The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Director Luna checked the time, stamping her feet to ward off the cold. She looked at the row of statues as her eyes fell on one that had been pointed out the day before when she was being escorted to the Chancellor's office.

Glancing at the name, she then looked up at the man's face.

'Director Lance. Didn't they say you were Noble's father? You know your daughter better than most then. Will she come?'

Luna felt a little silly asking a statue, but at least she hadn't spoken the words out loud. That would have made her seem crazy, and the people around here were already worried that she might snap.

Luna was worried about that too, if she were being honest. With her family in danger, she felt her sanity hanging by a thread.

"I figured I would find you out here." Gui exited the building as he pulled the collar of his coat tightly around his neck.

"Couldn't stand waiting inside. I can see the front gate from here. I will know the moment Noble arrives and will be able to tell my boys that help is on the way."

"She's late." Cor exited shortly behind the Chancellor. Unlike the mundane humans, he did not seem bothered by the chilly morning. "I have other matters which I need to attend to. We may have to face the fact—"

"Another five minutes." Luna snapped. Then she realized who she was talking to. "Please, Saint Cor."

The Saint turned away. "No."

Luna's heart sank until Wake of Ruin continued.

"You don't need five minutes. Master Noble is here."

The Director turned quickly to see the beautiful Master flying toward her as she hovered above the ground.

"Sorry that I am late!" She explained quickly, "I had to finish answering my children's questions about where I was going and what I was going to do before I could leave."

Noble's solution to keeping her family from mourning her a second time was simple: she wouldn't die during this mission.

The mother had also resolved not to leave for the Waking World without explaining to her children exactly where she was going and what she was doing.

They deserved to know what she was getting herself into.

Brock and Blaze had been intrigued by the concept. Having never interacted with anything like a Skinwalker, their imaginations ran wild.

"Millions of monsters! Are you planning to plow through them all with your Zenith?" Brock's face lit up as he pictured the carnage.

"I don't plan to, no. I am hoping to engage them as little as possible."

"What exactly is the percentage of Spelltech used in this protective array? Have they accounted for underground tunneling?" Blaze pursed his lips.

"I don't know the exact makeup of the protective field. I do know that the shield in Crestfall which it is based on was a complete sphere. Even if it weren't, tunneling underground puts me at a distinct disadvantage." Noble shuddered. She looked at her teenage daughter. "Rainy?"

The pale girl was more subdued than her brothers.

"Thank you for telling me and explaining the situation," she hugged her mom, "come back soon."

"You are alright with this?" Noble hugged her daughter tightly.

"Haven't you always told us to do the right thing? This is the right thing." The teen nodded against her mother's shoulder. "I only hope I am brave enough when my time comes."

"You are always brave." Noble wiped at her eyes before releasing her daughter. "All of you are."

Fort held his wife extra long. About the time that Noble asked if he intended to keep her there forever, he let go with a sigh. "I love you."

"I love you more." This time it was Noble's turn to flit away before her husband could argue.

She hugged her kids and went on her way, racing through the streets of Ravenheart with her far-too-typical speed.

That is what brought her flying into headquarters later than intended. But thankfully, she hadn't missed the moment entirely.

"All that matters is that you are here now," Director Luna straightened her back, new hope rising inside her. "I wish you a safe journey. And thank you."

"Have you spoken to them this morning?" The professor could see the communicator partially sticking out of the other woman's coat pocket.

"A half hour ago. They are holding out, but Harry is growing tired. I'm trying not to think about what might happen if their bodyguard falls asleep."

"Let's not find out, then," Noble wrapped the other woman in a hug. "I can feel your emotions. It's going to be ok. They are going to be fine."

Luna released a silent sob before taking a deep breath. "I will be heading toward the Eastern Quadrant as soon as we finish here. I won't get there as quickly as you, but I'll get there as fast as trains and boats will take me. Give them my love."

"I will," Noble's words were not empty. She could feel the Director's care for her husband and son. They would know how much she meant to them.

Noble pulled away, wishing she could offer more substantial comfort. The only remedy to what bothered the Director would be to have her family safe and sound.

Noble would do her best to make that wish come true.

"I have contacted Jet," Cor placed a device in his pocket. "We will be meeting her shortly. Are you ready, Master Noble?"

"Almost."

The professor held out her hands and a government box appeared in them in a rain of sparks. Opening it, she pulled out an envelope and passed it to Gui.

"I know we have enough problems, but here is one more."

She had intended to give him the pages the night before, but in her fervor, she got caught up in the moment. Gui needed to have them before she left in case…

'In case I get busy and don't see him again soon.'

Noble watched the Chancellor open the seal and slip out the pages inside.

His already troubled face became haggard as he scanned the message.

"Fort is sure?" The Chancellor stroked his beard.

"About his findings? Yes. He needs you to confirm his conclusions and assist him with the best course of action," Noble chewed her lip.

Despite his calm demeanor, Gui was outraged.

"I'll handle this. You focus on the Eastern Quadrant." Slipping the papers under one arm, Gui gave a modified bow. "Good luck."

"We must go now or we will be late. You may have experience with that, Master Noble, but I do not." Cor looked like a bird whose feathers had been ruffled,

Noble had no intention of getting on the bad side of a Saint, so she dipped her head.

"Forgive me. I'm ready now." Noble waved goodbye to Luna and Gui. "We will talk soon."

Exasperated, Cor took her hand. "Enough. From what I am told, this is going to feel familiar and also intensely foreign. If you think you might vomit, do not do it on my shoes."

"Why would I—" Noble did not get to finish her sentence before she was blinked out of existence with the venerable Saint.

The trip to the Eastern Quadrant had begun.