Chapter 26; Von Strangle Showdown
— Jorgen's POV —
The smell of sweets overlaid by the sickly tang of absinthe would have been enough to make his stomach nauseous, but the company he was in made him far more ill than the smell. Cheerful conversations and gentle interactions as the Fey put up a friendly, trustful façade in their attempt to lull Wanda into a false sense of security. Kinders acting happy, playful and loveable…as if they were contented children living lives of bliss and not hypnotized dolls for the Fey to play with, to falsely lead Wanda into believing that becoming a Kinder would bring about no changes to who Timmy was as a person. He hoped she was smart enough not to fall for their deceptions. He had trust in her not to be led astray, but her love for her godson might be enough to override her intelligence.
"It's amazing how Timmy and I can still eat anything after that feast you provided for our brunch." Wanda remarked as she nibble on a cupcake; yet another treat Timmy had gifted to her, saying it had the most frosting or the most sprinkles, or whatever else he claimed, despite them all looking the same. Timmy himself was on his 4th slice of fairy bread, his face and hands messy with frosting and sprinkles.
"Oh, that's because we design our food that way." A Fey with short blonde, curly hair, spoke. He recognized her despite how differently she looked now. She was Dazzle, who had been part of Nova's trafficking ring and banished here along with all the other members. She had been amongst the first caught, but she had resolutely not revealed that Nova was the mastermind. If he had got her to speak, he would have been able to save more than half of the children that Nova had brought to the Fey.
"You see, eating is one of the greatest pleasures in life; I adore food, believe me, as a fairy I was almost too big to float." Dazzle, showing more concern with her waistline than she did with the numerous children she helped doom, prattled on carelessly.
"Your so slim now." Wanda marvelled at Dazzle's model like appearance.
"No diet or exercise required. Oh yes, as a fairy I would use magic to make myself look thin, but you know, as a fairy our own-use magic is limited, so it was too draining to keep myself looking slim all the time, but Fey magic is unlimited, so, yay!"
"Oh boy, that's our Dazzle. She loves her shortcuts; but I think she failed to answer your question." Another Fey, who had never been a fairy, so he did not know her name, entered the conversation with a bright and welcoming disposition. "We make our food with all the good stuff; nutrients, protein, etc. but with also make it with barely any calories and we also design it so that it does not take up room in our stomachs."
"Yeah, like that cupcake you're eating, looks like a normal sized cupcake, right? But once you swallow it, it's actually no bigger than a crumb in your stomach." Dazzle grinned. "So we can eat, and eat, and eat without getting full or fat!"
"Wow, if I knew that, I would have pigged out a lot more at brunch!" Wanda looked taken aback, but the twinkle in her eyes showed obvious pleasure. He gritted his teeth, fighting to keep from rolling his eyes.
Fey would try to use anything and everything they could to tempt a Fairy into joining them, especially if it meant they'd bring a human child along with them. Perhaps Wanda had mentioned something about her weight or mentioned a diet, or perhaps they just assumed that, as a woman, this was something she'd be concerned over, and were now passing along information of this particular temptation in the guise of mundane small-talk.
There was no weakness, no matter how small, that Fey wouldn't take advantage of. That was why he was here now, even though he had planned to just drop off the items for the Heart-Soul and leave. There was no way he could leave Wanda and Timmy with no backup, so that was why he was stuck at this tea-party he had no desire to be present for. The looks the Fey kept giving him made it clear they did not wish for his presence either, but they kept quiet because perhaps they thought chasing him off would result in Wanda believing they had a trap in store for her at this little gathering.
Normally he'd want to scream at Wanda for being both careless and senseless and not heeding his warnings; and taking Timmy outside the protection of their contract bound room, but…
A Stigmata was something worth taking risks to cure. A Stigmata if allowed to worsen was a fate even worse than becoming a Kinder….
"Let's give the little Heart-Soul it's presents now!" Nova sounded cheerful. "My son really is good at making these. He couldn't have learned it from Stella, though. Her DIY projects were all frankly DOA."
The fey at the table laughed, along with Wanda. He bit the inside of his cheek hard to keep his expression straight, refusing to smile in their presence, though he had to admit, Mama Cosma's attempt DIY attempts all came out looking like torture devices.
"Mommy, me too? Present?" Timmy begged, giving his god mother a puppy dog look.
"Oh, of course, I wouldn't skip you over. When we get back to our room, I'll poof you up some presents, too."
He watched as Wanda gave Timmy's cheek a fond pinch as the toddler version of Turner watched his Heart-Soul get presented with the miniature furniture that Cosmo had made. Wanda shrunk each piece down to a size that the minuscule Heart-soul could use and poofed it directly into the cage. That was the most magic they could use on the furniture without having the Heart-Soul become repelled by it. Naturally, the infantilized Turner had sulked about how there were no presents for him, only to get indulged by Wanda.
He hoped that if he had been at his normal age/mentality, that she would have scolded him. He understood that making Turner a toddler was apparently a treatment to help with the Stigmata, but she really seemed to enjoy it, maybe a little too much. She did bring up a good point, though. Unlike other fairies, she did have her own child, so she would have no reason to steal one. Furthermore, she was a veteran godmother, not a newbie who'd try to run away with their godchild.
He expected her, of course, to be unhappy when her time with Turner was over, maybe take some time off from godparenting; most fairies did take a few decades off whenever they finished with a child that had lasted years. He could accept that a strong bond would form after many years, and that jumping right to the next child would be far too difficult. However…he was beginning to think that in a best-case scenario, Wanda had so much love for Timmy that she could very well just end up retiring from godparenting entirely after she was done with him, at worst….she could try to sneak back into his life once he became an adult…and could very well end up like Dulice had. He had to prevent that tragedy from happening a second time.
He could also just be overthinking things; from the conversation he had with Cosmo, perhaps Wanda's behaviour stemmed not so much from over attachment but from enthusiasm from finally being given a case that matched her skill level. The problem rested more with Timmy's dependency issues, and how tightly he clung to his fairies.
However, now, while Turner was receiving treatment, was no time for him to take any actions even if some things he saw and heard raised his alarms. Timmy would die without the magic filter cycle and he would not have the preventable death of a child occur while he was the one in charge.
Once the boy no longer needed the magical filter cycle and could return fully to his normal life, he would take a very close look at the situation and decide the best course of action. He had a begrudging soft spot for Turner, as much as he hated to admit to it, but as leader of the fairies, the security of fairy world and the safety of its inhabitants were the top priority.
Timmy now randomly hugged Wanda as he had four times before during the course of this nauseating little sitdown. He had been trying to get as much attention from his godmother as possible, offering her pieces of pastry or candy that he claimed were better than the identical ones on the plates. He would also randomly tell her he loved her and initiate hugs and kisses. Despite his clinginess, Wanda kept reciprocating these little gestures with hugs and cuddles and little kisses on his cheek or forehead. Jorgen found himself baffled by how she showed no signs of annoyance. He knew she was trained to deal with children, but there had to be a limit to her patience in dealing with so much neediness.
"Wanda, you shouldn't let him cling to you so much. You've got to remember to set boundaries. You do remember the conversation we had, don't you?" He scolded her, wondering if she had forgotten all about the talk they had that night.
"Jorgen!" She gave him an incredulous look, stroking Timmy's hair back as he nuzzled his head against her affectionately. "If he was acting like this as a 12-year-old, of course I'd say something, but he's two right now! This is just how little human babies act. Ooh, they're so much more needy than fairy babies. It's so cute! You're a needy little boy, aren't you, Timmy?"
"Yup!" Timmy chirped happily, as if he had been complimented while Wanda tickled him playfully.
"Look at you, enforcer of the rules and the one in charge of godparents, and you don't know the first thing about kids." One of the fey stated dryly, rolling his eyes at him.
"I don't need to be an expert in human child psychology; I just need to make sure the rules are not being broken."
Nova's face twisted in rage for a moment upon hearing the words, "And that's why my poor Julia—!" The Fey and Kinder at the table gulped and instinctively drew back while he looked to defend himself against Nova's potential attack. However, upon seeing Wanda's alarmed expression and Timmy's startled reaction, Nova took a deep breath to regain his composure and calmed himself.
"My apologizes, now is neither the time nor place." Nova patted Wanda's arm. "Forgive me, my outburst, my dear. Julia was once a goddaughter to Stella and I. We were forced to leave her during a time when she was still in very much need for us and I am still quite sore over it."
"Oh, I understand. Believe me." Wanda cast him a bit of an annoyed look; she was probably thinking of all the godkids she had lost within days. Truth be told, most of their godkids had been lost because of Cosmo's buffoonery, and perhaps that wasn't quite fair to the human child.
….But she'd be doing more than giving him an annoyed look about Julia if she knew the story of that girl. It's not that he felt no guilt about what had happened, but…the rules were the rules…they were there to protect fairies, not humans.
"Gwampa Nova, you okay? Why you look sad?" Timmy reached out to Nova with his chubby arms, as if wanting to give the fey a hug. He gripped his wand at the ready in case Nova tried anything, as the child moved to crawl into his lap. Wanda had frozen up, looking unsure if she should stop her godchild and risk offending Nova. Apart from losing her cool when the Heart-Soul had been passed around for viewing, she had been very careful this entire time to maintain a polite cordiality without allowing herself to get too friendly towards the gathering of Fey.
"Aww." Nova picked up the boy and plopped him into his lap before Wanda could decide on what reaction to have.
Unlike Wanda, who had taken on the size of a human adult, Nova maintained his usual fairy height. However, at just two years old, Timmy was still just small enough to sit on Nova's knee, although it didn't appear to be a comfortable position for an extended period. Observing his surroundings, Jorgen noticed that every Fey who accompanied a Kinder opted to assume a taller form. He supposed it made it easier for them to play with those living dolls they had masquerading as actual children.
"You're such a wittle sweetheart, aren't you?" Nova tousled his hair. "Gwampa Nova is jus' fine. Don't you worry your cute wittle head."
He despised Nova had seized the opportunity to take advantage of Timmy's infantilized state to have the boy refer to him as Grandpa. It made him nervous too; he did not know of any warnings against referring to the Fey using familial terms, but he did not know every one of their laws or rules. Was there some kind of exploit they could take advantage of if a human referred to them as family, or was this just one of Nova's eccentricities?
Wanda, with her hands free now, turned her attention onto the little Heart-Soul; safe and sound from the sun due to the wooden carrier, it seemed to be marvelling at all its new gifts.
"I'll knit you some blankets and pillows soon." She was speaking to it, lightly tapping her finger on the magnified door. Her voice carried a gentle promise, filled with warmth and affection. He craned his neck in order to peek inside of the carrier and into the cage. The Heart-Soul was throughly inspecting every item put into its cage with fascination. He was glad that it hadn't been the Heart-Soul that received damage. He knew little about souls, but he knew it was far easier to cure a damaged Mind-Soul than it was a Heart-soul. Furthermore, even if a Mind-Soul was destroyed, a Heart-Soul could still reincarnate, but if a Heart-Soul perished, then every single Mind-Soul attached to it would meet with oblivion, with no possible way to ever restore them.
Still…Timmy Turner, the boy who had saved the universe from the Darkness, meeting with oblivion was not something he'd be alright with happening.
"…His wrist looks better." He glanced at Timmy, who was engaged in a game of patty-cake with Nova. His voice carried the implication that it was time to draw this little get-together to a close, but none of the Fey headed his words. Wanda, however, beamed, her eyes almost tearing in relief as she took in the faint pink ring that marred her godson's wrist.
All at once, however, the atmosphere at the gathering changed drastically; the presence of a numbly strong magic washed over them, and the atmosphere twisted into something dreadful and foreboding. All the Fey at the table instantly became alert, hugging their Kinders to them tightly, while Nova protectively wrapped both his arms around Timmy.
"Not him again…." Wanda's face turned pale, but she hadn't needed to speak for him to know who had just shown up…from the very first moment he had felt the new presence enter the area, he knew that his father had shown up.
"I am here to inform you that Queen Mab will be stopping by shortly to pay a visi—" Gunter Von Strangle stopped mid-sentence upon seeing him. It took seconds for his face to twist into a mask of rage; looking more like a beast then a person. All together, the Fey at the table raised their hands, creating a shield that deflected the magic blast hurled at him by his father, who had attacked quicker than he had been able to blink. He knew they hadn't protected him out of concern for his safety but for the sake of Wanda, Timmy and the heart-soul who were right near him.
The Fey, with no need to speak, exchanged looks, nodded and one by one those who had a Kinder with them vanished. Nova handed Timmy over to Wanda, picked up the Heart-Soul and with a simple touch to his daughter-in-law's elbow made her, Timmy and the Heart-Soul vanish along with him, fleeing probably to wherever the other Kinders had gone.
As concerned as he was about Wanda and Timmy being alone with Nova and the other Fey, possibly in a forest full of Fey fruit, the danger present here right now, far eclipsed that.
"Yo, Gunter, shouldn't you at least finish giving your missive before you launch an attack? Kinda rude, ain't it?" Piper did not try to placate his father in the least, rather she seemed to enjoy antagonizing him—perhaps because she knew that he'd be the one receiving Gunter's fury.
"To think you'd have the nerve to show yourself in my presence!" Gunter glowered; his face resembling the countenance of a snarling lion.
"Technically, it's kinda the other way 'round, your the one who…."
"He does not need your goading." He cast a glare at Piper, who grinned back at him. There was no chance for him to give another response as Gunter unleashed another magic blast. This time, however, there was no shield, and it struck him full force in the chest, sending him crashing several meters backwards. He picked himself up with a groan, only to be struck by his father's elbow, directly on his chin.
As Jorgen staggered back from the impact of Gunter's physical attack, he quickly regained his footing, his muscles tensing as he prepared for the impending confrontation.
Gunter, fueled by his deep-seated hatred, approached with a wicked grin, his eyes glowing with malevolence.
"So, choosing to become a fairy makes one this weak. How pathetic," Gunter sneered, relishing every moment of his son's vulnerability.
He clenched his fists, a determined glint in his eyes as he braced himself for the next assault. He knew that his physical strength alone wouldn't be enough to overcome Gunter's formidable strength or his superior magical prowess. This was not a battle he had any chance of winning, but he wouldn't give his father the satisfaction of begging him for mercy.
Gunter's hands crackled with magical energy as he unleashed a barrage of magical projectiles at him. Some he just barely evaded, but most hit their mark. It did not take long for him to be battered and trying to catch his breath. Meanwhile, the Fey who had remained were watching their fight, looking entertained by the one sided match.
"Come now, Jorgen, is that the best you can do?" Gunter taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "I expected more from someone who calls himself the 'strongest fairy."
Despite the mocking words, Jorgen remained focused. He charged forward, aiming to close the distance between them and engage in hand-to-hand combat, knowing his magic had no chance of overcoming his father's superior Fey magic. However, Gunter effortlessly poofed away, reappearing behind him with a malicious smirk.
"You may have my blood, but you take after your mother. Your weak, pathetic, HUMAN mother." Gunter jeered, sending a surge of magic through his fingertips. The magical force struck Jorgen in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground. "You were never fit to be a Von Strangle."
Fueled by a mix of determination, anger and defiance, he pushed himself back up with a speed that surprised even him and managed to lodge one deft blow to his father's jaw, making Gunter stumble backwards by a few steps.
"Don't you dare insult my mother! I'd choose to be her son over yours any day of the week!"
He barely got those satisfying words out of his mouth before Gunter's next blast hit him, and everything went dark.