A/N: This takes place right at the end of Wizards, using a little creative liberty and saying there's a bit of a gap between Douxie, Archie, and Nari taking off, and the shot where they're above the clouds/in the city.


"It's time Nari and I got a move on." Douxie activated Merlin's -no, his- airship. "Before the Order catches up.

"You're leaving? Already?" Claire asked.

"Yeah," Steve said. "You just finished a whole speech about saving the world together."

Archie carefully hooked his claws into Douxie's shirt so he wouldn't slip while Douxie hopped aboard the airship. Nari had already boarded, and the three turned toward the others.

"Where are you going?" Jim asked.

"I promised Merlin I'd keep Nari safe, which means taking her far away from here," Douxie said.

Archie's ears drooped, saddened that they had to leave their new friends so soon.

"Don't worry," Douxie went on as if he could sense Archie's thoughts, "I'll be seeing you champions of Arcadia soon enough."

Douxie's friends smiled and nodded in understanding. Douxie gave a jaunty, two-fingered salute, then lifted the airship into the air with a hand motion. Archie hopped from the wizard's shoulder to sit on the railing, content to let the breeze blow through his fur as they rose above the trees.

"Where will we go now?" Archie asked.

"Somewhere crowded," Douxie said, turning the airship. "A big city."

Archie's tail flopped. "The city? But, Douxie, there's always so many people stepping on my tail, and you always get lost."

"We both get lost," Douxie cheerfully corrected. "And all the people is exactly the point! There's all sorts of characters in the city, so Nari will fit right in! Zoe's got a cousin in New York City; I bet… we could…" Douxie trailed off.

"Could what?" Archie asked. He turned. "Douxie, are you alright?"

Douxie still held onto his staff controlling the airship, but he leaned on it like he was having a hard time standing. He squinted at Archie, eyes flickering blue.

"Wha…?" Douxie breathed.

Archie stood. "Douxie?"

Douxie exhaled sharply. His eyes dimmed and rolled upward, then Douxie crumbled in on himself.

As he went down, Douxie pulled his staff along with him. Before Archie could move, the airship plummeted!

"Douxie! Nari, hold on!"

Archie threw himself toward Douxie, shifting into his dragon shape as he did. He flattened himself across Douxie and dug his claws into the deck, pinning Douxie in place.

When the airship crashed into the ground, Archie's claws slipped free. Before he could re-anchor himself, the airship jerked to a stop, and Archie and Douxie slid into the back wall.

Archie leaped to his paws and shook himself. Swiftly folding his wings, Archie turned to his familiar.

Douxie's eyes were still closed, and he was a crumpled heap against the wall. He didn't make a sound, even when Archie nudged his hand.

"Douxie? Douxie, answer me." Archie pawed Douxie's face, but to no avail. "Douxie!"

"Quickly!" Nari suddenly cried. "Something is wrong!"

Archie squeezed between Douxie and the wall, using his body to push Douxie into a more comfortable position. Purple-armored hands took Douxie's shoulders, helping Archie get the boy onto his back.

"Archie, what happened?" Claire asked.

"I don't know, he just collapsed!"

Claire stroked Archie's head, but the dragon/cat was too frantic to be comforted. Seeing Douxie laying so still… it was too soon! Archie shifted to his smaller cat form, then hopped up to press his ear to Douxie's chest. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"He's still breathing," Archie said. He sniffed his familiar over. "I don't know what's wrong. Douxie, wake up!"

"Is he asleep?" Jim asked, crouching beside Claire.

Claire clapped a hand to her head. "Oh, duh! Archie, remember when the three of us and Merlin were fighting Morgana?"

Archie didn't take his eyes off Douxie. "Yeah?"

"Remember how Merlin fell asleep after we finished?"

Archie blinked, then sat back on his haunches. His fear was washed away by sheer exasperation.

"Douxie, you fool," Archie growled.

Claire laughed a bit. "Maybe we shouldn't have let him fly off so soon."

"I don't get it," Jim said. "What happened?"

"When a wizard uses too much of their magic, they need time to recharge," Archie explained. He leaped onto the railing and stared at Douxie, tail twitching. "Douxie here just used enough magic to blast the Arcane Order halfway across the sky, then brought himself back from the dead."

"He acted fine long enough to take off," Toby said.

"Think of it as an adrenaline rush, but with magic."

Archie twitched his ears. He was annoyed with himself for not thinking about Douxie needing to recover from the fight, but still worried about how far Douxie had pushed himself.

"Then, he'll be okay?" Jim clarified.

"With some rest, he should be," Archie said. His furry brows lowered. "But, Nari could be in danger while Douxie recovers."

"Bring her to my place," Jim offered. "It wouldn't be the first time I hid a mythical creature in my basement."

Claire nodded. "We can help keep Nari safe until Douxie can find her someplace to hide."

"And Mom can check out Douxie, to make sure there isn't anything else wrong."

"Thank you," Archie said gratefully.

Jim abruptly stood. Archie leaped to his paws, then calmed when he saw Jim was smiling.

"It feels like it's been forever since I saw Mom," Jim murmured.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Toby asked. "Let's go!"

With the airship no longer magically supported, Arrrgh couldn't get on board to help move Douxie, but the three humans managed well enough. They carried Douxie to the railing, where they handed him to Arrrgh. Archie leaped to the ground.

"I can take him from here," Archie said.

Arrrgh looked from Douxie to Archie. "Small. Get squished."

Archie shifted into his horse form. Wriggling his nose to keep his glasses in place, Archie turned so Arrrgh could put Douxie on his back.

"Put him on," Archie said. "It wouldn't be the first time Douxie's slept on my back."

"But, what if he fell?" Jim asked as he jumped to the ground. "Arrrgh can carry him."

"The Arcane Order may still be in the area," Archie said. "If it comes to a fight, Arrrgh cannot be spared. I have always seen to Douxie's wellbeing, and thus he is my burden to bear."

Claire rubbed Archie's ears. "Maybe before, but you're not alone, Archie."

Archie lifted his head away from Claire's hand. "Thank you, Lady Claire, but old habits die hard."

"Fair enough," Claire said, her fingers finding Archie's ears again.

Archie couldn't resist a second time. He leaned into the scratching, trying to not knock Claire over in his bigger form. Claire laughed and scratched under his chin. Archie let himself enjoy the scratching for a minute, then made himself step back.

He looked to Arrrgh, who carefully set Douxie on Archie's back. Everyone gasped when Douxie flopped forward, but Archie simply shifted his stance so Douxie settled quite comfortably between Archie's shoulders. Archie took a few steps to ensure Douxie wouldn't slip, then nodded.

"Hop up, Nari," Archie requested. "Should the Arcane Order show their faces, I'll need you to steady Douxie and I'll be able to get you away quickly."

Nari hopped onto Archie's back, her light frame barely noticeable to him. Archie turned toward Arcadia.

"Wait, Archie," Claire said. "I can get us back quicker."

Archie looked at her. "Are you sure? I only saw half the battle, but you haven't strained your magic too much? We don't want two unconscious wizards."

"I'm fine." Claire smiled at Jim when he touched her shoulder. "Honest, you two. Besides, it's just a quick jump to town."

"Alright then." Archie rejoined the group.

Claire's face clenched in concentration. She lifted her hands, then her irises turned a dark purple. In front of her, a shadowy portal swirled into view. Despite her confidence, Archie didn't miss the strain etched on her face.

Archie sighed fondly, unsurprised. After all, Douxie was Claire's teacher.

"Quickly now," Archie said.

Arrrgh and Blinky hurried through the portal first. Archie made sure Douxie was secure, took one last glance at Jim and Claire, then jumped into the darkness.