Author note: I do not own the Last Story.
So, this is a bit of an AU, taking place one month after the events of the game, with a few changes...
1. Zangurak is not dead. What happened after the boss fight with him, when he ripped off his arm...he nearly died of blood loss from pulling off his arm, but the mercenaries felt really bad for him and healed up what was left of his arm. After the whole thing was over, Zangurak made himself a metal arm to replace it.
2. Zepha? Also not dead. In the boss fight with just Zepha, what happened when Yurick threw the knife at him was that-actually, you're going to find that out in this very first chapter, so you'll find out there...
3. Zael and Calista? Not married...the reason why is later revealed...XD
4. OCs? Heck yes. Eight of them...some will be familiar from other fanfics (namely the 'Last Story: Anthology' and 'Burning Shadows,' in which I used Tahirah, Arlyn, Nuriel, Nuriel's Shadow and Yin-oh, and I own them by the way), but others (Dereck, Andra, Annele) are owned by zgirl16. Also, the title of this fic was thought up by zgirl16 as well, so I technically don't own that either. XD
Warning: Post-game, spoilers, violence, various pairings
Constructive Criticism would be great, and I hope that you read, review and enjoy! Thanks! XD
What Was Lost
1.
"You're in no condition to fight. Just leave here!"
"Eat this!"
"Pathetic. Your feeble incantations are useless against-"
"Brother!"
Zepha could do nothing as he was suddenly pushed aside. He felt himself hit the floor, and he cringed in pain, his body only getting more sore with all the other injuries he gained from earlier in the fight. Looking up to see who had saved him from the flying knife, he realized with dread of who it was.
Zesha stood there, shielding his older twin from harm-and effectively also receiving the dagger's blade that cut into his chest, just below his collar bone as it pierced his armor and skin. He then fell to his knees, trying to pull the blade from his skin, but it was stuck, and it was only making him bleed faster...
Before Zepha could scream-before he could scream-
-he woke up.
Zepha held his head in both hands, trembling underneath the sheets as he sat up in bed.
That nightmare happened again. For the tenth time this week. Something like this should be over now-Zesha is alive, Zesha is ALIVE.
But the fear of his brother dying like that never stopped. Ever since that fight against Zael and his mercenary friends, Zepha had yet to reassure himself that Zesha wasn't going to be dying anytime soon. There was no way Yurick was going to be throwing a knife at him and no way that Zesha was going to go and push Zepha out of the way and receive the knife instead of him...
"Brother?"
Zepha turned to see Zesha wake up, sitting up in bed beside him. The sword-wielding twin embraced the magic-wielding twin, holding him closely.
"Did you have nightmares...?"
Zepha nodded. "Again, yes." He leaned his head against Zesha's shoulder quietly, running a hand over the scar Zesha had from the knife. He felt Zesha tense up at this, and Zepha paused, looking up at him. "Apologies..."
Zesha shook his head. "It is not your fault, brother. It's just memories..."
Zepha knew too well that it wasn't just 'memories.' His brother, just like him, was suffering from that battle still.
It had been a month since that ordeal, and they were still suffering from the scars of it.
A young Gurak woman walked through the hallway, letting out a sigh as she picked at the chainmail covering her tunic. She was one of the Gurak assassins-she was best when it came to magic, though she could be alright at using swords and daggers and needles-especially needles-to fight enemies with.
Of course, this didn't mean that she was the most graceful person in the world, either. She'd knocked over a bucket of water earlier that a maid had been using for mopping up the castle, then Yin went and literally knocked over a door-without meaning to. Her ice spell had went and knocked the door down after it missed her target that she'd been training with, Zesha.
That had not ended well. Then she'd come home from work, and she and her older sister Andra got into a fight. For the third time this week.
Well, at least it wasn't the sixth time this week. That would be even worse. Andra worked as a maid in the Gurak Castle, Yin as one of the soldiers. Both barely made enough to keep themselves and their youngest sister, Annele, in a house and alive.
Yin hoped that the situation would change for the better, but she wasn't sure.
Then again, Andra just saw Yin as a burden-a burden that wasn't even home most of the time to take care of Annele.
Before her train of thought could continue, she ran into someone, nearly knocking them over. Yin panicked, helping them up.
"Ah, sorry, I-I wasn't looking..." Yin trailed off sheepishly.
The figure, obviously human, laughed gently, smiling at her. "It's alright." She reassured her. "I should have been looking where I was going, too." The woman wore a light blue cloak, covering a dress of pearly white marbled with a blue similar to the cloak that she wore. She wore simple white slippers and her long, pale blond hair trailed down to her waist, tied back in a simple ponytail. Her light blue eyes looked at Yin gently, a smile forming at the edges of her pale lips. "Do you know where Lord Zangurak may be right now? I have a message for him from Melodia." The rest of her face was covered with a mask that seemed to imitate the appearance of water.
"Melodia?" Yin repeated, blinking a bit. "Wait a sec...you're Arlynne, right? One of Lady Tahirah's advisor-bodyguards?"
Arlynne nodded, blushing a bit. "I-I am, yes. Word spreads quickly about people of high status outside Melodia, as I see now."
Yin nodded. "Yeah, it always does..." She paused, before remembering- "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't even introduce myself! I'm Yin!" She bowed a bit. Arlynne laughed a bit.
"No, no, no need to bow, Miss Yin. I'm not royalty."
"Yeah, but-" The Gurak woman blushed. "But you're revered as one of the greatest ice mages ever. And I mean, seriously-you and the other advisor-bodyguard of Lady Tahirah, Nuriel-you're both called the 'Icy Inferno' when you fight together.."
Arlynne blinked. "I don't recall being called that before..."
Yin let out a sheepish laugh. "Yeah...okay, I made that up. But you both are so cool, though."
"Thank you..."
The sound of footsteps echoed in their ears, and they turned to see Lord Zangurak approaching them.
"Lord Zangurak!" Arlynne curtsied as Yin bowed.
Zangurak looked at the two quietly, before speaking, turning to Arlynne. "I assume that you have a message from Melodia, Arlynne?"
Arlynne nodded. "Of course, Your Highness. Lady Tahirah wished to know if you were still attending the ball tomorrow night at Melodia Castle, as you have apparently given a lack of response."
Zangurak gritted his teeth a bit, the hand of his metal right arm clenching into a fist. Yin flinched a bit at this, worried that he would snap at Arlynne and cause her to run away scared. Though Lord Zangurak seemed frightening to his own people at times, Arlynne surprisingly was not fazed in the slightest. The King of the Gurak paused, before speaking in response.
"I am coming tomorrow night to the ball, though I may end up arriving early..."
Arlynne simply smiled. "Better earlier or late than never, Lord Zangurak. Thank you."
"Ah! Lord Zangurak, my apologies!" A projection of a young woman in her early twenties appeared. She had black hair that was straight, falling down to her shoulders. A dark plum mask shaped like a butterfly obscured most of her face, save for her pale lips and dark green eyes. She wore a matching coloured dress, as well as flats that adorned her feet, her dress hemmed with gold and silver thread. A man stood beside her, silent, but Yin guessed that the man was Nuriel, the other of Lady Tahirah's advisor-bodyguards.
Nuriel had a flaming red mask adorning his face, with an ashen black cloak and black pants with a red, collared shirt. However, Yin noticed a smile dancing at the edges of his lips, as if expecting something fun to happen while Tahirah spoke. "I apologize for using my advisor Arlynne as a way of convenience, and-" There was a crashing noise in the background, and Tahirah winced. "Things have been...hectic, as I'm here in Melodia getting everything ready for the ball tomorrow night." She then turned to Nuriel. "Nuriel, I'll be back as soon as possible, as I find it quite awkward just using some apparition of myself to be talking with others at the moment..."
Nuriel nodded, before turning to the scene behind him, yelling somethiing at them as the projection vanished. One moment later, Tahirah appeared in front of them, fully in the flesh and not just some apparition. "Alright, I'm here..." She recomposed herself, looking up at Zangurak. "Your answer to my message?"
Zangurak glanced at Arlynne. "I already told her." He muttered quietly, in which Arlynne mouthed the words 'yes, he's coming tomorrow but possibly early' to Tahirah. Tahirah smiled a bit at this.
"Brilliant! Lady Calista is coming tomorrow as well as Zael, and-oh! Right, I'm sure Sir Therius is coming as well, which is great considering that he needs some time off from taking over the late General Asthar's position and training knights in the Empire, anyway..."
Yin, Zangurak and Arlynne appeared to exchange awkward glances with each other while Tahirah kept happily ranting about who was coming to the ball. Tomorrow night at the ball would be...interesting, for sure.
Therius glanced at the invitation. Reading over the words slowly, he let out a quiet breath, before the faintest smile appeared on his face.
"Lady Tahirah Zakiyaa...I don't think you've changed at all."
