Secrets, part 19
In the city, Judd watched the guild closely. He'd seen Erza and the other enter Serpent Wing. Why were so many fairies showing up in the first place? Maybe the rumors of fey held some truth after all. Either way, his trigger finger was itching something fierce. He'd observed long enough. It was time to get to work. If Fairy Tail got involved, he'd gladly take them on, as well.
That afternoon, Puck, Veda, and Erza held a private meeting. They needed to discuss Fairy Tail's involvement with Noctis and explain just what it meant. "We appreciate that you're willing to help, but the Order will not ignore your presence", stated Puck. "There's a good chance your guild will be next if you engage them", added Veda. Erza took it all in with an even expression. "Even if I dragged Natsu and the others home, he, at least, would find a way back", she smirked. Veda chuckled at the sentiment while her husband simply nodded in agreement. Erza knew nothing of Nova or Natsu's current dilemma. She simply knew that Serpent Wing was an ally and they had friends here. Fairies never abandoned their friends. "If you insist on getting involved, I can't stop you. Your guild mates have already proven that. Make yourselves at home. I'll be leaving to gather information soon. You're welcome to assist if you so chose", said Puck. They spoke a while longer, but it soon became clear that the elf had plans elsewhere. He had business with a different fairy.
Natsu and the others were taking turns playing card games with Yona and Jasper when Puck entered the main chamber. Gajeel and Lily, however, had been pulled to Kavi's room with Blythe. Tepin perched, atop Natsu's head in her birth form. Puck grinned gently to himself at the sight. It was good that she easily accepted. Nova wanted it that way, but he didn't have the heart to tell the teens of an opossum's life span. At least not yet, but they would find out in time. Still, he had pressing matters to tend to. Approaching, he beckoned Lucy from a short distance. Natsu glanced up with a curious look as his partner left the game. What did Puck want with her?
Once out of hearing range, Puck seemed to stare as if he was judging the spirit mage's ability. "What did you need?", asked Lucy nervously. She wasn't particularly shy, but the elf had a presence about him that seemed to intimidate others without trying. "You have most of the local zodiac. Can you summon them easily?", inquired Puck, almost catching her off guard. Clutching her keys without thought, she smiled proudly. "They're all good friends of mine", she said nostalgically, remembering Aquarius. Puck smiled softly. "That's good. I need help and you're the only one who can do it", said the elf. Lucy stared awestruck momentarily. From what Yona and the twins had said, Puck could do just about anything. What on earth did he need her for?
Easing her confusion, he set a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I need a spirit mage", he stated calmly. "What can I do?", she asked meekly, still amazed he needed her help. Becoming more serious, he said, "You remember the other guardians from the eclipse?". She nodded, starting to get it. "But Nova-sama said the zodiacs were separated now. How can I possibly summon one of them?", asked Lucy. A kind smile awaited her nervous question. "The realms were shattered, but that doesn't mean they can't be called away from their homes once in a while", replied the elf. Explaining further, he continued, "The spirits here are all summoned through gates by assigned keys, correct? Not so for all spirits. Each realm made their own path to Earthland. The spirit I need you to call hails from the north. She can summoned without such a key." Lucy's wide eyes stared at him with wonder. What it truly possible? She only recalled two females from the eclipse. That meant it had to be one of them. She thought back and remembered one dressed in the eastern fashions, so that meant the one in black is who Puck wanted, but why?
Pulling her back to reality, Puck asked, "Will you help me?". Lucy nodded, nervous, but eager to try. The elf smiled graciously. "Come with me", he said, leading the way. They walked for some time through the sanctum, finally coming to stop before a tree at the far end of the sun dappled area. "Lucy, this is an Elder tree. The northern spirits are strongly tied to nature. With the help of this plant, you can summon Bran, the raven", stated Puck, staring at the tree with an almost homesick expression. Lucy looked over the gnarled branches in thought. Taking a deep breath, she strengthened her resolve. "Tell me what to do", she said. Feeling an eye upon her, she glanced up to Puck's face. His mixed emotions swirled visibly. "Before we continue, you need to understand two things. First, the reason we are calling Bran is not for me. It's for Kavi", he stated. "She can fix his eyes?", ventured the spirit mage. "It's possible, but only she wants to...She may not even have what we need anymore. There's a chance - ...Never mind. The second thing you need to know is that Bran is not to be trifled with. She's strong willed and may not see us calling her as convenient", said Puck. Lucy's mind wandered back to Aquarius and how many times she'd been caught up in the spirit's attack. Part of her wondered if the two had been friends before the realms shattered.
"Do you understand?", inquired Puck. Lucy nodded. "How do we call her?", she asked. "Hold out your arm", ordered Puck. Unsure of the reason, she nervously watched him move. Taking a small twig from the tree, he snapped it roughly. Pricking her skin on her arm with a splinter, he did the same upon his finger. She stared as his blood quivered into a single drop that quickly mixed with her own. Amazingly, a strange symbol appeared where the wound had been. She studied carefully. Watching her, Puck explained, "Undoubtedly, it's a foreign script to you. Don't worry. It's the Ogham alphabet." Lucy peered up in question. "What does it say?", she inquired. "Raven", grinned Puck. Ushering her forward, he gently placed her palm flat against the tree. "For the northern zodiac, you need a bond beyond a simple key. You've made such a bond by accepting the elder tree into your body. You've forged a bond with the north through my blood. Now you bear the name of the raven. Should you need her again, find a tree like this one and prick your finger. My blood will stay with you...Are you ready?", said Puck.
Resolutely staring into the bark before her, Lucy poured her magic through her palm and into the plant. The odd writing on her arm seemed to flow into the tree, as well. "Open, gate of the raven", she proclaimed. Near breathless, she waited to she had succeeded. The tree quivered beneath her touch, shaking loose leaves from above. A hand reached from inside the tree, grasping her own suddenly. "Pull", said Puck. Lucy heaved and Bran soon stood over her. Puck helped the mage from the ground while the spirit looked over he surroundings. "Fiore again? I thought you looked familiar, elf", smirked the raven. Lucy glanced between them and quickly recognized the symbol from Puck's eye patch on Bran's arm plate. "It's been centuries. I wasn't sure you remembered", grinned Puck politely. "I sure hope your aim's improved", teased Bran. Seeing Lucy lost for words, Puck cleared his throat. "Bran, this is Lucy, the mage who summoned you. We need your help", he introduced.
The spirit stepped forward, looking the girl over as if inspecting a juicy morsel of food. She grabbed Lucy's wrist unexpectedly and turned her palm upward. "You bear a piece of Laniakea. That explains how you called me. What is it you want?", she asked skeptically. Withdrawing her hand, Lucy looked to Puck. Bran grinned wryly at the gesture. "Using humans to meet your ends? That's not the Puck I remember", she said somewhat coldly. "I asked for her help. It's for my son", replied Puck, dead serious. Bran grinned at his resolve. "How's that concern me?", she asked coolly. "It's not your power we called you for. It's something I'm hoping you still have", he said. Bran crossed her arms and leaned back as if thinking it over. "Lucy right? You know I taught this whelp how to fire an arrow a long time ago. Now he acts like I owe him something", she said idly. Puck sighed deeply. "That was over 700 years ago. I need your help", he said, a bit more humbly.
Bran shifted her weight at waited for what he wanted. "Several years ago, you received a boon from the queen, did you not?", began Puck. The spirit narrowed her gaze. "What of it?", she asked. "Do you still have it?", inquired Puck earnestly. "Maybe I ate it. you know how delicious eyes are, especially one as special as yours", she taunted. Lucy stared at their exchange. "Is that what happened?", she thought, peering at the elf's eye patch. "Don't come begging me for something you lost, elf. You've no right", said Bran a little haughtily. "It was a price I was willing to pay for my family. Now my family needs it back. Bran, please. My son is blind. Help me help him", he pleaded. The raven eyed him cautiously. "You gave it to the queen to buy yourself more time here in Earthland. She later gave it to me. What makes you think I still have it?", she asked. Taking a deep breath, Puck sent her a pitiful look. "You were once my instructor. Does that bond mean nothing now?", he inquired. Lucy watched as she saw Bran's "f*ck you" face falter for the first time. The raven stretched in an unnatural way. A dark pocket of iridescent feathers covered her left upper arm. Reaching into it with her right hand, she withdrew several eye balls, each perched on its own fingertip.
"Can't I talk you into taking one of these instead? I was saving yours. An elf's eye is such a delectable treat. You wouldn't rob me of it, would you?" Bran watched Puck with keen interest. Lucy wondered who or what those eyes belonged to, but the thought of eating them made her sick to her stomach. It did make sense, though. Ravens were known scavengers and the first thing plucked from fresh corpses was usually the eyes. "It has to be mine. It's the only one I know will work with my magic", stated Puck firmly. Shrugging, bran put her collection away and drew out a single eye with a purple iris. The feathers faded back to skin as she coveted it in her palm. "What will you give me in return?", she asked, down to business. "You know as well as I that I'll never get another elf's eye to dine on", she added begrudgingly. Puck grinned faintly. "But you will", he said, piquing her interest. "Oh?", inquired the raven. "You know of my deal with our queen...You know how much time I have left...When my body returns to Avalon, you can have it, the whole thing. Eat your fill then, Bran, but please, help my son now." Lucy was in shock. What kind of offer was that? And further more, did that mean Puck was dying? Did Veda know about this?...Did their sons?
Bran thought it over briefly. "A lot to trade for a single eye. Are you sure you want to do this?", she asked skeptically. Puck nodded solemnly. Bran seemed amused by this trade. "Deal", she said, holding the eye out for Puck to take. "You know our laws. You cannot go back on your word. In fact, I think I'll take a down payment", she said, darkly eying he tender morsel in front of her. "Agreed. Lucy, look away. No matter what you hear, don't turn around until I say", said Puck. "But - !", began the mage. The elf stared at her with a look that said he was not to be questioned. She shuddered as Puck placed the rogue eye in her hands. "Please trust me", he whispered. Nodding, she turned her body to stare into the distance. Still, their shadows could be seen. One morphed and attacked the other. The one she knew to be Puck's bent backward with a sickening crunch as something was pulled from his body. Silently fighting her tears, she obeyed his word and screwed eyes shut as tightly as they would go.
When it was over, she jumped at Puck's touch. His hand shakily grasped her arm, letting her know it was okay to look. Blood spattered the ground. Bran smiled what she thought was pleasantly. "You've got potential, kid. Call me again if you ever need to make a deal", she grinned. With that, her body burst into feathers and scattered on the wind. Puck held his bloodied side in agony. "Forgive me, Lucy...It wasn't fair of me...", he said weakly. Quickly helping him to the ground, Lucy frantically tried to help. Trembling, Puck produced a small vial from one of his pockets. "Use this", he said in a low tone. Nodding, Lucy opened it and poured its contents over the wound. Amazingly, it seemed to seal over. Looking him over, she wondered if he was really going to be all right.
"Don't worry about me...I'll be fine...I can live with one kidney...", he said a little distantly. Lucy gaped in horror. Had Bran really taken one of his organs? Would such a spirit even be worth having as an ally? Slowly catching his breath, Puck checked the wound's progress. As if on cue, he explained, "Fairy tears...A quick fix for fey like me. It'll take time for the inside to fully heal, but at least Veda won't worry if she can't see it...Please...Let's keep this between us." Lucy shook her head, tears flowing. "How can you be so calm?! Do you even realize what you just did?!", she cried. Puck grinned sheepishly. "I saved Kavi's sight", he stated, at peace with his choices. "I don't make a habit out of keeping secrets from my family, but this must not come to light...Do you understand?", he asked, pleadingly searching her face. It would be difficult, but she agreed with a swift nod. He thanked her deeply and apologized for once again putting secrets upon her shoulders to bear. First Nova, now Puck. Hopefully, the guild would ask no more.
Hours later, Puck and Lucy returned to the main sanctum. He'd cast a simple illusion to hide the blood on his clothing. Both looked worse for wear. "Where have you been?", asked Natsu. "It's a long story", sighed Lucy, gladly taking a seat beside him. "You look like crap, princess", said Yona blunt as ever. "You don't look so good either, boss", she teased, glancing at Puck. "We had a long lesson on the other zodiacs. Nothing more", was all he said before excusing himself away. Jasper eyed him wearily. Something wasn't right. Grinning mischievously, Yona got to her feet to follow him. "This looks too good to miss. Come on, Boo." Jasper sighed and blushed a the nickname. Why wouldn't she drop such a silly pet name?
Further into the sanctum, Puck now stood over Kavi's bed. Both the dragon slayer and Blythe were sound asleep. "All for the better", he thought. He held the eye over Kavi's head tightly in one hand and softly spoke an ancient language. Slowly, his hand compressed as the eye vaporized. A faint purple ether drifted down over Kavi and was easily inhaled as he slept. Exhausted, Puck smiled gently and stroked his son's head with tender care. "See you in the morning", he whispered.
Back in the hall, Puck was surprised to see Yona and Jasper quickly approaching. "Is something wrong?", he asked innocently. "What are you up to?", inquired Jasper, suspiciously eying his father. "Just checking on your brother. He's at rest now. Let's not bother him", said the elf, ushering the teens away from the door. "Boooo, I was expecting something fun", whined Yona. Annoyed, she turned to go find her friends. Jasper could see the weakness in his father now matter how hard the elf tried to hide it. "What did you do?", he asked, not backing down. "Like I said, I taught Lucy about the northern zodiac", replied Puck, trying maintain a steady walk. His son wasn't about to be shaken off the trail. Following beside him, Jasper stared with concern. "You made some kind of deal again, didn't you?", he finally uttered, just outside his parents' room. Puck grinned faintly. He'd taught his son too well. "No matter. I'll be fine in the morning. Please, stop worrying and go back to your friends", he said, trying to sound reassuring. The two stared off a moment longer before Jasper sighed and gave in. "Please get some rest", he pleaded. "I will", replied Puck.
To be continued...