Chapter Ten: Becoming Crystal-Part One
Three weeks later, Lyuna was down at the Track of Doom, explaining what had been happening as she sat on a cushion with the crew around her in a semi-circle, Propheci and Cerabus laying on either side of her as she spoke.
"To be honest guys, seeing Word nearly at battle rage over his son's action was kinda scary." She grinned, looking at them as they chuckled and waved her hands. "Just wait, it gets better: so Word storms in, hears the evidence, then lets out this snarl before grabbing Moordryd by the ear and dragging him out. This after a motion passes to make 'Rayn' second-in-command on the council. So a week later I had a joust against a couple people." The girl shook her head. "I know Libris was hurting after that-she's adjusted well to hiding in plain sight but I let her shift back every now and then."
There was laughter from the other Prophets; it was well known that many of the crews as well as other racers, despised Moordryd and his Dragon Eyes. Lyuna slowly got up and began to stretch her body, stumbling slightly before turning to her dragon, who had also got to her feet and was moaning, her colors shifting. "W-what is..." she began, shaking her head. "I must go...something-something's not right."
Propheci got up and magged her into his saddle, heading out with Cerabus tethered to them, activating the cloaking gear. They moved across the wastelands and through the passageways, stopping in the underground temple. Lyuna climbed off her friend, running over to her dragon and removing the gear, unfastening the harness and letting it drop as there was a flash, Cerabus reverting to her Crystal Draconium state. The dragon roared, trying to shift back as her rider tried to calm her down, Mortis rushing over, "What's going on?!" He gasped. "What happened?!"
"I'm not sure." Came the reply as she finally got her dragon to calm before looking over. "Something's happened to Artha, hasn't it?"
"Yes..." The dragon priest said, sighing. "He and Beau...have become wraiths-they used Lance as bait and now..."
"This makes sense." Propheci said; a week prior, Lyuna had asked Stewardd to create a device for the Prophets' leader so he could speak without controlling a person. Now the orange dragon padded over to them. "You see," he went on. "Beau and Cerabus are siblings-and they balance each other. Right now, the balance is shifted, though if and when Beau changes back, Cerabus will too. It won't be as...drastic a change if it happens again."
"But that doesn't make sense." The girl said. "When Beau was changed by liquid Black Draconium, Cerabus was just fine."
~Flashback~
"I don't like this." Lance said, he, Parm and Kitt down in the Temple with their dragons. "First I lose my dad, then my best friend, and now my brother." He sank to the floor. "I've lost my whole family."
"Lance, you are aware that's not exactly true." A voice said, Lyuna walking over and sitting next to him, drawing him into a hug. "Beau is like a brother to you and Artha, and Cerabus views me as her sister." She grinned, ruffling his hair as she chuckled. "If you think about it in those lines, I'm family to you, if in a bit of a roundabout way."
The red-haired boy looked up at her. "So in a way, I have a sister?"
"Even if we're not related by blood Lance, you can view me as your big sister-that will never change." She smiled at him, watching him hug her back. "Thanks Lyuna," he said as Mortis came over, speaking with them.
~End Flashback~
Lyuna thought back to that conversation a week and a half before and sighed; Lance had been happy to have a sister and someone he could talk to. Now she looked up as her dragon cried out and ran over, Cerabus magging her onto her back as she shifted, the draconium went from her, to her rider, then into the pendant around the girl's neck. Lyuna was frozen during the transference and now feel forward, the dragon priest catching her and laying her down on a blanket, then turned to the orange dragon. "What...just happened?" he asked.
Propheci came over, lowering himself down slightly and holding his upper limbs over her before straightening. "I am unsure." He said before turning to the other dragon. Why did you do that? He asked in dragon. What have you done to her?
I-I'm not sure. Came the reply. It was instinctual-like somehow I knew she could handle the energy.
She padded over to check on her rider, the orange dragon cutting her off. You stay away from her. He snarled, his yellow eyes glaring at her angrily. I should take her back to my crew and have become one of the Prophets due to you actions!
Cerabus roared, shifting back to her true form, her teal eyes flashing. How DARE you! She bellowed, sending him flying with a mag-blast. How DARE you threaten me and say you'll take her away from me!
At that moment, Artha and the others got off the lift with their dragons, Beau running over and getting in between the fighters. Break it up you two. He snarled. You two are friends-what in dragon's sake are you fighting about?
Cerabus turned her rider to crystal. Propheci said. She could have KILLED her!
'Turned her rider to crystal, the gold dragon repeated. How did that happen?
Because you and your rider where wraiths. Came the exasperated reply, the orange dragon watching the other pace and knowing she was giving him this time to explain. You and she are balanced-when you were freed by whatever means managed to do so, she magged Lyuna onto her as she reverted. The draconium went from her, to her rider, then into the crystal she has around her neck. Now, stand aside.
Beau glared at them before stepping back, the other two lunging at each other as the fight began again. There was a moan, Lyuna coming around and opening her eyes, staring at the fight as she weakly got to her feet. "Nazzat!" she bellowed, the pair stopping and turning to her, seeing the feral look in her eyes and backing down, then she glanced at the gold dragon, who had also backed down and sighed. Sorry guys, she said in dragon. Lost my temper.
She walked over to Propheci. Why do you want me on the Prophets?
Because you are strong. Was the reply. Not just physically, but mentally as well-you are wiser than most dragons as well.
The girl stared at him, then began laughing. Thank you for the compliment Propheci. She said, blushing as she turned to her dragon, watching her come over and mag her before they headed for the lift and rode it up.
(A.N.: hopefully now everyone can see why I changed the order-I needed to have Lyuna and Propheci be allies [if not friends] so this idea would work. This should be the only episode change that I will be doing. Keep in mind I had that flashblack much different, but after finding out exactly when Fira Penn died, I realized that would not have worked out with my timeline. Yes, I could have changed it since the story is AU, but I've chosen to keep some things canon. The second and possibly third parts of 'Becoming Crystal' will be in later chapters-there will be at least one more-the possible third one I'm on the fence about)