Secrets, part 30

The mages watched the blurred fight amongst the agents of Noctis with keen interest. Was it all an elaborate ruse? If not, would Wink win? Lucy glanced at her friend. Yona had said little to her since returning from the celestial plane. Still, Van's earring was clearly suspended on a necklace that now dangled around Yona's neck. "Pay attention, princess", snorted Yona, casually dodging a stray kunai. Pulled back to reality, Lucy quickly refocused.

Everyone waited anxiously as the duo from Noctis suddenly skid to a halt. Wink was down, but not out. He held a pistol to Aerona's forehead with a cold look that dared her to give him a reason to pull the trigger. She glared back, likewise holding one of her knives to his throat. "Why did you defect?", she asked stiffly. "Noctis is a sham. Even you can see that...I just want my cousin back", he replied. Her furious sneer slowly faded into a smirk. "Your cousin, the mage? He uses magic. He should he be spared?", she retorted. Wink smiled calmly. "Magic is a tool just like a gun or knife. It's who wields it that makes it good or bad", he stated. Deep down, his stomach turned, but he knew the words he was suddenly spouting were right. He just didn't know why he'd never seen it that way before.

Aerona could see the doubt in his eyes and she took the opening. A slice and a shot. Fairy Tail stood back to see who had won. When the dust settled from the abrupt movement, both agents were standing. Wink had a nasty cut along the length of his face, but the blood didn't seem to bother him. Aerona held where her ear used to be with her right hand, shaking in a mixture of shock and rage. "You...shot me...", she gaped. Blood poured through her fingers, a clear sign of the damage. Erza watched keenly, both impressed by their matched skills and horrified by their lack of camaraderie. "Look around, Aerona...It's over", said Wink, gesturing to the surrounding mages. "It's not over until I say", she replied with an eerie grin. Wink's eyes went wide as he watched a single pin drop to the dirt. "Get down!", he shrieked, but there was little time to react. Aerona's emergency grenade detonated perfectly, blasting both Yona and her fairy friends back several yards.

Moments later, Yona sat with her ears ringing loudly. She made out a few figures despite her blurred vision. Lucy was lying next to her in Loke's arms. In front of them stood Van. He held his arms spread wide, apparently having absorbed the impact. "You girls all right?", he asked, smiling serenely over his shoulder. "Us?! What about you?!", spat Yona. "I told you they needed us", smirked Loke nearby. A glimmering image of a huge shield faded from view. Turning, Van offered a hand to Yona. "I'm fine. This is what I do now, remember?", he said with a wide grin. Begrudgingly accepting the gesture, Yona got to her feet. "Where's everyone else?", she sighed. The mages laid scattered. Gray had used himself to protect Juvia. The water mage stared up with bright red cheeks and moist eyes as her beloved's face hovered mere inches above her own. A few feet away, Natsu sat up. "What the hell?! The hurt!", he whined. Wiping a trickle of blood from her lips, Erza looked over her friends. She'd managed to stay on one knee with her sword plunged into the ground as support. "Is everyone all right?", she inquired. Following Lucy's pale stare, she looked toward where the agents had been. "Not everyone", said Van, grimacing at a disembodied arm in the soil.

Yona shook her hand free from his and stepped forward. Inspecting it, she was positive. It was Aerona's. "Ok, so where's the other one?", she uttered. Ronen swooped in from above, landing at a run toward his partner. "Yona!", he called. "I'. Fine", she assured, bending down to pat his head. He noted the smirk directed to Van and sighed in relief. "Thank you", said the exceed. "Any time", grinned Van. "Loke...You can put me down now", stated Lucy. The spirit had gotten to his feet, but he sheepishly pretended not to know what she was talking about. "Seriously, Natsu's gonna get jealous", teased Yona, prompting several red faces. The banter ceased as a moan drifted across the rubble. "A little help", called a weak voice. Setting Lucy down, Loke investigated. His stern look was enough to tell his friends it wasn't good. Erza joined him after a moment's hesitation. Kneeling beside Wink, she put on a brave face. "Sorry...the warning...came late...", wheezed the sniper. Noting the looks he was getting, he chuckled roughly to himself. "Is it that bad?", he asked. Erza glanced away as she raised her blade to act as a mirror. "...Damn...", said Wink.

In the under croft of the guild, Gajeel glared toward the small parts of sky he could see from the sanctum. Another explosion. What was going on up there? He was pulled from his thoughts by a green blur speeding passed him. He stepped back in surprise. He had no idea a naga could even move that fast. Veda quickly lifted Kavi's hand and glanced toward Puck with worry. Jasper wasn't far behind. "Mom, Kavi will be okay", said Jasper solemnly. Brushing the loose strands from his face, Veda kissed Kavi's forehead and gently placed his hand on his chest. Turning, she slithered toward her husband. Puck smiled peacefully as their eyes met. Wrapping him in her coils, she carefully hoisted him to eye level. Caressing his pale face, she fought her tears. "I'm sorry", he said weakly. A panged smile crossed her lips. "Don't apologize now...We knew this was coming...", she uttered.

Puck smiled weakly. "You knew all along, didn't you?" He grinned wanly as he used his remaining strength to stroke her cheek. She shivered at his touch, knowing it may well be the last. Jasper stood in silence, watching his parents pour their hearts out. "I never meant to keep things from you...but so many times, I - ...", trailed the elf. Veda's tears ran down her face and over his fingers. "That doesn't matter now. Just rest", she said, softly embracing him. "Rani's watching our precious baby...and I know she'll keep it safe", she said, forcing the words. Puck graciously nuzzled into her shoulder. "The king won't save me...I did this...", he whispered. His pulse was weak and she could barely feel his breath upon her skin.

Unable to stand it, Jasper had been gritting his teeth and balled his hands into fists so tightly, they'd begun to bleed from his nails. "Is this the thanks you give, Oberon?!", he shouted. His voice echoed through the sanctum, unanswered. Staring up to the glimpse of sky above, he yelled once more. "Titania! I know you can hear me!" Cradling Puck's head as near as possible, Veda joined in. "Your loyal servant needs you! He served you for longer than most of us will ever live! Please...Do something!", she cried, her voice cracking. Gajeel clenched his eyes shut, unsure he should even be seeing any of this. As he thought that, the familiar sound of wings drifted down from above. Lily and Charle set Wendy down with care. She instantly ran toward Puck, having heard from Lily how bad each patient was.

Veda looked up in surprise as the girl approached. Wendy looked the fallen elf over briefly. He was bleeding heavily from his abdomen. Seeing her concern, Puck offered a soft grin. "It was just...one kidney...for my son...How could I say 'no'?", he tried to explain. Veda's hold on his body stiffened as the image of Bran came to mind. "Oh, Puck", she uttered, trying to smile for him. Everything made sense now. Veda lowered him back to the ground. Wendy placed her hands over the wound with resolve in her eyes. "Just stay still", said the young dragon slayer. The exceeds stood by Gajeel as they watched, hoping for the best. Jasper stared at the warm glow coming from the girl's palms, praying she wasn't too late.

Everyone gasped as a static shock sent Wendy reeling backward. Ignoring the pain, she tried again. Jasper watched helplessly as the scene played out several times over. Wendy's fingers were starting to blacken from the magical fall out. "Please stop", uttered Puck, softly grasping her hand. "You can heal flesh...not flesh made from magic...Don't hurt yourself on my account...It's my time", he panted through pained breaths. "But - !", she began to argue. Suddenly a loud crack resounded nearby. It looked as if time and space itself had shattered as if it were simple glass. A lithe figure stepped through. A tall and slender woman stared at the scene with sad eyes. Jasper quickly grabbed Gajeel by the back of the head and forced him to the ground as he bowed deeply. "My lady", he said formally. Wendy stared with wide eyes. The fairy queen herself had entered the realm of man. That was how much she loved her druid.

Titania knelt beside Puck and traced a single glowing finger over his gaping wound. "It was foolish to give yourself to the raven, Puck. Look at the worry you have caused your precious family. You broke your oath to have them and now look at what you have done", she said, her voice rich and unnatural, but somehow soothing. "Forgive me, my queen...", said Puck weakly. She smiled softly toward him. Veda instinctively kept her gaze lowered. Still, she had to try. "M-my lady...Please...Can you save him?", she pleaded. The smile on Titania's face fell away in an expression of deep sorrow. "I alone have abated my husband's ire for all the rules our dear druid has bent to live among man so long. Even I cannot refute his right to take away what was given", she said sadly.

Gajeel had shaken Jasper's hand off, but maintained the low bow. Not because he wanted to, but because the fairy queen's power was so overwhelming, he could hardly breathe. "Please, dear lady. We're begging you!", said Jasper, staring firmly at the dirt upon his hands and knees. "The young incubus...Your pleas do not fall on deaf ears. You have given yourself to Oberon's law despite being a child of Zeus. Your loyalty rivals that of your dear father's...Yet, I cannot grant your wish. It is simply time for him to come home. The time of elves has long since passed in this realm. Would you deny him the right to die where he was born?", she asked. Jasper glanced at his parents. Puck was very weak. If he didn't return to Avalon soon, he would certainly perish. "Will you take him to the fairy spring?", he inquired, weighing the options. "I shall", replied the queen. "You may not follow...Not yet. You have a destiny of your own to fulfill before you may be emissary in his place. Do you understand?", she said. Taking a long, pained breath, Jasper nodded. "Yes, my lady", he agreed.

Titania rose to her full imposing height, nearly eight feet tall. She gracefully bundled Puck into her arms. "Do not mourn him, Veda. You are his most beloved. He leaves you a child to take his place by your side. In time, she may bring you to see him. That is Oberon's will", she said with a kind tone. "Yes", uttered Veda completely torn apart inside. She glanced up as a metallic object hit the sands. It was covered in an ancient script. "A boon. Your son will find it most useful. Let him absorb its power", stated Titania, glancing toward Kavi. She smiled faintly toward the exceeds as the air behind her shattered once more. "I will keep him for you", she said, turning to take the elf home. He was too far gone to speak at that point, but the look he sent Veda said more than words ever could.

As the fairy queen vanished and reality returned to normal, Gajeel got to his feet. Brushing the dirt off himself, he looked at the crushed souls around him. Lily stared in silence. Charle ran up to Wendy, calling to her friend. "Wendy!", she cried, shaking her slightly. Slowly rising, Jasper gulped back his emotions. "She'll be all right in a few minutes...Seeing Titania is quite a shock...", he trailed. He stalked passed his mother and retrieved the totem from the sand. Turning, he placed it in her hand and hugged her tightly. Puck was gone, but Kavi was still here. He needed them. "He just went home, mom", he said softly, trying to ease her pain. She wept into his shoulder. "I know", she uttered. He hadn't died; He'd simply lost the ability to manifest a physical form in their world. At least in Avalon, he was safe and that's all they could ask for at the moment.

Elsewhere in the tunnels, Dubhan grimaced. He'd just felt a massive shift of energy. Something was wrong. What were the fey up to? Had they found a way to escape him? He focused his mana as he glared at his palm. The long distances he'd traveled had wiped out most of his energy. Still, darkness loosely swirled around his fingers. "Damn it", he swore. He couldn't risk losing his cloak of darkness in front of the mages. He honestly felt that he would lose their fear if they saw his face. Still, it may increase the shock value, letting him target the fey more readily. He weighed his options in irritation. Smiling to himself, he knew what he had to do.

Laying on his back, he spread his body wide, leaving himself completely open. "I'm here, friend. Take my body...We've made this deal before. Come to me. Don't be afraid." Strange noises began to stir nearby. Dubhan's grin took on a crazed quality. "That's it." The blackest shadows nearby sprang into motion, diving into his flesh. His body convulsed with each entry, but he was ready for the consequences. He'd done this before when necessary. Inviting the blackness inside what sparked his magic in the first place, after all.

Once the last demonic shade had wriggled through his skin, he sighed content. "Welcome back", he grinned. The deepest shades of black enveloped him, giving his cloak added power. Sitting up, he rose to his feet. Flexing his fingers anxiously, he couldn't wait to get his hands on Kavi. "We'll have such fun together", he said to himself. As the image of Blythe's horrified face flashed across his mind, he began laughing darkly. "How I long to see that expression of despair", he cooed. "Don't worry, Baron. I'll take good care of your little love bird." With an eerie chuckle, he faded into the ambient darkness, completely recharged. He had plans and he intended to reap as much fun as possible.

Miles away, Blythe suddenly felt sick to his stomach. A feeling of dread had taken him over. Something felt very, very wrong. "Something wrong?", asked Yavuz coldly. They walked side by side down a network of man made tunnels. "N-nothing", replied Blythe. His father smirked at his discomfort. "If you're worried about the awakening process, don't be. You'll lose all sense of fear before it really starts. You'll just be a shell, a vessel to contain what we need", stated Yavuz in chilling detail. "I see you have no qualms with the baron being your kin...Good. I'd hate to see you stumble now. The church will not accept another failure", said the high priest, hobbling along behind them. "He's never hesitated to harm anyone", said Blythe darkly, his mind flooded with bad memories. "Will you submit? Running will only make things harder", said the old man. Blythe bit his lip, unsure how to respond. He really didn't want any part of this, but he also knew that trying to escape would be pointless. "We thought the last one was our savior, but someone made a mistake", said the priest, barbing Yavuz. "Dubhan's served his purpose", he replied calmly. "Perhaps he will yet help", said the old man. He knew what Dubhan was capable of. Even if he wasn't the baron they'd hoped for, they had still forged him and he would be instrumental in stripping Blythe's soul.

Blythe uncomfortably kept pace with his father. They had reached a chamber with an unpleasant air. The priest watched them both enter before locking a heavy door behind them. The room was strewn with devices Blythe would rather not know the purposes of. "This won't be like the old days", began Yavuz. Blythe listened skeptically. That didn't sound like a good thing. "I won't hold back now", stated the leader of Noctis, grinning maniacally. "Shall we get started?"

To be Continued...