Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.

A/N: Not much to say in this Author's note. Thanks again for all of your support!

Chapter Sixteen: Black Wings Attack

The wind blew gently through Ellinia's forests as light from the sun filtered through the leaves. The fairies from Ellinia were roaming the forests for ingredients and items for their shops and potions. In the trees, Umbra watched silently as his charge slept restlessly. A hawk flew down and rested next to Umbra.

"Ah, you're back. Did your partner want to find Eckhart?" The hawk merely clean his feathers with his beak. "Wonderful. I don't know if you'll be flying back with information or empty handed. You see, it really depends on Eckhart." The hawk continued to wait patiently while Umbra turned his attention toward Eckhart. "I wonder if those four remember me. I wouldn't be surprised if they forgot. I haven't shown myself in years."

"Those four?" Eckhart whispered softly. "Who?" Umbra smiled softly and glanced at the hawk.

"My allies. You do remember that I'm a spirit don't you? I'm the Spirit of Darkness. There are more of us out there. Technically only four others but..." Eckhart stretched and stood up. The hawk stared at him waiting patiently. Umbra stood with him waiting for his next move.

"It seems the knights want to gather more information." Eckhart stated calmly. "I'm afraid that I don't got much at the moment..." Umbra shrugged and looked off to his left. Eckhart pulled out some throwing stars and tilted his head slightly to the right. "Did they find us?" Eckhart moved his hand and motioned the hawk to fly away. Umbra stood on the balls of his feet.

"Not good, Eckhart. I can't sense anything."

"They're coming..." Suddenly a knife embedded itself next to Eckhart's head. Eckhart pulled the knife out and glanced at the engravings. "These are not made in Victoria Island..."

"Eckhart dodge!" Eckhart ducked just as another knife came flying at his head. Another knife came right for Eckhart's face. It shattered the mask just as Eckhart managed to bend backward and escape death. The white porcelain mask fell to the forest floor in pieces. His hazel eyes shone back with cold calculations. Eckhart threw his stars toward the enemy. The enemy laughed softly before engaging in hand to hand combat.

"So you're the infamous Eckhart that he's been rambling on about." The enemy whispered airily. "It took me a while to locate you. But now that I've found you, I need to dispose of you. Tormenting you was exciting though." Umbra's eyes widen in understanding. "Thing is, you don't have to be asleep for me to torment you." Eckhart backed away from the sudden change in aura. Umbra stood next to him ready. "Know who I am yet?"

"...Captain Alb of the Black Wings, Division: Nightmare." Eckhart stated calmly in reply. Alb smirked and pulled out another one of his knives.

"Wow, you seem to be doing your homework. I was beginning to think you knew too much information on us. None of the commanders have made their moves yet. That does not mean I have to wait for them to make their moves though. We can't have you interfering with our plans. It's best if we put you to sleep forever." Alb moved through the shadows from the trees. Eckhart felt pain ripple through the inside of his head. Eckhart grabbed his head with his hand, trying to ease the pain. "I do have to wonder how you managed to gather that much information on me. It's not like I've been trying to hide it but still it bothers me." Alb finally noticed Eckhart's pain. "Nightmares are a part of darkness are they not. It's no wonder why you're so susceptible to it. After all, that darkness isn't something a mere person can control." Eckhart glance up at him with cold eyes. "So you know who's also being tormented don't you?"

"I must erase you..." Eckhart's eyes dulled in exchange for a glint of blood lust. "For the safety of Maple World..." Eckhart pulled out a dagger and his throwing stars. Alb moved just as the throwing stars embedded themselves in the wood. The two of them continued fighting in the treetops. Alb smirked as a knife sliced its way into Eckhart's leg muscle, making him tumble on the tree branch gracelessly. Eckhart pulled the knife out and threw it back at Alb. It scratched the side of his face before flying pass him. Alb stood up straight when someone put a hand on his shoulder.

"You shouldn't be doing things on your own accord. She's not going to be happy if you ran off doing your own thing." The male voice whispered softly. Alb rolled his eyes in annoyance; looking at Eckhart he smiled.

"You have lady luck on your side. Until next time." Alb disappeared with the other figure. Umbra came over quickly just as Eckhart's eyes returned to normal. Eckhart put his stars and dagger away.

"Eckhart?" Umbra questioned worryingly. Eckhart glanced up at him.

"They know... Or at least he knows. The Empress is in danger. I have to... protect her." Eckhart stood up slowly his leg buckled in pain. "Urgh..." Umbra put his arm over his shoulders.

"We should drop by Master Grendel's place so you can get this fixed."

"No. Find somewhere safe and I'll take care of it myself." Umbra shook his head disapprovingly, but nonetheless found a safe place to sit. Eckhart pulled out a needle and thread, patching up the wound. Umbra watched their surroundings quietly.

"Eckhart, what are you planning?" Umbra questioned softly. Eckhart's emotions flashed across his face. Umbra noticed an emotion that hasn't been on his face in a long time, fear. "Eckhart, what is on your mind? Tell me so I can help. We're friends right?"

"...I...I'm not entirely sure what my plans are. You know me, Umbra. I just follow where the shadows take me."

"And where are those shadows telling you to go now?" Umbra questioned seriously. Eckhart smiled softly.

"To find myself another porcelain mask, then we'll talk more about this problem." Umbra shook his head with a smile. "Come on we're pretty close to that place, it shouldn't take more than thirty minutes." Eckhart pulled up his hood on his cape and the two quickly disappeared into Ellinia's center. The fairies watched the two of them cautiously. Eckhart quickly traveled to a small tree house on the outskirts of the town center. Eckhart glanced around him before he knocked on the door. The door opened slowly and a pair of dark blue eyes stared back at him. The door opened wide enough for Eckhart to squeeze inside with Umbra following behind him. The door promptly closed when Umbra made it inside. Eckhart allowed his eyes to adjust before looking at the young man in front of him. The man couldn't be considered a man but he couldn't be called a boy either. He was just at the age of becoming an adult. The man had a porcelain mask in his hand. Eckhart took the mask as the man handed it to him. Eckhart felt the smoothness of the mask and smiled softly. "You've gotten better, Zazie."

"I try to please." Zazie walked over to his table and pulled out more masks. "You can have your pick. Yiska wasn't please that I was using some ores for a plain mask. Dezrix was angry that I was using rare collectable items for it as well." Eckhart glanced at the masks.

"Where are those two anyway? I haven't seen Yiska since he was in El Nath a few months ago. Dezrix... last time I saw her was back when I was arriving in Victoria Island. She seemed like she was about to find some rare item." Zazie smiled softly.

"Yiska sent me a letter saying he's currently mining in the mountains of El Nath. I should expect a shipment of ores in a couple of months. Dezrix she's well traveling around collecting things. I wouldn't expect her back here until her bag's full and heavy." Zazie glanced at the mask that caught Eckhart's eye. It was all black and had holes where his eyes would be. Other than that nothing else was on it.

"How much?"

"How much you willing to pay for that?" Zazie countered with a raised eyebrow. Umbra floated around the room glancing at all the weapons and armors.

"Ahh the merchant in you is coming out. Since I'm here, you got any good throwing stars?" Zazie reached behind his counter and pulled out a medium size box of throwing stars and knives.

"You like stars more or knives, because I have both."

"I'd prefer stars but if you got some good knives, I might just buy them." Eckhart stated calmly as Umbra floated around him. Zazie's mouth broke out in a huge smile.

"I have a knife set that you might like." Zazie dug through the box of knives and pulled out a set of black and red steel throwing knives. "I managed to find the crafter of these babies. He calls them Infinite Throwing Knives." Zazie rolled his eyes when he said the name. "Really original naming." Eckhart picked one up and tested its weight in his hands.

"May I?" Zazie nodded and pointed at the dart board. Eckhart adjusted the knife in his hand to a comfortable position and threw it toward the board. Zazie watched the knife embed itself inside the board. The red string dangled down swishing back and forth.

"Does it work for you? If not I have stars that you're more comfortable with." Zazie stated quietly. Eckhart pulled the knife out of the board and set it down on the counter. "Stars then?"

"I might buy this so leave it out. Let me see those stars." Eckhart responded just as softly. Zazie smiled and pulled out three type of stars, White Gold Throwing Stars, Crystal Illbi Throwing Stars, and Balanced Fury. Eckhart examined each of them carefully while testing if they were comfortable in his hands.

"The white gold throwing stars are sort of bright since they're made with white gold. According to their crafter it packs quite a punch. I've messed with them a few times, however I'm a horrible star thrower that it probably didn't do much damage as it would have in your hands." Zazie sat back and watched as Eckhart messed with the stars. Zazie smiled when he noticed a look flash over his face. "You want all three of them? Plus the throwing knives and the mask? Wow, you preparing for a war or something?"

"It might be considered a war. Can you do me a favor, this dagger is a bit dull." Eckhart stated calmly. Zazie nodded.

"No problem. I can sharpen it for you. You want me to sharpen the other stuff too?" Eckhart nodded. Zazie took the dagger and studied it. "Wow, a Golden River. Hard to come by in Victoria Islands. Kept in extremely good condition too. You were right to get this beauty sharpened though. I wouldn't be able to cut an apple with this thing." Zazie stated with a smile. "I'm kidding about the apple cutting, it's still sharp enough to cut through flesh just not enough to cut through bones." Eckhart smiled as Zazie ran off with the items for sharpening. Umbra floated over and sat down on the counter.

"He's going to be a great merchant in the future. He has high grade equipment and all in great condition. How he manages to get his hands on them is another question entirely." Umbra stated calmly. Eckhart nodded as he glanced at the photo on the counter top. There was two boys and a girl in the picture. Eckhart could see Zazie standing in the middle with a huge smile plastered on his face. On his left was the a boy a few years older, he had a pickaxe resting in his right hand. The girl was just a year or two younger than the boy with the pickaxe and she was holding onto a rare collectable plushie. They both looked extremely happy. Umbra followed Eckhart's eyes and landed on the photo. "You miss him don't you?"

"Hmm? Oh you mean Ezekiel. Of course I do, but I can't stay in the past forever. It wasn't an option anymore. Plus, you and I have things we need to do. The past should stay in the past." Eckhart stated softly. Eckhart touched the mask and sighed. Suddenly, Eckhart felt years older and he closed his eyes tightly. Umbra watched worryingly but didn't move to help. Eckhart took a deep breath and opened his eyes again. Zazie came back with the sharpened equipment. He handed it to Eckhart and watched as Eckhart put everything away. Zazie gasped in surprise when Eckhart dropped a bag of mesos onto the counter. "That should pay for everything." Zazie opened the bag and glanced up at Eckhart.

"I can't take all of this. It's much more than I would have asked of you to pay."

"Then leave the leftovers on a tab for when I return to get more." Zazie nodded and watched as Eckhart put on the black mask. "I'll see you later than Zazie. You take care of yourself." Zazie continue to watch as the two of them left his store.

"Byebye, Eckhart."

A/N: Okay so this chapter was short. Not to mention nothing really happened. Tell me what you guys think. See you all next chapter.