It had been two months since Maria and her group defeated Taka and had been asked to go to the front lines to help defeat the Shadow Knight. Maria sighed as she readjusted the mirror-assassin's armor she wore, the black and blue fitting nicely and it defiantly resembled her connection to the Cube. Her and Akane, her other Envoy friend aside from Abaddon, had matching outfits, it's just where it was blue on Maria, it was red on Akane, matching Akane's eyes. Maria looked at her group and smiled; seeing everyone ready themselves to depart back to Vulture's Vale. Darius was fixing his advance-futuristic armor, making sure it wasn't too tight, before he grabbed his new canon and strapped it to his back. Looking at Lilliana, the young girl groaned as she fixed her vest to her wind-runner outfit, before she strung her bow a few times.
She heard a thud behind her and turned around only to see Kavar had fallen down as he tried to get his Griffin Paladin armor over his head. She sighed and walked toward him, helping him as he lifted it again and she helped him get it on. "Heavy?" She asked with a smirk, yet he growled. "Not a word from you, it's heavier than the armor I normally wear." Kavar stated blushing in embarrassment and Maria giggled. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." Maria said, before she walked toward Sachi and sat down, watching the others ready themselves.
Luther had just finished fixing his Dragon armor, having gotten a black and blue one to replace his pure-black outfit; before he helped Akina straighten the collar on her Lava Lord armor. Looking toward Maki, she saw that Toraka was fixing the lacing to the back of Maki's Royal Vestment, her parents having sent it to her for the battle up ahead. She noticed Toraka was now wearing a gold, purple and white outfit; before she realized he was wearing the Winged Noble's outfit, something he stated was trendy in his family.
"Making sure we're ready?" A voice asked beside her and looking to her right, she saw Sataka smiling at her. "Yeah, just want to make sure we're at our best. I realize you're wearing the Dark Draconic robes." Maria observed and Sataka nodded. "Yep, my old one got ruined at Vulture's Vale, so I got this one in place of the old one. Seems to fit better though in my opinion." Sataka said, before she helped Lilliana with her outfit. Maria looked at her brother, seeing him fix the Draconic Warrior outfit her wore and it made her laugh.
The look on his face told her he was not pleased with the outfit he was wearing but he'd bear it if it kept him alive…though she knew he'd throw a fit the moment something went wrong. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and smiled as she saw Sachi, Saari and Quelkulan...now she knew why there was a purple border around the room. "Ready?" Sachi asked and Maria nodded, standing. "Yep! Let's show the Shadow Knight's army what it is we can do!" Maria shouted and they nodded. "Alright, we'll be separating into groups. I want you all to head to Vulture's Vale and help the alliance there." Maria said, shocking them.
"The Shadow Knight's army has broken through the first line of defense and we need to back them up. If things get worse there, we need to be there to make sure we retake Vulture's Vale. In the meantime me, Sachi, Saari, Quelkulan, Akane and Alessa will head to Blizzard Berg and help them. They are in desperate need of Envoy's at the moment and we've been asked directly to head to there first." Maria stated as Akane stood beside her.
"Will you be okay?" Darius asked, worry in his eyes and Maria nodded. "I'll be fine, I'm with Akane and we've been training together to do some things to surprise Reinhardt." Maria stated with a smirk, Akane giving a smirk of her own. "When you get to Vulture's Vale, you'll end up meeting Abaddon, he said he'll help you out. Seeing as he's an Envoy, they might need him there." Maria said and the group nodded. "We'll escort you to Blizzard Berg though, don't want anything happening on the way there." Darius said and Maria giggled but agreed…of course he'd worry.
Blizzard Berg: They carefully treaked the way to the camp at Blizzard Berg, knowing that the undead were running amok. Reinhardt had seemed to almost master using the Cube of Gaia and was currently using it to bring the dead back to life. They had learned he was trying to master the Cube of Gaia so he could bring Luciana back, who Maria had learned was Akane's mother but of course it was only natural as Akane was Reinhardt's daughter. "I think I see the camp!" Lilliana shouted over the sound of the blizzard…it wasn't called Blizzard Berg for nothing.
"Alright, let's get going!" Kavar shouted and they moved faster toward the camp. Suddenly the blizzard stopped and the group looked around in worry, Maria felt uneasy. "Akane, hurry to the camp." Maria said, not tearing her eyes from the pathway leading left. "What? B-but Maria-!" Akane was cut off as Maria pushed her and fireball hitting right where Akane once stood. "GO!" Maria shouted and Akane nodded, running off. Looking back toward the path, they saw a woman with long blue hair, wearing the Inferno Wizard robes, holding a gold staff with a gold and blue ring at the tip and it glowed red before fading back to blue.
"You've gotten smarter it seems." The woman stated with a sneer, her dark purple eyes glaring at Maria. "You're that Sandra girl." Maria said, not shocked to see her. "And this time I will get what I want!" Sandra shouted, before a tornado sped toward them and they stood their ground. "Sandra, stop this, please!" Luther shouted, and Sandra glared at him. "Not when my Lord Shadow Knight demands for me to kill this woman!" Sandra shouted as she sent a bolt of lightning toward Luther who blocked with his claws.
'Did she just say Lord Shadow Knight?' Luther thought, looking at Sandra in sorrow. "She's being controlled, I see a fragment of the Cube in her forehead." Sataka shouted as she noticed something glimmer off Sandra. "Something's wrong though. The fragment…it's red. AH!" Sataka shouted as she was hit into a tree by wind, before lightning struck her. "Aunt Sataka!" Darius shouted but Toraka was quick. Toraka shot a few rounds at Sandra, who used ice to block, before he ran toward Sataka and helped her up after Maki healed her.
Maria charged forward with Saari, Sachi backing her up with a healing spell and the two struck their swords side-by-side and Sandra screamed in pain as a gash appeared on her chest. "Maria please, don't kill her! Like Sataka said, she's being controlled!" Luther shouted and ran forward to stop Maria and save Sandra. Suddenly a blast of wind threw Maria and Saari back and Luther jumped over the line of attack, before he struck the area before Sandra, catching her off guard. Her staff fell from her hands as she glared at him and Luther pulled a knife out, before he pinned Sandra to the ground.
"Maria!" Luther called and Maria nodded as she ran toward them with the others. "Can someone put her to sleep?" Luther asked and Sandra's eyes closed as Maki played a lullaby. Maria carefully nudged the knife under the fragment lodged in Sandra's forehead but she cursed when the spot started leaking blood. "This isn't good…it's completely attached to her skin. Sachi, Saari, Quelkulan, can you three try and connect me to the Cube?" Maria asked and Sachi paled. "Y-you can't be serious?" Sachi asked, eyes wide. "That would take way too long for us to connect to it, it doesn't respond to us anymore." She stated, worried about connecting.
"You can't by yourself but with an Envoy's power coursing in you as well, it possible, right?" Maria asked, a note of desperation in her voice. "We can try." Saari stated and the three closed their eyes as a beam connected them to one another and they glowed blue. A few minutes passed before a blue light converged upon Maria and placing her hands over the fragment, it turned blue. Maria grabbed the fragment and jerked the fragment back, and it slowly pulled out of Sandra's head and the skin healed over as the light covered Sandra to heal her. Saari, Sachi and Quelkulan stopped glowing as did Maria, she looked at the fragment as it glowed brightly in her hands.
"That's impressive. How did you know to do that Maria?" Sataka asked but Maria shrugged. "I don't know, it's like things that deal with the Cube come to me on instinct." Maria said distracted as she lightly stroke the fragment, unaware of a pair of eyes watching her. "Slowly but surely she is reconnecting to the Cube as it seeks her out. Soon Reinhardt will lose his control over the Cube and do whatever he can to gain it back. Though as she reconnects it will obey her and only her." The woman, Astraea said as she watched from afar. Another Eidolon appeared, wearing a purple, silver and black outfit.
"Goddess Astraea, the Eidolon's have gathered and are awaiting us." A man with dragon wings said, his red dragon-like eyes watching Astraea. Astraea sighed, yet didn't move her gaze away from Maria and her group. "I understand Alucard…tell them I will be there shortly." Astraea said and the man nodded as he disappeared. "My dearest, please watch over us as we continue to fight this war." Astraea said to the sky, before she disappeared as well.
Later: Maria yawned as she sat on guard around the campsite at Blizzard Berg, looking into the night sky. After they remove the fragment from Sandra and she came to, she agreed to join them to atone for what she had done. She told them that while she was traveling she was captured by a man with white hair and wielding a red Cube and then everything went black. She couldn't remember what is was she did or had done, but promised to make up for it. "At least she's on our side now." Quelkulan said to Maria, having sensed her thoughts and Maria nodded with a smile. "I agree, things will only get tougher from here on out, so it's good to have another ally on our side." Maria stated and Quelkulan nodded.
Suddenly he tensed and hissed as he floated upwards, causing Saari and Sachi to appear and worrying Maria. "Quelkulan, what is it?" Maria asked worried, hand on the bell. "There is something approaching…I see an army heading our way." Quelkulan said and Maria gasped. Maria grabbed rang the bell and Quelkulan roared, causing the soldier's to awaken and everyone to jump up ready. As they left their tents, Maria was already charging forward and destroyed what seemed to have been a skeleton. Akane charged forward with Alessa and struck her own skeleton, Alessa's horn glowing as she helped Akane.
Maria was dragged further and further into the hoard, destroying anything that got to close…when suddenly a voice spoke. "Can you hear me?" A woman's voice spoke and Maria nearly froze. "Who is this?" Maria asked with her mind, even as she destroyed another skeleton. "Unless you use the power of the Cube, you will be destroyed!" The voice said urgently and Maria growled as she was knocked to the ground. "How can I use the Cube?" Maria asked, knocking the skeleton off her before she jumped back, using Whirling Dance to destroy a few more around her.
"I'm not even in possession of it, I have no way to connect unless I ask my Eidolon's to connect me. And we're in the middle of a battle, I can't ask them to do that!" Maria shouted back through her mind, wondering what was going on. The voice chuckled, though it was soft and assuring...Maria could sense no foul play in the woman's voice. "You don't have to ask them, you can use the fragment you possess to do it. Though it's just a fragment, it's still enough to let you connect to the Cube and draw some power. It'd be enough to destroy this horde." The voice said and Maria growled as she looked around.
She noticed they were greatly outnumbered as was what destroyed simply stood back up and attacked again. Maria growled, she had no choice but the trust whoever it was that was speaking to her. She noticed the fragment was glowing and grabbed it, before sighing. 'This is so stupid…but I've gotta try.' Maria thought as she rose her hand with the fragment. "Cube of Gaia, I call upon you. Grant me the power needed to defeat our foes!" Maria said and began glowing blue and she noticed she felt power flowing into her.
'It's working!' Maria thought with a smirk before she closed her eyes. "Help me defeat the enemies that surround us, the enemies that threaten our very existence! Help me erase these monster's from our sight!" Maria shouted and suddenly the fragment pulsed. A wave shot from Maria and the fragment, even as she glowed brighter and hit the skeleton's. They screeched as they were burned by blue fire and fell down and the wave flew out across Blizzard Berg, preventing anything from getting up again. Soon the glow faded and Maria saw that nothing but dust was left and stumbled, suddenly feeling incredibly fatigued.
"Maria!" Akane shouted and ran toward her, helping her stand straight. "You okay?" She asked and Maria nodded. "Y-yeah, I'll be okay, don't worry about me Akane." Maria said and smiled at the girl reassuringly. "Well…if you say so." Akane said with a sigh and Maria nodded.
Two Weeks Later: Quite some time had passed since the horde appeared and things had just been getting harder. In the past two weeks, Maria had seen more people buried than she had ever wanted to see. Andre and Victoria were there though and helped her and Akane through the troubling times, even Hiyami appeared to give them a hand. Though she hadn't stayed long after Akane asked Hiyami to head to Vulture's Vale to help the others. That's when things seemed to suddenly things take a turn…for the worst. "Commander Andre!" Someone shouted and Maria with Akane saw a soldier run toward Andre. "What is it?!" He asked the panicked soldier, who was panting as he reached the Commander.
"We-we just received word that the Shadow Knight has appeared. He's over at the area of Luciana's grave and he has a giant red cube with him." The soldier spoke but he was shaking like a leaf. "He's here…now's the time to strike! Everyone, round up; we're moving!" Andre commanded and everyone nodded. "Maria, Akane, did you hear that?" Victoria asked and they nodded. "Yeah, we heard alright. We'll scout out the area ahead and defeat any obstacles in our way; that way the army can move without worry." Maria said and Victoria nodded with a smile. "Alright you two, move out!" Victoria commanded and the two girls nodded.
Maria summoned Quelkulan who roared and allowed Maria and Akane on, before he flew to the designated destination. As they got there, they saw the path was covered with siren's and skeleton's, making Akane groan. "Do we really have to fight all of these?" Akane asked, and Maria nodded. "Looks like it if we want a clear path toward Reinhardt. Looks like he's still taking his sweet time in appearing." Maria said as she saw a portal near the other side of Blizzard Berg. "Looks like we got a fight on our hands." Akane said and Maria nodded as they flew back to the path and landed. "Let the fun start!" Maria shouted and charged toward the battle with Akane, Alessa, Sachi, Saari and Quelkulan.
Later: Maria and Akane finally got to the other side and stopped at the portal…waiting for that madman to appear. Suddenly the portal began crackling with power and electricity and the girls readied themselves with Alessa and Sachi; the only two able to fight beside them. Suddenly a man with long white hair, red eyes and clad in black armor appeared. He landed before the two, before he sneered at them, even as his Eidolon, Aschensturm, appeared beside him. "You two again." He stated, angry to see them. It had been some time ago but after Maria had meet Akane and during the time between Port Skandia's destruction and their arrival at Blizzard Berg, Reinhardt had attacked Navea.
Akane and Alessa had contacted Maria and her group and Maria with Akane fought against Reinhardt, driving him away from Navea after Maria did something with the Cube. What it was, she couldn't remember but she did it. "Hasn't the 'True Envoy' had enough to deal with?" Reinhardt questioned as he glared at Maria, who seemed confused. "True Envoy?" Maria asked, looking down. "Stop trying to confuse her you madman!" Akane shouted, worry in her red eyes. After the incident at the Church in Navea where it was figured out who Maria truly was and after Reinhardt figured out who she was, everyone had done their best to protect Maria's secret…mainly from Maria herself.
"Has no one told her?" Reinhardt asked Akane, who growled at him, yet this only caused Reinhardt to chuckle. "Heehee, I see…so no one has told Maria the truth." Reinhardt said as he leaned his sword against his shoulder. Maria was even more confused, thus turning her head to Akane to get answers. "Akane, what is he talking about?" Maria asked Akane, who only looked away. "I can't tell you…it was stated you would find out yourself." Akane whispered but Maria narrowed her eyes; that didn't answer her question!
"Can someone tell me what's going on?!" Maria demanded as Andre's army appeared. "No one told you?" Reinhardt asked Maria with a brow raised but she only seemed more confused and agitated. "Then let me clarify things for you…Princess of Aura Kingdom." Reinhardt said and Maria froze…Princess? Suddenly the Cube of Gaia appeared but it was red…when suddenly an image rippled on the surface of the Cube. Everyone suddenly felt like a trance overcame them…and an image appeared before their eyes.
Image: A girl laughed as she was carried by a woman with tannish/blonde hair, wearing green and white armor, who soon bowed before a man who had black hair and a woman who had blonde hair. "Your Majesty, your Highness; your daughter had wished to see you." The woman said and the Queen giggled. "Oh Uzuriel, you needn't be so formal with us, you know we love seeing our daughter." The woman said and stood up. "Mommy!" The girl said and got out of the Eidolon, Uzuriel's arms. "Hi dear, did you have a good time?" The woman asked, and the girl nodded.
"I sure did. Uzuriel and Aelius are really nice, I love being around them!" The girl, who looked like a younger Maria with blue eyes stated. "That's wonderful dear! Did you tell them thank you for the tour of Aura Kingdom?" The woman asked daughter, who nodded eagerly. As time seemed to passed, it quickly became nighttime as the woman raised her arms and the Cube gently descended toward her arms. The blonde haired Queen laid her head against it and sighed…when suddenly the doors opened.
"Astraea…are you sure you really want to do this?" The King asked, walking toward his wife. "Yes Nocturne, I have no choice. Pandemonium is closer to overtaking us and my daughter isn't ready to become Queen just yet." The woman, Astraea said with a sigh, turning to look at Nocturne. "If I don't become the next Guardian Goddess, my daughter will be forced to take that position." Astraea stated and Nocturne sighed, sadly. "Alright, I understand. Just be careful…I take it your sister knows of the plan?" He asked her, and Astraea nodded.
"Yes, my twin sister understands…Maria has been unable to tell us apart, it will not be hard for her to mistaken my sister as her mother." Astraea said but sniffled…she didn't wish to leave her daughter. "Astraea…" The King began, but silenced himself…there was nothing he could do. "Has the Cube shown you anything yet?" Nocturne asked Astraea, who nodded with a deep sigh. "Yes, it has shown me the True Wielder…and the True wielder of the Cube…is our daughter." Astraea said and Nocturne gasped.
"You can't be serious?" He asked her, yet she nodded and he hummed, rubbing his chin. "So the Eidolon's were right; Maria is the True Wielder…the true Envoy." The king stated and Astraea nodded. "Yes, she is. It's no surprise though as she is the next Heir to the Throne, and is our daughter, the Princess." She said, turning back to the Cube, stroking the surface. "Not to mention she seems to have a mental connection to the other Eidolon's but rather or not she knows this is a different story." Astraea said when suddenly Aelius entered. "Astraea, the rift opened!" he shouted, and Astraea gritted her teeth in anger.
"Alright, gather all the Eidolon's! Command them to form a circle around the castle. Get Uzuriel to stay with Maria in her room and get Bealdor to help Uzuriel. We can't afford the Princess to be hurt." Astraea shouted and he nodded. "Astraea…" Nocturne seemed to question, but she cut him off. "Don't worry…I know what to do." Astraea said as she began glowing gold.
The image rippled to show the King, Nocturne, laughing with a woman who looked similar to Astraea but had green eyes instead and she was a bit darker in skin color. Maria though didn't seem to notice as she was sitting in a lady's lap and they saw it was the current Guardian Goddess, Astraea and she smiled at Maria. Suddenly a flower crown on her head and she smiled at Maria as Maria returned it. "Do you like it Goddess Astraea?" Maria asked and she nodded.
Suddenly the place began shaking and everyone screamed as they tried to hold onto something. "What's going on?!" Nocturne shouted, when suddenly he was pushed to the ground. "Nocturne! AH!" The woman shouted, feeling a pressure on her as well. "Daddy! Mommy! Astraea, what's happening?!" Maria demanded of the Goddess, her crown falling off her head. "I don't know! AH!" Astraea shouted in pain as a demonic ball of energy hit her. Suddenly, standing before them was a man clad in black armor and he glared at the King and Queen, before he snapped his hands and the pressure ceased.
"I'm sorry about that, didn't mean to cause any panic." The man, obviously Reinhardt, stated; looking around the room. His gaze landed on Maria and he seemed shocked, before he chuckled softly; turning his gaze back to the King and Queen, who were panting, sitting back in their chairs. "I need the Cube." Reinhardt said seriously, narrowing his eyes at the King, Queen and the Cube above their heads. The Queen growled, how dare he attack them as he had and then demand things! "And why should we hand the Cube over to someone who just attacked us?!" She shouted, glaring at Reinhardt.
"I didn't mean to cause any harm but sometimes it's hard to control my own Envoy power." Reinhardt state as his Eidolon, Aschensturm, appeared. "You are an Envoy as well?" Nocturne questioned, shocked to see one aside from his daughter, on Gaia. "Yes…now will you hand over the Cube." Reinhardt asked but then Uzuriel appeared. "That would not be wise, not with how twisted your heart is. Your mind is clouded in rage and guilt, your heart is twisted and sorrowful…you have ill-intentions with our Cube." Uzuriel stated, glaring at Reinhardt.
What happened next was a blur with the King and Queen refusing to hand over the Cube and the next thing everyone noticed was the Queen and King falling dead. "Mommy! Daddy!" Maria shouted, blue eyes wide in horror. Uzuriel went to strike Reinhardt but was blown away and knocked unconscious. Astraea growled and stood up, lance and shield ready and struck at him. Reinhardt dodged, before he stabbed Astraea and yanking his sword back, Astraea fell down, clutching her bleeding wound.
"No, Astraea!" Maria shouted, before looking up seeing Reinhardt before her. "No! Don't hurt her!" Astraea shouted as she struggled to stand. "I'm sorry child but after witnessing this…I cannot let you live." Reinhardt said and rose his sword. As Astraea screamed for him to stop, he swung his sword at Maria, when suddenly her eyes began glowing blue. The ground began shaking and breaking and Reinhardt lost his footing. "Oh no…she's losing control of her power!" Astraea shouted, when suddenly she saw Uzuriel stand.
"Astraea, the Cube is shaking! I think Maria is trying to control the Cube!" Uzuriel shouted, worry in her purple eyes. "No! If she tries to control the Cube…she might die!" Astraea shouted and stood, still clutching her bleeding wound. Suddenly everything slowly began to turn white and Astraea gasped in horror…was Gaia…being destroyed?! Suddenly Reinhardt disappeared and the Eidolon's glowed blue, before they disappeared…then everything went black. Image End.
Everyone suddenly came back to reality, and noticed that Reinhardt stood before them with a smirk. Suddenly Maria fell to her knees, screaming in pain as memories flooded back to her. "Maria!" Akane shouted and knelt to her, hugging her. "No! Make it stop! I can't control it! No…NO! This is a lie! It has to be!" Maria shouted, tears leaking past her barrier. "Reinhardt!" Andre shouted and Reinhardt just shrugged. "What you all saw what the truth. Maria is the next Heir to the Throne, Princess of Aura Kingdom and the True Wielder of the Cube of Gaia." Reinhardt stated and everyone looked at Maria to see her shaking.
"Astraea…is my mother, I'm actually a Princess from Gaia…" Maria held a hand to her mouth in horror as a different thought occurred to her. "Am I the reason this is happening?" She asked herself and Akane shook her head, trying to tell Maria she was wrong. "No, you're not the reason this happened!" Akane stated, eyes wide as she tried to reason with Maria. "It all happened because Reinhardt wanted to get the Cube to use for his evil intentions." Akane said then heard Reinhardt scoff. "I don't see wanting to bring Luciana back an evil act." Reinhardt said simply but Victoria glared at him.
"But you're blaming the Church for Luciana's death! We did everything we could to keep her alive but it was useless, then you go blaming us for her death!" Victoria shouted and brought out her sword and shield. "It's my fault…" Maria whispered but Akane shook her head. "Maria, no! It's not your fault, why do you-?" Akane was cut off as Maria suddenly looked up and glared at Reinhardt. "Even if it's my fault this happened…" Maria shot up, grabbing her swords and charging. "I will not forgive you for killing my family!" Maria shouted as she struck at Reinhardt, her swords glowing blue as she cut into the armor.
"Cube of Gaia, can you hear me?!" Maria shouted to the red cube above her. "Please, heed my call," Maria shouted as she struck Reinhardt again, breaking some of his armor. "This man has tainted you for far too long and has shown us the truth of what happened!" Maria shouted before she jumped up, avoiding a swing from Reinhardt's sword; the others watching in shock. "Now that I know the truth, I know who I am!" Maria said, before she glared at Reinhardt, eyes flashing blue for a split second. "I am Maria, Princess of Aura Kingdom!" She shouted as she flipped mid-air and swung her swords vertically, two arcs heading toward Reinhardt.
"I am the next Heir to the Throne of Aura Kingdom that resides on Gaia and you have chosen me as the next True Wielder of the Cube. Please, lend me your strength!" Maria shouted and her whole body glowed blue. Everyone gasped as hundreds of beams from across Terra sped toward their area and struck Reinhardt, causing him to shout in pain as his armor broke in multiple places. Maria saw her chance and nodded to Akane, who nodded back. "Head back to camp, that's where Reinhardt is going to launch an attack!" Akane shouted and Andre nodded as he and Victoria ran back to camp. Maria and Akane charged Reinhardt, their blades glowing blue as blue specks reappeared on the Cube of Gaia, slowly returning it to normal.
Reinhardt blocked their blades before throwing them back, even as Aschensturm knocked Alessa and Sachi away from their Envoy's. It soon became a battle of Eidolon's fighting each other, even as Envoy's fought each other; Maria and Akane did their best to work together but it seemed Reinhardt knew what would happen. He would usually cause the two to nearly slice the other's arm off as he was quick to predict there movements, quickly moving as he had memorized how they fight. Suddenly the Cube began glowing red and the two girls gasped looking up.
"Maria!" Akane shouted and the Princess growled. Maria thrusted her hands toward the Cube and a blue glowed covered one side, even as a red glow covered the other. Reinhardt seemed shocked, before he looked at Maria, seeing the girl struggling to keep the Cube in her hands and used more power to pull it toward him. "The Cube doesn't belong to you!" Maria shouted and used more power to keep it in her hands. Akane watched carefully, making sure nothing wrong would happen.
Now that Maria knew who she was, she was able to control a slight portion of the power the Cube placed upon her…enough to stop her from being controlled at least. And it seemed Maria was able to accept her fate, Akane remembered how Maria spoke about feeling like she didn't belong on Terra; after Sachi told them about Maria's past Akane knew why Maria constantly spoke about it. Having been born on Gaia, Terra was a completely new world to her…literally. Though she felt in a familiar place due to the Cube of Gaia being on Terra and allowing the flow of life go through their world. Though it did seem Maria had a few questions for her mother, Astraea the Guardian Goddess; things seemed like they would get more complicated.
"Wretched child, die!" Reinhardt shouted and Aschensturm moved away from Sachi and Alessa, charging Maria. "No, Maria!" Akane shouted and ran to protect Maria. It seemed it was unneeded as a gold light shone between Maria and Aschensturm and a shield protected Maria from the attack. Standing protectively before Maria was Astraea, who glared at the dark steed as it neighed in surprise. "You will not harm my daughter!" Astraea shouted as she struck Aschensturm, causing the Eidolon to neigh in pain. "Aschensturm!" Reinhardt shouted, worried he might actually be defeated.
"I-I can't…hold on…much longer…" Maria said, arms shaking in strain. Suddenly smoke started coming from an arm…before the worst happened. The sound of something buzzing was heard and electricity crackled…before Maria's right arm exploded! Maria's eyes dilated before she screamed in pain, losing her control over the Cube. The Cube turned red and fell to Reinhardt who sneered at the bleeding Maria, who clutched the area were her arm once was. "Maybe this will be your end, you meddling child." Reinhardt spat out and Akane threw one sword at Reinhardt as he disappeared into a portal.
Akane's sword struck the tree behind and she cursed, but ignored it in favor of trying to save Maria. "Astraea, what do we do?" Akane asked the Goddess, Akane was about ready to start crying. "I need Uzuriel and Bealdor here; they might be able to help me save her." Astraea stated quickly and began focusing on tracking them. Suddenly a gust of wind appeared, as did a ray of light and standing next to them were Uzuriel and Bealdor; both who looked extremely worried. "Astraea, how is she?" Uzuriel asked, looking over the Envoy she was once the caretaker of. "She won't last long and if she tries to control the Cube again she will die." Astraea said as she began trying to stop the bleeding of the once robotic arm.
While Maria had robotic limbs, she still had vein's and blood in her arms that allowed her to feel pain. Even destroyed...she could still die; something people would think someone with robotic limbs wouldn't have been able to do. Seems even B.A.T had a flaw in their plans. "I fear this is what happened should she control it for too long; she lost her arm. I'm worried about the final battle against Reinhardt, what if she loses both her robotic arms and robotic legs?" Astraea asked as Bealdor quickly went to healing her.
"Is it possible to return her arms and legs back to a human state?" Akane asked, looking at the Eidolon's. Uzuriel seemed surprised at the concept, would it be possible? "It might be possible." Astraea said, looking at the Heavenly Defender for more clarification. "We've never actually tried to do it and we'd need the Cube to make it actually happen." Uzuriel said, before looking at the others. "Quelkulan, Saari, Sachi, Alessa, Bealdor, Astraea; we will need to combine our powers and connect to the Cube of Gaia." Uzuriel stated but Akane grabbed something out of Maria's pocket. "Use this, it's a fragment of the Cube of Gaia, you might be able to use that." Akane stated and Astraea nodded.
Astraea clasped her hands together with the fragment between her hands and a glow surrounded her. Looking at Maria, Astraea laid her hands upon Maria's shoulders; the glow went over her arms and formed Maria's missing arm. It shined brightly before fading, showing her arms again…and they looked normal. They didn't seem so firm anymore as a result of no metal in her arms and when Akane touched them, they didn't feel hard…they were normal! Astraea repeated the process with Maria's legs and it was the same result. The legs no longer looked too hard and they felt human. Akane smiled at Astraea, who smiled back wearily…before Maria stirred.
Looking down they saw Maria's eyes flutter open and she looked around as though she was in a daze…before she saw Astraea. Her eyes widened and tears sprung as she saw her mother, who smiled softly at her. "Maria…I'm sorry for hiding the truth from you." Astraea spoke sadly, voice heavy with shame. "I-!" She tried to explain herself but was cut off as Maria hugged her, starting to cry. "I-I…I'm just glad…to know w-who I truly am." Maria sniffled out and Astraea smiled as she hugged Maria back
Later: Morning came faster than they expected as they made their way back to camp, both girls tired with their Eidolon's. Astraea, Bealdor and Uzuriel had left; each stating that they would unite with them later. "Maria! Akane!" A voice shouted and they saw Andre running toward them. "Commander Andre!" Maria shouted in relief, glad to see everyone alright. "Commander Andre Onii-san!" Akane shouted wearily yet relieved, glad to see him. "Are you two alright?" Andre asked as he neared them, looking at them in worry.
"Yeah, we're okay; don't worry about us." Maria said as she smiled at Akane, who returned the smile. Andre visible relaxed, glad to know they were...well, unharmed from the looks of it. "Still…I'm surprised to know that you're actually a Princess, Maria; also the True Wielder to the Cube of Gaia as well. So, sorry for-!" Maria waved him off, making him go silent. "Don't worry about it all Andre; I didn't even know who I was until today." She said softly, giving a reassuring smile. "And I already said I forgave you for your treatment, so stop worrying about it." She stated, hoping to make him relax and he nodded with a smile.
"Well, it seems the final battle draws near." Akane said as her and Maria walked through the camp. "Yes, it does." Maria agreed, walking through the camp with a determined look. "Also, it appears that Vulture's Vale has been taken by the Church and they are now sending reinforcements here to Blizzard Berg to help." Maria said as Abaddon relayed a message to her through the nature around them. She had always had a weird way of connecting to him through trees and stuff made of wood.
"There are still quite enough that will stay at Vulture's Vale to prevent it from falling back into Reinhardt's hands, but we are needed elsewhere." Maria said and Akane nodded in agreement. "Alright, we'll meet back up at Navea with the others and figure out our next moves." Akane said and Maria nodded, agreeing with the younger Envoy, before she spoke once more. "Once we have our groups back, all of us will head out to stop Reinhardt once and for all!" Maria stated to everyone within hearing range and the army cheered in agreement.