Note #1: Bet you thought I forgot about this story. I remembered! Took time to figure out some things. Now it's ready!
New Beginnings
Seated on a wicker throne woven with cherry blossom petals, Kiku listened as Ludwig stoically listed out the events of hours ago — crystalline bombs set off throughout the Summer Oak, newly-ordained Omegas kidnapped, Natalia revealed as a spy who had somehow disguised herself as a Summer Fairy.
Ludwig continued, theorizing that this plot must have taken decades to pull off. Natlia had wormed her way deep within their ranks, likely keeping data on all their newly-fledged Omegas and Alphas. There had been disappearances over the years, those she knew were their most promising youth.
This could never happen again, not under his reign.
"Could their be others?" Kiku asked softly, interrupting Ludwig who had burn marks and cuts still fresh from last night's fight. "Other sleeper agents like Natalia? Spies sabotaging from within, gathering data, and waiting for a chance to strike."
"Very likely," Ludwig said gravely.
"And how can they be revealed? How did Natalia disguise herself as a Summer Fairy?"
"We're not sure at this time, your Majesty," Ludwig said.
Kiku massaged his temples. He had a terrible headache.
"You said you had witnesses that saw Ivan yesterday. The reclusive king of winter himself. Here. At the Summer Oak."
"Yes, my lord. My brother was with a friend. They managed to hide and avoid being taken," Ludwig said. "They claim to have seen Ivan stealing one of their friends on a Great Horned Owl."
"Do you believe them"
"My brother is many things, but he's not a liar. Not about these things," Ludwig said. "I remember seeing the Great Horned Owl from a distance, but not who was on it."
"Let them in. I'll hear their account myself."
Kiku waved at the guards posted on either side of the chamber's far doors. They moved, each grabbing a handle, and pulled the doors open. Kiku recognized the albino immediately as he strode in confidently in one looked like a singed and torn baby sock from the human world.
Kiku noticed another following a few feet behind Gilbert, a shy young male fairy who twiddled his hands together nervously and stared at the long pale pink rug. When he lifted his face up enough, Kiku recognized him.
Alfred? Didn't Ludwig say Alfred was one of the kidnapped?
"Bend knee to the Great Summer King, Lord under the shade, his Majesty, King Kiku Honda the First!" Ludwig intoned, voice booming among the carved pillars of ivy and nettle. He pounded the butt of his wooden spear into the floor for emphasis on Kiku.
They shy one immediately dropped to one knee while Gilbert gaped stupidly at Kiku until Ludwig barked, "Gilbert!" Then Gilbert reluctantly dropped to one knee looking angry at himself for doing so.
"I know you," Kiku said, gesturing at Gilbert before directing his finger to the shy one. "But are you Alfred?"
A sour expression crossed the shy one's face briefly, one that gave a clear "no" before he answered softly, "I am M-Matthew. Alfred's brother. Y-your Majesty."
Brother? That explained the similarity. Kiku had forgotten that Alfred had a brother. The book looked covered in scratched and deep bags matched the purple of his eyes. His clothes were tattered and torn like Gilbert's.
"Your brother is among the Stolen?"
"Not just stolen," Gilbert said, crimson eyes going wide. "We saw him on the back of that bastard Ivan's Great Horned Owl."
"Silence!" Ludwig snapped.
"It's all right," Kiku said dismissively, leaning forward. "It was Alfred? You are sure of this?"
Matthew nodded. "Y-yes, your majesty. We hid in the upper branches during the attack. Gilbert got me to safety, then there was this great explosion and light from the Deciding. The roof blew up and then," his eyes took on a hollowed and haunted look, "he came. He came personally. Everything was in chaos. Everyone was distracted by the bombs and the attack. But Ivan took my brother."
"I saw it too!" Gilbert said.
General Ludwig turned to face Kiku. "I fear it so."
"Ivan came here. To our kingdom?" Kiku said. "That would only be possible if he was waiting. This attack was planned. By why Alfred?"
"I tried to stop it," Gilbert said grimly, touched a large bandage on his shoulder. "I was no match."
Matthew threw him a sympathetic look.
"It was foolish of you to do so with no weapons and training," Ludwig said harshly.
Gilbert frowned. "And what should I have done? Nothing?"
"G-Gilbert," Matthew whispered.
"Enough," Kiku interrupted. "Many Omegas were stolen hours ago, but Ivan personally took Alfred.
"Lili…" Kiku saw Matthew's lip say. He didn't know who that was.
"It was coordinated. They waited for a signal," Ludwig said.
"No, it was more than that. They knew something would happen tonight. Remember. Winter magic gives the gift of foresight."
"I read about that," Matthew blurted out, turning crimson. "F-forgive me, your Majesty."
"Foresight? Like the future?" Gilbert said, ignoring Ludwig's audible groan.
"In a way," Kiku said, standing up on the dais. He dusted off the white folds of his robe. He wore a crowd of woven cherry blossoms that were blessed by magic to never wilt. "Summer Fairies are sometimes blessed to see visions of things or people who are far away. We see what is."
He knew from their startled expression they had seen the glow in his eyes that appeared when he drew in the power. He searched deep for Alfred, but saw only darkness.
He released it with a shake of his head.
"Something hides your brother from my vision."
Matthew's face fell.
"What will become of him?"
Kiku paused in thought, sharing his thoughts aloud. "Vlad is their greatest Seer according to rumors. If he saw something big on the horizon, then that would explain why they risked another War and this aggressive assault. Whatever they wanted, must have been worth retaliation. I can think of only one thing they'd want that badly."
Ludwig paled. "You can't mean."
"A Starlight Omega," Kiku said gravely. "The hand of Gaia has once more descended to our realm."
Gilbert broke the silence with a laugh. "That can't be right. Who'd be a Starlight Omega?"
"Alfred," Matthew breathed. "You mean Alfred."
"Alfred?" Gilbert guffawed. "That dope is many things, but the Ender of Worlds is not one of them."
"It's the only thing Winter wants. They've waited a thousand years for a new one," Kiku said. He had always sensed an unusual strength in Alfred. Why had he not seen it sooner? They had the Starlight Omega in their grasp and they let Winter steal him away.
Kiku reached for his harpoon, positioned in his holster by the throne and took it out. It was a large needle from the human world, fashioned and blessed by powerful magic into one of the most powerful weapons of the Midsummer. The prick of Kiku's needle was a fear thing.
"That can't be true. Alfred is not evil," Gilbert said.
"Alfred would never go along with such a thing," Matthew agreed, a desperate ring to his voice.
Ah, children.
"It's not about evil," Kiku said softly. "It's not about choice. It's his destiny it seems."
"No!" Matthew said, shaking his head. "This can't be right. There must be a mistake."
He wilted at a sharp look from Ludwig and dropped his gaze.
Kiku sighed. They would need allies. The autumn were few in number, but had powers and visions of Things That Were. Spring would be helpful, yet they never took a side and were notoriously reclusive. Even Kiku could not recall the last time he saw a Spring Fairy. It had been decades ago.
Kiku eyed Matthew.
"Are you twins?" Kiku asked.
Matthew hesitated, then nodded slowly.
That would be useful. The bond of twins was not easily severed. It could offer a way to track and communicate with Alfred. That method would require the powers of a spring fairy, only they could connect hearts and minds and make distance no barrier.
Kiku considered Matthew. If Alfred was a Starlight Omega, then Matthew would be useful. He would need to keep Matthew very close to him. Had their ever been a Starlight Omega with a twin before? He had studied the records and never heard of such a thing.
Matthew would be very useful in what was to come.
"General Ludwig," Kiku said.
"Yes, m'lord." Ludwig slapped his fist to his chest.
"You should find out the orientation of these two and then begin their training. They will learn with the elite."
"The elite?!" Matthew and Gilbert looked shock. Even Ludwig hardly hid his surprise.
"Yes, you heard me," Kiku said.
"But Gilbert hardly respect authority," Ludwig protested. "That's an honor to be earned."
"Your talking to the soon to be greatest warrior ever." Gilbert jabbed a thumb to his chest.
"Will see about that," Ludwig said.
He was about to leave them out when Kiku pointed to Matthew.
"I want you to follow me."
"Me?" Matthew mouthed, eyes widening. He pointed at himself.
"But m'lord," Ludwig said with concern.
"I wish to speak to Alfred's brother alone," Kiku said.
He waved the guards to leave as well. When Ludwig and Gilbert were gone and it was just a worried Matthew glancing around, Kiku stepped off the dais.
"You may stand before me," Kiku said.
Matthew did so nervously.
"Wh-what will happen to my brother?" he asked.
"Nothing at first," Kiku said slowly. "If my theory is true, he will be safe from harm for another four years. They will keep him under lock and key. Protected like no fairy has been before. He will also be Ivan's personal prisoner."
"Because he might be a Starlight Omega."
"Yes. Do you know what that means?"
"He can great the Great Wish?"
"Do you know how that honor is given?" Kiku asked, circling slowly around Matthew who turned to keep facing Kiku. When Matthew shook his head, he continued, "Only an Alpha may have it. Alfred will be groomed and brainwashed into submission."
"Groomed?" Matthew eyebrows shot up.
"When Alfred goes into his first heat, he will become Ivan's mate."
"What?" Matthew jumped as his voice echoed. "He wants to… to…" His face pinked. "That's sick."
"It's how he gets the Great Wish. And if Ivan gets it, he will wish for Eternal Winter."
Matthew paled, swallowing hard.
"I can't allow this. He has to be stopped," Matthew said.
"Yes. But I'll need your help more than anyone."
"Me? But what can I do?"
"Your his twin. There is a link between you," Kiku said. "If we could use that, there might be a way to find Alfred. Perhaps even communicate with him."
"I'll help anyway I can."
"I warn you, training as an Elite will be intense."
"I don't care. I have to bring my brother back."
"We will," Kiku said. "We will."
Of course, he had not the heart to tell Matthew the truth. Ivan had very persuasive indoctrination techniques. There was no telling what would happen to Alfred in that madman's care.
Even more so, Kiku could not tell Matthew the obvious truth. An Alpha would get that Wish, and it would not be Ivan.
"Trust me," Kiku added. "I'll make sure your brother is safe in the Summer Kingdom."
They would need to seek the help of the Flying Mint Fairy if they were to find Alfred.
Alfred soared over clouds and under stars, higher than any fae could fly. His wing tips skimmed the clouds as he rolled and weaved, laughing joyously. Overhead the sky split when a comet streaked across, his sky-blue tail trailing behind.
Past the winds, Alfred heard whispering, voices chanting, "Starlight Omega! Starlight Omega!"
He frowned, glancing for the sources, but saw no one.
Then the dream shifted, and he stood in a wheat field of deep evening shadows. The sun set ahead of him blazing the sky and landscape in a searing gold. He shaded his eyes, unable to look directly ahead.
Then he realized what was so wrong about all this. He was a fairy. Most fairies were the size of a head of wheat, only humans were said to be big enough to stand in a field of wheat.
But… but…
He gaped at his large body — he wore a strange shirt and blue cloth that wrapped around either leg. He touched his back, shocked to find no wings. Then he grabbed his face, feeling his handsome features.
"I'm… I'm…" he could not say it.
To his right he spotted another figure, one whose right side was lit by the sunlight. He stood, back to Alfred, but Alfred knew him anyway.
"Mattie!"
"Stop!" Mattie said coldly and Alfred froze with one foot stepped forward. "Come no closer."
"Mattie?"
"I wear his form, but I am not him," the figure said in a raspy voice. "You will be coveted. Hated. Desired. Despised. Possessed. Destroyed. Reborn. You are the Ender. You are the Omega."
"Mattie?" Alfred cocked his head to the side in confusion. "You're giving me the heebee-jeebies, bro."
Alfred closed the distance in three steps, yet when he reached out to grab his brother's shoulder it passed right through. His brother faded into dust and disappeared.
"Mattie! Come back!"
A warm liquid touching his sandaled feet brought Alfred's attention to the Earth. His eyes widened and mouth fell open in a silent scream as blood rose from the dirt, forming an ankle-deep lake in the stalks. He backed up, searching for a stone or something to step on to get out of it. His clothing reddened as it bubbled up higher and higher, as if the ground was bleeding.
"Stop it! Stop it!" he cried, splashing as he ran for a distant tree to climb.
Every stalk of wheat he touched blackened and wilted. Death radiated from Alfred. "No!" he gasped, trying to escape.
Those whispering voices returned, chanting unseen from all around like ghosts. His heart thudded as they repeated, "Starlight Omega! The Ender! Judgement is here!"
"Go away!" Alfred cried, wading through knee-deep blood that kept rising, threatening to swallow him whole.
Then dead fairy corpses floated up and he cried out in horror. Sometimes only pieces of their bodies appeared — wings, arms, and other parts. The sea of carnage was waist deep and swallowing the world. It went to the horizon.
"No! No! No!" Alfred cried out, afraid to touch the bodies, but they drifted towards him, mobbing him. Their lifeless eyes accused him.
You did this, their dead faces seemed to say. You killed us! Murderer!
"Go away!" He started to floated, swimming in the blood and death. It splashed against his face and he tasted it.
Those voices no longer whispered, they screamed, "Starlight Omega! Starlight Omega!" until they drowned out all other sounds.
Alfred shrieked as the living corpses mobbed him, dragging him under.
And Alfred woke, howling in horror.
But the real nightmare was only just beginning.
TBC in … "The Conditioning"
Alfred wakes in his new home. Let the Conditioning begin as the War of the Wish heats up.
Be careful what you wish for.