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In the home, wind archer had been getting increasingly antsy, specifically distancing from his boyfriend, fire spirit. It wasnt unusual, wind archer had always been closed off. But now he looked scared, as if he was waiting for something to pop out at any moment. On guard wasnt something he never did, and today, it was like he knew something the others didnt. Like something was bound to happen today, and instead of warning the others, he was silently waiting for it.
Fire spirit noticed his strange behaviour, floating over with his usual grin and annoying presence.
“Windyyy~! Whats got your panties in a twist huh? And like- arent you usually gone by now for your duties?”
“…im off. Today. Millennial tree let me skip.”
Fire spirits face went from grinning to worry in about less than a second.
“SKIP?! You never skip missions! Whats actually going on? Your duties are like your prized possessions!”
“I was… tired. Okay? I needed a break.”
“Yeah, like thats believable. Last week, you told me the forest cant last during breaks. Please, just tell me.”
He tried to coax wind archer to tell him by hugging him from his side, actually being mindful of wind archers scarf and bow for once.
“No, fire spirit. Nothings wrong. Go bother someone else.”
the coldness and distance in wind archers tone made fire spirit let go, actually scared for his boyfriend now. But, instead of arguing further, he quietly agreed with a nod and floated away.As a few more days went by, wind archer continued getting more and more closed off. Going so far as to avoid any contact with any of the legendaries. And by then, the others had noticed his behaviour aswell. Fire spirit had been getting more and more worried, losing his playful spark because he thought he was the reason wind archer was acting so neglectful of not only his duties and friendships with everyone and relationship with fire spirit, but himself too. The tension in the home, now starting to be considered as just a house, was thick enough to be sliced in half with a sword. Wind archers deteriorating state was concerning, eye bags that looked like black eyes, fatigue, and the physical sight of him losing weight. And the fact he still wouldnt tell anyone anything.
And eventually, fire spirit snapped. Barging into wind archers room one afternoon.
“SERIOUSLY wind archer! What the fuck is going on?! Youve been ignoring EVERYONE for a week now!! Is it something i did?!”
he laughed out of stress and fear too before continuing,
“If i did something, ill fix it! Just tell me! What is going on?! Why are you letting yourself go into the Great Depression like this is the fucking dark ages?! Why do you shut everyone out whenever something happens that only you know about?! Tell us! TELL ME!! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG?! WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!”
Tears of anger, sadness, and fear all together were forming and falling down fire spirits face as he just yelled at wind archer. He didnt know what else to do.
“I just want to fix what happened… i just want to keep you happy. Why are you closeting yourself.. why are you neglecting yourself so bad.. please, just tell me what i did. ..ill fix it, i swear. On my life. I just want my windy back..”
As wind archer still didnt respond, his back turned as he stared at the wall, fire spirit closed the door, and went to his room silently.
A few minutes later, the other legendaries drowned out fire spirits sobbing with the tv.The next day, all of them woke up for another day of not seeing wind archer leave his room. But around noon, when everyone was silently eating lunch at the dining table, wind archer walked in, healthy. No sign of the self neglect he just had yesterday. Healthy, muscular, perfect. He sat down close to fire spirit after grabbing a plate like he usually did, said good afternoon, apologized for being absent in the morning instead of the entire week, mentioned he had duties to attend to after lunch and went to eating. It was like it never happened. At first, everyone thought this was time keepers doing, having brought past wind archer to the present to try to fix it. But even she looked shocked and confused. If time keeper had nothing to do with this, then… how did all of his wounds just disappear? What about the week of avoidance? Just yesterday he looked like he was on his death bed, how did he change overnight with completely different memories of the past week?
Their next suspicion was millennial tree. He was wind archers father, he controlled all nature, of course he did this. Well, later that day while wind archer was gone for duties, the others circled millennial tree.
Stormbringer spoke first.
“What did you do. You must have done something! And why didnt you do this earlier? Did you know the entire time? How did he get like that in the first place? And why didnt you say anything?!”
Millennial tree looked utterly confused, looking at the circle they formed around him while his roots trembled with nervousness.
“Dear friends, i truly do not understand what your talking about. My son snapped back on his own… i had nothing to do with it. If i did, there would be a change in the atmosphere and an extra flower on his bow. And theres still only four. I, too, am confused on what had changed and how on this fine earth he healed so fast. And i also want to figure out what happened.”The truth in his words made the others calm down, and step back- realizing they had falsely accused the tree.
They all looked guilty for ganging up, though sea fairy spoke up again first.
“Sorry, for thinking you would ever do that, millennial tree.. lets figure out to together.”
Around early evening, wind archer returned from duties how he always used to. Sitting on the couch and putting his bow in his lap. Everyone else tried to act casual, like nothing happened. And… as they continued that act.. it became a routine. And eventually, the situation was forgotten about.
And they focused on a new enemy approaching. Someone dangerous, threatening to even them, the legendary heroes and elemental guardians. Their name was unknown, but the legends had long forgotten about the incident, now focused on this threat. And that threat, just so happened to ambush. And during this ambush, while the legendaries fought hard, the enemy was simply.. stronger. They had managed to severely injure time keeper, sea fairy, and put wind archer, in a comatose state.
After this, the remaining legendaries had managed to get rid of this enemy temporarily, time keeper, sea fairy, and wind archer, were all put in the healing chamber to allow millennial tree to attempt healing them.
Fire spirit had refused to leave wind archers bedside the entire healing process, and while wind archer remained in this coma, fire spirit had gained delusion, desperate to see his boyfriend alive and awake again but convincing himself he just needed to wait.
And eventually, fire spirit fell asleep on the floor beside wind archers bed.When he stood up, wind archer was just waking up. It was dark out, he had no idea how long its been, but now all that mattered was wind archer was awake.
“Windy!! Are you okay?!”
Wind archer squinted at fire spirits brightened, excited flames.
“Im fine, fire spirit… im fine…”
After fire spirit called the others in, he learned it had been two days. And that wind archer fully healed in that comatose state. And was already free for movement, training, everything.
“I was so worried… was i really asleep for two days..?”
Time keeper put a hand on his shoulder, showing him her stopwatch.
“like a light~”
Sea fairy butted in.
“its okay though! You looked exhausted… we didnt want to wake you.”
“Oh… thanks. I guess i did need the rest.”
Fire spirits flames dimmed again as he relaxed, seeing everyone safe and healthy. And most importantly, his boyfriend alive and well.
Boring days passed, nothing exciting going on, the usual arson from fire spirit and occasionally stormbringer from her smiting random things, time keepers beef with the angry, tiny pebble that had too much violence for such a small stone. Time keeper lost the fight every time. And everyone else doing their usual things.
And you know how peacefulness is scary when your a hero, right? This was terrifying. It was actually peaceful. No threats, no missions, no duties, nothing. And the only one that seemed to be on edge, was fire spirit. It was like in the two days wind archer was healing while in that coma everything just became a dream come true. Wind archer spent more time with him, showed more emotion, everyone and everything was… perfect.
His view on reality started to deteriorate. His mind was coming up with crazy theories on why this was happening. Down to hallucinations. The leaves on the trees in the forest started to look weird. Move stiffly. Like a poor animation. The winds patterns started to make no sense. And nobody else noticed.
And everything, made sense again, when a new threat appeared.Dark enchantress.
The last time she was sealed away, she was strong enough. Now, she had come back stronger. Deadlier.
“Why do we have to deal with HER again?!”
Stormbringer yelled, frustrated, last time they had to fight her they lost. And only survived because others stepped in to help. Now they had to humiliate themselves all over again.
“Why do we have to do this all over again..”
Time keeper whined dramatically like a child, not wanting to fight this witch again.
“Lets just get it over with and KILL HER!!”
Stormbringer shouted enthusiastically, causing everyone to say
“NO.”
In unison. Well… fire spirit agreed. The maniac.
The next day, and they set off to go find where she was. And it didnt exactly take long to find her.
They dodged a sudden ambush by her magic, turning to see her in the sky.
“Well, there she is! I knew it wouldnt take long!”
Fire spirit yelled while smirking at her. Wind archer elbowed him warningly.
“And what does THAT mean, FLAME?!”
Dark enchantress retorted, already familiar with his spectacular ability to provoke her.
“Well, your not exactly hard to miss. Fatass. Came up to eat more and get ready for another hibernation? Well, i can assure you, you DEFINITELY dont need the food. The fat you already have in your stomach and chins are enough to last for CENTURIES! OW-“
Fire spirit was cut off by wind archer smacking him. He rubbed his cheek and laughed.
“What?? Its true! She needs to fly less and run more, maybe then she wont need those big ass dragon wings to support her weight!”
Dark enchantress was clearly provoked by the insults, corrupted flames raging behind her.
“I WEIGH 90 THANK YOU!!”
Fire spirit stopped at that, then snickered a bit.
“WHAT IS FUNNY NOW?!”
“Kilograms or tons?”
“OH, YOU LITTLE-“
and thats how the battle started.It wasn’t easy, thats for sure. Dark enchantress had made the first move because of fire spirits provoking. She didn’t catch them off guard, they were expecting it. But the attack was just barely dodged.
The two sides went back and forth, what was good was fire spirit, wind archer, stormbringer and sea fairy were all offence. Millennial tree, frost queen, moonlight, and time keeper, were in charge of defending and guarding. Though that still didn’t help from the fact dark enchantress could summon enemies to help her any tome she wanted. There was already ten.
Fire spirit had mixed his flames with wind archers arrow just as wind archers skill was used, not only a purification arrow with a massive bird accompanying it, but the shape of the wind was on fire. It seemed to knock down dark enchantress well, she was hit. Badly. They actually paused to see if she would get back up.
“You… insolent… creatures…”
She hissed, clutching the wound in her abdomen from the arrow that went right through her.
“I couldve given you power beyond your imagination… granted you every wish…
You couldve joined my side…”
The wound was starting to heal. Unnaturally.
“Instead, look at what youve done… i couldve saved you from weakness…”
It healed. She stood up, grabbing her staff again. Fury fueling her entire body.
“NOW LOOK AT WHAT YOUR MAKING ME DO!!”
fire spirit just barely blocked the attack she sent at wind archer with a shield of flames, and he released it.
Every hero for themself.
The battle continued with dark enchantress feeding herself with pent up anger from years of confinement, defeat, it was all building up and being released on them. They had no chance as a group. Defend yourself, attack alone. Thats what needed to be done. Its all that could be done.
As it reached its climax, millennial tree finally had enough.
He let out a burst of energy, and a massive oak tree, shot up from the ground underneath dark enchantress, and a branch penetrated her.The rapid growth of the tree caused it to grow further after and spread that branch out in smaller branches with leaves. Trapping her there in agony while her magic refused to let her leave her body.
the silence lasted for about five seconds.
“YOU COULDVE DONE THAT THE ENTIRE TIME?!”
Stormbringer shouted at millennial tree with pure shock.
“I didnt want to… resort to violence from a power such a pure as mine. But it had to have been done.”
Millennial tree approached the trunk of the tall oak he created, under the branch dark echantress was writhing in pain around.
“The corrupted… has perished.”
As everyone ran over in celebration, cheering in happiness of their victory, fire spirit stayed in his spot.He stared directly at the house that was still in view. Nothing was wrong with it, …from the outside. Through a window, he could see the living room. Same thing he sees every day. But something had caught his eye.
The lamp looked kinda weird.
Remember earlier in the story when i told you fire spirit fell asleep next to wind archers bedside after wind archer was badly injured?
I never told you he woke up, did i?
I said he got up. Not that he woke up.
Fire spirit blinked, after opening his eyes again, he was back at that bed, sitting on the floor. It was silent. Dark outside. He rubbed his eyes, standing up before leaving the room to the living room instead. Everyone was there, discussing quietly. When they saw him, they freaked out. Sea fairy ran over first.
“FIRE SPIRIT!! Your awake!! Oh my god, you fell asleep and you’ve been unconscious for three days, what happened?!”
“..unconscious?”
He repeated the word as if it was foreign.
Unconscious? …it was all a dream?
Why did everything look so fuzzy..?
Fire spirit rubbed his eyes, a lot. Clearing his head, then looking back up at the room.
Empty.
Everyone just… disappeared. Gone. They were just there, now his vision was clear, they were gone. The house was dirty, dusty, …abandoned.
Did he really just hallucinate? After a dream?He started wandering around. Checking bedrooms. The basement. The garden. Everywhere. Nobody.
…until he heard shuffling from wind archers room.
He immediately sprinted there. The door was closed.
“Windy..?”
He knocked once. Twice.
“Wind archer… is that you..? I heard you..”
It was silent now. Now more shuffling.
“Wind archer..?”
he gently opened the door…
wind archer hung limp from the ceiling. His scarf on the floor. Bow and quiver of arrows broken. A noose around his neck.
Fire spirit stood in shock for far too long, processing the sight.
Finally. He snapped out of it.
“..WIND ARCHER!!”
Fire spirit ran over, burning the rope as catching wind archer when he fell. The noose was so tight around his neck there was a wound.
“No… what did you do…”
He removed the noose around wind archers neck, burning the wound shut then checking wind archers wrist for a pulse.
“Please… please please please…. why..? Why did you do this..?”
The pulse came. Fire spirit paused. Then started shaking him.
“Your alive-..? Wake up… come on, you have a pulse, wake up! Please, wake up!!”
He continued shaking wind archer, trying to find at least one more sign of life other than just a weak pulse and a prayer.
“Please…”
Wind archers eyes fluttered. Just slightly. Fire spirit panicked and fired up in excitement at the same time.
“WIND ARCHER!!”Finally, he responded. His slighty dimmed green eyes catching the light in fire spirits flames and reflecting them like a mirror.
“Windy… why..? Why would you do that..? Was it because i was unconscious? Where is everyone..? Are you okay..?!”
Wind archer took a while to respond. He smiled… then it disappeared into hatred. The reflection of fire spirits flames in his eyes turned real. No longer love. And said one thing.
“Its your fault.”
Wind archer grabbed fire spirits staff, ..and stabbed himself in the throat.
“..wind archer? Windy? WIND ARCHER?!”
He shook wind archer one more time, tears starting to sizzle on his face before they could fall.
“NO!!”His voice broke into rough sobs of both confusion and grief, struggling to grasp the fact the love of his life died hating him and he didnt know why.
He hugged the body of the guardian that once adored his flames, trying to feel the warmth that he didnt get from his flames one more time. All he felt was bitter coldness.
He finally let go and stood up, around dawn.
“Im sorry.. for whatever i did to upset you..”
He left wind archers bedroom, leaving the corpse for whatever critters find it, unable to perform a proper burial due to the confusion of the situation.
“What did i do…”
Fire spirit wandered around the house aimlessly, not knowing what to do. And finally, outside. Opening the front door, he was met with a world of darkness. What used to be the green trees, flowers, lively kingdom nearby, was now in ruins. Trees burned down and collapsed, the sky was red with dark smoke and corrupted air, and flames were still ignited all around. …his flames. The flames he controlled and ordered, destroyed the world while he was sleeping.
“Smokey, isnt it?”
Fire spirit spun around at the unexpected voice. Looking around the destruction before his eyes rested on, dark enchantress.
“Sad… i didnt know guardians could sleep walk~ yet, look at what you did in your sleep!”
“What..? No, i- i didnt do this! I would never, i conditioned my flames to never cause unnecessary destruction!”
“Your right… you did do that. But funny how a little itty bit of corruption can do, hm? Possessed in your sleep… and you had no idea! Pathetic.”
He froze in shock. She.. possessed him? She controlled him to do this? To kill all of the legendaries? …to make his love think he hated him to the point of suicide?
“..you… what?”
“Oh, you really dont get it, do you? Such a dense flame… you were vulnerable, so… i struck. Simple. Not protecting your friends… you were stupid. But… ill enjoy watching you exist in suffering~ pathetic gnat.”Dark enchantress disappeared. And… fire spirit didnt know what to do. He was immortal… he physically couldnt do anything to himself… he just had to live in this suffering.
“Why…”
He said it quietly. As if anyone could hear him.. dropping to his knees, his staff falling beside him, he covered his face with his hands. Silent weeps.
*“Lord of ash…”*