Happy Halloween and welcome back to part 2 of Bracken`s story! If you do not know already, this will contain spoilers for both Dragonwatch and the end of the Fablehaven series!
This is the second half of Bracken`s point of view during Kendra`s visit to the fairy realm at the beginning of Dragonwatch. You`ll need to go back and read part 1 for this to make sense, so go do that if you haven't already! In this part, some scenes near the end are completely of my own interpretation since Kendra was not there to witness those interactions, so I did take some creative liberties there!
Brandon Mull owns Fablehaven, but this is my interpretation of Bracken`s point of view! This is quite a bit longer, so I hope you enjoy!
After the whiteness disappeared, Bracken and Kendra were standing in a blossoming field near the middle of the realm, one of the first places that had been restored. Kendra`s eyes lit up with wonder and awe as she turned in a slow circle, trying to take it all in. Slowly, Bracken felt his nervousness begin to dissipate as he watched Kendra.
"It`s beautiful!" Kendra gushed, eyes finally meeting his. Bracken could see that here, in this realm, her own light was even more radiant than usual. Bracken felt a smile begin to stretch across his face.
"It's a start. A big improvement from before." Bracken responded, holding out his hand in her direction. Bracken escorted Kendra to the edge of the field, where a shallow stream tumbled down a series of rocky shelves. Several fairies were playing in the clear, shining water.
"Big fairies," Kendra noted quietly, "Like the warriors as Zzyxx."
"Fairies tend to be full-sized here." Bracken replied as they got closer to the stream and within earshot of the fairies.
"Would the tiny fairies at Fablehaven grow if they visited?" Kendra asked curiously.
"Most would, but Mother wouldn't trust the majority with such power," Bracken said, hoping that the fairies in the stream were not listening to their conversation, "Fairies can be so foolish."
"I heard that." Tinori, a red-headed fairy with striking green eyes fluttered over to him and Kendra, landing in front of him. Bracken noticed that Tinori`s eyes had narrowed as she took in Kendra and her unmistakable radiance. While most fairies were envious of Kendra, there was still a certain level of respect that most had for her, given how she had played a large role in saving the world, and their king.
"The fairies here are exceptions to that rule." Bracken replied smoothly, "Tinori, meet Kendra."
Thankfully, Tinori turned to speak to Kendra civilly. Bracken wasn't sure if it was because she actually liked or respected Kendra, or if she was no longer threatened by Kendra.
"Hello." Kendra replied firmly, meeting Tinori`s eyes.
Tinori gave a broad smile, gazing at Kendra. "I remember you. You killed Gorgrog."
"Yes," Kendra answered letting her eyes drift over Tinori, "You must have been at the battle." She assumed.
"I lost most of my left wing," Tinori replied vainly, spreading her wings wide so that Kendra could see that fully. "It`s been healed of course."
"They`re so pretty." Kendra complimented, her voice sincere.
Tinori`s smile grew self-indulgent and self-satisfied, "You," Tinori bopped Kendra on the nose gently with her fingertip "know the way to a fairy`s heart." Tinori then jumped up and flitted back to the stream back to the other fairies who were pretending they weren't hanging onto to every word of the conversation.
Kendra turned to back to face Bracken, and he leaned in, "She`s a little jealous," He whispered. "You`re so radiant." Kendra blushed a little looking down at her hands, frowning. Over Kendra`s shoulder, he noticed Tinori and the other fairies watching Kendra and him closely. Tinori saw him looking and gave a slight nod at Kendra before turning away from him bashfully.
"At least she spoke to me." Kendra said, looking back up at Bracken.
"Tinori has more confidence than most," Bracken admitted. "You know how fairies get. This is their special realm. You`re the first human to come here. You killed the Demon King. You shine brighter than any of them. It`s a sure recipe for envy." Kendra didn't look exactly convinced, so Bracken changed the topic.
"This way." Bracken led Kendra to a series of smooth, round, blue stones that made up a bridge that crossed the stream.
"Seems like you`re already finished." Kendra looked around her at the various flora that grew around the stream.
"This area is more polished than some," Bracken said. "But the land needs more shape and character. Some big trees would add a lot- ancient groves, or forests in their prime. And we have very few structures. We can do grass and flowers quickly." Bracken wished more than anything he could have taken Kendra to visit their old realm, which had been full of some of the most amazing and wondrous things that he had ever seen. Compared to their old realm, this one was almost pathetic when it came to its aesthetic appeal.
"It's a paradise." Kendra said.
Bracken grinned at her, "Trust me, it`ll be more impressive in years to come."
As the pair crossed the stone bridge, two astrids, Denwin and Peredor landed on the opposite bank.
"You look familiar." Kendra noted to Denwin as she registered their faces.
"I`m Denwin," He replied. "This is Peredor. We were both at the battle of Zzyxx." Kendra nodded pleasantly.
Peredor then turned his attention to Bracken. "Prince Bracken, Jubaya has announced that she will confer with us."
Inwardly, Bracken groaned miserably. On the one day that he was counting on things to be sort of normal, now a demon wanted to talk.
"Now?" He asked. "I`m giving Kendra a tour."
"I believe that is why we got the offer. Jubaya expressed interest in conversing with her." Peredor answered.
"Absolutely not." Bracken replied sternly. Denwin and Peredor`s faces remained impassive, but even so, there was a glint of curiosity, and even some excitement in their gaze.
"Who is Jubaya?" Kendra asked.
"A demon." Bracken grumbled in response. For the past few months, Jubaya had been an almost constant thorn in his side, preventing progress when it came to rebuilding.
"You still have demons here?" Kendra sounded surprised and a little afraid at this.
"Not all of the demons exited Zzyxx with the horde. We`ve purged most who remained, but a few have proven difficult to root out." Bracken admitted.
"You can`t get rid of her?"
"She`s hiding in a sludge pit," Bracken said. "There is ancient magic there, deep and dark. Plus her tough corrupts. Unicorns have temporarily purified the top layer of sludge but the pool becomes tainted again immediately."
"The opportunity could bring her to surface." Peredor said, trying to sound unassuming.
Bracken fixed him with a scolding glare. "Out of the question. The risk is too great."
"How can I help?" Kendra spoke up seeming to be interested.
"Chiefly as bait, so to speak," Denwin spoke next. "The demon requested you by name."
"That doesn't sound too bad." Kendra agreed. "How dangerous is she?"
"We have a dozen of our best warriors in place," Peredor said. "We could get another dozen there. I`m confident we could protect you. And maybe capture her."
Bracken frowned. He didn't like the direction this conversation was going. It reminded of him of how he had tried to get Kendra to not go to Zzyxx and to avoid the danger. When told she couldn't or shouldn't do something, Kendra had a tendency to fight harder for that thing until she accomplished it.
"What about Mizelle?" Bracken was sure that if his sister was here, she would back him up or least help discourage Kendra from participating.
"She`s on her way." Peredor replied vaguely.
"Who is Mizelle?" Kendra asked, frowning slightly.
"One of my sisters," Bracken answered. "If this would give you a chance to catch the demon…" Kendra trailed off trying for a smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Denwin and Peredor looking amused at Kendra`s insistence.
"She`s cornered. That's never a safe scenario. A desperate demon could get vicious. I`d rather seal up the sludge pit, leave her there until the end of time." Demons were extremely complex beings, and Jubaya, one of the cleverest, was also one of the most dangerous, and he didn't want to put Kendra in that situation, especially considering she was so young.
"Begging your pardon," Denwin interjected. "but can you imagine your mother leaving such an impurity in her realm, sealed up or not?"
"You`re right." Bracken folded his arms across his chest, hating that he was even considering it.
"Let me do it!" Kendra urged. "I`ll be careful!"
"I don't like it." Bracken responded flatly.
"You have plenty of people to protect me. This could be a chance to get rid of some trouble. Let me do this. I insist."
Bracken sighed, "From what I understand, Jubabya isn't much of a fighter. But she`ll undoubtedly play mind games."
"I`ll play them right back," Kendra looked directly at him with pleading eyes. "I`ve been on much riskier adventures than this."
Bracken shook his head. That sounded like something Seth would say. "Don`t be so sure. Jubaya wants access to you for a reason. She sees an opportunity."
"I`ll keep my guard up," Kendra promised. "So will you. It`s an opportunity for us too."
Bracken sighed looking from Kendra`s determined face to Denwin and Peredor`s eager ones.
"Very well," He relented. "But at the first sign of trouble…"
"You`ll bail me out." Kendra finished.
"Shall we transport you?" Denwin stepped forward eagerly.
"Probably for the best." Bracken said. Peredor scooped Kendra into his arms and took off while Denwin jumped into the air allowing Bracken to take hold of his ankles before taking off. Though Bracken often traveled by air, it was obvious Kendra did not. Her face was full of wonder as she took in the sights around them, the good and the bad.
Soon enough, the sludge pond came into view, a roiling pond that smelled of tar and sulfur. Denwin and Peredor set Kendra and Bracken down in the field a few hundred feet back from the pond and flew off to join the other astrids.
"The fairy realm is huge." Kendra noted as they began to walk to the pond.
"It`s big." Bracken agreed. "Even up high we couldn't see more than a fraction of it. But the sky here does not extend into outer space like it does on Earth. Our atmosphere eventually fades away. And if you go too far in any direction, the ground dwindles to nothing as well."
"Can you fall off the edge?" Kendra asked.
"It would take great effort and powerful magic. As you get to the edge, you ordinarily got turned around and head back toward the center. Same if you fly too high- you start heading down when you thought you were going up." Bracken knew he was rambling, but luckily Kendra did not seem to mind that much.
"Strange." Kendra said thoughtfully.
"This is not actually a world- just a pocket dimension attached to your world."
I would speak with the girl!
Jubaya`s words struck his, and by the look on her face, Kendra`s mind with the force of a shout.
Perhaps a conversation can be arranged. Bracken replied smoothly, mostly for Kendra`s benefit. It was rather unnerving to have a demon communicate mind to mind, especially for someone so young like Kendra.
You wish to capture me. I will not let that occur. But I may strike a bargain. Jubaya answered, her voice firm and undaunted.
We`re listening Jubaya. Bracken responded skeptically.
Withdraw your troops from my pool. If you let me speak to the girl alone, I vow to cause her no harm, and at the end of our conversation, I will surrender myself, if you pledge to transport me to the new demons prison. Jubaya`s voice was eerily calm, especially for someone that was about to give themselves up to be confined in Zzyxx.
You would exchange your freedom for private words with Kendra? Bracken said, glancing at Kendra who looked as confused as he felt.
Do you call this freedom? I intend to trade imprisonment among enemies for imprisonment among my kind! Jubaya challenged sharply.
Why now? Bracken pressed. You could have asked for such a transfer months ago.
I have my reasons, and you have my terms. Jubaya cut off the conversation abruptly.
"Can she lie?" Kendra asked Bracken quietly looking unsure.
"Certainly," Bracken replied softly. "But demons tend to keep their formal vows. All magical creatures do. Our natures allow certain oaths and promises to bind us. It is partly how preserves like Fablehaven were founded and how rules were established."
"Then I`ll do it." Kendra declared, looking a bit more confident.
"Jubaya promised to cause you no harm," Bracken said. "Agreements to confer during a truce are difficult to break. But she might tell you things that could lead you to harm." Bracken didn't want Kendra to be fooled into a false sense of security around Jubaya.
"This solves your problem," Kendra insisted. "It gets her out of here. And who knows? Maybe I`ll learn something useful."
"Or something hurtful," Bracken warned. "I`ve been shielding my half of our conversation from her mind. Because you`re fairykind, your mind is already protected. Jubaya can only see the thoughts you project to her. Go ahead and accept if you must." Bracken knew that now Kendra was convinced to do something, even if she was afraid, she would do it anyway.
When should we talk? Kendra thought back to Jubaya.
Immediately. She replied. Have the warriors back away. Send Kendra to my pool with your first horn. She will need it for us to interact properly.
Very well. Bracken turned to Kendra and withdrew his first horn from the sheath that hang around his waist and handed it to Kendra. Kendra took it from him, grasping it in her hand firmly. She looked even more determined than ever.
"I`m shielding our conversation again," Bracken said. "I was going to give this to you anyhow as a precaution. Perhaps she anticipated me. Or she might have a trick up her sleeve."
"I`ll be careful." Kendra replied grimly, turning towards that pond.
Bracken nodded encouragingly. "Very well. We`ll be close by if you need us."
Bracken watched tensely as Kendra walked towards the pond and the troops surrounding the pond withdrew. As they did he noticed Gilgarol, the captain of the astrids, walking towards him. He and some other warriors were standing in the field around the pond.
"Anything to report?" Bracken asked at Gilgarol drew level to him.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Prince Bracken," Gilgarol replied. "You think she can do it?" He nodded towards Kendra who now stood talking to Jubaya. Bracken couldn't hear what they were saying, and he didn't dare try and peak into Kendra`s mind for fear of Jubaya`s retribution.
"Yes I do," Bracken met Gilgarol`s eyes unflinchingly. "She was the one who killed Gorgrog after all."
Gilgarol gave a nod. "Fair enough."
"Brother!" Bracken turned to see his sister, Mizelle approach a fleet of fairy warriors behind her. Mizelle was the eldest of all of his siblings and the most serious. She wore shining silver armor, her third horn in one hand, her brunette hair pinned back out of her face.
"Has Jubaya given herself up yet?" Mizelle asked crisply, her eyes on Kendra and Jubaya`s interaction.
"No, your majesty. She wanted to talk to Kendra first." Gilgarol replied, also watching Kendra. By now, Jubaya had extended a hand from the sludge and was offering it to Kendra. They watched as Kendra gingerly stepped forward and shook Jubaya`s hand briefly.
"Her?" Mizelle said skeptically. "Jubaya is agreeing to be put in Zzyxx just for a chance to talk to Kendra?"
Bracken shook his head. "I don't know why either. But for some reason, Kendra intrigues her, and Kendra wanted to do it."
Mizelle sighed, "She is a remarkable young girl, I suppose."
Bracken nodded in response watching Kendra and the demon interact. Kendra didn't seem to be particularly afraid or nervous, just interested.
"I wonder what she`s telling her." Gilgarol murmured.
"Me too." Mizelle agreed.
"Well you could always ask Kendra you know." Bracken suggested. He suspected that for some reason, though most if his family respected and even approved of Kendra, they were still hesitant about meeting her. Bracken wondered if it was jealousy or personal bias against her being a human.
Mizelle rolled her eyes at him, "We`ve never even met Bracken."
"Well what a great opportunity to introduce yourself!"
"No thanks." Mizelle replied stoically.
Bracken glanced over at her. "You know Kendra doesn't bite right?"
Mizelle looked over at him as well, looking unamused, "Yes idiot, I`m aware. I just don't think it`s the right time. Kendra looks like she has enough on her plate right now."
"Very well." Bracken remained unconvinced, but let the subject drop. Jubaya and Kendra talked for several more minutes until Kendra turned and began to walk back towards him, Gilgarol and Mizelle.
"Jubaya submits!" Kendra called to Bracken. A cheer rose up from the troops stationed around the pond and Mizelle and Gilgarol went to the pond to manage the capture of Jubaya.
"What happened?" Bracken asked as soon as Kendra was within earshot. Kendra glanced down at the hand that she had shook Jubaya`s with and discreetly wiped it on her shirt, even though it was not dirty.
"We talked. We shook hands." Kendra replied seeming very distracted.
"Anything more specific?" Bracken pressed.
Kendra looked up at him, her eyes full of dread, and a little bit of fear. "Well, she said that to demons, all the world is a chessboard, and I happened to be an important part of the board."
"What else?" Bracken could hear the hesitation in her tone.
Kendra shook her head despairingly, glancing back at the pond that was now surrounded by astrids, unicorns, and fairy warriors, "She said that a new age is dawning," Kendra`s hand squeezed into a fist. "An age of dragons."
And that`s it! I hope you liked this style of a one-shot and I have more one-shots coming in the next few weeks. As a general warning, like most of you, I am in school right now and very busy, so I will try to update as much as possible!
If you have any requests for one-shots you`d like to see please leave them in a review and I would be happy to do them!
Also, if you haven't already heard, the second book in the Dragonwatch series just came out, called Wrath of the Dragon King, and if you haven't, you should definitely go read it! It took me about 2 hours to read and it was really enjoyable. I`m excited to see where the series goes!
Thank you to Wolf Lover27, Jesus saved even me, Pointlessly Poetic, and raxtus20 for the reviews, and thank you to Jesus saved even me, raxtus20 and lordXzor for following and favorite me and this story, I really appreciate it!
Have a spooky Halloween everyone!