Chapter four:
"Long long ago we lived in a city with a castle overlooking the city..." Freebird begins. "Everything was peaceful. People would be busy throughout the day and sleep through the night. We lived with a group in the castle where the six of us ruled what is the kingdom... We had powers over different things like one of us could move the sun and another one of us could move the moon if we wanted to. We also held other names that were like our nicknames so it would help disguise us if we wished to hang out in peace in the city... Commander, Geoff, was seen as the leader of the group. However... Things began to change... It began to change in a way that the peace would not last..."
I'm not going to listen to you!
"X-ray or well Ray also known as Brownman began to distance himself from me... I didn't understand what was going on... Then… Not too long later... Something changed inside of him."
The night will last forever!
"He saw how people would turn away from the night and be out during the day... And it got to him... He challenged me and transformed into a much darker form..." Freebird takes a deep breath like a sigh. "He wanted to make people realize that the night was beautiful and should be appreciated… By making the night last forever... I tried to plead with him about it hoping that things wouldn't have to turn to being drastic..."
Please! Stop this! The night is indeed wonderful! People just need time to rest!
And they could have done it during the day like I usually do! But noo! It had to be the night! They had to shun the night! Well that won't happen ever again!
Please Ray...
I'm not Ray anymore.
W-what?
I am the Rose Prince!
"He called himself the Rose Prince when he was in his darker form..." Freebird glances to Mogar meeting his eyes. "He attacked despite my pleas and I didn't want to fight him... However… I ended up having to defend myself... But his darker form was much more powerful than I was... I was taken down... Knocked out for a few moments then when I awoke I knew I was lucky it wasn't lethal. But that meant that I had to do something before something bad happened... So... I gathered special jewels that hold a great magic. I used them in hopes to turn him back to Ray... But as we all watched it ended up where the jewels banished him to an imprisonment in the moon... I was upset... I had lost a friend... Even though I also knew that this was not permanent. One day he would return and I hoped that when he did he would be Ray again."
How could you!
Please understand. I had to do something!
And what?! That 'something' was a banishment?! Just because of a little jealousy!?
You misunderstand. If you would-
No! I hate you! You deserve that punishment! Not him! You didn't give him a real chance!
"There was mixed feelings about it in our group... Ryan who you know as the Mad King hated me for it. Geoff was kind of mad at me but also could see why I did what I did. Jack understood... He was always like a mother figure with Geoff being a father figure... Micool, Mogar, stood beside me as he understood that I wasn't left with a choice in what I had to do... I regretted what I had to do." Freebird closes his eyes gently. "So I didn't blame any of them for showing anger or hate towards me. Despite this we did our best to continue like normal... Though it wasn't the same... Ryan was gone a lot... Jack and Geoff often stayed together a little more than before and it usually left it with just me and Micool for quite a bit. But there wasn't anything for us to do about what had happened... We aged slower than others especially when we reached a certain age of being adults... Immortal in a way... With only some loopholes that could cause us to die... One way is by one of us killing another in our group... It wasn't until one thousand years later that something happened... Me and Micool were sitting outside when I looked to the moon... Only to watch in a slight flash the image made out of dark circles on the moon that looked like the top half of someone in a cape leaning back was gone... The moon looked normal again... I knew instantly that the seal had been broken... At first I was excited..."
Rays coming back!
Huh?
Look! The moon is normal again!
... Yes it is... But you need to remember that he could still be the Rose Prince.
"I was reminded that he could still be the Rose Prince... And that turned out to be correct." Freebird opens his eyes halfway staring at a spot on the ground in front of him.
Haha! I the Rose Prince have returned!
Please Ray stop this! People appreciate your night and all the wonders it holds! Things have changed over the years!
You're wrong! This place could never change! They will never understand the night because they'll never even give it a chance!
Ray...
Ray? Who? No. I am the Rose Prince!
NO!
"I knew I wouldn't be able to win against him... The jewels had gone into rock form and their power sealed away... This happened because when away from where they originated from as well as the fact that if a person who helps use them is gone such as dead or banished in this case then they turn into that form... I couldn't use them... Of course he could easily defeat me this time because I couldn't use the jewels... No one could use the jewels until those that have the potential to be able to use it unite together to use them... Without Ray we couldn't use them... As well as that we didn't have any other group who had the potential to be able to use them... It's not easy to find someone outside of our group that has the potential... Though because we're different than normal people I was able to use them alone when I ended up banishing Ray though it only works if all of us are still alive and not banished as well as still connected to the jewels... So... I knew I had to do something before anything bad could happen and I gathered up my magic using every last bit of it... With Micool backing me up in the spell as best as he could... And... I released it... I used it all to cast a spell... A spell that was the only thing I could think of to do..."
Haha! You cannot defeat me this time! Not without your stupid precious jewels!
I'm sorry. Ray. I know you're still in there. I know this has to be done and I'm sorry it turned out this way.
Fool! Your foolish words do not work on me! I will take you down this time!
I hope that one day you can forgive me.
Prepare to die!
"The spell to make at least Ray be reborn... The spell worked... But it seems that the others were caught in the spell as well... From what I'm able to piece together was that Ryan probably ran to try to stop me from doing anything and the other two followed because it was something going on... Something that might even change the kingdom... We all were reborn. I'm certain that if Geoff and Ryan were also reborn then Jack would have also been reborn as he would have followed the other two. Separated because of being reborn and all. What I didn't expect was that we kept all of our memories of our lives before along with our powers... But we kept our powers hidden and knew we had to act like we weren't who we were. Instead we have to act like normal people." Freebird sighs softly. "I took my chances with everything as I decided to try to find Ray and was relieved to find him as himself. I pretended to be someone else and not only earn his friendship but to try to prevent the same thing from happening again. However I continued to lie to him even when I felt convinced that what happened in the past wouldn't happen again." He lowers his head so his chin is resting against his chest. "I wouldn't blame him if he never forgave me."
"But you were doing what was best for everyone at the time." Ash points out a little sympathetically.
"Not everyone. I choose to risk sacrificing one of my friends to save everyone else... I sent away one of my friends into a very long banishment instead of trying to help them..." Freebird reminds them. "Then when I was given a second chance to try to help him... I instead choose to force us all to start over... With a spell that was a bit more than I had thought it was going to be." He sighs. "I forced them all to lose everything. It's probably why they, especially Geoff, want revenge on me."
"You did the only thing you could think of doing." Hilda begins. "Sometimes being a leader or a ruler means you have to make hard choices at times. Ones that might even weigh heavily upon your shoulders or heart."
"I know..." Freebird responds. "But that doesn't stop them from hating me for it."
"No. It doesn't." Hilda nods softly.
"It's ok. Something you learn is that not everyone will agree or understand what you do. Even hate you for it in the end. But as a ruler you should do what is best at the moment." Freebird slightly sighs.
"What do you think will happen now?" Rusty asks.
"Well Geoff will probably be planning to kill me and possibly even Micool for revenge. Jack might either follow Geoff or he might stay back only to step in if he believes it is right to. Then Ryan and Ray might just do their own thing." Freebird explains. "Geoff will try to kill me and possibly Micool as well. And it looks like he just might succeed."
"But it can't end like that." Ash gasps.
"Once his revenge is done Geoff might back off and no longer cause any trouble." Freebird says. "But if he does end up pursuing more after that then it might fall upon you guys to stop them. You helped us so I'm sure you can do it." He adds looking to the three.
"We will find a way to make it so Geoff can't kill either of you." Ash says. "There has to be a way."
"I highly doubt there will be." Freebird responds.
...
"Ry?"
Ryan hums softly in question.
Ray moves closer to the man he is cuddling with on the couch. He's lying slightly curled up against Ryan's chest and stomach reaching down to the couch between the others legs. "What's going on with Geoff? Is this really just because Gavin made us lose everything?"
"I'm not fully sure." Ryan tilts his head back to look to the ceiling. "I mostly went along with him so I could find you again. So I could be with you again." He lowers his head down to look to Ray though the others head is laying against his chest. "But we don't have to do anything with him. We will do our own thing. So don't worry." Ryan begins stroking Rays hair.
Ray nods and closes his eyes enjoying the feel of one of Ryan's hand stroking his hair.
A little later the door opens to the living room and Ryan looks back as Ray only opens his eyes half way as Ryan's hand pauses.
"There you two are."
Ray rises slightly with his hands on Ryan's chest to look to who it is. "Jack?"
Jack smiles and moves over to the two to stand by the couch. "Hey."
"It's been awhile." Ray says lowering himself back down onto Ryan's chest where he lays there.
"Ryan... Do you remember when we found the ruins of the crystal castle?" Jack looks to the other.
Ryan nods. "Yeah I do."
"The crystal castle?! Seriously? You went back!?" Ray gasps.
Ryan and Jack turn to him but Ryan speaks. "We didn't go back there intentionally. After both me and Geoff were defeated under our façade of not being who we are we went to wander for a little bit together. The three of us... We stumbled upon the crystal castle... The place where we, all six of us, fought Gus before everything happened."
"That was one scary battle." Ray comments almost softly and Ryan nods in agreement.
"Yeah. Well we won at that's what matters." Ryan points out. "Anyways. We checked it out since it was in ruin now because Gus was defeated. After that things began to change and Geoff started hating Gavin so much more than I thought he could." His eyes flicker to Jack. "What is it though Jack?"
"Well I believe that Gus may have either taken over Geoff or has influenced him with magic left behind from his defeat or something. Geoff wasn't the same after we visited that place... And now look at him. Ready to kill Gavin especially but probably Michael as well." Jack explains. "So I need your help."
"What? To protect Michael and Gavin?" Ray looks away angry at the thought. "Sorry but I'm not helping them."
"No. I wouldn't ask you to do something like that especially with all that happened. I know you would be angry still." Jack assures him. "What I'm hoping that you'll help me with is to get Geoff back. The Geoff we know not this person he's become."
Ray glances to Jack then looks down to Ryan's chest in thought.
"Do you think you'll be able to help? You'll probably have to defeat Geoff. You'll be doing it for me." Jack continues. "I believe that if you defeat him we can try to get the Geoff we know and that I love back."
Ryan's one hand not resting on Rays head clenches into a fist as he glares at Jack. "Just defeat him? Isn't this going to be like that time all over again?! I'm not going to risk Ray being hurt again if this is your plan. You know what happened."
Ray shifts his head burying his face into Ryan's chest.
Ryan brings his hand down from Rays head to stroke Rays back.
"No." Jack says. "Not like that. I'm not going to make the same mistakes as Gavin." He says. "What I mean is bring him down in combat. Enough that we can move in to try to find a way to get him back to normal."
Ray shifts his head taking a peek at the other.
"We won't use the jewels. We can't anyways. But that doesn't matter." Jack says. "We can do it. We can bring him down in combat then try to help him."
"Jack." Ryan begins but Ray speaks up.
"We'll need a plan."
Jack and Ryan turn to Ray who has raised his head.
"Ray. You don't have to do this if you don't think you can emotionally handle it." Ryan says lovingly.
Ray turns to meet Ryan's eyes. "I fell to ruin because of the darkness inside of me." He says in a strong tone. "I'm not going to let Geoff, our friend, make the same mistakes I did."
Ryan's eyes search Rays for a few moments before he closes his eyes lightly. "Alright. I'll fight alongside you. I'm not leaving my love to fight alone."
Ray smiles and hugs Ryan who returns it.
"I can make sure that you two have outfits and make sure your weapons are all good for the fight." Jack says. "Both of you will have a better chance than I will. Once Geoff is down I'll move in. It's pretty simple."
"Well we should get started." Ray says with a glance to Jack then he looks back Ryan only to steal a quick kiss. "Even if we end up failing all we can do is try our best for our friend."
Ryan nods in agreement.
"Thank you." Jack says very grateful almost to the point of tears.
"We should get going. We don't have all day." Ray shifts to get up off of Ryan.
"Yes of course." Jack nods.
...
After a little bit Freebird had laid down on the ground using one of his arms as a head rest.
They hadn't come up with anything effective to stop what is most likely going to happen.
It's starting to get dark anyways and it's making all of them nervous knowing that something most likely will happen at dawns light.
Mogar, has stayed close to Freebird the entire time as Freebird has also stayed close to Mogar.
"We'll be ok... Right Micool? No matter what happens it'll be ok..." Freebirds eyes flicker to Mogar who meets his eyes.
"As ok as it can be." Mogar, Michael, nods. "It'll be ok Gavin."
Gavin, Freebird, closes his eyes seeming content with that answer. "Yeah..." He soon finds himself drifting asleep only to be awoken by a cell door slamming open. He whips his head up almost fainting to look to who is there hoping that it is Ray.
Instead there stands Geoff.
Gavin's shoulders slump then he glances to the window seeing sunlight streaming through it.
"It's dawn." Geoff states. "That means that it's time to get this show on the road."
Gavin turns back to Geoff.
"You don't have to kill him!" Ash tries to reason with Geoff.
"You know nothing!" Geoff snaps at Ash glaring in her direction.
"I know what happened!" Ash counters. "We all do."
"All the more reason to understand why this must be done." Geoff looks back to Gavin still glaring. "Why it has to be this way."
"Revenge is never the answer." Hilda tries.
"Need I repeat myself?" Geoff questions sounding slightly annoyed. "Though you'll have to wait a little longer." He adds to Gavin. "I do not plan to do this here. Don't worry. I set up special things for you all with the same spell on them so we won't have any one of you interrupting." He takes a step back. "So let's get going." He snaps his fingers and two dark figures move in.
They grab Gavin unlocking the chain from his neck but keeping the thing around his neck on and struggling seems to be fruitless.
Gavin is taken away then everyone else is also taken.
Not long after leaving, Michaels had to be done in the cell, a metal clamp around their necks like the one that had been holding Gavin.
They are also tied up and are put in the back of a van that was parked in a garage like place and soon are being driven to someplace.
It doesn't take too long for them to reach their destination.
They are being dragged out and the three are put into a cage while Gavin is tied to a metal pole with Michael just diagonal from Gavin also tied to a pole.
Once they are in place Geoff turns to the figures. "Go. Make sure that we secure the city."
The figures nod and head off to do as told.
Geoff turns to look to Gavin a smirk dancing on his lips. "Come one come all!" He calls out loudly raising his hands like it's a performance. "To the demise of your precious heroes!" He then chuckles in an evil tone. "Come witness their downfall!"
Almost as if the action is forced some people try to take a peek but keep their distance as if sensing that this is not an enemy they should get close to.
Geoff lowers his hands to his sides smirking even more. "I hope you're ready." He says. "Cause things are about to change."
Gavin looks pleadingly to Geoff but his look is only laughed at by the other man.