Krystal Fae approached Santa, a worried look on her face. “I have never seen you so somber. What has happened?”
Santa looked up at Queen Isadora. “There is a hero among us who gave his life to protect millions. However, he is not dead, just frozen in permanent ice. I have tried all my powers to free him, as has my friend EB. Both of us are powerful magical users, but your power is far greater than ours.”
Nova spoke before the Queen. “Arx?”
EB nodded, “He gave Adrianne a kiss so that she would stop fighting. It froze them solid. They are like a statue on the plains of Africa. It’s so... sad.”
Queen Isadora said, “I cannot. I am afraid my power already wanes within the confines of this world. I am a Summer Pixie, my power over that which is cold is limited, and here, in this realm, even more limited. I am afraid that only a Winter Wizard could hope to aid this situation, and none exist any longer that we know of.”
Nova said, “We will find a way. I am sure.”
Krystal said, “Right now, I want to see my husband and baby again. Please. I am sorry, your highness, but I...”
Queen Isadora smiled and held out her hand. Krystal took her hand and bowed low. The Queen said, “I understand. Go see them. Bring them to me. Then, we shall go.”
Krystal looked at the Queen, their hands gripped. There was a silence between them, and then she finally nodded. “I will. Please excuse us.”
***
As they walked toward Nova’s room, Krystal paused and looked at Strange Quark. “Do me a favor. Bring my friends here. I wish to see them.”
“Here?”
She held a hand out toward the mess hall. “Yes. First, I see my family, and then I want to see them.”
“Okay. Sure, no problem. Will take a moment.” He vanished away.
EB asked, “What was that about?”
Nova spoke, “You will find out.”
Krystal looked at him, exchanging sad glances. There was a message between them, and an understanding that they both shared. He knew what she needed. Finally, he said, “Go to the infirmary and see your husband. I will bring the baby down.”
“Thank you.” She walked with Santa toward the infirmary while Nova left.
In a few moments, Nova walked into the infirmary where Krystal stood next to the bed with Alex. He now sat up on the edge, looking far healthier than he had earlier. Krystal hurried over and took her baby and held her close. She scrunched up against Alex, their baby between them.
“You are much better.” Nova said.
Alex, holding his family in his arms, said, “In a flash, I felt my strength return. Pixie magic?”
“Yes.”
“Director... oh, I see it’s true. Krystal is back!” Justin came in with a big smile.
EB said, “Yup, the Pixie Queen helped.”
“The... who?” Justin asked.
Nova said, “I’ll explain later.”
Justin asked, “How... are you back? I thought you were gone.”
Krystal, still holding her baby, said, “I was. That sphere took me in, altered me. It was pain beyond anything I have ever endured. However, it couldn’t change me like the others. My own magical nature resisted, and the sphere trapped me in a cycle of agony as it tried over and over. However, I found an escape when Drocha created that computer simulation. A pocket of reality formed around Alex’s mind, and I could slip inside. However, I wasn’t entirely there; it was like being in a dream. I knew it wasn’t real, but I also couldn’t completely think for myself.”
Alex said, “I accidentally created that reality, and it gave me the ability to have the happiness I thought I had lost forever.”
Justin said, “It was a boon unlike anything else. You could save us all. We would all be dead if you hadn’t disrupted the simulation’s programming.”
Krystal said, “As it fell apart, I became more and more aware. I could feel the program, see Drocha’s workmanship. Alex let himself be taken deep inside the programming, and we were together, in a way. It wasn’t like we could talk, but we could feel each other’s presence.”
Justin asked, “Were you the one who led us along with that strange signal from within Drocha’s programming?”
Alex said, “Yes. At first, I was trying to help you stop him. Interrupt his plans. But Krystal realized something horrible, and we had to shift our plan quickly.”
Nova asked, “What did you find?”
She looked at him with somber eyes. “Near the very end of Drocha’s plan, just before he was about to upload himself back into that abhorrent mother-ship, I sensed the people in the spheres. The greater the power in them, the more they were ready to escape. They were in eternal pain. It was tearing their souls apart. They couldn’t control their actions or thoughts; they would forever watch their hands rip and tear apart innocent people. I tried to free their minds. The only one I could almost free was Adrianne, but even she was tormented beyond anything any human should endure.”
Alex said, “So, we realized what we had to do. We helped Drocha realize his plans. Sent him to his ship, along with my mind and Krystal inside one of his spheres. We then made certain all his spheres were near him.”
EB jumped up and gleefully said, “You blew the crap outta Drocha’s spheres! Super fairy for the win!”
Krystal said, “I knew I could unleash my power, which included all the corrupt enhancements he tried to force into my body. It was a weapon of mass destruction, and I would direct it at his work. I expected to sacrifice myself. Fortunately for me, I survived. And all those poor souls are now at rest, no longer in pain.”
Alex said, “And Drocha is weak and running for his life. I hope he crawls under a rock and dies.”
Nova said, “Sadly, creatures like him always find a way to return. However, it will take time for him to regain any power, and next time we will be ready for him.”
Both Alex and Krystal jerked, and their bodies buzzed with a strange energy for a moment. Krystal nearly fell over as Justin caught her arm.
“Krystal?” Dr. Henderson rushed over.
She held up her hand. “I’m okay. I’m afraid... it’s time.”
“What is she talking about?” Dr. Henderson asked.
Nova controlled what appeared to be tears as he said, “Come, they should be gathered by now.”
***
Nova led Alex and Krystal into the mess hall of the station. Dr. Henderson, Justin, EB, and Santa joined them.
Strange Quark had gathered dozens of heroes. Former members of BADGE and current league heads filled the room. Gargoyle walked up with Chase to join the command staff. Chaz Hamilton was ready with his tablet to write anything that might be newsworthy. Instructors and BADGE agents arrived last.
From inside the arboretum walked out Torrik with his unit of warriors. The pixies carried out Queen Isadora. The magical folk came as a great surprise to many there.
Krystal stood before everyone and had tears in her eyes as she looked around the room. “Friends, fellow
heroes, everyone. You have meant everything to me. We have fought together, laughed together, and cried together. We have faced apocalyptic challenges and overcome them. Time itself broke, and we fixed it. We have seen friends pass on, and fresh faces arrive. This world is a better place because of you, and I am pleased to have been a part of that. We faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable, and today we stand on a hill of victory. I...” she held back tears and struggled for a moment.
Alex took her arm and held her as he said, “We both are thankful that you have been in our lives. And, we hope that the memory of us will forever remind you to love one another and fight for a better tomorrow every day.”
Queen Isadora said softly, “It is time.”
Krystal nodded and wiped her eyes. “Drocha took my humanity from me and corrupted it. I destroyed that part of me so I could destroy his creations. The magic in my husband and myself is not stable in this universe. We have to leave...” she struggled to speak as several people began to cry at the words she spoke. She managed to say, “We love you all and will forever cherish your memories you have given us. Thank you for being our friends.”
The pixies and satyrs created a large portal behind them and marched into the magical world where they came from. Krystal Fae Murphy and Alex Fae Murphy, along with their small child, bid their last farewell and joined the magical kinds in a new life.
It took time for many to truly comprehend that they would never again see Krystal or Alex, but that at least they got to live.
***
Quiet filled the station, a dark silence that seemed to know that terrible loss had come as the price for peace. The world below rebuilt itself, and the heroes returned to their work with heavy hearts once more. Time would mend the wounds, but those who lost friends and family during this time would never fully heal.
Nova stood at a window that looked into a glass enclosure built for one purpose. Adrianne and Arx were now stored in a place where this unique cold wouldn’t hurt anyone. Their fateful kiss a permanent reminder of their love.
“Nova, you wanted to see me. I was about to head back to the North Pole.” Santa walked up behind him.
Nova looked at Santa through his reflection. “Yes, I was hoping you could help me with a problem.”
“Problem? I don’t have an answer to free Arx.”
“I know. That is not the issue.” Nova turned and asked, “What do the Vexillians know of The Malevolence?”
