Wings of Darkness, Wings of Hope.
Summary: This story is intended as a fanfic around a future novelization of BoF2. It tells about the past of Nina Wyndia, before being taken to Newhaven (HomeTown) to be a student in the Magic School. How they realized about the Black Wings, and how the Fate of the Crown of Windia depends on her. Revised story.
Part Two.
The sun shone brightly upon Wyndia as Princess Nina's wing-day dawned. Despite being only just being past winter's chill, the day held the blazing heat of summer, gentled by the soft breeze that blew through the city.
The gods smiled upon the country, as they did on the wing-day of every royal descendant. Even had a blizzard been raging, the clouds would clear for a brief time and the sunlight would gleam on the fresh snow.
In one of the few rooms with curtains drawn, Nina watched her younger sister sleep. Although Nina herself preferred to wake early and listen to the birds caroling, it was a rare occasion where the five-year-old was out of bed before midday.
Mina definitely won't be a morning person, she thought with a fond smile. But I guess the nannies are grateful that she doesn't snap when they have to wake her up.
Her eyes sparkled as Nina imagined the freedom spread before her. A wing-day was a time of celebration and rejoicing for everyone in the kingdom, and her parents had allowed her and Mina to do as they pleased until mid-afternoon. No boring history lessons, no having to learn court etiquette!
But the highlight of the day would come at dusk, when her adult pinions would finally grow. The feathery tufts on her shoulders, left free by the backless cerulean dress she wore, flapped a little. Nina visualized standing on the roof of the palace, spreading wide, white wings and leaping off, letting the wind carry her gently back down to the ground. She grinned happily.
Nina ruffled her still-sleeping sister's hair, turned, and went to go find her aunt.
Eventually, after much searching, she found her standing on a balcony near the library, gazing out at the bustling city. Zarinna Skydiver wasn't really her aunt, being human rather than of the Wing Clan, but had been adopted into House Skye after losing her parents and had been raised to be a loyal companion to Hina. The two girls, close in age, had fast become friends, a fact that hadn't changed after Hina had married Kenneth and become Queen.
Zarinna glanced down at the book in her hands, and then looked up as she heard Nina's steps. She smiled as the girl drew closer. In looks, Nina resembled her father, with blond hair and sapphire-blue eyes, but in temperament, she was her mother all over again. Compassion mixed with an innate sense of others' intentions and an iron-strong will to create a person that Zarinna was sure would become one of the best rulers Wyndia had ever seen.
"Auntie! How are you doing?" Nina greeted her cheerfully. "I had a dream last night."
"Oh? Tell me about it, dear Nina."
"It was about the tale of the Princess of White Wings, the one who helped save the world long ago."
"Really? What happened?" Zarinna knew that Nina felt closer to her than she did with her mother, but she also knew that part of this stemmed from the princess's mischievousness. Hina had often lamented not being able to spend as much time with her daughters as she would have liked, and Nina's antics were most likely an effort to get Hina's attention. But while she was here talking, she wasn't off playing tricks on the long-suffering palace staff.
"I was in it! I was the princess!" Nina exclaimed. "We travelled across the world, seeing new lands and people – it was magnificent! And there was a dragon, roaring . . . but I woke up before I saw what happened next."
Zarinna sighed. Dream interpretation was more the area of seers and mages than a lady-in-waiting like herself was, but she could still make Nina feel better. "Well, perhaps you'll have the same dream again tonight, without being woken up this time."
Nina giggled. "I hope you're right, Auntie. I'm bored, though. I wanted to play with Mina, but she's asleep and won't be waking up any time soon."
"Come on, then, little princess," laughed Zarinna. "You know what we'll be doing later, right? Surely you can wait until then?" She gave Nina a wink. "But for now, let me go find your uncle and we'll go for a walk outside."
"Outside . . . you mean outside the castle grounds?" Nina gasped. "Oh, Auntie Zari, thank you so much! Can we go to the markets? Please?"
"Of course. Now you be a good girl and wait here while I go look for Davan."
A middle-aged human man sat in an armchair, resting. The mid-morning sun left blue phantoms dancing in front of his tired eyes, but it felt as though if he drew the curtains, the shadows would sound a death-knell for the two prone figures he watched over.
Neither looked more than ten years of age, although that was the only similarity that he could see between the boys. One was clearly a purebred member of the Grass Runner Clan; rough brown fur covered his face and body and his ears were long and floppy like those of a bloodhound.
The other, though, could have passed for any human child in the kingdom except for one particularly conspicuous feature. His hair, tangled and in need of a good wash, was a brilliant azure. The only other he had heard of with blue hair was their youngest princess, Mina Wyndia.
This in itself was odd, since King Kenneth had golden hair and Queen Hina was a redhead. But Wyndian legends and history told the story of Queen Nina the First, who had loved a blue-haired Dragon clansman and married him despite the controversy. Mina was far from the first Wyndian royal child to be born since then with such a striking hair color.
Perhaps this boy was a distant cousin of Mina's. It was possible – with the royal line going back hundreds of years, it would be nigh impossible to record all of the legitimate members, let alone illegitimate children. It was a great deal more likely than considering him part of a Clan that had disappeared off the face of Asparia.
Not that it mattered much. What were more concerning at the moment were the grievous injuries both had suffered. He and the four seasoned rangers under his command had found the pair yesterday while journeying back from the port town of Capitan. While most rangers had a rudimentary grasp of first aid, enough to treat any light wounds they might receive on the job, it was clear at first glance that these two would be lucky to make it even with the help of magical healers.
The Grass Runner had several broken ribs and a shattered arm. Blood gurgled in his throat as he tried to breathe, and the man suspected that a shard of bone might have pierced his lung. For the boy's sake, he hoped that it hadn't. It was a nasty way to die, painful and drawn-out, with every breath a lesson in agony.
The boy cried out weakly as he shifted in a no-doubt nightmare-ridden sleep. The chief sighed, replacing the damp cloths that covered his patient's fevered brow and deeply lacerated back, gently wiping the crimson flecks from around the boy's mouth. He wondered what sort of monster these two had run into, that they were this badly wounded. Surely the Ranger's Guild would have heard of something this dangerous?
A more frightening thought was that the creature had left no survivors. But then how would two unarmed children have managed to ward off its attacks?
The man turned to check on the other child, and found him in the same comatose state that he had been in for hours now. Frankly, he was surprised that the boy had lived to this point; he had fully expected to lose him during the night. A massive gash spanned the distance between shoulder and hip, leaving a wide gulf of riven and bleeding flesh that seemed as though it would never close back up again. He could even see the faint pumping of the boy's heart through the horrific cut. The bandages that struggled to hold back the flow of vital lifeblood were already soaked in scarlet, despite the fact that he had changed them only five minutes previously.
Although this was the worst, it was far from the only injury the blue-haired child had. Cuts that were minor in comparison crisscrossed his limbs, and he could see the pale bone of the boy's shoulder blades through two round holes in his back. Right now, it looked as though the only thing keeping him clinging to life was his own sheer determination and willpower.
The chief picked up an odd pendant from the table, tipping it this way and that to watch the sunlight reflect off the shining crystal within. The blue-haired boy had been wearing it when they'd found him, and for some reason it felt reassuring when he held it. Strange.
He sighed and put it back down as someone knocked at the door. "Yes?" he called.
A short, black-haired man entered, his expression slightly apologetic. But that was how John always looked. "We've finished all of the preparations, sir."
"Good work. Now we just -"
He was interrupted as another ranger came running through the door. He somehow managed to skid to a halt seconds before crashing into John. "The Commander of the Wyndian Army is here to see you, sir!" Wally hissed. "Powell's bringing him up."
"Skye is here?" said the chief in surprise. "Surely he'd be busy with the princess's wing-day preparations?"
"What, I'm not allowed to take some time off to come and visit an old friend?" laughed Skye as he entered the room, closely followed by Powell and a cloaked soldier.
"Not if that's the Reaper following you around again," he replied, but a smile crossed his face. He waved a hand at the other rangers, who obediently left the room.
"Nonsense, Allen. Sylvana here is one of the best recruits I've seen in years. I was thinking about offering her a position in the Elite Corps."
He chuckled as the female soldier barely managed to hold back an exclamation. Surprise or dread? Allen didn't know, but Skye praising the troops under his command was about as rare as rain in Arad, and just as likely to be evidence of a coming flash-flood.
"Very good, soldier! Knowing what you face is half of the battle. Back to the main topic, though. I had a close encounter recently that left me remembering the good old days."
"And which 'good old days' would these be?" Allen asked dryly. "When we were training under Sergeant Aquila together? When you broke your arm showing off for the girls on the castle battlements and had to spend three days being lectured about responsibility? When we -"
"All right, you've made your point," Skye interrupted. A brief snort of laughter came from beneath Sylvana's hood, and he sent a glare in her direction. "Actually, I was going to say when we were battling Stenarius Legacy and his Highlanders."
Allen's jaw dropped. "You must be jesting. The man was nigh invincible, even fighting him one-on-one. Not to mention the little fact that we were fighting outnumbered on unknown terrain. Ladon's breath, man, what were you doing?"
"Fighting a demon," he replied. "I know we always joked that Legacy couldn't be anything other than one, but compared to this one, it just might have been true. Anyway, I can't tell you anything more, but because of that, I need your trustworthy services."
"The Rangers' Guild? What is it that even the Elite Guard and its commander can't handle?"
"Something that needs secrecy. We Elite Guards are highly visible, as I'm sure you know, and the best way to do this is in plain sight, with people not associated with the Crown."
"Hmmm, your reasoning makes sense as always, Davan," Allen mused. "How might we be of service, and what would we gain?"
"Well, for starts, I've heard from some veryreliable sources that you haven't had any luck getting funding through the proper channels."
"Wait a moment," Allen said with a sly grin on his face. "Would these be the same reliable sources as you had when you were first appointed Commander? I know for a fact that one of my Rangers, Ellie, was a reliable source. Possibly still is."
Skye sighed. "Why must you always do this? I try and discuss business with you, or simply come over to have an all-too-rare casual chat with you, and you bring up horrible things from our recruit training. And in front of Sylvana, too. She'll never respect me now."
"Alright, I apologise. Please continue."
"Thank you. As I was saying, there's been no funding. Too much paperwork gone wrong 'accidently' by some petty paper-shuffler who hates your guts and wants to curry favour with the Queen. Most of them don't last very long because they make the fatal mistake of considering her nothing more than a pampered noblewoman."
Skye smirked at the inevitable fate of Wyndian sycophants, but Allen looked thoughtful.
"So that's why . . . ? We've been waiting for an answer for years, but it seemed like it wouldn't come."
"If you can do this job for us, I can take the direct route and ask the Iron Fist for a resolution in this matter."
Allen and the female soldier visibly winced. The Iron Fist was the nickname given to Queen Hina for when she decided that diplomacy and niceties weren't working. If the rumours were true, then the ministers who'd been denying the funding would have to swallow their pride and grovel. Hard. Good advisers were hard to find, but ministers were far from unique.
"You'd ask her to . . . I had no idea you were that heartless, Davan." Allen said with a smirk on his face.
"Only if the King meets with no success, but it's unlikely." another evil grin was plastered on Skye's face.
"Alright," Allen sighed. "I'm getting the hint that this is very important. Mind telling me what it is?"
"I'm sorry, old friend, but I can't bring you the details unless you agree to take the job."
"I don't know . . . It's a policy of mine not to accept any missions without knowing every detail beforehand. I have to warrant the safety of my people as much as possible, even if they are competent enough to fend for themselves. There's also another issue – look at those two kids over there."
Skye was starting to feel depressed. The Rangers' Guild had been his last hope and now it seemed that it too was going to join a long list of failed plans. Nevertheless, he did as Allen had asked.
He flinched as he saw the grievous wounds, tended as best as was possible given the limited resources of the rangers. Something felt incredibly wrong, though. Next to the bed stood a bucket full of blood-stained bandages, mute testament to the amount of blood the blue-haired child had lost. It was impossible for an ordinary human to still be alive, and yet something kept that small heart beating. Something that gave off the same maliciousness that had saturated the air when he'd confronted the Seer.
Skye turned back to his friend, face as white as his wings. "Are you telling me," he said after taking a deep breath, "that these boys faced a demon by themselves?"
Allen's eyes widened. "A demon? Why do you say that? We found them yesterday, on the outskirts of the forest just before the Chikk mountain range, and I warped our group back to the city. There was nothing to indicate any demon activity."
"Can't you feel it? There's something there, preventing their injuries from healing. A taint."
"Do you know of any way to help them?"
"I don't, but the Master Healer of the castle might. If I bring him here – I'll drag him here if I have to – would you take this job? Please?"
Allen considered this for a while. If it meant a chance at life for the boys, then he was willing to do it. Besides, Skye was a friend of his and he disliked not helping a friend if it was in his power to do so. But there were also his subordinates, his fellow rangers, to think of.
"I myself am happy to do it," he answered at last, "but since I don't know the details, I have to check with the others and let them decide for themselves."
"Agreed. I'm sorry for the kids, and I'll try and get a healer for them anyway, but I can only tell you that this business is potentially life-threatening as well. Your guild might be our only hope for the future."
"Auntie Zari, where are you?" Nina moaned, leaning back against the wall. Several hours had passed since Zarinna had left on her search, but there was no sign of her or Uncle Davan. The excitement she'd felt at the prospect of a day out had waned, leaving place for boredom to come roaring back.
Suddenly, the door opened and Nina looked over at it in anticipation, but her hopes were dashed once more. It wasn't her aunt who entered. Instead, it was a boy a few years older than her, clad in ceremonial armour with a pageboy's badge sewn on his tabard. His hair was violet, nearly reaching the point where his wings connected with his back, but what caught her attention were his eyes, crimson and shining with a mischievousness she recognized in herself.
"Who are you?" she asked, a little harsher than normal.
"I apologise for startling you, your highness," he replied, smiling and bowing to her. "I'm a messenger. Lady Zarinna sent me with instructions to bring your cloak and meet her in the throne room."
Although Aunt Zari had told her specifically to wait here until she returned, wasn't a message from one of the pageboys nearly as good as her aunt coming herself? Besides, it gave her something to do other than waiting around. The boy trailed after her as she returned to her room and waited as she pulled one of her cloaks from her wardrobe, draping it around her shoulders.
"Please follow me," said the pageboy. She inclined her head imperiously, trying to act 'regally', but giggled a little in spite of herself.
After only a few minutes, they had arrived at their destination, taking the servants' shortcut paths to reach the grand chamber. The guards by the doors smiled to her as she passed, their eyes skipping over her companion. Curious.
Once they were inside, the pageboy immediately headed for the statues standing behind the thrones. Situated on an ivory-plated plinth were three carved women, carefully sculpted from the finest marble brought in from the quarries north of Colossea. The woman in the middle stood with a double pair of wings spread majestically, looking as though she were about to take to the skies. Her feathers, every detail engraved meticulously, were inlaid with strips of pearl that lent the statue a luminous radiance. The other two were wingless but just as noble, lending their support to the winged one.
Around the necks of the wingless hung twin necklaces, one adorned with gleaming emeralds and the other with brilliant diamonds, both glowing softly. The necklaces and statues were Wyndian national treasures, protected by magical wards cast by the best spell-casters in Wyndian history. They represented the legend of the Queen of Angels, who would aid the kingdom during its direst moment. It was even said that she had the power to summon the patron deity of Wyndia, the Wind Dragon, but to most it was just a story.
The pageboy snapped his fingers, and Nina saw the bright sparkle of the wards flare and die away. "Who are you?" she asked in a strangled tone as he took the necklaces from the statues and placed them in her hands. "Don't try and tell me that you're just a pageboy. No-one is supposed to be able to break those wards."
The pageboy smiled and knelt. ~I am sorry for having hidden the truth from thee, Princess Nina,~ he said, a much older voice echoing his words. ~Although thou art correct in saying I am no pageboy, this vessel and thee share a common ancestor, a descendant of mine. Thus could I borrow his body for this task.~
White light filled with glinting strands of gold surrounded the boy for an instant. He fainted, his hair changing back to its original brown, and the light resolved itself into the shape of a man. Nina gasped as the boy faded away.
~Fear not for the child, for he sleeps soundly in his bed. When he awakens, he will believe this naught but a dream.~
The violet hair and mirthful crimson eyes were the same as before, although he had no wings in this form and his expression was more serious. The armour he wore was of different design to that of the Wyndian knights. And while Nina knew the coat-of-arms of every lord in his father's court, this one she had only ever since once before. In a book detailing the creation of Asparia.
A Dragon, gold-scaled and imposing, curled itself around a large crystal. The long claws of its forepaws rested over two smaller crystals protectively, its eyes filled with wisdom beyond understanding. White and gold flames edged it in flickering light.
~Princess Nina, as thou hast indeed guessed, I am the Endless in charge of protecting the freedom of Asparia's people. Ladon the Dragon God, shouldst thou wish to call me so. Regretfully, I must ask thee to do something that will change thy very future and will make thee suffer for some time. I dislike it, but thou art the only one who can help me save innocent lives.~
Nina looked at the 'god' skeptically, not sure whether to believe him or not. "How do I know if you're telling me the truth? You could be just an illusion. And if you are the Dragon God, why can't you use your god powers to save those people?"
Ladon sighed. ~In the days of yore, such deplorable disbelief wouldst not have happened. Thou dost require further proof of who I am? Very well. I know of thy dreams, the nightmares of the one with the slitted eyes that hath plagued thy slumber these past weeks.~
Her expression changed abruptly from skepticism to horror. She hadn't even told Auntie Zarinna about those nightmares, and she'd been disrespectful to a god, to the Dragon God, when He'd come to this realm to talk to her.
~There is no need to apologise,~ He said, giving her a gentle smile. ~It is natural for thee to doubt, but since the matter is now settled . . . I also know about the times thou hast awakened with tears upon thy face, because of the ill omens concerning thy parents.~
"So it is true? Something I do will bring great sorrow to my parents?"
~Unfortunately, I can do nothing to prevent this. There are laws that bind even the gods. Thus there shall be years of hardship for thee, but thou shalt see a different world to the one thou art living in. Thou shalt make strong friends that will bring times of happiness to balance the hardships. It is regrettable, but some good things cannot come about without sacrifices made by those who desire change.~
"What should I do?" Nina cried. "Please tell me, Lord Ladon! I don't want to hurt my parents."
~Thou must look inside thy own heart, Princess. Therein lies the answer.~
Silence fell over the hall as Nina considered her answer. "I will aid you," she said at last. "I don't know what you need my help for, but I'm glad to be of service to a deity."
~Well-spoken, Princess Nina. Tell me, dost thou know of the Queen of Angels?"
"Yes, every Wyndian child does. Some dream of becoming her and flying through the sky."
~In thy hands, thou dost hold the keys to summon the elemental shamans that embody the powers of Wind and Holiness. Thou art one of the very few Wyndians alive able to see the essence still remaining – a symbol of thy heritage and potential. Follow me outside and see for thyself what it is I ask of thee. It would be wise to conceal thy face; only thou art able to see my form, but if others were to see thee, they might stop thee from leaving.~
Nina pulled the hood of her cloak forward and hurried after Ladon.
Zarinna wandered through the stone corridors, trying to think of a way to tell Nina that their walk might have to be postponed. It seemed that no-one on the palace grounds had seen Skye all day, although one of his elite had suggested that he might be patrolling the city.
"The Commander always says that his duty is to defend Wyndia, not make the kingdom serve him," the injured soldier had told her with a smile. Although their relationship technically went no further than that of acquaintances and fellow godparents to Nina and Mina, she thought of him as a brother and rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
My feet are killing me, she grumbled to herself. Curse these high-heeled court shoes – they feel more like some torture device than footwear! Hina should channel some of her temper towards those parasites who rule the latest fashions instead of the poor ministers. Though they do make me look taller, and I must admit that it's flattering when the men turn their heads to look at me . . . She sighed. But enough of that. Curse that sneaky old soldier too. Where is he when I need him?
Zarinna stopped for a minute, grimacing as she rubbed her feet. Suddenly, she caught sight of a small figure wearing an all-too-familiar cloak walking past the apathetic gate-guards.
She gasped. Nina! That impatient, unruly little princess, why couldn't she just wait for me? Where is she going? I have to follow her – someone has to keep her safe!
The guards looked at her perplexedly as she stormed through, none daring to stop her. It was Hina's trademark glare that Zarinna had subconsciously picked up, and there were too many bad rumours floating around the barracks about crossing someone with that look on their face.
Nina was too quick, darting in and out of the crowd like a hummingbird. Judging by the direction she was heading, her destination was the merchant district. After several turns, the girl stopped as though looking for directions, then pushed open the door of a nearby inn. It was called the Healing Winds Hostel, if the faded sign next to it was anything to go by. But a lit torch, the symbol of the Church of Saint Eva, was freshly painted on the door.
Just what I need, a den of Evaians, Zarinna thought despondently. I hope that none of them realize that Nina is the princess. Who knows how they'd respond? Lord Ladon, please watch over my little princess. If you don't, I swear that I'll stomp on your tail!
It was quiet inside. An old woman sat behind the counter, looking at a photo with teary eyes, and a few guests were seated around a table in what looked like the inn's common room. At another table sat a mixed group of Rangers and Wyndian soldiers, laughing and joking with one another as they ate their meal.
"Excuse me," Zarinna said to the old lady, "but have you seen a little girl in a dark-blue cloak? I'm sure that she ran in here."
"I'm sorry, dear," the beldame replied. "I thought I heard someone go up those stairs there, but when I turned to look, there was no one! My hearing's been bad these last few years since my little Cisne died."
Zarinna shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry for your loss," she said gently, "but do you mind if I go upstairs and check? It really is important that I find my niece."
The old woman nodded sadly. Zarinna quickly checked the ground floor before heading up. As she was about to knock on the first door and ask if they'd seen Nina, she heard feet pattering up the stairs behind her and a childish voice muttering something about tricksters. She whirled around, just in time to see the little girl run past as though Zarinna were no more than an obstacle to be dodged in some mad game of chase and enter one of the end rooms.
"Nina!" she called, but there was no answer.
Allen had spoken with his men, explaining to them that it came from the highest authority but that he had no solid details. They'd agreed, though, choosing to stand by their chief's decision. It helped that between the scarcity of money at the moment and the Newhaven Ranger headquarters needing repairs, there was little to be spared on alcohol. Funding from the Wyndian monarchs would provide some much-needed relief from the drought.
He smiled as he caught sight of the newcomer, a woman perhaps a few years younger than himself. Although she wasn't his type – he preferred redheads – she was still attractive. She looked around frantically, before going to talk to the innkeeper. Allen put it from his mind, though, as he ascended the stairs to deliver the good news.
"Still here, old friend?" he asked convivially, taking a seat. "They've agreed to do it."
"So they're willing to risk their asses on the word of their chief... ," Skye mused, looking up from watching the two children. "Damn, that's really loyalty for you, isn't it? I wish some of my soldiers respected me that much."
"I'm sure they do, Davan. Just ask Sylvana there. Anyway, if you can go fetch the Master Healer, I'll discuss the details of this job with you afterwards."
As Skye was standing up, the door burst open and a blond-haired girl came in. Skye's jaw dropped. "Nina?" he asked incredulously as the girl immediately headed for the beds.
Seconds later, the woman he'd seen earlier entered as well, hot on the heels of the child. "Nina, stop this!" she exclaimed. "You wait until your mother hears of this, young lady! You won't be able to sit for a week!"
For some reason, Skye wasn't surprised when the child who'd interrupted them pulled off her cloak to reveal his niece. He didn't know why she was here, or how she'd even managed to find her way here, but Zarinna did not look to be in a good mood. He sighed, and went over to try and reason with her.
He couldn't reach her, though. What seemed like an invisible wall had appeared around Nina and the two boys. Zarinna beat her hands against it, futilely trying to call out to her charge, before a surge of magic sent her tumbling to the floor. Alarmed, Skye knelt by her side.
~She merely slumbers, Wing Commander,~ said someone, the words echoing through his mind. He looked up to see a tall man standing by Nina's side, violet-haired and armoured. He didn't appear to be armed, but he was clearly the originator of the magical barrier. ~Do not fear. Ranger Chief Allen, I commend you for bringing these children to this place. But for now, sleep.~
The last word held the soothing harmonics of ocean waves, and Skye felt his eyelids grow heavy. With effort, he forced them open to see Zarinna's body being gently lifted into the air and placed on a seat next to Sylvana and Allen, who were already asleep.
"Nina," Skye whispered, trying to unsheathe his sword. But his hands wouldn't obey him.
~Davan Skye, did I not say there is no need to fear? I have no intention of harming the Princess of Angels. But there is something she must achieve.~
"Who are you?" Skye snapped angrily. He could still talk, at least. "Another demon?"
~Far from it, although there are those among my brethren who consider me as bad as those hell-spawn. One of mine is in dire need, and the only one who can aid me at this time is the Queen of Angels.~
The old woman peered around the edge of the door, curious about what was happening. The injured boys and the ranger had been up there, but then the soldiers and later the blonde-haired human woman had gone up as well. And now doors were being slammed and people were yelling.
She gasped in horror as she saw the three bodies against the wall. Were they . . . dead? Had the soldier killed them? And what of the children? She clutched at the torch medallion around her neck and continued to watch the unfolding events, not noticing how icy-cold the metal was growing . . .
Nina wept as she saw the two boys, silvery tears sliding down her cheeks as she listened to the barely audible sound of their breathing. She tried to use her magic, extending what little tendrils of healing power she had to their wounds, but she wasn't strong enough. Nothing would be strong enough against the taint she could sense, wrapping itself around the blue-haired boy with glee.
~Princess Nina, dost thou remember the promise thou made me? This is what I ask, that thy heritage be used to heal these two. If thou art willing to walk the path ahead of thee, then speak the words of thy acceptance.~
Nina looked up, hope shining in her blue eyes. "Even if it should take my life," she said through the tears, "I will help you, Lord Ladon. I don't know who these children are, but I – I feel connected with them somehow."
The god nodded approvingly. ~Thou speaketh true, Princess, although the meaning of thy words will not become clear to thee until many years have passed. Davan Skye, fear not for the Princess's health. The Guardian Pantheon of Asparia has seen to it that there will be one with the power to banish the demons threatening this land. Thy niece has her part to play, as do we all.~
Skye sighed. "So the prophecy was true, then . . ." he murmured.
"I am ready, Lord Ladon," said Nina, glancing at the god before looking over at her uncle. "Please forgive me, Uncle Davan, but this is something that must be done." She stood up, holding her arms outstretched. Her wing-tufts fluttered in the swirling zephyr that had sprung up around her.
"I embrace my wings, those that mark the coming of the Queen of Angels. By this, I pledge to aid those in need, as is the duty of royalty."
The very air itself seemed to shine with a golden light, lifting Nina into the air, dusting her wing-tufts in glittering flecks. The light spread, flowing up across her limbs and face until she blazed with luminescence. The only sound to break the awed silence was that of wings beating softly.
The light faded to reveal Nina, but a different Nina to before she had spoken those fateful words. Dark wings grew from this Nina's back, shaded in a purple so deep it seemed as black as obsidian. Stray feathers drifted lightly through the air until they came to rest near her feet.
~Spoken like a true princess,~ said Ladon in satisfaction.
The innkeeper's eyes narrowed. So those three, the dead people, it was the work of a demon! And wasn't that the Crown Princess? She too was a demon! Speaking of false gods, using demonic powers to manifest those demon wings of hers . . . The old woman thanked St. Eva for the blessing His priest had bestowed upon her medallion, her symbol of faith, which now allowed her to witness these heinous dealings.
She crept out before running as fast as her old legs could carry her to the castle. Her heart told her that St. Eva would hear her prayers and allow her to speak with the King. He had to be warned that his daughter bore the mark of a demon, and abide by the law… or face the consequences.
Skye clenched his fists, only vaguely noticing that he was able to move again, and fought back tears. His little Nina, so grown up . . . But the colour – the colour! There would be those who wouldn't see the sweetness of Wyndia's princess, the courage, the joy she brought to those she knew. All they would see was the ominous colour of her wings. And she would need protecting more than ever.
~Princess, now that thou hast chosen thy path,~ Ladon went on, ~I have some words of advice for thee. Firstly, thy wings shall be thy barrier against the nightmares that had troubled thee so. Secondly, a coin has but two sides. Yet there exists a third option – although it is rare, that same coin may land on its edge. When it seems that there no way forward but to surrender to the darkness, search thy heart, for there is always another way that can tip the balance between happiness or despair.~
"Thank you, my lord. I'll remember those words."
~Now, take the pendant from atop that table and give it to blue-haired boy, the Destined Child.~
Nina picked up the necklace, noting how warm it felt. She didn't really want to let it go, but she draped the chain around the boy's neck and let his head fall back onto the pillow. As she did so, it suddenly began to shine brightly, flashing in the colours of the rainbow.
~The jewel thou wert holding is called the 'Eye of the Dragon' in common lore,~ the Dragon God explained, ~but my priests call it the 'Dragon's Tear'. The colour it now shows means that thou art joined with these two by bonds that transcend space and time.~
"I am truly honoured by your words, my lord," Nina said with a smile. "But how do I help them?"
~The Queen of Angels is a trinity. A vessel incarnating the essence of Power, the pure Courage of Holiness needed to face the legions of evil, and the Wisdom sung by the Winds as chants of knowledge. Thus we must summon the Shamans to this place.~
Nina smiled again, a little weakly. "I'm flattered that you consider me wise and courageous, my lord, but I think I'm far from it."
~Nonsense. Didst thou not offer thy life to me? And didst thou not place thy trust in me, despite my reputation as a trickster? Acts of courage and wisdom, both. So do not doubt thyself, Princess Nina. Hold out the necklaces thou hast brought with thee.~
As Nina raised her arms, a necklace in each palm, the soft gleam of the remaining essence brightened, until they formed the shape of two female figures in front of her. The place where their faces should have been was blank, simply a smooth wash of light, yet Nina got the impression that the two figures were smiling.
"Vessel of the Queen of Angels, hear our words," the 'shamans' said. Their combined voices brought to mind the soft ringing of wind-chimes. "We are the bearers of Wind and Holiness, the spiritual elements that will set free your true power. We are a part of you, but we have been apart for a long time. Please, embrace us, as you embraced the Dragon God's words and made them your own."
Hesitantly, Nina held out her hands. White on her left and green on her right, the shamans touched their fingertips to hers, forming a triangle by locking their free hand between themselves. The tips of Nina's feathers began to tremble as light pulsed from the connection point, bathing the young girl in radiance. Their feet rose slightly, hovering several feet above the ground.
Suddenly a blinding light flashed from the midpoint of the triangle, forcing Skye to close his eyes. When at last the light had faded and he was able to see again, he wasn't able to hold back an exclamation of surprise and awe.
Where Nina and the 'shamans' had been, there now stood just one. But Nina had been a little girl, and this woman was definitely an adult, resembling the center statue in the throne-room. Eyes the same crimson as the garnets in her ornate golden headband looked down at the two injured, kindness and a hint of wistfulness in her gaze.
The wind played with the ends of her now-cornflower blue hair, tugged at the hem of her regal turquoise and sapphire gown. Tiny teardrop gems encircled her waist and chimed faintly as they were blown against the aureate embroidery. A soft shimmer of protective magic, emitted by the heavily jeweled shoulder-guards, danced across the samite pleats. The best dressmakers in Asparia would have wept and given up their trades to see such a gown, yet the woman paid it no heed.
However, her most striking feature was her wings, in Skye's opinion. Their colouring reflected the sunrise, starting with peach, passing through the subtle purple of fresh orchids, and ending with indigo pinions. As she moved closer to the beds, she bent her head forward to prevent the second pair of wings, slightly higher than the first, from brushing the ceiling. Skye had no doubt that if she had wanted to, this woman – the Queen of Angels – could have soared through the heavens.
"With the power I now hold," said the adult-Nina, with a ruler's conviction and determination, "from these children, the Destined, I banish to the bowels of the Stygian Abyss the malice brought upon them. Depart from this world, you grotesque things!"
She touched each boy's forehead, pure light streaming from her fingertips and spreading across their skin. Almost immediately, shadows began to stain the white and she flinched, but it eventually flowed back until she was left holding two identical spheres of darkness.
The three sleepers shivered in their dreams and Skye gritted his teeth as memories of war flooded his mind. He could feel the malevolence, pressing on his soul and leaving him short of breath. If it affects me this much when I'm this far away, he wondered grimly, how much worse must it be for Nina, who has it touching her bare skin?
Her expression became stern, though, as she strengthened her resolve against the darkness. "Begone now, demonic spawn, and let the living fulfill their purpose," she said, echoes of past rallying cries and battle charges reverberating through her voice. Even if there had only been the barest sliver of a chance at victory, Skye knew that he would have followed that voice into the depths of the Abyss itself. "I, the Queen of Angels, command it."
With a cry of agony, the shadowy orbs faded into nothingness.
~Now that the menace is gone,~ said Ladon, ~the damage can be healed. Scars will remain, but their lives have been insured for a time. If thou wouldst be so kind, Princess Nina, please cast the spell of Vigor to heal their wounds.~
The sapphires on her gown and shoulder-guards began to shine, resonating with Nina's magical aura, as she chanted, "Holy spirits, I beseech thee, aid me in this direst hour. Lend me thy energies so that I may restore the health of these young children. Vigor!"
The sound of temple bells and the scent of apple blossom filled the room as pearly light, iridescent flecks twinkling on the furthermost limits of sight, once again bloomed from Nina's hands. Placing one palm against the blue-haired boy's shoulder, she traced the edges of the gash, flesh, skin and bone knitting itself back together beneath her touch.
The perspiration on her brow and the dimming of the gemstones stood as mute testament to how much effort this was costing her, but Nina refused to give up. The worst was healed now. Nina clapped her hands, and magical threads wove through the air, spinning themselves into twin alabaster cocoons around the boys. After several seconds, they cracked, shards splintering away like the shell from a newborn chick, and the threads faded away.
If not for the scars and the bloodied bandages now lying on the floor, there would have been no sign that either child had ever been injured. Skye released the breath he'd been holding as he realized that the rasping of failing lungs had been replaced by the deep breathing of those in peaceful slumber.
With a wobbly smile, Nina leant forward and kissed the blue-haired child's forehead, softly and tenderly. A faint blush crossed his face but, still asleep, he smiled back.
~Princess Nina, what compelled thee to kiss the Child for the Mission in such a manner?~ Ladon asked curiously, his voice unheard to any but Nina.
I don't know, she replied. It just seemed to me that he'd lost too much, and I wanted to make him feel better.
~Ah, is that so? Worry not. I thank thee for thy intentions and for bringing this small happiness to him.~
~Thou art truly as the legend spoke,~ said the god's avatar aloud. ~Even in the darkest of days, do not lose hope in a brighter dawn. Wing Commander Davan Skye, prepare to receive your niece. Though she is the Queen of Angels, the spell of Vigor is not one to be cast lightly, and her strength will be sapped.~
Nina stumbled away from the beds. Dark rings now encircled her eyes, giving her the appearance of someone who hadn't slept in weeks and who might collapse at any moment. Skye ran towards her, catching her just as her foot caught on an uneven floorboard. As he held her in his arms, her body glowed golden for an instant and then cleared to reveal the child's form he knew so well.
Skye tried to hold back his tears with little success. The Dragon God spoke of hope, but what hope did they have now? Her wings were supposed to have appeared at dusk. At dusk, in the dim light, there would be no-one to see that Nina's wings were not the usual white. But at mid-day? It would be as clear as the summer sky above them.
~I know,~ said the Dragon God softly. ~But amongst your followers, both here and those who survived the demon's attack, you will find those who care more for the colour of one's heart over one's feathers. You will find as well that most humans stopped judging others on skin colour long ago; why should the wing colour of another Clan affect them? And so the oath you swore to protect Princess Nina need not be broken.~
Skye sighed in relief. The avatar took it as a sign that it was time to leave, and vanished in a sudden gust of wind that set the curtains flapping and stirred up the dark feathers still remaining. Skye carefully shifted the Grass Runner next to his friend, pulled off the sweaty sheets and laid the sleeping Nina on top of the mattress.
Behind Skye, someone yawned, and he quickly covered Nina with a blanket. There would be time to explain about her wings later.
It turned out to be Zarinna, stretching and blinking in confusion as she found herself in a chair rather than her bed. But the events of earlier soon filtered back into her memory and she turned to Skye with an expression of shock and concern.
"Davan, where's Nina?" she asked urgently.
Skye patted her shoulder soothingly. "She's safe. She's asleep."
"What happened?"
"You lost consciousness," Skye improvised, putting on his best poker-face. "It seems that the seer was wrong about the timing, and Nina's wings sprouted early. But it had some nasty arcane side-effect that put everyone to sleep. I was barely able to shield myself from it."
"So you put me in this chair?"
Skye nodded, before removing the national-treasury necklaces from around Nina's neck. He turned back to Zarinna, showing her both the jewelry and several black and purple feathers.
"Zari, I need to ask you a great favour," he said quietly.
"What are these differently coloured feathers?" she wondered, taking them from him. As she looked at them, though, she went pale, shock robbing her face of blood. "Is N-nina, she's – she c-can't be . . . s-she's really . . . ?" she stuttered.
"Yes, she's the bearer of the Black Wings," Skye whispered, before speaking normally again. "But I swore to protect her, much as you have. The king and queen already know – that's why Hina was so sad when she talked to you last night."
"How?"
"It was the last prophecy of the Seer of High Winds, but there's no time for idle chatter. I need you to take those things to Kenneth and Hina. Don't show anyone else. They know what must be done."
Zarinna nodded. Davan almost never referred to his sister and her husband by their given names whilst in public, even in a place as secluded as this. Her poor Nina – caught up in something as important and life-threatening as this. "I understand. Are you going to remain here?"
"Yes. There's something I need to tell Allen about, and I'm not going to leave her until I'm assured of her safety. May the Dragon God protect you, Zari. Hina and Kenneth will tell you what I can't." He took Zarinna's recently-vacated chair and positioned it at the end of Nina's bed, keeping a watchful eye on those starting to stir as Zarinna left the room.
Zarinna didn't notice that the old woman she'd talked to was nowhere to be seen or that the soldiers downstairs were all asleep at their table. She sprinted towards the palace, crashing past people without apology in her hurry.
She had to tell Hina before it was too late.
End Part Two.
Author's Notes:
- Well, according to the game these are not exactly the circumstances of Nina's wing-day... but it's still a nice story... I think :D
- Just you need to see the Queen of angels transform. I found a really nice fan art that depicts both Nina and the aforementioned shaman form, 'Queen of Angels'; links are in my profile. I take no credits whatsoever to their authoring.
- Took some liberties with the shaman fusion system of BoF2, for narrative effects. Ladon ordered them to fuse and they had to comply :P
- I HAD to quote Lorenta of Valkyrie Profile in this... seemed SO adequate for what Nina did there.
- There will still be a part three, an epilogue; didn't think that I could write so much in this chapter.
- This is the rewritten version; it makes more sense… since the Rangers are "small fry of a hick town", and being the royal wing-day a nation-wide celebration, no audiences would have been held, with the exception of ambassadorial ones. Thanks to Lady Kestre Wynde for a reality check, and her help rewriting. She's going to be a wonderful writer, I'm sure of it.