Skye stood in the center of the courtyard with the six most important men in her life standing in a circle around the courtyard's perimeter. It was hard not to feel like the eyes of the world were upon her...but this was, after all, her test.
Lobsang gave instructions to the group through the collective mind-link. Skye, we will be here for you, but you need to learn to control the stone on your own. We will not be with you when you return home, and you cannot stay here forever.
Skye nodded. I understand.
Are you ready? asked Lobsang.
No, Skye replied nervously. But let's do it anyway.
This will not happen all at once, Lobsang instructed her. We've taught Grant how to lower his shield bit by bit. It should sound like approaching a large room of people talking to each other.
Skye shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to ground and steady herself for the onslaught to come. Believe me, she projected through the mind-link, if it feels like anything else you guys will be the first to know.
Lobsang smiled at his daughter's comments. The link should provide you all the energy you need to handle the power of the stone.
You hope, Skye countered quickly.
Lobsang was undeterred by the argument. At some point the stone should take over from us. As soon as you notice the difference, let us know. Skye nodded in acceptance of the direction, so Lobsang turned to Ward. Whenever you are ready, Grant.
Ward locked eyes with Skye. I love you, he declared.
I know, Skye replied back, her eyes sparkling.
Ward smiled back at his soulmate. He then centered himself and pictured the full slider that he associated with the shield that was surrounding Skye in the 'real world'. All right, he declared to the group, I'm starting to bring the shield down. 95%
How are you feeling? asked Lobsang.
Fine, Skye replied.
90%, warned Ward.
Skye started to feel the difference when Ward reached 80%. I hear them, she projected into the mind-link. Like a stadium full of people off in the distance.
Can you handle it? asked Lobsang.
So far, Skye replied.
75%, announced Ward.
Skye started to tense up when Ward reached 65%. The feeling echoed through the mind-link and broke Ward's concentration. "Skye!" he called out in concern.
The slip caused Skye to stagger under the increasing mental weight. Lobsang widened his connection to his daughter while chastising Ward. Focus, he warned the younger man. *You* are the one who's hurting her right now...
Ward nodded in acceptance of the direction, devoting his focus entirely to controlling the shield. Holding steady at 50%, he declared.
Are you ready to continue? asked Lobsang.
Skye close her eyes and planted her feet, grounding her energy and centering her focus to regain a sense of balance. Sweat mixed with tears on her face when she finally nodded. I'm ready.
Okay...Ward agreed hesitantly. Dropping from 50%.
Skye started to shake from the effort, her hands reflexively going to her ears in a futile attempt to deafen the sound of the thoughts going through her mind. She let her father's energy come through in a slow trickle, trying to use as little as possible as she heard Ward's countdown even over the roaring noise. 45...40...35...30...
Everything changed when Ward hit 25%.
Skye's shaking ceased. She stood up, rotating her neck and allowing the tension in her body to float away. Grant, she projected into the mind-link, go ahead and drop the shield the rest of the way.
Ward's eyes widened. Are you *sure*? he asked, clearly worried by the idea.
Skye opened her eyes to reveal that her irises were now yellow. And glowing. The stone's taken over, she declared. I'll be okay.
Reluctantly, Ward dropped the rest of the shield. "Okay," he declared. "The shield is down."
The Guardians immediately closed in on Skye. "How are you feeling, my dear?" asked Jamyang.
"Like I have a small country living in my head," Skye replied. "But I can manage it now."
Wangchuk took a couple of tentative steps back from the group. "Skye," he asked, "may I..."
"Of course," Skye nodded, knowing exactly what the Guardian was asking for.
Wangchuk gawked at Skye as he read her aura. "Fascinating," he thought out loud. "Just...fascinating..."
"What?" asked Ward.
"At its base," Wangchuk began, trying to explain to the group what he was seeing, "Skye's aura is brighter, stronger, and more intense than anything I have ever seen. It is the same color as her...new eyes. But at the same time, there is nothing reaching away from her." He turned back to Skye, awestruck. "You truly have this stone under your control?" Skye nodded.
Ward, though, had heard far too many stories about the power of the mind stone's 'control'. "Do you have control of the stone," he mused, "or does the stone have control of you?"
"Would you like to see for yourself?" asked Lobsang.
Ward was stunned by the way that Skye's father had phrased the question. "How?!"
"Soul mates are of one mind," Lobsang explained. "If you look in the core of your being, you will find her there."
Ward considered the idea carefully, then set aside his doubts and closed his eyes, focusing deeper and deeper into himself...
#
The room was pure white; formless and empty. On one side of the room, an enormous dam seemed to be holding back a giant lake, filled with...something. Ward moved closer to the lake. The cacophony of voices that he heard..
You believe me now? thought Skye.
Ward's mind-voice was respectful, appreciative of what he was seeing. This dam. It's your idea?
Yep, Skye agreed. I'm trying to get to the point where I can pick specific thoughts out of the lake, but I'm not quite there yet. Better to just leave everything behind the dam for now.
Can you still...? asked Ward.
Skye immediately knew the question Ward was going to ask. I can still project, she replied. The mind stone is all receptive. I *think* it's making using my other gifts easier, but the hardest part was controlling all those thoughts coming in...
I can see why, Ward agreed.
So do you believe that I'm still me? Skye asked. Or do I have to force Fitz to start putting the moves on you...
Ward chuckled into their joined minds. There's only one girl for me, thanks...
#
Are we ever going to talk about this?
Beckett moved with deliberate purpose as she walked a little too quickly down the hallway. Castle struggled to keep up with his soulmate without teleporting. Talk about what, Castle? asked Beckett.
Recon, Castle insisted. Our conversation? About the wedding?
Beckett finally stopped. She pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a weary sigh. Oh. That.
Yeah 'that', argued Castle. What's going on, Kate? Are you...are you having second thoughts...
No! Beckett insisted, having already realized that that was where her fiancè's thoughts would have gone. I *want* to be married to you, Rick, it's just...
Just what? Castle pressed.
Beckett sighed a second time, then threw open her bond with her soulmate so Castle could fully understand everything that she was thinking and feeling. I want to marry you more than anything, Rick. But...once we got to Vegas, I realized something.
You don't want to elope, thought Castle...recognizing the desire that he knew, in his deepest heart, mirrored his own.
Beckett nodded. I want to celebrate with the people we care about. Just...
Just not 674 of them? agreed Castle.
Beckett nodded again. But it's not like we have the time or energy to put together a wedding that big and save the world at the same time. She put her hand on Castle's shoulder and moved it downwards, caressing his arm until she was able to take his hand in her own. We're going to have all of eternity together, and we're only going to do this *once*.
Probably, Castle teased.
Beckett smirked, accepting and immediately ignoring the comment. Do we really have to rush this? Why not wait until we can have everything we want?
Castle fought the urge to pout with disappointment, recognizing the soundness of Beckett's logic even as it clashed with his own desires. You're right, he relented. But after this case is over, maybe we'll talk to Fallon about getting some time off?
Deal, Beckett agreed with a smile.
#
On the other side of the bullpen door, Kevin Ryan impatiently tapped his desk with his pencil. Beckett probably doesn't realize I can hear them when she's this open, he thought. And her logic was sound.
But that didn't make their decision any less frustrating.
Ryan's thoughts traveled to Jenny and Alexis, as they often did when he thought about marriage. He loved being married, with every fiber of his being. He loved watching his best friend with his wife and soulmate, grateful that he had the opportunity to see his friends as happy as he knew they were.
Castle and Beckett, more than anyone else he knew, deserved to have that kind of happiness. The idea of 'party planning' being the one last thing standing in their way...
A flash of inspiration struck Ryan with such force that he almost fell off of his chair. He quickly opened a connection with his partner. Javi?
Yeah? Esposito asked Ryan matter-of-factly, his eyes never looking up from the star charts on his computer monitor.
When's the last time you read Castle and Beckett? asked Ryan.
The question immediately got Esposito's full attention. Why...?
Ryan's entire being sparkled with the mischief that bled through into his mind voice. I've got an idea...
#
When Skye and Ward opened their eyes, they were both smiling. "You okay?" asked Skye.
Ward nodded. "You?" Skye nodded.
"Then you are ready," Lobsang declared.
The couple turned their attention back to Skye's father. "Ready?" asked Skye.
"Your mate has learned to control his gift, and you have command over the mind stone," explained Lobsang. "It is time for you to return to the 'real world'. Your gifts will do much more good there than here."
Ward turned to Jamyang and bowed deeply. "Thank you for all of your help, Master Sìfāng. I only hope I can do you proud."
Jamyang crossed over to Ward and engaged in the western tradition of shaking the younger man's hand. "Watch over your beloved, watch over the innocent, and honor our legacy. I could ask for no more than that."
"I will," Ward agreed. "Thank you."
Lobsang pulled his daughter into a warm embrace. "I love you, Skye," he told her. "I am glad I was able to help you through this time."
Skye tightened her embrace around her father. "I love you too, Dad," she said, her voice showing an edge of confusion about why the older man would show such an uncharacteristic level of affection. "It's always nice to come here...even under the circumstances."
"Ready?" Jamyang asked the couple. When Ward and Skye both nodded, they instantly disappeared.
Lobsang and Ngawang left their eyes fixed on the spot that Skye and Ward had just left. "Do you think she knows?" asked Ngawang.
"She sees what you saw," Lobsang replied. "Of course she knows."
Ngawang sighed, feeling deep compassion for his niece. "Poor child."
"We changed the outcome of your visions many times, brother," countered Lobsang. "Perhaps they will be able to do the same."
#
Ward and Skye opened their eyes simultaneously, gasping for air as their bodies quickly went from a static to an active state. Ward's immediate concern was not for himself. "You okay?" he asked Skye.
Skye nodded. "You?"
Ward cast a quick shield, surprised to find the task no different than it had been the temple. "That shouldn't be that easy," he muttered.
"The temple wasn't a dream, you know," Skye told Ward. "All that practice wasn't just in your head."
"Evidently not," Ward agreed, amazed as he pulled the shield down.
Skye grabbed Ward's hand, squeezing it in a gesture she hoped would be reassuring. "Hey...we're in this together. Don't forget that, either."
Ward brushed a stray lock of hair away from Skye's eyes. The golden yellow color of her irises was a disturbing, yet comforting reminder of their experience in the 'spirit realm'. He returned Skye's squeeze of their joined hands. "Together," he repeated with a half-hearted smile.
Skye didn't respond to Ward's emotional state; instead, she focused on the presence she noticed holding still in the doorway. "You can come in, teach," she called over to Ryan without ever looking in his direction.
Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. "Should've figured you'd sense me coming," he teased. Ryan swallowed hard when he saw the unusual color of Skye's irises. "How are you, grasshopper?"
"I'm good," she replied, squeezing Ward's hand once again.
Ryan, to Ward's surprise, turned to Ward to confirm the truth behind Skye's words. "She's...fine..." Ward replied, the words coming out in a wary half-question.
"The other four Guardians are two soulmate couples," Ryan explained to Ward with an affectionate smile. "I'm pretty familiar with how the whole thing works at this point."
Skye's eyes went wide. "How did you know?"
"Educated guess, mostly," Ryan shrugged.
"Hold on. You had to guess?" asked Skye, herself surpried by the Guardian using the word.
"I can't get into your head anymore," Ryan admitted. "At first it was because of the shield..." Ryan took note of the way that the word didn't phase Ward as he continued, "but now, I suspect, the stone is blocking me. I can sense the power of the stone itself, but I can't get past it."
Skye frowned at the idea of Ryan not being able to get into her head. She checked the stone's 'settings' in her head and tweaked them until a small corner of her mind was reserved for her friend. Better? she projected into the mind-link.
Ryan was amazed by the sudden shift in his ability to communicate with Skye. How did you do that?
The stone, Skye replied.
Ryan's eyes widened as he realized the discrepancy between what he had heard about the mind stone and what he had just seen. "You're in control? Not..."
Skye and Ward both nodded. "Difference between being the carrier and a victim of Loki's, I guess," said Skye.
"Wow," Ryan exclaimed. "Nice work, grasshopper. I didn't think you would have this much control already."
Skye beamed at the Guardian's compliment. "I didn't have any control, at first. That was a team effort."
Ryan quickly pointed to Ward, then back to Skye. "Team?"
"Partly," Skye replied. "Dad sensed it when I got the stone, and the guys got all overprotective trying to make sure I was okay."
"Oh," said Ryan, the last piece of the puzzle falling into place. "So you guys were at the temple." When Ward and Skye both nodded, Ryan shifted his attention to the other half of the couple. "I'm guessing my predecessor didn't let you just be there for moral support?"
Ward let out a quiet chuckle at the idea. "Actually, it felt like I had to spend more time training than she did." He pointed to the pocket of Ryan's pants. "Can I borrow your wallet for a minute?" Ryan handed over his wallet. Ward threw the wallet up in the air...
It bounced back into the air after missing the ground by roughly six inches. Ryan let out a low whistle when Ward caught his wallet, holding it in his hands like it was encased in a basketball. "You have learned control," Ryan agreed. Ward responded by letting go of the 'ball'...which started to slowly float toward the ceiling. "How long were you two at the temple?" asked Ryan.
Skye turned to her confused soulmate as Ward removed the shield from the wallet and tossed it back to the Guardian. "Time moves differently at the temple sometimes." She then answered the question they had been asked. "It felt like we were there two days. Why? How long was I out for?"
"Twelve hours since your dad brought you to the temple," Ryan replied.
"Two days before that," agreed Ward.
Skye finally noticed the clear signs of physical fatigue on Ward's body. Has he slept...or showered...since the spell? she thought.
Ward saw the concern in Skye's eyes and squeezed her hand. "I'm better now," he reassured her.
"I'd like Lanie to check you out before we go, just in case," Ryan told Ward.
"Go?" asked Skye. "Where are we going?"
"Asgard," Ryan replied. "Doctor Foster's given us the location of the second stone."
#
A/N: Well, I'm finally back from post-family Staycation. Hope you guys like the chapter. As per usual, stepping back from writing left me with far too much time to think. And when I think, strange ideas start popping into my head...and that's never good. First strange idea: I noticed that when I lamented about the lack of comments about the "Daredevil" stories, a handful of you left comments *here*. So I need to leave prompts to remind you guys to comment more often. But since I *hate* begging for comments, I need to leave you guys discussion topics when I write said reminders...
Which leads me to strange idea number two: I came down with a nasty, nagging bugger of a cold after my family left. While laid up with said cold I binge-watched The CW's reboot of "Beauty and the Beast". Good show. Practically *begging* to be let into the Guardianverse, IMNSHO...but that got me to thinking. Yep, here's the bad idea: Are there any crossovers *you'd* like to see me write? They can be Castle-Show X or Guardian-Show X. And they can be 'standalone' crossovers. They don't have to get integrated into the Marvel crossover story arc (B&B, if I write the crossover, will probably end up a standalone.) I just want to know if there are any Guardian-inspiring shows out there that you guys I should check out. Let me know down below!