Disclaimer: Lost Girl belongs to Showcase or SYFY and I am only playing in their universe.
A/N: My hat is off to all of you. You have made this story so much fun to write. I appreciated all the comments from the reviews and the readers who have stopped by. This chapter is a bit violent to the point of being M in parts. So after you read this go water your plants just to be safe. The battle begins….
"She threw something on the ground. I saw her. I saw her" squealed a woman to the gathered crowd. "Kill her now. They are planning something. It could be a trap." The woman's harsh voice was making more than Lauren and Bo wince. The frantic tone of the woman was an insight to the feelings rolling through the attacking mob. They were holding on to their control by their fingernails, anything would be enough to set the group off. An iron spear flew in Lauren's direction. Bo knocked it to the side with a chi blade while keeping a firm grasp on the woman next to her. The doctor was on her feet but she was staring at the ground, her mind spinning as she processed the best way to proceed.
"Enough," the slimy leader of the group shouted, "Doctor empty the rest of your pockets and we will offer your champion another opportunity to leave." The oily tone made both women shutter. There was a touch of Mesmer to it but it was something else neither woman could place. Lauren started to dig in her pockets as if trying to please the man and get Bo a chance run for her life. Using exaggerated motions, Lauren hid the fact that she had pulsed the ground with energy. Just enough to introduce herself to the slivers of soil in the cracks, this was an old and hallowed space for the fae. There was no telling what she might encounter as the land responded.
Bo brushed at Lauren's hands as best she could while keeping an eye on the group surrounding them, "Babe you can give them everything you have but I am not leaving you." The succubus was tired but her resolve was firm. Lauren had to smile at the woman's tone and her heart fluttered at the affection she felt for her protector. Holding the remaining bags in her hands, Lauren offered them to the assembly with her head held low as if fearing the group.
There was a general shuffling of the council as no one wanted near what the doctor had in her hands. The shrill voice of the panicked woman rang in the room again, "Toss them to the side far away from us." Lauren went to throw them but a shouted, "Stop!" halted her motion.
A giant of a man stepped up and snatched the small bundles from Lauren's grasp, "I see you were kind enough to label the little bags doctor, the epitome of organization to the very end." Lauren recognized the man as a Malek, a mix of wolf shifter and Wendigo lineage. This was an old, old fae. Lauren had met the Malek when she started work at the fae hospital. He had a history of breaking into the fae morgue and removing bodies and organs for his own personal study. The gentleman fancied himself a scientist of sorts and had an arrangement with a few of the fae that worked in the hospital to turn a blind eye and allow him access to what the morgue had to offer. When Lauren had come to work at the medical center on a permanent basis she discovered his comings and goings and had the Ash put an end to the man's use of the dead. There was nothing scientific about the man's activities he was just enjoying the occasional snack as far as the doctor could tell. The man was aligned with the light, but he crossed the boundaries more often than not. Needless to say he was not fond of the doctor.
The man held up the bags and read the various Kenzi scribblings, "Let's see what we have here. Bougainvillea glabra which is Bougainvillea, Cylindropuntia bigelovii which is teddy bear cactus, Rosa rugosa which is a variety of hedge roses, Urtica dioica which are stinging nettle, Campsis radicans which is Trumpet Vine, Acacia greggii which is Cat Claw Acacia, Olneya tesota which is Ironwood, a type of tree. These are nothing more than plant seeds." Said the man in some disbelief of what he was reading. "Nothing more than species of flora you would plant in a desert garden. Was there a purpose to these?" he asked but Lauren did not raise her head. "Does your mutant cat form need something harsher than cat nip?" There were snorts of laughter. The man continued, "The thorns on these plants, as mature specimens, are quite something but as seeds they are of no concern to anyone." There were continued laughs and murmurings but they were forced sounds as the group tried to figure out what a shifter succubus hybrid would be doing with bags of seeds.
"Toss them or pour them out. I am tired of this foolishness." said the leader of the council flatly. Clearly he was finished with any delays. "Bo you are free to go." The man tried to sound grandfather like, "This is the last time we will be extending you this offer. You are not on trial. You have and will continue to serve the fae community well. Your fae lineage is pristine and it would be a shame to lose you because of this…thing." He waved a hand at Lauren. "Perhaps even one day you might think of taking a spot on the council yourself?" the sickie sweet tone was nauseating.
Spitting on the ground, Bo laughed, "Like hell," she snarled, "You are all nothing but a weak willed, hypocritical group of cowards. I will give you all an offer, Run." She said, "Run fast and hard away from here and you will live a few more days. You try to hurt us now and you will die. I promise you that. You…Will….Die."
Lauren head was still dropped. While the group was talking to one another the doctor had sent a new pulse into the Earth. There was no response. The breath caught in Lauren throat. Would this power spot for the fae not speak to her? Would it withhold help because she was so different? Carefully she pulsed again, there was a prickling along the nature fae's fingers. "Please, I am in need of your assistance?" Lauren thought and pulsed with a larger amount of energy. Peeking up she saw a few of the fae looking around. They had noticed the energy of the room had changed. Lauren breathed easier as she saw they were unable to pick where the flare of power had come from. Lowering her gaze again, the doctor waited for some type of response. Nothing came.
"You dare threaten the council?" snapped a brittle voice of a pinched face man, "A baby succubus just now finding out she can do more than screw someone to death and steal chi. We have ruled. Kill them now."
Lauren waited.
The Malek held the bags he had taken from Lauren out in front of him and dumped them on the ground in dramatic fashion. Kicking his foot through the piles of tiny offerings sending them skittering all over the floor, he smiled as he smashed some to powder with a large boot. Bo made an "Oooo your scary" face and the man frowned at her undaunted attitude.
Lauren waited.
The group stepped back so they were shoulder to shoulder. Some held iron spears at the ready, others extended hands with powerful attacks growing with their palms. The Malek and the slimy leader where shifting into their beasts, the Malek taking the form of an emaciated wolf while the council leader changing into a spider form growing additional arms and an enlarged mandible. "We speak for the fae. The sentence is death….." Bo was not watching Lauren, instead she called on her chi and reformed the sericon swords at the end of her hands. The eyes of their opponents were large with excitement and now fear, not a good combination.
Lauren waited and then her call was answered with such force that the doctor was sure her heart stopped for an instant. The sensation was overpowering to the point of being painful. There was a reverberation throughout the room, a deep mix of the woman's moan of pain and something much more. Two spears thrust forward and Bo blocked them both easily. The spears had been close together. Lauren did not react to the attack and Bo was afraid that her partner was losing it. Not being able to see the doctor's eyes and their strong glow, Bo figured she could protect on three sides but the fourth was up to the doctor. The succubus was frantic with worry as she started moving and slashing the swords in fast, intricate patterns to back the enemy off. Could she keep them both safe?
The Earth suddenly shifted violently and all but Lauren were slammed to the ground. With a strong hand, Bo felt herself lifted up, "Kiss me champion." said the doctor with flaming green eyes pulling the startled succubus into a strong and generous kiss. Bo fought the embrace in confusion and concern for their safety. Lauren allowed her to pull away for a few moments and the succubus felt the world continue to roll. No attack was coming close to them as everyone else struggled to find some type of footing. Lauren smiled and then kissed her protector again, Bo leaned into the doctor's arms and she felt chi starting to flow into her, it was like fine wine. A mix of Lauren and all that was good in the world. Breathless they pulled away from one another. Lauren raised an eyebrow, "Tap that chi baby." then she giggled almost a buzzed sound, alcohol did nothing for her but massive doses of Earth energy was a heady experience.
Bo reached within herself again and threw her head back in the rush of sensation as chi sizzled around her body in a burn strong enough to make Bo gasp at the sensation. Looking down she was armored within a layer of blue chi energy. Lauren reached up and touched Bo's chin forcing their eyes to meet again, "I think we need to fight now. I love you Bo." said Lauren. "No matter what happens. Remember that." Before Bo could respond Lauren pushed off and shifted to feline her form and began to run.
"What kind of trickery is this? Illusion and mutant deception. Kill them now." screamed the spider shifter as he finally was able to regain his balance. The attacks came from all angles but Bo was flying. As she spun her body, the blades on her arms were in constant motion. There were flashes of blue as the powerful blades sliced in a blur of movement. Thick meaty sounds of chi energy blades to flesh connections followed Bo as she traveled across the room. An iron spear escaped Bo's blade and smashed into her chi armor. Instead of the piercing pain she expected, the harsh metal simply skimmed off to the side. Bo smiled and the spear bearer who had attacked the succubus screamed as a long blue sericon sword removed his arm in one stroke.
Lauren was jumping and slashing with strong claws. Bouncing from wall to the seating areas and back, she was grace and death in a neat little furry package. The fae chasing her did not realize she was circling up a nice sized group of council members and leading them off to the side. "We have you now mutant bitch," there was a tittering and a series of hexes flew at the feline shifter. One hit Lauren's arm raising a group of ugly boils and she snarled loudly in spite of herself. Landing on her feet she shifted to human. "She is done for, lost her shifting ability. Attack now." It was the silly shrill woman. Lauren started laughing and flashed brilliant emerald eyes. They crackled with power. With a quick pulse a mix of thick green foliage began to sweep from the broken floor crawling out in all directions. "What is that?" wailed the woman as she danced backwards. She shot several attacks at Lauren but in her panic sent them way wide disrupting several other spells that council members had sent the doctor's way.
"They are unworthy of their gifts," Lauren said with that same giggle of power she felt with Bo. "That is what this place tells me." The fae around Lauren started to jump around as the plants on the ground were starting to pile on one another, grabbing and scrape along their legs. "It asked me to show you what real power is like." Lauren dropped to her knee and slammed a fist to the ground forcing power into the Earth and the plants went insane with growth. The council had never seen Lauren's nature fae construct and they were shaken by the power she displayed.
There were screams as stinging nettles and cat's claw entombing the group of fae in a tidal wave of growing plant life. Snagging skin and tearing clothing, the barbs of the plants made themselves known. The elders fought back and the more they blasted and fought the worst their situation got. Gaining a bit of control over herself, Lauren said, "You need to learn control and show remorse for your actions. Stop fighting and working against the people's wishes and your pain will stop." It was almost a plea coming from Lauren's doctor side. "Continue to abuse your power by pressing your assault and these emissaries of the Earth will kill you."
"Let's all fire at once, burn and batter this mess down. It's only some thorns and prickles for god's sake. We are elder fae. On my mark." a strong voice called from within the mess of plants. Lauren shifted to her feline form and ran. She had given them a choice but they had not listened. There was a flash of power as the fae made their attempt to escape. A violent rustle of leaves and branches sounded and then there was nothing but screaming. Huge cati grew up into the group and then the thorned plants began to thrash like they were in the most violent of winds. The rapid movement of the prickle covered branches made the stems act like hundreds of serrated knives. The motion of the plants moving back and forth was like the movements of a saw. The fae inside were cut and scrapped over and over again.
Cactus barbs pierced the fae's skin and became embedded deep as the size of the plants became huge. The barbed nature of the spines made them near impossible to remove without causing more damage to their victims. The fae still never stopped their attack on the plants. The foliage drank in the power becoming thicker and stronger. The thorns serrated nature thrashed harder and those inside the mass of greenery were sliced thousands of times. After making her way to the other side of the room Lauren stole a look back at the now silent mass of plant-life and shuttered at the pool of blood seeping from bottom of the vegetation.
Bo had caught a bit Lauren's plant attack and she knew the doctor would not be happy about the outcome. Slashing as she ran, Bo grabbed Lauren's arm pulling her away from a powerful blast of energy. The feline shifter tried to bound away but Bo held tight turning the cat to look at her. Lauren's eyes were wide and tear filled as Bo knew they would be, "This is not your fault Lauren. These people have come after you. They were given the chance to leave and instead stayed to kill you. We need to finish this." The feline's eyes were cold and animal like now. "Lauren, I love you and I will do whatever you want but I will not let them hurt you. Please fight to stay with me too."
"Touching," hissed the man spider. "But time to die now." The man sprang at the two women. Bo shoved Lauren away and slammed the man with an armored chi elbow. He staggered back. Opening his distorted mouth, thick gel-like mucus started to flow. The venom of his shifter form would be toxic. A warlock came up beside him. With a thick Indian accent he said, "Sir it would be my honor to help dispatch these two abominations." The warlock slammed his wooden staff to the ground and a power charge bloomed at the top. "We will help," there was a choir of voices rushing at Lauren and Bo from the back.
As Bo spun to handle the attackers moving in from the back, Lauren shifted to nature fae in an instant. Throwing her hands out, the doctor called to the wood in the staff of the Warlock to renew itself. The Earth felt her pull and answered with passion. The wooden staff was jerked down into the ground at least a foot deep. There it developed long thick roots. New strong branches shot out in all directions. Being closest to the restored fiber the Warlock was impaled deeply three or four times as the new growth burst out with incredible speed. He died within seconds, a look of shock and disbelief on his face. The spider shifter jumped to the side and spit a stream of vile yellow gel at Lauren. Knowing she could not duck because Bo was behind her. Lauren called for rapid help and a thick mix of green leaves with purple pink flowers exploded before her. The thick bougainvillea plant blocked most of the attack. Flecks of the liquid landed on Lauren's arm and side, she screamed as it burned like harsh acid on her skin. The burning then began to burrow inside the doctor as the toxin worked its way inside.
Three bodies dropped at Bo's feet. Turning back to Lauren, Bo stepped up and supported the nature fae's body, cautiously lowering her to the ground. The spider was hopping away from the advancing plant as it tumbled towards him in a spiky mass. Bo ran straight at the plant. Leaping into the air straight at the large plant, Bo was please as the mass of foliage bent low opening a direct path to her enemy. The council leader was taken by surprise as Bo flew over the plant straight at him. His hands went up but Bo was too quick and she ran him through with her blade. She lifted the man and then slammed him to the ground allowing the body to slide off the end of her chi weapon. There was no flourish or fanfare as she chopped straight down with the other hand allowing the second blade to remove the shifter's head. She kicked the severed body part hard into the wall hearing but not seeing the wet impact. Bo was back through the plant and running to Lauren.
The masses of dangerous plant life were twisting and growing in every section of the chamber now. They had groups of fae trapped. Only Bo and Lauren were allowed safe passage but it was still a chore to move quickly. By the time Bo returned to Lauren's side two council members had found her and were jabbing at the doctor with iron spears. Lauren had shifted to feline form and was fighting back with her claws but the venom had done some damage and the doctor was barely hanging on. Bo yelled, "Hey, chicken shits, aim those bad boys at me." The two swung around and their eyes went wide as the whirling blades at Bo's fingertips mowed the metal points down to pegs. The succubus feigned high then dropped her knees and drove the blades up into their guts. The chi drained from their systems to the blades and then into Bo. Extinguishing the blades for a moment the bodies thudded to the floor in heaps.
"Switch to your succubus now." Bo's tone left Lauren no option. The doctor shifted in seconds and the pain bit into her. Bo grabbed the doctor and pushed chi into her. Bo forced Lauren's succubus nature to accept what she offered and for the first time Lauren felt herself heal from life force chi. The burn of the venom subsided and Lauren was able to concentrate again. She shifted to nature fae during the exchange and reversed the chi flow as she took more from the Earth. Bo was caught off guard and was almost tossed backward as huge amounts of energy shot into her. Pulling away in time to block a hex attack from somewhere. Bo said, "Okay doctor, we are going to have to talk boundaries and chi sharing when this is through." She now had the giggles and her eyes blazed blue. "Damn, that's a lot of power." Bo licked her lips and then kissed Lauren's hard and fast. The succubus flashed a dazzling smile and then ran off to find a fight.
Rolling with Bo's motion, Lauren was recovered and standing. There was a roar to her side and she saw the Malek racing at her. He had been waiting for the right moment. The venom attack should have weakened Lauren but fighting his way through the wild plant life had allowed Bo to get there first, restoring the doctor's good health. Seeing the skeletal form rushing towards her Lauren shifted to her feline form. With a piercing predator call, Lauren met the man's challenge and ran at the Wendigo wolf mix. The big bony frame was leaping forward with dagger like claws extended. Dropping to slide on her knees, Lauren ducked under the canine nails and then raked the exposed flesh of his torso as she moved underneath. Her sharp claws cut deep and when the man landed he was holding in organs that should never have seen the light of day. He screamed in fury and rolled to the side grabbing on to a fallen body that was close to him. Lauren shifted and her eye flashed green.
"Don't do it." Lauren said. The beast extended his jaws in an evil show of intent. One of his paws held his guts together while the other pulled the body closer to him. The soft belly of the corpse had already been opened by Bo's blade. Lauren could see what the Malek was going to do and she would stop it. His Wendigo nature would recover when he consumed the dead flesh. "The dead are not food for you today." The Malek snarled and pulled a bloody paw to his mouth licking at the crimson fluid that covered it. In a surprise move he grabbed the body and flung it at Lauren's feet with incredible strength. The mass of flesh traveling at her was a shock and Lauren was taken off guard and knocked to the ground.
The beast shifter rocketed at her in a full attack. Lauren rolled and then dug her fingers into a crack in the floor touching soil and pulsing as much energy as she could to that spot. A huge Ironwood tree grew directly in front of Lauren. The beast slammed into the hard wood and the man's exposed flesh felt the thousands of tiny stabs as the barbs of the tree's bark and branches touched deep inside the jagged wound.
Lauren winced and the shifter pulled himself off the tree. She could see where the barbs snagged and held the meat of the man's body. Each area of snagged flesh pulled to peaks before they snapped off or pulled free of the barbs. The blood was pouring from the fae. He was still trying to attack her, flinging claws at her in desperation. Lauren reached out and with careful fingers touched the tree. A branch split from the trunk and stabbed the shifter through the heart ending his attempts to come after her.
A clash of hissing metal sounded and Lauren turned to see the remaining seven fae all ganging up on Bo. Her champion was spinning, jumping and defending but there were too many to go on the offensive. Laruen pulsed energy into the ground as if to say I still need your help. The fae land responded with a strong offering. The smell of roses scented the air. Lauren ran towards Bo with her hand out. The ground started to shake as vining green shoots broke the floor near the feet of the remaining seven council members. Climbing masses of roses on strong stems snaked upwards in a wall of beauty and danger, clinging to whatever would hold them.
Bo did not have time to notice the plants, but she did feel Lauren's approach. The speed of her sword work was starting to fail. The succubus was getting tired again and the help would be appreciated. Raising her arm to block a blow, Bo was taken by surprise as two of the fae closest to Lauren were suddenly hanging in midair. Their feet entangled in thick stems and beautiful blossoms of color. They made surprised shouts which caused others in the group to lose their rhythm. Bo made quick work of their mistakes. Only three were now left. They turned to run but the wall of roses tumbled down on them. Their limbs were soon bound by the strong thorny steams.
Bo raised her swords but Lauren placed a hand on her shoulder. "It is over. They are finished." Turning to the five ensnared fae, "Do you hear me? This is over. No more." She yelled her voice shaking with fear, fatigue and all the other emotions she barely had under control. "Your fight has been lost. There has been enough death." Lauren turned her back to the last of the council and walked towards the door. "Bo we have to see if Hilde is…." There was a cracking as stems were broken and then the clash of metal and energy. With a jump Lauren spun around to see Bo was standing behind her in full blue armor. There were five spell attacks bouncing off in various directions, black marks marring the surface of the succubus's chi protection. The fae had freed themselves and shot at Lauren's back, the same cowardly act that they had used against Hilde. While Lauren had been satisfied that the fight was over, Bo had known something was coming and not dropped her guard. She had pooled all her remaining energy and been vigilant as Lauren's protector waiting for the council's last move.
Without looking back at the doctor, Bo raised her arms and then held them straight out at the five people in front of her. The blue chi swords blazed as bright as Bo's eyes, "Try that again." She said with the succubus riding her voice. The fae looked to one another and did just that. With deadly intent they launched another hard attack. It was over in seconds. Bo's blades directed each assault back at its source. Each of the remaining council members died feeling the bite of their own evil intentions.
Lauren felt the breath reenter her body. The waste of life was sickening to her. Dropping to the ground, Lauren bid the Earth open and take in the bodies and the plant life. Bo was silent as she watched the ground split and roll as it started the cycle of renewal pulling everything deep underground then closing up as if nothing had happened. Lauren pulse energy into the ground as thank you and was answered with a sad but satisfied feel. Bo reached out taking Lauren's hand and led her out of the chamber.
As they pushed open the door they were met with a crash of noise and a flurry of activity. Hundreds of fae were outside the building. Dyson, Vex and a worse for wear Tamsin were at the door. "Oh thank god," said Dyson and he pulled them into a hug ignoring the gore on his friends. "The council?" he said to Bo. The look on Lauren's face was too shocky for him to address her directly. Bo nodded and with the motion said all that there needed to be said. The wolf shifter sighed, "Thoth will have witnessed it all. There will not be another trial." Said the wolf raising his voice as the sound of the crowd was growing. People were cheering and yelling as the news spread that Lauren and Bo had defeated the council.
"What the hell is going on?" said Bo pulling Lauren close. More out of it from the battle than she would like to admit.
Dyson shook his head, "The news spread like wildfire about the elders and their attack on Lauren and Hilde. We have all been trying to breaking into this place to help you since we were sent away by that warlock."
Lauren pleaded through the chaos, "We need to get to Hilde. Is there a car or something…"
"Easy Doc, your royal is at your farm with Kenzi. They moved through the passage in the shack. I can pop you over to the shack, you will be there in seconds. Trust me to send you over?" said Vex. He could understand if the two women were not in the trusting mood right now. He was not in the mood for anything but straight talk. It was obvious Tamsin was the one that had made him stay. Once Bo and Lauren were gone he could get his love some medical attention.
"Do it now please." Said Lauren and she didn't have to ask twice. Vex nodded and then pushed both of them backwards hard. Instead of hitting the ground they landed on Bo's bed in the shack. "Damn," said Lauren in disbelief as they scrambled off the bed and ran down stairs. "The door," and Lauren ran towards the front door. Bo caught her arm.
"Wrong door," Bo pointed to a sign taped to a new door in the wall that said "To the Farm." Bo held Lauren back as she started to run. "Do you need anything from here?" Lauren turned and ran to the kitchen and came back with her old med kit. Bo grabbed the doorknob and they walked over the threshold and into the farmhouse kitchen. Once through the door, it disappeared behind them.
There was a scraping sound followed by a fast shuffle. Lauren and Bo found themselves enveloped in arms squeezing them tight. Two massive beefy limbs and two small but muscular ones, it was a Bruce and Kenzi sandwich. Someone tried to talk but it didn't work. Finally Lauren gathered her wits. "I need to see Hilde." It broke the spell and they all pulled apart.
Kenzi looked ashen with stress, "I have tried everything I could think of Lauren. Hilde is stable but she is not improving." The druid held out her hand and Lauren took it as they ran upstairs.
Bo looked at the ogre, he looked to be beside himself with emotion. Bo could relate. She pointed a hand as if asking for directions, "I believe farms have porches that people sit on and discuss things." She was trying for a down home voice but it didn't really come off. Bruce smiled anyway and pointed towards the front door. "Lead the way." She walked with the big man to the little retreat and they settled in. "Lauren's going to help her." said Bo. Bruce gave a nod but it was far from encouraging. He reached out and took Bo's hand and held it as they sat in silence.
Hilde was in the same room Kenzi had been in for her recovery. The wounds had been packed and some stitched up. Greenish slime with that distinct odor of Kenzi's cure all was smeared everywhere but the large puncture wound to the midsection. The hag was propped at an angle. Kenzi saw Lauren checking out the crazy position and said quickly, "On her side is the only way we could keep her breathing smoothly. When she is flat she begins to gurgle and ..." Kenzi was ringing her hands and then wiping them on her pants.
Lauren sighed deeply and then pulled Kenzi into a crushing hug. "Druid you have done an amazing job." The doctor felt the shaking of her friend and knew the girl was crying in relief and fear. The doctor continued, "Something is wrong with her lung I am going to need to open her up to find out what that is. Can you help?"
Kenzi sniffed and nodded. "Okay," said Lauren, "Send Bo back through the door to the shack to get Hale if she can. Then bring me the med kit from the kitchen. Tell Bruce to boil a big pot of water. Okay?" there was a nod from the girl. "Good, now go."
Alone in the room with the hag, Lauren bent down by the fragile looking woman on the bed. The doctor took a small hand in hers. "Hilde I'm here. Please don't give up. We all need you so much." Lauren kissed the still, cool hand. "Little mother, I need you so much." The tears fell freely and would not stop.