Gaelin stood in an empty clearing, dead trees surrounding him. He stared unblinkingly into the distance, his eyes cloudy.
Ailsa landed beside him, gently putting a hand on his shoulder, "Are you alright?"
"They won't bloom anymore.."
She raised an eyebrow and looked around, "What? The trees?"
"Everything..after that night, everything just stopped. We've tried so many things, but nothing works. Everything planted withers and dies. Just like us."
"You've never fully told me what happened.. do you want to talk about it?" She looked thoughtful, "I wonder if my light could help?"
"We were sleeping. Suddenly this noxious fog swept in and we started dying where we lay. The few of us who survived couldn't get anything to grow, so we moved into the human world. Out of fifty in this village, fifteen escaped. Then we got sick and now there's only three of us left. The other villages were completely wiped out." His voice was soft and sad.
"You know you're always welcome in our village. But you could always find a new clearing and start things fresh?"
"Your people would never allow us. And what use is starting over when we can't continue our people? Three men and no women." He shook his head. "Once we are gone, it's over."
"Our people would deal. You're welcomed by my family, and that's what's important." She sighed, "You make a decent point, but.. I still hate to see your people just give up."
"What else can we do?" He turned a questioning eye to her. "There are no more full dark fairies after we die. There are halflings like you and Kaito, possibly others, but we are doomed. The Council made sure of it."
"You could start a new village of halflings?" She shrugged. "I mean, I'm sure there's more out there. But at least part of the dark fairies would live on in them."
"The halflings probably don't even know what they are. You didn't."
She sighed, "So, not wanting a new village, not believing you'll be accepted in ours, what's your plan then?"
"Honestly?" He sounded quiet and defeated. "Waiting for the end."
She gently put an arm around him, "You could come help with the forest sanctuary?"
"Why are you asking?"
"What do you mean? Am I not allowed to ask you things?"
"I mean.." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "I don't even know what I mean. My mind is so scattered lately."
She hugged him tightly. "It's alright." When she pulled away, she looked around the clearing, her eyes glowing white. Light poured out around her into the ground.
He gasped as the trees became green, shoots sprouting in the clearing.
She continued for another minute before the glowing flickered out and she held a hand to her head.
Gaelin looked worried. "Are you alright?"
"Just.. a headache." She answered, looking back up at him and trying to smile.
"You shouldn't have done this."
"I can't bring your people back, but I wanted to at least bring you a little happiness."
"You bring me happiness. I doubt I do the same though."
"You do," she squeezed his hand, "I love you."
"I love you too. You shouldn't be brought down by me though." He closed his eyes briefly, then sighed.
"You don't bring me down." She leaned against him slightly, "I'm here to help you when you're down, and even if I can't solve all of your problems, I promise to try to help."
He gave her a small smile as his phone rang. When he'd hung up, a blast of dark energy flashed by her into the nearest tree. It winked out of existence as he shook in anger.
"What's wrong?"
"The Sanctuary..was attacked by human thugs." He took a series of deep breaths.
"Let's go see what we can do to help."
He nodded and flew off.
She followed behind him. They landed outside the Sanctuary and she slowly entered.
There were still spots smoldering, bodies sprawled everywhere she looked.
Kei's red robe was charred and smoking, the Mahoutsukai still.
Ailsa started on him, spreading light out. After a few minutes, she pushed the light further, into the other bodies sprawled around.
A few minutes later, everyone took shaky breaths.
Kei's eyes shot open. "Ailsa.. They took Shinji..and Daiki. I think they killed Tet out back.."
She nodded and headed out to look for Tet.
Blood was pooled all over the ground, Tet's body coming into view soon after. He'd been stabbed repeatedly and violently.
She closed her eyes for a moment then began healing him. She ignored the growing headache, working until he was healed and breathing. She carried him in, then tried to focus on Daiki to follow where they were taken.
"Ailsa! Stay away!" Daiki's mind voice was tight and pained.
"I'm going to find you."
"Don't! They'll kill you too! Stay-" The plea was cut off.
She shook her head then a light appeared in front of her. She followed it, heading toward her brother's location.
A building came into view, lights illuminating it. A side door opened and two men carried a limp body out and tossed it onto a pile.
After they were gone, she went to the pile to see what it was.
Half a dozen people lay dead, almost torn apart. Daiki's face stared at her from the top.
She straightened them out into a line, then forced energy into them. When they were all breathing, she headed to the door.
Gaelin stopped her. "Stay calm. If you lose your temper, it will be bad."
"They deserve it."
"Maybe so. Just don't lose yourself."
She nodded and threw the door open.
People were shouting down toward a pit in the front of the room.
Ailsa flew in to get a closer look.
A black wolf was limping around an armed man who stabbed out wildly.
Ailsa growled and shot a beam at the armed man.
He looked at her in terror, blood streaming from several injuries. He went stiff and fell as the wolf growled at her.
She looked at the wolf for a moment before looking back at the watchers. She began shooting at them, her eyes growing black.
"Ailsa control yourself!" Gaelin fired his own blasts at several men running toward him.
She nodded but continued to fire. After a few more shots, her hands went to her head and she held it tightly. She tried to push the pain away and by the time she looked up, a couple men were charging at her.
The wolf leapt in front of her, snarling.
One of the men fired a gun, the wolf yelping and collapsing.
Gaelin rushed forward but was stabbed by another man.
Ailsa let out an angry growl, her eyes going black again. She went back to shooting at the men. Finally, boxes of light surrounded Gaelin and the wolf, before darkness swept through the room.
"No.." Gaelin coughed.
The darkness disappeared, as did the boxes of light. Ailsa moved slowly toward Gaelin, her eyes flickering between dark and light. As she reached him, they finally stayed on light and she began pouring energy into him.
"Are you in control again?" He tried to slow his breathing as the wound healed.
She looked at him in confusion, "I got angry.. but I didn't lose control."
He didn't answer, his eyes closing as he passed out.
She went and healed the wolf next.
It reverted, revealing an unconscious Shinji.
She finished healing him, then worked on getting them back to the Sanctuary. Once in the infirmary, she sat between Gaelin and Daiki, unconsciously rubbing at her head.
"Where's Nori?" Daiki's voice was quiet.
"Nori?" She frowned, "The other victims are here resting too. Is he one of them?"
"He was fighting me and Shinji..he got in a lucky hit and I blacked out."
She frowned, then stood and left the room. When she returned, she had the man she'd killed in her arms, breathing once again.
Gaelin stifled a cry as he saw them.
She laid Nori down and went back to her seat. She glanced at Daiki, "He'll be fine now." She winced for a moment but tried to hide it from him.
"He's our half brother."
She frowned, "What?"
"He's Mom's kid before she and Father got together."
"What!?" Gaelin shot up straight. "He's my best friend.."
"Well, I'm off to a great start with him," Ailsa chuckled slightly.
Gaelin snickered. "I can't wait to see the fireworks. Nori is hot headed."
She sighed before getting up and taking some pain meds.
"Are you okay?" Both men watched her worriedly.
"Just a headache.. I keep getting them lately.." she admitted quietly.
Daiki swallowed hard, then quietly said "Sorry you had to save me again."
She shook her head. "I don't mind."
"You should. If I can't protect myself, what good am I?"
"It's my job to protect you though. I am older."
"It's not supposed to be a full time job."
She shrugged, "It's alright."
"Not true. But I'm not going to argue."
"TET!" Shinji shot up with a scream.
"Shh, everything is okay. He's resting right now," Ailsa said softly.
"They..they hurt him." The teen shook in terror.
"I know, but he's going to be alright." She hugged him tightly.
"Where am I?" Nori stared in confusion around the room.
"The Sanctuary. You're safe now," she said quietly after pulling away from Shinji.
"Who are you?" He took another look at her, paled and shrank back.
"I'm Ailsa, and I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Ailsa..?" His eyes went wide and he looked over at Daiki, who nodded. Nori paled even further.
She sighed and moved to sit down.
"I'm sorry! I didn't want to hurt anyone, but they were holding my family hostage."
"It's alright. Again, I'm sorry for hurting you."
He shook his head. "I don't blame you."
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, thanks." He sighed and stared down at the blanket.
She sighed and put her head back against the chair. After a minute she asked, "So, I hear you're Gaelin's friend?"
"You've met the scoundrel?" He laughed as Gaelin let out an irritated yell of "Hey!"
She chuckled softly then smirked, "Was he always like this?"
"Being a scoundrel? Or being melodramatic and sweeping girls off their feet?" Nori's eyes twinkled before he ducked the pillow the fairy threw.
Ailsa raised an eyebrow and looked at Gaelin, "Have a habit of sweeping girls off their feet?"
He turned red. "I wasn't interested. But they followed me."
She chuckled again. "Well, I can see why they'd follow you, at least once you get past your bit of grumpiness."
"Hey! Just pile on, why don't you."
She smirked before kissing his cheek.
"Be nice to her or I'll kick your ass." Nori wagged a finger at him.
"Love to see you try." Gaelin gave him a smile before sobering. "Any idea where Morgane and Jayla were being held?"
Nori looked over at Ailsa. "You didn't find a woman and a six year old there, did you?"
She shook her head. "All I sensed were males. But if you have a picture or something I can track them?"
He drew out a photo of a blonde woman with a little girl. "Here."
She focused on the picture for a minute, then closed her eyes. A ball of light appeared, and she opened her eyes and began following it.
A tiny jail cell appeared.
She frowned and went to go inside.
A woman stared up at her, tears streaming down her face. She held a motionless young girl in her arms. "Happy now? Have you come to gloat or finally kill me?"
Ailsa looked at her sadly, "No. Nori sent me." She broke the lock and opened the door. She then focused light into the little girl.
"He's alive?" The woman looked desperate.
"He's safe, don't worry."
"Mommy?" The girl looked confused as her mother gave a sharp cry and squeezed her tight.
"How can I thank you?"
Ailsa shook her head, "Don't worry about it. If you come with me, I'll take you to him."
The woman nodded, holding the girl close as she rose to her feet. "Who are you?"
"I'm Ailsa."
"You're my sister in law…"
"Apparently. I just found out I have another brother. Didn't know he existed."
"He was told never to contact you. That you were not to know your heritage."
"Yeah, well I found out about the dark fairy thing a few months ago."
"I heard our jailers gloating about wiping them out. I feared Nori was dead."
"He's safe and healed. As are our friends who were hurt by them."
The woman smiled in relief as the girl asked "Where's Daddy?"
Ailsa gave a small smile, "Come on."
They followed her back to the Sanctuary, Nori running out and embracing his family as Gaelin went to Ailsa's side.
Ailsa smiled as she watched them.
"Quite a day, huh?" He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her temple.
She nodded and rested her head against him.