Secrets, part 31
Puck now rested in Avalon, placed into a healing fairy spring by the queen herself. He worried for his family in Earthland, but he could never return. Both courts had come to see him home, winter and spring, seelie and unseelie, alike. Still, there was one face he could do without. He was submerged to his collarbone and languid stared at amber sky. Footsteps nearby grabbed his attention. They were too heavy to more pixies, but clearly not the king himself. Forcing his head to one side, he spotted the tell tale sign of his rival. Cloven hooves stood at the edge of the spring with a smug air. Glancing up in silence, Puck was still far too weak to speak. The satyr grinned at him almost coldly. "So this is how you come back?"
Back in Primrose, Fiore, the elves surviving kin were devastated. Veda couldn't stop crying and Jasper was helpless to stop it. Trying to do something useful, Gajeel had gotten Titania's boon from the master of Serpent Wing. The totem began to shake as it drew near to Kavi's resting body. Dubhan's device had taken much out of him and he had yet to stir. "What the hell is this thing?", snorted Gajeel, watching it tremble more violently as he approached his fellow dragon slayer. Once he'd knelt beside Kavi, the totem shot from his hand, much to Lily's surprise. It spun wildly over Kavi briefly before settling into a hover over his chest. A light began pulsing. It was faint at first, but grew in intensity. Once the light ceased, the metallic object had somehow lost all of its ancient scripts and fell blank onto the sands.
Nearby, Wendy finally coming back to reality, gasped for air. Charle eagerly looked her over. "Are you all right?", asked the worried exceed. "Wh-what happened?", uttered Wendy, still unsure. She glanced around to find her patient missing and Veda crying upon her son's shoulder. Jasper looked at her with drained eyes. "You met a powerful source of magic. Nothing like her exists in this world...You're lucky to be alive", he stated grimly. Charle sent him a nasty look. He was too exhausted to sugar coat it. "The fairy queen of Avalon, herself, came to take dad home...If you weren't a dragon slayer - ...", he trailed. "Why didn't it affect me?", inquired the haughty exceed. "You're a being of magic. Just like us", he said, glancing to his mourning mother. Charle didn't like his answer. Did that mean that exceeds were counted among the fey?
The light from his brother grabbed Jasper's keen eyes. He sent a puzzled look toward Gajeel. The dragon slayer tossed the blank totem to him in response. Turning it over in his palm, Jasper sighed. Titania may have taken his father, but she had restored his brother's strength. A murmur nearby verified his thoughts. Kavi struggled to sit up, holding his head heavily in one hand. "Where are we?", he uttered hazily. "In the sanctum", replied Lily. Immediately noting Veda and Jasper, Kavi quickly came to his senses. The sad look he received from his brother confirmed his fears. He couldn't hear Puck's vitals anywhere nearby and that could only mean one thing. Still, he had little time to process it. A shrill scream emanated from down one of the winding tunnels. Everyone glanced up, even Veda. Her eyes full of terror, she began trembling. It sounded like Rani.
Seconds later, a mass of pure darkness formed in the sand nearby. A broken laughter drifted out. Jasper grit his teeth. He knew that voice. A large shadow being stretched out from the swirling portal. In its unnatural shape were two objects. In one hand was Veda's precious egg. In the other, Rani swung limply from her tail. One red eye and a vicious smile formed where the thing's face should be. Tossing the unconscious exceed, Dubhan smirked triumphantly. Kavi scrambled and managed to catch her before she hit the ground. Still, she looked as if she'd been roughed up. He glared at the shadow mage with rage. "What have you done?", he seethed. The shadow beast took on human form, though hid his features in an inky cloak. "My, my. Look who's awake already", taunted Dubhan.
Before anyone else could make a move, Veda demanded silence. In the wake of her shout, everyone stared wide eyed. "Give it back", she ordered. "This?", asked Dubhan, casually tipping the egg to and fro. Furious and still reeling from the loss of her husband, she glared with an intensity would shatter diamonds. "Who are you? What do you want?!", she shouted. Another eerie laugh. "I'm Dubhan of Noctis and I want your pathetic lives. Isn't it obvious?", he cooed. Taking a dark and serious tone, he added, "The unnatural must be wiped out." With that, he raised the egg and smashed it to the ground. An ear piercing screech rang out as Veda slithered at lightning speed. Time seemed frozen. She fought her tears as she watched it float midair just above the ground. The crest of Avalon burned brightly in Kavi's eyes as he extended one hand. He slowly handed Rani to Gajeel as he glared at Dubhan. The shadow mage sneered. He wasn't intimidated at all. He simply recognized that symbol.
"A son of Avalon?", spat Dubhan angrily. A deep, thick voice sprang from Kavi's lips. It was not his own. "This child is under my personal protection, human. You would do wise not to attempt to harm her again." Jasper stared in shock. That could only be one person. "Oberon...", he uttered, near breathless. Dubhan grinned coyly. "So, the fey king shows himself? Why not come in the flesh? What could you possibly have to fear?", he taunted. Veda grabbed her beloved egg as they exchanged comments. Holding it close, she stared at Kavi in wonder. Would her son's new powers be a curse or a blessing? His body shuddered as he fought to regain control. The king's crest faded from his eyes as he took a deep breath. In his own voice, he warned, "I wouldn't test the king's patience if I were you."
Still confident, Dubhan sighed as if to scoff. "Your precious Oberon can't touch me. The cusp of worlds is too near for him to do anything while the emperor of Mu is growing stronger for his reemergence", he said calmly. Jasper gawked at the mage's knowledge of such things. How did he even know?... Sly as ever, Dubhan took the opening, launching an attack upon the incubus. Faster than could be seen, he charged with strange claws and talons formed of the darkness. The only thing that registered with anyone, the sound of stone. Jasper had thrown Wendy and Charle behind himself, but he looked at his brother just as surprised as Kavi stared at him. A large fist made of stone and sand stood on the ground before him and a blur of shadow had gone flying. Confused glances were briefly shared. Only Veda smiled faintly to herself, knowing what had occurred.
Jasper gulped hard as a dark form dropped down in front of him. It wasn't Dubhan. It was curvy and had...wings? A woman with skin the color of midnight turned to face him. "Are you all right?", she beamed. Jasper blushed brightly. "Y-you're...", he stammered. The woman folded her wings neatly against her back and her tail twitched with interest. "Oh? I've never seen an incubus blush before!", she grinned. "Zenovia!", called a male voice. Her smile dropped at the interruption. Kavi looked her over with skeptical eyes. "Did you do that?", he inquired, glancing at the stone fist. "No. That's be Eadmund. Come on out, stoney!", she shouted. Another body emerged from the darkness. It was a man. he was tall and well built with pale gray skin and calm blue eyes. His long blonde hair flowed into his face as he knelt upon a single knee in front of Jasper. "Verum princeps", he said, solemnly saluting with his forearm over his chest, pressing his fist into his left shoulder.
The stranger had a claymore strapped to his back, though he didn't look at all like he needed it. His long, dark coat mixed with the dirt as he kept his head lowered. Reaching behind him with a single arm, he unsheathed the heavy sword and struck it firmly into the ground in front of himself. Still not looking up, he said, "My sword is yours". The woman seemed a bit annoyed. "Get up, stupid", she said. "Who are you?", asked Kavi, trying to regain control of the situation. The woman stepped forward and offered a friendly hand. "Pax Zenovia, succubus of Nightmare Regiment", she said, introducing herself. Kavi gingerly shook her hand. Sure enough, the familiar symbol was embroidered onto her clothing in the same colors of Jasper's recovered uniform. "That rock head is Eadmund Alain, gargoyle and my unwilling associate", she said, pointing to the kneeling man with her thumb. Ignoring her remarks, Eadmund remained in his submissive posture. "Vivo ego servire", he stated.
Wendy, Charle, Gajeel, and Lily stood in silence, trying to figure out if these new faces were friends or foes. "What language is that?", whispered Wendy. "P-please get up", uttered Jasper, extremely uncomfortable. Striding forward, Kavi spoke the gargoyle's tongue. "Sumus pares hic", he stated. Eadmund slowly rose to his feet and sheathed his massive blade. "Forgive me for interfering. We feared for your safety, domine mi", he said, bowing lightly toward Jasper once more. "What's going on?", inquired Kavi carefully. He never heard what Puck had told his brother. Jasper sighed heavily and sent a sad look to Veda. She stared back with a faint smile, trying to hide her pain. "We should have told you sooner", she uttered, still clutching her precious egg. Kavi straightened his glasses, taking it all in. Lighting a cigarette, he exhaled deeply. "It seems you aren't the last", he said to his brother with a strange smirk. "They were supposed to come when you turned 26...They didn't know about - ...", trailed Veda, remembering the troubled past with Jasper's stasis.
Pax stepped close and peered at the incubus' face. "He does look kinda young. Did we miscount?", she asked. "M-my birthday is still a few days away", said Jasper, trying to distance himself from her lack of personal space. "Forgive us. He was in stasis for a a while", sighed Veda. "Oh yeah", said Pax, thumping on hand into her open palm, "There was something about that in the reports...Still, a deal's a deal. We're out of time." Kavi shot Veda a nasty look. "What deal?", he asked sharply. The naga coiled in on herself in grief. "When Puck first brought Jasper home...He had to broker a deal with Zeus' guardian. Just as your father acted as Oberon's emissary, Zeus had one, too. It was decided to keep Jasper here...for safety...at least until he was old enough to go home", she explained. "You never mentioned this, because...?", said Kavi, extremely irritated. "Safe from what?", asked Wendy, taking Rani from Gajeel.
A scuffle nearby interrupted the explanation. Pax grit her teeth, glaring toward where Dubhan had been knocked. "Answers are gonna have to wait", she stated. "I knew I should have made that virus stronger", said Dubhan, seeming to wipe some blood from his shadowed face. Wendy's eyes shot open in shock. Kavi stared down the shadow mage. "Yes, Wendy. He created that virus that nearly killed us dragon slayers", he said. "Hmm, nearly is the said part. I didn't have enough fey subjects to play with to make a strain for them...Still, I can reactivate the one inside you, Kavi-kun", taunted Dubhan, twisting the name. The shadow had taken on a solid form and laughed harshly as its dark cloak fell away, revealing an eerily familiar face. "You're even dumber than I thought! The virus can't be stopped. You've only delayed the inevitable! You can't stop my master piece, mage", scoffed Dubhan. He reveled at the horrified looks on the faces before him. He'd hid long enough. It was time to manipulate the shock value in his favor. "Surprised?", he teased in a broken tone. "It can't be...", trailed Kavi. "It can and it is", grinned the shadow mage. As the last of his inky cloak fell away, his red eyes turned amber. Pale skin and a long, curly, blonde ponytail completed him. "What kind of dirty trick is this?", spat Gajeel, furious. "Don't be mad at me for the way I look. My mother gave me this face", said Dubhan.
Some twenty years ago, in the past, a rare storm raged over a desert mining town. Tihanna Sandrunner was in labor. Yavuz stood outside the door, talking to a hooded man with a young Tanya nearby. "This is it, the birth we've waited for. We must be certain we take the baron. The other is yours to raise", said the priest. "The other is just waste", replied Yavuz coldly, puffing his cigar. Finally, cries of an infant broke out in the next room. Yavuz grinned darkly. Thirty minutes later, another round of crying. "Tanya, stay here", he ordered, heading in.
Inside the room, the midwife wiped Tihanna's brow as she cradled twin boys to her chest. She was exhausted, but she knew Yavuz wouldn't change his mind. The entire reason he married her was to birth the newest incarnation of the blood baron. It had been prophesied to come from his family's next generation. Tanya was a let down, but she had her uses. Now...Twins. Standing beside her, he looked over the twins coldly. "Which one is it?...I know you can tell...You're dirty mage blood lets you. Now give me the boy", he said. She clutched her sons close, heart broken she'd have to give one up, but she knew if she defied her husband now, he'd simply take both.
What Yavuz didn't know, was that Tihanna had managed to use her concealment magic for the last several hours. She hidden the boys' cries and now she hid one son's magic, suppressing it deep inside his tiny body. One would be sacrificed, but the other would live a normal life...and she couldn't let Noctis have the baron. So, with a heavy heart, she gave up one son, knowing she'd never again see his sweet face. She knew the baby at her breast was the baron, but both sons showed strong signs of magic at birth. A choice had to be made and she chose the greater good for the rest of the world and died a little inside.
Yavuz grabbed up the infant she'd glanced at. The priest from the hall entered. He looked the boy over. "Yes, this one is touched by magic. Well done, clan Sandrunner. The baron is reborn. What will you call him?", asked the aged man. Tihanna had a name picked, but Yavuz had shut her down months ago. he said the child would need a strong name, so he chose Dubhan. In return, she kept Blythe as her precious son.
Back in the present, everyone gawked at Dubhan's true identity. He chuckled darkly. "If only Blythe could see your faces", he grinned. Taking the shadows on once more, he zipped toward Kavi. Resting his arm on the dragon slayer casually, his eyes had returned red with his use of magic. "Just like Blythe's", thought Kavi. Shaking the thought from his mind, he glared at the doppelganger. "Shall we go play with him, too? He has no idea himself. Won't it be fun to crush his spritely little soul?", said Dubhan. He quickly wrapped the darkness around himself and Kavi and duo vanished through the floor, just like before.
The sanctum was deathly quiet. Wendy covered her mouth in terror. Finally, Gajeel shouted in frustration, bringing everyone back to reality. Jasper glanced at his mother and friends. Turning to Pax and Eadmund, he showed a resolve he seldom exposed. "I know you're here for me, but I can't leave my family like this. I will not go with you until Noctis is defeated and everyone is home safely. Do you understand?", he said. Pax grinned. "If you wanted help, you only had to ask", teased the succubus. Eadmund maintained a calm demeanor despite all that occurred. "Your word is my command. I'll begin tracking them immediately", he stated, then vanished through the sands as if melting into the earth. "Stone magic", sighed Pax, annoyed to explain. "We'll get your friends back. You can count on it", she said with an assuring smile.
Still, Veda had been shaken to her core. Her husband was gone, her egg had narrowly been saved, one son was destined to return to his homeland and the other two had been taken by the enemy. She felt completely helpless. Yet again her guild was falling apart. Trying to gather her nerves, she glanced to Wendy. She grinned faintly as she watched the young dragon slayer heal the beaten exceed, Rani. Perhaps Fairy Tail would make the difference. Maybe this time, Serpent Wing would live on.
To be Continued...