A/N: Hi guys! I'm sorry this chapter took so long, I've been busy with some other stuff ?. But thid chapter goes a little bit into the history of Lumi and the Queen, but the chaos and action really begins towards the end with Noir hehe! I hope you all enjoy ?!
—
The group followed the Green Witch to her home, they all had looked at each other with the same questioning look; should we really trust this person? Yami, Hikari, Brielle, and Asta hadn't seen anything strange with her Ki. But they still figured it would be good to stay on guard.
They walked into the small cottage and looked around, it was small, but everyone was able to fit comfortably. The Green Witch stood at the head of the long dining room table and crossed her arms.
" So what do you guys want to know?" She asked casually, the group all looked at one another.
" I think we'd all like to know who you are first." Nacht told her simply, and everyone nodded in agreement, she shrugged.
" I already told you, I'm the Green Witch and the Witch Queen asked me to help you out." She answered simply. " I guess you could say me and my group of witches are, well, a kind of branch to the Forest of Witches. Sometimes we work together, but most times we just kind of ignore each other." She added with another shrug.
" How do you know about the Darkness?" Charlotte asked as she sat down in a nearby chair, the Green Witch sighed a bit before she also sat down.
" Most of what I know is from what the Witch Queen told me, but there is a little bit that I already knew about long before you all got here." She told them as she leaned back in her chair.
" Such as?" Hikari asked as she leaned against one of the walls, she heard the Green Witch sigh again.
" Well, I guess I'll start at the beginning." She started before looking at everyone. " It all began around 10 years ago, when the new king of Lumi married the Queen. Lumi wasn't always like this, it was once a bright and shining place that welcomed everyone who came to visit or stay. But once our new King was placed onto the throne all of that changed."
" When he married the Queen, I noticed a strange darkness coming from the Castle. I didn't pay much attention to it as, from what I understood, the Queen had some sort of dark magic she had inherited from her family. But then it slowly grew larger and larger, I should have noticed something was going on then, instead, like an idiot, I brushed it off to the Queen using her magic." The Green Witch muttered the last part more to herself before continuing.
" About nine months ago the Queen gave birth to the Princess and the Darkness actually began to decrease, but then…" The woman trailed off softly, Yami frowned.
" 'Then' what?" He asked curiously as he leaned up against the wall opposite of Hikari.
" Then around January of this year, the Princess went missing. No one knows what happened to her, or if she's alive or dead, she just disappeared. From what I understand, the entire Castle was in disarray for weeks and the Royal Cavalier's began to form search parties all through the kingdom. But the Princess was never found. Rumors began to swirl that maybe an outside Kingdom took her, or even that someone in the Castle had hidden her."
" When the Princess went missing the Darkness came back, but this time much much worse than before. I even began to feel Dark Mana coming from the Castle, and that's when I realized they must've summoned a devil or two and that's why the Castle is the way it is. But I didn't have any proof, at least not until yesterday when I felt the same exact mana come from Spade."
" Which can only mean that the devil you all are after is the same one that's been in the castle for a few months. Although I will admit the one you guys are chasing is a lot stronger than the one that's already here."
Everyone stood there silently taking in what the Green Witch had told them, so that was why the Castle felt so ominus, because of all the Dark Mana that was there and why Discordia acted so strange when they brought up Noir. Because the devil in the castle was Noir from the past.
" So if we're right and both the past and future Noir are in that castle, then we can end this right here and now." Asta said as he looked around.
" I'm sure the future Noir is heavily protecting the past Noir. Since the past her is weaker she knows that we'll try and take that version of her out instead of dealing with the future her." Hikari said as she looked at Asta.
" It's not just the future Noir, but Discordia as well. Discordia will probably try to protect her if she thinks it'll benefit her." Nacht told them seriously. His cousin was not one to be trifled with as she was much stronger than most people thought.
" So what do we do?" Brielle asked as she looked at everyone, Asta gently patted his 'daughter' on the head and gave her a bright smile.
" We're going to get rid of that devil of course, then you guys will be able to go home to a bright new future!" He told her cheerfully, Asta had to admit the thought of Brielle and the other kids leaving made him sad, but they didn't belong here in the 'past' they belonged in the future.
" We'll need to come up with a plan first, kid." Yami said, surprising everyone. He usually didn't form or come up with plans, and instead would just roll with the punches, but this time he was going the cautious route.
" He's right, if you go in there blind you're all done for." The Green Witch said, and Yuno frowned a bit.
" Don't you have any ideas on how we can get inside the castle and defeat her?" Yuno asked curiously, but the Green Witch shook her head.
" Not a clue."
" Seriously?!" Everyone shouted in unison, and the woman just nodded.
" To be honest, the Witch Queen just asked me to give you guys some information and help you with whatever you need. I can try to sneak you guys into the castle, but as far as how to get rid of the devil, I couldn't begin to tell you." The woman said with a laugh causing everyone to glare at her.
" Well you're of little help." Nacht said with a sigh, but as the Green Witch began to open her mouth suddenly loud screams and booming could be heard from outside, and that's when everyone in the house felt it.
The Darkness.
Everyone ran out of the house and looked around, people were screaming as they ran, some were shooting spells around wildly, and others were cowering in fear.
" Noir's decided to make some trouble early it seems." The Green Witch said before looking at the group. " I'll contact the other witches in the area and evacuate as many residences as I can." She added before running off and disappearing into the crowd.
" I'll be going as well." Nacht told the group vaguely before disappearing into the shadows, Yami opened his mouth to yell at him but he was already gone, he sighed before looking around at the others.
" Alright listen up, we're gonna split up here. You guys try," Yami pointed to Asta, Yuno, William, and Brielle. " try and see if you can help with the evacuation, and try to knock some sense into the people that are possessed if you can!"
" What about you Captain?" Asta asked, and William stepped forward.
" I'm going with you," William started and before Yami or Charlotte could argue he continued. " That devil killed my son and I deserve to know why."
Yami and Charlotte looked at one another, they both knew Hikari and William wanted revenge for what happened to Alistar, and they couldn't blame them. But at the same time they were worried that the two of them wanting revenge may affect the battle against Noir.
" We'll be fine, Captain Vangeance and I aren't the type to be carried away by vengeance." Hikari suddenly said as though she were reading her 'parent's' minds.
Yami and Charlotte looked from Hikari and William back to each other, it was as though the two were having a silent conversation.
Finally the two agreed and the group split up, with Yami's group going to confront Kya, and Asta's going to help the townspeople.
—
Yami and his group used some brooms made from William's Tree Magic and flew towards the castle, that's where the strong magic everyone had sensed was coming from. The group had to dodge a few rogue spells here and there, but they made it to the top of the castle unscathed.
When the group landed they saw Noir standing there, watching over the chaos in the town below.
" You found me." The girl said with a giggle as she turned around to look at the group. " It took you all long enough."
" Reverse the spell." Hikari said, cutting to the chase. " And while you're at it, why don't you give Kya back her body?"
" But I don't want to reverse the spell. Also most of the people down there aren't even affected by it, I think you humans call it 'mass hysteria'." Noir giggled again. " You humans really are strange creatures."
" As for giving Kya her body back, I could do that. But you'll be responsible for what happens next." Noir then turned towards Charlotte, Yami, and William before loudly whispering. " The Zogratis siblings remember? None of them made it out alive, do you really think Kya will do the same?"
The adults all looked at each other, she had them there, if Noir were to become separated from Kya for whatever reason, there was a very good chance she could die. The last thing any of them wanted was to lose another child to this devil.
" So what'll it be? Do you want to take the risk or not?" Noir asked, she noticed the group look at one another before smirking. " Fine then. I guess I'll keep the body."
" Diamond Wind magic; 'Diamonds Dust.'!" Noir suddenly shouted and just as the group turned to respond a sudden gust of wind blew through.
The group couldn't see a thing, not Noir, not each other, nothing. But they could feel tiny shards of diamond steadily cut through their skin, clothes, and even their protective spells.
" Is that all you got? Petty parlor tricks?" Hikari shouted, she could sense her Ki, and she knew her father could as well. The devil was fast, not quite as fast as Luck, but pretty close. Suddenly Hikari heard a giggle behind her.
" These 'petty parlor tricks' is all I need." She whispered, Hikari quickly turned on her heel and slashed behind her at the same time Yami had done the same. The 'diamond dust' had completely disappeared and Noir was standing on the edge of the castle.
" Is everyone alright?" Yami shouted as he looked beside him, Hikari nodded but he noticed William and Charlotte were just standing still.
" Prickly Princess, Goldie Guts, are you two okay?" He shouted as he looked over at them. The two just stood there without saying a word. Hikari and Yami both turned to see Noir giggling again.
" Have fun!" Noir said in a sing-song voice before disappearing. Yami and Hikari both turned to look at Charlotte and William and saw their eyes were wide and full of fear.
Noir had used her magic on Charlotte and William.
Without warning Charlotte and William both attacked Hikari and Yami, Charlotte had used a spell to knock Yami one way, and William did the same to Hikari.
" Charlotte! Snap out of it!" Yami shouted as he gained his footing on a nearby rooftop, Charlotte had been able to knock him a good distance away from the castle. He quickly dodged and blocked Charlotte's spells.
" Dammit, Charlotte!" He shouted again as she sent another flurry of Briars at him, she wasn't letting him get close enough to use any spells, and her attacks were so consecutive that he hadn't gotten a chance to use any yet.
He quickly blocked another attack from Charlotte, he was waiting for an opening. That's all he needed. Just a small window where he could try and get her out of this. This wasn't the first time Yami and Charlotte had fought against each other, but this time it was different, this time he was worried he may hesitate to use an attack spell since his feelings for Charlotte were different then before.
But he knew he couldn't afford to hesitate.
Yami watched her Ki for another minute or so before he finally saw an opening. He used multiple of his dark slashs to cut her Briars down before he quickly ran towards her. She pulled up her sword made of Briars to defend herself as Yami went to use his katana, with their blades locked Yami was able to push her back slightly.
" Sorry about this Prickly Princess." He muttered as he was able to reach around and hit Charlotte on the side of her neck, as she dropped her sword and went to fall forward Yami caught her.
" I'm really sorry." He muttered again softly, when their blades had locked he had seen the fear and terror in her eyes. He shook his head trying to get rid of that image that made his chest hurt, but he doubted it would ever go away.
—
Yami quickly put Charlotte in one of his dark spheres and quickly ran towards where he sensed Hikari and William were. He knew his 'daughter' was strong, but William was stronger and probably had more experience in battle then she did.
He quickly dodged as a tree limb came flying towards him, when he turned to look he saw that William had Hikari trapped. He was using his World Tree Magic to hold her in place, this scene reminded Yami of what happened between Alistar and Josslyn.
Like father, like son.
Yami quickly used his dark slashes to hack away at William's magic. Yami quickly ran towards him and, before William could react, he knocked the Captain of the Golden Dawn out just like he did with Charlotte.
" Hikari, you alright?" Yami asked as he walked towards her, Hikari nodded as she stood up. She had a few cuts and bruises but otherwise she appeared fine.
" I'm fine. But," she paused as she looked back towards the castle. " Noir got away!" She nearly shouted as she punched the tree next to her.
Yami could understand the girl's anger and frustration, they were so close to catching her, but because she turned Charlotte and William against them she was able to escape. He placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair a bit.
" She won't get away next time kid, we'll make sure of it." Yami promised, the knew how the devil operated and what games she liked to play now. So the next time they met, they would be ready.
The father and daughter carried William and Charlotte back to the others, where they would all regroup and decide what to do next.