Chapter 23

"He is not with the Nagas…"

"Nor is he with the Arachnids…."

"My King, we cannot find him, I… I cannot explain it…" said Jima.

Bad was a mess, he kept staring down at the pool of blood he vomited, but knew it wasn't his right away. Even Bloodbore picked up on the scent of it. "My King… this is Garou's blood isn't it?"

Bad merely nodded his head to him. "The blood bond… it's severed…" Bad said, then, he felt it.

Like a cold chill down the spine, Bad felt a presence calling him. "My King?" asked Bloodbore.

"Wait here, someone's calling me…"

Bad began to venture deep into the woods, out of the dragon's territory until he saw the clearing. There, Death stood in wait, and yet he was crying. Bad froze as he felt his heart skipping a beat, looking to the ground he saw him. Lying motionless, but with a strange smile on his lip. "Garou…." He whispered. Bad rushed to him, falling to his knees he cradled Garou in his arms. "Come on man… don't do this to me… please… wake up…"

Yet as he tried to wake his friend, Bad then notice the handle of the dagger sticking out of his chest. Stabbed right in the heart, there was no way he could have survived that.

Frustrated, Bad gentle placed Garou back on the ground, he stood slowly but then, unleashed a howling roar into the sky. The forest floor covered in thick mist, hiding Garou's body, but Bad didn't feel any better.

His sights turned to Death who merely watched on without a word. "WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP HIM!" He demanded. "WHY!"

"There… was nothing I could do." Death explained. "The Druid who caused this pain and devastation, had attached himself to the curse he cased upon his father… The Crimson Plague. As long as Garou was alive, the druid would be too. He was the last connection to his world, and with it gone, the druid could finally face his punishment at my hands," Death explained, but the tears refused to stop falling. "I never… wanted this to happen for you or for Garou… I mean… I wanted you to make a monarchy! He was your perfect match and a good balance to you… I am so sorry…"

Bad couldn't stop his tears. "I want him back… please… the druid is dead now, you… you can bring him back can't you?" Bad asked whimpering.

"It's not that easy," Death said gently. "But for now, I will look after him." With a gentle wave of his hand, Garou vanished into black mist, but was absorbed into Death himself. "I will try and see what can be done, but I make no guarantees…"

Bad cleared away his tears and gave but a nod of his head. "I'm going home…"

"Indeed, you have done well here in helping the Others."

"But before I do… I got to finish a few things…"

"Yes, you need to help them…" Death passed him the druid's cloak, he heard it loud and clear that time, the calls for help coming from the cowl. "Your power is so much greater than it once was, you will be able to heal these poor souls and let them move on." Death explained.

Bad merely nodded his head. "Excuse me…" Bad tried to keep a brave face as he walked away. What needs to be done next was to bring closure to all those affected by this terrible incident…

#

Bad remained in the Dragon's territory for a while longer, they were quick to return, however stunned that their king has fallen and became a shadow minion. Their fangs bared at Bad, their fires ready to be unleashed until the former King roared aloud.

Instantly their fangs hid, and their fires went out. Bad turned to him and said. "If you wish to address them, you are more than welcome to, then I'll release you from this."

The King paused to his words before it formed a smile. "Release me? Nonsense." He scolded. "I have become a being that can serve a great king, I see the errors of my leadership and wish to learn from you, if my King allows it?"

"Do whatever you want to do man, I ain't going to stop you at this point."

It took some time, but the Dragon King managed to organize his people, appoint a new king and new ground rules. When it was all settled he gave a nod, he was ready to go. "Okay, to the Nagas now…" the shadows all vanished into Bad's shadow, he grew his own wings and took flight.

He arrived in mere minutes when he landed before the castle. "All who died here, come forth,"

He was greeted by legions of Nagas. Many were women and children. He then turned to the cowl in his hands, he began to put his own energy into it. "You're free," he said gently.

The robe caught fire, as it did the sparks from the flames began to spread, souls appeared that were missing limbs, parts of their bodies began to form. But as soon as they were released, Bad began to unleash his power once more, he was able to heal them and they could become whole again.

The druid's cloak alone held over a thousand souls.

The shadows took a moment to recover and marvel how they became whole again, when they settled down, Bad stepped forward and addressed them.

"Now… is there anyone here that wants to move on?" Bad asked. "You are shadows, but you are also able to decide for yourselves what you wish to do. You can join me, I got no issue with that and live in my shadow. You can spend time with your family and live there if you desire. But, if you want to move on and rest. I have no problem allow it. The choice is yours."

There were looks of confusion among them, the children braced their parents a little tighter, some appeared reluctant to say anything at all. "Please…" came a familiar voice.

Through the masses, he appeared. Snek's father.

Bad approached him. "Is there anything you wish to say or do before I let you rest? Your sons? Do you need me to tell them anything?" Bad asked.

The former Naga King peered up, he saw Hydrin peering out the window, however kept his distance. "When a king dies, the new one must remain strong before his people. The longer I stay, the more difficult it will be for my son to take command. Snek… tell him I am proud of what he has accomplished."

Bad nodded. It would be his first shadow release, all he did was extend his hand and said. "Release,"

The shadow body crumbled away like dust, the light that gave them their features condensed to a single glowing orb before it shot off into the sky. Bad watch as the soul vanished into the sky night, and became a star. Others were brave enough to ask to be released. A few hundred to say the least. But all the others didn't wish to go yet. Many with families wanted to remain together a while longer.

A promise is a promise as Bad welcomed them. "I will never call you in for battle, I swear to you." He vowed to the families, but was stunned to hear.

"If we need to fight by our King's side, we will!"

With that, Bad sighed aloud as he took in his new legions. He then tried to think of a way to tell Zenko that Garou wouldn't be coming home…

#

Zenko woke as she felt a gentle hand stroke away her hair, slowly her eyes fluttered open, she saw her older brother peering down at her, and yet, why were there tears in his eyes. "Big Brother?" she whispered, suddenly she sat up. Instantly feeling something was wrong. To her left, Botan still laid there asleep. However he appeared to have grown again. Nearly to that of a four year old!

But there was a face missing. "Garou? Where's Garou?" she asked innocently.

He couldn't hold back his tears, Bad wept to her and explained. "Garou… died…"

She froze to the news. "No… he couldn't have! He's too strong to have fallen in battle. Big Brother there has to be some sort of mistake!" she protested.

But Bad merely shook his head to her. "Death was there… when I found him… Zenko… We are going to have to live our lives without him from here on… I asked Death to bring him back, but he doesn't think he can. I don't want to hold out hope that he could return, but at the same time… I don't think my heart can take it if he can't."

Zenko began to weep. Her arms wrapped around Bad's neck as she braced him tightly. "You loved him, didn't you? Despite the fact you two fought, argued, bickered… you loved him…"

Bad nodded. "Yeah… I did…" he whispered. He sighed aloud as he looked to Botan. "I don't know how I will tell him when he's older…"

"You'll find a way big brother. I know you will…" she paused. "Wanna go home?"

"Yeah… I want to go home now…"

It was a quick trip back home, Botan woke and appeared to take in the world with new eyes. His speech was slowly developing, but it won't be long until he starts talking in complete sentences. Zenko tried to use her seer ability to predict a future where Garou is back in their lives.

So far, her visions yielded nothing.

However, she still hoped there was a way for him to return. Bad misses him, and needs him now more than ever…