"You want me to carry you up the stairs?"
Gon cracked a laugh when Killua sent an enraged glare his way. They were climbing the large staircase to enter the city Bodhisattva's tallest tower. The one Netero was hiding out in. Gon and Killua had gotten up that morning, gotten dressed, and headed straight for the city. The Valkyrie's only problem, however, was a steady limp in his gait.
Killua was having a considerable amount of trouble climbing the stairs.
Gon had to admit that he was kind of proud of himself for it…
"I'll take that as a no," the hybrid snorted, though he paused to wait for Killua to catch up.
He took the time to check out Bodhisattva, scent the air. This city felt different from Dharma and Genesis. There were no citizens milling about in the streets. The place seemed to be deserted. Nirvana always seemed to be quiet, but this wasn't a peaceful quiet. It was an eerie quiet.
On top of that, the entire city and miles of land surrounding it were blanketed by an uncomfortable chill. The chill increased the closer Gon drew to the building where they knew Netero was. It was like a chill up his spine, a phantom discomfort.
He'd asked Killua about it, and the Valkyrie had explained that it was Netero's Unseelie aura. The more powerful a Fae, the further out you could sense them. He'd told Gon that he gave off the exact same creepy feeling, though it was far weaker and easy to get used to.
Gon had never realized that he made a chill run up people's spines whenever he got too close. Maybe that was why the Islanders had always hated him…
I wonder if there's a way to turn the Unseelie aura off? If there is… Netero is as good a person as any to ask. However, I'm not sure if he'll be willing to chat with me. He's here to take me to the Queen, but I'm about to refuse to go to the Court with him.
Killua says that Netero is tricky. That he's clearly super strong, but tries to hide it behind his elderly appearance. The chill I have now is way less than what the full extent of his Unseelie aura would be. Will Netero try to use his aura to force me to obey him? Will I be able to withstand it?
I've never met an Unseelie Fae in my life…
It feels as if I'm about to visit an intimidating relative. I feel like Netero is going to be disappointed with me, and I'm terrified to see the look on his face when I refuse to go with him to the Court…
This whole ordeal feels almost like a betrayal to my species.
Even though I've decided that I want no part in the Court. I guess it's instinct again.
"You don't have to stand there, you know," Killua grumbled as he hauled himself past Gon.
The hybrid shook himself from his thoughts. "But I want to!" he declared with a grin. "It's my fault you're so slow right now anyways."
Gon could only see the back of Killua's head, but based on his reddening ears he was blushing like mad. The hybrid giggled, and scurried up to walk beside Killua. His mate. Killua was his mate!
It was so incredible to be able to think that thought.
Raised human as he was, Gon didn't really understand the full extent of holding the role of someone's mate. But ever since this morning he'd felt a buzz in his chest, it was like his blood was running several shades lighter. He didn't know what it was about, but there was something there between him and Killua.
There always had been, but now it was almost physical. He wondered if others could sense the bond as well?
Gon slipped his hand into Killua's as they climbed the last of the stairs. It was almost time. Gon was about to face a fellow Unseelie Fae for the first time in his life. It was a miracle he hadn't happened across one until now, and a miracle Gon was thankful for. Now he had his life figured out, and Killua at his side to support him through this trial.
The hybrid nodded to himself before reaching out to open the enormous crystal doors.
Today he would become a runaway prince.
Gon pulled the doors open, and together with Killua entered the tower where Netero lay waiting.
What Gon found within was shocking to say the least. He'd gotten so used to the cool color palette of Nirvana, he'd almost forgotten how aggressive the color yellow was! The entire inside of the tower had been stained with gold. Gon craned his neck to see up into the tip. The tower was thousands of feet high, and completely hollow like an upside down ice cream cone.
There were various random objects suspended from the ceiling front sparkling chains that looked like they were made of light. There were dangling trees, suspended wooden platforms, a cage with a sleeping tiger inside, a porcelain bathtub… the list could go on. Gon felt like he could be entertained all day in here just by staring at all the stuff hanging from the ceiling.
He walked alongside Killua up a short few steps, onto a dais of sorts. There were several byobu folding screens lined up and sectioning off a random space in the center of the tower. The screens were painted with swirling patterns of rivers and pink flowered trees.
From within the makeshift room a… heated argument of sorts could be heard.
"I request the presence of the Prince."
The voice sent a violent chill up Gon's spine. The word "Prince" made his breath hitch in his throat. He was the Prince. Killua turned to look at Gon, concern flashing across his eyes. The hybrid swallowed hard, and continued approaching the gap in the folding screens.
"As I've told you, he is indisposed." That was undoubtedly the voice of Shaiapouf. He sounded really pissed off, that was for sure.
"Whelp, another year it is then!"
A "tch" from Pouf could be heard.
"Hm… I wonder if I should start charging two years for every refusal? Maybe it would heighten Lord Meruem's incentive to cooperate."
"Our King has been more cooperative with you than he's been with Lady Komugi herself," Pouf said through gritted teeth. "There's nothing he can do, his hands are tied, you cannot see Gon and that is that!"
"I simply ask to have a little chat with the boy," the elderly man muttered.
"He is unconscious!" Pouf exclaimed, a hair away from all-out screaming.
Gon sweatdropped. He was overcome with stage fright all of a sudden… He really didn't want to get in the middle of this argument, but he had no choice.
Gon ducked through the gap in the folding screens, finding a literal fireplace with a bear skin rug and a leather reclining chair. In the chair sat a man who looked like he had a foot in the grave. He clutched a mug of steaming tea between his knobby, wrinkled hands and was dressed in pristine white robes. He had a sparse, wiry beard that dangled from the lower half of his face like ivy off a tree.
But in spite of the deep wrinkles across his skin and sickening spread of sun spots and dents, the man glowed. And he was beautiful for it. His ears were elongated, pointed, and elegant, extending from his skull like the wings of an Angel. His skin gave of a faint white light, and he shimmered like a million dazzling stars. His eyelids hung low over his eyes, his eyebrows framing his face like flags void of wind.
Beneath the shadow of his eyebrows and the sagging folds of his lids lay two twinkling little eyes. They were the shade of fertile earth, the mud of a monsoon, the rippling surface of freshly brewed tea. And they glowed against the planes of his face, giving off an ethereal light that could cut through the darkest of souls like a hot knife through butter.
The moment Gon laid eyes on Netero his feet were glued on the spot. His heart was racing. This was it. This was an Unseelie Fae. This was Gon's species.
Unfortunately, the Halfling Prince was not given time to steel himself and prepare his words, for the moment he stepped through the screen Netero's eyes were on him. When their gazes met Gon would have expected to be physically shocked, overcome with mortal terror at the very least.
He was shocked to discover that there was no adverse reaction. His aura glands weren't screaming at him to run. His sixth sense wasn't running haywire. But what he could feel was a tug in the depths of his chest. It was like there was a string that reached out to Netero and tugged at Gon to go to him. He felt that connection, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the psychic link that Ging had been talking about.
Gon knew that he and Netero were two of a kind the moment their eyes met, and had he met an Unseelie Fae prior to his violent encounter with Vazza then he would have felt that tug within him and known.
"He doesn't look very unconscious to me," Netero snorted.
Pouf startled and turned on his heel, his eyes blowing wide when he found Killua and Gon standing at the edge of the makeshift room.
"G-Gon!" Pouf sputtered. He bowed his head, "It– It's great to see you well again."
"Thanks," Gon said, "It's good to see you again."
"Of-of course," Pouf agreed. He was clearly taken aback, and not sure how to react. Killua had admitted to Gon that he was the reason why Netero had not been allowed to visit his bedside. It had been agreed that Netero would not be allowed to see Gon under any circumstances. Gon understood Pouf's surprise.
I'll have to thank him for dealing with Netero all this time. After all, he's here for me. And as his Prince, it's my responsibility to deal with him.
Gon took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and approached Netero. Killua walked silently alongside him. The backs of their hands brushed every now and again, a reminder that Killua was right there if Gon needed anything at all.
"So you're the Queen's new favorite," Netero said around his mug of tea. There was a devious twinkle in his eye.
Gon's brows drew together. He stopped at the edge of the rug, making sure to keep an acceptable distance. Killua fell in at his shoulder, his tail wrapping around Gon's ankle. He said that on purpose, Gon observed. He's telling me several things. That he had no idea who I was or what I looked like up until now, that I'm the Queen's favorite competitor in the Succession War, and that I'm "newly" under the attention of Her and the Court. I also suspect that Netero is sizing me up. He's probably less than impressed, based on the amused tone of his voice.
Killua. You're right. This guy is trouble.
The tail around Gon's ankle tightened by a fraction.
I know, the touch said, He's a real nuisance. But we can handle him.
Gon nodded, and raised his chin. He was the Prince here. Netero had no right to cause him trouble.
"Gon Feeks, was it?" Netero asked.
"Freecss," the horned male corrected tersely.
"Ah! That's right!" Netero chirped. He slouched down in his chair and tossed an ankle over his knee. Gon watched, taken aback, as Netero's body language changed from that of an old geezer to that of a cocky young man. "It's nice to meet you," the Knight drawled, swirling his teacup around like a glass of whiskey. "My name is Netero, and I am a Knight to you and your Mother."
"Pleasure's all mine," Gon responded, his voice dark and void of its usual friendly lilt.
"I must admit," Netero continued, "When I was told to retrieve the Prince who had defeated Princess Vazza for initiation, you are not exactly what I had pictured." Netero's eyes sweeped Gon up and down, making a show of judging his build and the clothes Killua had lent him. Those devious eyes flicked to Killua and then back to Gon.
A prickle of hostility ran up Gon's spine. He choked down the growl rising in his throat.
"Congratulations," Netero said simply, not at all what Gon had been expecting to hear.
He knows.
Can he smell it? I know Killua scented all over me last night, but did the scent change now that we're mated?
"You're quite a scruffy young man, I must admit," Netero mused. "I'm surprised you were able to pull a Valkyrie of Chancellor Zoldyck's caliber."
Killua choked on air.
Gon glared at Netero, ignoring the faint color that had risen in his cheeks. "What are you trying to say? If you're calling me weak then say it to my face."
"Oh! A feisty one, aren't you?" Netero laughed.
Gon snarled.
"Come now, no hard feelings!" the Knight snorted, flopping his hand in Gon's direction. "You're certainly not weak, if you managed to defeat Princess Vazza. But looks are deceiving, now, aren't they?"
"What are you talking about?" Gon snapped. This guy really pisses me off. Is it because I'm a hybrid? Unseelies are supposed to be accepting of Halflings! I know I don't look Fae but that doesn't change the fact that I'm a Prince and he's just a Knight.
"My report spun the tale of a looming figure with obsidian skin darker than the night sky, jagged claws, and horns like a devil's," Netero explained lazily. "Though your eyes do seem to bring lava to mind, I had assumed your horns would be bigger, is all."
As well as the rest of me…
Netero doesn't believe that I was the one who defeated Vazza. Either that, or he's trying to gauge my power for himself. Damn Knight. He has no right to question a Prince!
Gon glared into Netero's eyes as he called on his biochemical. It hummed to life in his veins, giddy and buzzing to morph his body into the Fae Netero had been told about. Gon had never tried to use his biochemical to make himself look Fae rather than transform completely, and he wondered if it were a possibility…
Fueled by anger and an instinct that urged him to assert his superiority, Gon directed the biochemical not to his muscles and bones, but to the surface of his skin and the horns on his head.
The chemical worked smoothly, more smoothly than it ever had before. The pain Gon had associated with using his Unseelie power was nonexistent, and he completed an unfamiliar transformation with no trouble whatsoever. His ears stretched and turned sharp at the ships. His horns expanded and curled into themselves. His eyes flashed and sparked like fire, and a faint glow picked up all across his body. Gon felt his aura increase in strength, it was like he was a wire just hooked up to a battery.
An influx of power prickled beneath Gon's skin, and his body itched to morph and grow. But he ignored it, and held himself in the body of a non-royal Fae.
Netero was completely unmoved by this demonstration.
Gon grumbled in annoyance, fine then! He broke the dam and urged his body to grow. His muscles began to expand and a hostile aura burst forth from Gon's body.
Netero's eyebrows raised. "Well then," he murmured.
Gon sighed and withdrew his biochemical. He didn't want to fully shift right now. He'd destroy Killua's clothes if he did, and it hurt really bad whenever the tail extended from his spine.
"I see, you possess a second form," Netero mused, rubbing at his beard.
Killua and Pouf shared a glance. Both of them had been pushed back several steps by the force of the aura hailing from Gon's half-transformation. Yet Netero hardly seemed impressed at all. Was this the power of the Unseelie?
"It seems that the Unseelie in you lies not far beneath the surface," Netero observed. "Your power is impressive. I'm sure you noticed a change in the operation of your biochemical?"
Gon gasped.
What? He knew about the chemical already? That means that he knew about the second form as well–
Netero's lips turned up in a smirk. "You'll notice that it no longer pains you to undergo a fraction of the transformation. The biochemical is also easier to control now, it bends to your will like waves to the moon. I'm not certain you noticed, but your aura has strengthened as well. Your friends certainly did."
Gon blinked, and glanced over his shoulder to where Pouf and Killua had drawn backwards. He paled. What? What was going on? How did Netero know all this?
"Tell me, how powerful am I?" Netero asked, recapturing Gon's attention a split second before a flood of full-force Unseelie Aura violently burst from him.
Gon gasped and instinctively fell to a defensive position–
Only to find that– that Netero's aura didn't affect him at all! What? That didn't make sense! Ryder's aura was enough to send shivers up his spine and he was so much lower ranked! Shouldn't Gon be trembling before Netero's wrath?!
Gon couldn't gawk over his immunity to Unseelie Fae power though, because the next thing he sensed was a panic from Pouf and Killua.
He whipped around to find the two of them crumpling to their knees, terror on their faces, wisps of their normally wildly powerful, but now laughable aura fizzling away in the face of Netero's godlike power. Killua cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground, Pouf following soon after him.
"Killua!" Gon screamed, darting to his side in a split second. He pulled the Valkyrie into his lap and found blood pouring from his eyes and nose, the force of Netero's aura was killing him!
In a mad panic, Gon turned on Netero, ready to raise hell–
The aura shut off, just like that.
Killua gasped like he'd had his head held underwater, then hunched over and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Pouf was in a similar state a couple feet away. Gon's hands trembled as he held Killua against his chest. Shit. He'd almost–
"What is wrong with you?!" Gon roared at Netero.
He bit roughly into the meaty part of his forearm. Blood spilled forth and he activated his Ren to call forth the Healing Magic Bisky had taught them. Gon had always sucked at Healing Spells, but he'd mastered just enough to heal the effects of Netero's aura. He winced at the sharp drain of his Energy reserve. Healing Magic was rough.
"Tell me," Netero said, utterly unaffected by the two deaths he'd almost caused. "How strong am I?"
Gon looked down at where Killua lay in his arms. Fury raged in those sapphire eyes. He glanced over his shoulder at Pouf, who was picking himself to his feet and wiping his bloodied nose on his shirtsleeve. He looked livid.
The Healing Spell completed its cycle and faded back into Gon's hands. He silently slung Killua's arm over his shoulder and pulled the two of them to their feet. Killua's hand wrapped around his waist. Tongues of inky black aura curled around at the Valkyrie's feet. Gon hadn't sensed this much bloodlust off him since they'd fought each other in Heaven's Arena.
"Strong," Gon spat through gritted teeth. "Strong enough to beat Neferpitou."
Netero nodded, stroking his beard. "Yes. We Unseelie Knights are a force to be trifled with. I could kill that little Ant with my pinkie finger alone."
Pouf's teeth audibly ground together.
"Meruem will kill you," Gon snarled. "He'll rip you apart before you can even think to counter!"
"True," Netero huffed. "I couldn't best your King if I tried. But I'm not here to start wars. That's the job of a Prince."
Gon blanched, and then trembled with rage. His biochemical reacted, causing his horns to extend by an inch and his teeth to morph into fangs. "You take that back!" he yelled.
"It's a simple truth, "Netero said slowly.
"I would never betray my friends," Gon said darkly.
"I didn't say that you would," Netero chided. "All that power that I just demonstrated for you… the power you asserted could kill Neferpitou and the other Royal Guards. The power that would have ended your mate given a couple seconds more."
Gon took a threatening step forward, his aura beginning to manifest itself as a murky smoke rising from his shoulders.
"All of my power is eclipsed by the power you hold as Prince," Netero continued.
That caught Gon's attention. His jaw dropped, his eyebrows turning up in horror.
"At the moment you have just enough power to beat me by the skin of your teeth if you tried," Netero explained. "That is, if you were to fully transform, of course. I could defeat you in under a second in the form you currently hold."
"What are you getting at," Gon asked. I could beat… Netero? That's insane…
"As an Unseelie Prince, it is your obligation to compete in the Succession War. With each Succession Battle you win, you become stronger. If you were to win a mere three more battles than Vazza would have been little more than a fruit fly in the face of your power."
Gon gawked at Netero.
"The Fae are called monsters for a reason, my Prince," Netero said solemnly. "Before defeating Vazza your Unseelie form could have been defeated by Shaiapouf here with relatively little struggle. But now… after fighting and killing your Older Sister, the odds have been swapped."
Gon felt sick to his stomach. All that power… it was impossible to fathom. Killua was one of the strongest people he'd ever met. Shaiapouf may as well have been a god, for how strong he was. But the both of them were fodder in the face of a Knight like Netero. The Fae… the Fae were more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.
Ging had seriously infiltrated their Court and lived there for more than two years? As a human hybrid?!
"It is my duty as Knight," Netero declared, "To bring your Majesty to the Court. Your Mother wishes to meet you, there is an Initiation Ceremony awaiting you. Your fate calls to you, Prince Gon, in the land of our people."
Gon swallowed a mouthful of bile. "If I return to the Court with you… what will happen?"
"You'll be brought before your Mother and the Nobles," Netero explained. "A grand feast will be thrown in your honor, and you will be initiated as Prince and competitor for the throne. Your Siblings will challenge you one by one, and together you shall fight in the grand Succession War before the eyes of our entire species."
Gon's eyes fell downwards. A shadow obstructed his expression from Netero's view. He tightened his grip on Killua's shoulders. He felt trapped. Trapped in his own body, like he was being slowly sewn into a puppet as strings wrapped around his neck and strangled him alive. He hadn't felt this claustrophobic since Whale Island… this is why he'd had to leave.
A cold sweat broke out over his brow, and Gon forced himself to unclench his jaw and relax his shoulders. No. It was okay. He chose his own path. He was the one who pulled his strings, not Netero.
"Great power lies in wait for you, my Prince," Netero said. "Your Mother, our Queen, sees potential in you. She believes that you can win the Succession War and claim the title of Crown Prince. Join your Mother in the Court. It's where you belong."
"No," Gon choked out.
"Excuse me?" Netero asked sternly.
"I said no!" Gon declared, lifting his chin to look Netero in the eye. He remembered Vazza, and the pain in her eyes as she declared that her and Gon were the same. Vazza had been Gon's Older Sister, but he'd killed her because of some stupid Succession War. "I'm not joining the Court."
Netero quirked an eyebrow. His aura spiked.
Gon gasped, and quickly stepped in front of Killua to shield him.
"I want no part in this War or the power of the Fae royalty, not if I have to kill my Siblings for it!" Gon exclaimed, his voice rising in volume the more words that spilled forth. "I don't care if the Unseelie Queen is my mother, I've decided that I don't want to join the Court and that's final! Tell my Mother that I've renounced my title as Prince. I'll never fight in another Succession Battle again."
"Are you trying to ignore the blood that runs through your veins?" Netero asked. His face was unreadable and hardened. It was terrifying. "You'd rebel against your Mother like this and give up the incredible power she's so graciously laid out for you?"
"She was never my mother!" Gon yelled. "I've never even met Her! I have no idea who she is! I'll never be loyal to a Queen who's not mine! I don't need any more power, and I don't need Her help! My place is here, with Killua, and my home is Whale Island, not the Unseelie Court!"
Netero's eyes narrowed. "You cannot run away from that which you are. The moment you accepted Princess Vazza's challenge you claimed your title of Prince and joined the Succession War. There is no going back, no matter how hard you may try."
"So what?" Gon snarled. "I'll be a runaway Prince then! I'll always be a Fae, but I'll never join the Court, you'd have to kill me first!"
"And to do that you'd have to go through me," Killua threatened, his eyes a stormy night and his voice a gruesome death.
Pouf watched this exchange with widened eyes. He sighed to himself. This was utterly ridiculous. But he was a Royal Guard and Chancellor of Nirvana, wasn't he? He represented Meruem here.
Shaiapouf stepped forward and lined up beside Gon and Killua.
"If you kill one Chancellor, you invoke the wrath of the rest. As well as the wrath of King Meruem himself," Pouf announced. Gods, he hated this. He was never one for sentimental displays. It seemed that Nirvana would never cease its work to deconstruct every ounce of his pride.
Netero gazed down his nose at his Prince and the two Chancellors flanking him. It was utterly ridiculous. He could destroy the Chancellors with a flick of his chin, effectively shattering Gon's fighting spirit with the death of his mate. It was useless. Yet they persisted.
No matter. He'd seen this coming, after all.
The Knight sat back down in his chair. He leaned into the cushions like the millenia old man he was.
"I expected this, you know," he sighed. He reeled his aura back in and took a large sip of his tea. Gon and the two Chancellors did not stand down. "Relax, wouldn't you?" Netero complained.
Gon glared, but straightened. Killua and Shaiapouf backed off.
Netero rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You believe that you must kill me to secure your freedom, do you not? Who am I kidding, that's exactly what you're thinking right now."
Gon shared a glance with Killua. What was Netero on about now?
"Well don't get your panties in a wad," Netero grumbled, "I won't fight you. Though I'd give an arm and a leg to go toe to toe with your King…"
The three males fell back into defensive positions.
"I thought I told you to calm down!" Netero exclaimed in exasperation. He rolled his eyes. "Damn, young people are so exhausting."
Gon relaxed, Killua and Pouf reluctantly followed suit.
"I won't challenge your King and I won't stand in your way either," Netero promised grumpily. "You are my Prince, Gon Freecss. It would be a breach of my oath as Knight to make war against you, or direct any ill will whatsoever."
Gon frowned. He tried to kill Killua, how does that not count as ill will?!
"If you refuse to return to the Court with me, then there's nothing I can do," Netero sighed. "Obviously I could take up psychological arms against you, or hold Nirvana as my hostage to coerce you into joining me. But I don't want to do that. My mission from the Queen is to bring Her Son before Her, but I am obligated to follow the orders of my Prince as well."
"I order you to stand down!" Gon shouted angrily.
Netero narrowed his eyes at him. "Yes, I know. I've already done that, haven't I?" He rolled his eyes. "I've taken a liking to this place, you know?" The old man gazed off into the distance. "Nirvana. It's peace. It's beauty. It's mission."
Killua scoffed, "You've got some nerve, claiming to share Meruem's dream. Do you see yourself right now?!"
Netero shut his eyes and rubbed his fingers into his temple. "I'm well aware of the irony, Chancellor Zoldyck."
Killua growled. Gon had to hold his arm out to stop him from attacking the Knight.
"I understand your reluctance to join the Court, my Prince," Netero said solemnly. "I've lived for tens of thousands of years, and I've seen the rise and fall of hundreds of Unseelie Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Nobels, Knights, Soldiers, Halflings, you name it. I watched as the Angels and Demons waged war across the land. I watched as Blood Magic rose from the ashes and descended into the shadows. I was a witness to the forging of the first interplanetary peace treaty, and I watched as the signers dissolved into war, reforged a treaty, and then went to war all over again.
"The world we live in is one of pain and suffering. We spit upon the weak yet do everything in our power to make sure that they stay in the mud beneath our feet. Families are torn apart as war and chaos ravage the land. Young ones suffer at the hands of despair. Small pockets of peace exist in the midst of the Wildlands between the kingdoms of ruling species, but even those havens fade as fast as fireflies in the night. Time is a cruel mistress, and I have danced with her for longer than you can imagine. Yet never in my long, long life have I encountered a land such as Nirvana.
"Against all odds, the epitome of chaos and death himself set aside his reign of terror and destroyed his home land to create a world anew. This planet is new, and houses hardly a grain of sand compared to the rest of the humanoids that walk this plane of existence. Yet in the midst of all destruction you have managed to build a world of peace, free from the tiresome hierarchy that keeps us in chains and away from the hatred that drives us apart."
Netero smiled to himself.
"To tell you the truth," he said, "I think I may follow your example, my Prince, and leave the Court behind me. I'll be holding this city for eighty years, won't I? I might as well take a vacation and consider retirement."
Gon, Killua, and Pouf stood in shock. Was he serious? They wouldn't have to fight Netero to free Gon from the Unseelie Court? Beyond that, he was considering leaving the Court as well?!
"Run along, Gon Freecss," Netero chuckled. "You have your whole life ahead of you."
"Really?" Gon breathed.
"Indeed," the Knight nodded. "If you decide to leave the Court behind you then, well, that's your decision to make."
Gon gawked at Netero, and then turned to look at Killua. The Valkyrie looked just as surprised. They'd won. They'd defeated the Unseelie Knight and freed Gon from the Succession War!
"Though I must warn you," Netero drawled. "As I've stated, you can turn your back on the Court but that does not change the fact that you are an Unseelie Prince. You've joined the Succession War, and some of your Siblings will not care that you've sworn against it. Watch your back, Gon Freecss. The Unseelie have their eyes on you."
Gon nodded. "I will. Thank you, Netero."
The old man smiled. "Of course, my Prince. If you ever need anything, anything at all, know that Knight Netero is right here in Bodhisattva waiting for you."
Pouf's eyebrow twitched. It appeared that their Netero infestation would not be alleviated any time soon.
…
Gon and Killua exited Netero's tower, the enormous doors slamming shut behind them. Gon took a deep breath, taking a deep scent of the air. The tension from Netero's aura was gone, that spine chilling sensation having been withdrawn into only the tower itself.
Pouf scratched his head as he gazed at the doors. Huh. Perhaps they'd have less of an "infestation" after all.
Gon released his breath and allowed all the tension to leave his shoulders. "Killua, did you hear that?" he asked with a grin.
"Sure did," the Valkyrie sighed. "We got Netero off your ass, and didn't have to destroy Nirvana in the process. I'd say today was a success."
Gon laughed out loud, his voice echoing down the stairs and warming the air. "We did it! I feel so free now."
"Feels great, doesn't it?" Killua snorted, slipping his hands behind his head. "Trust me, I felt the exact same way after I slashed my mother in the face, stabbed my brother in the side, and left Kukuroo Mountain in my dust~"
Gon sighed, and flopped against Killua.
"H-Hey, the hell are you doing?" the Valkyrie sputtered, scrambling to catch Gon in his arms before he hit the ground. "Don't just let yourself fall like that!"
Gon giggled as he gazed up at him, "I love you, you know that?"
Killua's eyes fluttered, before his face melted into a smile. "Yeah. I know. I love you too. Idiot."
"I completed my mission," Gon murmured, gazing up into Killua's beautiful sapphire eyes. He brushed his fingers through the curtain of silken bangs that dusted his forehead. "Four years ago I told Aunt Mito that I'd find Ging and discover who I was. I finally did it."
"Yeah," Killua agreed. His eyes were soft and affectionate. "You really did it."
"Now we need to complete your mission," Gon declared. His eyes sparked with determination, and his face broke out in a wild grin. "We'll rescue Alluka, and break your ties to Kukuroo Mountain for good!"
Killua grinned, "Hell yeah, we will!"