A/N: This second chapter is settled after the events of the manga, a couple of years after the Demon King had been defeated for good and everything somehow worked out. The story has finally begun!
I'd like to thank Redworld96, who is helping a lot with this story and also made a wonderful a wonderful cover and some other lovely colorings (go check her work on tumbler, twitter or deviantart, everything she does is amazing). Also, thanks to Trig who give me some very good advices.
Chapter II: The tree under the earth
There was something that made King feel proud to see the flourishing greenery of the Forest. While flying, he could only catch a glimpse of the bright green leaves and the colorful flowers, the deep brown and the drab of the trunks and the vines, but he knew his domain. And besides, he could feel it with his power, the incessant growing and decline of nature under him. He didn't notice anything wrong, there, but he was still far from the border - the place where he was headed.
Even though it hadn't been easy for the Fairy King's Forest to properly grow again even since it had been burned to the ground, it seemed that now, the war ended and the Demons defeated, it was really starting to extend its confines. King had been worried at first since the power of the Fountain of Youth had extinguished, but it hadn't been necessary. The Forest seemed to be alright, and he used his power the best he could to help its growth, grateful that it had been extremely easier to utilize Disaster after his wings had sprouted.
No, the main problem wasn't the lack of the Fountain, it was to direct the spread. Even though Ban had chosen well the place where to plant the last seed of the Forest, there were a few human villages in the surroundings, and more than once King had had to stop the plants from getting to close and destroying them.
The Southern border had never been a problem. There was nothing there, not a village nor a single house. King didn't know why, exactly; maybe it simply wasn't a fertile land for humans, and when he had flown over the place for the first time, a couple of months ago, he had seen nothing strange. Well, it was bare and empty, with little or no vegetation, but this hadn't worried him. The Forest had shown to be able to grow even in the more difficult terrains, and there was nothing to suggest that this would have been different.
And yet, a bit less than a week before, one of his Fairies had come to see him and told him that there was something strange in the way the plants were growing on the border. Few sprouts and new plants had emerged from the ground, but they didn't seem to be able to grow in the right way. And besides, the Fairy had said, the ground was different, there, dusty and dry, too compact to make easy for the plants to thrive. The expression on her face when she had talked about it made it clear that she didn't like what she had seen.
King had already decided that he would have checked the place when another Fairy had told him pretty much the same a couple of days after and added that he was worried about the way the roots of the trees had started retiring and the growth of the Forest had abruptly stopped.
King had told them both that he would have taken care of it, and the look of relief and trust on their faces had made him smile, a warm feeling of happiness swelling within his chest. There had been a time when he had thought that his people would have never trusted him like this again. He hadn't always been a good king, but now he was working hard to be the person that Diane and the Captain had seen in him, the person his people needed.
It didn't take long to get in view of the border, but even before he could see the land beyond, King could feel that there was something wrong, there. He stopped for a second, floating in midair, observing the trees that formed the edge of the Forest. They weren't supposed to be like that. The looked healthy and stood straight, their branches towards the sky, but the way they stopped at some point, forming a straight, long line that delimited the rest of the wood, was unnatural. The Fairy King's Forest had always been more than a simple bunch of trees, its growth and life coming from the magic of the Fairy Clan; King liked to think that those plants were more vital than the others in Britannia, almost living creatures as the animals who inhabited them. But they couldn't just decide to stop growing like that ... unless there was something blocking them.
He pursed his lips, glancing at the scarce vegetation beyond the border. The ground was barren, looking almost black under the morning sunlight, just an irregular layer of grass barely covering it; the few plants that stuck out from it were old, scrawny trees that seemed to barely stand up, and then … King furrowed his brows. Apparently, something had tried to grow on that terrain, but it hadn't worked. He saw the brownish leaves of a fern plant, dry and narrow, and a pair of sprouts that didn't look well. A tiny, leafless sapling was almost lying, the wood black and gaunt, its roots sinking into the ground only a few feet from the border.
And besides, there was that feeling. It hit King abruptly when he started coming down, a suffocating malaise that became even stronger when his feet touched the ground, right after the edge of the Forest. He took a deep breath and focused on the dark land. Whatever that sensation was, it was obviously coming from there.
He had never felt something like that before, not even while walking through the burned remaining of the old Fairy King's Forest, the ground black and smelling like fire and death, the knowledge that the desolation that surrounded him was his fault, only his, delving within his own soul.
It would have not been necessary to see the effect that it had on the plants to feel that there was something wrong. And King didn't have the faintest idea of what it was.
He tilted his head and studied the bare landscape, but there was nothing strange in it, not that he could see; just some few trees, and nothing else. And yet, he realized, there was magic there. At first, it felt like Fairy magic, but it wasn't that, not really; for a moment, he thought it could have been Demon's magic – after all, they had just fought a war, it was possible that some Demons had been responsible for whatever this was – but he rapidly dismissed the idea. What had happened there, it wasn't the Demon Clan, he would have been able to recognize that sort of energy.
King sighed, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't thrilled at the idea of going forward into that desolate land, especially not knowing what kind of magic was behind it – years spent with Merlin taught him being cautious with spells he didn't know – but there was much else he could do. Whatever it was, it could have hurt his Forest, and he had to put a stop to this, or at least understand what was causing it and see if he could solve it alone.
So he caught his breath and started floating towards the wasteland, leaving the reassuring shadows of the plants behind him. Flying through those trees didn't help though, it just made him feel even more uneasy; he hadn't felt like this for a long time, since the war had ended, and the fact that this place alone was able to trigger that kind of feeling inside him was somehow worrying. He nervously glanced at the dark ground, but even though it looked too black and dry, there was nothing too strange in it. And yet, he couldn't help but think that there was something else hiding under the drab grass and the soil. It was foolish, he couldn't have known that. He wasn't a Giant, and he had no power over that land.
He looked up, narrowing his eyes against the sun; he could actually see the end of that blackness, a few miles away, where some distant trees with green leaves rose. The ground just stopped being so – so wrong, just like that?
He stopped and landed softly, the dry grass creaking unpleasantly under his feet. For a moment, he just stood, not knowing exactly what to do; he could see nothing around him that could have helped him to figure out what was happening there.
And then, he felt it. His eyes widened as he looked around. Nothing had changed, the trees and the land were still the same, except for the call. It wasn't exactly a sound that he could hear, not really; it was more like perceiving it all around him, a wordless whisper reaching for his mind. It was the way he sensed the animals and the plants of the Forest, a language made of feelings, senses, and emotions. Even though he had already experienced that, he had never felt something similar. It was a desperate urgency, a silent scream made of suffering and pain. It made his heart beating faster, a feeling of oppression on his chest - it was wrongness and fear and ache.
For a moment, he was lost on those emotions, too surprised to react, then he blinked and put a hand on his mouth, trying not to let it take over him. It had never been like this with the other beings that tried to communicate with him. This was different, this was … this was a call of help, he realized, a desperate call of help. And even though it was overwhelming and almost painful to bear, he couldn't leave it unanswered. It would have been cruel, and he wouldn't have left a living being to suffer and die if he could do something.
King took a step, and then another, carefully inspecting his surroundings to see if he could find whatever was suffering so much. It wasn't one of those trees, he was sure about that, but there was nothing else there. Not that he could see.
He followed the call, then, his slow steps producing a creaky sound that echoed around him, but he ignored it, too focused on his task, advancing more and more in the skeletal ticket. After taking another step he stopped abruptly, his eyes fixed on the ground. If he hadn't looked so closely, if he hadn't followed that feeling, he would have missed the crack. The call was from there, there was no doubt about it.
He bent down, moving a hand on his chin; the crack was large maybe a bit more than one foot and long two, the edges irregular and sharpened, and even narrowing his eyes, he could see nothing of what it was hidden under it.
King put his hand on the ground, tapping his fingertips on it. There was no way to him to pass through that crack like this, nor to see what was inside. He could have widened it, but would have that been the smartest move? He didn't know what he would have found down there, and that was still that unsettling feeling, that strange magic in the air, that made him uncomfortable. Maybe he should have come back to the Forest, to Diane – maybe she had already finished her tasks and she would have greeted him with one of the joyful smiles she always made when she saw him – and ask Gerheade if she had ever heard of something like that. Then, the cry of help sharpened, almost pulling him into the darkness. He gasped and shook his head to take his mind out of it, but the feeling didn't stop hunting him. It didn't matter that it felt wrong and anguishing, he couldn't ignore that suffering. And besides, he would have probably been able to deal it anyway. He was the Fairy King, after all.
He took a deep breath, preparing to summon his magic; it would have been easier and faster to simply destroy the ground, but since he had no idea what was under it he couldn't risk damaging that land even more. He slowly expanded the crack, removing small ground plots; it was deeper than he thought, at least five feet, then it widened abruptly in what looked like a cavern. That wasn't particularly captivating, but he had already decided he wouldn't have come back without at least taking a look. It would have been ridiculous.
When he let himself slide into the dark, the cold air of the cave hit his skin and made him shiver; the place smelled like musty and rotten, and something else that he couldn't quite point out but made him wrinkle his nose. He snorted and waved his hand to made Chastiefol turn into its Seventh Form, the white light of Luminosity immediately filling the room. For a second, it was almost too intense for him to see, and he had to blink a couple of times to recover his sight. The cave was bigger than he imagined - he had to increase the light of his weapon to clearly see the floor, and the walls were distant enough to hold more than a house. But this wasn't what drew his attention.
He saw it the moment he grew used to the light – it would have been impossible, not to see it. His eyes went round as they wandered over the immense shape of the tree, its long, twisted branches flattening against the walls and the irregular ceiling like dark snakes and surrounding him like a birdcage. King had seen enough of the human world to know that this tree was too tall, even though it was still not like the ones of the Fairy King's Forest; it was astonishing that it had grown like that, under the earth, receiving the sunlight just from that small crack.
But he just needed a look to see that whatever had made the tree flourish that way, it wasn't working anymore. The trunk was too thin, crooked and looking almost as it was about to break, the wood too dry, and the scarce leaves were withered, of a claret color that he had never seen, not even in the deep of the Fairy Realm. And more than that, he immediately knew, as soon as he landed his eyes on it, that the tree was the source of the cry for help that had led him there. Now that he was so close, the anguish that irradiated from it was almost suffocating.
King took another moment to breathe and brace himself, then he flew towards the ground, Chastiefol following right behind him, its light gradually showing the rest of the cave. It seemed like that tree was the only thing alive in there, its large roots sinking into the earth and occupying all the floor of the cave. King furrowed his brows, glancing at the walls. This wasn't quite right. If the tree had grown so much and was still alive, there had to be a source of water, somewhere; the lack of other forms of lives, plants but also – he suddenly realized – animals and bugs, was strange.
When he landed, he immediately started to examine the ground; it was different from the one above, deep brown and softer, and when he reached for it, it was cool and damp under his hand. It didn't seem to be the problem, unless there was something in it that poisoned the water.
King looked up at the tree, his eyes meeting its dark, rough trunk and then raising up to the branches. He should have been used to plants of this size, but he couldn't cast away a feeling of discomfort. It wasn't only the desperation that emanated from it, there was … something different, in that wood. Something that made a warning ring in his head, but he couldn't understand why.
Usually, the trees of his Forest were easy to read. They didn't need much, more space of more water, and it wasn't difficult to understand what he could do to make them grow better. It didn't work like that with this one. The feeling that came from it was just a chaos of pain and fear, strong and enveloping, but hard to read.
He clenched his fist, his eyes fixed on the wood of the trunk. Maybe if he touched it … it would have allowed him to connect more deeply to it. He slowly took a step forward, the call of the tree almost unbearable but mesmerizing at the same time.
When he reached out for it, something in his mind almost screamed at him to stop, but after a moment of hesitation, he finally put his hand on the wood – he had to. It was coarse and cold under his fingertips, and for a moment he felt nothing at all; it was like he was touching stone. He had only the time to blink, realizing that the call had finally ceased, before he felt something burning his palm. His breath stopped as he felt it climbing his arm like a shock and then reaching its shoulder and –
They are coming and they are killing, the screams of Its children, their blood on Its peel. The fire burns – it shouldn't hurt but it does – everything it's in flames and It's dying, It knows It's dying – fear and pain and - it's not right it's not right It shouldn't be dying, It won't let them win, It won't let it –
King gasped for air and removed his hand, the skin still warm and itchy where it had touched the wood, and took a step back. He stared at the tree with wide eyes for a moment, breathing heavily, his head still feeling fuzzy and confused.
What was that? He tried to remember the confusing images that had flown through his mind, but they were vanishing, fast as they had come – there had been the light and the heat of the fires and those figures all around him but he couldn't remember who they were or what they were doing. The only thing he could still feel was the anguishing emotion that had overwhelmed him, the dread that oppressed his heart - and the pain.
When he looked at his hand, it seemed fine, not even a scratch on his palm, and when he closed his fist, his fingers moved without any problem. It didn't hurt. Yet, he couldn't help but feeling that, when he touched the wood, something had spread inside him, creeping into his body and soul. The idea made him nauseate, but at the same time, it was impossible for him to really identify what was wrong.
He glanced at the tree again, but it was silent now, almost too silent. It was like it was dead - or, King couldn't help but think, waiting motionless for something, the Gods knew what. It didn't seem dangerous, but he wouldn't have touched it anymore. No, it would have been madness. But he would have understood what had happened there, that was for sure.
He took flight, headed for the crack, his eyes never leaving the tree. It didn't move, of course, but he couldn't bring himself to relax until he was finally out, the sudden sunlight warm on his skin and almost too intense for his eyes; he dismissed Chastiefol before taking a look around. His eyebrows rose when he realized that the light was too intense, much more than before. The sun was high in the sky, informing him that it had to be past noon. How long had he been in that cave? He looked one more time at the darkness under the ground, a cold feeling gripping his heart. That place was too strange to be left unguarded. The idea that some other people could have approached the tree made him feel sick.
He couldn't close the crack since he didn't have power on the earth, but there had to be a way to hide it ... His eyes stopped on an ill-looking sapling not too distant. Life had almost vanished from it, he could feel that – not that it was surprising, knowing what hid under the land. He still didn't like that he would have to take advantage of the last dregs of its vital energy, but it had to be done.
It took only a glimmer of his magic to turn part of the wood on a soft material, dark as the ground, that he deposited on the crack. It wouldn't have worked if someone had looked too closely, but there was no reason to think that this would have happened. That place hadn't probably seen a living soul for a long time before King. Still, he couldn't cast away a sense of anxiety.
He examined the result one last time, then turn away and rose from the ground, flying towards the Forest. He started feeling a bit better when he finally reached the border, the sight of the tall, flourishing trees comforting him. Yet he couldn't help but look back once again, the desolate land more and more distant behind him. He couldn't see the crack anymore, but the knowledge that it was there, and of what there was under it, tormented him.
He would have talked to Gerheade as soon as he would have landed, and if she hadn't known anything about that strange tree, he would have figured out that mystery by himself. He wouldn't have walked away from it.
Diane sat on the ground, her back against the trunk of a tree; her eyes were closed as she enjoyed the sunlight that passed through the branches that covered the Fairy King's Forest like a canopy. She could hear the Fairies flying around her, occupied with their own tasks, quietly talking to each other. No one approached her, letting her rest and wait. It was strange to remember that just a few years ago, her presence there had raised questions and concerns, as there had been no Giant between those trees for millennia. But it wasn't like this anymore. They changed it.
It had not been easy to merge the two Clans, at first, not after all the years they had passed isolated, without ever interact with each other. Yet, there was a time when the two people had been allies and shared the same home, thanks in part to the friendship that linked their kings. And now, it seemed that it was like this once again – and could have gotten even better.
She had to deal sometimes with the temper and the customs of the Giants – it hadn't been easy to make them see that live like mercenaries wasn't necessary anymore and that it was only weakening them – and there were still some Fairies that looked at the other Clan with suspicion, but things were getting better. She and Harlequin were doing their best to make things work.
Think about her husband made her lips curve into a smile as she opened her eyes, blinking against the midday sunlight. She sat more comfortable, lazily looking around, but of course, had had not returned yet. She would have felt him if he had.
That morning, when they had separated, he had told her that he wanted to check something at the border, and he hadn't come back since then. She wasn't worried, not really, Harlequin was more than able to take care of himself, and besides, there was nothing to be afraid of anymore. The Demon Clan was not a problem, nor were its abomination, and the two years that had passed since the defeat of the Demon King had been the most peaceful that Britannia had seen in a long time.
Still, she couldn't help but fidget, brushing her hair back and tapping the earth with a hand, while wondering why he was taking so long. He only had to get something checked up, it was supposed to be something fast. She let out a sigh. It was silly, she knew that, but even though she had seen him that very morning, she missed him.
Then, abruptly, she felt him, or, rather, she felt his power. Diane raised her head, her gaze towards the sky, a smile spreading across her face as she finally saw him flying through the branches, his wings shining under the light. For a moment, his eyes didn't meet hers, lost in his thoughts, his expression pensive and – she realized with surprise – even a bit worried. But the second he finally looked at her, everything changed, concern turning into joy as he beamed at her, making her heart racing.
"Diane," he said softly once he was near enough, then come closer to press a kiss on her lips. She kissed him back, then, when they parted, she raised her hand, so that he could land on her palm. His own hand immediately started caressing the skin of her thumb, making her giggle.
"It took you long enough," she said, looking at him with affection. "I was waiting for you."
"Ah, sorry for that," he answered, a slight blush creeping over his neck. "I didn't realize that it had been so long." He stopped, his eyes unfocused, as he was trying to find the words to say something else, but it was only a moment, then he was looking at her again, curious. "How did it go? Did your messengers returned?"
Diane groaned, holding him a bit closer. "Just some of them, finding all the Southern tribes is being a nightmare! And of course, most of the ones who answered are not interested in changing their way of life ..." She sighed, shaking her head. "I will probably have to go there by myself."
King nodded, squeezing her thumb. "You don't have to do this alone. I will come with you if you want me to."
"And leaving the Forest? I wouldn't ask you that."
"The Forest is safe," he replied, a determined look in his eyes. "If something happens, I can protect it from afar. And besides," he shrugged, "it could be useful. There could be some group of Fairies living in the South as well, no one went to check on there for a very long time."
Diane felt her cheeks flushing and smiled at him, caressing his hair with a finger. "Thank you," she murmured, "I would like that. But we can deal with these matters at another time. Now, tell me, how did it go on the border? There is something wrong?"
And suddenly, that blank look was in his eyes again. For a second, it was like he didn't know what she was talking about, then he blinked and nodded. "I think there is something off with the land, there," he answered slowly, "but I'm not sure what it is. There is nothing to worry about, though, I can take care of it."
"Oh," she tilted her head, looking at him attentively. When he had returned, he had looked worried, way more than now, like there was something upsetting him. But she knew he wouldn't have lied to her. He had promised that, and she trusted him. "Everything is fine, then?"
"Yes," he smiled at her, after a moment of silence, his wings lightly flapping against her palm, "everything is fine."
This second chapter is settled after the events of the manga, a couple of years after the Demon King had been defeated for good and everything somehow worked out. The story has finally begun!
I'd like to thank Redworld96, who is helping a lot with this story and also made a wonderful a wonderful cover and some other lovely colorings (go check her work on tumbler, twitter or deviantart, everything she does is amazing). Also, thanks to Trig who give me some very good advices.
Also, thanks to everyone who read, commented and left kudos, it was really appreciated!