Everett Ailan's/Malefici's P.O.V
"Lucy?! Wake up!" I gently shook her. "Wake up Lucy!"
Luzor started to take shape beside me. "What happened to her?"
"Those guys reversed her transformation, and the Dragon User claimed that she is dead. Can you see?"
"Malefici, she's not dead. She's just in some sort of trance."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I'll need to figure out a wake to break it."
"Whatever you do, make it fast. Your transformation is only going to last one more hour."
"I know. You've been a lot nicer since Justine came around, any reason for that?" I crossed my arms. I couldn't help but notice that his voice wasn't as bitter and his expression wasn't as sour ever since Justine and I became partners.
"I guess Heroes just have that effect on others." He mumbled. "Now get going, or else you'll have a harder time trying to figure out what to do with her."
Luzor disappeared once again, and now I was stuck with trying to figure out a way to bring her back.
My thoughts were being overwhelmed with me figuring out her identity, and how in the world I was supposed to fix this. Could I even do that?
I picked her up in my arms and started to walk aimlessly. I was told to bring her back, but I have absolutely no experience with trances.
Just as I was about to panic and freak out, a figure jumped down from one of the tall buildings.
It was Vitas, the Life User, and she also had someone with her.
"Justine! What happened to her?!"
She exclaimed while also shaking the body she was dragging with her right hand.
"The others attacked her, and I'm having trouble trying to bring her back." I decided to be honest, since I could get in serious trouble if she actually died because of me. "Who's that?"
"Oh! This?" She dragged the body in front of her. It was the Dragon User, and he looked like he was also knocked out. "I found him just a few minutes ago, and I thought he looked suspicious."
I couldn't help but be joyous about his capture. I grinned before getting back to serious business. "Good thing you caught him, he was the reason I couldn't get to her in time."
Her expression grew sour as she withdrew her hand from the collar of his shirt quickly. "I knew something wasn't right. We should help her, but we first need to bring the transformation back."
"Back? Why?"
"If this really is what Justine looks like in her human form, she can't know that we know about it. By putting her back into her White Wizard state, her worries can be put to rest about her identity."
I thought to myself. In order to transform into any being, Hero or Villain, you needed to trace a tattoo-like marking on yourself. But would it work if someone else did it instead?
"I think tracing the marking should also work, but you need to be the one to do it." It was as if she was reading my mind.
"Why me? Aren't you the Hero here?"
"Literally yes, but you get to be the hero today. For a Hero, it'll take two other Heroes to force a transformation, or their battle partner. If there was another Hero here, I wouldn't ask you to do this." She turned back to the Dragon User. "I heard about the monster sighting today, and I know that we are supposed to team up. I can't hurt this guy too much, or else his future partner will hate me."
She took the Dragon by his shirt collar again and dragged him away. "Once that's done, the shock alone should be able to wake her up. If she doesn't, she'll wake up on her own accord within an hour." Vitas waved before disappearing into the shadows of the night.
"You think this'll work Luzor? The only marking I've ever traced was mine."
I could see and hear nothing from Luzor, but I got the weird feeling that he was saying yes.
"Really? You just can't give me a straight answer. At least tell me where the marking is."
A magnetic-pull yanked on my hand, and it dragged it to a blank space in the air. A white flower shaped pattern appeared in front of my hand.
Once I traced the last section, a flash of white light greeted me. She was now back to Justine, with her white suit and long bleached blonde hair.
I took a good look at her this time, and I realized that she really did look similar to her human self. Out of everyone I met so far, she was the only one who kept her real hair color. It was really Lucy.
It felt as if a brick hit me in the face. "Lucy?!" I fell onto my back and stared at the starry sky. This person was the one who would not stop bothering me since day one about literally anything. However, she felt like that towards Everett, not Malefici. As long as she doesn't know who I really am, I'll be in the clear.
I sat back up, expecting her to be opening her eyes by now, but absolutely nothing happened. "Justine, you can wake up now. You're fine."
"..."
I frowned. Instead of shaking her like my family would to me, I thought about this rationally. I destroyed her house, she's been in a coma for two weeks, I made that Elf User attack her earlier, the Dragon User literally stabbed her in the back, and she was cornered by three other villains and forced into a trance.
Yeah, I wouldn't want to wake up from that either. Maybe I was being too hard on her earlier.
I grew tense when I felt the presence of another Villain once again. "Who's there?!"
The figure threw their arms up in defense. "It's just me Malefici! I'm not gonna hurt you guys!"
Everest walked slowly towards us. "I noticed those guys from earlier leave; I figured you'd be here. What happened to her?"
I was suddenly thankful that Vitas showed up before Everest, or else he'd know her secret as well. I trusted my brother and all, but not with secrets as big as this.
"They attacked her. Life just left with the Dragon just a few minutes ago."
His jaw dropped. "Life? As in the Life? Are you sure it was the Dragon she found? Did he do this?"
"Ok, first of all, shut up. You ask too many questions."
He looked like he wanted to argue and say something rude back, but he stopped himself. He knew I was right.
"Fine, fine. Just tell me what happened."
"It was the Dragon that kept me from saving her this time. Once I find that Devil, I'll show him what's what!"
I thought about how we were supposed to be "friends". So much for that.
"Is she, you know, dead?"
I shook my head violently and shouted at him. "Of course not you idiot! She's just sleeping. We need to keep an eye on her until she wakes up."
Another humanoid figure appeared right behind Everest. "You need to wait up Galifici! You know I can't keep up with you!"
I looked behind my brother to find the Elf girl from earlier. "So you actually did it."
"Did what?" He looked behind him, and he made an enlightened expression. "Oh, that. Turns out, she found me first. She must have known about the monsters, and she reached out to me."
"Really?" I bent my back in order to look at her straight in the eye. "You went to him first? Do you realize how much of an idiot this guy is?"
Her eyes narrowed and she frowned. "I may be smaller than the rest of you, but I am smarter. In case you haven't realized it yet, Galifici is my equal. Just like you and Justine are. I figured we'd make a good team."
I picked up Justine again. "Well, good luck with that. You're her friend, right? Help us find somewhere safe to put her until she wakes up."
She rubbed her forehead with her hand as she thought. "I have an idea, but you have to leave her with me."
"What? Are you crazy? I just met you, how can I even trust you?!" I exclaimed.
She crossed her arms. "Justine is my best friend. I wouldn't do anything to harm her. I'm the Hero here, remember?"
She walked over to me and stuck her arms out. The elf had a point.
I caved and handed the White Wizard over to her. "You better keep her safe, or else I'll have to start hunting you as well."
The elf seemed unfazed, but my vampire brother's face turned dark.
"I guess I'll have to with you then." He said bitterly.
I was taken aback. "It was a joke Galifici. Don't take it so literally. We should really get going."
He shook his head. "He's right Arch, make sure you guys both stay safe."
Arch nodded. "We'll be fine, Galifici. You guys should get some rest, we'll need it for tomorrow."
She leaped onto the rooftops and vanished a minute later.
Once they left, Everest spoke once again. "That didn't really sound like a joke Everett. Arch is my battle partner out, and I have to put her first."
I turned away. "Whatever, let's just go home."
We reverted back to our normal, everyday human forms, and casually walked home.