When the future becomes darker than Kiera OC can allow, she goes on a journey to change it. Will she be able to handle the consequences or is Artix lost to her forever? Pairing: KxA-onesided-AxV. (got the name wrong originally).

AN: Don't Own a thing beyond the obvious...

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Dream's Destruction

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Darkness descended over Lore the day the paladin joined with one who was part of the vampire clan. There had been nothing that the rogue could do except watch what had once been hers given to another. Her suspicions were slowly proven to be correct, but the nightmare became real before she could find proper proof. By then it was too late for the orb had corrupted the Paladin. A quest was necessary to the land of mirrors since Cysero's creation was just in its beginning stages and so out of the question. No one scared in all of Lore as much as the crazy inventor-you never had a guarantee just how you'd end up or if you were left with all your correct parts in their proper place. Besides, she still blamed him for the dragon thing for the consequences...

Kiera sighed as she shook the memories from her head. Warlic had warned her of how easily she could be derailed here and how there were no guarantees on even finding the right mirror in order to save Artix; not to mention all of Lore. The reflections of light threatened to overwhelm her once she reached a land in which every surface was reflective. It was stunning, but not as much as the many scenes from her life that were laid bare before her. She shuddered at the darker scenes from her childhood and the even darker ones of a future that will be if things were left as they are. Just another reason to regret her choice of not fighting for what she had truly wanted. Only she never expected it to affect her very world. There was a price, however, "a price must be paid".

The keeper of the mirrors explained, "A sacrifice that will remain hidden until the objective is obtained. Also time must be allowed to flow naturally which could alter the course of your destiny."

"Any destiny that leads to the eradication of the one I love is not one I wish to hold onto. Lore will not be ruled by a dark king if I have anything to say about it."

"Even if the price was the very love you have held onto so long?"

Conviction filled her soul and suddenly she knew this right the right choice. "Love was never meant to be hidden but shared, expressed. How can it be called such if it is kept to oneself? This is my greatest regret as the unfolding events are my fault for doing so. What is truly meant to be will be again and this is a mistake I will make no longer."

"Unless you lose the ability to express it."

"Even so, I cannot allow the continuation of such a dark future. If the precious love within my heart has to be sacrificed for the the lives of my friends, then there is no greater price other than I should die in their stead."

"If that is true then this is the mirror you need." Said the being of pale blue from the pigtails on the sides of her head to the slippers on her feet. "Only there is no return to this world in any case for but one chance-"

"I understand. The blue mage warned me of the conditions."

"You have a brave soul, Rogue."

"Or rather foolish." She murmured with a slight smirk as she took the mirror in her hands, then with a bright flash she was gone.

"What reason can you give me?" Artix demanded.

"Other than the end of Lore as we know it should you marry her? Is that and my true feelings for you not enough? Or do they no longer mean anything to you?" Kiera choked on the emotions raging through her and her last words could only come out a whisper, "Perhaps I mean nothing to you at all and everything else was but vain imaginings."

His silence was enough of an answer for her so she turned away. "I guess I'm too late then."

"That isn't the point, Kiera. It has always been and always will be Vayle. You have to understand that I made a promise and I always-"

"Keep your promises." A broken sob left her lips unwillingly and she was ashamed of the cold tear that slid unseen down her cheek.

Kiera lifted her chin with a last burst of determination as she surveyed the world she had hoped to preserve; or restore, she didn't know which anymore. "Oh I understand, Artix. I understand that there is only one thing left for me to do. On my honor, I cannot allow this course to continue as is."

A rueful laugh sent shivers of apprehension down his spine as she reached inside her armor and withdrew the very item that a dragon keeper always keeps close to their heart. She studied the cool sapphire in the center of the amulet and caressed it without regret in her heart. 'I'm sorry, Ebony.' "I can only hope that one day I'll be forgiven should these events ever been seen for what they are."

"Kiera."

Dark blue eyes glanced over her shoulder ruefully at the almost pallid paladin. "It was a pleasure to slay at your side, even if such overkill is unnecessarily messy."

"Kiera, what-"

A warm wet yet cold wind stirred up with the intentions of the rogue's heart as the song of her ancestors poured from it. Perhaps this had been her only true choice from the start-to rescind all that she was and all that she could ever be./Kiera! No!/ It was okay to do this-to sacrifice her very destiny for a man who could no longer love her. For a love that actually never was outside her own dreams. At least now they can perhaps find happiness. Let it not be in vain, Lady, let the darkness no longer remain to taint his destiny. May there be no remorse; no longer regret. May the world be set to right once more and the darkness to no longer reside.

When the almost sinister dark blue light evaporated like mist, it was as if the brave rogue had never been. It wasn't until the paladin fell to his knees in horror that he realized what he had lost until the last vestiges of memories left his mind with an emptiness that could never be filled or understood. It wasn't until then that the rain that had held off until that very moment finally fell to wash the world of Lore clean.

A new destiny shall rise on the wings of dragons.

~END~

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AN2~Or not as such because I want my rogue to have to her own dreams realized...eventually. To my readers who are still interested, I thank you for both your support and your patience. No promises on when another installment to this saga will go up as I only have a tentative idea at this time, but I will attempt to work on such during my break in a week. Until then ~k~