Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry? Have you ever needed someone so bad you can't, sleep at night? Have you ever tried to find the words but they don't come out right? Have you ever?
"No more games Aster! And stop quoting Brandy.", Quentin screams. He grabs Izadore by the shoulders and shakes her, "Where are we?" Q looks around, "or should I say, when are we?" He becomes speechless with the view before him.
"The space between...", Aster answers exhausted. "It's not a place that really exists but, is necessary for entities to travel. Think the first law of thermodynamics. Energy is neither created nor destroyed, simply transformed. Here's where that happens."
"Why did you bring us here?" Quentin asks. He looks at her with absolute wonder and disgust. He's amazed at the feelings he has for someone he feels he hasn't even really met. Everything is a blur. "I just want to go back!"
Izadore smiles, "That's precisely why we are here. You must choose which space you wish to live in. I am the key you need to see them, at least in this version of time. So, pick one."
Speechless Quentin's mouth gapes open as he just stares at her, "How exactly did this happen? You and I, why are we connected?"
"In one of our lives Julia, the soon to be Goddess, cast a spell. It wasn't really a love spell so to speak, so she felt safe doing it. Still had the same consequences..." Izadore's voice trails off. She's lost in the view of it all.
"What kind of spell did she cast?"
"She wanted you to know how it felt when you played with people's emotions. No different than how you can see how to manipulate other people's perceptions. Illusion, card tricks, quite frankly games are your obsession." Izzy stares him straight in the eye. "In the life you remember, she has all the power over your feelings. But now, you are a lesser version of yourself and I'm just a corporeal being. Not really the end I had in mind. Funnier part is, your new love has been where we are and hates the fact you brought her back. Even though, doing so saved her life."
"What?" Quentin runs his fingers through his hair, gathers his thoughts and tries again. "What do we need to do next?"
"The best chance I see happening is you go on a quest for the keys with no memory of me or any of this." Aster sits in lotus position, "Penny, you know he's also a time traveler? He just hasn't remembered how to do it yet. He will during your quest." She sighs, "I guess all I really wanted you to know is: I'm willing to die to protect our future."
"Luna?" Quentin remembers the music, the game of Welters, the feeling of another possibility that ended.
"Quite badly I'm afraid but have to honestly tell you." Q looks at her lovingly for just a moment. "Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not here to get your pity or sound like a victim. I just want to find the best solution for all of us to be happy again."
Quentin grabs her hand, looks her in the eye and replies, "Do you think that is even possible?"
"I made a choice. I keep doubting if it was the "right" one and its just hurting everybody." Aster hugs Quentin for just a moment then releases him and says, "I am broken. I accept that. You don't have to be. I know what I must do now."
Before Quentin can answer he finds himself back with Julia. She is talking about how while magic may be broken she seems to have some. His mind disoriented, Quentin asks in confusion, "How long have I been here?"
Julia gasps and says, "You see her too? I thought it was just an illusion"
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Death is Only the Beginning
FanficThis story is the end of my alternate universal story of Quinton's Battle with the Beast and all it came to be.