Life, Death, and Time - A Books Of Beginning Collection

Oneshot: A Twist In The Tale

Background: Aight so my dear friend Kenzie (aka @_whxt_A_trxgedy_) and I got to talking, and that alone should tell any of you who know both me and her and the type of content we make a lot. So basically she decided to ask the question 'what if Gabriel was on the Dire Magnus's side?' and I proceeded to get excited and told her that one of us should write that oneshot. So I did. Kenzie, you wonderful maniac, if you're reading this and you remember that conversation (it's in the comments somewhere around here), this one is for you.

Content: Darkness, family, some angst, some fluff, bits of humor, plot heavy, lots of time skipping. Some Kate x Rafe & Michael x Wilamena. A lot of Gabriel and the Wibberlys content. Gabriel and the Wibberlys centric.

Gabriel Tessouat took a deep breath. Some days, he questioned the choice that he had made, yet in his heart, he knew why he had made it, and he knew why he stuck with his decision. He was not the kind of man who would join the Dire Magnus's forces without cause - however, he was the kind of man who would do anything to protect those he loved, and the people in this world that Gabriel loved the most were the Wibberly siblings, who he had met fifteen years ago. Responsible Kate, bookish Michael, and fierce Emma, they were the children of his heart, he had realized that quickly. He had protected him then, and everything that he had done these past years was to continue keeping them safe.

He could still remember it like it was yesterday. The Countess had been defeated, Cambridge Falls was being rebuilt, and Gabriel's own village was thriving under the watchful eye of Granny Peet. Dena had been given permission to start her warrior training early, as a result of her courage during the Battle of the Dead City. Robbie McLaur was the new dwarfish king and was establishing trade with both towns nestled among the mountains. All was right with the world for everyone except for Gabriel, who could not stop thinking about the three children from the future. The wizard, Dr. Pym, had visited the other day, asking Gabriel for his help in protecting them from dark forces like the Countess, but the warrior had the feeling that there was much that Pym was not telling him, and that made him anxious.

It was that anxiety that had driven him to accept the offer to meet and discuss the children, left anonymously in his cabin a few days after he was declared fully recovered. Gabriel armed himself (he was not a fool, after all) and ventured into the specified cave, hoping that if nothing else, he could get a bit more information from this offer than he did from Pym.

He hadn't expected the reflecting pool, nor had he expecting the visage of the dark haired young man with burning green eyes which looked back at him when he stared into it. He had gone for his sword, but the boy had only smiled, and told Gabriel that it wouldn't have any effect, nor was it necessary - he meant no harm. The boy had known Gabriel's name, and looked completely at ease, wherever he was speaking to Gabriel from, and that was when Gabriel knew that he was not just a boy.

When he brought this up, the boy confirmed his suspicions - he was speaking to The Dire Magnus. 

Pym had mentioned the Dire Magnus, in passing, as someone who wanted the books of beginning and therefore the children, someone who had worked with the Countess to get them. An enemy, the wizard had said. Gabriel brought that up too.

The Dire Magnus had answered, "I do seek the books of beginning - I have for many years. But you aren't here about the books, are you Gabriel? You could care less about them."

"Yes," Gabriel found himself admitting the truth, "I don't care about the books at all. I care about the children that everyone wants to use to find them. I care about the Wibberlys. If you hurt them-"

"I have no intention of hurting them," the Dire Magnus said, "the same cannot be said for the wizard, Stanislaus Pym."

Gabriel had asked what the Dire Magnus meant. The dark sorcerer had told him that there was a prophecy, one that only Pym and himself knew of so far, that the keepers of the books of beginning - the Wibberly children - would find the books, bring them together, and perish. Gabriel had seen red, then. Pym hadn't mentioned this. Pym had mentioned all sorts of threats to the children, but he had never mentioned the prophecy, only asked Gabriel to trust him. And if it weren't for his instincts, the warrior would have said yes.