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Darwin:
Staring dumbly at the cemetery in front of me, Acer surely had a reason for us to be here. Digging at the loose dirt underneath my boot, dark energy swirled into the air. Covering my mouth, a rotten stench sickened me. Acer and Phantom stepped up to my side, Acer’s golden armor glistening in the moonlight. Phantom dusted off his dark armor, the twins coming up behind me. Today had been a boys’ trip, my lips curling into a nervous smirk. What a place to be.
“The local village complained about the foul stench when I was trapped in that damn dome. Unfortunately, I can’t pick up the scent like you.” Acer informed me calmly through his helmet, our dragons pacing back and forth. Staring down numbly at my metal arm, the scent didn’t belong to his brother. Narrowing my eyes, this was the work of a fairy. What fairy would pull this shit? Perhaps someone pushed the wrong buttons.
“What do you know about the fairies around here?” I inquired calmly, my sharp eyes darting around the town. “The corpses won’t rise, the stench is the beginning of a garden of nature’s poisons. Shall we ask and potentially screw up this mission? Acer, come with me. Everyone else, search for traces of fairies.” Plucking off Acer’s helmet, his fancy bun keeping his hair contained. Splitting up, the scent strengthened with every step into town. Dread bubbled in my gut, rotting corpses sprouting lethal amounts of poisons condemned all but the shivering corner of children. Fishing around the pocket of my usual wool pants, a package of cookies rolled into my palms. The rainbow of elf children refused to meet my eyes, a raw fury swelling within me.
“What happened here?” I interrogated cautiously, a friendly smile spreading across my lips. “Don’t be scared. We will take you somewhere safe.” Shaking their heads, frustration mixed poorly with the ever present rage. Cutting my palm, a glow hummed about the beading cut. Slamming my palm on the dirt, a flash of bright light purified the land. The corpses became normal, golden blankets floating over them. A golden dome hummed to life around the nature claimed village, thousands of shrill screeches sending chills up my spine.
“Stay here in the dome.” I ordered the sobbing children, my hand snatching Acer’s arm. His blade bounced off of his leg, a powerful stench of decay overtaking my nostrils. Dragging him out of the house, his boots clanked with the click of my boots. Leaping over the stone wall, a hungry shadow had devoured the forest in front of us. Brandishing my scythe, the danger I had put the others in was imminent. Closing my eyes, my comrades had been captured in an empty circle. The darkness within them kept them from getting affected beyond a long nap, a bit of relief bringing my racing mind to a healthy frenzy. Tearing off the sleeve of my blouse, a soak of it in my blood purified it. Tying it around Acer’s mouth and nose, my magic would work tenfold to keep him standing. Dropping his helmet over his head, his fingers curled around the hilt of his blade. Nodding once, leaves crunched with every footfall deeper into the trees. Dried fairy skeletons rolled to my feet, the color draining from my cheeks. Cursing under our breath, something worse had occurred here.
“Be careful, Master Darwin.” My god whispered in my mind, his warning bearing incredible weight. “This is a new entity. All but the children are dead.” Fighting back tears, such darkness was not deserved upon anyone. Sensing the source over my head, a push had Acer rolling across the forest floor. Blocking wooden claws with my scythe, a bit of lightning paralyzed the being for a second. Sniffing the air, the being was nature based. Wondering if it was a guardian, a memory recall spell would answer the question. Snatching the being’s ankle, ribbons of gold twirled around us. The scene glitched out, Acer grabbing my ankle at the last second.
“You are not going alone!” He shouted over the howling winds, a real smile dancing across my determined expression. “Brothers stick together.” A boom sent us flying back through the previous week, the three of us getting tossed into the black and white version of the forest. Granted it was thriving, the being scrambling away from us. Helping Acer to his feet, anxiety showed in his small smirk.
“We can’t change a thing but we can find the source.” I whispered quiet enough for him to hear, his fist clenching repeatedly. “We can do this, okay. Together we are stronger.” Scanning the space for the beginning of the sad tale, a familiar figure sauntered into view. Mortimus dragging a forest guardian made of different types of wooden branches into the empty circle. Sad sage eyes pleaded for help, one drop of his blood darkening the wood of his body. Disappearing in a puff of smoke, the victim was left to suffer. Fairies gathered at his feet, a dull gray claiming their skin. Fast forwarding through the scene, the corrupted fairies killed the elves in town. Bringing us with them, the sight sickened me. Horror had Acer raising his blade, the poisonous herbs beginning to grow from the corpses. Pausing the spell, Acer slid down the rock wall with me.
“What’s the plan, Dar?” He queried shakily, the blood in my hand glistening. “Do we kill him or do we purify the guardian?” Playing with my blood, getting close enough was going to be hell at best.
“Purifying him before trying to kill him is the clear plan.” I thought out loud, a knowing smile showing as he took off his helmet. “I suppose he could guard the forest outside of the capital with one of my seals to protect him from future corruption. That is if you will have him. How are your healing skills?” Waiting patiently for his answer, a ball of healing magic hovered over his palm.
“Close your eyes if you don’t want to see this.” I warned him honestly, a couple of slow breaths steadying my breathing as I raised my scythe over my palm. Slamming tip through my palm, silent tears danced down my cheeks. Ripping it out, my own blood painted my face. Acer snatched my palm, sparkles of gold sealed the wound shut into a small scar. Massaging the blood into the curve of the blade, a chant granted it a few purifying powers for a couple of days. Lowering his helmet over his head, the comfort of it keeping his composure in check.
“Thanks for that. I will need you to distract him until I can get close enough. Not the best plan but it is all I have.” I admitted honestly, his shoulders shrugging. Snapping my fingers, a blast of energy brought us back up to the current problem. Climbing into the closest tree, he saluted me before running off. Tracking him with ease, his armor clanged as he stumbled into the open circle. Pretending to untie our friends, a branch snapped behind him. The guardian sprinted towards him, wind blowing up my hair. Hitting him with blades of wind, shards of wood floated aimlessly with every violent clash with blade and wood. Moving along the trees without making noise, Acer began to struggle.
“Give it up, Elf!” The guardian thundered impatiently, Acer flashing him a cocky grin. “What’s so funny?” Shrugging his shoulder, a wave of his hand contained him in a ball of air. Pushing off my branch, lightning crackled up my arm. Settling around the curve of my scythe, a flip through the air had my boots aimed for his back. Aiming my swing for the center of his back, a dull thump announced my success. Paralyzing him with my lightning, another jolt burned away at the wood consisting of his body. Gathering what powers I had left, this part was going sting like a bitch.
“I call upon the God of Death, purify the soul within this dark shell!” I commanded boldly, his soul resisting. “Remember the joy of nature, damn it!” Pumping more of my magic into him, a nausea wracked my body. Lightning snapped uncontrollably, a couple of strikes burning my shirt. Nearly hitting my limit, ash shot into the air. Choking on it, different types of wood glowed to life. The last of his darkness fizzled out, a kick smashing him into the dismal forest floor. Landing clumsily, my hand cupped my mouth. Tossing up my small lunch, the overuse of magic collapsed me to my knees. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, another bout of vomit not helping the dead bush in front. Laying on my back, the guardian stirred awake. Guilt crippled him instantly, his breaths growing shorter. Realizing my state, his breathing returned to normal in order to treat me.. Rushing over to me, his wooden hands hovered over my core. Humming a strange song, hot magic coursed through my veins once more. Reversing the magic poisoning, a long sigh drew from my lips. Sitting up with a gruff grunt, he pressed his forehead onto the torched grass.
“Kill me! I did horrible things.” He wept into the ground, his claws digging into the dirt. Getting onto my knees, a comforting smile dawned on my lips. None of this was his fault, that rotten bastard being the one to blame. Forcing him into a sitting position, sap dripped from his dejected sage eyes. Offering him my hand, his sins would have to remain in the past.
“Give me your hand.” I politely requested, his knotty hand laid shakily in my palm. Tracing a few symbols in a circle, a glow casting golden shadows on our faces. “I seal away your soul so darkness can no longer steal it away.” Matching symbols glowed all over his body, his sap tears flowing faster. A gentle smile returned, something brewing in his head.
“You are a lot like your mother, Darwin.” He commented between sniffles, his fingers picking at the bits of bark on his body. “Did she ever talk about a fellow named Branch? She was the loveliest elf I ever met.” Too stunned to speak, a painful silence hung between us as the glow of the symbols died down. Fighting back tears, his words struck a painful chord. Remembering her dark hair before ivory claimed part of it, her magic had drained in the dimension she raised me in.
“I barely remember anything.” I choked out with a wet voice, Acer excusing himself to check on our friends. “Was this her village?” Shaking his head, her tortured smile flashing in my head. Clutching my chest, nothing remained. Popping to my feet, dirt flew up behind me as I crashed towards the cemetery. Skidding to a rough stop, the decimated town hurt a hell of a lot more. Checking the carved stones, a tombstone caught my eyes. The date of her death was accurate, confusion mixing with horror.
“The date wrote itself. The grave may be empty but this was where those who admired her would reminisce her memory.” Branch explained with a tremble in his voice, my compassion keeping me from flying off to murder Mortimer. “Please don’t f-” Rising to my feet, my hand covered his mouth.
“Don’t say something you will regret!” I barked hotly, both of us jumping back at the raw anger dripping in my tone. “Fight by my side and help me take the elf down that fucking did this! Children are orphans now because of him! Doubts lie with you doing all of this without his infection. Please help me.” A glint of silver caught my eyes, a silver necklace hovering inches from my face. Happy memories with my mother played out in the glass before fizzling out, violent sobs wracking my body. Screaming into the sky, the others stumbling into view shutting it down. Wiping away my tears, his wooden hand patted my shoulder. Anger could never rest with him, the poor guy being a damn victim in it all.
“Don’t tell them.” I hissed icily, my trembling fingers dropping the necklace into the secure compartment in my boots. “I am fucking done with his games. If he wants to play chess, that fucker’s king is getting checkmated.” Shaking off my emotional strife, a bright smile did little to hide the brewing storm of anger and hurt. Catching up to the others, Acer ordered the others to gather the children. Hovering around me with an expectant look, the cat was out of the bag.
“If you want to hunt my brother right now, I am so ready to go. That wouldn’t be your best strategy, would it?” He pointed out playfully, the storm dying down within me. “Look, you may not have grown up here but your mother resided within those stone walls. Branch, please give us space.” Backing up to sulk God knows where, Acer pulled the necklace from my boot. Swinging it back and forth, a twinkle returned to his eyes.
“Time rendered this treasure useless but you can give it to Felina and fill it with your memories together. I will commission a couple for your twins.” He promised me sincerely, his slender hand lowering it into my palm. “If you desire that, I will need a couple of strands of hair from both of them. This one is meant to be given to a found daughter.” Understanding what he was saying, the children shuffled into view. Wonder brightened their eyes at our dragons landing behind us, his strong voice taking over. Clutching it close to my chest, a small flicker of hope returned to my soul. Revenge was a foolish path and killed those who chased it blindly. Acer really was the brother I needed. Snapping back to the situation, the others needed my help with loading the children up. Taking about three of them, a spin of my wrist had my leather coat draped over them. Locking the necklace back into the compartment in my boot, the takeoff not registering. Zooming through the hours, the children’s laughter refusing to register as we landed at dawn. A bright pink painted the capital, Branch tapping my back gingerly. Jolting out of my downward spiral, excitement shimmered in his eyes at the forest right below us.
“Thanks for the ride.” He sang gleefully, a salute was the last thing I saw before he vanished. Dirt blew up the moment we landed by the stables, Acer shouted that he would put Helios away for me. Mouthing for me to see Felina, her voice had my mood perking up. Opening up my arms, her body smashed into mine. Others watched on with happy smiles, a spin causing her giggles to twinkle in the air. Smothering her in feverish kisses, her real smile stole my heart away. Sitting her on a nearby marble wall, her sharp eyes tracked me pulling out the lantern style necklace. Dropping it over head, wonder brightened our eyes at a silver flame flickering to life. The elves had some cool shit.
“Our memories will be stored here. One day I will be gone.” I assured her sweetly, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “That being said, you can replay them when that time comes. This used to be my mother’s and it belongs to us now. Breakfast?" Grinning ear to ear, she leapt onto my back. Humming together as we walked back towards my home, the memory floated into the flames. May more memories be made between us. The smell of Luna’s cooking had me sprinting towards the open door, my arms burying a confused Luna into a desperate hug. Lifting up her chin, my lips pressed against hers tenderly. Time slowed down, the magic of the moment grounding me. Releasing her, a bowl of her famous oatmeal waited for us. Settling down at the table, Felina flipped onto my lap. Luna laid her apron neatly on her chair, her dark nightgown hugging her the right way. Luna pecked my cheek, her arms scooping the twins up. Tickling their stomachs, those cute dragon pajamas would steal anyone’s heart away. Excusing herself to feed them, Felina’s wet eyes met my fatherly gaze.
“Will your hair be gray when you leave me?” She wept openly, a tired shit tumbling from my lips. Flipping her around to face me, plans included a couple of generations of grandchildren. Fishing around my mind, the words failed to come. How would Lottie put it? Burying her in a bear hug, her little heart was beating a mile a minute. Fix it, you fool!
“I plan to have gray hair and slight wrinkles before that happens.” I returned while kissing the top of her head, her tiny hands cupping my face. “I love you with all of my heart. Elves live a long time and I have a god in me to keep me going. Family and friends are all that matters in this world.” Snuggling into the nape of my neck, her tears slowed to a stop. Sitting back down on my laps, she began to eat her oatmeal with a hum. Luna came back in, her loving gaze meeting mine. Wishing to have the life with many grandchildren running around, her thoughts matched mine. Placing our little pups back into the pen, the chair groaned as she took her seat.
“What brought all those thoughts on?” Luna inquired with a cute grin, her spoon digging at the oatmeal. “You can tell me later.” A fit of laughter burst from my lips, everything about this feeling damn near perfect. Solutions did find a way of finding themselves after all, a new shirt might aid in that in the short haul.
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