The Guardian Crusade

                              Volume I

                                                            Chapter 21

Rayne stood in a long dark blue dress, the top was bustier style, sleeveless but her long curly hair covered her shoulders.  She stood tall and strong in front of her fellow Druids, Elder Rexil stood in front of her at a desk that sat High Council Larsung, Drania, and Emarla.  There were other druids sitting around the room, there were even some high standing citizens there as well.  The Elder was standing there staring at Nick and Nalia who had just interrupted everything.  It didn’t help the fact that Avit also came in a few minutes before them.  She wondered what was going on, why they were here and where was Alex.  It worried her because last she heard they were attacking Ignis, so why were the others back and he wasn’t.

“Rayne Queen of Sarila as I said before you have been charge with attacking a persons Life Aura, you have pleaded not guilty.”  Elder Rexil said.  “You say you did it to defend us, Pixcadia, to help Prince Nickolas, but I have proof otherwise.” Rexil said.

“What?” Rayne said shocked.

“Bullshit you weren’t even there lady!” Nick shouted and everyone looked at him shocked.  He looked around and realized he should just stay quiet.  Rayne lightly smiled as she turned back around to look at Elder Rexil.  The woman looked upset as she stared angrily at Nick.

She cleared her throat and spoke again.  “As I said, I have proof that she attacked his Aura and she did so because she believes her talents were given to her by Pixca herself.”

“They were, I am a Guardian” Rayne said to her as people mumbled.

“Pixca knew the order of things she would have never given a Human an Elvaan’s job.” Rexil said to her.

“Are you saying that my Father, my Mother, Rossi, and even Marsa were lying?” Rayne said in awe she would fight those people. “And what about Rayxes?”

“I believe Marsa was lied too.” Rexil said.  “It wouldn’t have been the first time, did he not send his son foolishly to another world because he was told too.” Rexil said as she slowly walked out behind the desk. “And on the Rayxes matter, can we really trust that memory?”

“And what about Nickolas, Rossi did the same exact thing.”  Rayne said in protest.

“Who’s to say he wasn’t lied too either.” Rexil said as she stopped in the middle of the floor.  “Humans are deceitful, they lie to get power, they kill to get power, and they will even betray the ones they love to get it.”

“I did no such thing.” Rayne said in protest.  “You are prejudice against me because I am human.”

“Silence, that is enough out of you.” Rexil said as she walked over to Rayne.

“I think that is enough out of you.” A voice said from the back and everyone turned around to see who it was. 

Everyone looked confused at the Elvaan that stood in the doorway.  His long green and yellow robe fell to the floor, the long sleeves hung over his slim fingers.  Rayne looked at him, she had never seen him before, she quickly looked at Rexil and by the expression on the Elders face she had never seen him either.  When Rayne heard someone walking she looked back to the doorway and saw the Elvaan walking down the aisle way.  His hair was long and dark brown, and two small braids hung down to his shoulders.  His long Elvaan ears were adorn with piercings. 

“Who are you, what business of this is yours?”  Rexil asked angrily.

“You don’t recognize me?” The Elvaan said and the way he spoke took Rayne’s breath away.  He walked up beside her, he didn’t look at her he just stood there staring at Rexil. 
”Maybe you should look at my Aura, instead of my face.” He said to her. 

Rexil looked at him, Rayne looked at him, anyone who could see his Aura looked at him and then gasped in shock.  Rexil shook her head a little as she took a couple of steps back.  People started talking and for those who didn’t know what was going on, started getting filled in.

“King Alexander?” Rexil said shocked.

“Say what now?” Nick said loudly as he stood up staring at the Elvaan.

“Maybe now you’ll listen to me Rexil.” He said as Rayne just stared at him.  Everything about him now was Elvaan, his hands, his ears, his face, and his nose.  But as she looked at him, really looked at him, she saw his eyes, his eyes hadn’t changed at all.  “You will dismiss all charges against her and you will step down as Elder.”

“What!?” Rexil said stunned.

“As King you might have more power over me, but as a Guardian you don’t, so, later.” Aj said giving her a little wave.  “Anyone else care to join her?” Aj asked as he looked back at the High Councilors.  They talked to each other quietly and then quickly looked at Rexil.

“It is our duty to obey her, your majesty, we apologize greatly.” Drania said as she bowed her head.

“The charges against Queen Rayne have been dismissed, she did what she did to save Pixcadia, and there were no Druid laws broken.” Larsung said as he stood up and ended the trial but no one moved everyone still to busy looking at Aj.

“How did you do this?” Rexil said angrily at him.

“I broke the protection spell.” Aj said too her.

“What?” Rayne gasp as she looked at him stunned.

“Excuse me Rexil?” Larsung said as the High Councilors walked up to Rexil, Aj, and herself.

“What do you want?” She snapped.

“We must ask you to leave the grounds.” Larsung said, and Rayne thought she heard some relief in his voice. “Please do not make a scene.”

“You can use all the magic’s you want Alexander, you were raised human, and you will always be human.”  Rexil said as two guards approached her.

“And you’ll always be a bitch.” Aj said with a sigh.  Rayne saw the anger on Rexil’s face that someone was speaking to her that way, let alone someone she seem to hate so much.  She mumbled to herself as the guards escorted her out of the building.  Rayne looked back after Rexil had left the room and looked at Aj.

“Alex?” She said still having trouble believing it was him.  He turned his head and looked at her, a small smile broke from his lips. 

“Are you ok, she didn’t hurt you or anything?” He asked.

“No” She said lightly shaking her head.

“Dude” Rayne heard Nick say and they both looked behind them.  Nick was standing there with Nalia, Avit and Halian.  “Dude!” Nick said loudly as he pointed at him.  Rayne could tell by Nick’s tone it was the only thing he could say.  A small whining sound came out of Nick’s lips as he pointed to Aj’s ears.

“I know” Aj said hoping Nick wouldn’t freak out too much.

“Kevin would have killed you.” Nick gasped out.

“I know” Aj said with a nod as he looked his friend in the eyes.

“Is that why you wanted them to go home before coming here?” Nalia asked him.

“Yep” Aj said.  “They didn’t need the shock.”

“Oh and I did.” Nick shouted a little excited but not in the good way.  “So, so ok change back.”

“I can’t.” Aj said looking at him.  “It’s kind of like a Tat.”  Nick moaned as he grabbed his head and turned around.

“Ok ok, I know what this is.” Nick said turning around.  “We were fighting, the three of us.” He said looking at Aj and Nalia. “and I hit my head.  That’s it.” Nick said sighing.  “I’m just gonna wake up now.”

“Dude.” Aj said with a sigh.

“Nick you are not in a dream.” Nalia said as she tried to get him to stop pacing.

“But look man it’s still me, see.” Aj said pulling up his sleeves and it relived his tattoo’s still there.

Nick whined as he saw them, almost cementing it into him that it really was Aj.  He looked at his friend and then looked him over.  Closing his eyes he stomped his feet and whined like a three year old as he plopped himself down in a chair.

“Why man?” Nick asked as he looked at him.

“I needed them to listen to me.” Aj told him.  “They wouldn’t because they were so hell bent on me being human, so I showed them who I really was.”

“You couldn’t of just held everyone hostage until they changed their minds?” Nick asked.

“Dude” Aj sighed.  “I know it’s going to take some getting use too.”

“Gee ya think?” Nick snapped.  Aj took a deep breath and decided to give Nick a few to take it in.  He looked around, the room now empty.

“How did you learn the spell to break it?” Halian asked.  Rayne didn’t look at him but she waited for the answer.  It was suddenly all sinking in what he had done.

“Marsa’s journal.” Aj said.  “He had written in there that he thought this might happen, not from the Druid Elders but from the people actually, and he said that he put it in there for me, incase I decided too.”

“Is that what the ingredients were for Sir?” Avit asked.

“Yeah” Aj said with a nod.

“You always did crazy shit dude, but this? Oh it takes the cake, the whole fucking bakery.”  Nick said as his anger made Rayne feel even worse.  “I need air.” He said standing up. “Lots of air.” Rayne looked up and he walked out the doors.

“I will go with him.” Nalia said and she hurried to catch up to him.

“Rayne?” Aj said and she looked at him.  “Are you mad at me too?”  She looked down not sure how to answer.

“No I am not mad.” She said quietly.  “It is just a lot to take in.”

“I just wanted to keep you from going to jail.” Aj said looking at her.

“You did more than that.” Halian said and Rayne looked at her quickly.

“I did?” Aj said confused.  Halian looked at Rayne waiting for her daughter to tell him.  “What did I do?” He asked as Rayne looked at him and realized he was looking at her.

“They would not have put me in jail.” Rayne told him.

“Oh.” Aj said with a stun look on his face. 

“They would have taken away my talent.” She said to him.

“Taken away?” He said a little confused.

“As in no magic, no spells, nothing.” Halian said to him.

“Are you serious?” Aj said.  “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“I asked them not too.” Rayne said and he looked at her.  “When I had found out Rexil did not tell you what would happen I asked Mother not to say anything.”

“And I told Avit.” Halian said.

“I did not want you to rush anymore than you already were.” Rayne said 

“Then I’m even more confident this was the right thing to do.” Aj said too her as he took her hands.  She lightly smiled at him and looked down at his hands.  It was strange his hands hand changed but his touch had not.  It made her curious and she slowly pulled his arms around her, and then slid her arms around him.  She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Even the way she felt in his arms was the same.

“I am glad you are alright, when I did not see you come in with Nick and Nalia, I became worried that something had happen to you.” Rayne said his he pulled her closer to him.

“Do you know where we were?” He asked as he held her.

“Yes” She nodded.  “Mother told me.”

“Then I think I should tell you.” He said as he slowly pulled her away.  She looked at him confused as her hands rested on his sides.  “We did it, Ignis is dead.”  Rayne’s eyes went wide, almost as wide as her smile and she almost jumped back into his arms.

“He’s really gone?” She asked as she felt the tears fall from her eyes.

“Yeah.” Aj said still laughing at her excitement.  “I wish you could’ve been there but there’s still more we need to do.”

“There is?” Rayne asked as she pulled away from him.

“We found something in Darlawind and we figured out how to stop Ignis from coming back.” Aj told her.

“How?” She asked as he took her hand.

“Let’s go to my meeting room, I’ll show you.” Aj said as he began to walk them down the aisle and Halian and Avit followed.

“Kevin” Kevin heard someone say.  He moaned and rolled over.

“Nick turn off the damn game.” He mumbled.

“What?” the voice said. “Hun you gotta wake up.”

“Huh?” Kevin said looking up, he was still half asleep but he saw his wife walking around the room.

“Are you awake now?” She asked.  “I swear I could put a vacuum cleaner to your head and you wouldn’t wake up.”

“uh.” Kevin said looking around.  He was in their bedroom and his wife was quickly getting dressed.

“How’s your head?” She asked as she knelt down beside him.  He looked at her confused and put his hand to his head.

“Owe.” He said when he felt a sharp pain.  “What happened?”

“What?” Kristin asked.  “Maybe I should call the doctor.”

“No, no that’s ok, just..” Kevin said taking her hand and sitting up.  He flinched again as his head began to throb.  “Just remind me.”

“Kevin.” Kristin said with a worried look on her face.

“Just humor me, please.” He asked.

“The bus accident.” Kristin said.

“Accident?” Kevin asked.

“I think I should call the doctor.” Kristin said getting up.

“Wait, I..I think I remember.” Kevin said as it started coming back to him.  “We were on the bus, I was fighting with Nick and then.” Kevin tried to remember but he couldn’t.  “I can’t remember.”

“You’re bus driver swerved to miss an accident that had happen ahead of you, but you hit the gravel and the bus rolled.” Kristin said and Kevin saw the sadness on her face.  “I didn’t think you would make it.”  He frowned at her and pulled her into a hug.

“What about the other guys?” Kevin asked.

“Howie is fine now, he’s at home Leigh is taking care of him.” Kristin told him.  “Even though they aren’t together right now, she was one of the first ones to show up at the hospital.” She said as she sat down on the bed beside him.  “Brian is coming home tomorrow; they had to make sure he was ok to fly back to Atlanta.”  She stopped and he looked at the expression on her face.  When his thoughts went to his other two band mates, the memory hit him, like a flash, everything he had been through with them in that strange land came flooding back.  “Nick, Nick is still in the hospital, they are talking about transferring him to a Tampa hospital.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Kevin asked wondering how he could be in both places.

“He’s in a coma.” Kristin said.

“What?” Kevin said shocked.

“He doesn’t need life support but, the doctors say it’s like he’s in a deep sleep, they don’t know when or even if he’ll wake up?” Kristin told him.

“What about Alex?”  She looked away from him and got up from the bed.

“We should wait until your mom arrives, that’s why I’m getting ready; I have to go pick her up.” Kristin said as she started rushing around again.  “And I’m going to call the doctor too, cause your memory is spotty.” She said as she grabbed the phone.  Slowly Kevin got up, his body hurt along with his head.  He slowly walked over to his wife and gently took the phone from her and hung it up as a woman answered from the doctor’s office.

“Kris?” Kevin said looking at her.  “What happened to Alex?”

“He was the worse.” She said as she looked at him.  “He was on life support in a coma.”

“Was?” Kevin said as his breath left his body.

“There was no chance he was going to wake up.” Kristin said as she began to cry again.  “His mom took him off it two days ago.”  Kevin sat down on the bed, even though he knew Alex was ok, he was just somewhere else, he started to cry.

“Can I please call the doctor now so they can look at your head?” Kristin asked as she wiped her eyes.  He looked down at his wife and sighed.

“Yeah.” He said with a light nod.

Nick sat on the edge of the Castle wall.  It was an area that was routinely patrolled by the Winnol guards.  But at night it was pretty quiet, the guards cutting down their patrol time while most people were sleeping.  He had been out here for a while, Nalia was with him but he was able to talk her into going to eat.  Now he was alone and could let his mind take in what had happened.  He was watching the lights and listening to the sounds that were coming from the party at the town square.

At first he was pissed, he couldn’t believe Aj had done something like that, to just change completely like that.  But then Nalia told him about what would have happened if Rayne was found guilty and that got him thinking about how Alex felt about Rayne.  He sighed as he looked up at the stars.

“You do know dinner was like an hour ago?” A voice said from behind him and he turned seeing Aj walking up to him.  Well this new Aj.

“Yeah so.” Nick said looking back out over the city.

“Not like you too miss supper.” Aj said as he climbed up on the wall.

“Not like you to have big long ears.” Nick snapped at him.

“They’re not big, their slender.” Aj said looking at him.

“Dude.” Nick snapped again.

“Alright, ok I’m sorry.” Aj said putting up his hands.

“I mean ok, I get why you did it, I guess.” Nick said as Aj looked at the city below.  “I just.”

“Just what?” Aj asked.

“I just don’t get how you can accept it so easily.” Nick sighed.  “You’re all joking and shit.”

“I wasn’t at first but you were to busy freaking out.” Aj said to him and Nick was about to protest but Aj stopped him.  “With good reason.” He said quickly.  “But when I read that Marsa had put this in his journal, I knew I wanted to do it.”

“It just seems a little much for one girl, I mean I know you care a lot about her, might even love her, but this.” Nick said pointing to him. “This isn’t a dog, or a ring.” Aj rolled his eyes at the comment.

“It wasn’t just for her.” Aj admitted.  “She was a big reason, sealing the deal type of thing but Marsa was my dad, as weird as that still seems, and while I was here he was a good one.  Marsa put the spell in his journal cause he thought some of the people would turn on me because I looked Human, and I already had worries about that.”

“Really.” Nick said as he looked at him.

“Yes, back when Dyn had confronted us, calling me a fraud, the people were talking about it then, and now I had this Elder who apparently has more control than a King saying I wasn’t truly an Elvaan, it just seemed like the right thing to do, for Rayne, for Winnol and for Marsa.”

“Wow dude” Nick said a little stunned.  “I really thought you hadn’t put any thought into it.”

“Ok, I know I do a lot of shit spare of the moment, but give me some credit.”  Aj said with a light laugh.  “Now are you going to go eat or should I turn you into a dwarf?”

“No!” Nick said turning to him.   “Don’t you ever use that shit on me, the Dwarfs don’t care, and I’m good, I like being six feet.”

“Come on.” Aj said laughing as he climbed down from the wall.

“We’re we going?” Nick asked.

“Ignis is dead.” Aj said with a shrug.  “Time to party.” He nodded.  Nick cracked a laugh and got down from the wall.  “The ladies are meeting us at the town center.”

“You weren’t worried at all?” Nick asked as they walked down the stairs.

“Well I was worried I’d loose my tats, but all is well with the world.” He said with a smile.  “And I was worried about how much you and Rayne would freak out.”  Aj said to him.

“How is she taking it?” He asked.

“She’s quiet but she’s not shying away from me or anything, just not talking a lot.” Aj shrugged.

“Well I think I would be a little lost for words if some dude changed who he was for me.” Nick said as he walked out of the Barracks door into the city. Then he got a funny look on his face. “Scratch that.” He said shaking his head.

“Dude it’s still me.” Aj sighed.

“I know but still, you went from that to this for her.” Nick said pointing to his new look. “Kind of like taking a bullet for her.”

A bullet?” Aj said with a little laugh.

“I said kind of.” Nick sighed.

“Yeah I get what you’re saying.” Aj said with a light smile.

“So what do we do now?” Nick asked as they started to hear the people yelling and celebrating.

“Now we get this place back up and running, get the people back to Kalica and Sarila, and then we go and look for Pixca.” Aj said as they walked up to the square.  “Avit has the Kalica Palace on lock down, him, Bussa, and some very trust worthy men are searching the Palace for anything Ignis left behind.”

“About Pixca?” Nick asked as they stopped and looked at all the races dancing.

“Pixca, the other part of the tale, we need to start anew, make it so if we can’t find her and he comes back, the others know what to do.”  Aj said.

“Well we got a lot of time.” Nick said looking at him.

“That we do.” Aj said with a light smile.

“Alright!” They both said mocking Brian and they both started laughing

“Good to see someone is laughing.” Nalia said was her and Rayne walked up to them.

“Busted.” Aj said smirking at Nick.

“Shut up.” Nick replied rolling his eyes.

“Are you up for a dance?” Nalia asked him.

“I think I am.” He said smiling at her as he took her hand.  She smiled back at him as they walked towards the fountain to the others that were dancing around it.

“Did you want to go dance?” Aj asked her.

“No thank you.” Rayne said with a light smile.

“Are you ok?” Aj asked as she sat down at a table by them.  “It’s this isn’t it; you really are upset about it.” He said sitting down in front of her.

“No.” She said shaking her head as she looked at him. “I mean, it is a big change, are you sure you thought this through.”

“Yes, I did.” Aj said taking her hand.  “I’ve been thinking for a while how things would get done if I was Elvaan, if the people could see that I was, it’s been bugging me since Dyn showed up at the theatre.” Aj told her.  “I wasn’t even looking for it, but when I saw it in Marsa’s journal, I knew I had too, it would help me get you out of the mess with Rexil and it will help me in the future.”  Rayne lightly smiled at him as she looked down at their hands.  “I really am ok with it; honestly, I think I make a good looking Elvaan.” He said with a nod as he raised his eyebrow.  She looked up and lightly laughed. 

“I think you do too.” She said with a smile.  Rayne looked over at the people clapping and dancing with Nick and Nalia, the couple looked like they were having a good time, and she was glad to see Nick wasn’t upset anymore.

“Rayne?” She heard Aj say and she looked over at him.  He looked at her and then looked down at her hands, he brought them up to his lips and gently kissed the back of them, he then looked at her again.  “I love you.”  She looked at him a little shocked at first, but her heart fluttered and it made her lightly smile.

“I love you too Alex.” She said as she placed her hand on the side of his face.  They smiled at each other for a moment and then leaned in and kissed. 

This kiss was different, not because Aj had become Elvaan but because it was a new beginning for them.  The war was over but they still had much to do.  Where was Pixca? Could they save her? Where was the other piece of the tale? And what would happen to Sarila and Kalica now that they were back in the proper Royal hands.  This tale was over but a new one was just beginning.