Cursed Wings of a Heroine
by Macross-Green
With a sigh, I leap from the Great bird's back and, with a flap of my wings, slowly land upon the grassy hill beside my friend Katt. I gather my blue robes about me as we both turned to watch Mina fly up into the sky again, and I wave to my sister as she takes off. By Ladon, I think to myself. This will be the last time I have to see her deal with that form! That alone had kept her going- ever since Death Evans had been defeated, but not destroyed, and ever since Ryu had changed into the powerful Agni Dragon and settled down upon the very spot where his mother had, not too long before. Her family, the royal family of Windia, could not accept her back. Her black wings, the cursed wings! The legend was known by all Windians, and she could not be accepted as a member of the royal family by her parents for fear of her life- the people would demand her death to appease the curse.
Katt tugged on my sleeve, disrupting my train of thought, and pointed to the nearby 'well'. It was covered by a grate, which was old and rusted but still strong. That was the reason I asked Katt along- she alone had no place to go to after we had defeated that demon-spawn. And, we had that other bond as well: Ryu. "Come on, Nina. You said it was over there, right?" she said, asking quietly. She'd been quiet ever since Ryu's falling asleep on the mountain behind Gate, and I hadn't been much better. I nodded numbly, reassuring myself that I had had the nerve, the tenacity and bravery to get the Mark of the Wing alone in the first place, then I could do this with a friend. "Yes... at the bottom of that well, Katt." I replied, my voice husky as I stifled back tears.
I let Katt pull me along over to the well, and then her hand left mine as she stepped to another side and pulled her TigerST from the latch it had been resting within upon her back. With a few practice swings, each faster than the last, the last becoming so fast that I couldn't even see more than the blur, she nodded, and then judged the grate. She lifted the TigerST, and swung downwards quickly, not even a blur showing it as it slammed through the air and into the grate, shattering it. The pieces fell into the well, causing quite a few small splashes for a moment before it was silent again. A cold breeze swept past us both- because of Katt's fur, it had no effect, and I was numb already. Coldly, I stepped forward and then flapped my wings constantly, bringing me airborne as I neared the large well opening. Then, I pulled my wings in, wrapping myself in them, and dropped like a rock into the water.
It was dark, I told myself, as my eyes opened and I landed in a large cavern beneath the small island. Raising my right hand, my ring glowed and emitted enough light to allow me to see. I pointed the ring in different ways before gathering my energy from throughout my body- and then, swiping my arms from my center to either side, I discharged it, lightning blasting throughout the cavern quickly. Lightning struck the ground with powerful force, causing a small shock wave to form as each bolt struck the cold floor. It also lit up the entire area- the actual reason I had cast the spell. Bolt X: and I knew this to be the last one I would ever cast. I gazed about, and then nodded, seeing a small treasure chest not too far away, almost hidden away within the cavern wall. I fluttered over, and landed beside it. There was a hole where a key could enter, but there was no need for one, not with such an old box. Besides, I thought, as I raised my ring hand to it. It had the seal of Winlan, the old name of my country, upon it. The emblem and my ring glowed, and the lid slowly lifted open, revealing that which I had come here for.
The Meld Tablet. It once had been used, according to legend, by a man named Karn, one of the last of the Master Thieves from a destroyed town called Bleak. He used the tablet to use an ability to merge with his companions into powerful forms. It was said that after his ability became useless to him anymore, he wrote the notes upon a tablet and hid them where the sea covered 3/4 of every year, but for 3 months the sea would subside enough from the place to provide a way in.
I reached into the chest and pulled out the tablet slowly, almost wincing at the effort. Gold! The tablet was made of gold sheets! That was why it was so heavy! With a sigh, I began reading. I knew Katt would be fine above ground for a while- she was one of the greatest warriors the world had ever known, as well as my best friend. We both loved Ryu- but had lost him after our adventure was over. We lived in Township, but why Nero had named it that we never knew. There was some machine in the bottom of the town well, but no one could figure out what it did- not even the machine makers of Gant could figure it out, though I personally thought it looked like the machine that had been in Highfort, when Shupkay tried to make it fly... A town that could fly? No, the only being that could now was Mina, trapped in the form of the Great Bird.
I nodded to myself, reading the tablet- such old writing, and badly written! Karn must not have been very literate, I realized, but I did absorb the technique. It was much like was done when Granny fused us with one or two of the Shamans! Still, as I put the tablets back and closed the chest, I smiled. Soon, the Mark of the Wing would return to the one whom had managed to recieve it in the first place from her many-times grandmother herself. How could she blame her for falling in love with a man from another clan when she herself had fallen in love with Ryu of the Dragon Clan?
I ascended the well now, wings beating evenly. I would have to unfuse with the Shamans from this form- I only needed their help in order to be able to escape the underground, after all. This form had been called, by my mother no less when she saw me, 'Queen of the Angels.' Well, I certainly would never be called that- I have other plans. The light was very bright, as I escaped the confines of the well, and I landed down upon the grass lightly, smiling to Katt. "I am ready, Katt." and then, with that said, I picked the DivideBL from my pack. The simple touch drained me noticably, and I was myself again. My black wings, I saw, returned to me. Somewhat smaller than the other form, they were my natural wings and wingspan. The Shamans had left my body, and the two had said their farewells in the only ways that they could. I knew now that they would likely scatter about the world finally, or simply stay in Township. Then I put the DivideBL away, and I made a mental plea to Mina, asking her to come back.
I watched as the Great Bird landed before us, and my heart leapt as I smiled softly, walking toward Mina's great head. The eyes watched me as I came close and gave her a hug, wrapping my arms about the Mina's great neck- and my hands landed upon a chain. My right hand traced it to the familiar mark, and then my body glowed. Then Mina's did as well, and then a blinding flash. Time passed, but how much time passed I knew not. Then, my eyes opened, blinking in the bright sunlight.
I saw nothing for a moment, and then, strangely, I found myself laying spread upon the ground, my legs supporting my body ever so slightly. Or were they my arms? I was quite disoriented, but I could easily feel a pair of bodies hugging my neck. What were they, I wondered, even as I pulled my head back so I could turn my gaze to the ones who were now standing back on the ground. I mentally gasped, and physically let out a cry of surprise, in a very melodic tone... a tone that was impossible for any Windian. Mina! It worked! And I could feel my powerful wings upon either side of my body, ready to take me aloft and in the air, as well as any who wished to climb onto my back.
"Nina... why did you do this? I only wanted to help!" Mina cried out to me, tears falling down her white cheeks as she fell to her knees. I so wanted to reassure her, to tell her that she had done her duty- and now it was mine. But that I had written on a note, which I had given to Katt to give to Mina after this had been done. Katt herself was crying as well, but had the presence of mind to pick up my little sister and then get onto my back. With a lunge, and the sound of Mina's loud crying in my head, I quickly gained altitude and flew directly toward Gate. My memory was fading, and quickly, but I knew in my heart where I needed to go.
***
Only a few moments passed, it seemed, before the small town came to sight. But by then, I was feeling only a great weariness. Debarking the two upon my back on the ground outside the town, I lunged into the air once more, and flew the short distance to the back mountain, where a giant dragon slept. I flew above it, and then settled gently onto its back, reaching with my mind to the great sleeping beast's mind. My eyes closed, and I went limp, my bird-body falling asleep against the dragon's back, our minds joined as one in the eternal bliss that would be our sleep.
My last memory was of two things- I had finally saved Mina, and finally, finally, I was with Ryu once again, in the only way we could be together.
And so we slept, forever...
by Macross-Green
With a sigh, I leap from the Great bird's back and, with a flap of my wings, slowly land upon the grassy hill beside my friend Katt. I gather my blue robes about me as we both turned to watch Mina fly up into the sky again, and I wave to my sister as she takes off. By Ladon, I think to myself. This will be the last time I have to see her deal with that form! That alone had kept her going- ever since Death Evans had been defeated, but not destroyed, and ever since Ryu had changed into the powerful Agni Dragon and settled down upon the very spot where his mother had, not too long before. Her family, the royal family of Windia, could not accept her back. Her black wings, the cursed wings! The legend was known by all Windians, and she could not be accepted as a member of the royal family by her parents for fear of her life- the people would demand her death to appease the curse.
Katt tugged on my sleeve, disrupting my train of thought, and pointed to the nearby 'well'. It was covered by a grate, which was old and rusted but still strong. That was the reason I asked Katt along- she alone had no place to go to after we had defeated that demon-spawn. And, we had that other bond as well: Ryu. "Come on, Nina. You said it was over there, right?" she said, asking quietly. She'd been quiet ever since Ryu's falling asleep on the mountain behind Gate, and I hadn't been much better. I nodded numbly, reassuring myself that I had had the nerve, the tenacity and bravery to get the Mark of the Wing alone in the first place, then I could do this with a friend. "Yes... at the bottom of that well, Katt." I replied, my voice husky as I stifled back tears.
I let Katt pull me along over to the well, and then her hand left mine as she stepped to another side and pulled her TigerST from the latch it had been resting within upon her back. With a few practice swings, each faster than the last, the last becoming so fast that I couldn't even see more than the blur, she nodded, and then judged the grate. She lifted the TigerST, and swung downwards quickly, not even a blur showing it as it slammed through the air and into the grate, shattering it. The pieces fell into the well, causing quite a few small splashes for a moment before it was silent again. A cold breeze swept past us both- because of Katt's fur, it had no effect, and I was numb already. Coldly, I stepped forward and then flapped my wings constantly, bringing me airborne as I neared the large well opening. Then, I pulled my wings in, wrapping myself in them, and dropped like a rock into the water.
It was dark, I told myself, as my eyes opened and I landed in a large cavern beneath the small island. Raising my right hand, my ring glowed and emitted enough light to allow me to see. I pointed the ring in different ways before gathering my energy from throughout my body- and then, swiping my arms from my center to either side, I discharged it, lightning blasting throughout the cavern quickly. Lightning struck the ground with powerful force, causing a small shock wave to form as each bolt struck the cold floor. It also lit up the entire area- the actual reason I had cast the spell. Bolt X: and I knew this to be the last one I would ever cast. I gazed about, and then nodded, seeing a small treasure chest not too far away, almost hidden away within the cavern wall. I fluttered over, and landed beside it. There was a hole where a key could enter, but there was no need for one, not with such an old box. Besides, I thought, as I raised my ring hand to it. It had the seal of Winlan, the old name of my country, upon it. The emblem and my ring glowed, and the lid slowly lifted open, revealing that which I had come here for.
The Meld Tablet. It once had been used, according to legend, by a man named Karn, one of the last of the Master Thieves from a destroyed town called Bleak. He used the tablet to use an ability to merge with his companions into powerful forms. It was said that after his ability became useless to him anymore, he wrote the notes upon a tablet and hid them where the sea covered 3/4 of every year, but for 3 months the sea would subside enough from the place to provide a way in.
I reached into the chest and pulled out the tablet slowly, almost wincing at the effort. Gold! The tablet was made of gold sheets! That was why it was so heavy! With a sigh, I began reading. I knew Katt would be fine above ground for a while- she was one of the greatest warriors the world had ever known, as well as my best friend. We both loved Ryu- but had lost him after our adventure was over. We lived in Township, but why Nero had named it that we never knew. There was some machine in the bottom of the town well, but no one could figure out what it did- not even the machine makers of Gant could figure it out, though I personally thought it looked like the machine that had been in Highfort, when Shupkay tried to make it fly... A town that could fly? No, the only being that could now was Mina, trapped in the form of the Great Bird.
I nodded to myself, reading the tablet- such old writing, and badly written! Karn must not have been very literate, I realized, but I did absorb the technique. It was much like was done when Granny fused us with one or two of the Shamans! Still, as I put the tablets back and closed the chest, I smiled. Soon, the Mark of the Wing would return to the one whom had managed to recieve it in the first place from her many-times grandmother herself. How could she blame her for falling in love with a man from another clan when she herself had fallen in love with Ryu of the Dragon Clan?
I ascended the well now, wings beating evenly. I would have to unfuse with the Shamans from this form- I only needed their help in order to be able to escape the underground, after all. This form had been called, by my mother no less when she saw me, 'Queen of the Angels.' Well, I certainly would never be called that- I have other plans. The light was very bright, as I escaped the confines of the well, and I landed down upon the grass lightly, smiling to Katt. "I am ready, Katt." and then, with that said, I picked the DivideBL from my pack. The simple touch drained me noticably, and I was myself again. My black wings, I saw, returned to me. Somewhat smaller than the other form, they were my natural wings and wingspan. The Shamans had left my body, and the two had said their farewells in the only ways that they could. I knew now that they would likely scatter about the world finally, or simply stay in Township. Then I put the DivideBL away, and I made a mental plea to Mina, asking her to come back.
I watched as the Great Bird landed before us, and my heart leapt as I smiled softly, walking toward Mina's great head. The eyes watched me as I came close and gave her a hug, wrapping my arms about the Mina's great neck- and my hands landed upon a chain. My right hand traced it to the familiar mark, and then my body glowed. Then Mina's did as well, and then a blinding flash. Time passed, but how much time passed I knew not. Then, my eyes opened, blinking in the bright sunlight.
I saw nothing for a moment, and then, strangely, I found myself laying spread upon the ground, my legs supporting my body ever so slightly. Or were they my arms? I was quite disoriented, but I could easily feel a pair of bodies hugging my neck. What were they, I wondered, even as I pulled my head back so I could turn my gaze to the ones who were now standing back on the ground. I mentally gasped, and physically let out a cry of surprise, in a very melodic tone... a tone that was impossible for any Windian. Mina! It worked! And I could feel my powerful wings upon either side of my body, ready to take me aloft and in the air, as well as any who wished to climb onto my back.
"Nina... why did you do this? I only wanted to help!" Mina cried out to me, tears falling down her white cheeks as she fell to her knees. I so wanted to reassure her, to tell her that she had done her duty- and now it was mine. But that I had written on a note, which I had given to Katt to give to Mina after this had been done. Katt herself was crying as well, but had the presence of mind to pick up my little sister and then get onto my back. With a lunge, and the sound of Mina's loud crying in my head, I quickly gained altitude and flew directly toward Gate. My memory was fading, and quickly, but I knew in my heart where I needed to go.
***
Only a few moments passed, it seemed, before the small town came to sight. But by then, I was feeling only a great weariness. Debarking the two upon my back on the ground outside the town, I lunged into the air once more, and flew the short distance to the back mountain, where a giant dragon slept. I flew above it, and then settled gently onto its back, reaching with my mind to the great sleeping beast's mind. My eyes closed, and I went limp, my bird-body falling asleep against the dragon's back, our minds joined as one in the eternal bliss that would be our sleep.
My last memory was of two things- I had finally saved Mina, and finally, finally, I was with Ryu once again, in the only way we could be together.
And so we slept, forever...