A/N: And so the plot thickens. I love when villains have good points.

Also, I'm sorry for not updating this since June. I've had a lot of things going on.

Next up, after another TOS update (I think), is Straight on Til Morning.

Magdalene didn't know which she feared more-facing Jorgen or facing Levi. Both of them might hold her hostage for good behavior if she visited them. Levi bore Nathaniel's hatred and resentment, five hundred years' worth. Jorgen probably hated her for having inadvertently instigated this situation. Plus, the last time she'd seen Jorgen, he'd raked her over the coals. He terrified her. Levi wasn't too high on her list, either.

She wanted to see Nathaniel, but she had no idea what had become of him. No one would tell her anything, but then again, they might not even know. Nathaniel might've been a well-kept secret and it wasn't like she'd been in contact with Fairy World in centuries. She drew a deep, bracing breath. She'd promised Wanda she'd do this. Wanda was the first faerie in five hundred years to believe in her. Magdalene owed it to her.

She wished she could draw lots or flip a coin, although both were cowardly. She needed to see Levi and Jorgen, so it wasn't like she'd be able to avoid one by doing the other. She hugged herself. One way or another, she was doing this. It was time to stop running and start facing what she'd wrought.

She chose Levi, because she feared he might be the easier of the two. it wouldn't be difficult to track him, because he was linked to her magic. Moreover, he was in Dimmsdale, the nexus of magic in the world right now. Levi was currently living in an apartment in town, near to where Timmy Turner's parents worked. She'd absorbed that fact with little concern; despite adhering to Wanda's wishes, she had no interest in Timmy's parents. Wanda could sort out of her own problems with them or whatever was going on with Vicky. Magdalene was just the messenger.

To her consternation, though, Levi wasn't in his apartment. All signs indicated he was in Fairy World. She sighed. If she was going to Fairy World, she'd run into Jorgen first. She might as well get herself a new wand, too. The last time she'd gotten a new wand, Grimm's Fairy Tales were real. It'd been a minute.

She poofed to Fairy World for the first time in centuries and for a minute, just floated there in complete awe. She hadn't been surrounded by so much magic in forever. It took her breath away and made all of her aches and pains disappear. Tears welled in her eyes and she gasped back a sob. Faeries were here, minding their own business, passing through like nothing was amiss. No one stared at her. No one seemed to give a damn she was here. She was free.

"Magdalena Nyave," Jorgen intoned from behind her and she jumped, startled. She wielded her wand as if it could defend her and then it, along with her shoulders and her body in turn, sank. If Jorgen wanted to destroy her, he could. It wasn't like her magic was any match for him.

"Jorgen von Strangle," she said faintly. "It's been a while."

"You have been missing for four hundred years!" he exclaimed. "You were only supposed to be in exile for a hundred years! We have been searching for you everywhere."

"Have you?" she said coolly, trying to sound as if she didn't care. "For how long?"

"...four hundred years. Ever since you didn't return," Jorgen said.

Magdalene's stomach dropped. "Really? That long? I'd have thought you didn't care enough to look until Levi showed up."

"Levi has existed for five hundred years," Jorgen said. "And has only become a problem in the last few days."

"Is Nathaniel around?" she asked desperately. "Is he still alive? Please tell me he's still alive. I know I'm in trouble from what I did before, but I won't go looking for him, I promise. Just tell me he's all right."

"er...I need to speak with you in private first," Jorgen said and waved his wand. She was surprised to find him discomfited and even more surprised to find Cupid standing in wait for them in Jorgen's office.

"Took you long enough to find her," Cupid said disapprovingly. "Girl, where have you been hiding? Under a rock on Venus?"

"No, I've been under the radar on Earth," she replied. "Trying to keep from being locked up in Abracatraz."

"You wouldn't have been locked up," Jorgen said and sighed, looking every bit his ten thousand years. He rubbed his temples and collapsed into his seat. "But that is not the issue right now. We need your assistance, as well as anyone else you can muster, to oust Levi before he becomes a major threat. He has already released all of the anti-faeries and half-faeries."

Magdalene nodded. "Wanda told me. Timmy said he'd help."

Jorgen blinked. "Tiny Timmy Turner? After what happened to him?"

"I told you that Vicky Griffin was bad news," Cupid said and Magdalene scowled. Somehow, she doubted Wanda would appreciate being gossiped about in Fairy World.

"Yes, well, you'd have to take that up with Timmy," Magdalene said. "I'm not getting in between there."

"You need to speak to Levi," Jorgen said and Magdalene groaned.

"And what makes you think he'll listen to me?" she said. "He wants to possess me, not listen to reason."

She scowled. "You didn't answer me. Is Nathaniel all right?"

"You'd better tell her," Cupid warned and Magdalene's stomach flip-flopped. She didn't like the sound of that.

"Tell me what?"

"Before or after she speaks with Levi?" Jorgen sighed.

"Before," Cupid said. "She needs to see to understand what's at stake."

"He's insane, isn't he?" she said dully.

"It's worse than that," Cupid said. "Bonded pairs, separated for too long, go insane and then catatonic. You might be able to reach him."

"And if I can't?" she said and her heart clenched. She could feel tears pricking her eyes again and she fought a sob. She did not, would not, cry in front of Jorgen von Strangle. Forget that.

"Then you still need to speak to Levi," Jorgen said gravely. He looked at Cupid. "I have paperwork the Fairy Council left me. Show her to Nathaniel and then Levi."

"Yes, yes," Cupid snapped. "People seem to forget I used to be a Greek deity."

Magdalene smiled thinly. "Why did you stop?"

"Pay sucked and people weren't worshiping me anymore," Cupid said with a shrug.

Magdalene shrugged back. She didn't know what to make of this, but she was increasingly concerned about Nathaniel. Cupid raised his wand and brought them to a small room within Fairy World's hospital. It was pleasant, covered in portraits and pictures of different places on Earth. Within the room, its single occupant sat, staring at nothing. His hair was long and matted and his gaze was blank.

"Nathaniel?" Magdalene said, choking on his name. "Nathaniel, it's me!"

Nathaniel didn't turn. He showed no recognition of her presence. Slowly, she turned his chair around to face her. Cupid had gone, abandoning her to Nathaniel. Under ordinary circumstances, she might've been grateful. Now, she felt alone. Nathaniel's gaze roved her, the first sign of movement she'd seen since she'd entered.

"Thaniel…" she whispered and tears fell down her cheeks again. She wished Nathaniel would reach up and wipe them away, thumb them and kiss her cheek like he'd done so many times before. Instead, he stared at her without comprehension.

"I warned them," Cupid said, poofing back into the room. "I warned them that this would happen, if you two were separated for so long. The first hundred years, he could've managed. But once they couldn't find you and reunite you two…"

Cupid shrugged and Magdalene's heart shattered.

This was her fault. Fairy World couldn't find her because she'd been so desperate to avoid being caught. They hadn't been looking for her to punish her. They'd been looking for her to reunite her with Nathaniel. Magdalene waved her wand, propelling herself away. When in doubt, run.

She returned to her old tree and curled up in her hollow as a squirrel. Once there, it was easy for other people to believe the heartrending sobs were just a squirrel chattering and not a woman whose decisions had ruined her life.

"Magdalene," Jorgen said, standing next to her tree.

"Go away!" she sobbed.

"There is still hope," he said. "If you can reunite Levi with Nathaniel, he can incorporate his magic and perhaps regain his sanity. But you will need assistance."

"Tootie will help me," Magdalene said, making an effort to calm down. It was hard, when she felt so utterly destroyed.

Jorgen said nothing and Magdalene groaned, wishing she could hide again. She hadn't even changed her wand. Damn it all, she should've remained off the radar. Things would've been so much easier if she had remained ignorant.

"We'll help," another voice said and Magdalene turned to spy Cosmo and Wanda floating beside her. Timmy, Tootie, and Chloe were there too.

"Besides, fixing Fairy World's mistakes is what I do," Timmy muttered, but he didn't sound resentful. Instead, he looked wryly amused. Maybe this was a distraction from what had happened to him.

"Okay," Magdalene said and swallowed hard. "I can do this."

"You need to talk to Levi," Wanda said. "Maybe this bloodshed can be avoided."

"I doubt it," Magdalene said, remembering Nathaniel's darker impulses. If they had been warped and contained within his anti-faerie, there would be a real problem. Still, she was willing to take a shot. She had nothing left to lose.

Nathaniel was vaguely aware someone had been there, the first awareness he'd had of anyone else's existence in a long time. He blinked and his voice broke on the first thing he'd spoken in four hundred years.

"Magdalena?" he called.

Levi thought it was time to check on his human counterpart. He brought Tootie along to show her the consequences of Fairy World's actions, lest she think Fairy World entirely benign. Her affection toward Wanda was misplaced and needed to be rectified, especially if she persisted in it.

He felt a peculiar pull toward Nathaniel, as he always had. They were two halves of a whole. Their magic demanded they coalesce into one being, but Levi had always resisted it. He resisted it now, although the demand was greater than ever before. He sensed Magdalene had been here.

"Mags was here?" Levi said, using her nickname. He raised his eyebrows at Nathaniel, who stared blankly back. He shook his sire and the magic leaped between the duo. He could feel his will being subverted by Nathaniel and he jumped back, afraid he'd be sublimated.

"This is what happens when you rely on Fairy World for too long," Levi warned Tootie, who was gawking at Nathaniel.

Tootie took a cautious step forward and Levi frowned, wondering what would happen. Tootie was Nathaniel's descendent, after all; her line came directly from him and Magdalene. She was also the first faerie child after Ezekiel with at least 50% magic in her blood. Tootie touched Nathaniel's hand and Levi saw magic jump between them.

"Magdalene!" Nathaniel exclaimed, jerking at Tootie's touch. He wore all white, like an inmate in an insane asylum. Then again, he was in the psych ward at Fairy World Hospital.

"Little slow on the uptake there," Levi said sarcastically. "She's long gone."

"No…" Nathaniel said, but Levi couldn't tell if he was responding to him or just negating something in general. "No!"

"Oh, believe me, I feel the same way," Levi said. "But we'll get her back."

His face was tight and he balled his fists. "One way or another, we're getting Magdalene back."

Magdalene steadied herself. She had located Levi's location; it was with Nathaniel. Her heart hammered between her ribs and she willed herself to calm down. Before she popped in on Levi and Nathaniel, she swapped wands and got a new one. It felt odd in her hands, crisp and new, and brimming full of magic. It was such a drastic contrast to the wand she'd been carrying for five hundred years that she'd dropped it when she first picked it up.

"Thaniel?" she said softly when she poofed in. Levi whirled and Nathaniel stared blankly in her direction. Tootie was there too, to Magdalene's consternation. Magdalene couldn't imagine a good reason for her descendent to be there and apparently, Tootie agreed, because she tried to duck out of Magdalene's sight.

"Magdalene!" Levi called joyously and wrapped his arms around her. She felt Nathaniel's magic, barely familiar after so long separated, and didn't know how to react. A lump formed in her throat and she swore at herself. Goddamn it, she was not going to cry. She'd rather claw herself than cry.

"Hi," she said.

"You okay?" Tootie asked and Magdalene's lips twitched. She couldn't smile now. Her heart was breaking for Nathaniel.

"No, but it's not something I'd like to get into right now," Magdalene said.

"Understood."

"I knew you'd finally join me against Fairy World's tyranny," Levi said. "It was only a matter of time until you saw my wisdom."

"That's not it," she said flatly.

"Don't tell me you agree with Jorgen," he said in shock. "Jorgen and the Fairy Council are deluded."

"I know you're upset on Nathaniel's behalf over what happened," she began. "And I know they wronged us."

"So, what's the problem?" Levi asked, cocking his head curiously at Magdalene. "I don't see an issue. It's not like they've apologized."

"They issued a full pardon over what happened," Magdalene said stiffly.

"And you believe them?" Levi retorted. "Why should they tell the truth when it's so much easier to lie and get you on their side for the time being before they pull the rug out from under you?"

Magdalene shook her head. "I believe Fairy World is telling the truth."

"You don't. You want to, but you don't."

"Magdalene," Nathaniel said and his voice was low, urgent. Magdalene turned toward him and sat in his lap. She cupped his cheek in her hand.

"What is it, my love?" she asked. "How can I help you, my sweetling?"

"You're here," Nathaniel said. His voice was rough from disuse. "You're actually here."

"She won't be for long if she agrees with Fairy World," Levi said, scowling. "Look at what they've done to Tootie, Mags. Look at how they're treating her. Look at how you've been abused. You know they're awful. You know they're lightsiders, or claim to be, but they say one thing and mean another. They're hypocrites, plain and simple. They never say anything they mean and they never mean anything they say."

"I know," Magdalene said, sighing. "But I've chosen to take their side."

"Because they supply your magic?" Levi asked with a knowing look. "There are alternate ways to get magic. You don't need to rely on them."

She huffed. She'd been using so little magic over the years, she didn't need to tap into Fairy World's power. Levi's argument didn't hold water here.

"What do you want?" Levi asked. "I can get it for you. Whatever you want. I can restore Nathaniel's sanity and reunite you two."

"You already have," she pointed out. She kissed Nathaniel on the cheek. Despite his matted hair, he was clean and smelled like soap. Tears pricked her eyes-goddamn it, she was sick of weeping.

"He's not entirely sane," Levi said. "But I can restore him. I can give you everything you've ever wanted, but you have to trust me. Do you trust me, Magdalena?"

When Magdalene paused, Levi hastened to add, "It's all right if you don't trust me yet. I haven't proven myself. But, soon, I hope, you will give me that chance."

"And what do you intend to do?" she asked, frowning.

"Surely, by now you've noticed Nathaniel is but a shell of himself. If I were to restore him to his former state, perhaps you would trust me? I won't hurt him, I promise. I bear no ill will toward him, only toward Fairy World, the Council, and Jorgen von Strangle. Same as you."

"You can't seriously be considering this?" Tootie muttered in an undertone to Magdalene.

"I don't know," she said back, both to cover her bases and to appease Levi. Levi smiled at her uncertainty.

"Tell me now so I know if I have to fight you too," Tootie said. "Because I'm not going against Timmy."

Her lower lip was thrust out defiantly. "I love Timmy and I'd never work against him."

"Are you sure about that?" Levi asked Tootie. "Because Fairy World has done you wrong too. They kept you on Earth, ignorant of your heritage, until Wanda took pity on you. They didn't give you a faerie of your own, though there is nothing in Da Rules against giving a halfling a faerie to teach them or to at least help them. They ignored you until it was convenient for them to do otherwise."

Levi warmed to his subject.

"They treat you like a second-class citizen, Tootie Griffin. They're only concerned for your welfare because they're afraid of what you might do otherwise. Once that is taken care of, you'll go right back to being ignored, except by Wanda. Is that what you want? To pine after Timmy and be treated like offal on someone's shoe?"

Tootie scowled. "And after you've gained power, you'll do the same thing. You'll ignore me like Fairy World has done. You're all hypocrites. At least if I side with Timmy, he won't hate me."

Levi frowned. "I see. What makes you think that? You're your sister's sibling, after all. Vicky hurt him once. How can he trust you when you two are half-siblings? Wouldn't he see the same potential in you that there is in Vicky?"

Tootie froze. Magdalene had overheard enough of the conversation between Cosmo and Wanda to know this was a sticking point with Tootie.

"Oh, I know you're not the same," Levi said. "But does Timmy? Does Wanda? Do they trust you? Or are they painting you with the same broad brush that they do Vicky? Are they, in fact, doing the same thing to you that was done to Magdalene? Castigating you for something you didn't do, something you know in your heart is wrong?"

Tootie faltered, her jaw quivering, but she stood firm. "I'm not betraying Timmy. Or Wanda."

"I'm not asking you to hurt them. If you want, you can protect them from my plans. Timmy has enough to deal with, doesn't he?" Levi said sympathetically. "Wanda too, as his faerie godmother."

Tootie hesitated. It wasn't much, but it was the opening Levi needed. He continued.

"I'll spare the faeries and your beloved Timmy Turner," he promised. "In exchange, you'll take up your birthright and join me and your many-times ancestor Ezekiel in righting a wrong that has been perpetuated for thousands of years."

"I don't know…" Tootie said.

"You don't have to decide now," he said. "Neither of you do. But keep it in mind, all right?"

Magdalene glanced at Nathaniel. His eyes were tracking everything around the room now and he looked lucid. She whispered in his ear, "What do you think, my love?"

Nathaniel said nothing and Magdalene sighed.

"He can't think for himself, not yet," Levi said. "With my assistance, yes. Without my assistance, how will you ever get Nathaniel back, Magdalene?"

Magdalene squared her jaw. "If I work with Jorgen-"

Levi laughed humorlessly. "What makes you think he'll cooperate and not back out as soon as you've done what he wanted? What makes either of you think that he'll help you after he and Fairy World have abandoned you so far?"

Magdalene's eyes flashed. "What happened to Nathaniel was my mistake, not theirs. I chose to hide away on Earth after my exile was over because I was afraid of the consequences. I know better now. You can't lay the blame on Fairy World."

"But why were you so afraid to return to Fairy World if not for the way it castigated you before?" Levi said and then glanced at Tootie. "You two aren't appreciated for your abilities, but condemned for your relationships, what you can and can't control. That's not fair, but when has Fairy World ever been fair?"

Tootie looked at Magdalene and then back at Levi.

"You'll protect Cosmo, Wanda, and Timmy, you said?" Tootie said and Levi beamed at her.

"Good girl! You've made the right choice!" he said. "What about you, Magdalene?"

Magdalene didn't understand why Tootie had capitulated to Levi's demands, but she wasn't about to follow in her footsteps.

"No," she said. "Count me out. I may have my doubts about Fairy World, but that doesn't mean I'm casting them aside."

"Pity, since we have your son and he's more than willing to do what it takes to restore his parents to how they ought to be," Levi said. "But if that's how you feel, I shan't stand in your way."

Magdalene nodded and Levi waved his wand. She reappeared in Timmy's house, the one he currently shared with Cosmo and Wanda, and wondered how she was going to tell him Tootie had turned traitor. Chills went down her spine. She didn't know Tootie well enough to know whether she was lying or not, but she couldn't vouch for Tootie the way she could have for Nathaniel or even Ezekiel.

Tootie was on her own.

Tootie suppressed a shiver. If the faeries found out what she'd done, she'd be in trouble. Levi believed her, which was all the better. They needed an inside person and Magdalene had declined, which left only Tootie. In her heart, she knew she'd never betray Timmy or his faeries, but Levi didn't know that.

What he didn't know couldn't hurt him, though it might hurt her in the long run. God, she hoped the others forgave her and saw her true intentions, but she feared they wouldn't.

Vicky was surprised to discover her sister was missing. No one knew where she'd gone and to compound matters, Tootie's best friend, her only friend, Chloe, was also missing. Vicky gritted her teeth. Someone had to know what had happened to her. Someone had to have seen her.

Someone had to know how to get to Timmy Turner. Crocker was the most likely suspect, though she doubted he had experience breaking through magical barriers. Still…she'd read online that butterfly nets could catch faeries and nullify their magic. Maybe it was time to go hunting.