Hello, hello!
So this is yet another story that I have for you, haha I've sure binge posted a lot of Aveyond stuff today:p This story is definitely different from the last ones, as the last few have been Drabbles and fluff. So usually my stories come from this deep, dark and scary place in my mind that I call the home of my muse, born out of random thoughts and fan obsession. This one on the other hand, came into being in a much different way.
Near the end of last year I had this idea on a way that I could challenge and improve my writing ability, and that idea was to find a bit of fanart that I could write a story around (taking into consideration the theories of character background info from the artist). Thus, this was born!
I wrote just over half of this first chapter in one fell swoop, but then it was abandoned due to sudden lack of inspiration. Alone it sat in my notes, abandoned even longer then the AV Detention AU, but eventually I returned to this and my inspiration returned! Now all shiny and done, I present to you a random fanfic born of a fan drawing:)
I wanted to give the link to the picture up here but since fanfiction won't let me I'll simply tell you the keywords you can look up to find this image. Look up: AngelERenoir Reign of Shadows DeviantArt The first result to come up should be the link for the fanart by AngelERenoir, the link for the picture should be entitled Reign of Shadows.
Now, without further ado... Enjoy the story!
A Prophecy Fulfilled
"The prophecy can be prevented, you have one opportunity. Mel will be vulnerable to the crystal only once, when she lets go of that staff. If you fail to purify her then and she regains control of the Staff of Destiny, there will be no second chance."
Stella moved closer to Edward instinctively.
"So what your saying is..."
"If she regains the staff she will take over the world and fulfill the prophecy. There will be no stopping her! If you fail and her empire is established..."
The oracle trailed off and her face darkened.
"Once her empire rises it will never, ever fall."
Terror coursed through Mel as Mordred's magic flew through the air towards her. She knew that against a Mage as powerful as her ancestor she held no chance.
Suddenly her head had a exploding pain pulse through it and of their own accord her hands flew up, catching the orb of magic that Mordred had fired at her in her hands. A dark oppressive presence filled the chamber and everyone in the room reacted with shocked cries as they stumbled away. Down below in the prison faint cries of terror could be heard.
Mel's eyes went impossibly wide as she tried to control her own limbs instinctively and nothing happened.
"W-what..?!"
Everyone watched as Mel's hands shifted before flinging the orb of magic back at Mordred.
"You are not the prophesied one. I choose her."
The deep, malevolent voice echoed around in the room and Mordred's eyes went wide in horror and terror as the magic turned black and red before enveloping him whole.
Screams filled the chamber and it shook slightly before the sound began to fade and magic fog cleared. Hovering midair was a cloak and a magic pendant that was motionless for a moment before dropping to the ground.
Mel was frozen as she stared the staff that floated in the air before coming straight over to Mel.
As if in a trance she reached up and plucked it from the air.
"This girl shall be the ruler. I have chosen her."
The presence began to condense in the middle of the room before being sucked into the Staff clutched in Mel's hand.
As soon as the presence was gone it was like the hold over the room was released and voices started up, climbing one over another and piercing Mel's ears.
"Mel!"
"Mel please drop the staff!"
Her friends surged towards her and Mel stumbled back from them, just barely catching herself on the staff as her ragged breathing filled the room.
"ENOUGH!"
The room fell silent and Mel pushed herself up straight, scanning her friends. Edward had tears in his eyes and Stella was openly crying. Te'ijel was pale and holding tightly to Galahad's arm and Galahad was clutching his sword tightly as fear and worry swirled in his eyes.
"Darklings, remove them. Put them up in the finest house here for the night. I need space." She rasped out finally.
Her friends protested violently but Mel ignored them as the darklings herded them out if the room. She watched as the door slammed behind them and their voices became muted.
Finally she turned to face the disciples of darkness who had yet to move from where they had stood guard around the portal.
"Why are you still here? Your master is dead."
"We serve the chosen one of Asmodeus, the demon of the staff. He has chosen you, that means that we now serve you." They said in unison.
Mel was still shaking as she absorbed their words.
She had been chosen by a demon.
As Stella, Edward, Galahad and Te'ijal gathered in one of the rooms together the mood was grim. Stella sat on one of the beds with her hands pressed against her face as she cried, Edward sitting next to her as he struggled to hold back his own tears.
Galahad was leaning against the wall staring off into space with his arm around Te'ijal. Te'ijal was silent and her violet eyes were distant.
"We've failed." She whispered.
Stella's crying grew louder and Edward's jaw clenched.
"There has to be a way to stop her! This can't be it!"
Galahad looked away from the wall and focused on Edward.
"The battle will be that much harder now that she's begun her reign."
"It's not harder, it's impossible! The oracle herself told us that if we missed our one chance to purify her that she would take over the world and that we couldn't stop her! We've lost her forever!"
Stella's shout was punctuated by a sob and she dropped her head back into her hands.
Galahad turned to his wife with dread in his face.
"Tell me it isn't true."
Te'ijal laughed but the sound held no mirth.
"Oh husband, I wish I could."
"So we have failed..." He whispered.
The four fell silent for several moments before Edward shot to his feet, fists clenching and unclenching.
"No! I refuse to accept that! We cannot have lost Mel so easily! The oracle is wrong, Mel's heart is to good to only have one chance to be freed from the darkness!"
"Be still prince, whether we want to accept it or not Mel is no longer the thief we knew. She has been chosen by a demon and warped by the demon realm." Te'ijal stated.
"Your wrong! Mel CAN be saved!" Then Edward paused and took a shaking breath, licking dry lips before continuing. "And even if she can't be saved we can stop her. We just have to fight. We can stop the dark empire if we just try. I know we can."
"It's the oracle Edward, I doubt she's wrong." Stella said softly.
"But we can't just give up like this! We have to fight! If she takes over the world... We need to at least try. We're her friends, it's our duty."
Stella, Galahad and Te'ijal exchanged looks.
"What's your plan?"
"We need to secure all the powerful capitals all over Aia. Veldharah, Sedona, Thais, and any surrounding cities. We need to create a resistance and fight against her before she can gain control. Then we confront her. It's the only way."
Stella, Galahad and Te'ijal were silent for several minutes.
"I will fight with you. I cannot let the world to darkness without at least fighting to stop it." Galahad finally said.
"I'll fight as well." Stella whispered, wiping her eyes.
They all turned to look at Te'ijal who was silent for a long moment.
"Alright. I'll join you." Te'ijal paused before turning to her vampire husband.
"But first there is the little matter of you turning me..."
Mel hid herself the next day in the library, desperately trying to find a book to explain to her what exactly this demon controlled. It took her three hours of non-stop going through books until she found what she wanted. However, she was not exactly pleased with the results.
"Are you kidding me?! He was a all powerful demon and he fathered Ahriman?! Why does he have to be the demon possessing the staff?!"
Then Mel paused as she took in the last paragraph about all of his children. Ahriman the eldest, and seven younger ones who controlled the seven deadly sins. Each of his children were separate manifestations of his power and personality...like lust and wrath and pride...
"WHY ME?!"
Once Mel recovered from the minor freak out she emerged from the back library with exhaustion lining her face. The disciples of darkness still hadn't moved from where they had been standing around the portal and she decided that her first order of business would be to close the portal on this side.
"Disciples of Darkness..." Then Mel paused for a moment, "actually, what do I call you?"
One appeared to shrug.
"It does not matter. We have no names and we see no need for them. We exist only to serve the chosen one. Now, what is your order milady?"
"Close the portal. I will not have people accidentally entering into the Demon Realm."
They bowed before turning to the portal.
"As you command."
Mel nodded before walking to the stairs that led down to where some of the darklings were gathered. As she entered the room they all spun and bowed deeply.
"Your majesty!"
Mel gave a awkward nod in recognition before beckoning them all to rise. They obeyed before staring fixedly at her.
"Is there a council that ruled here before my arrival?"
Several darklings nodded.
"Send for them."
"Yes your majesty!" They shouted in sync before vanishing.
Mel turned and mounted the steps, reentering the main part of the cathedral to see Yemite flash into existence at the foot of the stairs that led up to where the disciples of darkness were closing the portal.
"Mistress!"
"Yemite, replace the table and chairs for the council meetings downstairs please. The council will be here any moment and the other darklings removed the furniture to gather here."
"Yes mistress!"
The darkling hurried down the stairs and left Mel standing silently scanning the cathedral. She had no idea what she was doing but she had better figure it out quick.
She did not wish to anger the demon inside.
The meeting with the darklings had been interesting to say the least. Once they had stopped grovelling Mel had managed to get the basics of how Underfall was ruled.
Which was basically not at all.
For some reason the citizens down in Underfall didn't really fight or argue and there wasn't skirmishes about property. The citizens basically ruled themselves with the occasional gathering to get all excited about one day being the capital of a powerful empire.
It had been decided that one powerful darkling would be stationed at every human city in Aia to oversee things while Mel got everything sorted out. She had never wanted to rule the world and so had absolutely no idea of a what she was supposed to do next.
"This is a headache and a half." Mel muttered.
"Mistress?"
"Is there any darkling here that is powerful but also is a very good tactician or something?"
Yemite shook her head.
"We aren't tacticians. We don't think like humans, you'll have to find a powerful human Mage to work with you."
Mel dropped her head down onto the table.
"Of course."
"Mistress, do you want to find someone who would be best fit to the position?" Yemite asked.
"We'll see. Right now I have other more pressing things to figure out. Finding someone would take to long."
Mel turned her attention back to the map of the world that sat in front of her. She had been warned by one of the darklings that it may end up being a hostile takeover, something she had been expecting anyway, and she was trying to decide where she needed to have control of first.
"I now understand why Edward hated the idea of ruling so much. The amount of paperwork is exhausting."
Several days later Mel could be found reading over plans she had written for the first assault. Her mouth formed the words soundlessly as she went over every little detail.
"But how do I deal with the citizens that rebel? I can't just kill them...can I?"
She was pondering that thought for a moment when the weight of her question hit her and her fingers went slack, the paper falling out of her hands.
"What's wrong with me?! I'm deciding whether to kill someone because they don't agree with me?!
Her hands shook as her mind replayed the question over and over in her head, the realization of what she was doing fully dawning on her for the first time since coming out of the portal.
"What am I doing?! I've been fighting against this all this time and now I'm giving in! I can't do this! This is so, so wrong."
Mel shoved back from from the table, nausea rising in her throat as she stumbled back from the table and the papers on it, the look of horror and terror that had been on her friends faces the last time she saw them filling her mind.
"I can't do this."
Mel turned and bolted for the stairs only to freeze and sink to her knees with a cry, hands flying up to clutch her head as a crippling pain shot through it. Agony wracked her body and Mel shook.
She fell sideways against the wall, gasping for air as it felt like it was being squeezed from her lungs.
The staff to her left began to tremble and glow before a dark presence fell over the room and coiled around her, squeezing her tightly.
"I did not choose you only for you to quit now. I will not give up my toy so easily."
The voice was filled with anger and Mel couldn't help but let out a whimper.
"I have gifted you with the eternal lifespan of a darkling so you are able to eternally rule over the dark empire, you will do as I want or you will pay."
When Mel didn't speak the pain all over her body simply grew, her chest compressing and the nerves behind her eyes giving a starburst effect as her pain sensors were overloaded until Mel couldn't take it anymore.
"S-stop! I'll...I will okay"
The pain lessened.
"Good. Do not disobey me again."
The presence vanished as quickly as it had come and the immovable force that pressed her down, yet supported her to keep her off the floor released her and she collapsed forward until she was on all fours struggling to hold herself up. The door to the council room opened and Yemite walked down the stairs only to gasp at the sight of Mel kneeling on the ground, as white as a ghost.
"Mistress!"
Yemite rushed to Mel's side and Mel glanced up at the loyal servant, attempting a smile.
"Mistress what happened?!"
Mel stood slowly to her feet, allowing Yemite to assist her.
"Nothing Yemite. I've simply learned a valuable lesson about who's truly going to rule this empire."
Yemite cocked her head.
"I don't understand."
"That's alright, you don't need to."
Yemite helped Mel walk over to the chair where she sank down, her head resting back against the chair.
"Yemite, did you know that I was immortal?"
After what happened with the demon Mel had been working almost round the clock to get everything in order for when she fully took over the world. The royal prisoners had been moved to another prison outside of the cathedral so that she didn't have to listen to them shouting to be let free.
The messenger who was checking on all the darklings up on Aia would be returning to give a report soon and Mel was waiting impatiently for news.
"Your majesty?"
Mel looked up to see that the messenger had finally arrived.
"Good, your here. What's the news?"
The darkling shifted on it's feet uncomfortably before drawing itself up to full height.
"Your majesty, for the most part the people have accepted that the darklings are leading the way to a new queen but there have been attempts on the lives of the darklings. Many mages have accepted the idea of a queen that they can serve and become powerful through so they have been protecting the darklings and working to win over as many citizens as possible. However, there is also a group called The Resistance that's rising all over Aia. So far only humans have joined this group, the non-humans want to see for themselves what this new ruler means. However, the Resistance is growing in power and if we want to take over we are going to need to attack soon."
Mel was silent as she absorbed this news. Her mind raced as she figured out what her next step was.
"Send darklings to all the non-human capitals and have the darklings promise that the non-humans will finally have equal standing in Aia under me if they fight on my side. No longer will they have to hide from humans in order to be safe. I will protect them so that they may roam free. Leave their royalty alone, they will be like provincial rulers and they can be left mostly to themselves. That means you tell this to the dwarves, the dragon people, the elves, the fairies and tell the Naylithens that all they have to do is not fight against us and they will be protected. Do not ask the Naylithens to fight."
The darkling nodded and vanished, Mel closing her eyes and magically calling Yemite.
"Yes mistress?"
"Bring me the file with all the mages in it that are powerful and wish to serve at my right hand as a tactician."
Yemite vanished only to reappear a moment later with a fat folder in hand. She handed all the parchment to Mel who took a deep breath before sighing.
"Well, this should be fun."
Mel had only gotten halfway through the paper stack when she threw her hands up in the air.
"Are you kidding me?! The most powerful ones will only serve me if they can become a consort and the rest are females that want me to make rulers under me of various cities.
Mel growled before slumping in her chair.
"Goddess above I hate my life."
While she was busy glaring at the papers on her table Yemite tapped her shoulder.
"What do you want Yemite? I'm busy trying to figure out which idiot to choose."
"I might have a idea of what you can do mistress." Yemite said hesitantly.
Mel looked up at Yemite.
"Go ahead."
"Well, what about the Mage in the prison?"
"Lydia?! Are you crazy?!"
Yemite shook her head.
"No, not the one you call Lydia. The male one. The ex vampire."
"Gyendal? He's far to powerful a Mage to-..." Mel went silent and Yemite gave a encouraging nod.
"That is insane, but absolutely brilliant. Where is he?"
"Still in the prison below."
Mel stood, the chair screeching backwards across the floor. Shoving the paper stack back she turned and swept up the stairs and out of the council room before hurrying to the prison and descending downstairs to the farthest and biggest cell where she saw Gyendal lying on his back with his arms folded behind his head.
"Gyendal."
He glanced over and snorted.
"So the great queen is finally acknowledging my existence is she?"
Mel ignored the pointed statement, striding right up to the cell as she stared intently at the ex-vampire. Her first reaction as she stared at the male inside the cell was to kill him or hurt him, of easiest of all, just walk out. Even as she moved to step back and leave she watched as his head turned and his dark grey-green eyes met hers, freezing her in place. The darkness in his gaze snapped her back to reality am reminded her of why she was here, causing Mel to straighten.
"I have a proposition for you."
Gyendal raised a brow.
"Oh?"
"How far would you be willing to go to have the power over a large group of people?"
Gyendal sat up and stared at her.
"Has the Demon realm stripping you of all intelligence? Because I would have assumed that such a stupidly obvious question would need not be asked in the first place."
Mel gritted her teeth and glared at the Mage, her muscles tensing.
"So the answer is that you've gotten to old to desire power then? Great, I'll go-"
"Don't be a idiot!" He snarled, his back becoming ramrod straight as Mel smirked.
"It was a simple-"
"I have no interest in foolish games lamb. Get to the point."
She sneered and crossed her arms, all sense of her hastily constructed aloof and detached persona gone as she was reduced to the deeply aggravated and combative person that surfaced every time she spoke to the infuriating ex-vampire.
"I am ruling now, just like you forced me to, and now I'm trapped in this role of being a glorified secretary for the affairs of Aia, but I don't have anyone that can assist me in figuring out what steps I need to take to be a effective and feared ruler. I need a powerful Mage who can stand with me, and right now I am in desperate need of someone who is powerful that can work with me as I prepare for war against a human resistance that has formed."
There was a moment of silence before Gyendal yawned and leaned back very deliberately.
"And you need help finding someone who can do that. Well I'm afraid that I'm rather useless in recommendations of that sort so if you don't mind, I'd like you to leave." He said with a sniff.
Mel threw her hands up into the air.
"And you say I'm stupid?! Why would I come down here for reccomendations?! I have hundreds of darklings that have been gathering Mage records to find me someone competent enough to work with me, and after the thousands of records that have been gone through none appeared that don't want to become a mini dictator with lots of money or marry me!"
"So you came to talk to me and give me such a offer of power...why?"
Mel stared at him for a long moment. Had becoming human really addled his brain that much?!
Apparently not. It took a moment, but she saw realization dawn on his face.
Then he began to laugh.
"You, want me to work alongside you?! You hate me! You think I'm responsible fully for what finally brought you to this place! Why the hell would you want me working with you, better yet why the hell would you think I would even consider it?! I loathe you! You have been nothing but a minion of misery since that night when you retired the orb of Darkness!"
"You think I want to ask you?! I don't have any other choice! I know that you won't expect me to marry you, and there is no one else even competent enough for this job!"
Gyendal stood and approached the gate separating them, stopping mere inches from the bars. His eyes glittered with cunning as he met her own steady gaze.
"And tell me Mel Darkthrop, what do I get out of this?"
"The ability to walk free from this cell for good, being elevated to the highest level of power other then myself over everyone, and the remains of the magic dampening bracelet that had been placed over you permanently removed, and the freedom to travel Aia once again after the shifting of power has been fully settled."
Her words made Gyendal's eyes widen as he took a half step back, clearly startled by everything that she was willingly offering.
"Really..."
"Yes."
He studied her, his lips tightening into a thin line.
"And what proof that you will keep to this do I have?"
Mel took a shaking breath before turning towards Yemite who stood at the far wall where several switches were located.
"Open the door."
Her loyal servant did as orders and with a shuddering clang the door to Gyendal's cell opened, leaving nothing between the two enemy mages. Gyendal stayed perfectly still, not making any move to attack her.
Mel hesitated before stepping forward before holding out one hand flat, palm facing up as Yemite approached and placed a glowing and pulsing red stone in her hand. The stone of truth, entrusted to the Darklings by their patron Druid, Rashnu of the Darkness.
"Will a oath do well enough for you?"
The ex-vampire stared at the stone in awe, knowing what it was without Yemite even having to say a word. Mel took a shaking breath before speaking, the stone beginning to pulse with every word spoken.
"I am Mel Darkthrop, Mage, child of Prophecy, and ruler of Darkness. I swear a oath upon this stone that I will grant Gyendal Ravenfoot the authority of my right hand, and the freedom to roam while removing all unwelcome restraints once placed upon him should he accept and swear a binding oath of loyalty to me, never to betray me and turn against my Rule or attempt to bring trouble upon I or my darklings either through his own power, or through the power of mages around him acting through his will."
Gyendal was silent for a long moment, before looking up from the stone at Mel.
"I have no other option. No freedom, no authority. The vampires will no longer accept my presence among them even if I did escape, for I am only a human now. And you will grant me authority. I will accept this offer...on one condition. I wish to become a vampire once again."
Mel hesitated. If she made him a vampire, it would take away the small amount of power leverage she held over the Mage in front of her. But if she didn't, she would lose out on having the most powerful Mage she had ever met before in her life working at her side.
"...very well. I swear that if you abide by the previous terms of my oath I will also find a way to turn you."
He nodded then raised a hand, placing it over the stone in her hand as he began to speak.
"I am Gyendal Ravenfoot, servant to Rashnu of the Darkness, creature of death, Mage of the highest order, and Lord of Twilight. I swear a oath upon this stone that I shall remain loyal to the reign of Mel Darkthrop, never to betray or turn against her rule, nor to bring harm to her or the darklings through my hand or the hand of those who obey my wishes and will so long as Mel stays true to her oath of my freedom of magical constraint and imprisonment, returning to me my ability to roam and granting me the power of a ruler as her right hand and returns to me the gift she stole by restoring my status as vampire."
The stone blazed between their hands and Mel tensed as the stone heated, and tingling warmth spreading through her body before fading away.
The oath had been made. They had sealed their fate.
So what did you think? Reviews are welcome! Flames shall be laughed at, posted for others to laugh at, and ignored as I continue the story.