Moonmessi was here!


Chapter 15

"What are they?"

"Are they new forest gods?"

"There's too many, we can't fight them!"

"We're doomed, I tell you! Doomed!"

"Wait, there are children leading those monsters!"


After that Iron Town reception to the Narnian army, the Pevensies wisely decided to leave the army a good distance away, well out of gun range.

Now, the Wolf Tribe and The Four approached Iron Town to find Eboshi waiting for them just outside of the gate.

Eboshi frowned at the newcomers. "Are these children friends of yours, and what is that army they brought?" She asked San.

Peter stepped forward, and raised his sword in salute. "High King Peter, at your service. This is Queen Susan, King Edmund, and Queen Lucy," he finished, pointing to each of them in turn.

Eboshi raised an eyebrow. "Really? Two kings and two queens? An interesting arrangment!"

Edmund spoke up next, droll as ever. "A woman in charge of a town out in the middle of nowhere? You're one to talk!"

Eboshi chuckled. Touche!

Turning to San, she said, "Do you have anything to say for yourself, Wolf Girl?"

San returned her unfriendly look with interest. "They are John's Pack, and so they are mine as well."

Eboshi nodded. "Care to explain how did they make it here so fast?"

San leveled a glare at her. "The forest has secrets and great power. Power that you tried to take for yourself!"

Susan stepped forward, and pressed a hand gently at the small of the Wolf Girl's back. The hatred between her unusual sister and the older woman was almost palpable, and this wasn't a good time to let them get carried away.

San relaxed, in spite of herself. "All we need is directions to that man's fort. My family and I will take care of the rest. The monarchs think that, if you don't help us, they would find their way anyway!"

Eboshi laughed. "Their age explains their reasoning!"

Peter's gaze hardened. "Age means little, my Lady. At least we've actually done some good in our world!"

Just then, Ashitaka leaped down the walls, landing next to Eboshi. "San, wait!"

Susan and her two brothers went for their respective weapons, but San was the one who did the calming this time. "Stop! He's a friend!"

Upon hearing this, the four rulers paused.

Ashitaka approached San, and they hugged. "I'm coming with you. John's my friend too," the young man announced, Yakkul joining him.

As Lucy cried out with delight, and rushed to pat the friendly elk, who was delighted with the attention.

The Pevensies looked at San, who blushed and avoided their gazes.

Chuckling, Peter rode forward. "Well, any friend of John's a friend of ours, Mate," he said, introducing himself and his family.

Ashitaka bowed to each in turn. "I'm honored to join such esteemed company."

Eboshi spoke up then. "If you promise not to attack my people, I'll lead you to the fort, and I'll bring my own soldiers."

Peter waved his hand. "Thank you, my Lady, but we have our own troops, as we made clear-"

Eboshi glared at him defiantly. "Do not interrupt me! I'm not some helpless woman that will tremble at the sight of blood! I'm coming, or you can go without my aide. Good luck getting to the fort and negotiating without me!"

Susan frowned at Eboshi. There was something not quite right about this woman, but they couldn't forbid her from coming. This woman lived by her own rules, and Susan realized that Eboshi and her adopted son had quite a few things in common.

According to Aslan, they were attracted to each other as well. She huffed, deciding to talk to him about his choice in women when the time was right!

Peter, after a moment, nodded. "Fine, but you probably won't be much use in battle, with your one arm."

She nodded, smiling grimly. "Not a problem, your Majesty!"

Before they could get started, a unarmed rider came galloping towards them. Ignoring everybody except Eboshi, he stopped in front of her. "Lady Eboshi, I bring greetings from Lord Asano."

Eboshi nodded, and the rider continued. "In return of half your stored iron, we will give back your friend. He is still in one peice-"

Eboshi raised her hand, aware of San brandishing her dagger hungrily. "I'm willing to give him all my iron, but I, and my companions, wish to talk to him personally."

The man thought for a moment, looked over the army, and galloped back from whence he had come.


A few hours later, the party set out, closely followed by the Narnian army. Along with them were wagons full of iron, the best of the fighters in Iron Town came too, keeping away from the strange beasts they were marching with.

Gonza reluctantly stayed behind, looking after the town.

Looking at their numbers, Eboshi smirked.

These were strange creatures, but she should have figured John had friends.

"So, tell me, are you gods? And what are these creatures?"

Lucy, who was closest to her, giggled. "Do I look like a god to you, Miss?"

Eboshi grimaced.

The little girl, or was it a young teenager, was so young, innocent, and genuine that Eboshi could practically smell it. She reminded herself to keep the adorable girl from the company of most of the women in Iron Town! "I'll take your word for it, little Queen."

Lucy smiled. "Please, call me Lucy. So what's it like to manage a town?"

Smiling at the girl, she asked. "If I tell you the details, will you tell me about the creatures in your army?"

Lucy beamed, and Eboshi's heart melted, despite herself. "Of course!"

As they conversed, Eboshi could feel many distrustful gazes being thrown her way, but that didn't bother her.

Whatever the children monarchs knew, or had been told, about her meant little to her. She had wanted to come mostly because she wanted to get rid of Asano, but also because she owed San, and she cared about John more than she cared to admit.

He understood her like no one else did, and had been there for her more than anyone else. She didn't love the man, but she would be lying if she said she didn't have some feelings for him.


San was grumbling to herself, hating the fact that they needed that bitch for anything. The fact that Eboshi obviously adored the youngest of her family only soured her feeling. But what she didn't account for was the humanity she saw in Eboshi in the past couple of days, but that would occur to her later.

Right now, the leader of the Wolf Tribe seethed.

"I do wish you wouldn't fuss so much about this."

San turned to Ashitaka, who had just spoken from her immediate right.

"Why not? I don't trust her. For all I know, she's just waiting for the chance to betray us!"

Ashitaka shrugged, smiling the soft smile that she adored. "Maybe, but I doubt it. You are the only person I have ever known that looks beautiful when you are angry."

San blushed, and their hands met and held.

Susan smiled from behind the two love-birds. It was obvious that San and the quiet young man were in love!

Ashitaka was rather fetching as far as looks went, but he also seemed to be a wise and well-intentioned young man, a rarity among males that she hoped San would realize.

But maybe she already does.

Susan, who was used to men fawning over her, noted that Ashitaka had barely even glanced at her after bowing to her, only having eyes for the wild young woman. That, in itself, said a great deal about their relationship!

Looking at Lucy, she was always in amazement at Lucy's ability to bring out the best in people, realizing that the girl she had grown up with had gifts that Susan could only dream of. There was not a single person who knew Lucy and did not love her, even the seemingly world-weary woman who accompanied them.

Lucy inspired adoration, trust, and protectiveness in the hardest of warriors, and that made Susan's heart swell with love and pride!


An hour later, after traversing over hills and through the forest, a fort on top of a high plateau came into view, and the army stopped on Peter's command, Eboshi indicating to him that they had arrived at their destination.

The companions came together in a council of war.

Peter spoke first. "Righto, let's kick this off, shall we? Even though Asano might take Lady Eboshi's iron, there is still a possibility that he won't give us what we want. We prepare for the worst, but hope for the best."

Eboshi nodded in agreement. At least the boy was competent! "Asano is a greedy man. He does have some semblance of honor, but very little of it. Your instincts serve you well, King Peter."

Edmund spoke up. "As we can see, the easiest way to that castle is up that hill, which thankfully isn't too steep for our troops. We need to have a back up plan in case that bugger doesn't fork over John."

Peter nodded, while Susan grumbled at Edmund's choice of wording. "What do you have in mind, Ed?"

Edmund thought for a moment, then smiled. "While most of us would stay with the army, a small force of perhaps a dozen men should find another way into the castle. Is there anyone particularly adept at rock climbing?"

Eboshi raised her eyebrows, impressed by the lad's quick thinking. Maybe age didn't define them as much as she had feared!

San smirked, liking how her future foster brother thought!


As the army was being positioned out of sight of the fort, San jumped as a familiar baritone sounded in her ears: "It is I, Michael. Be ready, as something is afoot."

"Where have you been, traitor?" San asked angrily.

"Keep your voice down, girl! Be ready for what will happen. Lucifer is not going to let John go easily."

San growled to herself. "If he knows what's good for him, he will!"

Michael chuckled. "That's the spirit!"


In the meantime, Eboshi was talking with Peter. "I'm going to negotiate with him alone. He cannot know of you and your army's presence until it's too late for him to do anything about it."

Lucy bit her lip, and Eboshi winked reassuringly at her, as, Peter nodded. "Jolly god. Wave this flag to signal if you want us to attack," he said, handing her a crimson battle flag.

She nodded, and then started on her way. But San and Ashitaka soon joined her, the former not trusting her, while the latter insisted upon helping his leader.

Behind them, the Pevensies prepared for battle, placing their divisions carefully.


When they got to the castle gate, it opened to reveal Asano's golden-armored form. "You surprise me, Lady Eboshi. I did not expect you to surrender to quickly!"

Eboshi snorted. "I'm not surrendering, Asano. I have no more need of the iron, and I am more than ready to give it to you for him."

The man nodded as he allowed the iron to be brought into his castle. Damn you, John!

A good deal of time later, when they had finished, he nodded. "Good. Then he's yours."

He gave a wave, and the gate opened to reveal John's limp form tied onto a horse, whose bridle was held by another soldier, who led him forward.

The gate closed behind him, but as he walked John forward, an arrow seemed to grow out of John's back.

"What the hell was that? I didn't order-" Asano roared, but he never finished the sentence, the next arrow tranfixing him through the mouth, killing him instantly.

"Thus die all traitors!" The archer roared.

San screamed in rage, and threw her spear, killing the man who was walking John's horse.

Ashitaka ran forward, dodging the single archer's arrows, and helped John to the rear.

"This isn't over, Michael! I will rule someday, and you won't be able to stop me!" The archer roared, the sybillant hiss of Lucifer still clear in his voice.

"Not if I kill you first!" San roared, drawing Michael's blade. Beside her, Eboshi waved the flag wildly with her one hand, as Lucifer sniggered.

"Come and get me, you little whore!"

Snarling, San retrieved her spear, but Eboshi pulled her back, using the flag to do so.

"Let me go, you filthy human!"

"We'll kill that bastard later, Wolf Girl. We need to get back, or we'll get caught in the cross-fire!"

A roar from the approaching Narnians affirmed her roars confirmed Eboshi's words, and San allowed herself to be pulled to the rear, Ashitaka joining Eboshi in doing so.

"I'll kill you, you bastard! I swear I'll rip you apart with my bare hands!" San howled, tears spilling down her cheeks, as she was pulled back.


As the army charged into view, Lucifer uttered a string of foul oaths that are not repeatable in even the worst of human societies.

He had not expected the accursed Narnian scum to be here!

His plan in using Asano's second in command to kill that treacherous fool Asano, and force his mind-controlled soldiers to destroy Iron Town, was going straight to hell!

"The traitor is dead! Kill those invaders!" He screamed, and his soldiers sprung to his command, the battle beginning in earnest. If Narnians were here, the Pevensies were here. If the Pevensies were here, then that girl with the healing cordial was here.

All his hard work and sadistic pleasure undone by Michael and God yet again!


Behind the lines, Susan undid the bandages on John's wounds, his hands and feet perforated until she could see through them. Though she was not religious, she knew what such wound meant.

Lucy had already administered the healing potion minutes ago, but the awful and cruel wounds were only now starting to close.

"Oh!" Lucy was shaking with cold fury. She couldn't imagine the pain and horrifying torture that he had been through, and it was a miracle he was unconscious, or he would be suffering terribly.

San cradled his head in her lap, her head bowed, hiding her own rage that was boiling underneath the surface.

Eboshi stood nearby, saying nothing, her face seeming to be made of stone.

Ashitaka had joined Peter and Edmund were with the troops, fighting with anger and fighting for justice.

San's brothers, overcome with rage at their brother's torment, had also joined the battle. San was too overcome with worry to join them.

Lucy shook her head, disraught. "I don't understand. I already gave him enough to cure a dozen men, and barely anything has happened."

San sniffed, her hands shaking with cold fury as she fastened the cape of wolf-hide under her brother's chin. She had seen evil and torture before, but never to this extent. How could such evil be done?

Eboshi spoke up, her face hard as stone. "It'll work. It just needs time. Lucifer must have done something to him, but at least he is slowly healing."

San hoped she was right. She had already lost her mother, and she had barely been able to handle that. Losing John was inconceivable to her.


As my wounds healed, I was in pure darkness, Lucifer standing in front of me, wearing black robes with a black hood.

I couldn't see his face, but his eyes were red and glowing with hate and malice.

"Where am I?" I snarled, and Lucifer chuckled. "We are in your head. See, despite that delectable little Lucy's cordial, my trusty dagger has done it's work. Not only will you take some time to heal, but you are also in a coma. While I fight against the Pevensies, I am also able to give you a personal back-stage audience."

I gasped, and Lucifer nodded. "That's right. Your pesky little family is here to help, but it doesn't matter what happens with them. You see, my darling little chew-toy, all you need to be concerned about is what happens in here, inside this tiny brain of yours."

I nodded, sneering. "In other words, you're getting your arse handed to you by a bunch of kids, and you are using me to make yourself feel better?"

As I said this, I realized that my body had no wounds on it, but I didn't have the Sword either. There were no words to explain my hatred for him, but I couldn't do anything about it right now.

Lucifer hissed with rage, but then regained his composure. "Everything's so amusing to you, isn't it? I will say this: you are the one of the more talkative of the vessels he has chosen."

I smirked. "If you're done whining like a schoolgirl, what do you want?"

Lucifer turned serious. "You do realize what will happen if I lose, right?"

I nodded. "You crawl back to where you came from, then try to mess with us in another time or universe."

Lucifer nodded. "Yes, and that is the rub of the thing: this delightful battle never ends. It just keeps going and going and going for as long as Michael and I last, which is forever, since we represent the forces of good and evil. Michael will use you again and again until you are die, and then he will move to another vessel. You'll never have peace, as long as he needs your help!"

I nodded. "I kind of knew that it would be like that. At least I'll be doing something useful. Whatever happens, I'm taking you with me!"

Lucifer spat, seeming disgusted by my loyalty. "How very noble of you. Well, that's all I have to say to you. If you'll excuse me, I have a battle to fight, and when you wake up, I'll continue to have as much fun as I can!"

I frowned, not liking the twisted smile on his face. "Like what?"

"Well, you'll be able to fight, and I can't wait for Round Two of our little bout. I enjoy chaos as much as I enjoy tyranny, after all. The pain your little wolfling is going through is delectable: she's lost her mother, and she thinks she's losing you too! Now: wake up and smell the ashes!"

Lucifer's hysterical laughter was the last thing I heard before my eyes opened!


"John!" What seemed like half a second later, I was covered by hugs and kisses from San, Lucy, and Susan. It had been an unbearable hour of wait, but the girl's patience had been rewarded with success!

"Hullo, lovies! What did I miss?" I asked, returning their hugs and kisses as best as I could.

After the three of them had spelled it all out for me, I whistled. "Well, I'll be bollocksed! I'm gone for only a few days, and already you lot have turned the universe on its fucking head! Ow!" I finished, as Susan slapped me upside the head.

"How many times have I warned you about your language?" She scolded.

I snorted, rubbing my head. "Good to see you too, Mum!"

Eboshi cut across us. "'Mum?' She's barely even your age, Assassin!"

I stood, glad to feel no pain, and bowed to her. "We'll discuss it later, luv. I'm chuffed to see you here-"

San interrupted, practically breathing fire. "I'd hate to interrupt this wolf-shit, but we've got people to kill, one in particular!"

I shook myself and nodded. "Right, sorry. I assume you won't be joining me with San in the fight?" I asked Susan, Lucy, and Eboshi.

Susan and Lucy shook their heads, and Eboshi snorted. "Does it look like I can fight?" She asked, her voice as cold as ice.

I raised my hand. "Okay! Okay! Keep your shirt on!"

I nodded to San, who turned to her brothers, who had taken this opportune moment to arrive. "Wolf Tribe, to battle!" The entire Wolf Tribe, including yours truly, joined our voices in a long predatory howl, then made our way into the battle!

On our way there, San glanced at me balefully. "If you try that again, I'll tear your face off!"

I smiled impudently at her. "What? Having a go at Eboshi, or nearly copping it?"

She smiled despite her anger. "Both!"