Junai’s last stand

“Let them go.” He ordered before she could even speak.
She watched Ivy and Fleur run off. They knew what the other was about to do to them. But now there was just this boy left, and the princesses would definitely warn their mother now. Wouldn’t this be a problem for His plans?
“The plans have changed.” He said as if He had read her mind.

“Kill this one instead.” He ordered the other one, and she bagen to focus once again. She had expected the boy to run, but he didn’t. Instead, he just stood even firmer.
“I won’t run away! I will not let you hurt the princesses!” He yelled to them, but of course He was unimpressed.
“Just standing there will not protect them.” He said.
The boy got a furious look in his eyes that she had only ever seen in the eyes of someone who wanted to protect something that was important to him.

Yes, she had definitely seen those eyes before. That look… It was just a small thing, but she felt like she was remembering something which she had seen so long ago… but she could not place it. It was just that look, and nothing more. But she had no time to think about it further because the guy began t scream and then charged at Him. But he couldn’t even get close.

He was still ten meters away from Him when he was swept of his feet and he crashed a few meters back against a tree. He fell on the ground in the wet mud but she was sure he was still alive. He moved slowly and tried to get up, but he was obviously in a lot of pain.

“I can’t do it.” The other announced.
 “What do you mean, you can’t do it?” He asked with anger obvious from his voice.
“I can’t kill him this way. I have to connect to his powers but he has none. He is just a simple male, and he can’t be killed this way.”
Well, it made sense.
“Heh… you… your plan doesn’t seem… like it is… working…” The boy said while he tried to get back on his feet.

“Oh, it is working. Do not worry about that. Câlin, come here.” The girl silently left her side and walked towards Him. She looked up at Him when she was next to Him and He began to smile. “You know what you have to do now.” He said to the little girl.
“Yes, father, but…”
“No buts. You made this choice. Now, open yourself to me.” He commanded.

The girl closed her eyes, forcing tears to fall down to the earth. Apparently she did well because He began to smile. A second later a horrible scream filled the air as a strong ray of powers left Câlin. They were so strong and so focussed she could almost see them. She was sure they weren’t Câlins powers, but His. He was using Câlin… for what?

The powers hit the boy full in his chest, and he began to scream, too. White foam began to form in his mouth and dropped slowly to the earth. Blood was coming from his ears and mixed with the mud in his white coat. His scream slowly faded as his knees failed to hold him any longer and he crashed on the ground. A moment later she felt his life force had left him. She stared at Câlin who was still screaming, even though the ray was gone now, too. Had Câlin…

“I’m going back!” Fleur yelled as she turned around.
“What, are you crazy! She’ll kill us!” Ivy yelled, panicking.
“I won’t leave Junai there!” Fleur said and she ran back along the road.
Just when she had thought she was save, her sister decided to do this. But she couldn’t let her sister go back alone, either. So she turned around as well and followed her.
She had thought she had galloped quite a long part, but it took them an alarmingly small amount of time before the dark feeling crept upon her once again. “Fleur! Slow down!” She yelled as softly as possible, to avoid making the black pony and his companions hear her. Thankfully Fleur heard her and she slowed down quickly. Ivy was shocked when she realized the black pony had to be around the bed of the road. They were so close… They were bringing themselves back in mortal danger but they couldn’t leave Junai alone, either.

“This way.” She whispered to her sister and they walked into the woods.
They crept closer and within a few moments she could see the black pony. Câlin was standing next to him, now. He was saying something, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. She almost jumped up a moment later when Câlin began to scream. It was such a horrible sound. Was he hurting the girl? Twinkle Star would never forgive them if they didn’t stop him. But Junai’s yell made her change her mind about it soon.

They both stood breathlessly between the bushes, hiding while they saw poor Junai suffer. His scream filled her entire body. She couldn’t escape it, not now and she knew she never would. But before she could think about what she would do it was over. Junai fell down and his voice faded away as if absorbed by the darkness the winged pony carried out.

Câlin fell silent, too, and when she saw the approving stare in the eyes of the black pony the impact of what had just happened hit her with full force, and the only thing she could think of was to get her little sister out of there. “Come, Fleur, we can’t stay. We have to leave, now.” Her sister was just too shocked to disagree. Fleur had wanted to save Junai but she knew now they were too late to do such a thing. So once again they ran away from the black pony.

She didn’t know how long they ran until their legs simply refused to run any further. They were out of the forest into the open field now. The black clouds were hovering above them as if the black pony was all around them. Her first priority was to calm her sister down. Fleur looked so upset that she was even unable to cry.
“She… The girl… She killed… She did, didn’t she…”

“I… I don’t know, Fleur, but I saw what you saw… but please, we must stay calm now… and think.”
It was easier said than done, and she knew that perfectly well. The sound of Junai’s scream was still ringing in her ears. Had Câlin really done that? Twinkle Stars girl? She could hardly believe it, but she had seen with her own eyes that Câlin was the only one acting. And Twinkle Star had only just left…

“We have… to get home. We have to warn… mother. She will know… what to do and… how to act.” Ivy said, still out of breath.
Fleur agreed and they began to trot on. Ivy didn’t know if she was able to reach the castle in time. She was convinced the black pony was on it’s way there. Why else would he want to kill them? She didn’t know what his objective was, but she had to hurry. She began to trot, even though her legs were strongly opposing that.

She didn’t even know what to do once they got home. How could she possibly explain to Aline that her husband, the father of her unborn child, had died at the hands of the little girl her best friend had raised? It was just too horrible to be true. No, she couldn’t just run in and announce this. She had to go to her mother immediately and discuss it first. She would know what to do. At least, she furiously hoped so.

“Is it really okay to let the princesses go? I can still catch up with them, if You…”
“Yes. It is okay. Let them go. I know they even came back, you don’t have to notify me of those small things. No, let them go. Let them warn Regina. It only suits me better.” He snapped. She pulled back and looked at the girl. She was shivering all over, and her tears were blinding her.
“Take care of her. When she’s able to travel we’ll continue. And keep working on those clouds. I want total darkness.”

She bowed after her master had given her his command and returned to the girl. She had to calm her down. “Here, Câlin, drink some water from the pool. You’ll need it.” She proposed, but the girl looked at her with a disgusting look on her face.
“I can’t drink that. It’s dirty.”
“Yes… I know. But I don’t have anything better for you right now, and you need to keep up your strength. We won’t rest again until we arrive at the castle. So please, drink a little bit.”

The girl obeyed but almost spit the water out again.
“It’s disgusting.” Said Câlin after she had swallowed a bit with a lot of difficulty.
“I know. But you need it. Here.” She took a sip of the water and discovered it was indeed as Câlin had said. Disgusting.But she forced herself to take another pull.
 “Here, you see. I can do it too. And so can you. Come on, now.”

Câlin took another pull, and another. Finally her thirst became stronger than her sense of taste and she drank quite a bit. She instantly looked a bit better when she was done, but she was still shivering.
“I feel… so cold.” Câlin whispered.
“Oh… poor girl.” She opened the bag she was carrying and took out a little cape. It was pitch black, and it was actually meant to hide Câlin in the darkness if it became necessary, but it would keep her warm all the same.

“There. That will make you feel better. Now, do you want to eat anything? I still have some of those apples left I found for you last night.” Câlin shook her head.
“No. I feel sick.”
 “Oh… Well, let me know if you want one, okay? Do you think you are able to travel yet?” She asked.
 “Yes… I think so.” Replied Câlin. She wasn’t so sure that the girl was, but she sensed a desire to get to the castle in the girl. Well, she would not argue with that. She walked to Him and announced they were ready.
“Very well. Come.”
He began to move and walked to the road. He didn’t care if they were seen anymore. The other silently followed Him. She noticed the other was wearing one of the black cloaks now, too. Well, she was too bright… It was sickening. It was good that the other covered herself.
“We will arrive at midnight. I hope Regina will be prepared by then…”

The castle had appeared to them as if it was the only star left shining. And it shouldn’t even be dark yet, but the clouds were so thick no spark of sunlight could penetrate them. When they had entered the castle walls they could see several lights burning. Ivy hoped her mother would be alone in the throne room, and that she would not run into Aline. She wouldn’t be able to bear it…

Fleur followed her silently. She hadn’t said anything at all their entire way to the castle. Well, neither had Ivy. They were both too shocked by what they had just witnessed. The castle doors opened silently. There was no one in the hallway. She could hear the sound of one of Stelline’s children crying. It hurt. Câlin’s cry… it hadn’t been much different. But they had to turn the other way now, to the throne room.

She opened the door without knocking. Fleur was still following her, but she was just staring at the ground. Someone had to take care of her quick, Ivy realized, or she might fall into a real shock.
“Ivy! Fleur! What are you two doing back here so quickly?” Regina exclaimed when she saw her two youngest daughters. “Have you found Junai?”
”Yes... we have. But… you might want to sit down, mother. Something horrible has happened, and I am afraid from now on it will only get worse.”