A Nightingale sings for Artemis

Julia sighed a little, 'I want to kill that little brad so badly.'

"Darling are you alright?"

'No I'm not…anymore fluctuation in my emotion and blood pressure and the baby will get affected by it.'

"Let me call Genus over."

'No need, I just need to calm down.'

"Darling… you do remember your promise to Yume right."

Julia flinched and the agreed for Genus to come over.

Genus was checking on Julia and Richard asked Ray "I never seen her flinch like that, what happened."

"Well your wife found out she is pregnant and told her that if your soon to be wife was causing trouble for her, and made her feel uncomfortable she should go to Genus and have a checkup, and even if Julia told us she was fine I should drag her to him, because your wife didn't want to get the news she miscarriage because of that sl*t."

Richard laughed again. "Well she is a mother herself… although she hasn't experienced pregnancy herself, to her any child is precious born or unborn."

"Well you have another chilled to add to your family, because Julia appointed your wife to be the godmother of our child."

"Knowing her she will happily accept it and so will I."

Genus was done with his check up and asked Ray "Did the little girl by chance touched Julia on her stomach?"

Ray was thinking for a moment and remember Marika had rubbing her belly.

"She did."

"Well you have nothing to worry about, the little girl placed a healing spell on your children, even if your wife, gets angry, annoyed or her blood pressure would rise to dangerous levels your unborn children will be safe from that."

"But I do advise for her not to be around to much negativity, while your children are protected she is not, and the stress and she being pregnant can take its toll on her."

"Thank you Genus."

"Wait…your said children…"

Genus nodded.

"Congratulation Ray you'll be a father of twins" Richard patted him on the should and gave him a hug.

Ray was shell shocked, he was already happy Julia carried a child, he never expected her to carry twins on her first pregnancy.

Ray then looked at Julia who didn't looked surprised at all.

"Did you know? When were you told."

'Well I did wanted to tell you, but I only found out when she returned.'

'She told me after my short outburst when you were on a call with Richard.'

'But when I had my outburst at that sl*t she told me she had an eye on me because my maternal instincts were very high for a women who is 4 months pregnant, and since she didn't have any knowledge on the maternal instincts of vampires, she told me she had already placed a protective spell on our children, I figured it out when she said children and not child. But I already guessed as much when she said I was upholding our promise.'

"And what was that?"

'She told me that she didn't want us to come to the battle field because when she returned from the war, she wanted to see a little Ray and Julia crawling in the palace.'

Ray hugged Julia "No matter when you have difficulties during your pregnancy you better tell me. Because carrying on child is very demanding on your body, two are twice as demanding."

Julia smiled 'Well lucky for you, these two little once won't be much of a bother to me, because I'm used to be physically strained.'

Suddenly Julia tensed up because something unpleasant was nearing the room.

'Well enough about me, Yume visited us before we left and she asked us to pass this on to you.'

Julia was holding a sword and want to hand it over to Richard when suddenly somebody burst open the door.

Everybody accept for Julia looked up.

Maurus had his sighed set on Julia and walked over to her.

But when he was too close to her for her comfort she pointed the sword at him.

'You better stay away from me, because one wrong word and I cut your head off.'

Maurus looked at the sword and saw the writings on the blade, Custos Trium Mundorum (Guardian of the Three Worlds).

"Where did you get this sword?"

'This… my friend Yume found it near the rift at Alta Rubra.'

'She also recognize the energy that is one the blade and there is even some stored in the hilt and it belonged to my dear friend Queen Yumaria and she ask me to give this to King Lunam so he at least has something of her, and since her energy is in the sword he at least has something that has her presences.'

'She thought it could help King Lunam coop with his grieve.'

Maurus wanted to grab the sword away from Julia because anything belonging to Queen Yumaria, The Guardian of the 3 World would be an hindrance to his daughter and Richard heart would stay closed of forever.

Suddenly the door flew open and a 16 year old girl came running up to Richard and pounced at him

'Richard! I'm back!'

Richard recognized her as little Marika but she clearly had a spell casted on her that would make her look like the 16 year old Marika who used that age as Yume.

"Yume!"

Richard hugged her and smiled at her.

'Do you like my gift?'

"I do, thanks to you, I feel much more at ease having your sisters presence close to me."

"Yume do you have any intel on where you found this sword and the purpose of it?"

Little Marika nodded.

'This sword I found near the rift at Alta Rubra, when I heard what happened to sister I start searching for the past 6 months, I found this sword early in the morning and went to Ray and Julia and told them it was sisters sword and that was best to be given to her husband.'

'I made a picture of the sword and went to uncle Smithy, because I recognized the craftsmanship was his. He told me it is a specially made to destroy magic crystals.'

'But if she dropped before she fell or after she came out I don't know, but if it were the latter…'

Little Marika looked threatening made a gesture to Maurus his throat would be slight.

'But I haven't sensed her presence for the past six months around the rift so she probably still down there.'

Little Marika walked over to Maurus and start to lecture him and corner him.

'And what the hell do you think you're doing, trying to put your dirty claws om my sisters sword. I should just cut them off.'

'You have no right to touch my sisters stuff, only her husband and my bro's are allowed.'

'Not to mention I heard everything you were and are planning, you really think you can get away with it? If my sister isn't around I will do it for her.'

'How absurd are you adults anyway…forcing and blackmailing a king in marriage, I should just kill you all including those shitty ministers.'

Little Marika then grind, 'If your to greed, you will be blinded and Karma will come for you and you never see her coming until it's too late.'

'If you are here to complain about my best friend Julia calling your sl*ty daughter a sl*t you better shut up and accept that she is one.'

'I saw what you were thinking, you wanted to hurt my precious friend, I really have to praise your guts and trying to hurt a royal guest who is also royal.'

'You walk in this place like you own it and act like you're the king here.'

'Mister you better start knowing your place already, your daughter won't become the queen, shell never receive his love and attention. And you will never hold any power and you have no saying in any countries matter.'

Little Marika held Marika sword and pointed at Maurus, 'I think it's better for you and your daughter to piss off and return to your moon, because you never know when I, The Night Watchers or The Shadow Brigade will come and assassinate you… Because that is child play for us anyway.'

"Are you threatening me little girl?"

'No it's a promise, but I can just kill you right now and my bro in law won't say a thing and won't put me in prison anyway… without you, getting rid of your daughter is just a matter that can be solved in a few hours.'

"Your Majesty!"

"Yume you really take after your big sister" Richard hugged her and dotted on little Marika."

'Bro in law why not kill them and you marry me till my sister gets back.'

"Well although the offer is tempting…I think your sister Yumaria will kill me when she finds out."

Little Marika hugged and nuzzled Richard 'Alright! But you better not touch or sleep with that sl*t and divorce as soon as my sister gets back.'

'A wait I have a better idea let sister kill her; then you don't have a nasty divorce, it will be a clean one and the only thing you have to pay for is a coffin and a stone…that's a nice and cheap divorce settlement don't you think?'

Canus started to laugh.

Little Marika saw Canus and pounced on him as well 'Bro Canus! Your also here!'

"Yep I'm here to guard you bro in laws body, why not join me in that duty?"

'Sure, he is still technically married to my sister.' Little Marika smirked at Maurus.

"Who cares after tomorrow noon he isn't any more, and there is nothing you can do to stop the wedding."

'Of course I can do something about it, only you won't see it coming that's all.'

'Now f*ck off already your disturbing my precious time with my bro's.'

Maurus wanted to move to little Marika but she pointed her sword at him.

'GUARDS!!!'

The guards came rushing in.

'Would you be so kind and quarantine this piece of shit and his daughter until the wedding?'

"Of course Yume."

Little Marika smiled and waved while Maurus was taken away.

Little Marika sighed a little and Canus walked up to her.

"You played Yume really well."

Richard looked at Canus "What do you mean?"

"Remember she was sent to Ignis for a lecture?"

"Yeh…"

"Well after her lecture she didn't want to go home, because when Cinis showed Yume, this girl took an interest in it and said she wanted to be like her. Although it was one of many identities Mari took, she like this identity, so she started to study it and talked to everybody who had interacted with Yume in the past and started to get a grasp on the character."

'And big brother Canus trained my swordsmanship so I'm well versed in the sword art now.'

'Big brother Cinis although lecture me a lot on my behavior I learned from him how to pick up on information and used it against my opponent.'

'I'm half the level big sister is, but I have time to grow and polished my skills. So I hope when big sis is back she will praise my hard work.'

"She sure will, after she lectured you."

Little Marika smiled 'I'll take that any time, because she probably is less scary then Cinis."

Everybody started to laugh.

[Next day]

It was early in the morning when William came in to Marika's room.

Nova woke up and William gestured to be quiet and nodded.

He put a note on the bed stand for her and stroked her head and placed a kiss on her head.

"You helped us so much, now it's our turn to help you."

William left the room and made a portal to Moon Castle.

Nova looked at his mother and saw she was faintly glowing but didn't think much of it and went back to sleep.

It was now eight in the morning and Clause didn't want to wake Marika, he was afraid she would be in a foul mood if he did.

"What are you doing Clause?"

"She wanted to be woken up at eight but…"

"But what?"

"Well William told me she hate it when her sleep gets disturbed."

"Clause…you are a big baby."

Arthur got in idea "Marika time to get out of bed." He said energetic while opening the curtains. "You have to rescue your husband today."

"Come on sleepy head if you keep sleeping like this you'll be late." Arthur pulled the cover.

Marika slowly got up and looked at Arthur still half asleep.

'Hey Arthur what are you doing here at the mansion? Weren't you supposed to be at The Blood Castle?'

Marika looked around 'Arthur did you kidnap me?'

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Marika, but I did not… You escaped the rift yesterday with the blue and brown dragon clan, and you picked up your kids from the human world."

Arthur started to pull on Marika's arm, "Now Queen Yumaria it's time to get ready because you have a wedding to crash."

Marika was fully awake now.

'Why didn't Clause come to wake me?'

"Well William told him you hate it when people disturb your sleep so the big baby didn't dare to wake you up."

"But when I found out how bad your health was I started to observing you I found the trick to wake you up and not get injured."

Marika started to laugh 'You probably found that out in Ignis.'

"I did, you respond better to positive or energetic vibes, and when somebody happily tell you to get up and kill somebody your respond even better."

Marika hugged Arthur and ruffled his hear, 'You really have become even smart in the past year.'

"Well I had a great teacher and boss, but she disappeared on me and now I'm jobless so I had time to polish my skills."

'Huh…I made sure that Richard, Cinis, and Aron would reinstate you after a few months I disappeared.'

"Well they did offer it to me, but I didn't want to." Arthur shrugged his shoulders.

'Why?'

"Because you weren't there, and it would be boring without you anyway."

Marika laughed 'What are you a little kid?'

"No…it's just everything felt so boring without you that's all, my friend was no longer around so doing my job would be less enjoyable."

'Alec, you still have room to grow' Marika smiled.

'By the way… as of today I will stop calling you Arthur, because that name was given by the Sanguis, and since they are gone so should that name they gave you. But I will give you something better in return.'

"And what is that?"

'A nickname, let's see…'

'I got it…Nightingale'

"You give me a nickname after a bird of the human word that sings at night?"

Marika nodded.

Arthur started to laugh "Well in some sense it fits me."

"I accept it."

"So you mind to have another nickname added to your list?"

'Not at all, but it's a very short list.'

'Genus calls me little girl and Sano calls me little rough.'

"Artemis."

'Uhm…that surprising…I like it! It fits me perfectly in my way of doing things.'

'Now I will take a short bath and get dressed and we go and eat something before we go out.'

"Alright see you in a bit."

Arthur left the room and looked at Clause, "Big baby."

Marika cleaned herself and was changing her cloth when Nova pointed at the bed stand.

Marika saw the note, 'When did he get in here?'

"Roughly around 5 in the morning."

To Marika,

By the time you get up I already left for Moon Castle.

If everything went as planned, Little Marika who studied your identity as Yume should have already caused a rucks at the palace.

I had a long talk with my parents and sibling, they will support you if you need them so don't be afraid to ask them for help.

I also told them the second establishment in Virtus et Caeruleus Viridi is almost complete and that you wouldn't mind if they wanted to move their because the door to Virtus et Caeruleus Viridi is always open to them and can stay until they decided on what they want to do.

I'll see you at the wedding and make sure your entrance is something that will make them fear you to the core.

William Clericus and Wade.

Marika smiled, William really knew how she toughed.

"Mom, before he left he placed a kiss on your head, but I don't detect any magic on you."

"He also said you helped them and it was now their turn to help you."

'Your right he didn't place any spell on me, he transferred some knowledge that will help me.'

"What did you learn?"

'I know now how to call on all the guards of the guardian.'

'But it wasn't actually William who did that but Wade his dragon.'

'Now before we go to Moon Castle I want you three be honest to me, if you are scared to go back there it's alright, you don't have to go there, it's not unreasonable to be traumatized by something like that.'

"Mom we are not afraid, don't forget I got stabbed and almost died there, and I never had any trouble going back there before so this won't be any different for me."

Marika nodded.

'Nova, Regina?'

'Are you nuts!, I want to go there and stomp on them for letting us suffer like that.'

"I agree with sister, we want our revenge."

Marika smiled and hugged them.

'Alright, then let's go and save your father.'

Marika met up with Arthur and Claus and The Brown Dragon Clan and The Blue Dragon Clan.

Marika and the others took off to Faber Village and landed at her castle,

'Anybody who wants to join me is free to come, as for the children they can stay at my palace, everything you need is in here, even a school; just ask the staff and they will help you out.'

Suddenly Marika got toppled over again, 'Jeez why is everybody running me over?'

Marika saw Azurite, Dante, Ellie and Kevin.

"Welcome home!"

Marika smiled, 'I'm home but not for long.'

"We know… so we celebrate later."

'Kevin, Dante can you help them to settle in, while I'm going to get Owen and Vita.'

'Khai, Regina, Nova fallow me.'

"Yes mom."

Marika and the kids landed at Mystic Cave and started and set down under the tree with Khai.

'Khai, today I return you other half, I already talked to him in my sleep and although he was a little anxious about it, he is ready to go back to you.'

'So I need you three to watch me, and once he is out help him and guide him.'

'Won't this take a lot of time?'

'No because I did this before and since Khai is ready to come out and go back this will take 30 minutes at most we still have enough time left.'

'Alright.'

Marika started to meditate and met up with Khai.

Marika crouched down to him and hugged him 'Are you ready to go back?'

"Mommy?"

'Yes baby.'

"I made you something."

'And what did you make for me?'

"Khai handed her a crystal shard, this is my Magic and even though your own Magic is back I leave you with a copy of mine, this will help you stabilize and control your energy and magic."

Marika let a few tears drop out of happiness.

'Thank sweetie' And Marika gave him a warm hug.

"I'm going to miss you."

'Sweetie even though you're not inside me anymore doesn't mean I'm not there' and Marika placed a very special bonding spell on Khai, now our souls are connected so no matter how far I am you can always find me and still feel my presence.'

Khai hugged Marika and left her body, "Thanks for taking care of me while I was inside you."

Marika smiled and waved at him.

Khai soul was now outside of her body and met up with himself. Khai stretched out his hands and his soul drifted to him. Khai helped him in side while whispering "Welcome back"

10 minutes had past and Marika got out of her meditative state.

Marika looked at Khai and smiled.

Khai suddenly hugged her "Mommy I got back safely."

Marika patted Khai on the head.

'Now let's go and pick up Owen and Vita and then pick up the rest of the people.'

Marika and the kids arrived at the top of the mountain.

When she got toppled over again.

'I swear did everybody secretly made an agreement to run me over when I return?'

"We didn't but hearing you complain being run over that means that we all feel the same after a year."

Marika smiled 'Then I am very much love by you all.'

Owen and Vita shyly came up to Marika.

Marika saw them and was amazed by how they have grown and even had a human form.

Marika looked at Solis. 'Solis those two are my kids right.'

"Yes they are."

'Are you sure?'

"Yes mom, I'm sure."

'Then please explain to your mother how it is even possible for my cute babies to look even more cuter than the day I left.'

"Well mom children do grow up your know."

'But why are they so shy? Did they forget about me?'

Marika looked worried.

"Well…"

Owen and Vita took this que and ran up to Marika

"Mommy your home."

'Mommy we missed you.'

Marika hugged them and felt relieved they still remembered her.

"You're not mad at us for still being here right?"

'No your father told me the reason, and it's fine.'

'So I came as promised, although a little later.'

'That's alright mommy, you had a lot to do and you were probably very tired.'

'So are you guys ready to help me free your father from that awful women?'

"We are!"

'Let's free our daddy!'

"By the way mom, sister Luna and her pack are already on their way to dad, and thy should be near the border waiting for you."

'This is going to be fun and interesting.'

Marika and the kids left for Faber Village.

[Faber Village.]

Marika landed and told everybody who wanted to come to prepare to leave in an hour if they needed a weapon they should go with Ellie to the black smith.

Marika was going to the cloth store and pick up and armor set that would show of her status as The Guardian of The 3 World.

When she came in she was attacked by Lenis.

"Marika you home!"

'Lenis! How have you been?'

"Very well, I'm completely cured and have been working here for the past 3 months."

'That wonderful news.'

Lenis pulled Marika to the back of the store and showed her the armor he had made for her.

Marika was impressed by the looks of it and put it on.

'How do I look?'

"Like a goddess of war." Designer came in.

Marika hugged him 'You guys really have worked your magic.'

"Just you wait and see your wedding dress."

"So hurry up and get rid of the plague that is plaguing Luan Lumen and come back so we can do a fitting session to adjust your wedding dress."

Marika hugged the 3 of them.

'I'll be back soon, and won't be away for long.'

Marika left the shop and the three were relieved she was back.

Marika came back and rounded up everybody who wanted to go with her.

'Let's free King Lunam and send The Astrum Clan back to where they belong!'

Everybody roared and Marika took off and the others fallowed her. 

[Border of Luan Lumen]

Marika landed and saw her daughter and Rector waiting for her.

'Mom!' Luna ran up to her and pounced at her.

'Mom, you finally back, I missed you so much.'

'Hey sweetie, I missed you too and…'

Marika couldn't finish her sentence because she was topped over by 6 adolescent wolfs.

"Grandma, my name is Virens and we heard a lot about you from mom and dad, even grandpa showed a picture of you."

Marika looked at Luna 'Sweetie, didn't your father tell you to teach the kids not to call us like that?'

'He did, but they were allowed to call you grandma only once and after that they have to call you by your name.'

'Alright kids just get it out of your system already.'

"We already have it out of our system Grand…ma…" they said in sync.

'Alright you can call me Marika or Yumaria, you can pick which ever you want.'

Marika patted the children and hugged them.

Luna and Rector look happy at the sight of their children and Marika bonding.

'Ahha I really hate it…I missed my chance on babysitting you when you were your small little pups.'

"Don't worry mom… Kids!"

The 6 of them changed to small little puppy's right in front of Marika.

Marika looked at Rector 'Who taught them?'

"We did."

Marika smiled and hugged Luna and Rector.

The 6 of them changed back 'You can always come and pick us up and babysit us whenever you want.'

Marika nodded, 'I sure kidnap you guys and hug you to death and play a lot with you.'

"Jeej, Marika likes us."

'Now shell we head out and rescue your grandfather.'

'Pfft…I won't tell dad what you just said.'

Marika looked at the 6 of them 'You better call out to him as grandpa and you can call me grandma one more time but after that it's done.'

The six of them nodded.

"Mom really like to play the eye for an eye."

'Of course…this is just one of many punishments he will receive from me.'

Everybody started to laugh.

[Moon Castle]

Only halve an hour remained before the wedding and the guest were already gathering.

Richard was in his room still being guarded by Yume and Canus.

William came inside room. "Are you nervous?"

Richard shook his head "I'm anxious."

"Why?"

"Marika still isn't here and…"

'You know sis Yumaria; she likes to make a grant entrance, relax bro in law.'

'But still that woman is probably frustrated and cursing now, because she can't touch you or kiss you.' Little Marika busted out in a laugh.

"Canus looked at her, you know for a 10 year old you really have cruel thoughts."

'You think I'm cruel…what do you think will happen to my bro in law if my sister smells her scent on him?'

'let alone if she would come in when they would kiss… you want my bro in law to die?'

'I thought it up and recommended this purely out of the safety of my bro in law.'

Richard patted her head "And I'm very grateful to you for thinking up something like this, and even the priest didn't mind, he even said we didn't need to exchange rings since she would not be the Queen."

'But bro Canus if you think that my current idea is cruel, I have a more savage suggestion.'

"And what is that?"

'Let's call that old pervert my sis hate so much and let him take that sl*t away.'

"Yume…I was wrong, you're not cruel, your just like your sister, your to savage…but I like the idea."

"Let me call him."

"Like hell you are, you can call him when Marika and Yume are not around."

"Alright…"

"Your Majesty it time."

Richard got up and sighed.

Richard arrived at the altar and asked Dantis in a whispered if Marika was near?"

Dantis shook his head.

Alice arrived at the red carpet and Richard turned around, because he didn't want to look at her.

Just as Alice was walking on the carped she complained at her father, that he didn't even look at her.

Suddenly a loud howl was heard in the distance, followed by a few screeches and roars.

Yume looked at Richard "Aren't that your children?"

"They are…"

'They don't sound happy.'

"Your right."

Richard was getting more and more anxious because Marika hadn't let her presence known.

Alice arrived next to Richard and wanted to touch him.

'You better get that thought out of your head.' While little Marika swung her sword between them.

"Way you little!"

'Don't tell me you haven't heard those roars, screeches, and howls, those are his children and they don't sound all to happy.'

"So what, just like you they can't do a thing to stop it.

All the kids had arrived and started hiss, screeching, snarl and growl at the Maurus and Alice.

'Hey kids! Have you been well?"

Solis let out a hostile screech

'Ahh come on brother you know me.'

Solis saw little Marika and calmed down a little.

'I'm just as upset as you guys, but we can't do anything about it, only your mom and my sister can do anything to stop this.'

Luna let out another howl and after that a loud and aggressive roar could be heard.

The sound was near and Richard knew it was Marika.

Maurus pressured the priest to start the ceremony already.

Another loud roar was heard and it was still aggressive and calling for help.

Genus looked at William "Did you tell her how to call for the guards?"

"Wade did that."

Genus smirked at William "Genius."

Marika kept up her call for help.

Canus, Carl, Lux, Genus and William all transformed in to their dragon form.

Marika called one more time and five of them roared in response to her.

Richard looked in the direction they were roaring at and he saw Marika together with Michael, Levi, Rex on her side and was followed with a flock of dragons behind her.

He saw The Blue and Brown Clan including The Green and The founding Green Dragon clan, Red and Yellow clan, and even The White Clan from the moon of the human world The Lumen Clan.

Everybody was in shock at the cheer size of the flock of dragons that are heading their way.

Marika was close enough even Dantis could see how pissed Marika looked at the moment.

Dantis looked at Richard who was frozen on the spot. "Your Majesty what's wrong?"

"Ahha this is not going to end well for me either…"

"What do you mean?"

"Her aura is screaming to stay put and don't you dare to move."

"And even William and Genus have to obey her and can even attack me if she orders them."

William told Richard not to worry telepathically.

"Dantis since he is affected by her pressure she just told me you need to move him out of the way."

Dantis nodded and took Richard away.