(A/n: I really appreciate you, Malsytgian, for taking the time to read, let alone check out this story. Really. Despite not getting enough reviews/comments or no faves and/or follows, this was a story I initially wanted to write years ago before I unintentionally messed it up terribly. This time, I will finish this hopefully without any fuck ups, regardless of the lack of attention it receives. But thanks again, Malsytgian, for your honest feedback. This is the last chapter of this arc)


Chapter 23: Only The Beginning

Leopold

Leopold, who has been dried off and put into new clothes consisting of a black sweater, black pants, and fresh new black socks, is sitting in an armchair next to a couch in a living room that has monochrome décor and furniture, looking sadly at Tweek, who's lying on the couch. The boy is sick, his face and hair clean of the smeared and dried blood. He's wearing the same attire as Leopold even though he's underneath a blanket. There's a pillow underneath his head, and in the center of his forehead is a mysterious symbol exuding a misty, dark aura. His bloodstained sneakers are on the floor made of carpet by the couch. The ceiling light is casting a moonlit glow around the room. Occupying the other armchair is a woman with pale skin, long, black hair, and black almond-shaped eyes. Everything about her indicates that she's a part of the Dark division: her eyeliner and lipstick, the diamond studs in her ears, her long-sleeved dress, her flats that have a little boost in the heels, and floating around her left ankle is a ring similar to a halo. She's the one who made this house, mainly for Leopold's and Tweek's sake. Since she took on a physical form before making it, and after little consideration, she decided to go by the name Raven. Most spirits do not have names, they either made up ones for themselves or had names already bestowed to them from a higher being.

Prior to entering Raven's self-made abode, the three of them were transported five feet away from a large iron gate. Connected to it on each side were tall grey-colored stone walls. Leopold, with the exception of Tweek, nervously looked around their otherworldly surroundings as the spirit hovered towards the gate. The vast stygian sky had a large number of stars that also extended down the rest of the realm all around, which had brightened into a dark blue hue. Leopold had never seen this many stars before, they made the place look a lot less ominous. A shrill sound of metal scraping against metal caught his attention with a flinch. He saw one side of the gate opening.

"Let us proceed," the spirit said, already hovering through the gate. Leopold gently pulled Tweek into walking. Once they entered through the gate, its door slowly creaked shut. "We are in the Realm of Darkness, home to me and many of the other spirits that have Dark magic," the spirit said while guiding them down the middle of two rows of dark purple-colored stone pillars. Perched on top of the first pillar but skipping the second one and repeating the sequence on each side were black stars. A red, blue, green, or purple dot of light would flicker one after the other every few seconds and orbit around the stars. Further down the wide aisle was an extravagant, grey-colored castle. It had four black spires with silver pentagrams attached to their pointy tips, glinting not from the stars, but from the full moon that's behind the building. Leopold gawked in awe at the size of the moon, it's humongous despite it being so far away, and surprisingly, it wasn't blinding to look at. Was that the moon's actual size? Leopold wouldn't be surprised since it looked small when viewing it on earth at night. But his fascination changed to fear when he saw two large statues of winged creatures stationed at the bottom on the left and right side of the castle's wooden doors. He did not like their glowing scarlet eyes. "We're going to remain here until the battle comes to an end." The spirit stopped, and so did Leopold and Tweek. The castle was still far from their current position.

Leopold looked around for any other dwellings that didn't look uninviting, but spotted no other buildings in sight. In fact, they're the only ones here. He gazed nervously back at the castle up ahead. "A-are we gonna go in that castle?"

"No, it is highly unlikely they will allow us entry into their abode."

"They?" Leopold asked confusedly.

"Yes, they are a group of celestial beings that rule over this realm. There are two other realms that are governed by spirits of higher status as well, and they are the Realm of Light and the Realm of Light and Darkness."

"Oooo," Leopold said, fascinated that there were two more realms. He wanted to visit them. "Can we go ta any of them?!" He asked excitedly.

"We cannot." Leopold pouted. "There's more both you and Tweek will need to know regarding not just the three realms, but the magic that signifies each realm, the Inner Guardians, and our foes. I will tell you two everything about them at a later time. For now, my top priority is getting you boys to a safe place since neither of you have a Magical Core. The Dark energy here will have a detrimental toll on those that do not have one." The spirit seemingly turned and hovered through the gap in between two pillars.

Leopold followed her with Tweek in tow. "What's a Magical Core?" Leopold asked.

"It is ones source of magic. It is acquired through an Inner Guardian's tutelage, though there are some humans born with magic. A spirit can help them awaken it." They continued moving until they're far enough away from the pillars and the castle. Leopold could see the moon in its entirety, and it looked stunning with the stars surrounding it. He wondered if the other two realms had a similar beautiful appeal. "Hmm, I believe a house will suffice as refuge. But how big should I make it...?" The spirit mused to herself.

While waiting for her to decide, Leopold turned to face Tweek. He was wobbling slightly, his eyes were struggling to stay open, and his pale cheeks were flushed. Leopold knew right away that he was sick. "Um," Leopold uttered as he turned back around. "Tweek is sick."

"Ah, I apologize for taking so long. First, I will need to change into a more fitting form. It'll be quite bothersome to create a house like this." Leopold shut his eyes and shielded them with an arm when a bright glow engulfed the spirit. "Leopold, how do you feel? Do you also feel ill?"

"N-no," Leopold replied. After a few seconds, he lowered his arm a little and cracked an eye open. The light was fading, soon revealing a black-haired woman in a black dress with flats on her feet and a ring around her ankle. She stuck out a hand, and a dark aura covered her hand.

"Strange," she said as a large black barrier appeared a few feet away from them. The only thing about her voice that changed was that she no longer sounded echo-y. "I thought humans tend to fall ill after being exposed to either low temperatures or rain after a long period of time."

Leopold believed the reason he was still fine was because of the dietary regimen his parents put him under. They did not let him eat unhealthy foods or snacks often like most children, such things were only rewarded to him for good deeds or good behavior. Leopold felt a twinge of sadness, but tried not to let the feeling overwhelm him. He watched as a V-shaped roof formed inside of the barrier in a white light, then the rest of the house formed afterwards, outlining two windows and a door beneath them. He gripped Tweek's hand firmly in hopes that his dependent gesture would keep the other blonde-haired boy standing.

After a minute or two, the house was completed, and the glow faded away, leaving the house appearing like a silhouette within the barrier. The woman lightly exhaled as her aura vanished, she lowered her arm. "To prevent the Dark energy from tampering with you two any further, I will keep this barrier up," she said. She faced Leopold and Tweek, her black eyes were shrewd yet magnanimous. She took small steps towards them and gently scooped Tweek up, cradling him. He relaxed in her arms subconsciously, and closed his eyes. Leopold released his hand, and they entered the nontransparent barrier as if they'd gone into another realm all over again. The door swung open on its own as they approached it. Not only did the house look achromic, but the inside did as well. As soon as they walked in, Leopold was instantly dried off by a gust of wind, the blood staining Tweek's face and hair were cleansed, and both boys' clothes were changed.

Leopold was absolutely shocked by what just happened, so much, that he didn't even react to the warmth now heating up his body. The door closed. The human-looking spirit ambled into the living room a little further down. There's hardly anything to look at. The front lacked any decorations, and there's just a staircase.

"You can look around if you'd like," the boy heard the woman say. "If there's something you want changed or added, don't hesitate to tell me."

Leopold snapped out of it to respond. "O-okay." He decided to check out what's upstairs. However, he went taut near the first step. The stairs led up to pitch-black darkness. Leopold wasn't curious anymore, and he quickly went to the living room. It's dark in here too but at least he could see the woman standing by a sofa, carefully laying a blanket down over Tweek. She noticed him in the entryway.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I-it's dark up there and in here!" Leopold exclaimed.

"Oh, that's right. Lights." With a simple snap of her fingers, a colorless light illuminated the room. Leopold looked up, the soft light shimmering through the plastic ceiling cover plate instantly calming his nerves. But he still wasn't ready to go upstairs. He walked over to one of the armchairs and sat down. He watched the ebony-haired lady place two fingers against Tweek's forehead, then a small symbol appeared on his skin, emitting small traces of black smoke. She stood up straight, and went to go sit in the other armchair.

Leopold didn't know what she just did, but he trusted her to not cause any sort of harm to Tweek. As he sat there looking at his sleeping friend, Leopold realized that he didn't know the woman's name, or if she even had one. "Do you have a name?" Leopold asked.

The woman shook her head. "I do not, but since I've taken on the guise of a human, it would be appropriate to have a name. Do you happen to have one in mind?"

Leopold pursed his lips as he gave her a hard stare. From her appearance alone, she reminded him of two birds he'd seen and learned about in a picture book at school. They had black feathers and black eyes. "How about Crow or Raven?"

The woman raised an eyebrow at his suggestions, intrigued. "Crow or Raven, huh? Hmm...somehow, Raven seems more fitting, and I happen to like it as well. So that will be my name then." She smiled. "Thank you, Leopold."

Her genuine expression of gratitude made Leopold flustered. He flicked his gaze back to Tweek, rubbing his knuckles together over his lap. "Y-you're welcome."

They sat in comfortable silence for what felt like hours. It was unknown if time was still moving or not in the Realm of Darkness. After a long while, the silence is broken by Raven.

"Seems the battle has ended," she says, then her lips curl into a small, pleased smile. "And the Being of Darkness was the one who fell."

Leopold appears hopeful. "So...is everythin' back ta normal?"

The smile leaves Raven's lips. "No. The people it's corrupted still remain loyal to the Dark Master." Leopold's optimism plummets. "Life will continue going down this monochromic path until both the Dark Master and the darkness he's controlling are defeated. It can and will take years for earth to return to its state of calm."

"..." Most of her words flew over Leopold's head. All he understood is that his parents and the other victims of the Being of Darkness are still under its spell. "Are you...gonna send us back home now?" He asks frowning. He really doesn't want to leave—to see his parents that are insistent on corrupting him. Tweek, on the other hand, doesn't have a home to go back to. Leopold grimaces, keeping himself from imagining Tweek's parents as headless corpses.

Raven shakes her head. "No, you boys aren't going back just yet. Actually, for quite some time. I have something planned for the two of you."

Curiosity develops on Leopold's face. "What do you mean?"

Raven smiles slightly again. "Once Tweek recovers from his fever, I'm going to train you two. Since we're in the Realm of Darkness, it'll be possible for you both to gain a Magical Core from this place's energy. Although it may be at odds with your Magical Core when you meet and get familiar with your Inner Guardian's magic, Leopold, but it is a risk I'm willing to take. If you're lucky, you could end up being able to harness both Dark and Light magic."

There's silence as Leopold processes what he had been told. He looks down at his lap. He becomes anxious at the thought of training. He's just a child who was living life repeatedly getting grounded by his parents, but at least things were normal. There were no Beings of Darkness', no Dark Master, no approaching darkness, no magic...No abnormal threats. Leopold still can't fully grasp that these paranormal entities and incidents are happening in real life.

"I understand your reluctance," Raven says, still smiling a little. "But fighting to save your world is a fate you, Tweek, and the rest of your allies must accept."

Leopold feels like crying. The thought of having to face against monsters frightens him. He's never seen a Being of Darkness before, and he doesn't ever want to see one since he knows what it does to people. He raises his head with a startled blink when a pair of arms embrace him. The comforting hug from Raven forces the tears to spill from his eyes.

When was the last time he was hugged? Probably when he was a baby. His parents stopped showing him such endearment when he turned four. Instead, they started treating him with acrimony. Did they ever even love him? Was their affection when he was born fake? What if they never wanted to give birth to him...? Was he a mistake?

"Leopold," Raven separates from the boy and gently wipes the tears from his cheeks using a thumb. "Please rest assured that your life has value. Your parents...even though they behaved coldly towards you doesn't mean they never loved you. They always have, and always will. Never forget nor think otherwise."

Leopold's eyes widen with strong emotions coursing through him. He doesn't feel sad nor bitter anymore, Raven's tenderness had rid off the negative feelings, alleviating his heartache. More tears drip down his cheeks as he leans forward to hug Raven, who caresses his back.

His and Tweek's parents are gone now, but a new adult figure has entered their lives despite not being human. She's been nicer to Leopold more than his own parents had ever been. She's even given them a place to stay, and is going to help them fend for themselves and others. Although Leopold is still hesitant to fight, he now has the desire to fight not only for his life, but for Tweek's and Raven's.


Eric

"Whooooa, this place looks awesome," Eric says, looking around the Realm of Darkness in awe. He was transported here after Zerphy told him that the Being of Darkness was officially taken care of. He was upset that he wasn't the one to deal the final blow, plus they had to let Kyle live. The next time he sees him, Eric won't let the opportunity go to waste again. He looks over at his mother. "Mom, do you like it here?" His mother's lips tighten into a tense line. She's been staring at the moon ever since she was brought here. Her not giving Eric a response hurts him. He feels a hand clasp his shoulder.

"Give her time," Zerphy says. Eric nods his head. He understands that his mother hasn't gotten used to everything that's transpired today. He and Zerphy face the large barrier on the opposite side of the pillars.

"Are any spirits in that house?" Eric asks. He kind of expected there to be at least more than two buildings here, and a bunch of spirits to be moving to and fro.

"There's only one, and they're accompanied by two human boys," Zerphy answers. "The rest of the spirits—including Inner Guardians—are all out on earth warning the humans of the darkness and searching for their host. So everyone is quite busy." She looks at the castle with a blank expression. "Except them."

Eric follows her gaze. To him, the castle appears cool and creepy. "Are they being lazy?"

"Ahem. Eric, please watch what you say here," Zerphy says in a stern yet airy tone, as if she found Eric's question funny and was trying not to laugh. "My Superiors are also working hard, just not...to the same extent as us Inner Guardians and the lower-class spirits. Ahem, but anyway, we need to get your mother away from the Dark energy since she doesn't have a Magical Core to protect her. Perhaps I should make a house as well?"

"How 'bout a mansion instead?!" Eric suggests excitedly.

Zerphy giggles at his eagerness. "Very well." She turns around sticking out a hand, but doesn't do anything.

After a few seconds, Eric cocks an eyebrow. "Huh? What's wrong? Can't do it?"

Zerphy is quiet for some moments longer, her expression blank again. "...Sorry, but I won't be able to create it right now...I am needed..." She drops her arm and gives Eric a strained small smile. "Place your mother in a barrier for now. I'll be back." She walks towards the castle.

Eric watches her with guilt. He hopes she's not in trouble because of him. He casts a red barrier around his mother, then looks back at the silhouette of the house. He's curious as to who the two boys in there are, and considers going there to see. But he doesn't want to leave his mother standing here by herself. He doubts she'll want to tag along with him to be nosy. So they wait for Zerphy to return in awkward silence.


September ?- Stan

Stan wakes up in a cold sweat with tears in his dull sapphire eyes. He had two nightmares consecutively. The first one was about Chris successfully taking over his body and killing Kyle, and the second one was about the Being of Darkness reviving itself to exact its revenge on him. Stan whimpers as the tears spill, gasping when a warm hand touches his head.

"I'm so glad you're awake," says a quavering voice.

Stan turns his head to look at the person, unable to make out their identity due to the blur in his eyes, however he recognized the voice. "M-mom," he says, voice raspy.

His mother starts caressing his hair, tears in her own eyes. She's sitting in the dining table chair that was already in Stan's bedroom. "You've been unconscious for two weeks." Stan doesn't have the energy to be surprised. The nightmares made him feel apathetic. "How do you feel? Are you aching anywhere?"

Stan shakes his head. He's not hurting anywhere miraculously, he vividly remembers the acute pain he experienced before passing out. Instead, his throat feels dry. Facing the ceiling, he wipes his face, realizing afterwards that he's wearing pajamas. His lamp was turned on. Seems the power is back.

. . .

He notices how quiet it is, looks like it's stopped raining. Finally.

"Are you thirsty? I have some water for you," his mother says. Little did Stan know she'd been bringing him a cup of water ever since he fell into a short coma in case he woke up one day. Stan sits up with his mother's help, and she hands him the cup of water. He takes several sips from it. "Are you hungry?"

His thirst quenched and his throat saturated, Stan sets the cup over his lap and looks back at his mother. She's still teary-eyed, and she's smiling with relief. "Are Kyle and Kenny okay?" He asks flatly.

His mother frowns at his tone. "They are," she says. She dries her eyes with a hand. "They've been staying here since their families have been corrupted. But Ike...is currently in Shelly's room with them...Ever since he was brought here, he hasn't woken up. He's still alive, just in a deep sleep. I was unable to tell if he's been corrupted or not."

"...Oh...okay," is all Stan says. He puts the cup on his nightstand.

"Would you like to go talk to your friends? They've been worried about you too."

Stan nods, removing the sheets over his lap. His mother helps him out of bed. His legs throb once his feet touch the floor, but he doesn't express any discomfort. The sensation only lasts for a brief moment. He walks out towards his big sister's bedroom, his mother close behind him. He begins to realize that this will be his first time going into Shelly's room. His interest isn't as strong as it used to be. He used to wonder what all she kept in her room that she didn't want him seeing or knowing about. In the end, it was left up to his imagination.

There's light coming from out of Shelly's room, and he hears some voices. He stops, turning to face his mother. They're only a couple steps away from the room. Before his mother can question him, he closes the distance to wrap his arms around her leg. "I'm happy you're okay," he says in a quiet voice. He hates himself for not telling her that sooner.

His mother's lips curl into a small smile. "Thank you, sweetie. I promise to train hard so that I'll be useful in battle."

"I will too." Stan nods again, then lets her go. He proceeds to Shelly's room, stopping in the doorway. Kyle and Kenny are quick to notice him and his mother's presences. They're sitting on Shelly's bed, wearing a pair of Stan's pajamas. Ike is resting on the bed underneath the sheets. The blue curtains to the window are open, showing a cloudy sky.

Kyle and Kenny beam at Stan. "Stan!" They say happily. They get down from the bed and approach him.

Stan manages a weak smile as he enters a little bit into the bedroom. "Hey, guys." He's taken aback when Kyle hugs him.

"It's about time you woke up," Kyle says softly.

With a faint smile, Stan hugs him back. "Yeah." They separate. Stan expects Kenny to want to hug him as well, but the boy appears abashed. Stan knows why. It's because Kenny has been constantly smelling foul each and every day, thus he avoided physical contact such as hugs from anyone outside of his family. He doesn't seem to be reeking of either beer or cigarettes, so Stan hugs him instead, surprising him momentarily, then he returns the embrace.

"I'll let you boys catch up," says Stan's mother. She walks away.

Stan and Kenny let go of each other. There's a few seconds of silence.

"Man, it feels like it's been forever since I've seen you guys," Kenny says.

"I know right?" Kyle says in agreement. "We hardly ever saw each other at school after..." He frowns. "The murder..."

"...Soo," Kenny says after another few moments of silence. "About Eric..."

Stan becomes cognizant of the fat boy's absence. "Oh yeah, where is he?"

"Who knows and who cares," Kenny replies indifferently. "He's not our friend anymore. He's a tra...a triator."

"Traitor," Kyle corrects him.

"Yeah, that."

Stan is confused. "How come?"

"Because he attacked your mom, and wanted to kill me and Kyle," Kenny clarifies. That's when Stan remembers Chris referring to Eric as a past ally. So that was what he meant. Stan can't believe it. "I thought it was weird that our Inner Guardians told us to be cautious of Kyle, but not Eric. Maybe they changed their minds after what Eric did. Kyle would never hurt Mrs. Marsh or try to kill his best friends."

Kyle nods resolutely. "Yeah, that's right."

"I know," Stan says. "And I believe you...My Inner Guardian wanted me to kill you too." His face hardens into a serious frown. "But I'll never do that."

Kyle grins. "I know."

"And if anyone else tries to kill you, me and Stan will stop them," Kenny vows proudly.

"Yeah," Stan says with a nod.

Kyle is immensely touched that his super best friend and best friend are willing to protect him from harm. "Thanks, you guys. Oh yeah, did your mom tell you about Shelly and Mr. Marsh?" He asks Stan.

The noirette shakes his head. "No. Are they not here?"

Kyle and Kenny exchange a look of concern. "Well," Kyle starts off saying. "All she told us was that they disappeared."

"...Oh..." Once again, Stan feels empty. He wants to be sad, but his body won't let him be. Why didn't his mother tell him what happened to his father and older sister?

"D-don't worry, maybe they got taken to a safe place by an Inner Guardian," Kenny says, trying to give Stan some assurance.

"That could be possible," Kyle says.

Stan remains quiet, his mien inexpressive. The three boys are quickly enveloped in awkward quietude, until someone's stomach growls.

Kenny rubs his belly with a sheepish laugh. "S-so, any of you hungry? I sure as heck am."

Kyle laughs. "But you ate an hour ago."

"An hour is a long time, and besides, Mrs. Marsh said she was gonna cook lunch."

"True," Kyle says. "C'mon, Stan. You must be starving since you've been asleep for so long."

He isn't wrong. Stan could go for his mother's delicious cooking now. "Yeah...okay."

The three boys walk out of the room, but Kyle halts in the doorway. Stan and Kenny continue walking. With a frown, Kyle turns around. "I hope you wake up soon." He stares at Ike for a couple seconds longer, then follows after Stan and Kenny.

*Elsewhere, In A Place That's Not On Earth*

There was a red and black castle isolated from civilization. Trees were everywhere around it outside of a cobblestone pathway. The sky was displaying a night so idyllic that people would feel a wave of tranquility after viewing it.

Inside the castle within a throne room sat a vaguely distinguishable individual. The only source of light was coming from a crystal ball that's on top of a table in front of them. The room would've been utterly dark without it. The person was briefly seen in the white glow—their slim but sturdily built physique identifying that they're a male—before the gassy substance swirled and darkened in color. Now, it showed nothing but blackness. Piercing crimson eyes were narrowed at the glass orb. It just got done showing him the death of one of his Beings of Darkness'. It was the first one to fall out of the many others he'd sent out months ago.

However, he wasn't mad nor entirely disappointed. He was satisfied. Even though the Being of Darkness failed to retrieve Kyle Broflovski, it did an excellent job converting the townspeople of South Park over to his side. He was just going to have to make sure his minions stopped taking the humans and their Inner Guardians lightly. He blamed himself for not disciplining the Beings of Darkness' properly before sending them out.

He hovered a palm over the crystal ball, and it began to brighten back into a white color while curling into a new image. He moved his hand away, seeing an overweight child with brown hair and red eyes. The man grinned. "Eric Cartman," he said, his voice deep and euphonious. He put a hand over the translucent orb again, prompting the image to change a second time. This one showed another boy, although skinny with a blue chullo over his head and silver eyes. Blood stained his hat and smiling face. The man chuckled, amused to see a child brimming with killing intent. "Craig Tucker." The picture altered for a third and last time. He was shown the culprit who had killed his underling, a boy with black hair and bright sapphire eyes. "Or him. Stanley Marsh." With another chuckle, the man leaned back against his throne. The crystal ball went clear and blank.

Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, Craig Tucker, and Stanley Marsh. The one that struck the man's fancy was Craig. He had killed another human, and without any shame. But then again, why settle for just one child when he could have all four? Though only three out of the four possessed Dark magic, which made them perfect pawns that would help him achieve his goal. Craig was unique, it was quite puzzling figuring out his dominant magical attribute. Just what did his Inner Guardian do to him? Well, it didn't really matter. Thanks to his Inner Guardian, Craig could use Dark magic also—only when both of his eyes turned silver though.

Sadly, they're far too young to be used at his disposal. It was a good thing he didn't manage to attain Kyle while he's only 6 years old. He and the other boys had much to learn about their magic. As they grew, perhaps more candidates would arise in the meantime, one that would be equivalent to that immortal child or perhaps even greater. He would've been a really great asset to have, it's a huge shame someone already marked him before the man could've done it.

"Tch." He shook his head. He mustn't get upset. Patience was key.

(A/n: And this concludes the end of the Young Awakenings Arc. The next arc will be Monochrome Days)