lunise tried to fill him with the Island's power. But then Myrah was leaning in and he was back in the present.

"You cannot be put through anything more because of me," the Western Leader was murmuring. "You swear to me, Hershel…you swear that you are free to love now. That no one will be able to harm you if we go this route again. Because I will never forgive…"

Her thought was cut off as he moved in to kiss her. After a moment, she kissed him back, and Hershel's heart soared. He could have her…could love her…and no one would stop him. No one could stop him. She didn't care about the way he was now, and she didn't hate him. Finally, he was free to have the one thing he had wanted so desperately…the very thing that he had risked the Island of the Ancients for.

Myrah eventually pulled back, gazing up at him. He could feel her pleasure, as well as her hope.

"Don't get me wrong. You're still brainless for going to that Island on your own. But…"

Her fingers toyed with his hair, sending chills down his spine. Her expression became a little more guarded like her next words would be more confession than statement.

"I'm glad you did."

182

Pippa watched her uncle leave, a sadness sinking into her. Why was he leaving? She looked up to see if her Mom would run after him, but Syn just stood glaring at the door. After a moment her mother's eyes flicked back to her, and Syn's voice broke as she ran a hand through Pip's curls.

"Oh Pip…your hair."

"Imgloss cut it," Pippa told her numbly. Remembering what the Ancient had done filled her with anger and sadness, but her eyes were still on the door where Hershel had left.

"Did he hurt you?"

She felt strong hands turning her around, and suddenly her father's serious face was looking her over. Pippa started shaking her head but then hesitated. Tolan saw her expression change and narrowed his eyes.

"Pippa, did Imgloss hurt you?" he repeated, checking her face as if looking for bruises. She went to tell him that she was ok, that he hadn't beat her or anything. But in that moment, all the memories of the past few days rushed into her mind—all the horrible things he had done—and she burst into tears.

Tolan and Syn immediately reacted, with Tolan struggling to find where her apparent wounds were and Syn trying to pull her into a hug.

"Where…"

"Pip…"

"He was so mean!" she finally managed, her expression twisting with anger. "He tied me up…and took my voice…and made me freeze so I couldn't move…"

Aura winds were stirring around their room now, and Syn shot a glance in her husband's direction.

"Tol…" she murmured, and he grimaced. Syn reached out and put a hand on his arm, and he looked over.

"Go get Pippa something to eat," she ordered. He hesitated, but then Syn's grip tightened.

"Tolan. Go get Pippa something to eat."

Pippa's tears were fading now, and she wiped her face with the back of her hand as she scowled. She hated crying; it gave her a headache. And she had been crying so much lately. Her father could see that she was calming down and she looked up at him.

"Dad…I'm hungry," she admitted, and he finally seemed to admit defeat. He pushed himself to his feet and headed for the kitchen while Pip's mother helped her wipe the tears from her face.

"Now Pip…are you hurt? Is there anywhere…"

"Nothing hurts," she mumbled. The tiredness was setting back in, and suddenly all she wanted to do was curl up and sleep. "Uncle Hershel made the tattoos go away, and they were the only thing that hurt."

"The…tattoos?"

Syn's voice was hushed with horror, and Syn traced on her arm where one used to be.

"The mean Healer gave me apprentice tattoos. He didn't even ask. He did it when I was sleeping." Her eyes flashed at the memory. "But Uncle Hershel made them go away with his new power."

She glanced back at her mom, but Syn was just staring past her, like she didn't even know what she was talking about. Which, she probably didn't; Uncle Hershel hadn't stuck around long enough to show anyone else his new white powers.

"Where did Uncle Hershel go?" she asked, and Syn's eyes hardened.

"I don't know."

Pippa frowned at her mother's angry voice.

"Are you mad at him? Do you hate Uncle Hershel now?"

Syn looked up in shock, and Pippa pouted.

"Is it cuz he looks weird?"

Her mother ran a hand through her freshly cut curls.

"No, Pip…of course not!" Syn assured. "I don't hate him. It's just…"

She trailed off, and Pippa huffed when she saw her mother's expression. It was the one adults wore when they weren't going to explain something because they didn't think she would understand.

"You didn't even give him a hug," Pippa pointed out. "You usually give each other hugs."

Syn cupped her daughter's face in her hands, looking into her eyes.

"I don't hate Hershel," she assured. "I'm glad he's ok. I'm glad you're both safe now."

There was still something that her mother wasn't saying, but Pippa was too tired to probe further. She hugged her mother around the middle, resting her head on Syn's shoulder.

"I'm tired, Mom."

Syn closed her eyes as she held her daughter close, kissing the top of her head.

"I know, baby. Your father's going to bring you something to eat, and then you can go to bed, ok?"

"Ok."

Syn was rocking her daughter, her tone soft and comforting.

"You're sure you aren't hurt anywhere?"

"I'm just tired."

She closed her eyes, and she was asleep in her mother's embrace before Tolan even had the chance to get back.


The sun beat down on the desert landscape, and Imgloss managed to roll over, sweat coming down on one side of his face as he once again tried to free himself from his bonds. It was a sweltering day, and Ancient or not, he was becoming incredibly uncomfortable.

Hershel watched him struggle from a few yards away, wondering if Imgloss was even aware of his presence yet. Just the sight of the short, cruel Ancient caused Hershel to fill with anger and the need for vengeance. He wondered if maybe it would just be best to leave Imgloss here until further notice. But he couldn't risk him getting out of the chains and doing something horrible to the realm in retaliation. Whatever Hershel was going to do, it needed to be done now.

Hershel began walking over, lifting one hand. He could hear Imgloss cursing through his gag as the chains forced him into a sitting position. Their eyes met—Imgloss's were full of hatred and anger and fear. Hershel wondered what emotions showed in his own, and hoped that the Ancient wouldn't be able to sense his indecisiveness and apprehension.

That's something we have in common, the Pale Master mused as he reached the Ancient. We're both afraid of what I'm going to do.

But rather than do anything, Hershel sank down into the sand until he and Imgloss were sitting facing each other. He stared at the bound Ancient, and Imgloss seemed to be getting impatient. With a small smile Hershel waved one hand, and the gag disappeared. Imgloss panted a little, his gaze like daggers as he tried to shift in his chains once again.

"Well?!"

Hershel didn't speak as Imgloss finally broke the silence.

"What are you waiting for?"

"Inspiration." Hershel cocked his head, his gaze steely. "I don't know what to do with you."

Imgloss laughed once, bitter and loud. "You dare pass judgement on me, boy? I'm an Ancient…and if you truly are Hershel, you have no authority…"

"Am I not still the Master Healer?"

The Ancient's expression became immediately defensive, but Hershel just shoved his hair out of his face with a shrug.

"I honestly don't know who holds the title…and I could hardly care anymore at any rate. It was a position I never wanted."

He looked down at his arm, no longer encircled with multiple bands of dark ink. Imgloss followed his gaze and narrowed his eyes.

"How is this possible?" he finally muttered, and Hershel didn't answer. Inside, his power was urging him to punish the hypocrite already. He had broken a great deal of laws: replacing the Master Healer without proof of his death, not to mention all the ones Phos had so meticulously recorded over the centuries. Justice had to be satisfied—it had been robbed for far too many years. Hershel fought the feelings back, a small part of him agreeing with Imgloss. Who was he to issue punishment, anyways?

"What are you waiting for?" Imgloss demanded again. He was panting a little, the sweat still dripping down his face. "If you aren't going to do anything, then let me go."

The pale man pushed himself to his feet and began to walk away, towards the Healer's tent in the distance. Imgloss cursed and called after him.

"You can't just leave me here!"

He could, really. But eventually, Imgloss would make his way out of those bonds. Hershel could keep them going in the back of his mind, but he wasn't sure it would be possible forever. He had to sleep at some point, for instance, and he wasn't sure if he could maintain these aura bindings when he wasn't even conscious.

Regardless, he ignored the shorter man and reached the dusty tent. It was also covered with runes, as his own tent was, though the cloth was darker in color. It was meant to blend in with mountainous regions, Hershel realized. It looked out of place here in the stark desert. He pushed his way in and took in the cramped interior. It smelled the same as it had when he had first visited, but it was strange to be able to see a place he had only ever visited blind. It was dirty, with broken dishes here and there. He spotted a large sleeping mat, and his blood boiled when he saw a smaller one next to the fireplace. No doubt where Pippa had spent the last few nights.

It isn't your fault the power whispered to him, feeding on his sudden anger. It's his. He's the one who blinded you…forced your hand. He's the one who stole your title, hurt the woman you love, and imprisoned your niece. You have the power to make him feel your wrath...

Hershel cradled his head, taking a deep breath. He remembered when he had first unlocked his powers; every emotion had felt so raw and overpowering. It had taken him a long time to really learn control. It felt like he was starting over now…but these powers were not like his old ones. Oni power in general was happy enough to feed on emotion, to take whatever he was feeling and try to blow it out of proportion. But this new power felt like it had a mind of its own—it was trying to force him down certain paths, to make certain decisions. Merciless decisions.

After another minute he was able to force it all down again, but he knew that it wasn't healthy. His own voice echoed in his head, teaching Theo, Amber, Pippa, and Tolan alike the dangers of bottling everything up inside. But he wasn't sure how else to cope with it; he was afraid to let it take too much reign. He had already done that, and had almost done something he knew he would have regretted…even if Imgloss did technically deserve it.

Hershel managed to calm himself and continued on his search, ignoring the small bed mat and the general smell of Lumanium in the air. After a few more minutes, he managed to uncover what he had been looking for.

Imgloss looked up as Hershel returned, and the Pale Master could feel the Ancient's cold dread shoot through the heat of the desert.

"What are you doing with that?" the Ancient hissed, sounding both affronted as well as terrified. Hershel looked down at the dark chest covered in red runes.

"I'm taking it back," he said evenly. His hand ran along the lid of the chest, and Imgloss watched with an unblinking stare as Hershel continued. "The Law of the Ancients."

"You are not an Ancient; you don't possess the authority to beckon a punishment," Imgloss hissed. He was no doubt meaning to sound patronizing, but he just sounded desperate. Hershel couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Master Healers have the authority, immortal or not," he reminded softly, and Imgloss swallowed. No doubt his throat was dry; he had spent hours out in this sun. Not to mention his obvious terror, Hershel mused.

"Like I said," he continued. "I'm not sure if I'm still the Master Healer or not. I suppose I could always try the scroll and see what happens."

Imgloss was trembling now, and Hershel wondered what kinds of punishments the First Ancients had invoked in the past. He had been blinded for a kiss. If death was impossible for an Ancient without a life price, what was it that the Ancients would do to Imgloss instead? Something that would make death seem like a better option? Or did the power of the First Ones have what it took to kill an Ancient after all?

Open the chest…summon the punishment. Judgement must be passed. Justice must be served.

Imgloss didn't even seem to be breathing as he stared at the red runes on the chest. It was as if they were already spelling his doom.

"I had mercy on you boy," he breathed. "You came to me begging for death, and I spared you…"

"I didn't beg for death," Hershel corrected. "I knew you wanted to kill me, and I was tired of waiting in my tent in the dark for it."

His grip on the black chest tightened as he continued hatefully.

"You used this punishment on me, remember. That didn't really feel like mercy. Blinded and stripped of my powers for a kiss…and if I remember correctly, you mentioned that you had been hoping to give me a worse punishment than even that. So why should I be merciful to the man who took so much joy from my suffering? Who relished in my pain and called it entertainment?"

"You are out of your league," Imgloss tried. "And you need me."

Hershel met his eyes at last, his expression skeptical. Imgloss continued quickly.

"This power inside of you will consume your mortal frame. It's far too powerful for the likes of you to contain; it's not meant to be held by a common Oni. You will need my help in keeping it at bay."

Hershel scoffed, and Imgloss narrowed his eyes.

"I don't know how you have obtained this power, but it is no gift, boy. It is not something to laud over me or anyone else. A single breakdown would spell death…an overdrive would leave nothing left. You need help."

"Not as much as I need justice."

Imgloss fought the chains again as Hershel's gaze dropped to the chest.

"They would do it, wouldn't they?" he murmured, mainly to himself now. "If I asked for a punishment, they would give it to me. They ignored me on the Island, sure…but they wouldn't give up the opportunity to pass judgement."

"If you do this, you're dooming the last Ancient in the realm," Imgloss threatened, thrashing against his chains. Hershel was silent, because he had seen the stretch of the entire realm with the eyes of the Island. So whether Imgloss was purposefully lying or was just unaware, Hershel knew the truth. This short, disheveled man was not the last Ancient.

Hershel's eyes and hands began glowing, and Imgloss cursed. If the pale man had looked up, he would have seen that the Ancient's face was haunted now, no doubt reliving every past mistake that he was about to be punished for. Hershel closed his eyes, and there was a flash of light. Imgloss cried out in fear, closing his own eyes as he stiffened in preparation for his doom.

A breeze trickled through the landscape, fluttering Imgloss's unkempt hair and getting it stuck in the trails of sweat on his temple. As the moments passed, he finally brought himself to open his eyes. Hershel wasn't even looking at him, still staring at the chest. It was now sporting a bright chain and lock.

"What have you done?" the Ancient muttered, and Hershel finally glanced up.

"If they are not willing to help us, then they are not allowed to punish us."

Imgloss blinked and Hershel set the chest down in the sand, his tone becoming bitter as he spoke again.

"I passed my trial at the Island. I reached the beckoning stone. And I begged them to help me…to help this realm. But my cries fell on deaf ears."

His eyes flashed dangerously.

"The First Ancients have truly abandoned this realm. If they are unwilling to support us in our trials, then their judgments are no longer welcome against anyone in the realm. Even those as deserving of them as you are."

Imgloss couldn't stop staring at the black chest in the sand, its binding spell making it impossible for anyone but a First Ancient to access. Other than a certain pale man who somehow miraculously possessed their power, that is.

"You still must be punished, of course."

The Ancient's eyes flicked back up to Hershel's hard expression.

"I warned you what would happen if you touched my niece, but you took her regardless. The things you've put her through these last few days…"

"I never hurt the child!" Imgloss argued angrily. His fear had seemed to ease somewhat when he realized that Hershel wasn't going to use the Law of the Ancients against him. However, he was obviously still wary and defensive at the mention of punishment. "She needed a teacher, and you abandoned her…"

"I did not abandon her!"

Hershel's eyes flashed again, but then he was grimacing. It was anger, he was realizing. It had become such a dangerous emotion. He continued, his tone still clipped but more controlled.

"I went to free myself. If you had listened, I wouldn't have had to come free her as well. You were not to touch her or anyone else in my life. And yet you hurt Myrah, threatened my sister…and tried to break the will of my niece. Just because the Healer's organization is dissolved does not mean that you or anyone else can just do whatever you want without consequence."

Imgloss panted angrily as he glared at the younger man. "Actually, that's exactly what it means."

Hershel scowled. "There will be rules. Even if I have to be the one to enforce them."

"You? So you would still set yourself above the rest of us, would you, boy?"

"Yes." Hershel's eyes flashed again, and this time he let them burn a little longer. "I will do what I have to in order to protect the people in the realm from people like you, who would use them for pleasure and enjoyment…or people like Pazzol, who would harm others in an attempt to climb to power. And if you and the healers won't respect me for my title…then you can respect me for my power. Or you will pay the consequences."

Imgloss searched Hershel's face, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"You would use this newfound power to make a ruler of yourself, then? And how would that differ from the villainous dictators of our past, hmm? The ones you've never been so fond of?"

Hershel smiled a little. "Not a ruler. Just an enforcer. As for being a villain…"

He shrugged, his mind suddenly far away.

"Perhaps my own moral compass isn't perfect, but it's the one I trust. Perhaps it isn't fair to keep the realm bound to it, but it's all I have to go off of. I will be enforcing it, for the good of the realm. And if that makes me a villain…then so be it."

Imgloss looked incredulous, but Hershel's mind was buried in memories of his past. He finally shook his head.

"Now the only question is: what do I do with you?"

"How dare you?" Imgloss's words were a furious hiss. "You think you're better than me? Than the other healers? This power will devour you, Hershel. And when it does…"

"It's Master Hershel to you," the pale man interrupted coldly. "And perhaps it will. But I mean to make the most of it in the meantime."

He spread his hands out as if to demonstrate, and Imgloss recoiled as his hands were suddenly pulled out of the mass of glowing chains. Hershel's expression was stony as his own hands began to glow with aura, trying to remember a spell he had only heard once. If he had to rely on his memory alone, there was no way he would have been able to cast it. But as it was, his power inside was only too happy to grant him access to such a spell. Soon his eyes were glowing white as he reached out for Imgloss. The Ancient cursed angrily, trying to yank himself away.

"Don't you touch me, boy!"

"I cannot allow you to be a danger to anyone else, Imgloss. Perhaps I cannot do anything about your immortality…but I intend to make you harmless."

His hands grasped Imgloss's wrists, and the man yelled out as the spell took hold. He cursed Hershel's name, threatening and gasping…but eventually the pain faded. Hershel remembered it all too well—like lightning in his blood. When he pulled his hands away, the Ancient sagged. The aura chains disappeared…apart from the two now etched around each wrist. Imgloss panted, his eyes wide with violation and fear, and Hershel drew back as he studied the man trembling in the sand.

"It could be worse," he finally murmured. "You could be blind as well."

"How dare you…"

Imgloss immediately lunged for him, as if ready to kill him with his hands alone. Hershel didn't even flinch, and the Ancient's attack was immediately halted. The vein in Imgloss's neck looked like it was on the verge of bursting as he looked down wildly at where he could feel the invisible tether.

"What have you done?" he finally demanded, after struggling did him no good.

Hershel had pushed himself to his feet, picking up the black chest.

"You must have chosen this location for a reason," he remarked evenly. "Now you'll have all the peace and quiet you want. Don't worry…there's enough of a tether to reach the well. I'll bring you food…when I can remember to." He met Imgloss's furious gaze calmly. "But then again, Ancient's don't really need to eat, do they? I swear Phos lived on tea alone…"

"You can't do this! You have no authority!"

"Neither do you. Neither does anyone. But I'm not waiting around on others' rules anymore. I'm done waiting for permission…and I'm done being obedient."

Imgloss continued to fight against his bindings, both the tether and the halt on his powers.

"You are a fool!" he yelled. "A fool and a thief! You steal Ancient power and dare to set yourself above us…"

Hershel lunged out then, grabbing Imgloss by the collar of his shirt. His eyes blazed, his hair flying in a sudden wind. His grip was surprisingly strong, and Imgloss's words were lost as he gagged.

"You dared to set yourself above me," Hershel whispered. "To think that you had the right to take my powers…to chain my niece to your tent like a prisoner. And now you dare to question my judgement?"

His voice had become strange again…the power making it sound deeper, more Ancient. Imgloss's eyes widened as Hershel hissed at him through clenched teeth.

"I would suggest you come to terms with this…unless you would like me to bring the Law of the Ancients into this after all."

Imgloss struggled to swallow, his eyes staring into the pools of light glowering at him.

"Who are you?"

It came out in a horrified whisper, and Hershel's expression contorted again. Imgloss stiffened, as if expecting a volatile reaction. But instead Hershel just threw him back down into the sand.

"Enjoy your solitude," he said in disgust. "Can't promise you'll have much entertainment for a while. But hey…at least you aren't dead."

Imgloss didn't say anything as he rubbed his throat, fixing Hershel with a look of fear. The chest dug into Hershel's arm as he held it close, and he finally broke eye contact with the punished Ancient. The power whipped around him once again; with this order of business completed, it was finally time to go home.

183

It was the first time he had seen the interior of his tent in months. He frowned as he looked around; it was certainly messier than he remembered. Hershel took in the burned herbs, the broken vials with their contents spilled everywhere. Divots were scattered in the dirt floor, dark patches on the tarp itself making it obvious that some kind of battle had gone down here.

He got to the back of the tent and noticed something spread out like a pool of blood. His heart pounded with worry, but when he reached it, he realized it was just his jar of poppy petals. He could see the broken glass glinting from the pile, and he shuddered. He could remember all too well what dangerous weapons such fragments could be.

He quietly pulled a new jar off the shelf, his heart aching at the thought of what must have gone down in his tent. He wondered if this is where Imgloss had come to take Pip…but Myrah had said he had taken her from the Western Fortress. For a moment, he wondered if someone had trashed his tent in a rage after he had left.

Hershel was carefully rebottling the pile of petals when he realized he could sense someone behind him. He hesitated.

"Tolan."

He heard the katana leave the sheath, and he turned to see it pointed right at his neck. The guard's expression was dark and serious, but Hershel met his gaze evenly.

"I figured you had to show up here at some point," Tolan explained softly. Hershel didn't say anything, carefully pushing himself back to his feet as he made sure not to break eye contact. Tolan kept the weapon pointed at his neck.

"Who are you?"

Chills ran up Hershel's back at the distrust in his brother-in-law's voice. He held up his hands in quiet surrender, though his power was urging him to show this arrogant fool a lesson.

"It's me, Tolan," he assured quietly. Tolan's eyes flicked across his features.

"Hershel, you mean?" he asked softly. It took all of Hershel's willpower not to roll his eyes.

"Yes."

The katana didn't move.

"The Island did this to you?"

Hershel's heart pounded as he nodded. Tolan's eyes were still hard as he studied him.

"You may look like Hershel, but don't think you've got anyone fooled. I know what kinds of things happen on that stupid Island. So again…who are you?"

Now Hershel was getting angry…and anger wasn't something he was good at controlling.

"I am Hershel," the pale figure assured, though his voice had more of an edge to it now.

"Evynn possessed Amber—she nearly escaped that Island in her body. How do I know that you aren't some dead or banished person who's hitching a ride in my brother-in-law?"

Hershel was trembling slightly at the effort of pushing his anger down.

"I can see why you would be afraid of that, but it is me, Tolan. I promise."

Tolan just scoffed, his grip tightening on his katana.

"You think I'm going to trust your promises? Even if you are just Hershel." His eyes hardened. "You promised that you wouldn't let anything happen to Pippa. Three days…she was with that monster for three days!"

"I told Imgloss not to touch her. He was not supposed to…"

"Oh, he wasn't supposed to. And given Ancients' track record of listening to you, it must have felt like that was plenty of assurance, huh? Good to know you trusted the man who blinded you more than you cared about your own family."

Now both men seemed to be struggling to contain their anger as the katana inched forward threateningly. Tolan continued, and Hershel could feel the guard's anger and suspicion. But he could also make out another feeling…buried deep. Hurt.

"Pippa's been going on and on about your new power. Magical healing, binding Ancients…the Hershel I knew couldn't do any of that stuff. The Hershel I knew was blind and powerless. So what happened on that Island exactly, Hershel?"

Hershel's eyes flashed, and he grimaced. Tolan tensed, and Hershel's voice was firm when he finally answered.

"I am still me…but I have changed. These powers are not easy to control, Tolan. I would be careful not to provoke them if I were you."

Confusion flickered across Tolan's face, and Hershel met his gaze with a deep seriousness.

"Put the weapon down."

"Afraid that I'll kill you?" the guard asked quietly. "Can you even die? The way that you are now…"

"I'm not sure," Hershel admitted. "But no, I'm not afraid of you. I'm more afraid that I will do something I'll regret."

If anything, it only made Tolan raise his guard more. But he also seemed to hear the honesty in Hershel's voice…or maybe he could see it in his face. Whether he believed that this man in front of him was his brother-in-law, it finally seemed to register to him that he didn't actually stand a chance against whatever power lurked beneath Hershel's flashing eyes. It took a few more moments, but the katana finally lowered. Hershel sagged in relief, though his power still demanded that Tolan pay for his insolence.

"Thank you," he murmured, closing his eyes to take a steadying breath.

"Why did you leave?"

Tolan's question was full of bitterness, and Hershel realized he could still feel the hurt. It seemed that it wasn't only Pippa and Syn's trust that he had broken.

"I went to ask for help from the Ancients at the Island. I wanted my sight back…as well as permission to disband the Healing Organization."

Hershel had turned now, going back to filling the jar with petals as he explained. Tolan didn't say anything, and he could feel the guard glaring at the back of his head.

"Disband the Healers? Why?"

Hershel didn't answer, carefully separating the sharp glass from the fragile petals. Some of them had been crushed…some burned. He wondered once again in vain what exactly had gone down here. There was a noise behind him—it seemed Tolan had just figured out the answer to his own question.

"Myrah. All of this…it was so you could be with her."

Hershel didn't answer, but his hands faltered for a moment. Tolan picked up on the gesture and his anger filled the room.

"All of this was so I could be free…in many ways," Hershel corrected, but Tolan wasn't listening.

"I don't want you around Pippa anymore."

It was a blow, and Hershel's eyes immediately filled with light. His back was still to the fortress guard, but the power inside wasn't allowing itself to be suppressed anymore. Tolan continued, unaware of how his words were affecting Hershel. Or maybe he was aware—he had always been the type of person who didn't care. Arrogant, using words as weapons just as often as he used weapons instead of words. Feeling proud of the deep cuts he made…

"She's not safe around you…especially if you can't even control whatever is wrong with you now. Besides, I'm not giving you the chance to let her down again. It was bad enough when you messed up with Myrah and got yourself blinded. But to put Pip and everyone else at risk by running off...you've proven that you don't deserve to be part of her life."

The power was influencing him, and Hershel knew it. Without it pressing on his mind, he could have responded to this for what it was; Tolan reacting to his own hurt and fear in the only way he seemed to know how.

But instead, rage filled the pale man. How dare Tolan judge him for the decisions he had made? He had no idea what he had been through. Tolan, who had never been enslaved, or locked away, or had all his choices taken from him. Who was obviously free enough to love who he wanted, since he had stolen Hershel's sister away from him without a second thought. And now he dared to tell Hershel what he could and couldn't do? No one was going to order him around…

"You need to leave."

Hershel's voice sounded distant to his own ears, which were pounding with each furious heartbeat. Tolan didn't move, and Hershel managed to get to his feet once again. He was shaking hard now, trying to keep a hold of himself in the flood of justice that had poured into him.

Maybe it was time for Tolan to see what it felt like…to be bullied, beaten into submission. Maybe it was time for him to realize what it felt to have his insecurities preyed on…to be ripped apart while feeling his most vulnerable.

He didn't turn around. Tolan wasn't leaving, and he had to put distance between them.

A breakdown would be deadly

Imgloss's words threaded through his mind as he struggled to contain the power. It wasn't even that it wanted to be released. It was that it wanted to punish…to penalize the unworthy. To laud Justice above everything else. The power built up, the aura winds appearing in the tent now. He could dimly sense Tolan's unease, but it wasn't enough. The guard wouldn't leave.

It's better if he stays. For all the pain he's inflicted on everyone over the years, it's high time he felt the sting of retribution. Only when he suffers will he understand…

Hershel kept trying to push it down, but he couldn't. It, like him, would not be locked away any longer.

An overdrive would leave nothing left.

Hershel closed his eyes, willing the aura to take him away. He was in Phos's tent…he shouldn't have been able to transport within it, but he was desperate. With the final shreds of self-control he had, the pale healer disappeared in a flash of white.


Hershel burst into a random part of the realm; he wasn't in the mindset to see if he recognized it or not. He didn't even register the fact that he had just completed what should have been an impossible transport. Instead, he dropped to his knees in the sand and squeezed his eyes closed. He allowed the power to leave…but slowly. Small bursts, rather than an overdrive. Relief came in breaths with each discharge. He didn't open his eyes to see how it was affecting the landscape around him; he just had to pray that he was somewhere isolated.

Tolan is family. I can't hurt him.

The power begged to differ, but Hershel tried his best to be firm with it. It was such a different battle than when he had first unlocked his original powers. Then, he had been fighting with a part of himself that had just been awoken. Now, it felt like he was battling something foreign that had made him its new home.

I won't hurt him.

Whether the power was finally listening to him, or because he had finally released enough pent up energy, Hershel finally felt safe enough to open his eyes. There were drifting mountains of sand all around him, mainly unaffected from his power surges. However, there were a few places that glinted in the sun. Hershel finally pushed himself up to his feet as he made his way over to where the light seemed to be shining off the sand. His heart almost stopped when he reached it and realized what had happened.

Glass. Where his power had come into contact with the dunes, dark glass had formed. He knelt to run his hand along the surface. Some places were smooth, some ridged or bubbled. He caught sight of his reflection in one portion of the murky substance. He could see the fear in his eyes…fear at his near loss of control. Fear of how close to death he was at any given moment, if all it took was him getting angry. Fear of his seemingly constant need for justice. He met his reflection's eye.

"Who are you?" he whispered to it.


"That's it, Oni-girl. One of these Saturdays we are going to the zoo."

Amber rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile at M's mock offensiveness that she had never heard of most of the animals he talked about.

"Zoo?"

"You know, where you can go to see different kinds of animals. They're kinda like in cages…but nice cages. Plenty of space to run around…"

He trailed off as Amber just stared at him.

"What's the purpose of keeping all these animals in cages?" she finally asked.

"Habitats is actually a better word," M tried, but Amber already had a vivid picture of what he was describing and didn't really feel like she agreed with it. He continued carefully. "It's so people can go look at them. So if they've never see a wolf, or a bear, or a yak or whatever, they can see one. You know, in real life."

She didn't really say anything as she continued to fill in her planner. All around them, the bustle of the lunchroom had turned into a buzz of background noise. Her friend kicked her under the table.

"Are you mad?" he asked, incredulous, and she glanced up.

"No. I'm just thinking."

"Of what?"

"People used to tell me that I belonged in a zoo during my first few months here. Now I finally know what they meant."

M blanched and she couldn't help but put him at ease.

"I'm not offended, M…you didn't say that to me. Other idiots did."

"That's messed up," he countered with a scowl. "People are stupid."

"Agreed."

She smiled to herself when she felt M's defensiveness on her behalf, but the smile faded as she looked down at her planner and the bolded reminder scheduled for the next day.

"Nearly forgot about that," she griped. M finished off the last of his tuna fish sandwich.

"Abo' wha?" he asked around a mouthful.

Amber turned her planner around so he could read the boxed reminder. He squinted from across the table and swallowed so he could read aloud.

"'Ninjago City Council Meeting…10 am sharp…'"

She grimaced and he looked back up at her.

"You're missing school?"

"Special permission to," she explained as she turned her planner around and set it back on the table in front of her. "But I'd rather be dancing, trust me."

"Why'd you agree to this ambassador gig if you didn't want to do it?"

"The perks," she explained honestly as she stared at the page in the book. "I mean, I don't mind. But I honestly started to forget all about it over these past few weeks. Especially with finals coming up."

"It has been a while since anyone's mentioned it… but I guess they had to finish up elections so the council seats could be filled before they could have any meetings, huh?" he pointed out. Amber nodded.

"I still have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing though."

"Eh, you're a smart Oni. You'll figure it out."

He waggled his eyebrows and she threw a fry at him.

"And you're a smart aleck. I wish that I didn't have to go alone; the freaky horned girl among all these stuffy adults. And from what I've seen of Ninjago politicians…"

She shuddered, and M. glanced at the table. No doubt he guessed that she was talking about his mother. It had been a month or so since her family's trial, but her friend still got quiet any time his mother was brought up. She wondered if it would ever not bother him, or if this was one of those things he was going to carry around for the rest of his life.

Like the medal in his pocket, she mused, though she wasn't even sure if he carried it anymore.

"Anyways. I just don't know what to expect," she finished lamely.

"Are you staying in Ninjago during the break?"

M looked up again, changing the subject.

"You mean when school gets out?" Amber asked, and he nodded. She fell quiet for a moment and then felt a pang of sadness. "I…think I have to. Ninjago Ambassador and all that."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense."

"Why?"

He blinked and then shrugged a little too quickly.

"No reason. I just wondered if you were headed back to your own realm or not."

She frowned, and he changed the subject again. He was being weird, but she couldn't put her finger on why.

"Speaking of tomorrow, my Grandfather's finally coming back home."

Amber raised her eyebrows.

"He's been gone a while," she realized.

"Yeah. He was only supposed to be gone a few weeks…a month tops," M. explained. "But then I guess he actually found some donors and got wrapped up in business on the other side of Ninjago for forever. It will be nice to have him home. He and my father speak all the time now over the phone, and things aren't nearly as tense as before. Hardly any yelling. I think it's because whatever Grandpa did, there's actually money coming into the school again and my Dad finally had to admit he's not useless…"

"I'm glad."

He blinked and she smiled genuinely.

"I'm glad things aren't so tense anymore, M. With everything that happened, it's been so nice just going to school and hanging out with friends these last few weeks. I mean, your Dad's even been letting you eat lunch in here."

He smiled, fiddling with the straw in his milk carton.

"It has been nice," he agreed. "I'm even warming up to the Instruments. Maybe when we go to the zoo, they can come with us."

Amber rolled her eyes. M had gotten into the habit of calling Dani and her music friends "The Instruments." The Oni was sure they would take offense to the nickname, but if anything they wore the label with pride. It probably helped that M wasn't nearly as obnoxious around them anymore.

"I feel like Dani would hate zoos," Amber decided sagely. M. cocked an eyebrow.

"Because she hates animals?"

"No…because she likes animals. She wouldn't want them locked up in cages!"

"Habitats!" he corrected again, launching a carrot stick at her. "Now I'm going to have to make you visit one just to correct that impression!"

She just laughed and he joined in.

"Maybe we can go after your meeting," he pointed out after they had quieted again. Amber glanced down; her amusement cut off with the reminder of the looming meeting.

"Maybe."

27