The Unending Dream

[Arlina Rhys]

Arly had to admit, the day's events had left her a little shocked, a little reassured, but mostly with a somewhat sadistic glee as she felt the waves of Nightmare energy crescendo. She had no idea if any of the staff was still standing, hell, she didn't even know where some of her friends were. But the few kids near her position needed her, and thats all she needed to know. Another volley of bright energy crackled by her side as she melted back into faerie for a few seconds, cackling as she materialized behind one of the tank room occupants. Arly was 99% sure she had no chance in hell of neutralizing the girl..but she sure as hell could distract her long enough to save some people.

The girl she was facing roared angrily, loosing another bolt of crackling energy that lanced through anything in its path. Arly carefully led the girl on a merry chase with her powers, popping in and out of reality and relying on her training and combat experience to throw forceful illusions as she continued. The problem was, while the nightmare energies were raw, flowing freely, and everywhere, Arly's reserves of actual endurance were not nearly as infiite in scope. "Missed me!" "I'm over here! " "Ooh, that was a close one!" Of course, the key was to not let the opponent realize that until she had an escape route planned. Arly carefully eyed the battleground as she melted back into faerie, seeing the girls she had been protecting run behind the longbow front lines and sighing slightly in relief before materializing again and barely dodging.

"Stop mocking me! Its unfair! I was trapped in there! I wanted to go HOME!" The girl Screamed as her bolts of energy grew stronger and more wild as her rage started to envelop her. Arly Admitted that she couldn't really agree with what the nuns had done to this girl, or all the other students. On some level it did scare the living hell out of her, and made Arly wonder if she was ever debated for such a fate..but none of that mattered now. "There had been wrongs , yes. But two wrongs don't make a right..they make an atrocity. Stop this now, before you hurt people and prove the nuns right about you you crazy dink!". Unfortunately for Arly, that plan didn't work, and she nearly took the next blast dead on in the chest before managing to barely phase out. Damn, not good.

Another few near misses and Arly was starting to panic, She had enough nightmare magic to go for hours, but it seemed like every time she taunted the girl, her blasts got bigger and deadlier. Just then though, she felt a familiar twinge of magic appear as Casey's teleportation magic kicked in and materialized him by her. Before Arly knew what was happenin, he grabbed her into a bear hug and quickly retraced runes into the air as she protested wildly to be put down. And then they were gone.

Epilogue: In the wake of the battle of All Saints Day, Arly was treated for exhaustion and minod injuries at Kings Row Medical Center after nearly collapsing from fatigue. She was released a few days later, wherein she was given some minor commendations by longbow at the behest of the parents who's children she saved during the battle.

Arly later moved to being homeschooled at the news of the school being closed, and continues with her hero patrols to this day in the Row as well as the rest of the city. She is still dating Casey, and stays in contact as best she can with her friends and classmates. She also has stayed in contact with the girls she rescued from the quads and has become friends with them as well.

As for the princess and her brother, Jack hasn't been seen in some time, and the Kingdom of Faerie continues about its daily business for now. of course, his return is inevitable, and Arly and the Princess wait for that day to meet him with weapons at the ready.