Hello all!

So exciting little announcement for me to be able to make^^ Some of you who've been around from the beginning or have read through my original Aveyond fanfics may remember my Dark Mel AU story Shattered Truths, and how translated another possible ending to the plot.

Well I went back to reread it a bit ago and upon doing so decided that it didn't fit my headcanon for how Mel would have acted at all anymore, and thus my muse proposed an overhaul XD There will be some parallels plot-wise for certain things, but I wanted to completely revamp the story to fit the evolved headcanon I have now for Mel's motivations and what drives her. I wanted to really look at her experiences, and instead of making it the demon's choice from the getgo, look at it from the perspective of Mel trying to take power over her future that for the last few years had been wildly spinning out of control.

I'm really excited to be able to share this with you lovelies! I hope you all enjoy^^

Into Darkness

A final explosion rocked the cavern, the demon turning to ash before them with a dying cry as the staff of destiny fell to the stone floor with a clatter. Her party was breathing hard, Nox leaning heavily into her sister who was coaxing her to take some elixir.

Relief washed over all of them, finally, they could get out of this hellhole of Demons and twisted beings. Behind Mel, the others were tending to their battle wounds, the dark haired mage taking the moment to question Galahad's sudden appearance only to be dismissed as they moved to leave the cavern.

"Wait Mel, you can't leave without the staff." Nox quickly intervened, bringing the others up short.

Mel almost laughed at the absurdity of it, all that work and she almost left behind what she needed in the first place. Quickly she approached, bending down before pausing. As her hand reached out she felt the strangest tingle, almost as if pushing her hand through an invisible barrier. The metal was still warm to the touch, her fingers near uncomfortably heated as she gripped the staff.

As her hand closed around the metal she found herself stumbling to the side ever so slightly, her head swimming for a moment before returning to normal.

"Mel, are you alright?" came the concerned rumble as Galahad approached.

She gave her head a brisk shake and stood, glancing around the cavern.

"I'm fine, just not used to battling completely with magic yet." She dismissed, shrugging off the strange feeling.

Just as she was ready to turn and lead the others back to Aveyond, a gentle hand settled on her arm and pulled her to a halt. She turned back to face Uma and Nox, blinking in confusion as they stepped back away.

"We've helped you get the staff of destiny, but it's up to you to take the path from here. Your friend is with you now and he's strong, it's time for us to go." Uma said, her tone warm with affection and kindness.

"Goodbye Mel." Echoed twin voices in sync, as before Mel's eyes the twins shined bright blue before fading away completely.

"What?! Wait! Can you at least tell me who you are?" Mel called, reaching forward only for her hand to pass right through.

It was too late for answers apparently, they had left as quickly as they had come.

"We need to leave, the evil in this place feels like it's crawling all over me." Galahad said with a shudder, Mel turning back to face him and Yemite.

The three of them quickly regrouped, heading back into the caves with Aveyond set firmly in their tired minds. As exhausted as Mel was, she felt strangely energized as she set the quick pace through the tunnels. As she walked she couldn't help but hear the faintest sound of a whisper, words almost indistinct but tone inviting. Power, freedom, peace, fading in and out of clarity as she strained to hear.

"Who's whispering?" Mel asked, half turning to look behind her at the others.

Her companions looked up at her in confusion, their expressions betraying how worn out they were.

"No ones whispering, you're just hearing the breeze or the wisps." Yemite said, shooting the dark mage a look of concern. "Maybe we should rest before you go back to Underfall mistress."

Instantly she shook her head, the idea of being trapped down here a second longer making her near panic. It had been too long, feeling like centuries…

As soon as that thought had come Mel blinked, caught up short by her own wandering thought. Centuries? The exaggeration was out of place for her usual line of thought, but after a moment she shrugged and focused on the path through the caves. Even the short time down here, sleeplessly working towards the staff, was messing with her.

The trip to Aveyond was strangely peaceful, monsters outright avoiding them. Yet, even as strange as that was Mel found herself barely paying any attention. Her mind wandered as if separated from her control, memories from the quests filtering through her head unprompted. As it navigated through her experiences she found herself skipping over the main events, instead mulling over the strange encounters. Being kicked out of shops for her appearance, mocking words and spit insults that stretched further back than the quests, watching policies go into place that forced her further down into a life tied to back streets. Hearing what Lydia was doing to the poor and undesirable in Thais.

She gave her head a rough shake, expelling the memories with an angry hiss. She was finally going to be able to get home and put this whole prophecy mess behind her, why was she dwelling on these little things now?! It's not like she could change that these things happened.

But, what if she could?

The thought brought her up short, Yemite bumping into her with a startled squawk that propelled the thief forward into motion again. That single thought circled around her head with quest memories like a carousel, an endless display of the sides of humanity she hated most along with the question of what she could do.

To be able to change things… put the "street urchins" and poor into society, strip power away from the greedy and corrupt. Make the ones responsible for the evil actions on Aia pay.

"Mel? MEL!"

The shout jerked Mel out of her thoughts and she stopped just barely in time to avoid walking into lava.

"What is wrong with you?! You could have died and if you dissolve in lava we can't bring you back!" Galahad snapped, grabbing the back of Mel's coat collar to drag her back away from the edge.

She blinked slowly, her thoughts feeling sluggish as she brought herself back to reality.

"Are we making a mistake? By returning to Aia and returning everything back to normal. I go live a lie in Thais where people hate the core of who I am, magic beings still hide, people like Lydia still in power." She asked, the words spilling from her mouth almost without her realization.

Galahad and Yemite stared at her, the words leaving Mel's mouth so unlike her usual self-preservation first outlook. She had always cared less about politics, other than to grumble about nobles and royals.

"We have to return things back to normal Mel, the only other alternative is the prophecy." Galahad stated gravely, his words strangely quiet.

After a moment Mel nodded, pulling away from Galahad and starting back along the final bend to Aveyond. The world around her felt almost like observing a dream, as they reached the oracle and gave her the staff to open the portal with. Had she been more with it, perhaps she would have noticed the dark smile that flitted for an instant across the oracles lips as she handed Mel back the staff, but that realization passed her by altogether and as she stepped into the portal the sound like a thousand rushing winds blasted them from the Demon Realm and into the realm they called home.

Mel wasn't truly sure of what she expected upon passing through. Maybe a battle, a corner of her mind almost expected to see Nox. But instead, she was met with the sight of Gyendal standing before her.

"How the hell did you get out?! Darklings cast her back, she must be reborn!"

At his words a rage like nothing she had ever felt before filled her, driving out the street smarts that had allowed her to dance around his power plays to make room for malice. She hefted the staff and slammed it down against the stone, unholy lighting striking all through the cathedral. At this show of power the darklings that had been approaching stopped up short, Gyendal gaping up at her.

"I am so tired of constantly being chased!" She shouted, black lightning crackling along her fingers. "Darklings, throw him in the dungeon!"

Instantly the darklings turned away from Mel, surrounding the ex-vampire and restraining him.

"What in the blazes are you doing?! Let go!" Gyendal snarled, moving to rip himself free.

"You just don't get it do you? According to your damned prophecy I'm their queen. They answer to me!" The venom in her voice was impossible to miss, it was as if everything that held her back before had finally released her to fight for herself.

"Mistress your friends are here, and imprisoned in the dungeon. What do we do with them?" One of the darklings piped up.

"Free them and put Gyendal in their cell!" Mel ordered, watching as her enemy was escorted below.

Everything was so surreal, part of her could barely process what she was doing. As her friends hurried up the stairs to stand before her, Mel couldn't help the immense relief at seeing them alive and in one piece. The questions about her wellbeing came rapidfire, followed by Stella's sudden realization that Mel had brought a staff through with her.

"Mel, the power coming from that staff is immense. More than anything I've ever seen before." Her friend said gently, worry bleeding into her voice.

"That's why I brought it back." Mel said, a near reckless grin crossing her lips. "Imagine what could be done with it? Our world is corrupt, ruined by people like Lydia. With this, and the darklings, we could fix some of this mess. In fact… speaking of Lydia I think it's time she paid for everything she's done."

Edward almost looked like a kicked puppy at the idea, his voice wavering as he voiced how unsure he was.

Mel didn't waste time acknowledging the vulnerable expression, instead ordering her darkling to bring the girl that had caused her so much grief for years, before following up the order to bring all the rulers. This was perfect, the chance to start at the top. Most of the royals were corrupt and greedy, uncaring of their subjects. Mel would deal with that.

She was deaf to the protests of her friends, dismissing their concerns. It was time for retribution. So long, she and people just like her had been stepped on and forced into hiding.

But this would happen no longer. She had the staff, and power that had never been hers before. None of the people there had the right to decide what she did any longer, she wasn't governed by expectation.

Watching the cloaked figure exit the portal to reveal who he was felt like a nightmare come true. Finally, she had a place, had control over her life, only to discover she had been a pawn alongside Gyendal to Mordred Darkthrop himself.

He spoke of failed battles and realization he was not the prophesied Darkthrop, but none of that mattered as in what felt like slow motion Mel felt herself being struck down by Mordred and it all faded to black.

Her unconscious mind was filled with warring images in her head. One of ease, education and finding a place in Veldarah. It was a quiet picture, but one silently haunted by memories of a twisted realm of demons and a strange sense of loss. The second was fractured, dark and filled with power, showing Mel little other than her control of her own life. Just behind her, out of sight whenever she moved to look was a presence, cold yet comforting in a way she did not truly understand. Then she felt a hand grip hers, and somehow within the haze she knew with certainty that this time when she looked she would see the source. Slowly she turned, so close to seeing the truth-

Then all at once she was brought back to consciousness, leaving her with nothing more than a lingering glimpse of raven black hair.

"Mel! Mel are you okay?" Edward's voice was near frantic as he bent over her.

"Ugh, did I die?" She muttered, sitting up and rubbing her face before realizing a split second later where she was. "Wait where is my staff?!"

Stella stepped between Mel's roving gaze and the rest of the cathedral, kneeling down with a look of determination.

"It doesn't matter." The healer said firmly, reaching out with a softly glowing stone to press it to Mel's temple.

The blast of black mist out from her made Mel seizure for a split second, exhaustion suddenly swamping her as she slumped away from Stella's stone. No longer was there the lingering sensation of a presence within, all was quiet.

"W-what just happened." She finally said, looking around at her friends.

"The demon of the staff, we've expelled him and the power from you!" Stella exclaimed, reaching down to help Mel to her feet. "You're free from the curse of the prophecy, and the staff forever."

Her gentle friends words sunk in slowly, Mel staring at Stella a moment before jerking to look at Edward as he rushed up to one side.

"Yes! You can command the darklings to release the royals, things can finally go back to normal! I'll get my throne back from Lydia, and after everything you've done to stop this prophecy you'll never have to struggle in the streets as a thief again! You could gain a nobility title with your family lineage and my backing you." He exclaimed, brown eyes sparkling.

Mel knew his words came from a place of excitement, he was offering to do good in the way he thought would best help her. Yet even despite that, the familiar flutter of panic began to build in her chest. To settle into a life she had never been meant for, anchoring in a world of nobles and educated after the years constantly on the go questing.

"Wait…"

Her voice was quiet but her friends turned quickly towards her, the dark haired mage forcing a smile and shrugging.

"Can I have a minute? Things have been happening so fast that I feel like I'm still reeling." She said, looking over at the portal with a shudder. "I need a moment to process everything, to close the portal. Then we can go."

Her friends exchanged looks before gazing up at Mel with sympathy.

"We'll wait outside for a couple of minutes." Galahad said, the others quietly exiting the cathedral.

The darklings in the room took the cue and headed down the stairs, leaving Mel alone. Occasional a shout from the prisoners below would filter through, Lydia's piercing voice the most frequent offender.

Mel's eyes scanned her surroundings as she moved to sit on the edge of the dias leading up to where the portal sat. The glowing colours moved slowly, and her mind began to wander through the memories of what had happened in the Demon Realm. Despite herself, she kept coming back to the thoughts that had come after getting the staff, the doubts and anger over the state of Aia. The oppression of those deemed lesser, the fears of harm that pervaded the magical communities all over Aia.

Everything was going to go back to normal now, Edward was right. The moment the royals were freed they'd return to their lives and rule how they always had, the good ones would still care about their people but rulers with outlooks such as Lydia's would still have absolute power. The only thing different would be the title she claimed now.

She exhaled a half laugh, half sigh as she buried her face in her hands. The prophecy was over, she should be happy. But all she felt was trapped. Trapped in a life she hadn't really wanted, how was she supposed to move on into a luxurious everyday life? It was another mask, another lie, another part she'd be expected to play. Expectations and restrictions to be someone she wasn't, it was just another prison.

"Choice…."

The exhaled word was not her own, and Mel nearly jumped out of her skin upon hearing it. She shoved to her feet and spun, her eyes darting around before coming to land on the staff still lying on the stone floor.

Her eyes traced its shape before settling on the strange mirror-like crystal on top, drawn by the flickering colour within.

"Choice, and freedom." The whisper was cloyingly sweet, tone inviting.

Choice…

Mel never had a choice. In Harburg it was steal or die, then it became run or be used in a pawn. Every step was decided by outside factors, the quest becoming defined by the one goal of not getting caught for the prophecy. Even freedom from that after the Death Orb had been a lie, her peaceful life taken over by magic and politics as she became Edward's bargaining chip.

The first time she had ever had control was before Mordred crossed over, with that staff in her hand and the darklings at her command.

She stared at the staff, moving towards it almost without realizing. She was always bowing to others, living on the run from those who sought her suffering and struggling to find her own footing. She was so tired, tired of living like this.

Perhaps…

Thunder cracked and echoed through the cathedral, startled shouts sounding from outside as her friends burst through the door only to freeze at the sight of Mel.

Her robes rippled in the magical wind, the staff of destiny shining in her grip.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Stella and Edward cried, lurching forward towards her.

The darklings that had already come up from below quickly intervened, stopping her friends from coming any closer.

Mel was silent for a moment, staring at the staff in her grip before looking up to meet her friends pleading eyes.

"I'm making a choice."