Heyyyyyyyyyyyy ^-^ Okay those were to many y's hehe. I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying my story. I'm holding on to you loyal mysterious follower! Here is another chapter for you. Sadly, I do have to say that even though updates have been daily I will be slowing down due to school starting on Monday. Yayy *pops open the confetti with 0 enthusiasm*. So yeah, please be patient with me. I will try and update as much as I possibly can ^-^

Strategy

(present day)

Skylin

Everyone was already present in the war room when I arrived. Glitch was throwing Puck a death glare while he just smugly grinned, obviously happy with himself.

"Come on, Glitchy. No hard feelings, eh? It's already worn off anyway."

"I will get you back.. Not just because you hid the milk, but you switched my glass of water with vodka!" Glitch yelled back, clearly upset about the whole incident.

"In my defense water wouldn't of helped more than the vodka anyway," Puck replied, crossing his arms.

"Why you son of a-"

"Enough," Meghan spoke up, "I'd like to begin. I've already given all of you a brief on what kind of threat we're facing, but Skylin will be able to tell us more about our enemy and help us develop a strategy."

Everyone looked at me as Meghan gestured towards me.

"About a century ago I was told of a prophecy by the oracle. A threat was approaching. A danger more vicious than any we have ever seen. I was told that I was the only one who could stop this danger and that the courts would have to unite in order to beat what they will be facing in the future.

So I ventured to the Summer and Winter courts, earning the king and queens' trust and respect. I informed them of the prophecy and they are ready to go into an alliance with us. It will take some persuasion due to you being the iron court, but-"

"Wait a second, how do we know we can trust everything she's telling us? An alliance with the other courts? In war? That seems rather farfetched to me. Especially, since she has already talked to them before she came to us. Who's to tell if she's lying or not?" one of the head commanders spoke.

"And to be quite frank I am not sending my troops into a death trap."

"Are you implying you would not follow orders given by your queen?" Ash's voice cut into the room, his icy stare practically impaling the commander.

"T-that's not what I meant. But surely you must understand that I am concerned about sending my troops to their death."

The rest of the commanders nodded in agreement.

"Fallon's concerns are justified, but I can assure you that Skylin is not the enemy. Ash has known her for a long time and I trust his judgment," Meghan said in my defense.

"Besides," Glitch added, "I don't think I need to point out that the recent border sightings are more than proof that something is coming."

"What kind of border sightings?" I asked, my interest piqued.

"We've had several of Sergio's patrols reporting of activity by the borders. No actual attacks have been happening. They couldn't really make out what they saw other than completely black human figures. Almost like materialized shadows," Glitch explained.

"In the most recent patrol one of the guards claims to have seen a set of red eyes on one of them, but whenever the warriors tried to get near them, they would disappear without a trace."

"They must be my sister's work, " I concluded. She was always intrigued by the color black, it complemented her eyes.

"You mean like some sort of minions?" Puck asked, seeming slightly dubious to the idea.

"Unless she's planing on creating an army she must be using them as spies."

"Or both," Ash interjected. "We know that her plan is to take over the Nevernever. Although, we are in a clear disadvantage in power, we are still a military force to be reckoned with. She knows we won't go down without a fight."

"But couldn't she technically just take over without any help? Why would she need an army?"

I internally winced at Meghan's question. I knew why. I knew all to well why my sister didn't do just that.

"You're right Meghan. In a way she could. But calling on our essence is both tiring and strenuous. Sometimes limiting. It depends on how much we are in tune with our essence. One cannot live without the other. The more you are balanced the stronger you are. However, if you let your essence have the upper hand, like Kensley has, you develop into your truest form and become the strongest you can be. You no longer have control and succumb to it."

"This is just fantastic. So why doesn't she just take over?, " Puck commented.

"Because, "I said, "Kensley not only loves games, but she loves legendary stories. So what is more legendary? Taking over with a snap of your finger? Or creating a huge army that bends to your will and slowly take over the fey nation?"

The room went still. The fear of some of the warriors tangible in the air.

"So how do we stop her?" Meghan asked. Determination clear in her voice. A queen who wanted to protect her people. How far she had come.

"Either through persuasion before any damage is done or by going to war and killing her. A day for war has already been predestined and Kensley will surely hold to that day. She wants us to know that she is coming."

"Then there is no doubt that we must kill her," Fallon spoke.

My eyes snapped into his direction, warningly glaring at him.

"I would heed your tongue if I were you, commander. Although I agree the threat must be eliminated, we are talking about my sister and I am the one that will have her blood on my hands."

I then turned to Meghan and Ash.

"I will do anything to protect your people and would never put you in any unnecessary danger. I ask for one chance. If I don't succeed we will proceed as follows."

After one long glance at me Ash turned to Meghan.

"I would give her one chance. After that we will still be able to wage war," he suggested to her.

Meghan looked on contemplative, slightly torn between the need to protect and the chance of settling things another way.

"I will give you your chance."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Glitch, send a request to both the Summer and Winter court. I would like to meet with them to discuss an alliance. Mention that the guardian is with us."

"Will do, my queen, " Glitch answered and stared typing away on his tablet.

"When should we expect the attack?" Meghan asked.

"About three fortnights time," I answered. The grim realization of the pressure we were under and the small amount of days left.

"Fallon."

"Yes, my queen?" he answered, standing immediately at attention. I could tell he was a good commander. It was right of him to worry for his warriors and be suspicious of me.

"Gather new recruits, we will need as many warriors as we can," Meghan ordered, " and send a new order of weapons to Dimitri. He will be rather busy for the next few days."

"Yes, my queen."

"Sergio, up the number of border patrols and the warriors within in them. We don't want to miss anything, that could be helpful to us. Plus, we don't now how unpredictable these shadow minions are."

"Yes, my queen."

"Why don't we try and catch one of them?" Glitch suggested.

"We could learn more about them and use that to our advantage."

"I could accompany you on one of the patrols. I'm sure you'll need my help in capturing them, since you haven't had any contact with them. And if you they disappear as quickly as you say we will need more than just weapons and glamor," I said.

"Good. When do you plan on going to Kensley?" Meghan asked.

"If she doesn't want to be found, she will remain hidden. She knows of our plans before we execute them. In time, Kensley will come to us, " I replied.

"Well, I guess that about wraps it up," Puck says, hanging an arm around my shoulders. "Let's go have ourselves a hunt, Sky. Just like good old times."

"Puck, remove your arm."

He did as I requested and I gave him a weak smile. Yet, I couldn't stop thinking of the prince consort's lingering gaze throughout the entire meeting.

"Everyone, mount your gliders! It's time to rock'n'roll" , Sergio barked out. His glider buzzing eagerly at him, as it wrapped its legs around his arms. All the other warriors mounted their gliders, moving towards the edge.

"What's wrong, Goodfellow? Scared?" Glitch asked, patting Puck on the back. "It's okay to be scared. Even though you've already done this."

Puck merely laughed and said, "In case you've forgotten, I'm iron immune, baby. So, I'm flying solo today, but your concern touches me deeply. Really, it does, " and with that he flew off, cawing at the nearest glider, who irritably buzzed back.

Meanwhile, I had moved towards my glider. Holding out my hand invitingly, as it buzzed gently and moved towards me. Its huge multifaceted eyes evaluating me, before gently bumping my hand, with a content buzz.

"He likes you, usually it takes a while for gliders to get used to strangers, " Glitch remarked.

"I've always had a knack for getting along with creatures," I replied, before moving to the edge myself.

I stretched out my arms and felt the glider land on my shoulders. That was a sensation I had to get used to.

I gazed down into the gaping abyss, a new thrill coursing through my body at the sight before me. The sound of the glider's wings resounded within my head. With one last deep breath, I leaned forward. We fell and I pushed the glider's legs forward to move upwards, just the way Glitch had instructed me to do.

Feeling the wind in my face, reminded me of my companion Shadow. Not one day over and I was already missing him. I wondered what he was up to. How much I longed to summon him to me, but I knew the time was not yet right, and momentarily, I had no need of him. It was better for him to be free and safe for as long as he could.

We traveled for a short while, until I angled my glider near where the others had landed. Getting off of me, it gave me an excited chirp and I patted it between the eyes, with a slight smile on my face. Such gentle creatures.

We moved on along the border, patrolling as the warriors would any other day. It was not until one of them raised their hand, that we all stopped. I moved towards him, stopping next to Sergio, who had been leading the patrol. There in the woods, something was moving. If you didn't look close enough you would miss it, but it was there.

"There, did you see that?" Sergio asked, excitedly.

Slowly we edged closer, the other warriors spreading out towards the sides, while Sergio, Glitch, Puck and I stayed in the middle, just as we had discussed.

The creature materialized a bit more, now standing still for us all to see.

"Why isn't it leaving like the last time?" Sergio asked, squinting his eyes, as to not let the creature out of his sight.

"Because, " I answered, "opposites attract, Sergio. It can sense me."

I move closer to it, cautious as to not startle it. Yet, when I took one step forward it took one back. So fixed on me it didn't notice the warriors surrounding it. Just as I'd expected. When it was fully surrounded I started creating my cage around it. I closed my eyes and conjured up a net-like cage, consisting of my essence, and let it take shape around the creature. When it realized what I was doing, it panicked and started trying to escape, but it was too late. The warriors had surrounded it. It proceeded to freak out and try to get away. Screaming and screeching at its captors, who were poking at it with their swords. I just needed a few more seconds to finish the cage.

Suddenly, it did something I had not anticipated. It lunged at one of the unsuspecting warriors and touched him. The warrior immediately froze. Where he had been touched, something dark erupted and spread all over his body, consuming him before he turned fully black, falling to the floor.

"Hurry, Skylin!" Sergio called.

With one last push I finished the cage and trapped the creature before it could make its escape.

The warriors surrounded their companion lying lifeless on the floor. I moved to the cage and watched as the creature calmly studied me. It's eyes resembled my sister's so much I got lost in them for a split second. Something on the floor caught my eye. The creature had let something fall to the ground.

I picked it up. It was a note.

Let the game begin, sister.