Note: Can I just take a second to say that without the active participation of the people who join me in Chatzy, this fic would be a lot less interesting. You guys are fantastic, thank you so much.

….

It has to work. It has to. I tell myself this over and over as I bring up the rear, all my senses bent outward. If They so much as twitch, I will know. As for Arthur, I can only pray it worked, because I can't even tell myself. I can't smell him, see him, or feel him anywhere. For all I know, he truly has passed on. But no, I have to believe he had the will to stay, like we planned. The anchor had to work.

Even Lewis isn't sure, I can see it in the way he looks at me, confused and grieved. He knew Arthur's thoughts, could see his plan, but he's so sure he would be able to sense Arthur in a ghost state.

Not even Merlin is aware, I heard him refer to Vivi as the only living heir. He would not have said that if he could sense Arthur, even as a ghost.

It all hinges on him now.

Vivi can barely walk, Lewis almost has to carry her. I wish I could tell her that we aren't sure he's even gone, her grief is painful to hear, but They may be listening, and we have to protect Arthur for as long as we can.

Please be here still.

As we approach the lake, Callie wriggles free of Merlin's grip and scrambles away, her back facing the waters. "No. No go there. Not never ever."

Merlin reaches for her, but she snarls like an animal. "NEVER. Nothings there but death anymore. Was healings one time before, and one time after, but no more. DON'T TOUCH ME." But Merlin's hand is already on her head, on her face, and in spite of herself she leans into his hand, ripples passing up and down her body. "Merlin, Merlin," she whispers, "where have all the children gone, Merlin?"

Merlin strokes her face. "If I tell you, will you come with me to the lake?"

Her eyes widen. "Answer was supposed to be dead-and-gone. You tell me different?"

Merlin turns from her, stepping into the lake and wading in, waves spreading out from his entry. Callie darts to the edge and stops short, pacing back and forth at the edge in distress. "Where have all the childrens gone? Answer me!"

Merlin spreads his hands on the surface of the lake, and it stills. "I was here for a long time, Callie. I came here to find peace for my mind, to try and find a way to free you from the King who no longer deserved you. I had hoped…" He shakes his head. "It seems you have saved Mystery, and not the other way around as I saw."

I peer at him. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Where have the children gone?" Callie demands louder.

Merlin focuses on her, and I swallow my impatience. "I was here for years before you were returned to the lake. I saw many of them drowned here." She rakes at the ground. "And I saw what happened after." He lifts his hands up, drawing after them little figures. Water spirits, little confused water spirits, flopping around. Directionless. Bewildered. Then laughing. Giggling. Twirling. Dancing. Skipping across the surface and leaping for joy.

I can't breathe. Even I have never known what water spirits are. But everything falls into place. Callie isn't moving. I can see her piecing it together. Who was there before her? She probably can't remember. How did she come into being? She probably can't remember. As far as she knows, she always existed.

"But, where they go?" she asks.

Merlin turns his hands slightly, and the projections skip toward the far edge of the lake, disappearing under the surface. "They took the paths you sent the selkies and mermaids through to reach other rivers, oceans, and lakes. The tunnels under the earth that can't be seen from the surface. They could sense this place wasn't theirs, so they left. And when you returned and sealed us off, there were no more."

"And why were you here?" I demand. Callie has her answers, and I have waited long enough for mine. "You vanished when the King needed you most! Why were you here?"

Merlin raises his eyes to mine, and I am startled to see the fatigue in them. "Because your Master was exceedingly unhappy with my interference in your life."

My Master. They had turned Merlin into a tree. Why hadn't I… I have no time to berate myself for not seeing it. I have dropped my vigilance, and I lift my head to scent the wind.

They are coming. And They are not alone. "Merlin, They are coming. Not more than five minutes."

Merlin whirled back to Callie. "Not enough time, we must begin. Please!" He stretched out his arms to her.

"What will you do?" she asks, clinging to the edge of the lake.

"Try to free you."

"You said no could be done!" she accuses him, scuttling back.

"It couldn't! The King wouldn't release you, and by the time he was dead I was a tree! I believe it can be done, if…" He turns to Vivi for a moment. She is still clinging to Lewis, but she nods her head. "It can be done then."

Callie turns away. "After fight."

I block her way. "Not after the fight."

A grin curls her mouth. "Deeeeemon dog if you too weak and I no fights then you be dead and Vivi too. She destroyed lotta growing things, makes Okami mad. Who's gonna fight?"

"Not you."

"WHY?"

"What do you think is going to happen if you kill Inari Okami?" I stare her in the eyes. I have to make her understand.

"I gets even MORE stronger."

"And what if you become so powerful that you break free of the sword in this state?"

She is silent. It's small, it's weak, but there is still a part of her that doesn't want this. A part that would give anything to go back to the way things used to be. I know it's there. I have to draw that out. I have to make it the most important thing, and They are almost here!

"You'll be a monster, Callie. You'll be worse than I ever was, and nobody could stop you."

"Then who fights?" She insists.

My ears flatten as I feel the vibrations of many, many feet. Not feet though, the sounds are different. More muffled. I turn tail and see another level of my Master's cruelty.

A pack of kitsunes is stalking across the plain. Before the Cave Spirit rebuilt itself, I had never seen another of my kind. A hundred questions swirl in my mind, but there is no time. I see Them standing on the other side of the plain, stroking the lotus in Their hand. I hear Their high speech on the wind, and the kitsunes turn as one toward me. Every padded step falls in perfect synchronization with every other beast in the pack, and I know these kitsunes would never need glasses, for they were made with no will of their own.

"Who fights?" Callie shrieks, bristling for battle.

"I do."

Out of the ground rises an aged skeleton. It stands at least nine feet tall and wears rusted chainmail. The shoulders are studded with spikes, and its arms are lined with broken-off blades sticking pointed ends out.

"That was the voice!" Vivi points at him, shocked, but is interrupted by a second.

"I do."

Next to him rises a second skeleton wearing plate-armor. Two swords are slung across its back and throwing-daggers are hooked wherever there is space to be had on the armor and even the skeleton itself.

"I do." A smaller spirit rises on the other side of the first skeleton, and instantly I kneel. I would know her anywhere. It is my Lady Guinevere. She holds a staff, tipped at both ends with lengthy, curved blades. And if that is my Lady…

She turns to the skeletons next to her and sighs. "But really, must you?"

The skeleton laughs, a gusty, raucous laugh I never thought I'd hear again. "Now would I still be myself without the theatrics, dear?"

"Come now, he always did love a tall tale, don't deny him the chance to become one." The second skeleton plucks two throwing daggers from his armor.

They didn't pass on. None of them? Before me stand King Arthur, Lancelot, and Lady Guinevere. And the King turns to Callie for a moment. She has arched her body like a cornered cat, spitting curses at him as she backs to the edge of the lake.

"I will fight," he reaffirms. "Free yourself."

The first of the kitsunes is only a few yards and closing as he turns, sprinting to meet it, swinging bladed arms. Lady Guinevere and Lancelot are on his heels, then breaking off in either direction. Lancelot hurls the daggers, aiming for their eyes, and the Lady's staff arcs through the air, slicing with deadly accuracy. Blood flows, but there are no cries of pain, and the army never falters. More have gathered behind them, there must be two dozen of them now. They are all single-tails, but they are burning hot with the energy granted by their Master, and the drive of their command.

"Heir of Arthur, the one who bears Excalibur, bring it to me." Merlin fidgets in the water, anxious.

Vivi forces herself upright, leaving Lewis' protective embrace. She comes to the edge, but Merlin holds up a hand. "Do not enter. I need you to hand me the sword." Vivi extends it, hilt-first, and Merlin receives it, holding it flat across both his hands. "Do you release the sword Excalibur, relinquishing all bonds that tie her to you and your line?"

"I do." she affirms, holding her chin high.

Callie lunges toward Vivi, then recoils, struggling with herself. I yank Vivi back by her scarf.

"Callie, come to me." Merlin holds out the sword. "Please."

Callie looks behind her. The three ghosts are a whirlwind among the kitsunes. Blood flows freely from the pack and their jaws snap shut on air as the ghosts whirl clear of their attacks faster than a blink, but the beasts are not tiring. Their flesh heals, their eyes glow with mindless determination, and they are pressing closer to the lake.

Callie whips forward and slithers across the surface of the lake. Her hands wrap around the blade of the sword as she glares at Merlin. "Free me."

Merlin closes his eyes. His lips are moving, but I can hear nothing.

"Vivi!"

I snap to attention at Lewis' cry. Vivi is running toward the battle. No, not toward, through it. The ghosts shift their attention to driving the kitsunes away from the living human hurtling through their midst, and Vivi is racing toward Inari Okami.

"I have no fire!" Lewis groans, cradling his prosthetic. "What is she doing?"

I wish I had an answer. This is, perhaps, the one time I might call her an idiot. She can't be thinking clearly! If I follow Vivi, I will put myself in Inari Okami's reach, which is exactly what she wants. But if Inari Okami takes Vivi hostage, I will have no choice.

"Murderer!" Vivi screeches, sucking energy from the surrounding greenery. "Come and get me too!" Her hands burn blue as she hurls fire at the god. The flame sizzles out against Their body, but she has Their attention, and the attention of all the kitsunes now. Is she distracting them?

"I am no murderer. I am an executioner." They raise an accusatory hand, pointing straight at Vivi. "That is quite different."

The pack heels, as one, and begins circling Vivi, closing the ring tighter with each pass. Vivi plants her hands on the ground, and a wave of flame rips outward, singeing the kitsunes, but none slow. Guinevere flickers into the circle, hovering back to back with Vivi as Lancelot and King Arthur attack from outside, but none of them fall.

Behind me, Callie is screaming. I turn tail again. The sword is completely black from hilt to tip, but Callie's body is dripping, steaming away. Merlin's face is pouring sweat as his lips move more frantically. Something is wrong. Callie is shrinking, coming apart.

"What are you doing?" I bark, darting up to the edge.

"I can't… anchor her… back to the lake." His voice is strained. "She won't… Callie you have to take the anchor…"

"NO!" she shrieks. "RATHER DIE!"

"You need… an anchor…" He pants, pleading with her.

"NO MORE DEATHS-ANCHOR!" She is melting away, but still screams defiance.

Behind me, I can hear Guinevere's bladed staff singing through the air, and the crackle of Vivi's flames. And what can I do? Whom do I protect?

Lewis' robotic arm uncurls, jerking up and pointing skyward. A flash of lightning splits the air, shooting up from his hand and plummeting to strike a kitsune in the center of its forehead. The creature drops, stunned. And then Arthur is there, hovering next to Vivi and Guinevere, a pale yellow and white form crackling with energy.

Oh Arthur, you didn't leave!

"Sorry I'm late. Looks like you need a hand. Look." He grins, flashing his arms. "I finally have two for you."

Vivi freezes, and Guinevere slashes frantically to fend off attacks by herself.

"Not now Vivi. You can hit me later, but fight now!" Arthur zips up into the sky, hurling down lightning bolts. Some hit, some miss, but his aerial attacks are disorienting the pack.

Arthur knows what he is doing. I turn back to the lake. Callie is barely a rivulet of water, clinging to the blackened blade. Merlin clutches the sword despondently.

I know who needs me most right now. I dive into the water, taking the blade between my jaws. It feels as though it is slicing through my mouth, burning away every cell it touches, but I hold steady. There is still one thing I can do.