Astro rushed towards the courtyard as fast as he could. He could already feel Oberon and Nia's magic flaring up. He had to hurry and get there as soon as possible. He saw the gate up ahead, and then barged through it, knocking them off their hinges.
He knew he didn't have to go any further. As massive as Oberon and Nia's magic was, there was a third that was just as easy to pick up. And it was right in front of him.
"The son of Typhon…"
Umbriel smiled and crossed his arms as he looked at his target. Astro walked towards him with a glare, already in his monster form and looking ready to brawl. "I see you've managed to recover your arm. I'm quite surprised. I was not aware Typhon had any healing abilities," he said amused.
Astro just grunted in response, and Umbriel kept going. "I must admit, no small part of my fear was that you wouldn't find the courage to come. I had thought the look I'd seen in your eyes was a mistake on my part. But it seems you are as eager to settle our score as I am," he said before cracking his neck.
"There's nothing to settle," Astro said. "I'm here to defeat you and your grandfather. There isn't anything more to this fight than that."
A dangerous look made its way across Umbriel's face. "The expression you made before I took my leave tells me otherwise," he said before reaching for his sword. "I admit, it's not one I'm used to seeing. But I recognized it nonetheless. That someone outside of my own family would look towards me as if they were my equal…"
"I don't think I'm your equal," Astro said bluntly. "You're clearly stronger than I am. I don't think there's any doubt about that."
Umbriel looked annoyed. "So, you're not the mindless beast your father is. But if you truly believe that, why are you standing before me? Why are you even attempting to oppose my family?" he asked.
Astro reached behind his back. "Because you're threatening my sister. So no matter how much stronger you are than me, I'll beat you. It's as simple as that," he said.
Umbriel kept staring, and then smiled. He chuckled. "You mean to tell me you chose to run into your own demise for the sake of Titania? Simply because you consider her a sister? What foolishness," he said reaching for his own sword. "The mortal realm truly does poison the mind beyond repair."
Astro pulled out Ocean's Kiss, and then put a hand over his face. "Stop talking…" he muttered. "Just stop talking already. I've been in this form for too long… Why am I thinking like this right now? It's so wrong."
"What are you going on about now?" Umbriel asked.
The prince sighed. "There's a hundred reasons I really need to fight you. My sister, my friends, the fact that you're just a generally unpleasant piece of shit. I have so much on the line right now," he said before lowering his hand. Umbriel looked surprised at his expression.
The smile on his face was downright evil.
"But the only thing I can think of right now, is that fighting you would be so damn fun…"
Umbriel scoffed. "I'm not sure if you're bloodthirsty or mad. I suppose it doesn't matter either way. Your end is now," he said, pulling out his own sword.
"C'mon then!"
Astro had always hidden his more bloodthirsty impulses. And now certainly wasn't the time or place to give in to them. Maybe it really was being in his monster form too long, or maybe it was fighting someone stronger than him. But ever since he'd fought Umbriel back in Townsville…
All he felt was excited.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Nia swung her arm down and punched Oberon back, sending him flying. He stopped himself before sending a blast her way, but Nia batted it away with her sword. She rushed back at him, but Oberon raised his hand, and suddenly her whole body felt heavy. She dropped to the ground and winced as she felt gravity itself press down on her.
"Raw power alone is not enough to overcome me, child. I would have hoped that you would comprehend something so simple," Oberon said as he increased the spell. Nia grunted, but managed to place her hand flat on the ground. A wave of ice suddenly shot up from in front of her, speeding right towards Oberon.
He rolled his eyes before flicking his finger, shattering the wave of ice. He then looked down and realized Nia was gone. Before he could even begin looking around, a foot crashed into the side of his head. He growled and turned around just in time to see Nia throwing an uppercut at him, nailing him right in the chin.
He stumbled back, and Nia smirked. "I'm willing to bet I'm better at hand to hand than you are though," she said putting her fist up.
Oberon raised his own fist. "The arrogance of youth." Nia rushed at him and swung again, but he reached up and caught her fist. "Oberon has no weaknesses, child. A fact you will learn one way or another."
He turned around and threw Nia across the room. She shot a blast of winds behind her, slowing herself down, but Oberon was already right in front of her. He swung up, hitting her in the stomach and knocking the air out of her, then fired a blast that sent her flying up to the ceiling.
"He's too strong. Let me fight him."
Nia growled and then kicked off the ceiling. "No! I can beat him!" she shouted as she formed a ball of air around her fist. She raised her arm and swung at Oberon, who zipped to the side. The impact shattered the floor beneath her, and she quickly swung her arm and sent a gust of wind at him, sending the rubble and debris his way too.
He snapped his fingers, and the rubble turned to ash. "Years of experience, knowledge, and power…" The ash whipped around before shooting towards Nia, circling around her and blocking her vision. "I offer you this and more. And yet you would stubbornly cling to the realm of mortals."
Nia held her hands out, and a strong burst of wind sent the ash away from her. She looked around, but Oberon was gone. She glared and kept looking around. "I don't care what you're offering! I don't want to leave my home!"
"You are young. You know no better. It is the responsibility of your elders to guide you and see that you would not waste your potential," Oberon's voice said. Nia kept looking around, holding her hands up and looking ready to strike at any moment.
"It's not your choice to make!"
"Every choice is Oberon's to make my dear. Especially when it revolves around those of our blood."
"You can't just decide what's best for me!"
"I can, and will."
Nia gasped and then turned around and swung, only for her fist to bounce right off of his chest. She stumbled back, but rebounded quickly, kicking at his face. Oberon grabbed her foot, then tossed her to the ground. "In time you will come to learn that the decisions I make are for the betterment of not just our family, but all out of kind."
Nia blasted back at him, but he swatted it away. "You have such raw potential. Such untapped power. And in years when you are ready to succeed the throne, you will thank me for my kindness. And those you cling to so desperately will be naught but a faint memory," he said raising his hand.
He swung down, and a large stone appeared above Nia. She quickly raised her hands and formed a shield over herself, but the moment the strone hit, it began to crack. "Feel pride in yourself my granddaughter. You have fought more fiercely and admirably than most of the children of Oberon. But this rebellion is finished. You shall yield."
Nia did her best to keep the shield together, but was struggling. "Never! I'll never yield to you! I hate you!" she shouted angrily. "You ruined everything! You ruined my family! You threatened my friends! You kidnapped AJ! I don't want to join you! Or learn anything from you! All I wanna do is hurt you!" she said glaring.
The shield suddenly vanished, and she caught the stone in her hands. She yelled before shattering it into pieces. "Let me take over!"
"Fine! Just beat him!"
Oberon sneered and prepared to attack again, but suddenly a blinding light surrounded the young girl. It vanished just as quickly, and when it did… she was still there? But something was different. Her eyes, and her magic… it was the same, but less wild. "Oh, and what might this be?" he asked curiously.
Titania spread her wings and hummed before turning towards him. She raised her hand and pointed a finger at him. "Kneel," she ordered.
Oberon narrowed his eyes. "Pardon?"
"I said, kneel." Oberon's eyes widened as suddenly felt gravity increase on him. He tried to stay on his feet, but sounded himself forced down to one knee. "That's better."
Oberon grunted as he pushed himself back up. "I-I see. So it appears your dormant power has taken the form of it's own person. But, as impressive as it may be, it is still a fruitless effort," he said managing to stand back up. He dispersed the spell over him and held his arms out. "Before the King of Avalon, there is none that can-"
A blast of wind suddenly knocked him off of his feet, sending him crashing into the wall behind him. "Kings, Queens, Gods, all of those are empty titles. There's more people who hold them then there are stars in the sky," she said before pointing towards herself.
"But there's only one Titania Butterfly…"
"Yeah guys… I can't sense magic, and even I can feel that," Micah said, frowning. He and the others had still been waiting near the ship when they heard the action kick off. It really hadn't taken long for it either.
Cordelia looked over her shoulder towards the castle. "Father hasn't been this eager to do battle since Umbriel was born. I assume we will be doing quite a bit of cleaning when this scuffle is over," she said before turning towards Uran. "Or at least we will. I'm still unsure whether father intends to allow you to return. Perhaps if you apologize he will allow you back into the fold."
Uran frowned. "I have no intention of apologizing, or coming back. I only came so that we could finally sever ties once and for all," he explained.
She scoffed. "Don't tell me you're foolish enough to believe the girl can be the best father. You're smarter than that. While I will admit that her raw power and potential is impressive, she's quite a few centuries too early to match him in a battle," she said casually. "Drop this foolish rebellion and come home. Father is not without heart. When he brings your daughter into the ranks, he will allow you to stay with her."
Uran grit his teeth and was about to yell back at her, but Alexander raised his hand. "As touching as this sibling reunion, I think it's about time we finally make our move. Children, I believe you have a hostage to find," he said turning towards Cayenne.
The others all looked towards him surprised, but then he gestured towards the astle. "Go around the courtyard. I don't want you getting involved in the battle between Astro and Umbriel. I believe once your closed enough Sear should be able to sniff out Nia's little friend," he instructed.
Before they could answer back, Cordelia scoffed. "No one else may pass. I am willing to tolerate your presence here, but if you test me I will not hesitate to bring the full might of Avalon's ranks upon-"
"Yeah, I have a feeling you guards will be a little busy." Alexander snapped his fingers, and suddenly everyone heard a noise from the ship. Gears shifted, and the side of the ship opened up. Dozens upon dozens of figures suddenly began shooting out and flying off into the air. The others looked confused, including Cordelia.
As she looked closer, she saw they were…. Gargoyles? No, some type of imitation. Metal creatures made of… "Iron soldiers!" Cordelia said glaring.
"Whoa… you brought a robot army," Junji said.
"Ha! Well done Alexander!" Uran cheered. Not many knew that the Children of Oberon had a natural weakness to iron. And with this many of those things on their side, they could at least buy themselves quite a bit of time before having to worry about the rest of those working under his father getting in their way.
Alexander smirked. "My father kept up the production maintenance of the Iron Clan just in case. Fortune favors the prepared after all," he said before turning towards the others again. "You should be able to slip by unnoticed. I'll also go and try some extra attention. Find the boy, bring him back here. We'll need to be ready to go when Astro and Nia get back."
Cayenne nodded. All of this was happening suddenly, but she was just going to roll with it. She had a job to do, and she'd do it. "Right, let's go guys!" She started running off, and the others followed after her.
Cordelia narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at them. "None of you are going anywhere." She got ready to blast the lot of them, but then a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled it away. She looked up towards Uran angrily. "What do you think you're doing brother?"
"I think it's pretty clear…" He blasted her back, sending her flying, then turned towards Alexander. "Go! I'll deal with my sister."
"Are you sure you can handle her on your own?"
"Yes, just go."
Alexander nodded before suddenly vanishing. He wasn't as strong as Nia or Oberon, but his magic would be enough to draw quite a bit of attention in all the confusion.
Cordelia got back up to her feet, looking displeased. "You have your magic back. So you found someone to break the seal," she said dusting herself off. "Puck I imagine. Nobody else would be foolish enough to even try, and he does so love invoking father's wrath."
Uran took a deep breath and then got ready to fight. "It doesn't matter. I have them back, and now that I do, I'm not going to let you or father have their way."
She shook her head. "I see your foolish naivety hasn't changed even after all this time. That girl will never be able to overcome father. Her loss is a foregone conclusion. And you… in all our years, you have never once been able to overpower me. What do you think will make today any different?" she asked. "Please don't say something cliche like a father's love."
His hands began to glow, and he took aim. "I feel like it'd only be a waste of time. You wouldn't understand anyway. You never had a parental bone on your body."
Chances were he wasn't going to be able to beat his sister. But he didn't need to. He just had to buy them enough time to bring down Oberon. "C'mon Nia…"
Oberon stumbled back and then glared back up at Titania. The girl had been on the offensive ever since she had changed, and it was clear whatever was holding her back before was no longer present. He moved towards her, but Titania quickly blasted him, knocking him to the ground.
"Get back up, old man," Titania said, walking towards him. "I don't plan on stopping until I've repaid you for everything you've done tenfold." She brought her foot back and kicked at him, but he raised his arm and blocked it.
The blow still sent him sliding back, and he grunted before cracking his neck. "As pleased as I am to see at least part of you has embraced your power, your overconfidence is beginning to border on arrogance," he said.
Titania crossed her arms. "My arrogance? You even trying to fight back against me is the very pinnacle of arrogance," she said. "If you had even a shred of humility, you're give up and hope to never cross paths with me again."
Oberon narrowed his eyes. "I suppose it shouldn't surprise me to hear such insolence spouting from the mouth of Uran's daughter," he said as he began walking forward. "Have it your way child. You are not the first in the family who needed to be taught their place. I shall humble you."
Titania formed a ball of magic in her hands. "The only one being humbled here is you, you senile old man…" She blasted at him, and Oberon returned with one of his own.
Outside of the throne room, Queen Titania stood with a smile on her face. "And so the scales of fate have now truly begun to tip." Titania and Oberon, Typhon's son and Umbriel, her own children. No matter who prevailed here, it went without saying that Avalon would certainty change after today.
A/N: We're getting into the thick of it now! Told you Alexander had a trick up his sleeve! You didn't think he was gonna role up to Avalon without some back up, did you? In case anybody in confused, in the show Oberon and the fae folk have a weakness to Iron, so David Xanatos built a group of robotic gargoyles called the 'Iron Clan' to help fight him off. It didn't work, but I thought it would be an interesting little bit to throw in so I didn't have to write the entire group fighting their way to AJ.
So what I'll probably do next chapter is have it split between the others and either Uran or Astro's fights, and then focus on Nia and Oberon's showdown since that's going to be the climax of the arc!
Also, I've been doing it for a while now but just wanted to make it clear, Nia's grandmother who she was named after, Oberon's wife, will pretty much always be referred to as 'Queen' Titania so you can tell her apart from Nia when she's in her own Titania form. I've been trying to be clear about who's who so I didn't confuse anybody with that.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!