Author's note: I don't own Dragon Quest VIII. This will not be completely to canon long term.
The Missing Princess
Chapter 10: Revelations
Eltrio blinked as his son's words sunk into him, it just couldn't be possible though… She had been gone far too long! Melody stayed still as she looked down at her lap, unsure of what to do or to say. However the queen blinked as the matter registered with her. It had just been far too long; it couldn't be possible that her daughter has come back to her. "It just can't be Draco. It has to been too long. Besides, her hair would have been brown, not red."
Airlia shook her head, "No, my hair is naturally a different color. It was a temporary dye that we used in Ascantha to hide me a little more from my former 'parents.' I overheard that them mention while I was grabbing herbs from the outside garden that they couldn't go to town anymore, that people were still looking for 'her.'"
Eltrio collapsed to his knees – something about her told him she wasn't lying – sobbing. He couldn't believe after all this time she had finally found her way home, his heart refused to let go.
Xia looked at her, seemingly remembering something. "There's only one way to know. Show me the back of your neck."
Airlia nodded and turned, lifting the back of her hair to reveal a small crescent mark. Xia gasped and fell to the ground… Or at least she would have if Draco hadn't caught her. Airlia blinked as she remembered the dream the Goddess had given her… These were the ones in the mist!
Eltrio was barely aware of his wife fainting as he looked up at her, "It really is you, isn't it?"
She nodded, "At least according to the dream where I was approached by the Goddess…"
Eltrio nodded as he murmured, "That explains why she wanted to see your neck. I thought about your birth every day, trying to remember any distinguishing marks and I couldn't… Then one day recently the Goddess came to us in a dream, saying she gave you a small crescent mark on the back of your neck so we could identify you. Goddess, I almost gave up… and in a way I think I did. Mothers never want to give up, but Airlia it's been so long…"
The princess nodded understandingly. "I know… but if not for the fact of what had transpired at my home, I might still be there, might still be missing… Still, when I ran, I found Maella Abbey because I couldn't run any further after hurting my ankle. Marcello took me in to help me with my injury, and then safely got me to Peregrin Quay where I crossed the ocean and found Alistair heading to the tower…"
Eltrio gaped at his missing daughter, so sad that she had suffered such a nightmare. When they were done Eltrio looked over at Marcello, "Thank you for saving my daughter. Each and every time that you have saved her…"
The dark haired man bowed, masking his unease of the king thanking him. He merely preferred to think of it as being thanked from the father's perspective. To him kings and queens were still useless, though he had slightly changed his view on princes only because of Draco.
The man had done more for his kingdom by going after a murderer, and looking for his sister himself. The thought made him go back to Angelo. The former Templar hadn't seemed to be all over the princess, so perhaps he was starting to change as Marcello had hoped the blond would. So perhaps… just perhaps… the prince was having the positive influence on his half-brother.
Pushing the thoughts away, "It was my pleasure and honor. They had changed her name at first obviously, calling her Serena. When she went to go north away from them, she decided on a name change to go by the name of Melody to hide further from her 'parents.'" He used the word loosely and a bit sarcastically.
Eltrio smiled at his daughter while Xia started to awaken. "Draco? Did I dream it all?"
Draco merely smiled and shook his head while the queen turned to see her daughter standing there meekly and smiled widely. "I'm so glad, so glad you're back with us Airlia. I had prayed so long and so hard to have you returned to us."
They quickly left the inner walls as Marcello bowed, "I apologize, but I have matters I must attend to at Savella. It seems Abbot Francisco is worried that one of the targets of that man's wrath is the Lord High Priest, Calchas. I'll also be able to tell him the princess has been found at long last."
King Eltrio nodded, "Please and with my thanks again Marcello. Truly, I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't been around to help my daughter. If you ever need anything, you merely need to let me know. If you ever come to my kingdom, you won't need to worry for anything as we'll take care of you Marcello."
The dark haired man nodded with a small blush. He wasn't used to being lavished over, but it was understandable as to why. "I was just honored to have been able to help Your Majesty."
The dark haired man bowed before leaving as they walked back to the main isle that the vendors were on. Draco excused himself for a moment and walked over to the hooded man. "I've kept a lid on Trodain and yourself, saying that you were almost murdered by Dhoulmagus while he was going to Farebury. I didn't give you a name, so I'd recommend going by the name Donovan to keep a lid on who you really are. She can continue to go by the name of Medea, saying you named her after the princess since the mare was so beautiful, just like her."
Trode nodded, "Right, I'll go introduce myself now. You think we'll be able to get a ride to the western continent?"
Draco nodded, "I certainly do."
They walked back over to the growing group as Trode nodded to the king and queen, "My name is Donovan. And this is Medea. Named her after the princess because of how beautiful the horse is."
Eltrio and Xia nodded, "Welcome Donovan. And yes that mare is quite beautiful. Would you like to come with us to Argonia?"
Trode nodded happily, "I would like that very much."
The group swiftly departed for the slim but long ship. Eltrio smiled when he saw his daughter standing at the rail, eagerly looking for the edge of the continent. However something tickled his mind about this whole mess. There was more to the jester carrying that scepter as he recalled his seer's last words. His eyes widening, "Draco, I need you to go onwards to Golding's mansion immediately! He's in trouble son!"
The prince turned around, "Golding? But are you sure?"
Eltrio nodded, "Yes Draco. The man's going after the sage descendants if I'm right. Golding, Master Rylus, Abbot Francisco, Calchas, and Alistair. There's another two, but I'm not sure who they are."
Draco nodded as he gathered everyone together and sped them off to Baccarat to hopefully save the man's life. When they arrived, they immediately saw the town on the hill, overlooking the rest of the land. Going up the stairs, they saw a guard whom smiled when he saw Draco. "Welcome prince! Golding is at his mansion if you're looking for him currently."
Airlia stepped up, "Has a jester come by yet?"
The soldier nodded, "He has only just arrived and is heading towards the mansion I believe."
The group needed no further prompting as they took off with Trode remaining at the edge of town. He wove them around people milling about, going to the mansion in the far corner of town before he threw the gate open. A knight came around to see them. "Prince! Golding is in trouble I fear. I tried to stop the jester but he merely froze me!"
Draco nodded, "I know, where did he go?"
The knight spoke again, "Upstairs to Golding's room. Hurry!"
The group burst into the house. Draco led them swiftly to the left and into the main room where there were stairs leading up to the second floor. He led them to a large bedroom where Golding was squaring off with Dhoulmagus. Draco saw red as he lunged at the mage who threw the scepter to try and kill the man in charge of the gaming town. Airlia moved swiftly to try and push Golding out of the way as Dhoulmagus hissed, "You! You should be dead! Why won't you die you stupid bitch?!"
The princess didn't respond, as the scepter landed in the strongman's upper shoulder. He screamed in agony while Airlia ripped it out of him before it could do more harm to the stocky fighter. When it was flung away, the evil mage screamed angrily. "You have interfered with me long enough brats." He sent a nightmarish wave of darkness that enveloped each of their minds as he went to try and finish off the man.
Jessica growled, she couldn't see, but she listened and knew where the man was as she flung a fireball at him, sending him backwards. Swearing an oath he left as the magic eventually wore away, leaving Golding weak and barely alive as the princess ran to him and began to focus her magic once more. She kept repeating the magic, even as her head swam with darkness of using her magic too much. Finally he opened his eyes as he groaned. "Damn! He broke the seal of my ancestors!" Turning his head, he saw the girl who was weakened from the magic usage.
Seeing the prince, hit him as to who the girl was as he shouted out, "Bring the magic water now!"
A woman came running to him with long green hair that was bound with a clip at the base of her neck. "Father? Are you alright?"
He saw his daughter and smiled, "Did you bring the water?" When she held a vial, he turned to the girl and reclined her in his arms. "Carrie, gently allow the water to slide down her throat. I'll coax it."
They worked together to restore her magical energies, which helped her to wake up. She opened her eyes as she took in the sight, feeling a bit odd at a man taking care of her like that as the memories hit her of the past few minutes. When she was finally able to sit up on her own, the woman dressed in red, black and gold smiled. "I'm glad you're okay." She directed her attention to Golding, "Father what happened?"
He sighed, "That jester. The one I told you and your brother to hide away from… He tried to kill me. He only failed because of our friends here. I recognize the prince, but not this young woman nor his comrades."
Draco explained everything, including finding his sister at long last. When he mentioned she was the princess, Golding paled. "So your family has been lucky enough to have her return then?"
Airlia nodded, "Yes. Seems that my brother never gave up looking for me. His reasoning was that if no one has seen me on this continent, then it has to be the eastern continent. No one can simply 'vanish' without a trace."
Golding nodded, "Come with me, all of you. I intend to repay you for your kindness in saving my life."
He led them outside where a man with short blue hair wearing a similar outfit to the girl was. "Cash, Carrie, meet the long time missing princess of Argonia, Airlia. My dear, these are my children."
The group exchanged pleasantries before Cash supplied, "Father, I've sent our men after the jester; hopefully they can stop him before he tries to kill another person."
Golding nodded in agreement. "I sure hope so Cash. But he's strong, so we're going to take our friends here down to the Casino and give them prizes out of the trade in area. I'm sure something there can help us."
The trio led the group outside of the mansion and to a large building that took over most of the western part of town. A large lit sign above it said, 'casino.' Going inside, he escorted them to a petite blonde behind a counter marked 'Prize Exchange.' Golding gave her a small smile. "We have much to celebrate right now. Did we get anything special into stock?"
She nodded, "Yes actually. We got this beautiful silver blue shimmering gown, we still have those liquid metal armors, oh and we got some swords of the same metal!"
Golding nodded, "Who can use swords among you?" When three men raised their hands, he nodded, "Four of those armors, three swords, two shimmering gown, one in the blue and one in the standard color, and two whips I think should do it nicely. Oh and my ancestor's axe. It would do well for this stocky lad with them." He chuckled while Yangus turned to him, eyes blazing.
"OI, I'm no lad!" Yangus challenged while Golding nodded.
"Aye yer not, but yer a lad in comparison to me and my age." Golding responded with a chuckle while Yangus shook his head in defeat.
When they were given the equipment, Golding handed Yangus the strong and broad axe. "This was my ancestor's axe. They call it the conqueror's axe as he used it to conquer his foes. Use it well to dispatch the jester before he can kill more people." He turned back to the woman, "Do we have plenty of that magic water dear?"
She nodded, "Yes. How many would you like?"
He handed her a leather sack, "Fill it with as many as you can. The girl uses a lot of magical energy all at once. It would be beneficial to her to have these on hand at any given time."
The woman managed to fill the sack with a few left over as Golding nodded. He would have to order his supplies later, but it was worth it to aid the young woman who had saved his life. Handing her the sack, he smiled. "Keep some with you always and you will be okay."
She blushed as she accepted it with a small nod, "Thank you Golding. It was very kind of you to help me like that. I'm just glad I could help save your life."
They left the casino as the Golding family came out to watch them depart. When they left the town, they hurried to Trode. Draco smiled, "I got there in time. Now let's go see Melampus. We have to see if we can reverse the curse."
Airlia merely remained silent, promising that the curse will be broken, and they could be revived.
They walked east from the exit of Baccarat, moving their way until they found the sign to direct them south and then east towards the spring. The trip took them through the hills and the valley between the mountains before they came to the last clearing. Airlia put a hand to her head; something about the area was affecting her as she gripped the edge of the wagon for a moment. The feeling left her as they rounded the small hut just before the sacred spring. They found a sage at the spring, dressed in purple with long snow white hair tied into two pigtails. He was leaning on his staff as he grinned. "Welcome Prince, it has been a long time… And I see that we have our young princess returned to us at last!"
Everyone gaped as the sage chuckled. "I lost my sight long ago, but her presence was so similar to her brother's that it is unmistakable. Have you been home yet? I don't believe your parents are back from their pilgrimage yet."
Draco spoke, "We saw them in Neos, but we had to go to Baccarat when father figured out who the next target was. However, I'm here about my fiancée and her father. They were cursed by the jester, but since the magic circle protected them I had hoped the mystical spring reverse their curses."
Melampus frowned, he could see the king and another princess, but something was obviously wrong. "May I examine the princess?"
Trode nodded, "Of course. Medea it'll be okay my dear."
The sage walked over as he examined and gaped, "My word… Here is her mane, her long neck, her shoulders, her tail…" Medea let out a soft whinny as he nodded, "Good heavens! He turned her into a horse! How terrible!"
They quickly unhitched her from the wagon before Draco led her to the water. "My love, drink from this spring. It may be enough to break the curse." She knelt down and drank greedily of the cool water. It had been refreshing after a journey over older grass and dirty water. Even the water in the barrel wasn't perfect, but it helped to quench their thirst when they were in areas without water, so it had to be rationed.
After a moment, she began to glow as she whinnied in alarm. Standing, she glowed so brightly that everyone had to shield their eyes. When she stopped glowing, she was human once more. She looked down at her hands and grinned in joy. "Father! Father look! I've become human once more!"
Everyone merely gaped at the beautiful princess, Airlia burning the image into her mind of the fiancée of her brother. Long brown hair and beautiful sapphire blue eyes. She wore a white and red gown with a blue cloak. The princess however, began to worry. "Am I dreaming this? Or is this some new trickery? Father, please say something… anything…"
Trode smiled as his eyes watered. "No my dear… I was just happy to see you've become human once more. You're so beautiful my Medea, just like your mother. Now it's time I restored my visage to my former glory!"
Trode walked over to the water as Medea ran to Draco and hugged him tightly. Her joy at being human once more was both visible and palpable. She wept for the emotions she had first harbored to the princess as she spoke to both of the royal children of Argonia. "I'm sorry for my sour attitude towards Airlia originally. I didn't know… I just worried that you were out to win a prince, even though you made it clear originally to my father. Then I was afraid you'd hate me because of the curse and how it hurts him so."
Draco chuckled as he kissed her brow, "You're so perfect to me my love. If you hadn't felt something like jealousy, I would begin to wonder if you were even real."