For The One You Love

Alice's POV

"You've got to keep your arms up Alice." Travis instructed as he punched right at me, but I quickly dodged as he grinned.

"Good, your reflexes are getting better. It's probably good that you're fast, but you still need to build some muscle." He explained more as I nodded.

This went on for a while as we threw punches back and forth at each other. I used my elbows and feet as I'm small and can defend and attack easier. I still had a lot of training to do, but I was improving day by day. After training Travis and I talked.

"You're improving each time we train and I may have underestimated you." Travis complemented as I gave a small smile.

"Thank-." I spoke, but was cut off.

"However, in the state you're in now I'm not sure you'll be ready to face her anytime soon. She has an army and more power than you can ever imagine. I'm not sure how to train a Sighted One to be honest especially with your gifts." Travis explained and I nodded and sighed.

"It can't be that hard," I heard a voice from behind me.

I turned to see it was Alex as he stood leaning on the door frame and taking a bite out of the apple in his hand. I watched as he walked over to us with a sly grin and spoke again.

"You've mastered you're Sight and Shield, but you have yet to use your influence." Alex spoke, but I looked away from him and shook my head.

"There's a reason for that too . . . I don't want to use something like that, because I'm afraid I'll be using it when I'm not even trying to." I replied sadly.

"I understand, but in this case it wasn't an option Alice. Did you know that the power of influence can be used not just to persuade people or Fay, but actually drain them?" Alex explained as I looked at him confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked, but it was Travis that spoke up.

"She is a Sighted One just like you Alice. She learned to control and practice her powers to grow stronger. Soon enough she was able to drain mortals and Fay just by touching them. Her power of influence allowed her to drain Fay and take their powers that they possessed." Travis explained and my eyes widen.

"Meaning she's getting stronger by the minute with each Fay she drains. So at this point Alice you really don't have a choice, but to use your influence to stop her before it's too late. So I'm offering to help you practice your influence." Alex said much to my surprise as I looked at him with wide eyes.

"What!? No way! That's not happening Alex especially after what you told me I could do to you or anyone!" I exclaimed, but her sighed and walked closer to me as I backed up a little.

"Alice the more you avoid this, the more lives that are at stake. Shun, Travis, Mira, and I have all agreed to help you with this war and now it's about time you start helping to by practicing." Alex explained.

I felt the pressure on me now as I turned to Travis who gave a sympathetic look, but nodded in agreement with Alex. I looked to Alex who waited for me to reply and I sighed. He was right, I had to do this. If my gift could help me stop Beria, then I have no choice. This is the only way I'll be sort of equal to her in power.

"Where do we begin?" I asked.

. . . . .

"Will stop here for today . . ." Alex sighed deeply.

"Don't be so ruff on her Alex; this is still all new to her." Travis explained.

"We don't have time to waste Travis. War is coming and when it does, how will she be able to stop her. She barely can defend herself let alone fight! I mean we're running out of time!" Alex exclaimed.

I watched as he walked out the room in a huff slamming the door behind him as Travis sighed and rubbed his temples and turned to me.

"He's just stressed over the war that's all it's nothing against you. He's afraid, just like all of us." Travis explained, but I shook my head sadly and spoke.

"He's right though . . . With the way things are with me right now, I'm not strong enough to go against she. If I were to go into war, I'd be dead right now. I need to become stronger and I need to practice more with my gifts no matter how much I don't want to use them." I explained sadly as I looked at my hands and clenched them.

Suddenly Shun busted through the door along with Mira in a panic state. We watched as they rushed over to us as they caught their breath and spoke.

"She's here!" Mira exclaimed.

"Who's here?" Travis said as he walked over to Mira and held her steady as she caught her breath as I did the same to Shun who looked at me and spoke.

"Beria," Shun breathed.

Suddenly just by the sound of her name the windows shattered making Mira and I scream in fear as Shun and Travis blocked us form the glass that blew at us. As the glass cleared I saw a blood trickle done Shun's cheek. I went to reach for his cheek, but he took his hand in mine and shook his head and continued to hold me tightly. I suddenly felt a chill in the air as I now started to see the room around us freeze and turn into ice and snow engulfing the entire room. As I breathed out, I could see my breath and I felt myself shiver. Soon Alex entered the room and almost fell over, until he caught himself steady. Soon a wicked dreadful laugh surrounded the room as we looked at each side of the room for her. I noticed from the widows black fog or smoke started to creep into the room and a figure started to appear in front of us. My eyes widen in fear as Beria now stood in front of us with a sly grin on her face as she stared her cold eyes into mine.

"Thank you for calling out my name dearie it was a lot easier tracking you down." She spoke coldly to Shun as she then turned her gaze to me and clamped her hands together and smiled.

"Just the girl I was looking for. Alice . . ." She grinned, but Shun stood in my way blocking me from her as she laughed.

"How noble of you to protect her, but I have business to take care of and don't have time for you." Beria spoke.

Suddenly Beria's eyes glowed as she dashed at Shun in lightning speed and grabbed his arm making him groan in pain by her touch. My eyes widen and I was in full panic mode as u realized what she was doing to him. She was draining him just like Travis and Alex told me she could. Without even thinking, I grabbed Shun's other arm and held it tightly in mine and suddenly he stopped groaning and looked up to me wide eyed along with Beria's eyes glaring at me. She released Shun and took a few steps back from us as I helped Shun stand.

"I didn't realize your Shield was getting stronger." She snapped as I looked at her confused.

"Stronger?" I questioned as she gave a hollow laugh.

I thought back for a moment, until my eyes widen and realization hit me. I looked to my hand and stared at it in amazement. With one touch I was able to use my Shield power to not only protect me, but protect Shun as well by touching him. With more practice, I bet I could expand it more so I can protect people around me. I looked to Shun who stared at me in amazement, until a sudden rush I cold air blew at us causing me to fall back away from Shun and it the ice ground hard. As I tried to get up, I saw her now in front of me with a knife as she placed one figure to her lip as I stared at her in fear.

"If anyone moves, I kill her on the spot before you have enough time to stop me . . . That includes you're Fay to Dark King . . ." Beria spoke and I turned and looked around and saw Fang emerge from the shadows with a grin on his face along with Raye and there other Fay which included Devlin to my surprise.

"Hello Beria, I would say it's nice to see you again but . . . that would be a lie." He grinned as she grinned back to him.

"As much as I would love to hear your sly comments, I have business to take care of." Beria spoke as she turned to me slowly and grinned.

Suddenly at lightning speed, I felt her hold the knife against my neck. I felt it's sharp edges almost cut my skin, but not enough for me to start bleeding. I saw people behind her flinch and were about to attack, but they knew if they did I'd be good as dead. She grinned wickedly to me as she spoke.

"I told you I'd come and kill you. Now here we are with my knife against your throat." She spoke pushing the knife more on my skin as I twinge in pain a little, but still didn't bleed.

"I'll ask you one more time Alice to reconsider my offer. There people you trust, don't care about you or your survival. If by chance they do when the war they won't care to think twice about you. The High Queen may even execute you even afterwards when this is all over. So why fight for these people when they don't trust or believe in you? Why risk your lives for them?" She questioned me.

I looked at the faces staring around me. I saw all them stare at me with blank expressions except for Travis, Alex, Mira, and Shun as they stared at me concerned. Beria had a point . . . There Fay who I have only just met, won't care what happens to me. The only reason why they want me alive for now is because they need me to defeat there problem. They want me to defeat Beria on my own whether I live or die trying. They could care less about me as I am just a mortal. I may have seen all the main courts and saw their struggles, but it's their struggles and now mine . . . I looked to Beria who grinned sinister like. Soon though I realized her hand on the knife that was against my neck was brushing my throat a little. My eyes widen and I realized she was trying to manipulate me with her influence. I suddenly grabbed her wrist surprising her as I spoke hold on to her.

"You're trying to manipulate me, but it won't work. You may have a point about why should I help Fay when they've done nothing but caused trouble for me! The people who have threatened me! However, I've also got to known them in some sort of way that made me see them as good or bad, but overall it was all meant to protect their court from you. I don't believe the Fay I've met so far are as bad as I once thought them to be. In their own way they've shown me there kindness toward me in show shape or fashion. Oh and your influence can't work on me even if you're a Sighted One like I am. I'm too strong for you to control." I explained grinned as she frowned at me, but slowly grinned.

"Have it your way Alice, but let this be a lesson on the biggest mistake you've ever made." Beria smirked as I stared at her confused.

I watched and felt her pull the knife away from my throat, but moved in lightning speed somewhere else. I looked around, until my eyes found her again. I watched as she appeared in front of Shun and glanced back at me grinning as fear rose in me. Before anyone could react Beria pierced her knife into Shun's gut as he groaned in pain and fell to the ground. I felt everything play in slow motion for me as I watched Shun lay on the ground and crimson blood poured from his body. My eyes widen in fear and shock that I couldn't move at all. I watched as Fang, Travis, Mira, and Alex kneel down to help him as I stared in shock. I was shaking now and then I suddenly felt cold hands on my shoulder as a voice whispered into my ear.

"Let it be known that your lover was the first to die of many who stand in my way. Let this be declaration that war has just begun Alice." Beria whispered to me before I could turn and stop her as she suddenly disappeared from sight.

I turned my attention back to Shun who lied on the ground groaning in pain as I rushed to his side. I saw the blood and tried to ignore it as I tried to get him elevated a little bit so we could see the wound. I laid his head gently in my lap as she stared weakly at me. I saw his hand try to reach for me to touch me, but I took his hand in mine as tears started to fall from my face. I looked and saw that the knife was out and Travis and Fang were applying pressure to his wound. I felt like throwing up at the sight of so much blood, I tried to stay strong as he groaned louder.

"Shun!" I cried.

"Something isn't right . . . This isn't just some knife is it." Travis questioned as Devlin came toward us and picked up the knife and scowled.

"It had poison on it. The poison will eventually set in by tonight or possibly tomorrow depending how strong he can hold, until then. Once the poison sets in then he's good as dead. If he won't die from the blood loss, then he'll die by poison which is probably what She intended to do." Devlin explained as I stared at everyone loss for words as I looked down at Shun.

"We have to save him!" I cried.

"How can we!?" Alex exclaimed.

"Even if we stop the bleeding, he'll still have that poison inside him which we can't stop!" Fang explained.

"Well we have to do something! I won't watch him die, especially not like this!" I exclaimed holding his head close to me as he groaned in pain.

"There is a way . . ." Raye spoke up as I looked to her with teary eyes as she stood behind Fang.

"Raye what so you mean-?" Fang questioned, but was cut off.

"The Summer King could heal him with his ray of light. Summer's light is the only thing that can save him." Raye explained.

"Luke can save Shun!?" I questioned and she slowly nodded and spoke.

"Yes, but there will be a price for it Alice. I have seen two possible outcomes of your decision in the next hour and both possible futures could led to your dismay." Raye explained, but I shook my head and replied.

"One possible outcome of my future though could save Shun right?" I replied quickly.

"Yes, but-!" She answered, but I cut her off.

"I don't have a choice then. Whatever it is, I'll do it . . . To save Shun, I'll do it." I replied as I stared at Shun's face as he groaned in pain.

I had to get to Luke as fast as I can. I slowly placed Shun's head down from my lap and got up. I looked to Devlin and spoke.

"Can you please take me to the Summer King?" I asked desperately and for a while he didn't answer, but slowly he nodded to me as I then turned my attention to everyone else.

"Please watch over him, I'll be back with Luke as soon as I can to help save Shun. I won't let him die or leave me just yet." I cried as a single tear fell from my face, before I turned away and headed out the doors of the room with Devlin following behind me as he spoke.

"If you want, I can carry you and we'd get to the Summer Court much faster." He spoke.

"Thank you that would be great." I replied as he stood in front of me and kneeled down so I could climb on his back.

As I got on his back he lifted me and we were off without a second to lose. Shun please don't die on me . . . I can't lose you . . . Not like this, I need you . . .! I love you too much to lose you now, when I need you the most . . .! Please wait for me just a little longer, I promise I will come back to save you, just like you've saved me countless times before! I swear it!

. . . . .

As Devlin set me down, I didn't waste a moment to spare as I barged into the doors. I didn't care if the Summer Fay or the Summer Girls for that matter stared at me as I tried to look for Luke.

"Luke!" I exclaimed and started to run toward the backyard where he took me to have tea and talk with him.

"Luke!" I shouted once more.

Suddenly if right on cue Luke appeared before me with a wide grin on his face as he took his hand in mine and laid a small kiss on the top of my hand, but I pulled away and spoke.

"I need your help," I replied desperately as he grinned.

"With what my darling." He spoke, but I ignored his last comment and spoke.

"Shun's been stabbed and poisoned by Beria and we need your Summer's Light to heal him!" I pleaded desperately as my eyes became watery again.

I watched as his expression changed a little into surprise. I wasn't sure if he was surprised that I had told him that Shun had been stabbed and poisoned, or if it was because I said Beria's name out loud. I watched as he laid his hands on my shoulders and stared down at me intensely. I saw his expression become more serious as he stared at me. I didn't have time for this right now . . .

"I need your help Luke, please . . . Shun's dying and I can't live without him." I begged.

I felt his grasp on my shoulders release as he slowly looked at me with sad eyes. I saw him take a step back a little as he spoke.

"I am not strong enough to help him Alice. With the state my court is in I can't help him. Summer needs its rightful Queen again to help balance this court once more. You have to become my Summer Queen." He said and I growled in frustration as I looked at him angry.

"I told you, I won't become your Summer Queen! I love Shun and only Shun and I won't leave him!" I cried, but then I felt his hands grab my wrist to stop me from leaving or from breaking down as I was starting to cry.

"If it was to save Shun's life would you do it?" He replied as I stared at him with side eyes.

"If you become Summer Queen you can heal him because you'll have power to help him. I am too weak to, but with you as the new Summer Queen you're powers will be stronger as you are also a Sighted One and you'll have the power of Summer Court at your will. I'm not trying to manipulate you Alice into being my Queen, but it would indeed benefit us both if you did so. You'll save Shun and my court." Luke explained to me.

Everything was just so overwhelming for me right now. I had two choices just like Raye predicted. I just never realized how much I'd be giving up if I choose to save Shun by possibly become the Summer Queen. If I don't at least try, then Shun will die for sure by tonight or tomorrow. If I do try there's a chance I might not be Summer Queen and might have to carry Winter's Touch feeling nothing, but coldness, loneliness, and fear. However, if by a small chance I could be Summer Queen then I could save Shun, but lose my mortality as I will become Fay and live forever . . . with Luke as I will be bound to him as his Summer Queen. Not matter how much I think about this situation, the more time is being wasted as Shun slowly dies. Not matter what I will always love Shun as he will always have my heart.

However, as much I don't want to become Summer Queen I will if there's a small chance I can save Shun with my new powers as Summer Queen. I'll lose my mortality and will never die with the rest of my friends like Dan, Marucho, Julie, Runo, and everyone else. I'll be bound to Luke as his Summer Queen and lose Shun. But to save Shun's life rather than letting him die was a much better choice. It made the other "perks" seem like nothing. Still if I turn Summer Queen and became Fay I really wonder what it will be like for me as I'll be giving everything up to save the one I love. How will Shun take all this afterwards? Will he still be with me despite I'll be bound to Luke? Does saving his life by me giving up my mortality seem selfless, or selfish? Ultimately in the end, I only had one choice. I took a deep breath and spoke.

"Where is the rose?" I said confidently.