FOREVER DESTINY : Ancient Era Arc 1

Before the Beginning

Prologue:

"Against the Odds"

Story Focus: Hariel and T'myra

By Nekochan

Author's Note

This small collections of passages are meant to introduce you to my world through some of the most important events in a few of my characters' lives. It's also meant to introduce you to my writing style.

Arigatou Minasan! (Thanks everyone!)

Nekochan

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9:30 PM Wednesday- Mysecuamaja, Mycuaja August 13th- 979 D.A.

Kynejycue Orysy stirred in his sleep, vaguely aware that his dreams were being overtaken by a vision. I remember . . .

(-)(-)(-)

"+Last chance, S'soz! Hand over the girl! Don't make us come and get her+" The Demidon known as D'dedshi K'kbo called out loudly. He and four of his Demidon minions were standing in the courtyard of a small castle - the one belonging to Kynejycue's sister and her husband. All five of the Demidons wore the black armor of G'gonstrm nobles, as was their right by birth.

"(Ignore 'im, dear,)" S'soz whispered to his wife as they stood in the halls of their castle, just outside of their daughter's room and barely within earshot of D'dedshi's loud remarks. "(Kyn will be 'ere any minute t' take Tayma away while we deal wit' D'dedshi. We just 'ave t' 'ope the guards can 'old 'em off until then.)" He wrapped his dark blue wings around her lightly and caressed her shoulders.

Vynefycua looked up into her husband's deep brown eyes with her vibrant green ones. "(Is that really the only option left t' us?)" she pleaded.

A flash of bright green light signaled the arrival of a Mage of great power as he Teleported into the castle. "(Pe'aps not, but it's certainly the most logical.)" An' that is still true.

"(Kyn! Thank Cuamyjy ya' came so fast!)" S'soz released his wife and clasped his hands around one of Kynejycue's, careful not to scratch his brother-by-marriage with his claws.

'Ee always was so careful aroun' 'is family memba's. "(Vyna . . .)" Kynejycue released his hands from S'soz's and took his older sister into his embrace. "(Ya' know I'll take care o' T'myra.)"

"(I trust ya', Kyn, but I'm still so worried abou' that D'dedshi-)"

"+ATTACK+" D'dedshi ordered and his minions rushed for the gates, opening them forcibly in a matter of seconds. "+HEAD FOR THE TOWER+"

"(We're out o' time,)" S'soz hissed. He turned around and opened the door to his daughter's room.

A satchel was lying on a bed of tousled silk sheets and a young girl dressed in fine clothes stood over them, crying. She turned to the door with wet green eyes, looking like she wanted to speak but was unable to do so.

"(Oh Tayma . . .)" S'soz spoke softly as he moved to her. He picked her up and held her close to him as Vynefycua came up behind him. "(Come on Tayma, you're stronga' than this. Ya' need t' go wit' yo' Uncle Kyn now so we can deal wit' Mista' K'kbo.)"

"(I don't want t' leave ya', Daddy! O' Mom! Why can't 'ee jus' leave us alone?)" T'myra whimpered.

S'soz was about to answer when the sound of doors being smashed in sounded throughout the castle. "(Mista' K'kbo isn't thinkin' straight right now. If he finds ya', 'ee might 'urt ya'.)"

"(We want ya' t' be safe, T'myra. Uncle Kyn can take ya' back t' 'is 'ouse in Mysecuamaja fo' us. At least there you'll be betta' protected.)"

"(Then you an' Daddy should come too!)" T'myra insisted.

In the most desperate o' times, they remained a family. S'soz would not give up 'is precious daughta' fo' all o' Cheakir, even t' 'is fellow Demidon, D'dedshi - S'soz 'ad long ago sworn 'is true allegiance t' Mycuaja an' t' Vynefycua.

"(Please, Kyn, take 'a' now. D'dedshi will be 'ere any moment,)" Vynefycua requested, her voice heavy and strained with emotion.

S'soz set T'myra down and gave her another hug, pained that he had to pry T'myra off of him.

"(Very well, Vyna. Come on, T'myra,)" Kynejycue held out his hand to her as he picked up her satchel.

"(Wait, I can't fo'get my whip!)" She insisted as she went for it's place on her Armaments wall, where all of her practice weapons hung alongside a few real ones.

"+FOUND YOU+" A Demidon shouted as he ran down the hallway leading to T'myra's room, having just come up a stone staircase and fought his way past a few handfuls of guards along the way - the few scratches and dents on his armor were testament to that.

"+LEAVE US BE+" S'soz screamed in his native language. Within a matter of seconds, his features had shifted as he Raged. His skin became a pale tan-orange and his eyes became bright red, his green noble garb now stark in color against his body. His claws grew longer as did his fangs and his horns seemed to sharpen along with his tail. He spread his wings out to their full span and drew his sword. "+YA' WILL COME NO FURTHA'+" He bellowed as he charged the Demidon now in the hallway where they'd been standing minutes earlier, his wings flying back behind him. The other Demidon had already Raged.

"(Kyn, ya' mus' leave NOW!)" Vynefycua cried. She looked at T'myra one last time before moving to stand behind her husband, unleashing a barrage of magical energy upon the attacking Demidon minion.

Kynejycue nodded to her and scooped up T'myra along with her belongings and moved to the far corner of the room. There, he began casting his Teleport spell.

T'myra, however, could not take her eyes off of her parents as they battled D'dedshi's minion.

"(S'soz, here comes another one!)" Vynefycua announced as she spied a second Demidon coming into the hallway.

"(Look fo' D'dedshi!)" S'soz replied, still attacking the Demidon in front of him. He rapidly and accurately swung with his sword in his right hand and claws on his left.

"+For G'gonstrm+" the Demidon screeched as he launched himself against S'soz, causing S'soz to begin losing ground; the other Demidon was now in the doorway to T'myra's room.

Then, there was a crash as glass shattered everywhere around Kynejycue and T'myra, cutting them both, as a third Demidon burst through one of the windows and flew to the other side of the room, managing to land on his feet. He was soon followed by none other than D'dedshi himself.

"+DIE, HALF-BREED+" D'dedshi yelled as he brought a sword down to strike T'myra.

T'myra screamed, calling both of her parents' attention to her, yet managed to dodge out of the way of most of the blow. The sword sliced one of her shoulders and cut her sleeve almost clean off, but T'myra remained on her feet.

It was then that I knew it was time fo' desperate measures. Kynejycue grabbed T'myra and activated the power of his family crest, the three-tiered-jewel the Orysy family wore on their foreheads. With that, he flew out of the window that had just been broken and tried to head for the castle's roof. If nothin' else I felt better takin' on one attacker than firin' spells int' a close-quarta's combat. I knew D'dedshi would come fo' me an' leave 'is minions t' take out Vyna an' S'soz . . . but it was th' best I could do . . . I knew Vyna would 'ave wanted T'myra t' be the one 'oo lived . . . if it 'ad t' come t' that . . . an' I'd believed it 'ad.

Vynefycua smiled with tears in her eyes before returning her gaze to face the third Demidon minion. She retreated ever so slightly such that her back was to her husband's, at which point she put up a shield that she knew wouldn't last long with two Demidons pounding on it.

S'soz noticed the faint green glow of Vynefycua's shield and looked over his shoulder. "(Vynefycua . . . love . . . let's fight fo' T'myra, so that she may live.)" His Rage was subsiding and he knew he would have to call on all of his accursed Demidon strength to keep it going; he hadn't Raged in so long . . .

Vynefycua nodded fervently. "(Wit' all m' magic an' all m' 'aart, S'soz, da'lin',)" she managed to say as she began the gestures to cast another spell for when the shield dropped. They had fought to become a family; they would fight to preserve it.

Just as the shield dropped, Vynefycua let loose a blinding light that stunned their three attackers long enough for S'soz to refresh his Rage and Vynefycua to grab a staff from off the Armaments wall of T'myra's room. Back to back again, husband and wife stood their ground against the three attacking Demidons.

On the roof, T'myra stood next to her uncle, whip in hand, with D'dedshi only a few feet from them. "(Uncle Kyn . . . I want t' get outta' 'ere . . .)"

"(We can't - as long as D'dedshi's aroun', 'ee'll disrupt m' spell. An' we can't fly away, b'cause I'm sure 'ee's at least as fast as I am,)" Kynejycue replied. It is still 'ard fo' me t' rememba' T'myra this way - so timid an' afraid o' th' wo'ld. She 'ad a right t' be, o' course - but these days . . . There is not a bit o' timidness left in 'er.

"+DIE+" D'dedshi screamed and charged the quaking girl.

Kynejycue pushed her behind himself and threw up a magical shield as fast as he could, but all that meant was that the force of the charge hit the shield and pushed Kynejycue slowly backwards.

"+You will die with your family, Mycuajan+" D'dedshi spat, pressing his enormous sword down upon Kynejycue's shield.

"+T'myra will live, Lord K'kbo; you will not kill her+" Kynejycue responded in practiced G'gonn. As he held up the shield with his left hand, he reached back with his right hand and launched a barrage of magical energy at D'dedshi. "(T'myra, you must run away if I cannot protect you!)"

The Demidon shrugged off the effects of the magic's impact. "+Weak magic cannot kill me, Mycuajan+" he roared and swung his sword high into the air. D'dedshi slashed it down sideways, knocking Kynejycue tumbling towards the edge of the rooftop. "+No, I will not kill her; I was forbidden to do so+" D'dedshi grumbled through clenched teeth, "+However, that does not mean I cannot kill you+" D'dedshi reached down to Kynejycue and hoisted him up by the collar of his shirt so as to be eye-level with D'dedshi himself. "+Anyone who stands in the way of my Emperor's commands dies+"

Kynejycue could feel his breathing become constricted and tried feebly to wrench himself from D'dedshi's grasp. While D'dedshi laughed haughtily, he finally realized what Kynejycue had been doing the whole time - D'dedshi armor was becoming heavier and hotter by the second thanks to a Molten Armor spell. The Demidon threw Kynejycue back on the ground and stepped on both of his arms.

"+I wasn't going to enjoy this, Mycuajan - but you've changed my mind+" D'dedshi snarled before raising his sword high to pierce Kynejycue's chest.

"(Uncle Kyn!)" T'myra screeched.

With that, D'dedshi launched the sword downward.

There was a brilliant flash of teal light, which stunned both D'dedshi and Kynejycue, making D'dedshi drop his sword to his side.

Kynejycue's eyes went wide in shock; T'myra was hunched over lying on Kynejycue's chest, sobbing softly, with a shimmering orb of aquamarine surrounding her and Kynejycue. Without a second thought, Kynejycue quickly began to chant his spell of Teleportation even as he lay prone on the ground.

But D'dedshi was quick to recover and he didn't have to guess what it was that the Mycuajan was doing. With a furious roar as he Raged, D'dedshi ran to strike him down.

However, T'myra's shield proved stronger than Kynejycue's, for D'dedshi's sword was repelled from the Mycuajans and sent D'dedshi reeling to regain his balance.

"+NOOOOOOOO+"

So, despite D'dedshi K'kbo's furious attempts, I was able t' get away wit' T'myra thanks t' 'er extrao'dinary abilities. 'Oweva', I wish mo' than anythin' tha' I coulda' done th' same fo' m' sista' an' T'myra's fatha' . . .

(-)(-)(-)

Kynejycue rolled over and gazed out his window at the night sky. He sat up and put his head into his hands. I went back t' m' sista's castle th' next day . . . but I couldn't even find their bodies. I made sure t' put ma'ka's in the graveyard a' their castle, but T'myra -

Suddenly, Kynejycue's head snapped up in realization as he ran for the room next door, where he'd let T'myra sleep. He didn't even bother asking for permission to enter and was grateful his niece hadn't locked the door. He threw the door open and ran for the bed, but it was completely empty save a note in handwriting that Kynejycue knew to be T'myra's, though it was evident she had been in a hurry.

Uncle Kyn,

Thank you for your generous hospitality and helping me escape from the Demidons. The talk we had last night about there being a prophecy that told how to destroy the evil of the Gizmutan really made an impact on me. So, to avenge my parents' death, I intend to fulfill that prophecy. I hope you understand. I will try to write to you about my progress or come to visit you, but that may prove difficult. I have taken the remainder of my parents' funds you gave to me so that I can provide for myself.

Please do what you can to alert the Mycuajan Nobles of this atrocity. I hope with all my heart that no more Half-Breeds have to be victims of whatever plan the Demidons may have.

To retain my honor and yours,

T'myra M'munda Orysy-H'htonre
Duchess of the Noble Orysy of Mycuaja
Lady of the Houses of H'htonre and S'sgaw N'nmba of G'gonstrm

Kynejycue sat down on the bed, the letter falling from his hands. Cuamyjy watch ova' 'er . . .

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11:00 AM Thursday- K'kom G'gonstrm, G'gonstrm August 14th- 979 D.A

"+Explain yourself, Lord K'kbo+" the Emperor bellowed.

The Demidons that held D'dedshi K'kbo by his shackles shoved the humiliated Lord to his knees and made him look up at the Emperor.

It was S'sgaw N'nmba, the House of G'gonstrm into which all Demidons were born. Built with black stone, it was more like a small amphitheater. However, three of the numerous seats were empty.

"+The Half-Breed H'htonre girl created some sort of impenetrable barrier. Her Mycuajan guardian cast a spell that took them away from me and I was unable to stop them due to the girl's barrier- AH+" D'dedshi groaned as the guards' grip on his scalp tightened, "+But we did kill the Traitor H'htonre and his Mycuajan wife.+"

The Emperor of G'gonstrm, a Demidon of exceptional charisma and jet black skin, stood up and motioned for D'dedshi to be released, upon which D'dedshi collapsed to all fours. "+Tell me this, Lord K'kbo - how in the name of the Gizmutan did you manage to kill both Lord H'htonre and his mistress - both of whom were notably powerful in their own right let alone as a team - and not capture their whelp of a Half-Breed daughter? Perhaps you are lying to me+"

"+Never, my Emperor+" D'dedshi swore, "+By the Gizmutan I have not lied+" He knelt to be flat on the floor, "+Kill me for my failure if that is your desire, my Emperor, but allow me to keep my honor of the tongue+"

The Emperor sat back down. "+No, Lord K'kbo, I will not kill you, for you may prove useful again yet. However . . . +"

D'dedshi had looked hopeful, but his face now became exceptionally pale.

"+A bargain is a bargain.+" The Emperor snapped his fingers and four more Demidons in the ornate armor of guards brought out a woman and boy. "+You did not bring me the H'htonre girl. Your family shall not be spared the judgment of S'sgaw N'nmba.+"

D'dedshi tried getting to his feet, but the guards knocked him down again as he screamed, "+NO! MY EMPEROR, PLEASE! TAKE ME INSTEAD+"

"+D'dedshi+" the woman cried out.

"+DAD+" the boy yelled.

"+Not M'jooka and Ch'tsu, my Emperor! Not my wife and child+" D'dedshi pleaded

"+I will keep my honor of the tongue as well, Lord K'kbo+" the Emperor responded coolly.

Out of the shadows, a cloaked Demidon appeared at the Emperor's side. "+I shall take them out of your hands now, my Emperor.+"

"+Very good, B'da M'no. Perform your ceremony as soon as you are ready+" the Emperor insisted and turned away from the screeching family as they were taken away. Under his breath, the Emperor whispered, "+I shall have the power of the Gizmutan+"

(-)

The Emperor's guards threw D'dedshi into a cell, chortling, "+You shall wait here until the Emperor decides what exactly to do with you+"

D'dedshi did not respond, but merely huddled into a corner despite the bindings on his wrists and ankles. He bowed his head and almost began to cry. Why? he demanded internally as he thought back to the events of the distant past in Mysecuamaja.

One image stood out above all others; there he stood in his regal Demidon armor, sword raised high above him, ready to bring it crushing down on his foe. However, peering beyond his own shoulder, he could see his victims: Vynefycua Orysy-H'htonre, weary from expending her magical energy, and, lying in her lap, was D'dedshi's brother-in-arms, S'soz H'htonre, bloody and bruised from his hard fight against D'dedshi's three guardsmen, none of whom survived.

Vynefycua's eyes pierced his soul and S'soz's exhausted form leered at him. He could see his own dear M'jooka in Vynefycua's form and his son, Ch'tsu, in S'soz's place.

He and S'soz had grown up together. It was S'soz who'd encouraged him to marry M'jooka, a Half-Breed Demidon-Saint, and a few years later S'soz married Vynefycua. Their children grew up together, Ch'tsu and T'myra, as both families made an effort to visit one another. S'soz and D'dedshi had even dared hope that their children might be married later in life and so arranged for their betrothal.

Then the Emperor's orders came: all Half-Breeds had to be rounded up as suspicious characters, to advance a plan to bring glory to G'gonstrm and put an end to the feud between G'gonstrm and its neighboring countries of Sahngell and Mycuaja.

Vynefycua's eyes - the eyes of innocence stained. He knew that they would forever haunt his memories.

I'm so sorry . . . D'dedshi whispered, and quietly began to cry.

(-)

10:50 AM Thursday- Nabyjacuo Harbor, Mycuaja August 14th- 979 D.A.

The port city of Nabyjacuo was the largest port on the northwest side of the Mycuajan continent, and thus the best place to get a good ship heading to the kingdom-continent of Sahngell. On the deck of the ship that had just left the docks, a man and boy stood looking over the railing as Nabyjacuo disappeared behind them.

"(Hariel, you're sure you want to stay in Sahenangell for a while? We could just walk around for a day or two-)" The man began, addressing the boy.

The man, probably in his early thirties, was dressed in a clean, white robe and pants with a pale blue sash across the middle. He wore leather walking boots and carried a backpack filled with odds and ends, but not enough of anything to sustain both of them for more than two days.

"(Shedosh, I truly appreciate your concern for my well being, but this is something I have to do and I think it's gonna take me a while,)" Hariel, the boy, responded. "(I've always felt that if I went back to Sahenangell, I might find some clues to my past there. Then, the other day, I had that strange dream, remember? I could see the grasslands, prairies, and small deserts of Sahngell, but also the towering capital of Sahenangell. Then, all I could feel was a deep sadness- I have to find out what that means! You haven't been able to interpret it, and that's scary enough for me.)"

Hariel was decently shorter than Shedosh, who wasn't especially tall at all. His head only reached to Shedosh's ribcage, but he was an active, young boy and his build showed it; he was well-toned, but not extremely so. He wore only a black sash around his white pants, the legs of which he had tied off above his ankles, and thonged sandals - no shirt.

Maybe he'll change his mind when we get there, Shedosh hoped, then thought otherwise. Wait, he mocked himself, This is Hariel I'm talking about - he won't want to return until he figures out exactly why he had that dream. "(Well, I guess there's no stopping you now, huh?)"

"(You didn't have to come-)"

"(Oh yes I did,)" Shedosh interrupted him quickly, sandy-blonde hair swaying slightly. "(I won't have you sleeping in the streets while you're on this little adventure of yours. I'm going to at least find you a place to stay, then I'll just come and check up on you every once in a while. Of course, I'll be here for the Festival of Unity in May.)"

Hariel put his chin on the railing, white bangs flopping into his eyes. "(Even if I don't figure everything out, it'll be nice to have a change of scenery for a while . . .)" he mused. "(As much as I love the rolling hills, valleys, and the Great Inland Sea of Lebamenacuam, I feel like I've seen it all when I traveled with you. Sahngell is a completely different story - they have full-time farmers there! The atmosphere is completely different, the way it's been described to me.)"

Shedosh smiled at Hariel's intelligence, bright blue eyes reexamining his pupil; Hariel looked like he was only ten or eleven years old, but Shedosh knew that Hariel was wiser than that, even if no one else would acknowledge it. "(Angels are no different from Mystics, and Saints are just like Mages, Hariel; we just have different names. Our place in the world is the same. None of the three continents are really all that different from one another.)"

"(Angels and Saints live twice as long as any Mycuajan could ever hope for; Mystics and Mages can cast spells; and no Monster or Demidon from G'gonstrm will ever be anything like any citizen of Sahngell or Mycuaja!)" Hariel insisted.

"(You know what I mean,)" Shedosh slowly replied with a bit of a smirk to Hariel's adamant remark. It was how most young people reacted to any mention of the G'gonstrm Empire these days. "(At least this way you'll get to practice your Sahngellian!)" he said in good humor.

Hariel glared at him and spoke as if merely continuing the conversation, "I can speak Sahngellian just fine."

Shedosh nodded, his pointed ears sticking out of his long, straight hair. "Your pronunciation has improved."

Hariel broke into Mycuajan again. "(Ever since you kept bugging me, 'It's Sahn-gel, not San-geel' and 'They say it 'Muh-ka-wah-jah', even if it really is I made sure to concentrate on that,)" he explained.

"(Then I guess it worked, didn't it?)" Shedosh chuckled and ruffled Hariel's hair, his pale skin a sharp contrast to Hariel's even paler form.

Hariel only smiled back up at his mentor, dark maroon eyes alight with amusement.

(-)(-)(-)

Continued in: Ordinary Daze

1/17/2001
 Hopefully this will help you guys to understand this whole new world I've created. Hopefully. If something is still unclear, let me know and I'll add it in here. But you guys have to TELL me before I can fix the problem! As always, I love input! E-mail me!

2/8/2005 and 3/31/2005
 You can all thank MorganRay (a member of this server) for convincing me to write a real prologue in place of the huge bit of 3rd-Person Exposition I had beforehand. Is this any better? I hope so . . . LOOK! I got the language problem sorted out! Yay! Plus, minor wordsmithing here & there.

Summer 2005
 Here I go again, trying to improve new work with newer work. Will this be a final revision? I hope so. I really do. I'm just hoping and praying that this is has enough hooks to keep people interested without totally blowing everything out of proportion. I kinda' like it though - I'd never really fleshed out the portions that are visited in this new treatment. Enjoy!

Nekochan