Rowan enjoyed the music as the trio of he, Princess Deirdre, and the Lady Grace rode across the countryside. While the young woman frequently insisted to the contrary, every inch of her seemed to just scream nobility to the once street urchin, now knight commander; and yet, this new friend had a voice better than any minstrel Rowan had ever heard. Something about it…soothed the nerves, took away all of the fear and worries in such a way that…who was he kidding…it had to be by magic. As strange as it still was to contemplate, this lass could only be of the Fae.

He chanced a glance back at the lady in question, riding between he and Deirdre, chittering away like a songbird. The words were strange but nonetheless, he felt them wash over him and he simply reveled in it.

Their first stop for the night loomed ahead of them and Rowan called a stop to the group. Before them stood a large waterfall, the water seeming to cascade through a mountainside. Over the years, the water had eaten away at the rock, creating an enormous overhang large enough to house several horses and built in such a way as to hide a cook fire, the perfect campsite for those looking to travel swiftly and without attention. In fact, Kells soldiers had used this place as a waystation since before King Conchabar's time. Given its obvious usefulness, the army always kept it readily stocked with food and supplies should any soldiers find themselves on the road.

"We should be safe here for the night," Rowan grunted as he climbed out of the saddle and led his mount to the hitching post. "I'll get a fire going if the two of you want to take care of din…"

…TWANG…

…THUNK…

His hand was on his sword hilt in an instant. The seasoned swordsman whirled to face the source of the noise, blade glowing a brilliant fiery red, ready to send a volley of flame into any Temran wo would dare…

Sometimes, nobility or no, showing off was a little rude. Rowan's nerves relaxed as a great elk came toppling down the rock face and settled with a crunch of pebbles, an arrow protruding right from where its heart should've been.

"I dare say that dinner is served," Princess Deirdre chuckled as she clapped her friend on the shoulder.

"And I have a sinking feeling I know who is going to be tasked with skinning and cleaning the beast," The look in their eyes said it all. Resigned to his fate, Rowan drew his dagger and set about skinning the great beast.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

The coals crackled as Gracie reclined against the cave wall. She'd volunteered or first watch. Heck, after making Rowan skin her kill, it was the least she could do.

Sing me a song of a lass that is gone…

Pray could that lass be I?

Gracie could remember Momma being so gooey romantic over that show. Neither of the 'rents knew it but on more than one occasion, Gracie would sneak out of bed at night and spy on them while they watched it. Woman travels through time and falls in love with a charming Scottish rebel; it was no wonder Gracie'd developed a taste for Celtic music. Now…now the 16 year old found herself in a ridiculously similar situation; except that she was in Ireland…and this was a teensy weensy bit farther back than the Jacobite rebellion…and instead of a charming Scottish rogue it was a dashing African prince…

Still, the song helped pass the time.

Merry of soul, she sailed on a day

Over the Sea to Skye

Billow and breeze, islands and seas

Mountains of rain and sun

Oh, what she wouldn't give for a set of pipes, or a chanter right now. Mom and Momma didn't have to get so…gross…about the show but as a musician, she found the song to be a perfect blend of pipe and drum, neither one overwhelming the other. That was actually something that was very difficult to get right in Celtic music.

Glory of youth glows in her soul...

Where is that Glory now?

Looking at things another way, she could've just as easily found herself playing in a tavern, overhearing a dwarf boasting about mulled beer, maybe also spy four Hobbits sitting down to a pint in the corner. God, she was starting to think like Momma. Although, if you thought about it, her situation was A LOT closer to something out of Tolkien than it was to the set of Outlander; here she was, a member of the Fellowship, seeking to keep the one ring…or rock…from the forces of darkness.

"By my life or death I can protect you, I will," She quoted, jabbing the coals with a nearby stick. "You have my sword."

"But I don't want our sword," A small voice replied.

The sixteen year old nearly shot out of her skin as her hand darted to the short sword she had sheathed at her back but quickly began to relax as the familiar sight of little Aideen fluttered down to rest in front of her.

"Damn, girl," Gracie gasped, relaxing back into her position beside the fire. "You scared me half to death!"

The little faerie flashed a mischievous smile as she too a seat in front of Gracie. "It was not my intention," Man, she had the same look that Mary did once April Fool's day rolled around. "I just wanted to see you and the handsome one safely to your destination."

Handsome one? She didn't know exactly where that last bit had come from but she followed Aideen's gaze…and had to suppress a laugh of her own when she saw that dreamy gaze firmly transfixed on Rowan. Okay…inter…magical? Was that the right word for this? Whatever; while the existence of faeries certainly had put a new shine on…society itself…Gracie had no idea how relationships like that were supposed to work here…or even if they DID work here…but the way that Aideen stared at him? That was the worst case of puppy love the teenager had ever seen!

"Sister," Her gaze stayed transfixed on Rowan. "In this world that you come from, could…could a faerie and a…and a mortal…could a man ever love a…?"

Where did she begin? Despite everything that had happened in the past few months…the old Gracie would've said "yes", without question. Maybe she'd spent too much time around Mom and Momma…maybe those gooey romances that the pair shared HAD affected Gracie but…she liked to think of herself as a pretty hopeless romantic and had been pretty proud. Then Billy had…damn it; he had broken up with her…DID she still believe that?

"Well…Aideen…I haven't met many faeries in my time," She began, searching for the right way to put this. "I'd…I'd like to think so." The the light on Aideen's face seemed to spread across every inch of her body. She…she didn't need to go any farther. Whatever Gracie's problems were, Aideen certainly didn't have to be dragged into them. If she dared to hope…well…as Momma would put it, hope was just a beautiful thing. "Aideen, if you want to be with Rowan…well…never let anyone tell you that you can't. Love is…love is just to precious for anyone to tell you that you can't, even if it doesn't end up working out."

When Billy had broken up with her, it'd taken Gracie a long time to come to terms with it. Heck, this whole trip was proof enough that it'd taken her even longer to open herself up to another boy…though Ivar was FAR from a boy! But right now, as she thought about Billy…her time with him had been…beautiful. Those times had been some of the best of her life and…looking back on it, knowing what she knew now…even with all the heartache…no, she couldn't do it. She couldn't say that she would've wanted to give it up.

Hmm, maybe she still WAS a romantic.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Gracie stood staring at the opening of the cave. That little heart to heart with Aideen felt like it was eons ago.

This place was evil. Gracie had no idea how she knew but…she'd never felt anything like this before. Since coming to this time, she'd actually become pretty accustomed to little tickle in the back of her head, that sign that magic was nearby but this…this was something more, something sick, like a vile taste on your tongue that you just couldn't spit out. She kept thinking of a swamp, each step drawing her further into a cloud of stagnant water, rotting vegetation, and…and things that she wasn't sure that she even wanted to think of…

…GAG…

Gracie doubled over and heaved.

"I…I've never felt…oh God, what's in there?"

"The Ice Caverns of Temra," Deirdre muttered as she helped Gracie up, running a hand along her back. "Rowan had to defeat the beast inside to earn his armor. This place…" Gracie saw a shiver shoot down the Princess's back and Gracie was pretty darn sure it had nothing to do with the temperature. "Mothers in Kells have scared their children for centuries with tales of what is inside."

"I can feel it," Gracie cringed. Suddenly, Gracie became very aware that she was going in there with only a shortsword and a bow. Was she really…? Could she even…?

"WAIT," A small voice called from behind. "Wait for me!"

The trio turned to see Aideen, fluttering towards the entrance at, for her size, what looked like a breakneck pace. Before Gracie could stop her, the faerie collided with the tip of Gracie's bow. A firm hand shot into the air and caught her before she hit the ground.

Shaking the checkers out her head, Aideen sat up in Deirdre's palm, taking several deep breaths. Gracie couldn't tell if it was sheer exhaustion or…maybe excitement…but the faerie looked like she was about to pass out. Once she'd gotten control of her wits, she beckoned for Gracie to lower her bow. Gracie slung it down from her shoulder…and nearly dropped it, like she'd grabbed a poisonous snake. The simple, albeit well-crafted shaft of wood had been replaced by…well…another bow stave but…Gracie hefted the bow back up. The top quarter, roughly were Aideen had collided with it, had been replaced by a smooth polished piece of pale green metal. Intricate patterns leaf patterns seemed to line the stave, coming to an end at both ends, capped off with what looked like a glowing brown stone at each end.

"King Finvarra wanted to give you some extra help when tackling this creature," Aideen explained. "I've imbued the bow with the power of its ancestral trees. It should be a formidable weapon against what you have to face."

This was…Gracie's eyes darted to Rowan's sword and Deirdre's crossbow…this was a weapon like…like theirs! This was an actual…she had to test this! Gracie closed her eyes and focused her meta energy. Without warning, the stones burst to life, lighting up like stars. Gracie's hand slowly shifted to the bow string…and her hand nearly shot back when a glowing yellow arrow seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Fighting to keep her nerve, Gracie pulled the bow string back. She…she'd never felt this much energy before. It'd never been this…focused…before. She…Gracie felt like she was a whip about to crack.

"It may not be a set of armor," Gracie felt Deirdre's arm wrap around her shoulder. "But no one can say different. You're truly a Mystic Knight now!"

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Truly a Mystic Knight now

You know, when Gracie had woken up on…she couldn't even remember how long ago it was…she'd been singing in a club in Dublin. Now…now she was skulking through a cave inhabited by some kind of sadistic Ice Demon on top of God knew what else…and at her sides were an ancient Irish Princess and…and some kind of Celtic Messiah. Mom…at some point, she was going to have to have a serious conversation with Mom and Momma about the family decision making paradigm.

As filthy and unclean as she'd felt standing outside the cave opening, having stepped inside, that was a spa treatment compared to this. Gracie felt like someone had grabbed her by the shoulders and tossed her into the filthiest garbage dump in the world after it had been ruminating in the mid-day Sahara sun for a few weeks. That made it all the more unnerving that the cave itself was actually quite breathtaking. Calling these "ice caves" really hadn't been that much of an exaggeration. The light that found its way inside seemed to bounce around the walls like more stars than Gracie had ever seen in the clearest night sky. It was absolutely beautiful!

But a servant of the enemy often looks fair and feels foul!

Damn it, Momma; get out of my head!

Rowan threw up a gauntleted fist, calling for a halt. Gracie knocked an arrow and began scanning the area in front of them. The cave seemed to open up into an enormous cavern, somehow as bright as if they had just stepped outside. Down below, she could make out a maze of sharp stalagmites and their stalactite twins hanging from the ceiling above; and in the very center, she saw them. Three figures appeared to be dancing around the center, pale blue skin reflecting the light as much as the walls around them. They were easily half a foot taller than a man, ears almost as big as their heads flopping around as they danced.

"Are those…spriggans?" Deirdre whispered.

"Unlike any I've ever seen," Rowan replied. "There was nothing like tem when I faced the Ice Lord. I think…Midar might have anticipated our arrival and given the demon some help to slow us down."

"So how do we get past them?"

While Rowan and Deirdre tried hashing out a plan, Gracie began taking in their surroundings…and things didn't look good. Unless they wanted to start climbing the walls, there didn't appear to be a single path that didn't send them head on into those things. To tell the truth…they really didn't look all that threatening, kind of cartoonish in a way. They struck Gracie a lot more like the goofy minions some cartoon villain sent in to slow the heroes down…or try to warn others farther in the cave if the bad guy was especially clever. With how erratic they were, getting the drop on them would be iffy but…oh, this was almost TOO perfect! A smile spread across Gracie's face as she looked up at the stalactite hanging directly above the spriggans. There'd be no way to avoid warning the whoever was ahead of them so…why not screw the subtle stuff? Heck, this DID seem like something right out of a cartoon.

"I think I've got an idea," Gracie pointed up towards the stalactite and mimed shooting an arrow into it, sending the great hunk of rock down like an anvil, squashing the three things flat. Even encased in her shining white helmet, Gracie could make out a gleeful smile.

"Alright; the moment you fire the arrow, we run straight through," Rowan surveyed the paths one last time. "It looks like the center left path is the quickest. With any luck, we'll emerge into the center just as the rock falls and we dart straight over; but once we're over…both of you be ready for anything. This is going to be like sounding a battle horn to the Ice Lord."

Gracie took a deep breath and steadied her bow. She felt her meta-energy shift into the bow and a glowing yellow arrow materialized, the energy sizzling in the cold of the cave. She had to be quick…one shot and then run…

…TWANG…

Without a second thought, Gracie was on her feet and running through the path, eyes riveted on Rowan's back. Any second now…unless she'd missed it clean…

…ZAPPPP…

…had to be fast…

…had to time it right…

…too early and you're a pancake…

…too late and…

…CRASH…

For a split second, it seemed like the entire world was engulfed in a massive earthquake. Gracie bounced along the walls like she was in a pinball machine…but had miraculously managed to keep her footing and at least keep moving forward. The trio rounded another corner and without missing a beat, leapt onto the pile of ice and rock. Boy, magic forced you to reevaluate what was rational and not but at least simple physics would be hard pressed to change that drastically. That had to be at least a full ton of rock that landed on…

…CRUNCH…

"HELP!"

Gracie skidded to a halt and whirled around…it couldn't be! Deirdre had toppled out to the ground and holding on to her ankle was an arm, a pale blue skinned arm. They had…survived? Gracie had dropped a couple of hundred pounds of rock and ice squarely on their heads and they…she didn't have time to dwell on it. Another arrow materialized in the bow and Gracie loosed a shot. The arrow whizzed through the air and collided with the arm. The yellow bolt of energy seemed to pass right through the arm, almost like the Spriggan had absorbed it. A split second later, the arrow's energy began to spread and before Gracie could take another breath, it seemed to disappear into a puff of dust.

"Move," Deirdre barked. "I'm fine. We've got to keep moving

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

They were DEFINITELY beyond subtle now! By the look of their surroundings, if this Ice Lord didn't know that someone was here by now, he had to be deaf. Gracie brought her bow stave up in a blocking motion as another Spriggan tried to bring its great clawed hand across her face. With a grunt, she heaved the creature back and, wielding the bow stave like a quarterstaff, slammed one of the stone-capped ends into the Spriggan's face. The monstrosity leapt back in cry of pain as a patch of burned skin emerged where the stone had made contact. Not giving it a moment to rest, Gracie brought the bow up and loosed another bolt of energy, colliding directly into the Spriggan's chest. With a great wail, the creature burst apart in a shower of sparks.

Looking for another target, she spotted Deirdre, trying to fend off four Spriggans at once. Gracie took off, leaping up onto a nearby boulder. From the top, she could also make out Rowan, backhanding a nearby Spriggan with a red gold gauntleted fist, sending the creature into the cave wall. Turning back towards the Princess, Gracie leapt onto another boulder…and another, just in time to deliver a swift kick to a Spriggan's head as it threatened to dig its claws into her friend's back.

"Fancy a friend?" Gracie hit the ground and brought her bow up to deflect another attack. Spinning her bow in an arc, the Spriggan's legs were knocked from under it, sending it to the ground in a heap. Gracie heaved down the stone…once…twice…three times…until the attacker was nothing but a crumpled mass.

"If you think you can keep up," Deirdre replied as she whipped out a red dragon-hilted dagger and slashed across another Spriggan's chest. Wielding her crossbow like a club, Gracie could make out a sickening crunch as she brought it down onto the wounded Spriggan's head. "The way that these creatures infest this cave, there HAS to be a stone here."

"Indeed," A cackling voice echoed throughout the cave. "My domain may contain the very artifact that you seek to unearth."

Gracie turned to the source and a figure began to materialize. He…or it…stood only slightly taller than Rowan. The armor, predominantly black with streaks of purple, seemed to glisten, almost like he was standing in a spotlight. The helmet…Gracie's stomach gave a lurch…looked as if someone had dipped a human skull in the same metal as the armor, and for good measure, attached a pair of nasty looking horns.

The lurch in Gracie's stomach began to twist even harder, like the worst nausea that she'd ever felt. This…this was the source of the vileness, the darkness so strong that she could feel it from outside the cave. This…thing…was evil, pure evil like she had never seen or felt before.

The figure turned…and Gracie's blood seemed to freeze in her veins as those eyes, those black bloodshot eyes, seemed to stare directly at her, directly into her soul.

"And you bring the pretty one to me," the creature continued. Gracie could feel her skin trying to crawl right off her bones. "Midar had said that her flesh would be sweeter than nectar and should I take her, that sweet and supple…

…CRASH…

A deafening bang echoed through the cavern as a mass of rock an ice collided with the figure. Gracie's hand trembled as she lowered the bow that she hadn't realize she'd been aiming.

"Hehehehehehe," Gracie didn't think her blood could run any colder. "The pretty one has spirit, a spirit that I will relish the opportunity to break apart."

She couldn't see…the voice…it was all around her…she…she couldn't…

The next moment passed in a haze. She could feel arms around her, could feel her lips moving…

"…blackness…evil…so dark…" She gasped, each breath hitting her like a hammer on an anvil. "I feel…everything…I…"

"…come back…"

Deirdre's voice seemed to come from a mile away but it was clearly hers. She…she…

…SMACK…

Like a snapped rubber band, Gracie was yanked back to reality, the world coming into focus and…Mother of God! Her hand shot up to her face. Her cheek felt like someone had dropped a coal on it…not to mention the whole left side felt like it'd been hit with a baseball bat.

"Breath, Gracie," Deirdre gripped Gracie's shoulder. Gracie's eyes jumped to her free hand, cocked as if…

"I'm…I'm okay," Gracie moaned. "Just, God, don't backhand me again." She shook her head a few times to clear the cobwebs and tried to stand. "What…what was that thing?"

"That," Rowan stepped up, pointing his sword tip into the ground. With a faint click, his faceplate seemed to slide back into his helmet. "That was the Ice Lord of Temra. You…you can feel him?"

"It…" Even the memory of it made Gracie feel like she was going to sick up again, not that there could be much left. She spat onto the ground, trying to at least clear the vomit taste from her mouth. "It's difficult to explain. Ever since I got here, Momma and I can…feel…other sources of magic. We can feel each other. I can feel your weapons and Aideen when she's around," She steeled herself and looked towards the cave mouth. "And I can feel him too but…not like everything else. It…it's an evil, a darkness like something out of the deepest darkest circle of Hell…or the Underworld…and…and he bragged about how he was going to…" The thought of that…forcing himself…Gracie didn't even try to fight it this time. She doubled over and gave a heaving wretch.

"Black magic," Rowan breathed. "Finvarra insists that, human though you look, you are kin to faeries. That has to be what you feel."

"Deirdre…if he ever gets close…promise me…promise me that you will…"

"DON'T finish that sentence," Deirdre barked. Her grip on Gracie's shoulder became a vice. "Lady Grace of the House of Possible, if that demon comes near you, YOU will send him back to whatever chasm of darkness that he came from." Deirdre's free hand darted down to the dagger at her belt. Drawing it, she pressed the dragon-carved hilt into Gracie's hand. It was like touching the bow all over again. The dagger was almost like a magnet for her meta-energy. "We will send him back to whatever underworld that he crawled out of."

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

"Hehehehehe"

The laugh kept echoing through the cave like some kind of cheesy horror movie, except this situation was ANYTHING but cheesy. Gracie had an iron grip on her bow stave, ready to unleash a flurry of arrows at any target that happened to present itself, one of them in particular. There hadn't been a single Spriggan since the Ice Lord had shown himself…and that made their situation all the more terrifying. She could hear Uncle Ron's constant warnings about the calm before a storm in a boss fight; except this was no video game and there was no respawning if you were killed.

"Does he HAVE to keep doing that?" Gracie grumbled. "I've heard of psychological warfare but this is nuts!"

Rowan remained unnervingly quiet the further they went. This obviously wasn't the first time he'd gone through this. From what Gracie had been able to glean from the rest of the Knights, each of them had to defeat one of these demons to earn their armor, sort of like a rite of passage. Judging from the little the knights had told her, she could guess that the experience was something each of them didn't really talk about.

"Don't let him goad you," Rowan breathed. "It's what he wants, to get inside your head. He'll take what he can draw and…use it."

That damn laughter grew louder as the trio entered another chamber…and Gracie's breath caught in her throat as if she'd just swallowed a rock. The chamber…it…every inch was made up of the clearest crystal, polished to perfection. The entire thing was like looking into a giant mirror; but gazing up, the roof was black, blacker than the blackest satin and speckled with more stars than she'd ever seen. It was breathtaking…absolutely breath taking…that in a place of such pure evil you could find a place so beautiful…

…for a split second, Gracie felt weightless. Her eyes drifted down and she saw the ground crumbling beneath her. A mix of bodies, rock, and ice slid down the cave wall and hit the ground with an enormous thud. What…had…happened? Gracie shook the cobwebs from her head and tried to climb to her feet. Apart from a few bumps and bruises, she didn't seem any worse for the wear.

"Yessssss."

It took every ounce of control the young woman had to keep from sicking up again. She stood face to face with the Ice Lord.

"The Orphan, the Daughter…and the prize," Those eyes…even contained within that helmet, Gracie could feel that gaze running up and down her body. "Midar had spoken of you but the Dark Master's words hardly do you justice. It will be…nnnnggghhhh…such a pleasure breaking the will of one so…DELICIOUS…as you!"

She…wasn't…going to back…down! She couldn't suppress a shiver down her spine but…damn it if she was going to give this…thing…more than that. Before he could continue, Gracie loosed a meta arrow and had another knocked and ready. The arrow soared through the target…and the Ice Lord hefted up a shield, knocking the bolt aside and up into the cave ceiling.

"Ohhhhhh…it is so much sweeter when they fight back," He cackled.

"Then two should fighting back should be all the sweeter than one, foul demon," Deidre growled, leveling her crossbow as she stepped up alongside Gracie. "Hers is a will not so easily broken."

Rowan stepped up on Gracie's other side and leveled his great two-handed sword. "Let's dance, you and I," Rowan growled like a feral dog. What in God's name had the demons made the knights DO to earn their armor. "You and I…one last time!"

"Ah, the orphan boy; always so eager to prove himself," The demon's eyes darted towards Deirdre. "Your words may be in haste, little princess," Even encased in that hideous helmet, Gracie could make out the self-satisfied smile on the demon's face. "Indeed, spoken in haste; for the breaker of your will is here as well!"

There was a rush of air, so faint that Gracie couldn't be sure she hadn't just imagined it…but threw herself one knee just as she felt something buzz across where her head and been. Looking up, she spotted some kind of…it almost looked like a katana…but with tat extreme curve, the blade almost looked like some kind of sharpened boomerang. Her eyes followed the trajectory…and blinked when…something…seemed to snatch the weapon right out of the air, a piercing shriek of triumph echoing through the chamber. Whatever had grabbed it seemed to plummet to the ground, coming to rest only seconds before hitting the ground, barely making a sound as the boots collided with rock. The figure was wearing armor sort of like the Ice Lord's but…whereas the Ice Lord's armor kind of gave the appearance of a skeleton, this one looked like…the only thing Gracie could think of was a bat.

"We meet again, little coinin," The creature's voice sounded like a helium high. "I look forward to feasting on your flesh!"

"Lightning Bat," She heard Deirdre breath.

Gracie didn't need to look to hear the shear and unbridled hatred in her companion's voice. This had to be the Sentinel that Deirdre had faced.

"Funny," Gracie muttered through gritted teeth. "You two are doing an awful lot of talking and yet…I only see the two, against three of us; not exactly good odds.

The cackling returned in the chamber, louder than ever. A dark green ball of fire seemed to materialize at the Sentinels' feet, barely a hand high. Out of the ball stepped another faerie. This one…all Gracie could think of was a snake. He had a mass of dirty hair, woven into some bizarre form of dreadlocks…perfectly framing a face that was half mad.

"Such…power," He cackled, waving a hand in front of Gracie. "Such power...it will be a pleasure to pry it from you when my Ice Lord finishes with you!"

He was gathering his magic for something! Gracie could feel the tickling at the nape of her neck. Bits of ice seemed to chip off of the walls and coalesce around the dark faerie and take the shape of…well…the only way to really describe the thing was a snowman. The little figure seemed to absorb every ice chunk as it passed by until it started growing. Two arms materialized…two SHARP clawed arms. Where there should've been feet stood a pair of bird-like talons…and the face…God, where did you even begin with something like that? Part of it looked almost human but…

The monstrosity finally stopped growing…as it easily reached twice Gracie's height.

"Now…shall we begin?"

The bolt of meta energy was like a starting gun as it collided with their new icy friend. A chunk of its shoulder ripped away but from the little it had phased it, she might as well have hit it with a ping pong ball. The great monstrosity charged forward and thrust one of its clawed hands towards her. Gracie threw herself to the ground and slid under the arm, emerging behind it. Staying low, she whirled her bow stave to the side, one of the glowing stone-capped ends smacking into the monstrosity's shin with a loud and wet thump. This time, it let out a howl of pain and Gracie narrowly missed another clawed hand as the creature whirled around to swipe at her. Throwing herself flat to the ground, Gracie unleashed another arrow and sent it through the beast's…well…what should've been his stomach, sending a shower of ice chips out as well.

"If I have to," A line from an old movie Momma had made them watch came to mind. "I'll take you a piece at a time!"

This creature was…helping! Gracie couldn't explain it but…this fight was focusing her mind, tuning out everything but her opponent.

Arrow by arrow, icy chunk by icy chunk, she whittled the creature away like a grandpa with a pocket knife. Utterly terrifying as the creature may have been, it was quickly obvious that the creature was slow and clumsy. If she could keep this pace up, bit by bit, it would only be a matter of time until there was nothing left to shoot at!

Gracie chanced a look at her companions. Bot had beaten their opponents at least once so she had to think that they had an edge. Deirdre was once again wielding her crossbow like an axe, knocking aside the Lightning Bat's curved sword. Deirdre's movements, so crisp and fluid, reminded her of a Tae Kwon Do match she'd watched. She effortlessly ducked under another swipe, this time leveling her crossbow and firing a blast of energy into the Lightning Bat's chest, sending it flying into a stalagmite.

As she dodged another blow from the ice beast, Gracie looked towards Rowan. She'd seen enough bouts, taken part in enough bouts with swords to recognize that Rowan was clearly a master of the sword. Even with that huge two-handed sword, his moves were more like a dance than a fight. He moved from motion to motion like a stream flowing down a mountainside. Unfortunately, his opponent seemed to be equally skilled; but where Rowan appeared to favor a balance of attack and defense, the Ice Lord was all attack. Unless she drastically underestimated Rowan, given time, his strategy should ultimately win out over the demon's. He would…

"RAAAAWWWRRR!"

The shout jerked Gracie back to reality like a snapped rubber band. Wheeling around, she narrowly missed an icy fist being slammed into the ground where she stood. If she didn't focus on her own target, slow and clumsy or no, she'd be dead; she needed to bring down this nightmare! Each arrow and blow chipped away a little more of this thing but…there had to be something…something she could…

As her eyes looked up, Momma's voice shot into her head, reminiscent of one of her momma's famous "bedtime stories"…

…and Luke looked up as the ugly Rancor monster marched right under the cage door. Luke grabbed a rock and HURLED it towards the door, hitting the button and slamming the gate on the Rancor's great meaty head…and giving him one whopper of a headache in the process…

Gracie leapt out of the way of another assault…

She scanned the cave ceiling. All along the ceiling, massive stalactites hung…almost like that ridiculously cheesy Return of the Jedi story Momma had told. A well-placed arrow could…

…THUMP…

Crap; if she was going to do this, it had to be now!

"TAKE COVER!"

Gracie threw herself to the floor and aimed her bow. An arrow materialized but Gracie held off on releasing it. Meta-energy flowed out of her like a flood and into the arrow, growing until it was as thick as her wrist…

…CRACK…

The snap of the string was louder than most gunshots she'd heard. The massive bolt of energy soared through the air, moments crawling by like hours…and as always seemed to happen afterwards, time picked up to triple speed to make up for it. The collision was practically deafening! Gracie barely had time to jump out of the way as a massive icy spike collided with the ground. One after another, stalactites were loosed from the cave ceiling like a giant game of lawn darts. The younger Possible danced around them like a waltz, some of them missing by a mile and others…coming WAY too close for comfort.

Her eyes darted back towards the creature in time to see a pair of massive icy spikes plummet from the ceiling and sever the creature's arms from its body, sending it face first onto the cave floor…just as another icy spike, easily as wide as Gracie was tall impaled the creature through the back.

The air seemed to be sucked out of the chamber. For just a split second, there was complete and utter silence…

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

The Ice Lord's blow sent a grunt from Rowan's throat. He'd beaten this monstrosity before but each time, the demon was harder. Ignoring the twinge in his arm, he slipped into Stone skipping on the River. The Ice Lord's blade sizzled as it met Rowan's. With a great lunge, Rowan heaved the demon back and leapt into Wind across the Mountains. The blade sliced through the Ice Lord's upper leg. Shifting his balance, dove into Hammer on the Hot Anvil, hammering a series of bows onto the Ice Lord's sword…

…when the cave seemed to collapse into itself.

A chunk of icy rock hammered into Rowan's back, plowing him into the ground. Instinctively, he knew that his armor would give him a great deal of protection…but by Dagda, that still hurt…hopefully just as painful for…

The memory was like a backhand to the face! Rowan heaved and shoved, trying desperately to get to his feet. He had to be first! He had to find his sword and…

"For so many years, I've wanted you right here," The voice was like a dagger through the throat. Rowan's eyes rose and locked onto the Ice Lord's. He kept grasping, trying desperately to find is sword…anything…that could be used to defend himself. "My only regret," Rowan could feel the icy blade pressing against his throat. "Is that you won't live to see what comes after. First, I will take your princess, wringing every scrap of pleasure that I can from that flesh and spirit until the soul breaks and PLEADS for the sweet mercy of death! Then…then I will turn my lust towards that exquisite Fae, taking SUCH great joy in…"

…THUNK..

Rowan felt the blade switch against his throat as his tormentor fell to his knees. The eyes, the window to such a great evil that Rowan could seldom find words to describe it, showed only shock. The demon's arms flailed around, trying to get at something behind him.

Out of nowhere, Lady Grace seemed to appear from thin air. She ducked under one of the Ice Lord's flailing arms and the demon seemed to freeze in place. Leaning in, Lady Grace muttered a few words that Rowan couldn't quite make out…

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Gracie felt a fire in her soul like nothing the young teenager had ever felt before, a fire that NO teenager had ever felt before Her eyes were riveted on the glowing red dagger sticking out from the Ice Lord's back, right between the shoulder blades, just like Mom had taught her.

The demon's words, each one slicing into her skin like a razor, echoed through her head with every step. Deirdre…herself…what this evil was going to do to them…

With each step, the moments seemed to pass by in a haze. Gracie felt her hand grasp…something…but kept on moving as if nothing was happening. She was standing directly behind the demon now. She felt herself kneel down…and words began coming from her lips…

"You will never harm another soul…ever…again…" The words, even from her own lips, seemed to be coming at her from every direction at once. "You will burn in a fire so hot that the pain you feel, the pain you have wrought on so many, will be a hundred fold what was dealt in your vile and disgusting existence." She felt her arm lift whatever it was holding, grasping it in both hands. With a great roar of fury, she brought it down, a sickening CRUNCH as it met the demon's neck.

As the helmet collided with the floor, the last few moments flashed through Gracie's eyes like a film reel. Somehow, she'd managed to evade every piece of rubble that had come near her…but the others had not been so lucky. Turning to check on her friends, the pit of her stomach fell as she saw the Ice Lord, descending on Rowan, pinned under a hunk of rock. She didn't have time for the bow! Her hand shot to the dragon-hilted dagger. Whipping it from her belt, the blade flew through the air, straight and true, into the Ice Lord's back. Not wasting a moment, the younger possible flew across the rubble-strewn floor, determined to close the distance, to reach her friend in time.

Sticking up in the rubble, she spotted Rowan's sword. Snatching it up, she hefted the enormous blade up and leveled it at her target and…and…

Gracie felt like someone had dropped a load of bricks onto her shoulders. Her knees began to buckle and she collided with the icy ground, Rowan's sword clattering out of her hands.

Over and over again, the girl's stomach clenched and lurched, seeming to heave up every meal that Gracie had ever eaten, even when it felt like there was nothing left to heave up. Completely oblivious to the rest of the world, Gracie could only lay there, coughing and gasping for air. She felt someone place a hand on her back, gathering her hair and trying to keep her up.

"Steady…steady as you go," A female voice cautioned.

Finally, when it felt like there was nothing left, with her lungs burning like she'd swallowed a bucket of hot coals, she struggled to her feet. She looked around and saw Deirdre, wedging the younger Possible onto her shoulder. Where…where was…Rowan?

"I…" Gracie coughed as her mouth sluggishly tried to form words. "I…had to…and he was…going to kill…"

"Shhhhh," Deirdre breathed. "You sent that vile beast back to the pit of darkness that spawned him…and gave him a sting that he won't soon forget. Gracie could feel the embrace growing tighter. "And you saved us, Rowan and myself," Deirdre wedged herself around and held Gracie by the chin with her free and. "And that is a debt that demands repayment. By the old Gods and the new, if you find yourself in danger, I will be there to stand with you, should death itself even stand in my way. As above, so below; so mote it be!"

Gracie's head felt like it was a spinning top, going in a thousand different directions at once and being used for a kickball in a match wit steel-toed shoes…but those words sparked something. She couldn't explain it. The tickle at the back of her neck shot through her body…and everything went dark.

Author's Notes:

Man there is nothing like an epidemic to finally make you sit down and type up the rough drafts that had been accumulating since the start of last summer! It feels so good to be writing again and this chapter in particular felt good to write. I'm really liking exploring this connection that Gracie's family has to the Fae, particularly how dark magic as an almost sickening effect to the teenage Possible. Look for it to come up in a lot more stories in the future!