Chapter One: An Angel Falls
Okay, I know some people have already done this, but I want to do it, too. :)
This is the first chapter following the storyline of Dragon Quest IX: Sennitals of the Starry Skies.
I've changed some things about what happens, like what the Celestrians wear and some minor plot changes here and there.
Also, I'm from New Zealand, and we spell things differently, so some spelling mistakes might not be mistakes. :)
I've only played this game once a long time ago. I will be replaying the game slowly all the way though to get dialogue. Since I'm a girl, I automatically suck at games, even with the help of my brothers. So, I might take some time to pass some bosses. Just bear with.
Please enjoy and review! If all goes well, I'll try to update weekly or fortnightly. ;)
In a land far away, there were two realms. The first being a kingdom, called the 'Observatory', in the sky where angelic beings, called 'Celestrians', resided. The second being on the surface of the earth, consisting of humans and animals. The Celestrians existed solely to tend to the mortal flock, each Celestrian was the guardian of a human village, and each village was different and unique. Grateful humans would thank their guardians for good fortune, and the guardians would collect their benevolessence and offer it up to Yggdrasil, the great world tree growing on top of the Observatory. For when enough benevolessence is offered up to her, she will bear fyggs, which will open the path up to the realm of the Almighty...
Angel falls was a small, quaint village located below a tall cliff that had a large, glistening waterfall located in the centre and a river that cut the village in half. It was said that the water from these falls had special properties that kept people healthy. It had everything that a normal town had: a mayor, an inn, a church and a small shop. People bustled around (there were only a few families that lived there) going about their normal day. Rosy-cheeked children played tag in their front yards, prodding things with sticks and having fun. The adults were shopping or cleaning, though this wasn't as fun, it still brought money to their families, which made them happy, also.
Above this cheerful town, floating near the rushing waterfall, were two figures invisible to the human eye. One male, the other female. Both wore flowing, white robes which floated like mist around them, had feathered angel wings (the females considerably smaller than the males) and glowing halos above their heads. The female had long, curling, golden hair that floated like her robes and the male simply had nothing on his shiny head. These two figures were Celestrians.
Now, far from the earshot of the mortals, the man spoke in a soft voice to his company. "You have done well, Avery." His female companion, who was used to listening to his long rambles, simple looked at him with wide, green eyes as he continued. "I must confess to having had my doubts when you became the guardian of this village in my steed. But its inhabitants' continued peace and safety is proof of your devotion."
The girl, who we now know as 'Avery', smiled at him softly, pleased that she was being praised for her efforts. "Thank you," she spoke in a voice that chimed softly like bells.
"When Apus major bade me 'Aquila, take Avery as your apprentice', I never imagined you would bloom so." Her master continued. "You are worthy of your title indeed, Avery, Guardian of Angel Falls."
Avery had opened her mouth to reply, but something suddenly distracted her companion, who we now know as 'Aquila'. He was looking over past the village gates, where a pair of tired figures were walking into town. This would've been a normal circumstance, if it wasn't for a large, shaggy dog that wasn't far from their position. Ready to attack with a wild look in its eyes and foam coming from its mouth.
"That suffering creature must not be allowed to ambush innocent members of your flock, Avery." said Aquila. "Come, it is time to fulfil our duty as Celestrians." Avery immediately understood. The dog was sick and wild. In protecting visitors to her village, she would also be setting a suffering soul free. So, when Aquila flew off towards the gates, Avery followed close behind.
As they neared closer, Avery could hear the endings of a conversation between the pair, which she recognised as young Erinn and her grandfather, members of her own flock. They had been out of the village for day.
"Don't ever get old, my dear Erinn. You don't ever want to get old." Her grandfather was saying as he hobbled along behind her, utterly exhausted.
"Oh, Grandpa." The dark-haired girl sighed happily. "It's not much further now, I'm sure you'll make it." She practically pulled him along the path as Avery settled down on her knees directly in front of the lurking dog on the edge of the forest, which didn't notice her for it was mortal. She reached out and placed her palm on its soft forehead. Within seconds, the dog's body flopped to the ground and its soul left its body. The now-elegant silvery-blue dog finally saw her with calm eyes. Avery pet it softly between its ears, and it disappeared with a flash of light that would be blinding to a human.
"See, Grandpa?" Erinn's voice wafted through the trees. "There's Angel Falls up ahead." Avery watched the two of them come into view of the village gate.
Erinn's grandfather was clinging to her arm, completely exhausted. "I honestly believed I'd never set my tired old eyes on the place again. But here we are at last." His wrinkled face smiled as he stared at the village in awe. "Home."
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic, Grandpa!" Erinn smiled. "The village guardian will have been watching over us all the way. Nothing bad could ever have happened to us." She bent her head in a prayer, and her grandfather followed her lead. "Benevolent Avery, thank you for protecting us on our journey."
Avery blinked in surprise. So, she really was the guardian of this village now. She had finally taken over from Aquila. She watched as Erinn's body started to glow a bright turquoise, and a bright crystal formed and floated in the air above Erinn, who was continuing on with her father. Avery floated up to stare at the crystal curiously. Upon closer examination, Avery saw that it was many different shades of blue, from almost white to the deepest dark. It was long and thin and pointed at each end.
"Behold, Benevolessence." Aquila said from behind her. "The crystallization of the mortals' gratitude towards we who watch over them. Tell me, what have I taught you about this substance?"
Avery took only a second to think, not taking her eyes of the crystal. "As Celestrians, our cardinal duty is the offering up of this sacred substance unto mighty Yggdrasil, the Great world tree."
This must have been the right answer, because Aquila didn't correct her. "Come Avery, let us return to the observatory so that you may make your first offering as a guardian."
With that, he flew up into the sky, and Avery followed, the crystal in her right hand.
They travelled higher up through the clouds, which were growing darker and sparking with lightning, until gravity started to affect them. Suck as was the case when a Celestrian was in their own realm. Faster and faster they flew, until the bright blue light above them grew in size until it was six metres in radius. This light belonged to the portal that was on the bottom floor of the Observatory that acted as a doorway to their realm. Avery and Aquila did not slow down as they neared it, and passed through it with a flash.
The portal room on which they landed in was a beautiful sight. It was symmetrical, just like every other floor of the Observatory, and had the eight-pointed portal in the centre. The only other Celestrian present was Aries, the portal keeper.
"Tell me, Avery." Aquila said. "What is the first task a guardian must perform upon returning from the protectorate?"
"Report to Apus major." Avery replied, though she had completely forgot. She was focused on the idea of making her very first offering to Yggdrasil.
"Exactly." Aquila was pleased. "As unchanging as the North Star, you shall find him in the great hall. I have other matters to attend to. You must excuse me." He turned and walked away. Avery, respecting her master's privacy, also turned in the opposite direction and walked up a large set of stairs carpeted in velvet red. The next floor was similar to the first, save for a portal. In the centre was a large raised area on which was a throne guarded by two Celestrians. On the throne was a very old Celestrian with hair and beard of pure white. He had a large, jolly belly and held a walking staff in his right hand.
"Welcome back, Avery." He greeted her as she walked up to him.
"Apus Major," she replied with a bow.
"I trust your absence has not been so lengthy that you forgot your old master, Apus Major." He spoke cheerfully with a jolly chuckle.
"Of course not, sir."
"My congratulations on successfully completing your first task as a guardian." He said. "You have performed your duties well thus far, albeit under Aquila's watchful gaze. But the time has come for you to spread your own wings. What say you? Are you ready to undertake your duties alone?"
"Yes, I am, sir." Avery replied instantly. She was extremely eager to finally have her own village to watch over.
"I see you are a confident apprentice, Avery." Apus Major smiled proudly. "Very good. The young have confidence where the old have experience. And so we come to the next of your duties. I believe you have acquired a crystal of benevolessence, have you not?"
"The essence of mortal gratitude." Avery confirmed, opening her left hand to show him the thin crystal.
"You must offer it into the great world tree, Yggdrasil, who shelters us with her nurturing boughs from atop the observatory. She well soon bear fruit at last." He nodded to her. "Go now, and do as I have instructed."
"Thank you, Apus Major." Avery bowed in goodbye, and stared making her way to the very top of the Observatory, past several stories. Before she climbed the stairs to the great tree, someone was blocking the way.
"Yildun." Avery greeted him.
"Avery." The light haired guard said in reply, bowing. "Congratulations on becoming a guardian at last."
"Thank you." Avery said, slightly surprised that he bowed to her. But she soon remembered that her becoming a guardian meant she outranked guards. "Apus major has sent me to offer benevolessence unto mighty Yggdrasil."
"Then you may pass." Yildun said, standing aside.
Avery climbed the steep cement stairs up towards the very top of the Observatory. She had never been up here before as apprentices are forbidden to look upon Yggdrasil. Avery had to force herself to walk straight and tall, focusing on not running. As she came to the top, she found herself stepping on grass with her bare feet. Avery had never felt grass before. It was soft and spongy and she suddenly wanted to lay down, curl up and fall asleep. But at the same time gravity slipped away from her body slightly, and her hair and robes floated lazily around her. Avery was stunned at the sight of the great tree, Yggdrasil. She was a towering green tree with mighty branches spreading far over the edge of the Observatory.
Avery felt the benevolessence in her hand turn warming with every step she took towards Yggdrasil, until it started vibrating in her hand. Avery let go of the crystal and it floated up as it the tree was pulling it. The crystal started shining blue, and then disintegrated altogether. The shining particles were absorbed into the tree, which shimmered all over with the contact. And that was it. Avery had just made her first offering up to Yggdrasil.
"Behold, Avery." A voice said from behind her. "Is Yggdrasil, into whom we offer the benevolessence we gather, not truly beautiful?"
"Glorious," The girl replied to her master, not taking her eyes off the great tree to look at him.
"Gathering and offering up benevolessence is the most sacred duty with which we guardians are charged." said Aquila. "I trust you will perform your duties well, Avery."
Avery turned to him and bowed. "Thank you for your wisdom and mastery, sir."
And then she left to report back to her only superior.
"Well done, Avery." Apus Major spoke from his throne across the hall as Avery made her way through the arched doorway. "How did mighty Yggdrasil appear to you?"
"She was fiercely aglow, sir." Avery replied, stepping up to stand before him.
Apus Major nodded, and looked up with deep thought. "It seems the time may soon be upon us."
Avery followed his gaze to the roof, but found nothing there. "The time until what, may I ask?" She asked.
"As I am sure you are aware, it is our duty to tend mighty Yggdrasil until she bears fruit." Apus Major spoke, and Avery understood.
"The time is near for her to bear fruit?" She voiced aloud.
"It is to this end that Guardians watch over mortal kind to gather benevolessence. And now, Avery," he returned his gaze to her. "I believe you know what you must do next."
Avery nodded earnestly. "I am to return to the Protectorate and continue to gather benevolessence."
"This time you will go alone." he replied proudly. "Make ready, and then speak with Aries, who stands guard over the great portal on the floor below." His eyes softened. "May all the bodies of the heavens watch over you Avery, Guardian of Angel Falls."
"Thank you, sir." Avery bowed deeply to show her respect. "I will report to you as soon as I return." And with that, she turned and walked down the stairs to the floor below.
The great portal glowed a faint blue as it sat horizontally inside an eight-pointed star-shaped hole in the centre of the floor. Next to it, stood the tall woman with ashen hair.
"Hello, Aries." Avery greeted politely, but didn't bow as she was her superior.
"Avery." Aries said with a straight face and a bow, then peered around the room for Aquila. Unsuccessful with her searching, she snapped her eyes back to the youth in front of her. "So, the time has finally come for you to go it alone?"
"Yes, it has." Avery took a step and peered into the portal.
"Good luck, Guardian Avery." Aries said, gesturing welcomingly to the portal. "May the assistance you bestow upon the mortals of Angel Falls give rise to galaxies of benevolessence."
Avery stood up onto the raised edge of the portal, ignored Aries's superior staring, and promptly dived in head-first.
The dark clouds that rushed past her were fading to white, and she felt her body becoming more and more weightless until she faded into the realm below, where she only existed by sound and touch. She opened her eyes and stared at the world below her, her hair and robes floating around her like mist once again.
Free! She was finally free. She was on her own to do what she wanted. She could help whoever she wanted. She could fly freely and enjoy the weightless feeling. So, with a soft flap of her wings, she flew. In circles and spirals, up and down, with her arms spread wide and a smile on her face. She was now a Guardian. She had her very own village. She finally had gained what she's been dreaming of for years!
Remembering her duties, Avery descended to her village in a smooth spiral. It was twilight, the sun had just set, and the humans of Angel Falls were preparing for supper and sleep.
"It really is weird..." Avery heard an annoyed voice say as she floated to the small island between two wooden bridges connecting it to the land masses on either side, directly in the centre of the village. On the same island stood two young boys Erinn's age.
"What's weird?" the darker-haired boy replied to his light-haired friend, rather timidly. "You mean that name thingy on the guardian statue?"
"Of course I mean that name thingy, Hugo, you dolt!" His bossy friend replied. "I'm sure it said 'Aqui-' something before. But now it's 'Avery'."
"Ivor, it's said 'Avery' for as long as I can remember." Hugo replied. Avery glanced over at the stone statue on the far hill beside the waterfall. It was glistening in the sunlight, wet from the misty water showering it. So, it was official. She was officially the guardian of this village.
"And how long is that exactly?" Ivor continued, his voice annoyed. "Do you remember reading it before?
"I can't say that I do." Hugo replied tiredly, wanting to finish the conversation.
"You see!" Ivor cried, startling him. "Everyone around here's weird. It's only just changed, and everyone thinks it's been like that forever!"
"It must be the work of the village guardian, then." Hugo said with a shrug.
"Don't be such a wally!" Ivor said with a dismissal wave. "There's no such thing as guardians. They're just made-up rubbish. It's only Erinn who believes in all that nonsense. She's such a dumb blonde!"
"But she's a brunette..." Hugo muttered, which stated up another angry burst from Ivor. Avery smiled to herself and folded her arms. There are some people who believe, like sweet Erinn and Hugo, and some who don't, like Ivor and many others. There was nothing she could do to change their minds, but she knew the truth. And this amused her.
Avery turned away from their conversation and floated across the bridge towards the church on the western land mass. She heard another troubled voice coming from inside, and peered through the ajar door.
"It's terrible!" An old lady was boasting to the minister. "I've lost my husband's ring! It's all I have to remember him by."
"Pray to the village guardian, my dear. I am sure she will hear you." The minister said to her, and the woman immediately fell to her knees in front of him.
"Oh, Avery. Please reunite my ring and I!" She begged desperately. Avery blinked in surprise. Someone had just prayed to her. She had only ever witnessed these people praying to Aquila. Now that she heard her own name, she was even more determined to help her people.
Avery turned and looked around the grass outside the church. Maybe the old women had dropped it somewhere close by. And no sooner had this thought came to her that she spotted a golden ring shining in the setting sunlight. Avery floated over towards it just as the minister was leading the old lady out of the church. Using her influence over the sunlight, Avery directed the shine of the ring over into the lady's eyes. She was stunned momentarily, and looked towards where the shine had come from.
"My lord almighty!" She gasped in shock. "It's Bruce's ring!" The minister helped her over to the ring shining in the grass and she picked it up, overjoyed.
"Aren't we lucky to have a guardian who watches over us so well?" the minister said to her.
"Thank you! Thank you, Avery!" The woman gasped happily, tears of joy in her eyes. Her body started to glow, and then another crystal of benevolessence appeared above her head. Avery floated up, plucked it from the air and tucked it in her robe belt. Then she looked around for more people to help.
Over a fence several metres away, a man saw leaning against his barn where his horse was kept. He was snoring with a brush and shovel in his hands. Avery flew over and carefully nudged him awake. He woke with a start, dropping his tools in surprise.
"I can't believe I fell asleep again!" he yelped in anger towards himself. "I'd only just started to tidy up when I dozed off. My wife would kill me if she knew."
Avery giggled to herself, which echoed around the man, whose eyes widened in realisation.
"That must be it!" he said. "The guardian has been watching over me while I've been asleep. Thank you, Avery! I'll work harder from now on, I promise. I'll have me another horse in no time, you'll see!" He rushed into his barn to start cleaning it, leaving behind a shining crystal of benevolessence. Again, Avery took it from the air and placed it next to the other one in her belt.
The sun finally set between the trees in the distance, and her village was cast into twilight shadows illuminated by a beautiful purple sky. This realm is really truly beautiful, she thought, and was suddenly overcome with the urge to soar again. But she couldn't return to the observatory with only two crystals. Three was the minimum goal she'd set for herself.
As she turned to see what was happening on the other side of the bridge, she saw the figure of a Celestrian and stopped short. Was there territorial rules? Was she supposed to welcome or kick out this unknown Celestrian? But as she glided closer, she recognized who it was.
"Aquila?" Avery asked, rather shocked.
"You are taking your new role very seriously, I am glad to see, Avery." Her master replied, turning and showing that it indeed was he.
Avery had to fight back a smile as she remembered her little off-task fly-about earlier. "Why are you here?"
"Oh, you feel that your old master does not trust you to work alone?" said Aquila, he turned and faced the river flowing south. "It is my duty now to patrol the entire protectorate. Though you guard it well, I must sometimes revisit my old territory."
This time, Avery has to fight the urge to scowl. "But so soon?"
"And as I am here, Avery." He continued as though he hasn't heard her. "There is one last lesson I must teach you." He faced her again. "As guardians it is our duty to tend to our mortal flock. But this means more than merely watching over the living. Sometimes we must help those who have passed away, but whose souls continue to roam the land. You hear it, too, do you not?"
Avery blinked and immediately heard the annoyed grunting of an old man. "The voice of a wandering soul here in the village in need of my assistance." She whispered. Aquila stepped aside to reveal the silvery ghost of a whiskered sailor with a missing hand. He wandering around the eastern land mass of Angel Falls. Avery floated past Aquila towards him cautiously.
"What's wrong wiv people 'round here nowadays?" The old sailor was saying. "Why's erryone givin' me the cold shoulder?" It was then that he turned and noticed Avery, standing looking rather sober. "Oh, someone who's prepared to give me the time o' day at last! 'Ang on a minute..." He cut himself off. "What's wiv that get-up? You ain't a... you are! You're a Celestrian, ain'tcha? So, I've breathed me last, is it?"
Avery looked up at him finally. "Yes," she answered truthfully.
But the sailor didn't seem to be shocked. "Cheers for being straight wiv me, miss. Well, it's a good thing you told me. When I thought erryone was jus' ignoring me, I was 'bout ready to do meself anyway. Thank you." He said, and then faded into the heavens like it was nothing, leaving behind a glowing crystal of benevolessence.
"You have done well, Avery." Aquila said from behind her as she tucked the crystal next to the others. "Thanks to your intervention, a mortal soul has made its peace and is now at rest. The benevolessence of a departed soul shines more brilliantly than any. You will be returning to the order story with post haste, no doubt." Avery nodded. "Then I shall bid you farewell for now. I have much to do here in the protector- hmm?" he cut himself off, just as he had done that afternoon, and stared up at the night sky. It was aglow with a single falling star. Except as the star came closer, Avery saw that it was a golden steam train chugging underneath the moon.
"The Starflight Express." Aquila said. "Indeed it has been unusually active of late." He turned to Avery. "I have changed my mind. I shall accompany you to the observatory after all."
And so, the two of them flew yet again to the Observatory together. Arriving through the portal, making sure to land on her excited feet, Aquila placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I have important matter to discuss with Apus major." He said seriously. "Please, excuse me." Avery watched him leave curiously, wondering what the arrival of the Starflight Express meant.
"So, Aquila accompanied you anyway?" a voice said from behind her. It was Aries, being her usual snappy self.
"We met up down there and decided to return together." Avery replied to her. "If you'll excuse me, I have benevolessence I must offer to Yggdrasil." Aries scoffed from behind her. Avery wished that she could be snappier towards her, but a guardian was always supposed to be sweet, kind and pure of heart. And so Avery had to refrain from saying anything less than nice.
"Well met, Avery!" Apus Major's voice spoke as she stepped onto the grass on the top floor of the Observatory. "Truly you have chosen a fortuitous moment to join us." Avery blinked in surprise and walked forward. Apus Major was in the company of Aquila and several other retired guardians, as well as his guards.
"Behold Yggdrasil." Aquila spread his arms wide towards the shining tree. "She is ready to burst into bloom with all the benevolessence we have offered into her"
"Yes, she is but a hairs breath now from bearing fruit." Apus major added. "'Fyggbloom hails the opening of the heavenly gates and sets the Celestrians on the path to salvation'" he quoted from the prophecy.
"'And lo, it shall be in the celestial carriage that we, the chosen custodians, journey into the realm of the almighty.'" Aquila finished for him, and turned to his ex-apprentice. "It is time Avery. Offer the benevolessence you have gathered unto mighty Yggdrasil. Do so, and she will surely bear fruit at long last."
Avery stepped forward towards the trunk of Yggdrasil, and pulled the three crystals she gathered from her belt. The crystals floated up and the tree absorbed them, though the process looked far more magnificent as it glowed in the night sky. No sooner had the tree started to sparkle that seven shining yellow fruits started appearing on the branches, flooding the area in a golden light.
"Behold! The sacred fyggs bloom!" a Celestrian gasped in amazement. A tooting horn was heard, and the Starflight Express appeared across the sky. "And the celestial chariot appears!"
"Praise be!" Apus Major gasped. "As it was foretold!"
The Starflight Express came to rest to their left. There were a few seconds of silence, and Avery expected the golden door to slide open to welcome them in. But, as suddenly as she had become a guardian, a massive beam of purple light hit the golden train from underneath, shot from below. Avery had to cover her face against the unholy light, and at the same time, try to keep her footing on the grass.
When she next looked up, what she saw was a horrid sight. The Starflight Express had been separated apart from its several carriages and were floating in the anti-gravity, until they suddenly fell towards the human realm. More beams of red light shot from the clouds below and Avery was knocked off her feet as a large one skimmed the side of the Observatory.
"What is the meaning of this?" Avery heard Aquila yell over the chaos as she clung desperately to a root of Yggdrasil.
Apus Major was in complete shock. "We're we deceived?" He said in horror. The Observatory was shaking violently, and Avery felt her fingers slipping from their holds. She glanced at Aquila in panic, and he saw what was happening. But before he could react, Avery was thrown into the air far above along with several other shining lights. The beam of purple light was so bright all she could see was white. Then she was suddenly hit with a sense of falling that made her stomach backflip. She was falling to the human realm in a burst of feathers.
And then, without warning, Avery was thrown into none other than the river below her very own village, Angel Falls.