Episode 12: Part 2
A few days passed and the Fomorians had not shown themselves despite the efforts of Noelle and Quinton to patrol the town when they weren't in class. As they walked back into the antique shop at the end of another afternoon patrol, they found Connor at work keeping a low profile as Stephen paced around waiting while Kristen rummaged around the backrooms.
"Oh, you're finally back!" Stephen smiled as he walked over to help take Noelle's coat and hang it on the coat rack, "I was waiting around hoping I'd find you here because I missed you."
Stephen leaned forward to try and kiss Noelle on the cheek but the Autumn Knight was too fast and scooped up the gargoyle Yum-Yum as he passed by. She raised the gargoyle up just in time for Stephen to kiss the creature in the face instead. The little gargoyle squawked in annoyance and pinched Stephen's nose before jumping out of Noelle's arms. He continued to scurry away with an angry Stephen in pursuit while Quinton walked over to greet his roommate.
Connor sat at a corner table polishing some of the antiques all while nervously glancing at the door and windows. Quinton crossed his arms, "Connor, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you're hiding here from Laura."
"You bet I am," he replied, "She got kinda upset at me the other day when I kept insisting she's just not my type of girl."
Noelle raised an eyebrow in sudden curiosity, "Oh really? And what exactly is your type?"
Before anyone else could speak, the door flew open and Laura stepped in... except she looked a little different now. Everyone stared in complete shock as she sported a blue beret on her head, brunette hair tied in a braid and a blue tartan plaid blouse. The Winter Knight spotted Connor and marched over with a proud grin, "Oh there you are! I've been looking all over for you! I decided to try a new style. What do you think?"
Connor remained slack jawed in shock and fear at the new brunette girl before he was pushed aside by an outraged Autumn Knight. A dark frown spread over Noelle's face as she gritted her teeth, "Laura! I can't believe you! You're stealing my look now too?"
The Winter Knight shrugged and took off the blue winter beret too, "Well… I suppose you're right. The beret is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Wait... what else did she steal?" Connor asked in confusion while Quinton restrained Noelle by the shoulders to keep her from throttling Laura.
He turned to their mentor as she entered the room, "Uh, Kristen? Have you made any headway with the magic stuff yet?"
The Druid dusted off the sleeves of her blazer and leaned on the counter, "Well... yes and no. I did manage to figure out the makeup of Leanansidhe's magic flower dust. It was a charm spell that the fey often use when they want to improve the mood or attitudes toward another person. The only problem is that it has a slightly different effect on us humans. Simply put, it works like a powerful love spell on us."
"Why would that witch be making charm spells in the first place?" Noelle asked curiously.
Kristen shrugged, "Who knows? Maybe she's trying to manipulate someone, or maybe to keep Balor from running her up the flagpole after her most recent defeat."
"Well… what do we do about this spell?" Quinton asked.
Kristen paced around the room thoughtfully, "I was able to figure out the primary ingredient in the dust, Viola Tricolor… also called love-in-idleness."
The two knights stood quietly and looked back in blank confusion causing their Druid mentor to huff, "Remember? From A Midsummernight's Dream? Shakespeare?"
The Knights grimaced and shrugged again as Kristen sighed, "Read a book people! In the story, the flowers were used by the faeries to make a sort of love charm. When you sprinkle some over the eyes of the victim, they'll fall in love with the first person they see."
"Okay… so it works like Cupid's arrow," Noelle nodded, "How do we reverse it then?"
Kristen grinned, "I came up with an antidote made from some bitter roots and the fungus I had asked Quinton and Laura to gather for me a few months ago."
"Awesome! Let's bust it out and fix this whole mess," Quinton cheered until Kristen shook her head apologetically.
"Unfortunately, my last batch was accidentally ruined by the gargoyles so we've got to wait a little while before the new batch finishes boiling. Until then, we're going to be stuck just trying to manage the chaos."
At that moment, the shop phone rang and Kristen quickly picked it up, "I'm here... what? You're kidding! All right. I'll let them know."
The Druid hung up and looked to Noelle and Quinton, "That was Mr. O'Doyle... Leanansidhe is back with more Fomorians. They're headed toward the heart of campus. She may be meaning to draw you guys out into a fight."
"Then let's oblige her," Noelle said as she moved to take the lead again, "Come on Quinton!"
"Wait! I'm coming with you," Connor called as he moved toward the door.
The Autumn Knight gently touched his arm to stop him while shaking her head, "No Connor. We're going to need you here to keep Laura and Stephen out of trouble. Can you do that for me?"
Connor grimaced and gave a conflicted sigh while seeing his other friends out the door. He hated the fact that it was all he could do at the moment.
A short time later, Noelle and Quinton found Leanansidhe and some of her Fomorian allies advancing onto the main quad of the college while terrified students scattered in terror. Alongside the general was a platoon of spriggan foot soldiers along with a burly looking fey monster. The Fomorian was a shaggy bipedal monster with features resembling some kind of canine or winter wolf. It snarled and slobbered from its sharp jaws while giving a growl at the new enemies who now stood in the way.
"Seems like you've been spreading a lot of love around campus Leanansidhe. I didn't know you'd be bringing all your boyfriends along," Noelle taunted as she called her armor and drew her sword.
The witch suppressed her scowl before giving a little smirk and producing one last flower bud wand that she had used on the others, "Only two of you this time. It's hardly going to be a fair fight. This improved flower bud here will be enough to pacify the two of you and after that, the rest of the valley starting with this school."
"We're not going to let that happen!" Noelle called as she charged forward and mowed down the spriggans with Quinton. Once she had broken through, she began to clash with Leanansidhe while Quinton did his best to hold off the other Fomorian brute. Unfortunately, the brute was too strong, easily overpowering Quinton and shoving him aside.
Noelle could only gasp in fear while she suddenly found herself double-teamed between Leanansidhe and the other Fomorian. Before the wolf-like bruiser could pounce on her, it was blown back with a fiery sword slash of elemental energy. Noelle stopped and glanced over to see the Summer Knight had arrived and stood ready to defend her with his blazing sword. "Connor? What are you doing here?"
"Sorry Noelle, I had a feeling you guys would need help," he said with a wink. "I couldn't take that chance."
While the wounded Fomorian beast lay stunned on the ground, Leanansidhe gave a furious cry as a silvery arrow bolt struck the ground beside her and threw her away to the icy turf. To everyone's surprise, both Laura and Stephen had joined the fight, fully girded for battle.
The Winter Knight stomped over and drew her rapier, "I can't believe you Connor! You ran out and left me in town... just because poor dear little Noelle might be in trouble?"
"Laura... take it easy," Connor pleaded, "You're not thinking clearly."
She shook her head, "No. I can see you're the one who's confused. She's obviously leading you on."
"Mon dieu! (My God!) Laura, are you nuts?" Noelle exclaimed in frustration, "He's allowed to think for himself you know."
"And you! I knew it! You were just jealous and you're trying to steal my man!" Laura fumed as she turned her rapier on Noelle, "Listen here you little French froggie. You'd better back off right now or else."
"Oh that's it! I've had it with you," Noelle growled as she raised her sword too, "You want to start the next Hundred Years War? Remember who won that one?"
"Except this will just be Agincourt for you all over again!" Laura retorted, "En garde!"
Stephen swiftly pulled his own short sword and moved toward Laura as the two girl began to clash, "Hey Laura! How dare you attack Noelle!"
He was halted as Connor reluctantly barred his path with his own sword drawn, "Don't do it Stephen. You're just going to make things worse."
"Easy for you to say! It seems Noelle's the one who cares more about your feelings than mine," the Silver Knight cried, "If I have to defeat you in combat to win her love then that's what I'm going to do!"
"Are you insane? What are you talking about?" Connor gasped in panic as he raised his guard and blocked a sword blow from Stephen. Upon seeing the two boys now engaged in combat, the girls turned around and the fight devolved into a seemingly chaotic four-way melee.
"What in the name of Daghda?" Leanansidhe muttered incredulously watching the four knights begin to fight amongst themselves in a battle royale, attacking and defending each other all at the same time.
Quinton could only shake his head nearby, "I have no idea what's going on here anymore."
After a brief pause, the Spring Knight and Fomorian general looked at each other and remembered they were also enemies before clashing again. While Quinton fended the witch off, Connor wove through the allied melee and pushed aside Laura before parrying away a blow from Stephen and reflexively turning his sword to threaten the next combatant beside him. He halted his slash as he met the annoyed glare of Noelle.
"Connor! I'm on your side! What are you doing?"
"I don't know!" he indignantly cried, "Everyone here's either trying to make out with me or kill me and I don't know which is which anymore!"
"I won't kill you love," Laura called before trying to thrust at Noelle, "But I'll try to kill her."
The Summer Knight blocked the rapier and gripped Laura's arm, "Hey! Nobody is getting killed today."
"Except for you!" Stephen shouted as he barreled into Connor from behind and knocked the others over. Noelle simply stood off to the side shaking her head with a sigh at the utter mayhem while Connor, Laura, and Stephen tumbled on the ground and became locked in three-way grapple.
Meanwhile, Quinton broke free of his close quarters melee with Leanansidhe and tumbled under a blow from the now recovered Fomorian winter wolf beast. Upon regaining his balance, Quinton pulled out the charm spell flower bud that he had pick-pocketed from Leanansidhe in the confusion. "Missing something?"
"You! Give that back!" the fey sorceress called while Quinton maneuvered past the other Fomorian brute again.
As she turned her attention back to the real fight, Noelle readied her blade as the Spring Knight planted the last flower bud on the Fomorian bruiser, "Noelle! Aim for the flower!"
The Spring Knight dove away as Noelle hurled her whirling blade at the monster. In a flash of orange light, the blade struck the dark flower bud and caused it to explode into a cloud of extra strength faerie dust all over the Fomorian wolf beast.
As the monster staggered, Leanansidhe watched in horror as it looked up to see her and began to approach with open outstretched arms.
"No you mangey fleabag! What do you think you're doing? Get away from me!" the witch shouted in alarm.
Noelle and Quinton exchanged a grin as they watched Leanansidhe trying to dodge the lovestruck monster and swing her own sword to try and ward it off. To her dismay, the beast shrugged it off and gave her a big hug, knocking her over. Leanansidhe snarled again as the wolf beast pinned her down and continued licking her face.
"You're going to pay for this humiliation knights!" the witch shouted before she retreated from the battlefield in a jet of green smoke which also carried the charmed Fomorian minion along too.
As Leanansidhe escaped, Kristen rushed out onto the snowy quad, panting and huffing having rushed to the battle with a large bottle of her freshly brewed antidote. "Sorry everyone... I came as fast as I could, but it's finally ready."
Noelle eyed the three remaining knights who were still scuffling on the ground before turning to their mentor, "You couldn't have picked a better moment. Have at it Kristen."
The Druid called her staff and levitated the bottle of dark orange liquid over the three squabbling knights. Kristen gave her staff a wave and the bottle poured over the three, dousing them in the magic liquid. Quinton and Noelle watched as the antidote went to work while also dispelling the armor of the Summer, Winter, and Silver Knights.
As Kristen's antidote neutralized the effects of the charm spell, Connor rolled over and helped the Winter Knight sit up. Again, he rested his hands on her shoulders to steady her as she shook off the effects and rubbed her eyes, "Hey Laura… are you okay? How do you feel?"
Laura blinked a few more times before looking at him in horror… realization setting in over all the things she had said and done over the past few days. She reared back and punched him directly in the chin laying the Summer Knight flat out on his back in the snow. "Don't touch me you... you dog!"
"Yup… I think Laura's back," Quinton chuckled while Connor lay flat on the snow with a groan.
"Oww… this just isn't my week…"
Nearby, Kristen helped Stephen up and he rubbed his eyes before turning to Noelle with embarrassment. He sheepishly bowed his head and tried to avoid her eyes, "Noelle… I am so sorry about all this. I honestly don't know what came over me these past few days. Please, please, please forgive me."
The Autumn Knight chuckled and patted his arm, "Seriously... don't sweat it Stephen. You were under a spell from Leanansidhe. I know you weren't thinking clearly."
Stephen gave a relieved sigh and nodded, "Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better."
From where they stood, Kristen glanced over and saw Laura ranting and fretting over her new brown hair while wiping her lips as Quinton did his best to try and restrain her and calm her down.
"Let's go back to the shop," Kristen laughed in amusement, "With all the love spells and teenage hormones flying around, I think we could all use another chance to sit down and cool off."
Later that day, everyone gathered at the shop to regroup and cool down after what was arguably the most humiliating battle any one of them had ever fought. While Stephen helped Kristen make some coffee, Noelle and Quinton sat off in a corner chatting while Laura sat by the warm fireplace running a brush through her hair. Kristen had offered her a bottle of magic fairy-hues solution to restore the original color of her gold hair. She wore a sour face and glanced over as Connor came to sit down nearby her. He gave a sigh and removed the icepack that he was holding, revealing a bruise on his chin where Laura had punched him.
"Hey," he said, "You doing alright?"
"I'm fine," she mumbled as she continued to recolor her hair.
The Summer Knight paused and tried to give a cheerful smile, "It's nice to see your hair getting back to normal."
Laura exhaled in exasperation but remained silent. Another long silence passed before Connor sighed, "Listen Laura, are you going to be like this for the rest of the day now?"
"Connor… I… just go away! I don't want to talk to you or to anybody about what happened," Laura said irritably while turning away.
He shook his head and sat back in his chair, "We're still friends and teammates. Eventually we're going to have to look each other in the eye and talk at some point."
Laura squirmed and covered her face in her hands, "It's so humiliating. I can't believe I was acting like that. I'm so embarrassed."
"Well… if it makes you feel any better, I still feel pretty awkward too," Connor shrugged.
After a long pause he put a hand on her shoulder and tried to give a reassuring smile, "But... you really shouldn't feel bad though. You were under the effects of Lenanasidhe's charm spell so it wasn't your fault and I think everyone here knows that."
"You think so? Do you really mean that?"
Connor nodded, "Yeah, I do. But in fairness, I really don't blame you for the way you acted. I totally get it."
Laura frowned in confusion, "Get what?"
The Summer Knight tried to lighten the mood and laughed, "I already know I'm charming and devastatingly handsome. I couldn't blame any girl for falling madly in love with me."
Laura groaned and punched him again in the shoulder as he laughed some more. After the laughter died down she turned back to him and gave a quiet nod, "For what it's worth, I do want to thank you... for not taking advantage of the situation. And I'm sorry too… about punching you in the face earlier."
Connor gave a warm smile and simply nodded as he looked back into the fire, "Don't sweat it. I guess that makes us even now."
At the other end of the shop, Quinton finished cleaning up Kristen's workbench with Yum-Yum's help while Noelle sat in a nearby chair holding Scratch who was curled up on her lap. She gave tired yawn and smiled, "Well Quinton, I don't know about you, but I'm just glad everything is finally back to normal around here."
"Me too," the Spring Knight said as he put some of the mixing beakers in a cabinet, "Though you have to admit… you did a pretty good job taking charge of the team. It was a surprise to see you so determined and fierce back there."
Noelle gave a self effacing shrug and scratched the ears of the little gargoyle she was holding, "Oh, well… I just had a lot of motivation."
Quinton tilted his head in mild curiosity before Noelle waved him off and decided to try and change the subject back toward him, "Speaking of motivation, did you ever manage to pick up those tickets for the dance and concert tomorrow?"
"Nah," Quinton sighed, "With all the craziness going on with the others, I never got a chance. Besides, I think the others have had their fill of love spells and romance for a while, don't you think?"
Noelle shrugged, "Still... I know you were kinda looking forward to that. I hope you're not too disappointed."
"It's okay," Quinton said as he put a friendly hand on her shoulder, "Maybe we'll have better luck next time, right?"
Noelle glanced over toward Connor who was busy trying to cheer Laura up with a joke before giving a small smile to herself, "Yeah… maybe next time."
That was when she suddenly sat up and looked at Quinton with wide eyes, "Wait… what did you mean by we?"
Quinton gave a knowing smile and picked up Yum-Yum from the workbench before starting to walk off, "Come on buddy, I think I've still got some granola bars in my bookbag. You want one?"
"Quinton, wait! It's not like that. You've got it all wrong!" she called in exasperation while hurrying after him.
"Not to worry Noelle. Your secret is safe with me," the Spring Knight laughed again as they walked by Kristen and Stephen while they carried in some fresh mugs of hot coffee for everyone.
As they passed Stephen could only shake his head toward their mentor, "They keep walking out whenever we serve drinks. You'd almost think they were just trying to get rid of us."
Kristen simply smiled and took a silent sip of coffee. After all the chaos that had just transpired those last few days, she honestly didn't mind being left out of the loop. With it came some peace, quiet, and order that she hoped would last... at least until the next monster attack.