A past worth remembering 4
"Dia you can't run from this!" Richard yelled and chased after them.
"I can and will! I'm not leaving!" She mounted she skimmer and revved the engine.
"Dia... Dia please! Don't make me-" Thorne mounted his skimmer and flew after her.
"Hey! Hey!" He yelled after the girl and she turned.
"What do you want?! I have absolutely nothing to give to you!" She was sobbing.
"Look... We're just following protocol.. It's how it's supposed to be.. I'm sorry but it is... I don't want to be your enemy but-"
"Just shut up... What are the terms?"
"We have to fight.. A duel of sorts... If I win you come with us... If you win you stay..."
"Like Persephone and Hades right? Only I serve a life sentence..."
"Hey... Your probably going to win.. Don't cry anymore... Come on... Let's get this over with."
"I'm not going to hold back" she said and sped back to the terra. She landed and drew her sword.
"Pick the duel... I'll call the elders together as witnesses and," she gulped,"I'll sign the contract." She bit her lip and glared at them.
"I will not show mercy" she said as Thorne landed beside her skimmer.
"Good.. Let's do this tonight... The sooner it's over with the better," lightning said and Dianna burred her face in her hands.
"What have I done" she whispered and fell to her knees. Nyx wrapped her arms around the girl and Starling glared.
"This... She won't loose to the likes of you!" She yelled and Thorne looked away.
"I will not hold back either... " he looked at the girl and walked away.
"Hey buddy... You okay? You disappeared into the clouds for a while" Lightning said and clapped a hand on Thorne's back.
"Yeah... I'm going to get my weapon..." He turned and trudged back to the ship. The sun beat down on his back and Dianna stood up. Nyx held her hand and Starling wrapped an arm around her waist.
"We'll go get them together" a shadow was cast over them.
"I would like to speak to my cousin... Alone" Richard said glaring. Nyx shied away and Starling glared.
"Come on," he grabbed Dianna's arm and pulled her along.
"I don't wanna go! Who will do the cutting? Who will take care of you? Who will-" Dianna panicked once they where in the thick brush. He spun her around and gripped her shoulders.
"Dianna you cannot lose... If you lose I can't protect you from them! They wanted me to go but I can't! I have responsibilities here!"
"Why can't Nathan go?!" She almost screamed and sobbed.
"Nathan didn't commit the crime! Look Dia... It's going to be okay.. Your going to win and we won't have to hear from them ever again... And if you lose... I'll think of something.. You still have to do the cuttings and your monthly mail route... I will think of something," he said and hugged her and she sobbed in his arms.
"Come on..." He said and they continued to the elders. They both knelt and pressed a fist to the dirt.
"Again you come to us you cursed child?" A woman snarled angrily.
"This time I ask you the favor... Please... Witness and judge a duel between-"
"Yes we heard.. At dusk yes? We will attend," the Elders turned and left the two dumbstruck.
"How did-"
"I've learned it's best not to ask unless you want a bowl of acid thrown at you." Dianna shrugged and stood up.
"Dianna you should go into town to get a dress..."
"A dress? Like a sacrificial dress? No way," she crossed her arms and shook her head. Richard looked up and shook his head.
"It's almost time... Get your sword," he started to turn away. Dianna grabbed his shirt and whimpered.
"Rich... I'm scared," she whimpered and he hugged her.
"I'm scared too... You- your my baby.. I want to protect you.." She sobbed into his chest and gripped the back of his shirt. The cousins stayed like that for a while. Dianna let out a shuttering breath and they pulled away.
"Let's get this over with..." He grabbed her hand and lead her back to the clearing.
"Go get your sword.. I'll tell them your-"
"We know" the group of elders boomed from behind them. Thorne and Lightning stood off to the side with Starling, Nyx, and Aaron. She found her sword and quickly made her way to the chalk circle.
"Are you ready?" Lightning clapped a hand onto Thorne's shoulder. The boy nodded and walked over to Dianna. He had a two pronged sword in his hands and a power crystal in the chamber. Dianna looked at the elders and they nodded.
"Begin" Dianna jumped back and so did Thorne. They circled each other and Thorne watched her eyes. She leapt forward and Thorne ducked from her attack.
"You sneaky-" she turned and parried a blow. He pressed down on her sword and she groaned as her arms screamed in pain.
"F.. uck" she whispered and pressed a foot to his chest. She kicked him off and ran at him. Sparks flew as the two danced around each other in a deadly circle.
"You can get him Dia!" Aaron called. The wind picked up and flung dust up clouding the fight. Thorne let out a cry and then the smash of weapons stopped. Nyx batted the dust away and prepared to hug Dia. She dropped out of the air and onto her knees.
Dianna looked up the flat of the blade at the wielder.
"I... I lost" Richard bowed his head and Dianna felt tears well up in her face.
"I'm sorry.." He said and picked her up. Dianna hiccuped and stood before the elders.
"Draw up the contract... If you where not the cutter we would not even bother!" One hissed and she bowed her head.
"Once we send word of a cutting child she needs to be sent back immediately... She has a monthly mail run.." Richard said writing up the contract. Dianna was in her room sobbing with Nyx and packing her bag.
"I'm so scared... I.. I don't... Nyxie!" The girls hugged and Aaron kissed her head.
"Long distance.. We can do this.." He kissed her and soon she was put
On the condor holding the bag with everything she owned in waving off her friends.
She sat at the hangar door for a while before she decided to look around. Thorne was staring at maps on the table when Dianna found her way to them. Thorne glanced up then back down.
"Oh your here! Well... Introductions! I'm Lightning The sky knight. This is Thorne the-"
"I'm Thorne the word of reason when it comes to this asshole" he said not looking up from the table.
"That is not true!"
"Dude you tried to put an explosion crystal into the furnace,"
"We went faster!"
"You almost destroyed the Condor!" Thorne glared and Lightning shrugged.
"Well... Anywaaay... Miss we have yet to be introduced" she looked up and the moon hung over the world like a diamond.
"It's... Dianna.. " she said and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Thorne show the lady to her room." Thorne stood up and gently steered the girl down the hallway.
"I'm sorry... I really am," Thorne whispered and pressed a button on a door. It opened and she stepped inside the cold metal room. She stared at him not daring to say a word.
"Get some rest... It's been a long day." He said and the door shut. He could have sworn he heard sobbing as he walked away.
—-
Okay! Hi! It's been a while! Also I'd like to make a few changes from when I first started this story!
Lightning-18 (minors can't be sky knights and such)
Thorne (Dark Ace) - ehh 17 because why not.
Dianna, Nyx, and Starling- 16
Aaron- 19
Also I'd like to change the "ooh hurt a squad work for a week" I'm making it a life sentence. If you hurt another's squad without provoking, your ass is on that squadron for the rest of your life or until your contract is up. (Later they revised it because it seemed to harsh of a punishment but that's waaaaaaaay later!)
So enjoy as I try to patch this up and bring it back to life! Thanks! Review and tell me what you thought of this chapter!