Unlikely Alliances (The Pack)

Eleven - Heckitty Heck, He's Not Dead.

'What... Have I done?'
Lachlan stared at the grass beneath his feet, hesitant to speak as the prince looked around slowly. 'Guys, what's going on - Where's Preston?' He looked around the group expectantly, almost not seeing Vik in the base if the fountain, before looking up at the Astralan.
'Lachlan?'
'...Preston isn't - When Graceffa possessed you, he - we couldn't stop him.'
'What do you mean?'
'When the ghost took control of your body, it kind of, well, long story short Preston's in the fountain.' Jerome explained awkwardly. Rob raised one eyebrow, thinking it over until he gasped and scrambled to his feet.
'But he...'

'We couldn't stop it. The heat was too strong, and you were constantly healing yourself so you wouldn't get hurt. He's dead, all because you-'
'Woah Lachlan, calm. I'm sure there's some way to reverse the effects. Right, Vik?'
The Borlinian pushed himself into the edge of the centrepiece, reaching over and tugging Lachlan's sleeve reassuringly. 'Hey, it's okay. I think I can try something.'
'Like what? It wasn't your ability that did this.'
'I mean, you're not wrong, but it's still stone. I might as well try to do something if I can.'

How are they taking this so calmly? He's dead. Turned to stone, whatever he isn't breathing! Do they just not care?!
'Lachlan?' Vik tugged again with a surprising amount of force, making him sit as the remaining three made awkward small talk. The blond looked down, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding as his friend continued to hold his arm.
'It's going to be okay. Take deep breaths, you're shaking pretty badly.' He instructed carefully, flattening out one tightly-balled fist while Lachlan followed the order. 'Good, that's good... Try to clear your mind, and don't think about anything bad that's happened today. Think about, uh, the parkour course.'
'I totally beat you.'
'Pfft, yeah right. You were doing pretty well though, it's a shame you hit the header. I probably could have won if my legs weren't so short, though.'
'You're not that short ' Just small enough to be protected at all costs.
'Mate, you're about a head taller than me, so you can shut up.' The Boralinian grinned, judging his friend who smiled in response. 'Midget.'

He seems to have forgotten about the thing for now, thankfully, but... I've got to sort this out sooner rather than later. Distraction time.
Vik, I hate to tell you, but I can hear what you're thinking. Mind-reading's an ability of mine.' The Astralan tapped his head before the smile fell, and he looked back.
'You're right. We've got to help Preston.'

<<+>>

'I swear to the gods, if my powers keep failing I will hit something!' Vik snapped sourly, kicking at the ground as Rob groaned quietly.
'Look, guys, I really am sorry. I never meant for this to happen-'

'It's... Okay. If Vik can't do anything Seto would know what to do, right?' Mitch piped up, glancing at the fountain uncertainly as the mocha-skinned keeper put his hands up to his head.
'I just don't get it, I should be able to do this! It's stone, I literally make stone just by looking at something; Why won't any of my power work?'

'It's probably the draining field. It's why you haven't turned anyone to stone yet.'

'Oh, yeah. Right. Maybe getting Seto to do this instead wouldn't be a bad idea. Even if we were able to get Preston out of the castle grounds, we can't risk my ability being active and turning anyone to stone.'
So Rob, Mitch and Jerome went to find the sorcerer, leaving Vik and Lachlan by themselves.
Apart from their (possibly dying/dead) friend of course.
Oh wait.

'Vik, what if,' Lachlan swallowed nervously. 'What of the water did actually kill him? Seto might be able to get rid of the stone, but it, but it might have-'
The keeper covered his mouth with his own hand, waiting for him to stop mumbling before staring at him meaningfully.

'You're making yourself upset. Remember, mate, calm. Deep breaths.'
'But I-'
'Breathe. Don't talk, just listen to your surroundings.'

It was pretty quiet. Due to it being summer, there were crickets and grasshoppers chiming in the distance. A butterfly would fly past every few minutes, ghostly creatures against the darkening sky. It was just... Peaceful.
After a few minutes, Lachlan spoke up again. 'Alright, I think I'm good.'
'You sure?'
'Yeah, I'm sure.' He paused. 'Thanks.'
'No worries! If I think I can help, I'll try to.' They smiled at each other, with Lachlan doing one of those cute little eyes-closed, tongue-out smiles.

Cue internal screaming, 'cause oh my gosh, he's so precious.

'Guys, we got Seto!'
Oh, thanks the Lords. 'Took you long enough, boys!'
'Awfully sorry, they got lost. Apparently Preston's been turned to stone?' Seto asked (got to have that conformation, y'know?). Lachlan let out a tense laugh, and Vik gave a slight nod while gesturing to the fountain.
'He's there.'

The sorcerer vaulted into the base pool, raising an eyebrow at the Queen's statue before examining the latest addition of stone carefully. 'How long has he been like this?'
'Can't be more than an hour.'
'Good. Stand backs, guys, are you might go blind.' Violet mist began flowing from the brunet's hands, wrapping around their target and starting to glow as night fell.

Magic is so cool!

I know, right?

Vik almost screamed, before glaring at Lachlan who winked cheekily.
'Mind reader, remember?'
'But I swear you could, like, manipulate electricity?'
'I do both.'
'So you're a prodigy?'
'Yeah.'
'Huh, cool.'
'I know right?'
'You say that a lot, don't you?'
'Pfft, yeah.'

'I ship that.' Rob muttered. Mitch snorted and nudged the prince, who feigned an innocent look as Jerome rolled his eyes.
'Honestly same. Even I can see it happening, and we've only known them for, like, a day.'
'Does this happen-'
A powerful shockwave erupted from the fountain, presumably Seto breaking the stone because of the purple magic and stone shards flying everywhere.

'I guess I forgot to tell you to take cover, heh. Sorry boys.' The sorcerer called, kneeling in the pool as Vik brushed dust from his shirt.
'Yeah, thanks for the warning mate: How is he?'
'Well, uh, the spell worked? I guess?'
'What happened?'
'Ask him yourself.'

He's alive, that's good.
Rob looked over the edge of the fountain first, then stared at the royal seer who just shrugged. 'What?'
'Can we touch him like this?'
'Yes.'
What?
'Oh, right. So the spell didn't just get rid of the stone, it appears to have, ahem, gotten rid of his hybrid side.'

'That's possible?!' Lachlan shrieked, probably loud enough to wake the dead, as Rob leant over and grabbed onto something in the fountain.
Or really, someone.
'Hey. You feeling alright?'
'I th-think so. What happened?'
'Uh, weird story. Are you okay to stand?' The royal asked, attempting to hide his nervousness as the Tauran climbed out of the waist-deep water. He then looked between Robert and the fountain's core, going back and forth a few times before somethIng made him look at his hands.
The hands of a pureblood.

'What the- did I die? be , haven't I? that's why I'm able to touch water and look human again. Yeah, definitely-'
'Preston, buddy, you're not dead. I'll explain what happened later, okay? First we should probably get you dried off.'

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Yes, Preston said "again". Hybrids rarely come naturally, in this world.

Thoughts?

QOTC - Opinions on food fights?

AOTC - Bannable if it gets on the furniture.