.

No Rest For The Wicked

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"…Liar…"

The voice was faint.

"…Norse."

So soft, it couldn't have been more than a whisper.

"Liar. Norse."

Grimm muttered the names in her sleep.

To answer the call, two silver apparitions in her bedroom responded. The penguin and lizard, which stood sentinel watch over her since their casters left. Their Patronus that embodied every shred of fond affection Norse and Liar held for Grimm.

They knelt close to their ward. Warmth flowed from the forms birthed of the three's most powerful memories together.

…

…

"I love you, too…"

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X

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On Moody's signal, several wands let loose the spells they were holding. At the same time, the strumming of countless bows gave sound to the arrows released.

All of a sudden, the Forbidden Forest was alive with the whistling of high-pitched projectiles. Crackling lights paved small pockets in the woodland's shadows. The ambush was shortly followed by yells and simultaneous bodies hitting the ground.

"Damn!" Moody cursed through Legilimens. "As we thought, it's difficult to breach their marching order when they have those damned trolls lining the outside. Norse! The broom scouts are circling back and their flyers are taking to the air!"

"I know, Mad Eye," Norse's words appeared from afar. "I know."

In truth, the witch didn't need to answer. The thunderstorm brewing in the sky was answer enough.

Norse's wand circuited like an overpowered battery in her hands. Every stroke she carved into the floating inscription in front of her, pulsed with a low, thundering drum. And as soon as the incantation was complete, the instrument in her hands dissolved into nothing but splinters and ash.

Blood vessels of golden light webbed the clouds above. The Guilders on brooms knew what was coming, and dove towards the ground with all haste. But by then, it was already too late.

Jagged blades of pure, lightning fury struck all those that tread the sky's domain. Only smoldering carcasses were left in the wake of Norse's spell, plummeting to the earth like singed moths. As if to serve as warning, remnants of the dark clouds still tarried after the witch's spellcast.

"They will think twice before trying to seize air superiority again. It should be remembered I can incant the spell only once until the next full day's rest."

"Yes. We can only gamble on the chance they don't catch on too soon," Moody growled. "Alright. It's time you and Liar sow some chaos into their ranks. They're fortifying their perimeters."

"We shall bleed the vermin from the inside out."

Next to Norse, Liar grasped her shoulder.

"Bodyslide for two," he winked.

The familiar rushing of being whisked from one space to another hit them with sudden vertigo. In the next second, they were within a small formation of Guilders. Their enemies' backs were turned to them, only realizing too late the strangers in their midst. The only ones more ignorant were the trolls they took cover behind.

Norse and Liar drew their wands in tandem.

""Avada Kedavra.""

Green blight flashed, and their enemies drew their swift last breaths. More flashes followed, and they were onto the next group. Hostile spells mixed with friendly fire soared within a hair's breadth of them, but they never so much as flinched.

Forgiven training took over. "Read the direction of the wands, read the trajectory, and don't stand in it". Mad Eye's teachings were an afterthought after having the exercises ingrained into their very bones. That, and Grimm's additional trainings that involved a lot of live fire—as well as a lot of live pain.

The battle was proceeding well, until the Guilds enacted a stratagem they were holding up their sleeves.

"Incendio!"

"Bombarda!"

Along the ranks of the army's marching order, spells were chanted in two-step sequence. Fire raced through the vegetation around them, while the force spells blasted the burning carnage outwards, towards their would-be attackers.

The widespread damage of the combination drove Moody's company back. Their cover was turned against them. And if the devastation wasn't enough, flames never failed to illicit a primal fear and panic in both humans and Centaurs.

"Damn it all!" Moody cursed. "All forces retreat thirty paces, out of their spell range!"

Just as he gave the order, a tidal wave of wooden, burning shrapnel flew towards him. The old Auror reacted too late, while preoccupied. He lifted his wand to mitigate as much of the damage as he could before…

"Hey, old man. Hope you weren't planning to make a run for it on that bum leg—or lack thereof!" Tonks apparated beside him, and just as quickly disapparated him to safety.

While their side was making efforts to regroup, a number of enemy Guilders pointed their wands to the thunderous sky.

""Finite Incantatem.""

What stormy clouds remained from Norse's spell were immediately dispersed. And without the looming threat, enemy witch and wizards took to the air once more. Kingsley and a number of Aurors tried to snipe them out of the sky, but they were such small versatile targets by then.

Loud crashing sounds rolled over the lands of the Forbidden Forest. The Guilds positioned a troop of trolls to the forefront. They went to work smashing and cutting down the trees in their path. The pace of the marching order increased visibly, as they made greater pace towards the school.

Meanwhile, Kingsley, Moody, and the two Forgiven regrouped once more.

"This isn't good. They read our ambush like a book," Liar said.

"That, they did," Kingsley answered low. "Their strategy is formidable. Not only did they render our cover null, if we do not reengage soon, the Guilds will leave us behind."

"No doubt another stratagem is prepared for when we launch an offensive from the rear."

"So!" Liar grunted frustratingly. "We hit them from the back, we play right into their hands. We hit them from the sides, they set the forest around us on fire, and blast us away. We go at them from the front, and what? Take on those bloody trolls head-on? Not to mention they got their flyers in the sky now."

"We know the situation is bleak, Liar," Kingsley consoled. "What we need are solutions. Did any of you spot the leader of Troll Garden?"

Norse and Liar promptly shook their heads.

"Guild officers gave the orders from what I saw. We don't even know if he or she is even in the damned march."

"This does not bode well. We lose time and ground with each passing moment. They are forcing us into desperation."

"And succeeding. Even if we planned another ambush, and apparated ahead of them, it will take time to marshal our forces."

"So, what do you propose?"

"We have to reengage now."

"Our forces just suffered defeat."

"I didn't say it was going to be easy," Liar shrugged. "And if your colleagues aren't up for it, I guess it'll just be me and Norse. More our style, in any case."

"I will inform Firenze we make ready to attack again," Norse nodded.

Kingsley immediately grasped both their arms to stop them from moving.

"Our forces need to recover," he urged.

"I think that's what they think, too. Which is why we attack them now. Element of surprise. Won't expect us to attack so soon after getting our asses handed to us."

"Liar and I can halt their progress. Our tactic was the only part of the ambush which succeeded. We will continue our harassment and create opportunity for our side."

"Two people alone cannot stop an army!" Kingsley was now vehement. "Why are you acting this way?"

"We are the Forgiven," Liar replied matter-of-factly. "This is what we do."

"This is neither bold, nor clever. It is nothing, but pure recklessness."

"I never said it was a brilliant idea, but what avenues do we have left?"

Kingsley could only go back into silent thought.

"…Neither of you are Grimm, and neither of you should be trying to imitate her either."

Liar and Norse's fists clenched at Moody's sudden words. The old Auror looked to each of them meaningfully with his one good eye.

"Our girl pushed herself too hard, and look what happened. I almost did the same blasted thing!" he badgered himself. "No, it might be best if we make a full retreat. The school will be evacuated on Albus's orders. The Ministry will have to take the matter seriously with everything that's happened."

Kingsley nodded in agreement. "We must live to fight another day. No more lives lost tonight."

Just then, the four watched two figures join them. It was Firenze and Tonks.

"Our host has finished recollecting. Are we to go once more into the fray?" the Centaur asked.

"Actually, friend Firenze…" Norse stepped forward shamefully. "We have just convened, and agreed a full retreat is in order."

"…Oh."

"I am sorry. This moment is not our victorious one. It must be the next."

"I understand. I wish you the best in your next battle."

Norse looked at him questioningly.

"What is your meaning? The Centaurs must retreat with us."

"We cannot. If he-who-must-not-be-named takes the school, the trolls will take our forest. Our tribes have now seen as much."

"No…"

"We will fight to the bitter end."

"But you will die!"

"The end is never the end. The end is merely the end of this moment. There is always the next, and the next after. This pertains to life and death."

"Firenze."

"I wish you good health, my friend."

"Oi!" Tonks piped up. "We're not actually going to just leave this to the Centaurs, and bolt it, are we?"

"We don't have a choice," Moody groaned. "There's a greater war to be won. This is only the first battle, and we just lost it."

"Oh, sod that! The rest of you lot can skip off, but I'm staying."

"This is not up for discussion!"

"I'm not discussing anything! Let's go, Firenze!"

"We need you for the upcoming battles, Nymphadora!"

"And we need these people! We need the school!"

"It's just a school!"

"No, it isn't! It's special!"

"…"

"Hogwarts is home, Moody," Tonks pleaded. "Just like the Forbidden Forest is home for the Centaurs."

"…"

"There's just something about this place that I can't let go to those arseholes that want to do who knows bloody what with it."

"Tonks."

"They can't take it, Moody. I won't let them."

Tonks' words hung in the night air for a moment, before Liar clapped his knees, and stood.

"The naïve schoolgirl woman is correct."

"Oi!"

"Yes. We will fight."

"Maybe, not exactly to the death," Liar feigned a laidback tone, "but we will fight, nonetheless."

"And who says we will not be victorious?"

"I, for one, would also rather not explain to you-know-who why the Forgiven failed their first mission in I don't remember how long, solely because she wasn't here to boss us around."

"We would never hear the end of it."

…

"Damn right, you wouldn't."

Liar and Norse's eyes went wide with recognition. Kingsley and Moody also practically leapt off their seats, scanning the skies as if to find the source of the voice.

"Grimm?!"Norse almost yelled aloud.

"Well, this all seems to have gone to shite."

"Grimm!" Liar cried, with his eyes glossing over. "You're awake!"

"Yup. No rest for the wicked, as per usual. Round up everyone we've got for another go."

"Blast it, girl!" Moody snarled, barely able to fight down the emotion in his gravelly voice. "You got a plan in that brain of yours?"

"Not really. More of the same plan, just a different approach."

"Elaborate."

"Voldemort's not with them, he's in the school."

""…""

A tense silence followed Grimm's declaration.

"Relax, I've already informed Albus. In Voldemort's weakened state, I'd bet even Harry Potter could kick his ass. Our dear Headmaster's going to bait him in by making a fake trip to the Ministry."

She was met with more silence.

"More important," Grimm carried on, "with Voldemort gone, it means this army lacks its central leadership."

"So, we don't aim for the head of the snake, like we have. We've got to separate them," Moody interpreted.

"Stretch 'em thin, make them overreach. Their communications officers will be the easiest marks. Remember, they're all separate Guilds. Hit them at the joints, and the body will collapse."

"We'll relay the information to the ones on our end…" Moody paused. "Tonks is here."

"I know. Make sure nothing happens to her."

"Like I can bloody well promise that…! I imagine you have a time in mind to initiate the attack?"

"Just look up, Mad Eye—"

"You'll know to attack when their brooms start falling from the sky."

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X

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The powerful wind of the night's flight threatened to knock her off course.

Grimm did her best to sound strong through the Legilimens. But in truth, her body was still suffering the aftereffects of her curse and prolonged coma. She couldn't help but wonder how much of her tall talk her allies actually bought.

"Boss, we know you're hurting," Liar's voice came over.

Figures.

"Nothing harder than I've already done in worse conditions."

"We are overjoyed you are well again, sister," Norse wrote. "But we will not allow you to push yourself so hard again."

"Aw, you guys are sweet. Did you miss me awfully?"

"We did. Which is why I will force you to the ground myself, if that is what it comes to."

Grimm allowed herself the smallest of heartfelt smiles.

"…If I have the two of you, I can't die—even if I wanted."

""…""

"It'll be fine. I won't lose again."

Grimm pressed her palm to the left side of her chest. The tattooed emblem underneath, pulsed to her touch.

"Never again."

The witch was quickly coming up on the enemy flyers. Witches and wizards from the Dark Guilds shone their lights on the fledgling, beginning the first syllables of their incanted spells. They were many and spread across the sky in even formation. Their wands burned like hostile stars in the night, bent on Grimm's very destruction.

In spite of that, the little Forgiven was unafraid.

The experience with her Cruciatus had cleansed her. The scars it left were still fresh and the lesson it taught still new in her mind.

I can't lose myself to the darkness.

They won't let me.

They won't let me give in.

Grimm bore her gaze straight ahead with determination. Her chest tightened around the emblem of her Origin Magic. Lips parted, and spoke words calling forth the enemy of her enemy deep within.

"Elicio Hostium."

A shower of fire-crackling spells soared from the wands of the Guilders. Each spark consumed by an ethereal darkness that engulfed Grimm's body. The living shadow-like substance flickered and twisted like a mess of tapestry come alive.

Then, like a wild beast released from its cage, an enormous black fox pounced out. Its body cloaked in the same ghostly cloth Dementors wore. A wispy blindfold covering her eyes, but she didn't need to see.

Grimm felt the emotions of her enemies through her skin. She could smell their souls and homed into their life signatures.

Before the Guilders could understand what was happening, Grimm's beastly form was among them. She ran across the sky like it was solid, similar to the way Thestrals did. Her mouth tore open, more like a crocodile's than any other creature's.

And with one deep inhalation, the witches and wizards felt the warmth slip from them. Their consciousness faded, as they plummeted to the earth.

The giant fox continued to leap through the skies. Any living being within Grimm's proximity felt themselves diminished in her presence. Her Dementor-like abilities having grown leagues beyond what it had been before.

"Grimm!" she heard Liar call.

"A little…! Busy…!"

"You've still got your marbles?!"

"Enough of them…! How are we looking on the ground?"

"Our forces are in place!" Norse's words boomed. "We are beginning the attack!"

"Good…! Let's make quick work of this, shall we? I can't hold this form for long…!"

And with that, Grimm descended onto the marching Guilds below, kicking up a shadowy smog in her wake.

The enemy cast spells blindly all around. Their deepest fears were forcefully pulled to the surface, inducing greater panic in their numbers. Allies hexed other allies out of fear. The trolls were lost without orders from their masters.

Meanwhile, Grimm continued to dash through the army, zigzagging like some feral apparition. The Forgiven's side was only too happy to take advantage of the disorganization bred.

"Together, now!" Moody ordered.

"Incendio!"

"Bombarda!"

Facing the same spell combination they themselves implemented previously, the enemy Guilders were first surrounded by curtains of flame. What followed, was a veritable shockwave of burning ballista. Likewise, the Centaurs loosed incendiary arrows in concert.

The marching order was pressed by both sides. Grimm, Liar, and Norse moved into the formations to break the line into segments.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Liar spun and swiftly silenced a Guilder, who wore officer decorations.

Without a moment's hesitation, the young man made a quick scan to see if anyone was watching. Seeing as everyone else was preoccupied with their own chaos, the wizard seized the opportunity to pick a few hairs from the dead man's skull. He then, dropped the samples into a vial he had prepared, and then drank it immediately.

"Ack! Tastes like troll shite!"

Even as he complained, his usual voice warped and his anatomy stretched comically. When his transformation was complete, Liar removed his mask and put his wand to his esophagus. In a voice that was enchanted to be louder, he began hollering to those around him,

"ALL FORCES RETREAT! RETREAT, I SAY!"

Shocked voices of relief and disbelief traveled through the channels.

The young wizard delighted in his little bit of mischief before canceling the magic, and moving on to the next officer to impersonate.

At that moment, Norse was running headlong into the enemy formation. Spells knocked the mask from her face and cut lines in her cheek. But the mad witch only licked the blood, and bade a silent laugh.

A wall of trolls formed up to barricade her way, but with the help of a minor ventus spell, she easily leapt over the barrier.

As she descended, she cracked her wand into the ground, like a dagger piercing the earth.

FULGUR TOTALUM!

Deep roads webbed from the point Norse drove her wand. They shined for a moment, and then exploded with a golden carnage. Spears of electricity traced every which way, burning her foes to a crisp. Accompanying it, was the roar of the land's quake, lending voice to the otherwise mute warrior's blow.

It did not take long before the Troll Garden's army was scattered into the Forbidden Forest.