Chapter 39: Dark Mountains

There is portion in all the fairy realms that the fairy folks avoid to travel on. Not that this place is forbidden but more on the common knowledge that it is the region in the realms that does not abide by the usual rules or laws exercised by all fairies. If you are only too desperate to flee from all the realms you would be insane to search for sanctuary there. That is the case for the Dark Fairy. There is nowhere else to go but to the Dark Mountains and the rest of the treacherous zones beyond it.
The Dark Mountains derived its name from its dreary physical features as well as all the other shady and malevolent creatures inhabiting it like ogres for instance. The four realms living in a structured and harmonious way of life makes the Dark Mountain inhabitants shunned for their notoriety and disregard for rules and order.
In truth, the other fairies never sent any of their kin beyond the four realms for their own safety. In the past, there were stories of adventurous number of fairies who dared but never heard of their return. But that was a long time ago. Who knows what has become of these wild cards of fairies.
Haco and a few of his fellow rangers march soundlessly on the uneven terrains towards the Dark Mountains. These rangers are used to such conditions that they are not in any way bothered by their present circumstances. Like their King, these fairies were trained to endure harsh environments no matter what. They are as courageous as their Fire Lord.
Currently, Haco and the other rangers trudge in silence, lost in each ones thought after hearing their Fire Lord's speech on retribution. Their minds are filled with rage as well for the insult they endured during their captivity by the Dark Fairy. Though it was just for a short and so limited period of time, these fire fairies felt the need to assert their strength to appease their hurt egos.
However proud these rangers are, they still abide by their loyalty to their King and it remains so for their prince. They cannot afford to be furious to their Prince so the main focus of their anger is the Dark Fairy.
Haco recalls the younger years of the late Prince. He is far braver than any fire fairies he has ever met but has a soft heart and has high regard for loyalty. It is sad that the combination of such principles was abused by an ambitious half breed fire fairy like Alirion.
They cannot blame the Prince for his strong affection for Cara, the Air fairy half-sister of Alirion. Cara has been very clear to their Prince that she does not reciprocate his admiration. But she has been polite to him and remained friends growing up.
Cara also is far more virtuous than her half-brother, which might be why the Prince was smitten by her charms. Not that she ever used that to her favor. In fact, she was not impressed by the royalty of Prince Hagan. She chose a ranger instead.
It is Alirion who monopolized this friendship and Prince Hagan blindly fell for that false notion.
Haco shakes his head in regret for not seeing through the Prince's intention to free Alirion from his banishment in the Green Haven sanctuary. He should have insisted to join Prince Hagan when he announced to their King that he will visit Alirion there. He could have prevented their Prince from committing yet another mistake.
Haco underestimated the strong loyalty Prince Hagan has for the magical siblings. Prince Hagan's love for Cara doomed him to act with pity for Alirion's captivity. But this same love enlightened him not to join the Dark Fairy for his vengeance and hunger for domination. So in the end, Haco could not take it against his Prince his acts of falsehood.
The sound of the boisterous laughter of ogres woke him from his train of thoughts. They have finally reached the Ogres' lair. The lair is just a cavern at the foot of one of the enormous mountains.
He signals the other rangers to spread out to cover the perimeter of the cavern.
The rangers have no intention to hide their arrival from the ogres. Their amber red clothing says so much of the confidence these fire fairies have. They can easily been detected but that maybe their intention after all. They would assault the ogres head on, for a direct physical combat.
Haco sees the head of their Prince on a spike in the center of the camp fire where the ogres noisily congregate. His shock combines with deep anger brings him to action when he recognizes the body parts of the Prince scattered around his spiked head.
He runs furiously forward throwing red electric balls of fire to the startled group of ogres. His company stopped laughing but is not able to take cover. Haco's fire balls hit most of the ogres burning instantly the parts where the fireballs fall.
The rest of the rangers shoot their own sets of electrified balls as they run towards the ogres too.
The scene can be described like a one-sided snow ball fight but far more deadly and damaging.
Since the ogres have thick skins, the fire ball attacks caused minimal pain. They regain their wits and start to swing their maces or axes, which ever they have in hand.
Haco and the rest of the rangers are ready with their swords enchanted with blazing fires. They battle with the ogres valiantly without any intention of leaving any single one standing.
The encounter seems like a war dance. The extreme contrast of the two warring sides is visibly obvious. The movements of the fire fairy attacks are graceful and precise while the ogres' are wild and random. The ogres' grunts and shouts are like crazed animals while the fire fairies are like mute ninja warriors. Moreover, the ogres move slowly but hits heavily in contrast to the swift and synchronized aims of the fire fairies.
After an hour or less has passed, the battle comes to an end. Not a single ogre remains standing. Some are unconscious while others are twitching with so much pain in different gruesome position when they fell by their campfire.
The rangers do not spare any glace at the fallen ogres. They move quietly to gather the remains of their Prince, which were scattered all around when the battle commenced earlier. They conjured huge satchels to carry every bits and pieces. They inspect thoroughly the area, making sure that not a single piece is missed.
Haco moves to the fire side where the head of the Prince is disgustingly skewered. He picks the spike up and carries it without glancing at the Prince's head. He cannot bear to look at it, as if it will disgrace his Prince further.
Haco walks straight out of the site without looking back but conjures an enormous fireball from his free hand. He throws it backwards in the direction of the ogres' campsite, without looking back.
The rest of the rangers follow their leader with the same manner of exit. The fireballs that were randomly thrown hit some of ogres then caught fire immediately.
The fire spreads quickly around the campsite. The sound of the screams from burned ogres can be heard clearly by the leaving fire fairies. However, they never look back.
Haco and his fellow rangers feel vindicated although they did not see Alirion among the ogres. The first step to the retribution they seek has been done. Although it is truly enraging to actually witness the revulsive manner in which the remains of their Prince was subjected to, they have avenged him somehow.
The fire fairies have not lost their focus on the fairy who has delivered their Prince to the ogres. They would surely be more merciless when they finally catch up with him.
The Fire Lord would surely be setting the whole region of the Dark Mountains just to make sure of that the Dark Fairy burns.