Pacing. Thinking. Groaning in frustration as numerous items began to float without her knowledge. Every few steps she'd stop as all items in the air would fall back into place as she stared at the orb on her desk. Griffin waited in utter agony for a call or a message of any kind. She slammed her hands on her desk as she hissed passed her clenched teeth.

"... Oh by Magix, where are you boy!?"

"Headmistress Griffin?"

The woman yelped as she turned with a dark scowl on. The Trix, three Witches of her esteemed college for the dark arts, as well as sisters stood at the doorway. Stormy, Darcy, and Icy all gave her an odd look as the Headmistress composed herself.

"A-Ah, there you all are. I'll get to the point ladies, an important person has come to Magix and they're unfamiliar with the environment, so I want you to escort them here at once! You-"

The orb on her desk began to sound as it flashed repeatedly. Griffin jumped and answered the call with a voice no Witch in all of Cloudtower's history ever heard before. A sweet tone came from Griffin as she donned a genial expression.

"Are you here yet?"

A voice sounded back in an annoyed tone. Distorted from the other side by a foreign force, yet the Trix said nothing as Griffin herself ignored it.

("Yeah.")

"Good, it just hit late afternoon and I'm sending my best students to escort you to me before sundown!~"

("I could just, wait until the morning in the woods.")

"N-No! No, they know the way and will get you here in a heartbeat, just make your way to the... You are on the bus, right? You used the invitation portal I sent you?"

("How else would I get here.")

"Then how are you calling me? How'd you even get this-"

("Office number to Cloudtower, College of Witchcraft and Dark Arts, led by Headmistress Griffin. The bus rider has a phone onboard and I'm the only one on right now.")

"... And you're headed to...?"

("Magix City Center.")

She hung up with a great sigh of relief as the Trix smugly sneered at her. Icy spoke in a condescending tone.

"What's the matter Griffin, scared your little lamb will get lost in the big bad city?"

They all laughed before they were silenced with an internal flame burning intensely from a raised fist and her eyes. The Griffin they knew and were cautious of returned as she spoke at them with venom in each word.

"Go. To. Magix Center. And escort him. Here. Before. Sundown."

With scoffs the three Witches left for Magix City, the universal capital of the entire dimension, they speculated with one another on the way there. Stormy rolled her eyes as they entered the city.

"Why did she have us do something so mundane, and what was with that whole before sundown thing, what is this guy like twelve?"

Icy shrugged with a groan.

"Who knows, but I never heard or seen anything about Griffin having a relationship so strange, it'd be funny if it weren't so creepy."

Darcy flexed her fingers as she thumbed down the road.

"And even so, Knut called me not too long ago about Stella's whereabouts, we could kill two birds with one stone while we're here."

They ventured further into the city until they made it to the Center but no one of any notice was there. Darcy ruffled her hair as she scratched it.

"Where's this guy supposed be! We really should've asked what they looked like or for a picture..."

Stormy folded her arms with a stern frown.

"Like I thought, what a waste of time! C'mon let's get outta here."

They turned to leave but were hailed down by a rough voice.

"Hey! You three, hold it."

Icy turned with a glare in the direction of the voice.

"What do you want, louse? We're busy..."

She raised a brow as she eyed the man before them from head to toe. Dark short spiky hair and a black shroud acted as a robe that hid all but his face, the hilt of a blade stuck out from behind him. A deep scar across the bridge of his nose. He tilted his head side to side before he held up a photo of Griffin.

"You three Witches? I've been lost all day looking for any, they're supposed to take me to this old lady."

The Trix glanced at each other caught speechless before Darcy spoke up.

"That's us but, what's your relationship with her, w-"

Stormy interrupted her with an abrupt question.

"Are you a new teacher? You don't look any older than us!"

Icy pulled her back by the collar just as suddenly as she asked.

"You're as big as an ogre, but you're human, what're you her secret weapon?"

The man made a face at them before he shrugged with a low grunt.

"Who knows, I just need to get to her."

The Trix once again looked at each other confused before Icy smirked.

"Okay.~ Hey, I know she wants her present by her side but, we should show you the town so you can find your own way!"

"Are you sure we should do that? It'll get dangerous at dark and the sun's starting to set."

"Don't be so scared, here there's nothing more dangerous than the Trix, now follow me... What's your name?"

"It doesn't matter."

"What do you think of Magix?"

"It's all too bright."

"What's your whole reason for being here then?"

"You don't need to know."

He grew silent as he followed them from a distance. Stormy whispered to her sisters as she glanced back.

"I'm not alone on thinking this is suspicious. He smells awful...!"

Icy shook her head.

"Not at all Stormy, this guy doesn't sound anything like the voice we heard, but he's a human who knows Griffin and wants to get to her before sundown. This has to be the person we're looking for. He looks so rugged and dirty..."

Darcy looked back with a simple smile before she faced her sisters with a marveled expression.

"He's got fresh cuts and bruises on his face too, maybe there's something to that whole evening time limit."

She jumped at her cellphone ringing and answered it as the dopey voice of her henchman came through.

("M-Mistress! I uh, I found the Fairy again, she's not too far from the Center!")

"Are you sure? We're here now so we can meet up at the alley, and you better not have mistaken Stella for another!"

("I-I promise! I had my glasses on and she's with the same Fairy who caused me trouble last time!")

"That's good.~ Now get rid of those glasses when we meet, an ogre with glasses isn't intimidating at all!"

("Y-Yes ma'am...!")

Darcy hung up the phone as Icy stopped and turned to the man.

"I know we're supposed to take you straight to Cloudtower, but something important came up... Say, you could help us out actually! It'll be just a quick second."

He looked up to the evening sky with a scowl on.

"I can't stay in a public place at nightfall..."

He turned from the Trix and began to stomp away, the sight of a blade nearly as big as himself if not longer hung on the back behind the shroud, set at an angle rather than straight down so that the tip hadn't met the ground. Stormy ran after him and tugged on his shoulder.

"Hey! You're supposed to come with us!"

She fell back with a yelp as he shoved her back. She held up a hand with bolts coursed around the fingers.

"What's with you, jerk?! I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"

Before she could extend her arm to fire a bolt, he had already snatched her hand with a crushing grip, her fingers and palm all snapped and popped from the pressure. His eyes held murderous intent for anyone in his way, including herself, even his voice was darker now. She began to sweat under it and her skin paled as it crawled.

"Don't. Touch me."

He pushed her back and ran from them before they could process the scene that had occurred. Stormy's face flushed red with frustration.

"Oooh! I hate him already! Can't we just leave him behind to rot!?"

Darcy shook her head with a sigh.

"Well it's official Stormy, you're the weakest of us, let's at least meet up with Knut before we go back. Griffin can deal with this by herself."

A group of Fairies giggled amongst each other as they mingled, new to each other as the school year had just started, they already began a growing friendship. One Fairy with pigtails gasped and pointed ahead.

"H-Hey, check that out!"

They all looked in the direction a robed figure with blood pouring down his neck rushed into an alley holding a the end of a large metal rod. A blonde one shook her head at the scene.

"Uhn-uh! I'm not going anywhere near that, what if he gets all that grime and dirt on me? Tecna, c'mon you saw that too right?"

A magenta haired one held up a holographic screen with a stern face.

"There's something emanating from him, and he's got a reopened wound from my Quickscan. A big one. What do you think, Bloom?"

One with bright orange hair stood up concerned.

"We can't let him just go on his own like that, can we? How come no one has helped him?"

The last Fairy, a brunette, had looked around worriedly. Unnerved by the silence in the night. She twirled her highlighted hair with a finger.

"How come there's suddenly no one around... He could also be up to something awful... But, Musa is right! We have to help him if there's no one else around!"

They all agreed as the group ventured into the alley. The narrow road lead to a botanical garden. The air grew dry, an odiferous scent appeared without a trace, yet the man leaned against the doorway before entering in by breaking the glass doors with a kick.

The blonde held onto Bloom.

"Oh my gosh! He could've just waited tomorrow if he needed a plant, or you Flora."

The brunette shook her head as the Fairies followed after the man.

"No way, Stella, there's something dark about all this, the plants are all terrified...!"

Tecna looked around with a small orb that floated in front of her, a light shone from it before it returned to her.

"I think we should leave... Numerous break ins just occurred, even though not a sound was made, we're not alone."

A wolf's howl echoed in the entire garden, followed by a myriad of howls, all fell silent before a massive thud sounded behind them. They turned as a great shadow of a werewolf loomed over them. A claw raised to strike down Flora first.

"Aiiee!"

Stella and Tecna used their magic to create a shield in the nick of time, the beast pushed back yet the shield cracked, Musa shouted out.

"Th-There's more!"

A pack of werewolves leapt into view, surrounding the Fairies with fangs and claws bared, drool trickled down their maws as they snarled at the young girls. However, after the initial attack, not one stepped forward. The first werewolf spoke after he sniffed the air near them.

"No... They're not among the Branded... But they smell so divine..."

Another spoke from the pack.

"I haven't had a real woman in awhile... Seeing these girls has me hotter than ever...!"

A feral bark chuckled lowly.

"What soft looking skin... Smooth as a baby's... I think we can have fun with these girls instead..."

The last one sniffed around them as he shook his head.

"There a gas leak...? Don't matter, this place is too eco-friendly to allow a fire..."

They all began to near the group. Stella shook as she began to glow.

"Now's the time to transform into Fairies, don't you think!?"

With a synchronized nod, all but Bloom transformed into their Fairy Forms to allow full magical use of their abilities, all but Flora dispersed.

"Bloom! You have to transform!"

"I-I don't know how!"

"Then, I'll defend you!"

Stella's ring transformed into a magical scepter that fired intense bolts of light. It struck the chest of a werewolf that sent it to another one, the blonde grinned as she aimed for another blast.

"Try talking so big now, flea matts!"

Tecna raised her hands as digital bolas flew out, entangling the arms and mouths of some of the dark creatures.

"Don't let your guard down yet, we can't let them make their move!"

Musa looked around as she was singled out by a number of the pack. With a sheepish smile, she howled, but the wolves all stared at her confused.

"What!? You teach me how to howl them!"

They scoffed and howled together, the volume raised to an ear piercing decibel as the small group fell on their knees in pain holding their heads, Musa giggled as she kept her ears covered.

"Thanks for the lesson, I'll try a higher octave next time.~"

Flora used her magic to call upon the roots beneath them and the vines of the garden to ensnare the wolves. Some were pinned down while others cut away at the living plants. Then, all at once the werewolves' eyes all flashed brightly as they snapped free from their traps with newfound strength.

They moved into a blur, the Fairies unable to keep up with the their eyes, their morale plummeted as Musa flew against a tree with a deep bruise on her cheek. A werewolf stood over her with a small splatter of blood on a raised fist before it blurred away.

Stella opened her mouth for a spell but had her scepter swiped right out her grip. She too had been sent across a small distance into a wall, a footprint on her stomach as she gasped for all the air knocked out of her before she covered her mouth in terror.

"Don't... Don't... Do-...!"

She let out her lunch on the grass before her head was pulled up by her hair. The wolf she had blasted sneered at the sight as he reveled in her whimpering. Tecna created a shield for herself and shouted.

"Everyone get in!"

Bloom and Flora managed to dive within the safety of the shield, Musa attempted to fly but had been pulled down by her ankle, then slammed repeatedly against the dirt. Her Fairy Form vanished. He held her up high with a cackle as he licked her face slowly.

"The dirt suits a bitch like you...! But I got something that'll fit like a glove in you..."

"N-No!"

"Y-Yes...! Not so smug now... Not when you're the one in trouble..."

With his index claw he cut her clothes clean off as the wolves began to sound more like hyenas. Stella was forcibly stripped as Tecna began to sweat profusely even with Bloom and Flora's help, the pack was simply stronger than them in every way. It seemed the end.

A knife whizzed out from the dark of the garden and into the eye of the wolf that held Musa.

"ARRROOOWWW! Sonnuva-!"

At the end of the blade where the hilt should have been was a small spiked bomb instead, lit and ready to explode as he reached for his eye in pain. With a small explosion half of the head had erupted into a visceral charred mess as the body fell dead.

Right after, the whole botanical garden bursted into flames, Flora in particular shrieked in shock.

"Aah! I-I can hear them! They're all crying out! Who would do this!?"

The wolves all began to cough horribly as some wandered aimlessly, all forgot about the Fairies as they helplessly swiped at the air with their claws passed gross coughs, allowing Tecna to use a holographic visor as she scanned one werewolf.

"Anatomical scan complete, these vile creatures can't see in bright light like this, and due to how active their huge body is they intake more oxygen to compensate! The smoke is killing them faster than it would us! Even the roaring of the fire is drowning out any sound we make, they're absolutely blind!"

The man they had chased after leapt through the fire and into view as he snatched Musa and Stella up from the ground. He ran right for Tecna as he threw Stella at her.

"Get going! I need my sword arm so one of you carry that one!"

Bloom caught Stella as Tecna helped carry her out. Flora wiped tears from her eyes as she followed the man with her friends, instinctively she ran faster than the others and nearby him as she saw the werewolves start to tear away at each other in a primal fury.

"Th-This is a nightmare...! A living real nightmare!"

"This is the calm before the storm."

She looked up at the face of this mysterious man, then gasped as she froze at the group of werewolves that lunged for them, no escape in sight. Then all went red.

Tecna nearly dropped Stella's legs as she saw this lumbering man swing a weapon as big as himself at astounding speeds against the werewolves and cut them all to pieces in the one swing. The blade, no. It was far too big to be called that. Too rough, too crude, too thick. It was more like heap of raw iron. Iron!

Tecna couldn't believe it! Such a simple mineral used by primitive humans could slay what magic had only fended off. Bloom had seen the aftermath and what was to come after.

Flora wiped her eyes as she was pushed forward, force to run as she stumbled over the limbs of the monsters, a shrill cry lurched from her throat as she saw past the blood in her eyes. The man roared at her.

"IF YOU'VE GOT TIME TO SCREAM YOU'VE GOT TIME TO RUN! GO!!"

She didn't stop her shrieking but began to sprint ahead as the man cleaved any and all wolves in the way. The botanical garden began to fall apart as the group broke through the doors with the man's iron slab. The building collapsed with the pack of evil creatures inside.

As Musa came to, she was in her dorm room with a dark shroud wrapped around her body, dressed under in her pajamas. Tecna peeked out from their door.

"Tecna...? Wh-What's going on?"

Tecna turned to her and gave Musa a surprising hug. Fear and concern all over as she shuddered.

"You're awake! I-I mean...!"

She then held her out with her usual analytical face. There was a certain fear in her eyes she couldn't hide from her friend.

"W-We were in a bad spot, but that man came and saved us, the werewolves were trapped in the garden fire and managed to get to Alfea, so you should lie back down."

"But, where's everyone else?"

"When we got to the college, Farangonda recalibrated the magical barrier, and sent us all to our dorm except that black swordsman. I'm sure they're all up in their beds..."

Stella, Bloom, and Flora all listened closely against the Headmistress' door. Stella peeked through the keyhole and saw the young man being treated by the Headmistress, Farangonda, a pleasant yet powerful Fairy with many years of experience under her wings. Stella tugged at Bloom's pants.

"She's got him in a chair and took off his armor top. H-He's got big scars! There's something on his neck too... It looks like a mark but, it's bleeding! That was the wound we saw today, it's still going!"

Bloom huffed as she leaned away from the door.

"I can't make anything out... Ooh I wish we had a way of hearing them better."

"I can fix that."

The trio turned around at Musa and Tecna. Musa placed her hand on the door as sound soon cane from the other side with little interference. Farangonda groaned.

"The barrier and walls will keep us safe, yourself included, you don't need to throw yourself out there into the jaws of death again!"

The man stood up from the chair as he placed his hand over the mark to gather blood before he showed it to her.

"This means it's not over and no one's safe around me. Thanks for the healing."

"We're far from finished here, young man."

"I'm not here to argue, just to see Griffin."

"Let us help you! Griffin surely will come to you as soon as I let her know where you are, you can't do this alone!"

There was silence for a time, a stiff stillness before she spoke again with shaken tone.

"I know I haven't treated you the best in the past, I was... You were such a unique case, we didn't know what to do with you. Please. Let me fix my previous mistakes...!"

"For four years, I've been doing this every night alone, and there's nothing else out there that makes me feel more alive than that. You all knew that. It's okay to hate me, just say it."

Stella leaned back as the girls all stumbled away from the door. He swung the doors open but stopped at the sight of the Fairies smiling nervously, his eyes pinned on Musa. This allowed Farangonda to snatch the young man by the wrist. Though her action was fast, her hold was gentle.

"Guts! Listen I-"

It didn't matter as he flashed a horrid glare and a feral snarl his way as he ripped himself out of her grip.

"Don't Touch Me!"

The Fairies jumped at the sudden hostility, but Farangonda persisted.

"Guts, just let me help! I don't want you to die. Your Brand is magical and we have spells to subdue it, always have... Let me show you I really mean it."

"We'll apply a seal and in the morning send you to Cloudtower immediately."

He relaxed as he looked at each Fairy before he scoffed at Farangonda.

"Fine..."