Pitch Black hadn't felt this alive in a long time. His mind was cleared of shadows and he no longer was fueled by a burning hatred and revenge for the world to be as miserable as him.
And his Merith. His lovely Merith who he'd been separated from for far too long. Even though he wanted to hunt through the world to find where they locked up his other half, he still had a mission to do…
FLASHBACK
"Ah, you are awake General."
Kozmotis Pitchiner Black startled out of the bed he was resting in to see before him Lunaoff M and the woman who had just spoken...and was now turning...into a man?
Don't be alarmed Kozmotis Pitchiner, we're merely here to help you. Has the presence of the Fearlings vanished?" questioned the man, his ancient gaze seeming to pierce through Kozmotis.
"Well,-" Kozmotis startled in amazement. For the first in what felt like millenia, his mind was absent of shadows, that constant presence that he used to fight without pause, slowly letting it consume his mind. It had been slightly better when he had found his soulmate in Merith, but any progress the two had made in fighting the darkness within his mind was gone once Merith became pregnant and unable to use his magic and then… the miscarriage happened and he voluntarily surrendered to the Fearlings in his grief.
"Yes." he finally responded in a daze. "My mind is clear, without this-this blinding anger and hatred filling me. How?"
"We have employed the use of multiple Sentinels to purge you of the Fearlings, a method that involved risks to yourself, but could've been attempted a long time ago if not for the stubborn interference of your Sentinel Man in the Moon." stated the man with a brief glare towards MiM.
Pitch turned to MiM with a betrayed look.
"Why did you treat us like this Manny? Why wouldn't you help me from the agony, from the Fearlings attempting to take over me and destroy all that I care about? We trusted in you, had faith in you! You know what Merith's been through in his past life with previous guardians, and you had promised to protect him and help him in this life!"
"I thought I was doing what was doing what was right for both of you, you were mine to protect and I didn't want anyone to harm you." whispered Merith, face pale and drawn with guilt.
"You didn't help us; you abandoned us, and we can never forgive you for that."
"I understand. But please, let me right what I've wronged."
The man, who had once more turned back into a woman interrupted. "Yes, the council and I have decided the time for noninterference has ended, furthermore, we have come up with a solution to punish the transgressions without sacrificing the balance of the natural world. All we need is your compliance to all of the things we ask of you to avoid as many innocents as we can from being involved, understand?"
"Understood."
~LM~
"We're about ready to send you back Kozmotis, remember everything we've discussed." said Manny quietly. He knew the only reason Kozmotis was even listening to him was because he had to, not because he had been forgiven.
"But there's one more thing you must know before you go."
After a long pause of Manny trying to gather his words, Kozmotis snapped a quick "What?" at the sentinel.
"The soul of your daughter has been reborn, and is now in an immortal's body." Manny finally said. " I recognized the soul, once it had been reborn in the mortal realm and when the child had gotten to the point of mortal peril, I-I had to act, especially as it's life had barely begun…"
Recovering from his shock at this information, Kozmotis briskly dusted his hands as he stared slightly past Manny.
"Well, thank you Manny. It's good to hear that my daughter's soul is doing well, though I don't see what good that does for me, or why you felt it so important to share."
"Because the child's soul is new; it was intended for an immortal body anyway, more specifically to be the child of the Master of Death. Because of that, a link still remains between the soul and its parents, you and Merith. You'd be able to feel a connection with each other when you find them, further strengthening the bond past the few months you were able to share together."
"Where are they? Who are they?" Kozmotis asked desperately. "How will I find them?
"I can only tell you that if you are in each other's presence long enough, your bond will make itself known. Or wait until we can find and release Merith from his bonds and he will be able to locate the child quicker."
Trembling in anticipation, Kozmotis nodded in understanding. As Manny got in position to send him back down to Earth, Kozmotis cleared his throat softly.
"Thank you, for telling me. I won't forget what you've done,...but I forgive you."
Manny nodded jerkily before he began the incantation to send Kozmotis back to Earth. As the runes began to power down, Manny collapsed to his knees as tears ran down his face, the weight within his chest a little lighter as the words ran through his head. He had been forgiven.
FLASHBACK
Pitch blinked back to the present at the sound of a deep growl reverberating throughout the throne room of his palace, where he had appeared through the moon ritual. Looking around for the sound's origin, Pitch turned to see Myst slink out of the shadows, her poison tipped tentacles waving threateningly in the air as she went into a hunter's crouch.
"Myst! Myst, it's me Kozzie, Merith's mate, remember?"
The Nether Realm creature stared hard at him before a flash of recognition crossed her eyes quickly followed by an intense wariness towards him. It hurt Pitch to see Myst, a member of his little family look at him with such distrust and caution, and knowing it was because of his actions.
"Myst, I apologize. We were both lost in our grief, but that is no excuse for the fact that we pushed the three of you and each other away and then abandoned you for so long. I am truly sorry for my actions. Will you allow me to make amends?" pleaded Pitch as he lowered himself down to eye level, his body language open and guard down.
Myst roared a split second before she leapt onto Pitch, falling down with him to the ground with a massive thud. Sharp nails kneaded warningly against his chest as the mass of giant cat crouched on top of him with enough weight to crush a mortal's ribs, luminescent blue eyes staring down at him before his vision was obscured by a giant pink tongue. Myst took advantage of Pitch's shock to get in a few good licks before she was firmly shoved off by a groaning Pitch. She scooted back just enough to give him room to sit up before she butted his shoulder, her rumbly purrs resounded throughout the room as Pitch started scratching behind her ears. The message was pretty clear.
All has been forgiven.
"Darling Myst, will you help me carry out my plans for the Guardians? We'll be able to do this and then rescue Merith." Myst tapped her front paw twice against the ground, mewling loudly in agreement.
"Perfect."