Chapter Ten

The Illithid take charge of the exiled races, with muttered promises that they would reach home safely. The elementals return to their deep homes, respectful of the mourning period. The Duergar offer each turtle jeweled gifts, in honor of their visit, before they leave for the deep forges of home. The nagah head up to the surface to prepare for the migration, setting up the subway stations that Donnie had marked out. All that was left was the moving, and that happened surprisingly fast with everyone working together. All the gems were taken as the Clan hoard, and many brought eggs of the brightly colored fish to hatch and keep in their new home. The hatchery is carefully moved; each egg cared for by the older hatchlings until they reach the most secure room for the new hatchery. Raphael lets Yuki and Sarrok work out the details of it all, coming to visit almost every night.

Now, Yuki stands on the high ledge that leads to the Pool of Visions, the same place Raphael got his first look at the city. He stands beside her, his arm around her shoulders. The city is quiet, empty, and no longer glows as brightly as it did before. Yuki sighs deeply, "This has been the only home I knew. My parents are here, and their parents. I feel like I'm abandoning all the work we put into this."

Raphael sweeps her up into his arms, "I see a Kingdom that needed to move and grow. The people are safe, the eggs will hatch without fear, and the assassinations will end. You will grow as a Clan and be where you can get the help you need."

Yuki hugs him close, "You're right. My people need me more than this empty place." She leans up and kisses him softly.

Raphael blushes lightly, but he kisses her back. If anyone told him that he'd fall for the queen of a lost kingdom, he'd probably have broken their arm. Now, he can't imagine life without her. He breaks the kiss gently and kisses her forehead, carrying her out of the cavern. As he walks through the tunnels to the Pool, he hears the deep rumble of the kingdom collapsing now that there was no magic to keep it alive. Yuki tenses in his arms, a sob escaping her, but he squeezes her tightly, "Shh, it's alright. Better than letting it fall into drow hands. The pool still exists, and we'll be visiting it frequently."

She nods, remaining silent. The tracks of thousands show the path to the surface, and Raph slides Yuki around so she can hold onto his shell while he climbs up the ropes, "I want to show you something before I take you to your new kingdom."

Yuki nods, "Of course. I trust you, Raphael."

He grins at that and takes her to the surface.

It's a two-hour drive from the city, but Raphael had planned this for a week. He takes Yuki up to the mountains, deep into the mountains where the snow still dusts the peaks. Donnie was the one that found this place on satellite, and Raphael couldn't think of a better place. He helps Yuki out of the van and together they stand on top of a mountain.

Yuki's eyes light up brightly as she takes everything in. She kicks at the snow lightly, "Is this… is it snow?" At Raphael's nod, she grins and picks some up in her hands, "Oh wow… it's cold but… it's beautiful."

Raphael chuckles and waves his hand to the sky, "There is so much more."

He watches as her eyes light up, taking in all the stars on the clear night, "Oh celestials…. There are millions of them."

He slides his hand into hers, "I want to bring you here often if your duties will allow."

She squeezes his hand, looking up at him with the brightest smile he's ever seen, "I would love that. It's beautiful up here."

He kisses her knuckles softly, then scoops her up in his arms, "I want to see my snow angel fly." She grins at that, and when he spins, he throws her into the air. Her wings snap open on the wind and she lets out a cry of sheer joy.

She pumps her wings to fly higher, the cold air sharp on her skin and she feels so alive. She turns onto her back when even the mountain is barely a speck to her sharp eyes, and she touches the light of the stars with a deep sigh, "Perfect." With her wings spread halfway, she falls back towards the earth, the lights of all the cities looking like stars themselves. She nears the mountain where Raphael waits and turns to glide back down, landing in his arms, "I never want to leave."

Raphael had seen her disappear among the stars, and his heart swells with pride for his beloved dragon. When he catches her, he hugs her close to warm her up, then carries her to the van and opens the back, "We don't have to be back until tomorrow night. This is just time for you and me." He lays her back among the thick blankets and pillows, stealing a deep kiss. Yuki blushes deeply, kissing him back with a hint of nervousness. Then Raphael breaks it and climbs in behind her, resting on his side. He tugs her back against his plastron and tosses a warm blanket over her, "Don't be nervous. Now that we're alone, I want to hear all about Yuki the hatchling. I want to take my time with you, do things right." He caresses his thumb along her cheek, her look of pure love making his heart melt.

"Well… I was perfect in every way, at least in the council. Outside of the council, I played a lot of games with my elite guards; they quickly became my aunts and uncles, like Sarrok and Cheriss…"

End