This chapter was fun if only for how I wrote the battle. As much as it sucked in-game I actually really liked writing it. Enjoy!
The three outside had been standing around, not making much conversation as they waited. The flash was just what they needed to stir things up. They jumped a mile off the ground as it caught their attention. "What was that noise!?" Haschel spun around.
Meru was faster, sprinting inside to see for herself. Her mouth fell agape and eyes grew wide when she saw an empty room. "There's nobody here!" She turned back around to stare in blank shock at Haschel.
Haschel returned her look, worry swelling in the pit of his stomach.
As the group had been snatched up, they'd felt their bodies literally disappear from their sights. Only now did they finally reappear, but it was not where they had been before. This place was nothing like before, not even the round piece of floor they stood on seemed to fit.
As Dart looked around he saw many stars of varying sizes littered the air and some even splotched against the brown and teal walls. But could they really be called walls? He also noticed as he looked down that there was a twisted mess of colors far below. And it gave a horrible nauseating feeling. "Where are we…?" He managed to squeeze out, backing away from the edge.
"Forget that!" Albert was overwhelmed with the same dizzying feeling as Dart. "How on earth did we get here!? What happened!?"
Rose walked coolly over to the edge and bent down on one knee to stare down at the area below.
"Rose!" Dart cried, eyes wide. "Be careful!" He had a really bad feeling about whatever was down there.
Roe ignored him. "It seems a magical space was created in the painting." She nodded to herself, standing back up to ease Dart's mind. "It seems peculiar."
"Is this really magic?" Shana squeaked, eyes wide in intrigue.
"Dart!" A voice that seemed far away called out. It sounded like Meru. "Where are you!?"
Dart swirled around as if he had to face the direction of the voice for them to hear. "We are in the painting!" He cried back with his hands cupped around his mouth.
Meru perked, running over to the painting. "Haschel!" She chirped, pointing. "They must be talking about this!"
Albert jumped as he imagined the first thing Meru would do. "Don't touch the painting!" He yelped frantically, waving his arms even though he knew they would not see. "It seems to be linked to the world over here!"
"Got it!" They both cried in unison, going back out to stand with Kongol.
Dart slowly turned back around, eyes alighting on the other side of the strange magical space. "Hey! Look!" He pointed with enthusiasm, happy to be the one to find Princess Emille.
Far from them she sat in a chair, eyes closed and breathing normal as she lived in a never ending dream of her own creation. She wore the exact same dress as the fake Emille, proving how perfect the liar's image was.
"Emille!" Lisa gasped in sheer joy as she rushed forward. "Sister Emille!"
Dart jumped in front of her, arms stretched out as far as they could to insure she didn't slip by. "It is too dangerous." He insisted.
Albert stared over Dart's shoulder, an infatuated look coming to him. "Oh…" he sighed. "She is Princess Emille."
Rose bent down again in order to make double sure. "Yes, it is linked with a different dimension." She breathed, staring with unease into its depths. "It is too dangerous to jump over."
Albert's hands clenched into tight fists, body quaking. "Ahhh!" He groaned. "She is right in front of us!" He shut his eyes tight to calm himself. "How can we…?"
They all stood contemplation, tapping their feet, chins, crossing their arms, and whatever other pose they saw fit.
Dart was the only one who took to pacing back and forth across the tiny space they had. "God, what to do. We're running out of time!" He moaned in outrage as he slammed his fist into the wall, something clicking.
Everyone swirled around as the click came clear to them. A ball of light emerged from the section of the wall he hit and swirled around all about them before it went to the center of the pit separating them from Princess Emille. It circled there a few times before it spread out into a decorated walkway meant for one, creating the perfect path.
Dart's face lit up instantly. "We can cross now!" He pumped his fist.
Albert brightened just as much if not more than Dart, sprinting forward and across the bridge. "Princess Emille!" He cried in an almost laughing tone.
Lisa was right at his heels. "Sister! Sister!" She laughed, going to the opposite side of her as Albert. "Sister Emille!" He smile fell some as Emille remained unmoving. "Please wake up!" She cried with more desperation as she shook Emille roughly.
All but Rose were now at the other side with them, staring hopefully from Lisa back to Emille.
Lisa backed away, hanging her head. "I can't wake her." She sighed, shaking her head slowly.
Albert stepped up. "Let me do it!" He insisted, hitting his chest. "Princess Emille! Wake up!" He practically screamed at the top of his lungs. "Wake up at once or something irrevocable will happen to Tiberoa!"
Emille's body flickered between a bright color that made her seem normal and a darker one which she had had while deep in sleep. "Ah…Ahh…" She grumbled, the feeling returning to her limbs and allowing her to rub at her eyes.
"Oh Emille!" Lisa squealed, jumping at her and wrapping her arms around her sister's neck with all the love in the world. "I'm so happy…"
Emille grunted as she was nearly knocked from her seat by Lisa. "Lisa…?" She muttered in confused questioning, hugging her back briefly.
Lisa pulled away, whole face shining like never before. There were tears in her eyes too, but they were a signal of nothing less than overwhelming emotion.
Emille noticed the other three then. "Oh! And you are?" She glanced up and around her as the words passed her lips, starting as she realized where she was. "Where…am I?"
Lisa wiped the tears away and straightened up, remembering the severity of the situation. "You have been sleeping for the past six months since we went for a horseback ride, sister!" She quickly explained, almost unsure if her words were understandable.
Emille's mouth went agape. "A half year!?" Her brows furrowed deep down on her head. "I was sleeping…the half year since the horseback ride." She dissected this piece of information carefully, the full effect of it slamming down on her after a minute. "What about the coming of age ceremony!? Yes! What about the Moon Dagger!?" She jumped up from her seat.
Dart's expression intensified for the millionth time in the past few days, fists clenched tightly. "It's about to be passed over to another person!" He jerked his arm back behind him to point out toward it.
Emille looked with much more calmness than most would expect of her at Dart. "Can you explain that to me?" She pressed sweetly, hands clasped at her chest. "About this other person and you?"
Dart reluctantly retold the story as fast as his lips allowed. They really didn't need to waste this valuable time doing this, but he couldn't resist. She had the same charm as Shana, it was almost scary.
Emille listened intently until the story was done, nodding every so often. "I see." She sighed, lowering her head some. "It seems I've troubled you a lot due to my absence."
"It's not your fault." Albert assured her with a soft smile. "You had no control over the matter."
Emille smiled warmly back at him. "Now!" She clapped her hands together. "Let us go to the Chamber of the Sun! We have to let people know the truth."
Rose had been inspecting every aspect of this world while they were waking the Princess and found that to get to the other side one simply had to touch where the painting would have been on this side. So they were able to quickly return to their world.
"Guys!" Meru squealed as they all emerged from Emille's room. "You're back!" She enveloped Dart in a hug, not thinking much of it besides it showing how glad she was to have them all back.
Shana was a bit concerned by Meru's affections, the way she pulled at her sleeve being proof of her nerves. Still, she was thankful it wasn't Rose. Then she'd really be in trouble.
"It's good to see you again too Meru." Dart chuckled, pulling away from her. "But we have to go!"
"Right!" She threw a hand up to her head in a salute. "Yes sir!"
They sprinted down the stairs despite their exhaustion of having run around so much. Their sheer determination was enough to get them past the tiredness.
When they got back to the second balcony level the guard had returned and he immediately spotted their large group. "Hey! Who are you!?" He snapped, blowing a whistle to bring a couple of the conscious guards to him.
Princess Emille knew that she needed to handle this and thoughtlessly pushed her way to the front.
The knights started and blanched. "P-Princess Emille!?" They chuckled nervously. "Wh-Why are you here?"
Princess Emille smiled gently. "Thank you for your work." She bowed slightly. "My coming of age ceremony is still being held in the Chamber of the Sun, isn't it?"
"Ye-Yes, Your Highness!" They grinned awkwardly, running their feet in circles on the concrete.
She lifted back up straight. "Thank you." She said again, moving on down the stairs with the utmost perfection and beauty in her step.
One knight sighed in content as they all disappeared around the bend. "How graceful…"
"Yeah." The second nodded, barely registering the words being said. "There's no comparison with the fake one."
The third stared at the two as if they were stupid. "Hey!" The two snapped to attention at his harsh tone. "There is no time for this! Our plan is not working anymore!"
The two nodded fervently. "We gotta run!" They cried in unison. And they all darted away, headed for the exit of the castle and then the city. They had to get away at any cost. This was the end!
Dart wore a smug smirk as they neared the guards who had blocked them before. He could scarcely wait to rub their faces in this because now they held the free entry card.
The guard saw them and crossed his arms firmly over his chest as he moved to block them again. His eyes were narrowed into slips and lips parted to make a smart-aleck comment, but it all came crashing down as he saw Princess Emille with them – the real one. "Oh! It's Princess E-Emille." He backed up a bit.
Emille nodded, smile never faltering. "Did I make it in time for the ceremony?" She tilted her head to the side, showing her teeth in her smile now.
"Ye-Yes!" He swallowed hard, sweating instantly forming all over his body as he stepped to the side and shot into a run for the exit. The other two knights weren't far behind him.
Emille giggled softly. "Shall we go?"
In the throne room the ceremony was nearing its end, King Zior standing at the top of the stairs to the throne and Emille at the bottom. "You've been filled with twenty years of experience since you came into this world." His voice boomed, reaching every corner of the room.
Emille stood there barely paying attention to him words. She tapped her foot and crossed her arms as she looked lazily at anything but him. She just wanted this thing to be over!
"You have reached the age that deserves the succession of the Moon Dagger as an heir to the throne of Tiberoa." His grin stretched clear across his face and he brought his hands high above his head, the Moon Dagger resting in them." His eyes rested softly upon her, all the warmth of a fond parent showing. "And never forget the blessings of the sun, moon, and stars." His voice was just as gentle as his eyes.
Emille forced a smile, looking more disgusted than anything.
King Zior cleared his throat, reverting back to serious mode. "Anybody!? Are there any objections!?" He stared around coolly, brimming with pride for his daughter.
All the people gathered in the room itched to cry out, but they felt Emille's icy eyes even with her back to them. So they pressed their lips tightly together, their desires showing only through their fidgeting.
King Zior nodded firmly. "I assume this silence to be the approval of the succession."
"Wait!" Dart's sharp voice cut through the still air.
Everyone in the room started and turned to see who was foolish enough to challenge the new Princess Emille. But as the crowd's eyes alighted on the mirror image of Princess Emille in their group they all parted ways, too dumbstruck to do anything more.
The fake princess was the most taken aback by this turn of events as she stared into the eyes of her carbon copy.
"I have an objection to the succession!" The real Emille shouted, the faintest traces of a scowl on her face.
King Zior felt his head spin in dizzying circles at this revelation. "Oh my god." He gasped, eyes bulging from his head. "There are two Emilles!?" He held his head to try and soothe it.
The fake Emille slowly backed away, knowing she was caught in her lies. But she wouldn't lose this! She couldn't! In the blink of an eye she leapt over the stairs, swiped the dagger rom King Zior's hands, and was over by the balcony.
"The Moon Dagger!" King Zior cried, reaching uselessly out. Immense anger flashed over his face soon after. "What is going on!?" He demanded.
"King Zior!" Dart growled fiercely. "That girl is a fake!" He slung his arm to point at her.
King Zior stared with uncertainty at the Emille by Dart.
"It's true." Emille nodded. "I have been put into a sleep for the last half year. And during that time it seems this person was making a variety of social missteps." She shot daggers at the woman.
Zior couldn't find his voice. All he could do was stare at his two daughters.
"Father!" Lisa took her turn. "That woman was going to take over Tiberoa by forming a conspiracy with the Gehrich Gang!" She hoped this would snap him out of it.
King Zior's hands shot to his mouth. "Oh my god!" He gasped.
"Humph!" The fake Emille snorted. "I guess you found out about everything." She sneered in mock congratulations. "But don't ya think it's too late? I got this in my hand." She waved the dagger.
Dart snorted loudly and drew his sword out. "Look around yourself." He gave a one syllable laugh, shaking his head.
All his friends gathered tightly around her with their weapon of choice at the ready, anger evident in all their eyes.
The fake Emille grinned wickedly. "You think I'm cornered, huh?"
Dart's grip strengthened on his sword, a fire dancing in his eyes. "Who are you!?" He snarled, teeth bared.
The fake Emille crossed her arms and turned her body so her profile was facing them. "I guess I can't run in this stuffy dress." She giggled evilly. "This will be a treat!" She shined in anticipation, grabbing an amulet hanging around her neck. "Let me show ya my true self!"
Dart jumped, taking a huge step back as he was blinded by the immense light that burst forth from the amulet.
The woman beneath the guise was nothing like who she pretended to be. Her hair was silver, sticking out on both sides of her face from underneath a red bandana, her shirt split down the middle with only thin bands of fabric connecting the two sides, and she no longer had a petite figure. She appeared strong and capable of taking anyone down.
Everyone in the room started, eyes wide as could be.
She grinned. "Surprised, huh?" A sinister laugh passed her lips. "This is the true self of Miss Lenus!" She threw her arms in the air.
"Princess Emille!" Albert cried. "Please leave the room with the king and Princess Lisa!" He pointed behind himself.
Lisa and the king hurried out, in no way opposed to running from this. Emille took a little longer. She made small slow steps on her way out, staring fearfully at Albert.
"Go!" Albert insisted.
Emille jumped, nodding swiftly before running on after her sister and father.
Once they were gone Dart addressed her with absolutely no worry for any repercussions. "The Gehrich Gang has fallen apart!" He snarled. "Give us the Moon Dagger!"
"The only chance you have is to give up." Albert quipped, moving his javelin closer to her in threat.
Lenus gave a one syllable laugh. "A girl in love doesn't know the meaning of the words 'give up'!" She took her focus off of them to inspect the dagger and move it through her fingers for a moment. "Besides, I have managed to get this for my love. I won't give this up so easily!" She shoved the dagger in her pocket.
Rose's lips pulled back in a snarl. "I'm sorry." She said in mock apology. "But you don't have time to be in love anymore." A pause. "Because you will die here!"
"Interesting." She nodded, taking an offensive pose. "Why don't you try!?"
Dart sprang forward, sword raised to bring down on her and end it all in one swift move.
Lenus grinned mischievously, a faint snicker dancing in the air. "Fool." She bounced lightly, moving her hands in a strange manner before thrusting her arms forward and releasing a powerful energy.
Dart sucked in a sharp breath as he saw the black energy speeding toward him, but he was too close to do anything else. It hit him straight on, knocking the breath out of him as he slammed into the opposite wall.
"Dart!" Shana screamed, forgetting about the battle at hand to rush to him.
Rose gritted her teeth and shook with fury, springing into action.
Lenus jerked around to face her, throwing a ball of burning energy her way.
Rose jumped up over it, slicing her stiletto through the air at Lenus.
Lenus leapt back and slung another powerful blast at her before either of them touched down on the ground.
Rose started, trying to twist herself out of the way. To no avail. The blast slapped into her arm, hitting her so hard she flipped backward in the air and continued to tumble even as she smacked the ground.
Lenus cackled, lifting her head high into the air.
Albert and Meru went at her from opposite sides, her hammer posed high above her head and his javelin held horizontal to his side.
Lenus moved with blinding speed, shooting out a blast of ice at Albert and then a rock blast at Meru before either had a chance to get at her.
Albert was hit all over with the shards, a stabbing pain coursing through his body with every hit. But he shakily managed to throw his javelin despite the agony he was in as he stumbled and sank to his knees.
Lenus easily stepped out of the way, laughing at his lame attempt.
Meru deflected the rocks with her hammer, the pieces clattering as they fell to the ground. "You have to do better than that!" Meru growled, slinging her hammer with all her might.
Lenus spun with all the grace in the world to get herself out of the way of the blow, shooting a single shard of ice from her hand at the end of the twirl.
Meru shattered it just like the rocks and wildly swung her hammer around again.
Lenus leapt round like crazy to stay out of the way, but she could tell this girl wasn't going to be shaken.
Meru gave her hammer an extra powerful swing, eyes narrowed into slits.
Lenus yelped loudly, hearing and feeling the sickening snap of a bone in her arm. She stumbled some, glaring heatedly up at Meru as she held her arm tenderly.
Haschel came up behind Lenus, aiming to smack her in the neck like he'd done to all the knights.
Lenus's eyes snapped back as her finely tuned ears caught the sound of his footsteps. She just as quickly snapped her good arm back and latched onto his incoming fist.
Haschel started, eyes wide.
Lenus smiled smugly despite her agony, reaching with her damaged arm to grab a rectangular object from her side. Upon her touch it instantly transformed. From each side came a curved end, turning it into a sharp boomerang. She swiftly brought it across his stomach, slicing a deep gash into it.
Haschel sucked in a sharp breath, grasping at the wound as he pulled as hard as he could to free himself from her.
Lenus snorted, thrusting him back. She then jerked herself around just in time to catch Meru's hammer on the center piece of her boomerang like weapon.
Meru shoved for dominance, struggling for once.
Lenus lifted her broken arm with immense aching up to where her open palm faced Meru's head. "You may be better than the rest." She hissed, bending in closer. "But no one is better than me." A stream of ice flew from her palm and wrapped itself around Meru.
Meru tried to jump away, knowing what was happening. But she was already ensnared by it, the energy coating her whole body in a thick layer ice.
"Meru!" Haschel cried from his bent over position, eyes wide and filled with fright.
Meru's frozen body toppled over, clinking faintly.
Kongol came in from the side, his pounding footsteps a dead giveaway to his position.
Lenus did a one-handed cartwheel around Kongol, flipping out of it with her hands at the ready. He was too strong for normal attacks, all Gigantos were, but by using her speed and all her magical energy she was sure she could take him down.
Kongol tried to turn around, but was far too slow. So as he moved he swung his ax around to his back.
Lenus let out a breath. Her eyes opened wide and a small scream fell from her lips as she felt a bludgeon to her shoulder and the bone crack. Still, she still managed to blast him with a stream of fire, darkness, and ice despite her body's immense strain from the pressure the combo created on her.
Even Kongol was thrown forward from the sheer force of the blow. Blood dripped from the scattered marks on his back that managed to break through the skin.
Shana shook Dart's body roughly, tears welling in her eyes. "Dart! Dart! Get up!" Her eyes left him to scan over her other friends briefly, horrorstruck by what was becoming of them. "You have to save us!"
Haschel ran awkwardly at Lenus, fist reared back. "Hey!"
Lenus turned lazily around, not expecting much.
Haschel launched his fist at her the second he saw her moving to face him, hoping for the perfect hit.
Lenus unintentionally walked right into his plan. She turned just in time to receive the full force of his fist in her face.
"That's it!" She snapped, shooting flames from her hands.
The flame engulfed Haschel and caused him to fall down on the ground, agonized screams ripping from his throat as he rolled frantically.
Lenus wiped her hands together, chuckling in satisfaction. "Now." She whipped around to where Shana knelt by Dart. "Looks like you're all that's left." She took slow deliberate steps toward her.
Shana released Dart, fumbling with her bow and arrow. "Dart…" She whined before finally getting an arrow off.
Lenus burnt the arrow to a crisp before it came anywhere near her. "You're the weak one then, right?" She teased, eyes gleaming devilishly. "You'd be a good hostage."
Shana cowered, pulling Dart up near her and holding him tightly. "W-We'll beat you."
Lenus burst out laughing. "You? Beat me? Look around you!" She spread her good arm out wide. "There's no one left!"
Shana reached her shaking hands over and grabbed Dart's sword, nearly falling over from the weight. "I-I'm still here!" Shana insisted, pointing the sword at her.
Lenus smirked wickedly. "Alright then." She nodded, extending her arms palm forward. "Let's see you beat this." She shot a streak of lightening out.
Shana cringed and shut her eyes tight, preparing for impact. When a loud crack issued forth she even made a noise appropriate for being struck. But there was no pain.
Lenus made a face. "What!?" She yelled.
Shana tentatively opened her eyes, a small smile gracing her lips as she saw both herself and Dart surrounded by a pure white barrier.
"Cocky bitch." A strained voice came from behind Lenus.
Lenus jumped, swirling around to strike down whoever it was.
Rose staggered forward, skin burnt from the fire and eyes darker than Shana thought she'd ever seen them. "You should never turn your back on an enemy."
"Rose!" Shana cried, fear etched across her face. She didn't care how strong Rose was, she looked in awful shape. Not even she could fight like this.
Rose shot a ball of dark energy from her hands, but the source was not the same as Lenus's power.
Lenus sidestepped and lunged at her. She knocked her hard in the side of her head and kicked her in the gut.
Rose hit the floor hard, a groan escaping her lips.
Lenus put her foot down on Rose's face, pressing hard. "If there were an enemy here, I'd be worried. But fortunately none of you are any match at all."
Shana felt her body overflow with energy due to the fear mingled with rare anger and she stood trembling to her feet. "She didn't mean herself." Shana hissed, expression wiped of any feeling.
Lenus cocked her head back. "What?"
She dropped Dart's sword and lifted her bow with a new arrow up even with Lenus's chest. "She meant me!" She released her arrow, the force of her Dragoon energy propelling it with amazing speed and strength.
The arrow stabbed Lenus deep in the chest and sent her spinning through the air to land roughly on the floor ten feet from her previous spot.
Shana had never felt such sensations. It was like she was light as a feather and strong as Rose if not more so. "Had enough?" Her voice, however, sounded strange to her. "Or am I not an equal fighter?"
Lenus stumbled to her feet, reaching for another object dangling from her neck.
Shana shot another arrow, knocking her hand away from the object. "Now hand over the Moon Dagger." She ordered in the same unfamiliar tone. "Or next time it'll be fatal."
Lenus's stunned expression suddenly vanished, transforming into amusement as she lifted her head and cackled.
Haschel had finally put the fire out and was crawling toward Lenus. "Gehrich is already dead." He squeezed out.
Lenus looked back over her shoulder. "Gehrich?" She grinned widely. "HA! I didn't care about the man from the beginning!" She brought a leg forward and swung it back to kick him in the jaw.
Haschel stifled a moan and brought a hand to his face.
"Besides…!" She brought the dagger back from her pocket and stared wistfully at it. "I told ya! I need the Moon Dagger for my love!" She held it out teasingly as she backed away.
Shana's expression intensified. The image of Lavitz allowed her to keep this newfound strength within her. "There is no way to escape!" She screamed.
"No way to escape, huh?" She chuckled, so far away she was leaning against the balcony. "Hey you over there!" She called to Meru.
Meru's head had finally thawed out, her neck down still frozen solid. But she could hear Lenus and instinctively looked over to her.
Lenus grinned in amusement. "What do you think of that!?"
Meru stared blankly up at her, voice lost to her.
Lenus snorted. "Whatever!" She shook her head. "See for yourself!" She leapt over the railing and disappeared from view. "Is there no way to escape!?"
Shana started. What!? She sprinted over to the railing to bend over it and stare.
Lenus floated back up on translucent wings, looking smugly back at Shana as she lingered a moment. "Bye now!" She waved, speeding off toward the horizon.
"W-Wait!" Shana shrieked, shooting one last arrow out at her quickly fading figure.
Lenus moaned as the arrow dug into her back and knocked her off kilter, but by that point it had lost most of its potency. So with her good hand she pulled it out right then and there, tossing it down into the ocean. Now she had but a small distance to go to get this to her love. Her wounds were nothing. All she needed was to see him smile, then she'd be alright.
"Oh no…" Albert moaned, having been watching with half opened eyes from afar. "She's a Wingly?"
Rose was back on shaky feet, stumbling over to Dart. When she reached him she simply stared for a minute. Her neutrality was quickly wiped away and anger flashed over her features as she reared back and slapped him across the face.
Dart jumped a mile, eyes shooting open instantly upon contact being made. "What the-" He stood offensively on his feet, heart skipping a beat when he realized his sword was no longer in his hand.
"Nice of you to join us again." Rose sneered, almost wanting to hit him again.
"Rose!" He cried.
Knowing that Dart was ok made her so relieved that she no longer had the strength to hold herself up. She slumped over, eyes falling shut.
Dart caught her easily, holding her in his embrace. "Rose…" He sighed, pausing a long time. "I'm sorry…." His voice was a whisper, the pang on his split head nothing compared to the pang in his heart.
The power that had run fiercely through Shana's veins left her suddenly, leaving her feeble. Her legs shook and she sank to her knees, in total shock.
Dart caught the movement with his eyes and was just as ashamed as with Rose. "Shana!" He bellowed in terror.
Shana's eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. "Dart…?" She murmured inaudibly, slowly and forcibly getting herself up and turning around.
"Are you all right!?" Dart barked, strangled by fear.
Shana nodded slowly. "Yes…but no one else is…" She said as she looked around her at all their fallen bodies.
"Hurry! Heal them!" Dart begged, running to her with Rose. "Here." He laid Rose down on the ground between them. "Do her first."
Shana felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle as he put Rose as top priority – as always. She even had her lips parted to ask why her when she saw the tears in the corner of his eyes. She was robbed of air and was given the biggest smack of her life. Seeing her like this was physically hurting him. He was hurting…and she was trying to scold him for playing favorites. What a horrible person she was. "A-Alright…" She held her hands over Rose's body, barely having to concentrate.
Dart stared intently down at Rose with his breath held. He watched as her wounds slowly closed and the burn marks ruining her skin vanished into nothingness. He couldn't stand for her to die, not like this and not ever. "Come on Rose…" He unconsciously said aloud.
It took a good five minutes, but finally Rose's eyes slowly fluttered open. She burst into a coughing fit, stray blood flying out on her chin.
"Rose!" Dart breathed in relief, about ready to cry from joy at this point. "I thought you were…"
"I'm fine." She muttered in an exhausted tone, stretching her limbs out to test them.
Dart hopped up, reaching a hand out to help her up.
Rose stared at it as if there was poison in his palm and then slowly lifted her gaze up to meet his. There was no denying she wanted this, it was pointless to deny it at this point, but it was still a dangerous game they were playing with each other. And yet it mattered little. She still laid her hand in his.
Dart pulled her up, refraining from giving her a hug. One step at a time.
"Hurry, Shana." Rose ordered. "Heal the others."
Shana nodded, keeping a wary eye on the pair as she went over to Albert.
"So…" Dart moved his foot around in a circle. "What happened?" He had never felt more embarrassed in his life.
She shrugged. "She got away. She was a Wingly." She said as if it were natural.
Dart stared at her incredulously "Really!? And she was that powerful?"
Rose snorted. "That split in your head should be proof enough of that."
Dart lifted his hand to the back of his head, the slick substance covering his hand in an instant. Only then as she mentioned it did it truly start to ache like it should. He groaned loudly, bending over.
"Shana can heal it in a minute." Rose said with unusual softness, grabbing onto his wrist. "Meanwhile, you have to unthaw one hyperactive girl."
Dart let her lead him to Meru and bent down when she did.
"Now, put your hands over top of the center of the ice." Rose pointed to what she believed to be the center.
Dart swallowed hard, trying to do as Shana did with her healing powers so easily.
It took a while, but he eventually had a small wave of heat rolling from his hands down toward the ice. The longer he kept it up the more Meru was able to move and squawk. "Hurry up!" She demanded. "I need to get out of this!"
"Shut up, Meru." Rose hissed. "Or I'll get someone to put you back in the ice."
Meru crossed her arms firmly over her chest. "Humph!" She threw head in the air superciliously.
By the time Meru was out, Shana was by Dart and healing the gash on his head. She was doing so silently.
Dart hated the silence and forced himself to break it. "Shana…" He breathed. "Are you sure you're alright?" He could never be too sure.
Shana perked. "Oh, yes." She answered dully, trying to smile.
Dart frowned deeply. "Really?" He traced his fingers in circles on the carpet. "Because you don't look too happy to me."
Shana averted her eyes. "You didn't ask if I was happy." She grumbled.
Dart's brows furrowed and he was struck hard in the heart by what she was insinuating. "Then why aren't you?" His voice dripped with concern as he looked wide eyed at her.
Shana sighed heavily. "Fighting…and losing the dagger…it all reminded me of Lavitz." She admitted shamefully, hanging her head.
Dart grimaced, a defeated sigh escaping him. "I know." He reached out and laid a hand atop her free one.
Shana's eyes widened and she sucked in a soft breath, her heart nearly stopping.
"But we'll stop this." Dart said through gritted teeth, tone fierce. "I swear."
Shana managed a tiny smile, insides fluttering around wildly. "But what will come next?" She thought out loud.
Dart was caught a bit off guard by her comment, but he quickly hid it. "I don't know…" He admitted, shaking his head. "But I hope that whatever it is, you're happy."
Shana grinned. "You too." She took her hand from his head and placed it on top of his hand.
Dart took her hands and brought her up into a standing position with him, a warm smile plastered on his face as he stared deep into her beautiful eyes.
"So…she was a Wingly." Haschel sighed as he walked to them at the center of the room, shaking his head. "Figures."
Dart let go of Shana's hands and let his arms fall back to his side.
Rose nodded stiffly, taking her place by Dart. "The species that dominated the bygone world." She gazed back out of the open area Lenus jumped from, trying to recall some clue that could have let them know what she was before she trounced them. "She's a survivor."
"And man was she mean!" Meru cried, fists trembling before her. "I've never seen so strong a person!"
Kongol lumbered over. "She who Gigantos fear."
"And if a Giganto is afraid of them, then they are definitely dangerous." Albert noted, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders.
King Zior had been watching for a while and had seen Lenus take off. Only now did he choose to walk into the room and speak. "People of magic who run across the sky with wings." He recited from something he'd seen once.
Everyone turned their heads to look at him curiously.
"Was she here to take it back from humans…?" He wondered aloud, staring worriedly back into their eyes. Who knew anything anymore? For all they knew, what they'd been chasing was a lie.
...
Hours later the mess created in the throne room had been cleaned up and the king and his two daughters were sitting back in their seats, almost as if nothing had happened. The only change was that many secrets had been spilled.
"You are the King of Serdio, Albert!" King Zior's voice boomed over them all. "Why did you take such a risk?"
Albert smiled lamely. "It might be self-gratification." He shrugged. "However, I would like to settle my friend's old score, with my own hands." He took in a deep breath as he forced himself to continue. "We are pursuing a man who manipulated the war in Serdio from behind the scenes. My…my friend was killed by that man."
Princess Emille and Lisa covered their mouths with their hands, pity showing through their eyes.
"At the same time, the Moon Gem, which belonged to Serdio, was taken away." He shook his head, hating the memories that came with this tale. "We have different reasons…" He motioned to all of his friends. "…but we are all linked to that man. And so we are here."
"You said the Moon Gem?" King Zior raised a brow, leaning forward in his seat. "It is a legacy of the Winglies, isn't it?"
Albert nodded grimly.
Dart stepped forward. "Could you please tell us about the Moon Dagger, Your Majesty?" He asked wide eyed.
Shana seamlessly moved up with Dart, letting her hand linger behind his as an offer. She knew men preferred to appear strong in many cases, so she didn't push it.
Dart felt the heat from her hand behind his and thoughtlessly took her hand in his. She gave him strength, more so than anyone else. And he needed that now.
King Zior stood. "It was after the Dragon Campaign." He began. "Humans defeated the Winglies and built Serdio, Tiberoa and Mille Seseau." He illustrated with his hands. "They say the few surviving Winglies then sent a divine objet of the moon as proof of peace to the three countries."
They could all just imagine such an occurrence, the scene playing out in their heads as his words filled their minds. It sounded like a perfect end. Yet nothing ever stayed perfect.
Zior sighed sadly. "That's all I know about the legend."
Albert smiled faintly. "We have the same legend in my country." His tone showed traces of excitement. "But…what is dangerous is that we humans don't know what the divine moon objects are for." He pictured mass chaos and shuddered.
Dart tensed, face contorted in a mixture of emotions. "You mean the Winglies know everything and formed this entire conspiracy?" His hold on Shana tightened as his fear rose.
Emille stood suddenly, looking in uncertainly from Albert to her father. "Father." She clasped her hands at her chest, her voice overflowing with worry.
King Zior looked to her, brows raised.
"We have to take the Moon Dagger back!" She insisted, turning to stare fearfully out to sea and allowed her arms to fall back to her side. "We must hurry before the stars that have beheld Tiberoa are lost in a shadow!"
King Zior nodded firmly, his gaze returning to Dart and the others. "It seems that the girl of the Winglies got away to Illisa Bay." He finally revealed, having learned so from a loyal knight minutes before they'd settled down to talk.
"Then we must follow her!" Dart barked, fist trembling before him.
Rose raised a brow and turned her head lazily toward him. "How? We can't cross the sea."
King Zior's face lit up. "It is time for an appearance by Commodore Puler!" He cried, lifting his arms into the air. "I will send the most powerful warship that Tiberoa has – the Queen Fury!"
Shana's eyes shined. She had never been on a boat. She sure hoped he meant for them to come aboard.
"Wow! On a ship!? In the sea!?" Meru exclaimed, bouncing up and down. "How fun!"
King Zior laughed heartily. "Of course you are more than welcome to be on the boat." He reassured.
Dart bowed his head some. "I appreciate it, Your Majesty."
King Zior beamed. "It was the first time I'd seen a Wingly." He muttered absently, his smile falling. "But they seem to be beyond our power." A flash of the way the room had looked before came to him and he shuddered. "So…we might need your help."
Emille snapped out of her trance on the sea and walked gracefully down the stairs. She stopped as she came to Albert, her hands clasped at her chest and eyes shining with admiration and love. "Please take care of yourselves." But they all knew she spoke only to Albert, he was her primary concern.
Albert smiled warmly back at her, reaching out to take her hands in his. "Don't worry. I'll return to you." He swore, never wanting to let go.
I never liked that Lenus's powers were unexplained. I don't believe I mention it here, but there's a reason for her powers. It's revealed later on. So look forward to that. Anyway, what did you think of it? Please review!
And next up is the Queen Fury! Whoo! I loved that part of the game. This whole upcoming arc is a blast. :D