*Chapter 23: Return to the Dark Castle*

"You are crazy!" Yelled Mercedes as the whole Eastern Camp started to get ready for battle. "You're thinking about going back into the Dark Castle all alone? What's wrong with you?" She continued.

Rachel and Sam nodded. "You just came back to us Kurt." Rachel said. "You can't just get up and leave again."

"And," Sam was adding, "you still need time to recover to at least ensure that you'll be all right and—"

"Guys." Kurt interrupted placing his hands up to motion that they should calm down. "I am not crazy. I know what I have to do and it is something I have to do alone."

The three groaned and Karofsky rolled his eyes. "Kurt, you're my General and I will follow your commands…"

"Thank you Karof—"

"Even though I agree that you have gone all sorts of Mystic crazy."

Kurt laughed loudly. "Yeah… It does appear as such doesn't it?"

"Appear as such?" Sam said taken aback. "It is as such!"

Rachel groaned. "This is going to give me the biggest migraine ever."

"Migraine?" Mercedes asked. "This is making me want to regurgitate my breakfast."

"I'll be fine." Kurt assured. He fixed his battle kilt, the only article of clothing he wore since he was going to do a lot of shifting and any clothing would just be ruined, and switched to his full General role. "Evans, prepare the camp for the sick and injured from both sides, Karofsky, prepare your army. Jones, Berry, two of the fastest steeds in the Eastern Camp are waiting for you, ride out to Hudson and Chang and tell them the plan. Remember, Chang first goes out to get Montgomery in the Dalton Camps while Hudson heads straight for McKinley. Do not get distracted at all." He then looks at Karofsky. "If all goes well you will receive reinforcements when Hudson arrives and hopefully by the time Chang arrives you will have the enemy mostly beat out. Dalton and Lima will not have that many soldiers to defend them throughout this. If you feel that you have won, send some soldiers back to the other two counties."

"Yes General, sir." Karofsky saluted him.

Kurt then looked at the women. "Ride out now. Go." The women nodded and started to run through the camp to where the two horses awaited them. Kurt patted Sam on his shoulder and wished him luck, Sam returning it back to Kurt before running off into the camp. "And Karofsky remember to wait a bit before you start the attack. Give the Berry and Jones time to reach the Western Camp."

"Yes General, sir."

"I am leaving now." Kurt said quickly, the adrenaline from being back into his fated role making him anxious to go out. "You handle the rest here."

"Yes General, sir. Good luck to you."

"May the God of Light be with you Karofsky." Kurt commented before shifting into his Pegasus form and making his way to the Dubhghlas Castle.

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

Blaine stood in the corner with Quinn and Santana on either side of him. He really was not even standing but more leaning onto the wall behind him. It had been nearly a week since Kurt was killed and all that time he has felt empty, lost. He had wanted to take his life several times throughout the week, even attempted so a few times, each time either backing out moments before or was stopped by one of the two women beside him. He could feel that they too were devastated by his death. Not as much as he obviously but they both showed their remorse. Both women had some sort of time with Kurt, and wither it really had any significance or not, the shifter had impacted their lives greatly. That was just the type of being Kurt was, one who does many a great impact on people. But now he was gone.

The ex-entrepreneur of Dalton had been spending this whole week, besides attempting suicide; remember whatever he could of Kurt, which was practically everything. He remembered that first day he had bought him at the auction, his spunky attitude, and above all his eyes. That was always the thing Blaine loved of Kurt. There was his personality and how beautiful he was but the thing that always rocked Blaine to his core was the Mystic's eyes and how it would never be just one color but tow or at most times three, especially when he shifted and showed great emotion.

Blaine missed Kurt, with every breath he took. But what caused him the most pain was the look of betrayal Kurt conveyed in his eyes when he found out that Blaine had in fact been alive and had been sleeping with Sarver. That is what really gets at Blaine. He wishes that he could comfort Kurt, say that it never meant anything, which it did not, and that it took Sarver literally months to force Blaine to have a sexual event with him. But he could not and that was eating away at Blaine. Kurt had died feeling betrayed, heartbroken, and there was nothing Blaine could have done to save him. Nothing.

The male human must have made a sound for the next thing he knew there were hands on his shoulders and arms comforting him. Blaine looked at the women beside him and smiled sadly, forcing himself off the wall to stand up properly. These two women, who really were unlikely friends, were now his only friends in the world. Blaine was sure that if Wesley, Mercedes, Rachel and all of his good old friends, even Karofsky, all knew he was still alive that they would still be his friends. But with this shadow of a doubt he himself doubted that they were in any form to be considered friends. Especially since he was on the enemy's side.

The doors swung open and the three humans immediately tensed and put their arms at their side. Antoni walked in first, as he always does to make sure no one who was not supposed to be in the was in there, followed by Lady Brooke and of course Sarver. Blaine sighed heavily. His anger and dislike for Sarver grew since Kurt's death, his murder, and the mere sight of the Mystic was more than enough to drive him to insanity. He also felt bad for Lady Brooke. She too was devastated from the shifter's death though Blaine was sure that she and the shifter had never met in person before his death. She was seemingly even more devastated than Blaine at times if that was even possible.

Sarver sat with a groan in his large and comfortable chair. He sighed as his body settled into the cushions. He began to laugh. "Soon the world will be mine." He looked at the three humans standing in the far corner of the room. "All around the world my darkness and army have been overcoming the Alliance since the poor unfortunate passing of your 'cousin' Blaine." Blaine's hands turned to fists at his sides. "The only place that is really continuing putting up a fight is Andorra." He looked at Lady Brooke then. "It seems than most of the Alliance rushed to Andorra when they started to lose territories inland. They overtook Andorra from the darkness, since it is so hard to keep such a strong command on the other side of the world when I am here, and are fighting to preserve your last remaining home, and that of my uncle's." Sarver scoffed. "My uncle… How he was ever to defeat father I will never know… He is just so cowardly and weak and—"

What happened next was something no one in the room would ever guess would happen. "You shut the fuck up." Lady Brooke cursed as she glared down at who was technically her nephew, but ever since the bond was broken Sarver was not a member of her family as she was not a member of his. "You bastard." She cursed once more which is something unheard from her. In all of her extended lifetime she had never really cursed and allowed herself to feel such anger towards another being. But she was pushed over the edge when Sarver insulted the love of her life, her one and only, both her True Love and The One. "You shut your mouth about him. He is a far better being than you will ever be. You strive to gain power but this is all you will ever have Doyle. As for your father, he was the one who digged his own grave. You just be grateful that he was given the time to go out and mate thanks to the uncle you are insulting out of pure love for your father."

Sarver looked in shock at his somewhat aunt. He scoffed and then broke into laughter. "Shows what an idiot your ex-mate-and-husband was Milady."

Lady Brooke started to shake with anger and before she could lash out at Sarver Antoni was behind her and gripping her arms tightly, pulling her back away from his master. "Vostè puta mare, cabró! Cabró! Cabró!" She screeched as she was dragged away towards the other humans and was roughly tossed into their arms. She screamed and tried to attack Antoni but the three held her back.

"I would think if I were you Milady." Antoni advised. "If this was anyone else you would be killed on the spot, just be thankful the Sire likes you as much as he does." In response Lady Brooke spit at the space before Antoni. The vampire's eyes squinted at her.

Sarver laughed loudly from his chair. "It seems that being in my presence for this long has started to awaken the darkness within our good little girl." Sarver stood. "What luck. If Brooke Dionne submits then there is nothing in the whole world to stop me. Nothing!"

"Unless it comes from a different world Sarver." A new voice said suddenly. The six looked around for the source of the sound, Antoni finding it first.

"Up there!"

Hanging from the chandelier almost casually was Kurt, smiling almost mockingly as Sarver, half of his kilt remaining form the shift from before. Blaine broke apart from the women and looked up, a surge of so many emotions rocking him until he feel upon his knees. "Kurt… You're—"

"Alive!" Sarver yelled in anger. "How! How, tell me how!" Kurt giggled, the first time he has truly giggled in years, and shifted into a canary. "Antoni, get him!"

Without a word Antoni leaped up onto the chandelier where Kurt started to fly quickly around his head, annoying the vampire. "Hold still!" Antoni growled as he clawed at the air just fractions of second behind Kurt. Kurt flew to a ledge on the wall and shifted back into a human. "Oh… Look at the aging vampire…" The shifter cooed mockingly. "Getting a bit slow now are we? Can't even catch a puny little bird? Oh…" Antoni growled and threw himself off the chandelier towards the ledge, missing by more than a few feet. Kurt laughed loudly in effect. "By the God! That was—"Kurt truly could not find the words to speak since his laughter was just shaking his body. He had laughed before in these past few years of the Second Great War but not like this. He was truly enjoying himself mocking Antoni DeBastard. That thought elicited another laugh from Kurt. "Hey, hey Antoni!"

"What?" Antoni growled as he stood, staggering a bit from the fall.

"Is your surname really DeBastard?" Kurt roared with laughter at the private joke.

"What?" The vampire asked, genuinely confused. "I don't have a last name…" Kurt laughed at Antoni for not getting the joke. The laughter was slowly becoming contagious as Santana started to laugh, being followed by Quinn.

"DeBastard!" Santana roared. Quinn placed a hand over her mouth and chuckled fluidly.

Antoni looked at the laughing females. "You… You stop laughing! Now!"

"Aw…" Kurt sounded, attracting the vampire's attention again. "I'm sorry… Are we hurting your feelings old man?" Kurt chuckled. "Who would have thought that vampires age? Tell me Antoni… Are you sure you're a full breed?"

Antoni's body shook with anger and hurt. "S-shut up!" The laughter from the two women slowly ended.

"Was it your mother or father that was human?" Kurt asked, completely serious now. When Antoni did not respond Kurt continued. "Your mother? It was your mother? No… It couldn't be. She wouldn't have survived right?" Antoni started to lose his breath as water started to pool in his eyes. "She is alive isn't she? Your mother?"

"Shut up!" Antoni cried out as he fell to his knees and started to cry loudly.

"Antoni!" Sarver yelled, stomping over to the vampire. "Get up! Get up and kill Kurt Anderson!"

"No! No!" Antoni yelled. "You took me from them! I was saving her! I was saving my mother! They took you in! They raised you and when they finally got pregnant—"Sarver backed away. "You killed father! You took me as a newborn! You converted me to your side! My family followed the God of Light! We followed him! Not you!"

Sarver growled and quickly pulled out his sword and was swinging it downwards, aiming for the vampire's neck when Kurt materialized between them as a Pegasus and knocked down Sarver with a mighty hit to the head. Kurt looked back at Antoni and neighed commands at him. The vampire, too emotionally stricken, stayed still. Kurt shook his head and turned back to Sarver who had already stood and was having his wings grow from his back. "I should have killed your personally Kurt." Sarver started. "The moment I found out you were the Fated One."

Kurt neighed loudly, his response along the lines of 'Yes, you should have.' Sarver moved forward and Kurt reared and neighed powerfully. In the room his neigh echoed until it seemed to slow down time. From outside, through the large windows, the dark clouds lightened and seemed to be moving towards the castle. It was then seen that, yes, they were heading to the castle as a larger bird took form in the clouds. Within seconds the sounds of glass shattering rang through the air as well as the shards of glass soaring through the air. Antoni moved then standing up and knowingly saving Kurt from a large shard of glass that was flying towards Kurt. The shard entered the vampire's lower torso as littler pieces scratched and embedded themselves in the rest of his body. Meanwhile Blaine, Santana, Quinn and Lady Brooke retreated into the secret passage for a moment. When Kurt's hooves hit the floor the explosion had subdued and all was still and full of light.

When the light faded away, the humans have emerged from the passage way and standing before the broken windows, clad in a white floor length robe, was Shimshon in human form. The moment he appeared all went back into motion. Kurt shifted back into a human and loomed over the dying vampire, and Lady Brooke fell to her knees, tears of happiness streaming down her check as the others stood and watched the scene unfold before them. Sarver took a few steps back as his eyes met the God of Light's. "Uncle…"

"Nephew…" The two said as a sort of greeting.

Kurt, being in the middle of these two powerful beings quickly moved, taking the bleeding vampire in his arms before quickly heading to the humans. Blaine was going to give Kurt the biggest hug he had ever given in his life but Kurt was too far into his General role and Blaine could see it. Kurt immediately started to try and save the vampire while Santana and Quinn helped. Soon Lady Brooke pulled herself away from her idolization of her old lover and helped as well with Blaine.

The God of Light and Doyle Sarver stared each other down, the tension between the two powerful and mythical relations setting the course for the end of the war. Shimshon stepped forward. "It is about time I take back my home nephew."

Sarver smirked and tossed his sword aside. "Fine then uncle… Just try to take it away from me."

*Chronicles of the Mystics*

Karofsky and his army attacked the front lines of the enemy, slowly starting to chip away at their forces. The plan that the General had created seemed to be a good one, but there was a lot of empty spaces in the plan, most if not all of them pertaining to the General himself. Karofsky did his best not to doubt his old friend and General but the shifter was acting strange as of late ever since he washed up on the border of the Eastern Camp.

A giant explosion drove Karofsky out of his thoughts. Two dragons from either side went head on to each other in a fiery inferno. The explosion of their flames seemed to knock the two large Mystics out of the air and onto the battle field, taking out opponents and comrades alike. Karofsky urged his horse forward into the fray. By now reinforcements should have come.

Finn and his army did not come until minutes later. The army without a question or a pause went straight into battle, turning the tides of the battle. Finn had found Karofsky in the middle of the battlefield and rode up to him. "Karofsky."

"Hudson." Karofsky said back in greeting. "It's a good thing you showed up when you did. We needed the extra help."

"Not a problem Karofsky." Finn looked around. "Is Kurt not with you?"

"I'm guessing the women told you he was alive?"

"Yes. They also said that he was going to join in the battle once his own special mission was over."

Karofsky nodded. "Yes but he has yet to join us." At that moment enemies were advancing and the two captains continued to fight once more.

Half an hour later the battle was technically won as most of the enemies were retreating. Wes with his army arrived and he went straight up to the other captains. "The battle is won?"

"Yes but we need to push forward to the beach." Karofsky said.

"I am guessing Kurt will join us there." Finn commented.

"Then what are we waiting here for?" Wes asked enthusiastic to meet his old friend. "Let's move!"

Together the three captains began to move out their troops. Karofsky lingered behind, knowing his husband would soon appear on the field, taking the injured and dead away. Sam came ridding up on his horse, observing the carnage that the battle caused. Spotting Karofsky Sam quickly moved to him. "Glad to see you are still alive."

"Of course I am." Karofsky grinned. "I stay alive for you."

Sam smiled. "And I thank you for it." Sam moved his horse besides Karofsky's and leaned over to give his husband a light kiss on his lips which Karofsky gladly gave back. "Now you must get moving. Finn and Wes won't wait for you forever."

Karofsky chuckled and leaned over to give the half breed another kiss. "They can wait." Sam shook his head and pointed in the direction the army was moving in. "Fine I'll leave you." Karofsky said smirking. "Either way we have to decide who goes back to Lima and Dalton and who stays and fights."

"Just be careful Dave."

"Always, Sam dear, always." The two parted ways, glancing back to properly bid their goodbyes.

*Chronicles of the Mystics*

Shimshon and Sarver moved forward at once, Shimshon's mighty white wings coming out from his back as he did so. When the two met in the center a wave of energy shot out from them, effortlessly knocking over the bystanders in the room. The battle between God vs. demigod was one that has never truly been seen before, especially not when one of the fighters had so much anger in their soul, an emotion much stronger than that of jealously. There were no weapons used in this battle, just shear strength and a tangle of wings and claws. There were, many times, where it was the God of Light that had the advantage but then, because of his lack of fighting in the past few centuries, Sarver would strike, taking full advantage of the loss of speed Shimshon had lost. The others alternated from trying to save Antoni to watching the battle of the beings. Kurt could not pay attention to either since Blaine was right beside him, their arms brushing against each other as they both rushed to save the vampire's life. It was a conundrum how they rushed to save his life when Antoni ruined theirs but it was not his fault that he had done what he had. But this was far from Kurt's mind. All he could think about that Blaine was right beside him and that they were trying to save a life, no matter whose life it is, a life is a life.

The two powerful beings crashed into each other again and Sarver flew back into the wall while Shimshon stumbled slightly to regain his balance. Sarver stood and started to flap his wings, gaining some lift from the floor. Shimshon mimicked his nephew, too lifting up from the floor. When they both reached a significant height they soared towards each other with great speed and once more met together with another wave of energy, this time the wave was much stronger. The castle started to crumble around them and the human females screamed as one section of the roof crashed down beside them. Blaine took the initiative. "We need to get out of here!"

Kurt nodded. "Blaine, take them out of here, all of them. I need to save the prisoners."

"Kurt I—"

"As much as I would love to talk to you Blaine, and I mean that, truly I do, we need to get out of here." Kurt walked up to Lady Brooke and bowed before taking her hands in his. "Are you alright Milady?"

"I am quite fine Kurt." Lady Brooke moved her hands so that she could kiss the top of Kurt's.

"I need you to go to Blaine. You can't stay here."

Lady Brooke giggled and nodded. "Do not worry. I will not wait for Shimshon. I am sure he has his own problems to worry about."

Kurt nodded, a smile spreading across his face. He turned back to the others. "Take the quickest way out okay?"

Quinn nodded. "There's a servants' passageway that crosses with an emergency exit tunnel. All we have to do is unlock it somehow."

"Wait." Santana said quickly. "Antoni has the keys." They all looked at Antoni and the vampire nodded.

"Th—They're in… In my pocket…"

Blaine felt around the pockets and found the keys, pulling them out and showing them to the others. "Good." Kurt said. "Now get out!" Kurt shifted to a Pegasus, not leaving any room for argument and ran to the double doors, kicking them down with his front hooves quickly before running out.

"Come on." Santana ordered as she reopened the secret passageway. "We need to leave." The humans and vampire went into the passage way as quickly as possible before the door closed behind them.

Shimshon watched as the others got out of the room and focused back onto the fight at hand just as Sarver was launching himself at the God. The God of Light moved out of the way quickly and their positions changed. Now that Sarver's back was to the broken window, Shimshon was now able to take this fight outside as the castle crumbled. Shimshon cried like an eagle and shifted into his complete dove form. Sarver stepped back for he, being only a demigod, did not have a complete form and the dove that stood before him took up more than half of the large room. Shimshon cried out again and ran towards Sarver, using his beak to knock Sarver out of the window before re-crashing into it and leaving the room just as it collapsed in on itself. Now that the fight was in the great outdoors, Shimshon no longer had a fear of going to his full potential and defeating his nephew. He cried out again and started to fly towards Sarver who was flapping his wings to prevent him from falling down into the rough ocean waters. Sarver turned and flew away towards land but Shimshon was quicker and intercepted him, leading Sarver farther out to see. This was Sarver's weakness. On land he may be quick and agile, but when he flies he tires easily, and this is how the God of Light would inevitably win over Doyle Sarver.

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

Kurt had shifted into a canary sometime between exiting the now collapsed room and reaching the dungeon where his friends were held. There were no guards or workers, all who were inside the castle that were able already escaped, leaving the prisoners to cry out for help desperately as parts of the castle broke off and fell into the ocean. Kurt flew before the bars of the cage his friends were in and shifted back into a human suddenly startling them, they had thought it was just a random canary. "Kurt!" Brittany screamed out as she rushed to the bar, wanting to hug her bond brother vigorously.

"Brittany… Scarlota, guys, are you all right?" Kurt asked them quickly, being pressed for time.

"Yes we're fine but…" Puck started. "We saw you… You were thrown off the side of the castle."

"You died." Brittany added.

"Not quite." Kurt said. "But there's no time to explain. I need to get everyone out of here."

"Prison escape attempt number two." Puck commented.

Kurt nodded and quickly rushed off to find a spare key to open the doors. He searched and searched, ultimately coming up to a small office which had a spare key hanging conveniently on the wall. Kurt grabbed it and went to each cell quickly. As he freed the Mystics they ran out and tried to immediately escape their deaths. He opened the cell of his friends last, since it was the last cage on the way out, and all together they ran out just in time to witness the castle crumble upon itself from the bridge. "Now what General?" Scarlota asked him when they touched ground.

"We have to fight." Kurt pointed towards the beach. "Karofsky, Finn and Wes pushed the remaining enemy in McKinley to the beach. They are the last of Sarver's followers in Ohio."

"Then let us go then." Lauren said suddenly. "I have been dying to drink some blood." They were going to rush into the fray when the Fafnir dragon Sarver arrived with flew before them, grumbling softly for forgiveness.

Kurt came up to the Fafnir and patted him on his nose. "You are forgiven. It was not your fault. You were forced to kill." The dragon called out in happiness and Kurt breathed in deeply. "Speaking of which… You all go ahead. I have to find some friends." Kurt shifted and ran off, once again not leaving room for argument.

Once he was gone Lauren pulled herself upon the Fafnir's back. The others looked at her as if she had gone insane. "What? I will get there before all of you riding the dragon."

Scarlota neighed and shook her head. Brittany nodded. "I agree with Scarlota." The human shifter pulled herself onto the unicorn's back and the two ran towards the battle that was happening on the beach.

Puck shrugged. "I'll ride with you Lauren."

"Do you have any choice?"

"Even if I didn't I would still choose you." Puck said as he sat behind the female vampire.

"That was by far the most romantic thing that has ever come out of your mouth Puckerman." Lauren cooed.

Puck chuckled embarrassingly. "Ah… Thanks it was—"

"Don't ever say anything like that again. It makes me sick."

"Yes ma'am." The Fafnir dragon took off and quickly reached the beach for the battle.

Ok so I originally thought I could fit so much more in this chapter but it's already 10 pages long in Word and everything else I had planned would be like another eight at least I think so I'm just going to hold it off for the next chapter. It won't be a two-part but the next chapter will pick up immediately where this one left off.

Next chapter: The battle on the beach goes into full swing and the Resistance is being pushed back into submission. Meanwhile the God of Light fights his nephew for the world.

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