Beyond The Sky
Chapter 1: Price for Peace.
Ogrest, the mighty Ogre warrior of ancient days, the warrior who collected the dofus and retreated to Mount Zinit to seclude himself to the world. Ogrest the calamity bringer, the cause of chaos and destruction that had turned the world of twelve on its head. The one who had proved beyond even the power of the gods themselves. After a long and intense battle Ogrest was returned to his original form, a small child of his race ignorant and unknowledgeable of even his own emotions. And that child now played happily with his own.
Percedal was an accepting man, one who took life in stride and didn't ask many questions. He didn't really care about the how or the why, just the what. Nevertheless he couldn't help but remember that day but a few short months ago, the day when he had battled this little green child above the sky. The day he lost his arm. To a Iop the loss of a limb was devastating, under normal circumstances it would mean the loss of his warrior status and an inability to fight. Since he had helped in defeating Ogrest however, no one dared question his warrior's pride, and he refused to allow this loss to affect his ability to battle, he had spent the last several months trying to learn to wield Rubilax one handed, so far to no avail.
Otomai stood next to him, watching with the same cautious and intent eyes as the red headed warrior. The ogre loved his son, but was all too aware of the devestation the boy had caused, and was more keen than anyone to ensure it didn't happen again. His child, his blood, had caused the devestation of an entire world and he would never let it happen again.
The children played with Evengelne oblivious to the intent looks from the inside the house. "Pick me up on your shoulder's mommy! Flopin insisted. "No fair! You always get mommy's attention!" Elely yelled back. Ogrest rolled onto his back in a laughing fit.
Otomai Smiled. "It's been so long since I've seen my son laugh you know."
"Well Elely seems to be rather good at it," Percedal replied "she makes me laugh a lot too. Maybe she should be a jester."
Otomai Chuckled "I think she would rather be warrior like her father."
Percedal stood with ernest pride "Of course! She's a Iop through and through!" he said, his chest puffing out in pride "A warrior's blood travels through her veins!"
"Not to mention a god's blood" came the reply, not from Otomai, this one came from the sword on his hip.
Percedal's face soured "Rubilax, I told you not to talk about that." He placed his arm on his hip.
"I'm not a god, I'm just a Iop."
The others were headed inside now "We'll talk about this later." Percedal said scornfully. Rubilax's eye rolled in a circle and he sighed but otherwise remained silent.
Evengelyne entered the house with Elely on her shoulders, and an upset flopin and a jubilant Ogrest trailing her. She put Elely down and ushered her two children to the den.
"Time to head home son." Otomai said smiling.
"Okay dad." The little green ogre replied. Even after a few months the boy's ears had begun to shrink, the first signs that his little body was beginning to age. Something the Dofus had stopped for many centuries.
"we'll see you again in a few days sir Percedal." Otomai said as he left.
"I told you, dally is fine," Percedal said back "All my friends call me that."
Evangeline laughed as the two ogres left
"What?" Percedal asked when no reply came he asked again "What's so funny?"
Evangeline took a deep breath and stopped laughing "A few years ago you would've gone red with anger at being called 'Dally'."
Percedal scratched his head "I guess it has grown on me huh?"
Evangeline sat next to the mighty Iop and put her arm around him "and it makes you that much more cute."
Yugo sat on the bench in front of Percedal's statue, his hands planted beside him, his legs swinging under him, his head lost in thought. How would he explain everything to Alibert. It had been four months and he had been avoiding the trip home. Partly because he wanted to spend more time with Amalia, but mostly because he wanted to avoid telling Alibert what had happened between him and Adamai.
His dragon brother hadn't helped that much with cooking, Alibert and Yugo had handled that fairly well, but he had been indispensible in keeping chibi and Grougal occupied. Alibert would be upset by that loss. But he would be more upset at Yugo for forcing his brother away.
"Victory never comes without a loss." A voice said from behind him.
Yugo acted on impulse opening a portal and warping above and behind the voice, he landed on the persons head before stopping cold.
"Ki-King Sharm?" The eliatrope lept down from the large man's back and landed on the ground behind him "What are you doing here?"
The king walked forward and sat on the bench motioning Yugo to join him, the young Eliatrope complied.
"Is it so strange for me to pay respects to my nation's savior," he paused "one of them anyway."
"I guess not." Yugo replied "but ever since he came back I've never seen anyone come here, except for the brotherhood."
"Hmm." The king inclined his head "Yes I have often seen you all here retelling your adventures to one another."
Yugo and the king simply stared at the statue for several minutes not saying anything.
"We are kings you and I," Sharn said "Sometimes we must make a hard descision, do what we think is right, even knowing the price for that choice."
"I know," yugo said "A friend of mine, Belthazaar, taught me that when we defeated Quilby." Yugo dropped his head and stared at the ground between his feet "Doesn't make hurt less though."
"Nothing ever will." King Sharn "The pain of losing my wife will never leave me," the king said in a wise knowing voice "but my children bring me solace, and more recently your father and Ruel as well. Your friends are there for you Yugo, you should let them be."
Yugo looked up at the king. This man had often acted childish and foolish, only more recently had this wiser side taken hold. But that didn't concern yugo quite as much. The man spoke from experience, as though terrible things had happened to him as well. The young Eliatrope had been inconsolable after the battle with Ogrest. He spent time with Amalia and the sadida woman tried to get him to relax, but it was hard. He was never to see his brother again, and not even her charm could replace him.
"Ruel is here to take you home," The king said snapping Yugo out of his thoughts. "But I wanted to impart that to you before you left."
Yugo frowned, still unsure how he was going to explain everything to his father.
"Thank you." Yugo said as he walked away from the statue headed to the main palace where Ruel likely waited in that confounded drill machine of his.
Far beyond the confines of the world of twelve, the beings for which it was named sat in council. Twelve thrones, twelve gods, in their center a radiant goddess and a scale faced man. Their parents Eliatrope and the Great Dragon.
"Why are the two of you here?" Sadida said angrily "You've never shown such interest in the affair of our world before."
"Respect brother!" Sacrier yelled at his sibling "Remember to whom you speak!"
Eliatrope and the Great Dragon remained silent as angered cries rose throughout the room.
"Peace my brothers." A single voice rang out despite it's quiet tone. The yelling stapped and all turned to it's source: Sram stood in a corner near his chair. "Bickering now is pointless, They are here now, what is past is beyond us, even Xelor cannot turn back the hands of time." The shadowy figure stepped into the light and sat down "nevertheless, I would like to hear an explaination."
All heads turned to the two in the center waiting for them to reply.
The Great Dragon spoke first, "We tried to instill in all of you, core values that would see the krozmos prosper."
Eliatrope continued "and in your world of twelve we can see clearly that you have embraced these values wholeheartedly."
Again the Great Dragon spoke "Our grandchildren speak volumes about our children's hearts. We took pride, you have done well, we needn't interfere."
Silence prevailed for several minutes before Sadida hung his head "I am sorry, I was out of line."
"No," Eliatrope said calmly "You are the most compassionate among our children, and your anger grows when compassion cannot be seen. You make us proud that you would defend this world, even against us if necessary."
Sram interrupted "Not to offend, but this truly is a rare occurance," The god stood "Why now, what has happened?"
The Great Dragon waved his hand, purple energy flew from it and a large circular mirror formed in the air. The mirror rippled and when stilled no longer showed the room. Instead a fleet of golden vessels were emerging from what appeared to be a hole in the krosmoz.
Goultard stood in awe "Mechanisms?" he asked tentatively.
"No." The great dragon replied "This threat comes from outside the Krozmos, from beyond our realm."
"Beyond our realm?" Sadida asked skeptically "Does such a thing exist?"
"Apparently it does." Eliatrope answered "We were as unaware of this as you."
"They continue to emerge." Xelor stated "More time equals more ships, an invasion force."
"Then what shall be done to combat the threat?" Sram asked patiently
The Great Dragon answered quickly "I believe it is time that our mortal children, be brought into the fold."