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Dedicated to Jenny for all the votes and support! It means a lot!

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Chapter 26:

The stars sprinkled like moon dust in the sky. They covered every surface. With stars the colors of birth-stone blue and sequin-silver and molten-gold. The way they shone light into the scene was like a beacon for lost souls.

The ones furthest away, almost outside the span of Faery (or human) comprehension, were like flashing pinpricks in a veil of darkness. They had a faint, silver tint and they looked like they were the distant, glittering sparks from an angel's heavenly fire. It seemed to Willow that there was a snowfall sparkling in outer space and she so felt privileged to witness it. As if it were meant to be for only sacred people to see.

There were tons of shooting stars, too. They would shoot through the sky leaving a streak of light behind it. The whole look was magical to Willow. A moon (almost full) hung in the middle of all the stars, leaving a eerie glow to the entire garden.

The moon's light showered over a huge, flat rock laying on the ground. It was tall, and long, and Willow could tell it was a star-gazing rock.

She understood why Michael had said, 'And that's how we know our world isn't under yours.' Because it would be impossible to have stars, first of all. Second, it would be impossible for the dark sky to look so vast if it were under a world.

It was as if she was watching a scene from an old fable stepping off the page and she was astonished by its beauty.

Michael smiled at her facial expression. He grabbed her hand and walked her to the rock. Helping her up onto it they sat on the edge shoulder-to-shoulder. He was watching with a smile playing over his lips.

"What?" Willow had to ask.

"You're acting as if you have never really seen stars before." He said. "Have you never gone star-gazing before?"

Willow shook her head, "I live in Chicago. What's supposed to be stars are towers. No, I have never seen a sight like this."

Michael smirked at her and looked up as well, "Must be boring never being able to see the stars." He said.

Willow shrugged her shoulders, "I've never really thought about it."

"You'll sure think about it next time."

"If there is a next time." The words had popped out of Willow's mouth before she could stop them. Michael looked over at her, his pale eyebrows furrowed.

"You have no self trust," He said.

"It's only logical," Willow replied, not meeting her eyes with his. "What some people call 'self trust', is just come illusion they're gripping unto. And when you're holding on to nothing, you have to let go."

Michael cocked his head to the side, "If you really had no self trust as you say you do, you wouldn't of accepted the mission. Unless, you were looking for something else."

Willow twisted her mouth a little and looked up at him, "Everybody dreams of an adventure at some point. And that is what and adventure is about, isn't it? The danger and peril and other ugly things that hold their own beauty."

Michael smiled, "That's a good way to sum it up. If I were to tell you that, out of all the Willows, I think you have the best of chances to being the one. Would that boost your self-trust?"

Willow looked up at him and smirked, "You're just flattering me."

His eyes turned serious, "You know I don't flatter."

Willow was quiet for a moment, "Well, at least someone believes in me."

Michael gave her a sly smile. "I have something for you." He said, "Close your eyes."

Willow gave him a suspicious look, "How do I know you aren't going to spit on me?"' He laughed and in between laughs said,

"How do you know I am not giving you a million dollars?"

"Because you don't have dollars in the UnderWorld." Willow replied bluntly.

Michael glanced at her for a moment. Willow noticed the moon's light showering on top of him, it made him look like those angels with the heaven's light pouring on them. His hair like the heavenly fire, and his eyes like gems. "Just close your eyes." Willow obeyed and closed her eyes tightly.

He grabbed her hand -which sent electric sparks all up her arms- and placed something slightly heavy, and cold in her hand. "You can open your eyes." Willow opened them, very slowly.

And she gasped in awe and surprise, unable to believe she was holding something that shone brighter than the stars and moon. Something that had such grace and beauty, and yet was so small. It felt like she was holding the moon in her hands.

And the moon was hanging at the end of a necklace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been months. Or maybe years. Kaira has been running and walking through deserts and ice plains. She has climbed mountains and crossed rain-forests.

She was attacked many times and now she was running (more of crawling in exhaustion) through the ice mountain of Gurdfer. Near the dwarfs' city, Motla.

She persisted, even though every bone in her body screamed for her to stop. She needed to find her Incoy Dragon.

The wind beat her body like a whipping. She felt like she was out of everything, energy, bones, endurance, and hope.

"Ahhhh!" A distinctly male voice yelled. Kaira knew what type of yell it was, it was a yell of attack. And by the time she turned around, a burly man was lunging at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's beautiful!" Willow breathed. It was a necklace, hanging at the end of the chain was a fairy. The fairy, at first glance, looked like it was made of diamond. But the crystal it was made of shone way to bright to be made of anything the UpperWorld had.

The fairy was holding a flower and it was the size of Willow's thumb. Right where the heart should be, was a stone that looked like the universe. Full of greens and blues and purples. It shone bright as well. Willow couldn't explain the feeling the necklace was giving her. It enchanted her, she couldn't look away from the small stone that was right where the heart should be.

The necklace was gorgeous. It was tiny, and meant nothing to any person that could see it, really. What made it so beautiful, was that Michael had given it to her.

"Believe it or not," He said. "That stone has no value."

Willow looked up, "That's impossible."

He just smiled, a bright smile that lit his eyes up like the fourth of July. "It is only beautiful if you want it to be. If you dream it to be."

In other situations, this would of sounded cheesy. But it just mesmerized Willow even more, she looked back at the necklace, and it shone even brighter than before. The beauty of it went down to her bones and made her shiver.

"Are you cold?" He asked, but before the -still mesmerized- Willow could respond, he put an arm around her and held her close. Willow thanked herself for not have responded, 'no, no I am not.' She was more comfortable against his chest.

"Not anymore." She responded with a sly smile. He laughed quietly. "You know," Willow said. "I will probably give this back to you. I can't keep something like this."

Michael looked down at her, "I don't want it. What do you think a man like me would do with that? I've got a reputation to hold."

Willow rolled her eyes. "I am not keeping this."

Michael furrowed his eyebrows at her and puckered his lips slightly, "Just think of it as a reminder." He said after a moment. "That someone does believe in you."

Willow was quiet for a long, long moment. "And someone won't let me fall." She whispered. "What if I were to turn all bad guy, would you still believe in me, then?"

"I'll forever believe in you." He bluntly replied.

"Forever." Willow whispered. "Thank you, although it won't be a long forever."

Michael rolled his eyes, "You are not going to die in the hands of the dragon."

"Whatever floats your boat, Michael." Willow replied, remembering him teasing Alicia with that phrase. She hesitantly -very, very hesitantly- laid her head on Michael's broad shoulder. He didn't respond in any way, which reassured her a lot.

Willow took the moment of silence to hook the necklace around her neck. The chain was long, enabling her to hide the necklace in her dress bodice.

"I knew you would keep it." Michael said, watching her intently. Willow didn't know what to respond, so she decided to go with sarcasm.

"What can I say? I'm a girl, and it's a beautiful necklace."

"A beautiful necklace, for a beautiful girl." He whispered. Willow looked at him in surprise, he looked away quickly and bit his tongue as if he hadn't meant to say that. Willow didn't respond. Well, what could she say? Nobody had ever called her beautiful. Except her family and Jasper, but that was different. They were her family, they automatically thought she was beautiful. But, this was Michael. He wasn't meant to think she was beautiful, and Willow held back the impulse to call him beautiful, too.

"What's that?" Michael said, instantly alarmed. Willow looked around in confusion. She hadn't heard anything, but then again, Michael's senses were probably stronger than hers.

Michael reached into his jacket and pulled out a long blade. Willow wasn't surprised. Of course he would be armed. Then, to her surprise, Alicia came out. But, it felt weird. Alicia wasn't walking proudly like she usually did, she wasn't looking at Michael with her usual affectionate and annoyed expression. Willow looked over at Michael and could see Michael at ease.

Can't he see something is wrong?

Alicia walked up and smiled at Michael, "What's up?" Willow noted that she didn't ask what the two of them were doing out here, which Willow knew that would be Alicia's first question. Michael let his blade hang, Willow fought the urge to take it and point it at Alicia. Something was wrong, she could sense it. Something was terribly wrong. Why couldn't Michael see this isn't how Alicia would act? They knew each other like the back of their hands, he should be able to sense something was wrong.

"Nothing much." He replied, and when Alicia was close enough, Michael immediately got out of his casual pose and stabbed Alicia in the stomach (Willow could see how Alicia didn't see it coming. Michael had stabbed her in a flash). Willow was about to shriek, even though something was wrong, he didn't have to stab Alicia. But, Willow's shriek stopped halfway out. Instead of scarlet coming out of her wound, dark thick liquid came out. Black.

"Let's go." Michael said and wiped his blade. He grabbed Willow's arm and yanked her toward CarvesWay. In minutes, Michael disappeared. She felt like she did on the mountain when they all were running faster than she did. Why was he so fast?

But, unlike on the mountain, Willow could see CarvesWay jutting out on top of the trees. She needed to get there. Gathering her skirt, she started running, wincing when her bare feet caught on something sharp. But, still continuing with her bloody feet.

"Willow!" Michael's voice came out from behind her. Willow turned around and Michael grabbed her by the arm and started to half drag her behind him. It took Willow a moment to realize that he was dragging her the opposite way.

"Michael!" Willow yelled. "We're going to wrong way!"

"Trust me." Michael said. His voice had changed though, it turned a lot deeper and scratchy. His hands turned into claws and dug deep into Willow's skin. She remembered her though when 'Alicia' had come out.

Something is wrong.

Something is terribly wrong.

So, Willow did the only thing she could. She screamed.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Michael knew Willow wasn't behind him as soon as her footsteps were gone. He cursed. She didn't know anything about Carevevs worked and how to tell them apart from who they shape-change into. And she definitely didn't know how to handle them.

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. She could be anywhere in this massive garden, even though the moon gave a good light, it would be impossible to find her.

He remembered the way the moon's light had showered on her black hair and grey eyes. He remembered thinking about how her eyes were like the stars, silver and shining. And he remembered the way her eyes lit up in awe when he gave her the necklace.

He knew she would be able to see the beauty in it. Alicia and Chelsea could see it, but nobody else could. In normal circumstances, he would of never gave away something like that to anybody. Not even to Chelsea or Alicia. It was his last piece of memory from what was before. But, for some reason, he wanted to see it on Willow. He wanted her to have it.

And now he had lost her. Or so he thought, but that was before he heard her scream. He dreaded what they had shape-changed into. They always shape-changed into one of the people in your life that were important. Someone that you would rather die than seeing them betray you.

He guessed they would turn into her little sisters or mother or Jasper.

What he had least expected was for them to change into him.