Diarey: Here is finally the newest chapter ;)
Syns:Yeah, we know 'it took long'.
Dairey: And you are right about that. Sorry that it took long but things not always goes as planned. Oh yeah little note I forgot to add last time. The character Galaxya is inspired on the Galaxy eyes Photon Dragon. It was very hard to desribe the dragon in an astral being. But I think I manage it somehow :p
Syns: Enjoy
KABOOM!
Suddenly the outermost left wall of the ball room exploded with such tremendous force that everyone who was inside the room felt the floor quaking violently. Astral and Galaxya even had to duck behind the balustrades to avoid to being hit by the fast flying wall fragments.
Screaming in terror and confusion the people began to run around disoriented looking for their love ones and family while inside the dust shadowy figures appeared. One of them cackled with an evil laugh.
"What on earth is happening here?" Astral wondered. He turned his eyes to Galaxya, who was asking the very same question to herself.
"Galaxya! Prince Astral!"
Both saw a stoop down Mr. Heartland heading towards them. "Are you two alright?" he asked worried.
"We're fine father. But why aren't the guards here yet? Don't tell me that a huge blast like that isn't noticed by any of them." Galaxya asked him.
Mr. Heartland shook his head sadly. "They notice it, but unfortunately they have a problem of their own to help us."
"What do you mean?" Astral asked.
"A moment before the explosion a group of bandits tried to burst in through the backside of the mansion. We thought we could handle the situation without letting the inviters know about, including your parents Prince Astral. Everything went just fine first. The guards were able to overpower the guards and surrounded them. But when they though the bandits were going to surrender they throw some old strange looking little boxes towards them. At first the guards thought it was nothing but a joke. That was until the boxes started hum with a low buzzing sound. The guards started to get anxious and before anyone could do something a bright red wave light erupted from the boxes."
"Oh my, the guards are still alive I hope." Galaxya gasped.
"They're fine Galaxya. The wave didn't kill them luckily. It just putted them asleep." Mr. Heartland assured her.
"Asleep?" Both young astral beings said in surprise.
"Well, not all of them only the astral guards felt asleep." Mr. Heartland said.
"Only the astral guards? You mean that light wave only affected the astral beings?" Galaxya asked.
"That's not possible." Astral said.
"Still it is. And without the astral beings the human guards were serious outnumbered. As we speak the guards are still fighting the other bandits." Mr. Heartland said.
"What about the guards outside, the ones who were supposed to survey the fair. Where are they?" Galaxya asked.
"I send a messenger to warn them but it will take a while before they arrive here. Time enough for those bandits to plunder this party." Mr. Heartland answered.
The dark figure laughed again. "I am soooo sorry for the harsh interruption everyone. But I convincingly forgot my invitation." A low male voice chuckled evilly.
Astral frowned when the male voice reached his pointy ears. Where did he hear this voice before? He was sure he had heard not long ago.
"Alright boys! Time to have some fun! Scam, go ahead and take whatever you can carry!" The man shouted.
After the call of the figure the men cry out a cheer before storming out of the dust towards the poor disoriented frighten guests.
At the same time the dark figure stepped out of the dust revealing himself with a huge grin on his face.
It was then when Astral finally knew where he heard that voice. "Drake." Astral said.
"Drake? Who's Drake?" Mr. Heartland asked in confusion.
"I think Prince Astral is talking about the man that is leading those men. Do you know him Prince Astral?" Galaxya said.
Astral nodded. "That is the man I saved Yuma from. He and his companions were beating him and stabbing him before I found him." He explained. Still he was puzzled: how did a lowlife street scum like Drake get his hands on high expensive explosion and mysterious artifacts that only affects astral beings?
A terrified scream of a woman whose jewels were getting stolen brought Astral out of his thoughts.
"This is getting way to dangerous. I better get you two out of here. Follow me" Mr. Heartland said, helping Galaxya on her feet.
"Wait, where are my parents?" Astral asked.
"They're save Prince Astral. Luckily they were standing at the other side of the room so I could take them to a safe place in the mansion. Your brother is with them. Now let me take you two to them before those bandits see you two." Mr. Heartland said urgently.
"What about the guests?" Galaxya asked worried while she and Astral follow her stepfather.
"I told the servants to lead them all safe out of the mansion." Mr. Heartland answered.
Astral suddenly gasped when he heard Mr. Heartland mention his servants./Yuma!/ If Drake or his one of the two companions of that time spots Yuma who knows what they would do. Astral feared they might want to finish what they didn't could last time.
From what Yuma had told him Drake was that kind of guy that holds a grudge for a very long time.
"Prince Astral?! Where are you going? Come back!" Galaxya exclaimed when she saw Astral suddenly turning around. Without paying any attention to the two people calling out his name Astral flew down the stairs, straight into the chaos. He needed to find Yuma before the bandits find him.
Meanwhile hiding under the table Yuma had his arms wrapped around Kotori's trembling figure. The poor girl was crying softly out of fear as she heard the bandits raided the frighten guests.
"It's okay Kotori. Everything is going to be okay." Yuma hushed in an attempt to calm down the distressed girl.
"Hey, Drake!"
Yuma felt his heart stop when he heard someone calling out that name./No, that can't be. It can't be him./Yuma thought frantically. With a dreaded heart Yuma slightly lifted the table cloth slightly, peaking carefully from beneath it.
His eyes widen when he saw Drake, the one-eye scarred man that almost took his life just standing a couple feet away from him and Kotori. Yuma wanted to gasp out of fear but had to use all his strength to suppress it. He had to make sure that neither Drake nor one of his companions would hear them. It would only put his and Kotori's life in great danger.
"What? This better be important." Drake snapped.
"It is boss. Look who is over there." The other man smirked evilly as he pointed towards something.
Yuma bended a little bit further so his would be able to see whatever Drake's companion was pointing at.
Floating amongst the chaos that the bandits were causing during their plundering raid was Prince Astral carefully crossing the room while turning his head around. It seemed like he was looking for something while making sure the other bandits didn't notice him
"Ah, it's Prince Astral and by the looks of it he is completely alone. Perfect, opportunities like this will only one in a lifetime. Round up some of the boys Lancer, just in case something goes wrong with those artifacts." Drake ordered.
"Got it boss." Lancer smirked before he ran off to get some of his friends while Drake started to follow Astral.
"Oh no, Yuma." Kotori quietly gasped. "It sounds like those bandits are here for more than just stealing jewels and money."
"I know." Yuma whispered, his worry clearly heard in his voice. He didn't know how, but they needed to act fast if they wanted to prevent Drake's horrible plan. If he heard it correctly it seemed Drake had come into possession of something that could help them capture Astral.
But what could he do? From recent experience Yuma was certain he stood no chance against them. But he knew people who did stood a chance.
Yuma grabbed Kotori's shoulders. "Listen to me Kotori, I will try to follow them. Meanwhile you carefully sneak away and try to find Carisca and Shark. Knowing them they're probably protecting the King and Queen right now. Warn them about the Drake's plan to kidnap Prince Astral. Tell Carisca that I am following them so she can use her tracking powers." Yuma explained.
Kotori shook her head rapidly. "Yuma are you crazy. It's way too dangerous! What if they see you?" Kotori said in fear.
"Don't worry Kotori." Yuma winked. "I've lived on the streets all by myself for years and I've survived it just fine. I will be okay." He said with confident despite the unsureness he felt.
"But Yuma-"
"What am I supposed to Kotori? Just letting Drake capture the Prince?" Yuma growled, starting to get angry." I know him better than anyone in this room Kotori. Drake plays by his own rules. And with his rules you always get hurt, especially astral beings. He despite them, so who knows what they will do with Prince Astral."
Kotori carefully watched Yuma. Seeing the deadly serious look in ruby his eyes told her that Yuma wasn't exaggerating. The boy was really worried about Astral's life.
"If Astral had ignored my screams at that time I wouldn't be here right now. I will be ungrateful of me if I ignore his time of need." Yuma said at last.
The girl nodded now she finally understood why Yuma's determination to save Astral from those bandits. To Yuma it would feel like betrayal if he left Astral to his fate. After what the prince all have done for him.
And yet somewhere she also felt that there was more. There was something….strong growing between Yuma and the prince. A bond she couldn't give a name to it. Not yet at least.
Either way she was certain now that whatever she will say it won't change Yuma's decision.
Kotori sighed. "Fine, but do promise me one thing." Suddenly she pulled harshly on Yuma's collar bringing his faces close to her sternly gaze. "You better return back in one piece. You hear me? Don't make me hear from my cousin that you are gone because I let you go on this brave yet idiotic idea of yours." She said sternly
Yuma swallowed hard. "D-don't worry Kotori. I promise you I will be careful." He said before he carefully crawled from under the table and crept on tiptoe towards the direction Astral and Drake went.
/I admit he sure has no lack of bravery./ Kotori thought with smile before she too quietly sneaked away.
After he searched the entire ballroom Astral continued further away from the room so ended up at a small courtyard.
Although Astral didn't find Yuma he was somewhere relieved that the boy wasn't in the dangerous warzone that was once the ballroom. He figured that Yuma must have found a better and safer hiding place.
The question of course was: where exactly did Yuma hide himself?
Suddenly Astral stopped. He wasn't alone anymore. Astral could literally feel the prying eyes on him and he was very convinced they didn't belong to Yuma or any of his friends or family. Turing around Astral gazed into the dark shadow parts of the courtyard.
"It's no point of hiding I can feel your presence here so show yourself." Astral ordered.
With a soft chuckle Drake emerge from the shadows alongside him 5 tall, husky men all of them smirking evilly towards the blue being.
"Well, it's no surprise the crown prince was able feel our presence boys. After all astral beings have stronger sense of feelings." Drake said towards his men.
A man snorted. "I guess that is why they see themselves more superior then humans."
Astral turned his stoic eyes towards the snorting man. "I assume from your prejudiced comment you have personal difficulty with us."
The man scratched his head. "Prejuwhat? Personal difficulty? W-what the hell does he.." The man stutters before grabbing his head and groaning in pain.
The other men laughed. "It seems Jordan's brains can't handle the crown prince's vocabulary." One laughed.
Jordan glared at his laughing comrads. "Shut up and you-" He growled while pointed an accusing finger to Astral. "Try to speak like us normal humans for once! Or at least act like a normal being! You're just standing there like an emotionless freak!"
Drake chuckled. "Don't waste your breath Jordan. Prince Astral is a lost cost when it comes teaching him about emotions and compassion. Everyone knows that."
Astral frowned slightly. /Everyone?Does that also means…/ "I don't believe you all came here just to talk about the way I express myself." Astral said.
"That is a point I do like about you Prince Astral, always getting straight to the point. No chit chat." Drake said. He took a couple steps closer to Astral. "Although you're not quite of personal person you are still a son of a king and next one in line."
"So your plan is to kidnap me and use me against my father, so that he will pay handsome ransom money in exchange for my release. This will be defiantly more than all the loot you robbed together in this raid tonight. Am I correct" Astral continued.
Drake laughed as he clapped with his hands a happily applause. "You're really as smart as they claim you to be. You're absolutely right to the littlest detail."
"Speaking of details, may I know about the artifacts you used against the guards?" Astral asked.
"Ah, so they have told you about our little decoy huh. I don't think it will hurt if you know the truth since you won't be able to tell anyone." Drake chuckled.
"You see a couple days ago we were approached by a cloaked figure. He said he wanted us to break into Heartland's mansion during his stepdaughters' birthday and causing a huge riot. At first we laughed at him and asked him if we looked like dumb idiots. Everyone knows Heartlands' guards are so well trained as the royal guards, especially the astral beings. But then he showed us some strange artifacts saying these would help us with that problem. At first we were skeptical of course. But after an unnoticeable demonstration to rise no suspicious we were more convinced" Drake explained before he snapped with his fingers.
One of Drake's men walked towards Drake, in his hand holding a burlap sack with something heavy in it. Astral saw Drake reached his hand in the bag and took out what looked like an old gantlet with a red crystal imbedded in the palm of the hand.
Astral gave Drake a questionable look. He had never seen anything like it. The foreign symbols and patterns were unknown to him. It was clearly the gauntlet wasn't made by humans hand or the astral beings. So if it wasn't made by anyone of this world then who did make it and for what purpose?
"Now the boxes we use on those guards were one of the harmless artifacts the stranger gave to us." Drake explained further while he putted on the gantlet on his right hand, the imbedded red crystal glowing faintly as if acknowledged its new wearer.
That fainted glow quickly aroused Astral's curiosity. But just when he want to question Drake about it a short yet powerful pang in his head caused him only to let out a low hiss.
/W-what…what was that right now?/ Astral asked confused. He rubbed his temples to sooth the throbbing pain in his head. /I felt it when-/ His mismatched eyes felt on the glowing crystal.
Hearing Drake chuckle Astral turned his eyes back to gang leader; who was wearing a sort of grin that always mean bad news was coming. "But unlike the boxes you will discover soon that effects of this gantlet are more…harmfully." Drake said with an evil sneer as he pointed the gauntlet towards Astral.
Responding quickly Astral floated a couple steps back. If his suspicious were correct Astral believed that pang pain was just small fraction of the gauntlet's true devastated power. Bracing himself for anything Astral saw Drake activating the gauntlet's red crystal, blinding them with a red bright light.
Astral had to narrow his eyes to shield his eyes from the dazzling light before they widen in alarm. The pain returned instantly, only this time the pain was 10 times more intense and continued without disruption giving the poor prince no time to recover.
Astral grasping the sides of his head, his face scrunched in pain. Never had Astral felt something as painful as this. His head throbbed with such excruciating pain it made him believe his head could explode any second.
"Having a headache, Prince Astral?" Astral heard Drake ask mockingly making some of the man laugh. "Don't worry I know something that can help."
With his head swirled Astral was barely able to make out Drake's free hand tapping on one of the gauntlet's symbols. This worried Astral severely. Since the gauntlet's crystal was able to give this kind of intense pain who know what else the gauntlet was capable of.
Whatever it was Astral was sure about one thing: it couldn't be any good.
It was as soon Drake balled his gauntlet hand into fist Astral discovered the gauntlet's other purposes.
Screaming at top of his lungs Astral felt an agonizing pain searing from his chest to every vessel in his body. Astral's hands shot from his head to his chest when he had the feeling his heart was slowly being crushed by an invisible hand.
"See, now the pain in your chest distracts you from the pain in your head." Drake grinned as he saw the prince collapsing on the ground continuing to shout from pain
His face covered in sweat while his entire body shook violently Astral saw Drake stepping closer to him. Kneeling down on his knee Drake grabbed Astral's chin and fiercely pulled Astral's trembling face closer to his grinning face. "You know, I am actually itching with desire to unleash all of the gauntlet's special abilities on you. But that will probably kill you and you're more valuable alive. Still, doesn't mean we can't try some of them out at our hideout while we wait for the handsomely ransom your parents will pay for you." Drake hissed evilly, his red eye filled with madness.
He then pushed Astral back against the ground before turning back to his men. "Tie him up. And make sure he is tied up tight and uncomfortable." Drake commanded his men.
The men snickered darkly as they walked towards Astral, who was trying his utmost best to get up. But all of Astral's efforts were in vain. The pain had drained him completely from his strength so that the bandits were able to pin Astral to the ground without too much effort.
It didn't take long for Drake's men to tie Astral's arms securely tight behind his back. The rope were tied so tight around him that Astral felt it cutting in his skin. The legs were left untouched since they knew it would be pointless since astral being don't use their legs to move.
"Once we get back make sure to chain his legs to an unmovable rock so he won't fly off once he regains his strength." Drake suggested to Jordan. "Now how do we put our prince into a peaceful sleep so he won't try anything funny?"
Jordan snickered. "Hey boss, why not using that little trick the stranger showed us? That will surely knock him out cold."
Drake's face beamed with the thought of the idea. "An excellent idea Jordan, men step away from the prince and enjoy the show."
While the men took couple steps back Drake once again tapped on one of the symbol. Wondering what horrible effect the gauntlet Drake was going to release this time Astral saw the red crystal change from the color red to yellow. Small sparkles erupted from the stone as it started to charge with electricity.
When realizing what Jordan's 'excellent idea' implied Astral felt his heart skip a beat, his body stiffed despite his aching muscles.
"Sleep tight Prince." Drake bad Astral for the last time before raising the gauntlet and shot the lightning towards Astral.
At the moment the lighting struck Astral started to screamed loud again while his body shook violently. His harsh struggles caused the raw ropes to cut deeply in his blue skin, staining it with dark bruises around his arm and chest.
This went on for several seconds until Astral's voice was barely audible, hoarse from the screaming. All that remains was a weak raspy cry. So weak that Drake's men almost didn't hear it.
When Astral saw his vision started to get blurry and black spots dancing before his eyes he knew it was just a matter of time he would lose his consciousness.
"Ast..l!"
His eyes began to drop when Astral heard a strange sound. It was a voice. Somewhere he recognized the voice, sadly he couldn't exactly pinpoint from who it belonged. The rumbling sound of the thunder overwhelmed it.
"Stop! St..p hur…ing him!"
A strange warm soothing feeling spread inside Astral's chest when the voice became clearer. It was like his heart was happy to hear the voice.
"Lea.. him alon.. Drake!"
So, this person seemed to know Drake.
"Stop it! Ast...! ...ral!"
From the dark blurry corner of his eyes Astral started notice a small light that started to grew.
"As..ral!"
Astral gasped softly. Yes, now he recognized that voice. But what was he doing here with Drake and his men nearby? Doesn't he know how dangerous that is? They could kill him. Or was he aware of this but still decided to come? Just for him?
The unfamiliar white light continued to grow until it swallowed the entire surrounding so that Astral saw nothing only but whiteness. But he didn't pay any attention to the surrounding light. No, the only thing his mind could think about was the safety of the one who kept calling out.
"Ast..l! Astr..l! Astral! ASTRAAAL!"
"Yuma." Astral whispered./Please be save./ With that last thought his eyes rolled in the back into his head as his world turned black; Yuma's cry slowly faded away.
Dairey: Alright and that was it people.
Syns: Until next time ( and hopefully sooner next time :p)
Next time: The aftermath.