Do not worry ayare how to take that curse, look for sky and sea, surely find someone who can help you

Candle: I hhh... hope you're right.

What things have you tried to take away the curse, or at least return to what you were before?

Acrathia: And since Lady Moth did not work out, you turn to Lady Azura. She being willing to help, of course only after you help her.

Candle: I'm familiar with fae deeee... deals. What would you ask me to do?

Acrathia: I would ask you to be cautious. I know only a little about Lady Azura, and although she does not strike me as the type to take advantage of your desperation, like many of the unseelie would, she does strike me as ruthless and obsessed. Perhaps not at the point where she would harm innocents to achieve what she wants, but could very easily be tempted to cross that line, and as I understand it her morals are rapidly fading in her pursuit.

Candle: *ears perking forward* Are you sure we're talking about the same person? I've only known the Blue Fairy to be generous and hh... helpful. Hhhas she changed so much?

Acrathia: Yes as I understand it she was quite the paragon of virtue. Assuming the legends about her are true, then she has changed quite a bit. *pauses for a moment* though I did get a bit of an impression of some kindness left in her just beneath the surface.

Candle: I hhhad hhhHAWW... *he tries to ignore the interruption* hoped she would be the Blue Fairy I knew. Do you think there is a chance of bringing hhher back to hhher senses?

Acrathia: It is difficult to say, you probably know her better than I do. From what dearest Medoro described, she os struggling with and addiction to magic, and the pursuit of it's power. I fear that her obsession with finding Lady Moth is leading her to ruin. *contemplates for a moment* I can't help but wonder love, why did Lady Azura not help you and the other boys when you were cursed in your youth? I mean you all needed to learn a lesson, but considering that you were children, a week as a donkey should have sufficed.

*Hugs Candle*

Candle: *curves his neck to hug* Hhhh-how are you?

I'm doing all right. Just making my way in life one step at a time. And you?

Candle: *with a small braying chuckle* I guess I could say the same for myself.

It's all we can do, really.

Candle: *nods* I just wish it would give better results sometimes.

That's pretty normal, buddy. I feel that way all the time.

Candle: I suppose that's just hh... how life goes.

Yup. We all just keep going and trying. And eventually, things work out.

Not to worry dear Candle. I do have quite the extensive background and training in all things magic and would be happy to help try and change you back if you want me to. *Gives Candle a warm hug*

Candle: *curves his neck to return the hug as best as he can* You would? I... I don't know what to say! Hhhh... how can I repay such a kindness?

My friend the reward of seeing you in your proper form and truly happy again because of it is more than enough for me. *I say with a kind smile.*

Candle: *rendered speechless for a few moments while he struggles not to become emotional* I... thank you.

*Chuckles* Hey it is my pleasure. I only hope that I will be able to help. Although considering the vast amounts of magical experience and items that I have at my disposal I am not super worried.

Candle: *ears swiveling forward hopefully* That does sound promising

*Smiles and rubs candle's ears comfortingly* Do not worry my friend, as someone who has tackled far worse that fae in the past I think there is a very good chance of fixing this.

Candle: *leans into the rub, enjoying it* Then perhhh...haps I might finally be free.

I certainly hope to help you become so my friend. *I say as I continue to rub candle's ears my hands softly starting to glow a light golden color*

Candle: *notices the difference and holds quite still*

Moth: *appears on the scene in a sudden green mist* I see! So, the last wayward boy from the Land of Toys isn't above treachery, after all. We had a deal, Candle, or did you forget?

Candle: *tries to respond but finds he can only bray*

Moth: *eyes CodyTarget and touches a finger to her bell* And who are you, darling? You must fancy yourself to be quite the practitioner of magic if you're brave enough to stick your nose into fae business. You'll find that I don't like to share. *she snaps her fingers and Candle disappears*

*Raises an eyebrow and with a wave of my hand candle re-appears in front of me with his voice restored.* Candle if you would please explain what sort of deal you have entered into with this fae here? I would very much like to know what sort of deal I am dealing with here. *I say as I pull a wand out of my sleeve and my left hand continues to glow as my eyes take on a blue glow different from the golden glow of my hand* And as to you Lady Moth. I have no problem dealing with someone such as yourself but I would just as soon seek to resolve this peacefully if I can.

Candle: I told Lady Moth I would work for hhh... her if she would turn me into a hhhuman again.

Moth: *smirks at the show of power* Very impressive, wizard, but he is bound to my magic by our agreement. You can try whatever you like with your little stick, but his curse will only deepen. You'd do him a favor by leaving him alone.

Ah Lady moth but your contract with candle here is null and void as you have not fulfilled your end of the bargain as he has not been returned to his human form therefore you have no more power over him in regards to this curse. Leave him be and find yourself a new servant as you have no more rights to this one. *I say as with a wave of my wand and hand candle reverts into his fully human form.*

Moth: *clicks her tongue and shakes her head* That is because his task has not been completed, as per our arrangement. I have not tricked him or treated him unfairly. He is the one who isn't holding up his end of the bargain.

Candle: *cries out in pain as the curse retakes his body*

Moth: I did warn you.

*Raises an eyebrow as I transform him back and place an amulet around his neck that halts and negates all magical interference.* Care to explain what it is that you are requiring him to do Lady Moth? *I say as I hold candle still* Do not move mate, this is a very temporary fix.

Candle: *does as instructed, but quivers in fear of Moth*

Moth: *rolls her eyes impatiently* Oh, here's where we're going to play with technicalities, is it? I did not specify what I would have him do until he had already agreed to doing one job for me. Let me reiterate: he agreed to the terms. After our deal was set, I informed him that he would assist in the abduction of a woman and that he would have to be part of the party that brought her to me for his curse to be lifted. Isn't that right, Candle?

Candle: *ashamed of his naïveté* Yes.

Moth: *spreads her hands* See? So, on what grounds do you have any right to interfere with our deal? And, pray tell darling, what should prevent me from bringing you before the Seelie High Court for meddling?

*Chuckles* Since when did you have any authority or right to try and give someone hope that you could remove an enchantment created by the Isle of Wayward Boys? You have neither the abilities or the rights to be able to remove such a curse and therefore your magic is worthless to poor candle here. As is your word and therefore your contract with this poor soul. As for your court, don't make me laugh. I have never held myself accountable to any power save my own and I do not recognize their authority. *Pats Candles head* My boy I should be able to help you out here. It might just take a little bit longer than the instant fix that I was hoping for. I need to make sure that my research into that island and its magic is correct and proper before I can safely administer the counter curse.

Moth: What authority? Oh, you are funny. I'm the one who created the curse to keep his spell permanent to begin with, so I'm quite qualified to take it away. *her voice becomes a bit more sinister* You would do well to take more time to understand and coexist with the deep magics, wizard. There are some fae powers that even an experienced human practitioner cannot overcome.

Candle: *cautiously gets to his feet* It might be safer if you didn't trouble yourself with me. I don't want anything to happen to you.

Ah and there we come to the only problem that I was having with the whole thing. Pinpointing exactly what sort of magical enchantment and source was for the curse that would keep him changing back. Thank you so very much Lady Moth for being so helpful. *I play with a little bolt of lightning that I let run through my fingers as I adopt my own low growl of a voice* And one more thing. Do not ever seek to threaten me fae as I have plunged further into the many vast realms of magic, your own kinds included, than you could ever imagine. Now if you claim that you are so powerful then I am sure that you should be far and above capable of kidnapping a simple girl yourself without the aid of someone like my friend here so if you would be so kind as to lift the curse willingly I would be most grateful.

Moth: *smirks* Mm. Terrifying. As for your question about kidnapping Charlotte, I could easily take her if I wanted to, but what fun is there in that? I need a breadcrumb trail for Henry and his friends to follow. It isn't weakness, darling wizard, it is strategy. And no, I won't be removing any curses today. I might be casting new more challenging ones on my dear wayward boy, however, since you're so hell bent on rescuing him. *she conjures a small cloud and relaxes back onto it, crossing her legs and leaning forward curiously* Why do you care so much about Candle, anyway?

My dear lady Moth. I can assure you that I will stop you from adding anymore to this poor boys already heavy burden. As to your strategy. I never thought that the long way around was the best way of doing things and think that if you are someone of significant power, which I am sure that you are, then the best course of action is always a straight line. As to why I am seeking to save this kid here? *I say patting candle on the head softly* Honestly not sure yet. Just know for sure that I do not like to see others suffer needlessly beyond the time allotted to them. Candle here is clearly remorseful for his actions on the island and wishes to better himself. He also does not wish to add even further shame to himself by adding something like kidnapping to his long list of short comings. And I am sure that if he had known what you were going to require of him he would have refused your help. That is why I am seeking to save him, milady.

Acrathia: *a voice resonates in Moth's mind* I cannot tell you how much I want to jump in on this conversation love

Moth: *closes her eyes for a moment to reply to Lady Acrathia* Darling, if I didn't think that it would make our race appear weak, I would invite you to have some fun with this uppity mortal in a heartbeat. *She opens her eyes and returns her attention to the wizard before her* Mmhm. We'll see. *she flicks her bell and Candle begins to cough and paw at the amulet around his neck* Think what you like. I hardly expect you to understand why my folk like to play the games we do. And that "boy" you've become so attached to is hardly a boy anymore, though he may act childish. He's had two hundred years to mature. He's a grown man who has had plenty of time to understand how we fae work and made his decision anyway. *Candle, still coughing and clawing, looks quite ashamed* If you want him to learn, let him deal with his own consequences.
Have fun with that, by the way. *she gestures to the amulet* If you touch him or your pretty little present with magic of any kind, it will instantly crush his windpipe. I have no use for disloyal workers.

Candle: *wheezes out a bray, immediately panicked*

Moth: *raises an eyebrow* Oh? Would you like to negotiate now, Candle?

*Merely smiles at you.* Who said I was mortal my dear? Now as that is my amulet any curse or magic that you throw at it is nullified. *I say as the amulet stops choking candle and falls off of him* As to his maturity levels I agree with you. He has had plenty of time in your service in that form to grow and mature as a being. Now I do believe that it is time for him to try and take that learning and apply it to a full human life. So once again I will ask you dear lady Moth. Release him from this enchantment if you would be so noble.

Moth: Oh, indeed? And what is your lineage, darling? *she smirks* You appeal to my nobility when I have none. No. He made a deal, he must keep it.

*Smiles* O I am simply one hell of an enchanter my dear lady Moth. And if not nobility I at least expected you to behave in a less childish manner than you have accused dear candle here of showcasing. It may be the case that I might have been wrong in such an assumption. As to his deal once again I will say that you lured him into such a deal without revealing what you required of him to earn his part of said deal which is clearly entrapment and a quite terrible move for someone whom I would expect better character from. You dishonor yourself with such moves Lady Moth. Even one hell of a sorcerer such as myself is going to be open and honest with someone that I am planning on making a deal with.

Moth: *becoming irritated* Yes, yes, try to goad me into giving in by besmirching my honor, Sir Hell of a Sorcerer. It won't work. I'm a villain and I own it. Even so, Candle knew full well who he was dealing with. If he didn't want to get his hands dirty, he should have made a deal with someone else, simple as that. *she gives Candle a glare*

Candle: *flinches at Moth's statement and hangs his head*

*Chuckles* True enough you can be quite villainous at times lady Moth. But I am sure that even some villains can be reasoned with now and then. And as to candles decision to come to you, maybe he thought there was no other option available to him at the time? Or even worse. Maybe you just enjoy taking advantage of young, frightened, and transformed boys who are wondering what in the world just happened to themselves and their world. Another besmirching of your honor there Lady Moth.

Moth: *banishing her cloud with a huff* Indeed they can, when their private affairs aren't pried into and their magic isn't tampered with by upstarts like yourself. I might have been willing to hear you out had you addressed me first. Instead you presume to undo my magic and insult me when I don't play ball. *she marches up to him to poke his chest* Don't pretend to know my motives, sorcerer. There was more at play back then than you know.
(Just so there's no confusion, Moth is angry but I'm not. ^w^)

*I nod slowly* And in all honestly Lady Moth you are quite right and I certainly should have sought to talk things over with you first before trying anything. I am sorry for my haste as I do tend to be a little on the impulsive side at times. And I do also wish to apologize for insulting you and impugning your honor as that is not something that I should ever seek to do. Please, I would be more than happy to hear your side of the story if you would be willing to share.

Moth: *takes a few breaths and calms herself* Very well. *she conjures earmuffs over Candle's ears to block out their conversation* A lover asked me to create the curse for him to use long ago. I obliged. I didn't know Candle or any of the others until other circumstances dictated that I cover my tracks. Now that same thorn in my side is at my door, and Candle is the last one left with the curse. I thought I would kill two birds with one stone. He gets what he wants and I get what I want, right? But now he backs out of his deal and leaves me vulnerable by breaking our agreement and unmasking my magic. He will pay for both offenses and you will not dissuade me. Dragging my honor through the mud will not kill me. Candle's actions might.

Your problem is when you where changed only your body was changed. You need to ask for your mind to be changed into a donkeys mind. Once you have the mind of a donkey you will be content with your form.

Candle: *ears swiveling backward at the thought* I don't want a donkey's mind. I just want a chance to know what it meee... means to live life as a hhhuman.

See you just proved my point!

Candle: *twitching an ear* What is so wrong about striving for more in life?

YES!

Now you are seeing things right.

Now go to Moth and demand to be given the mind of a donkey.

Candle: *sighs, and then flatly* Not happening.

I see that there is more work to be done.

Don't worry us Rottweilers never give up once we get out teeth into something.

Candle: *ears swiveling back further* Oh.