Chapter 21 and I've already planned out three fanfics after this one. Also not only is this chapter here for the main plot but mainly to explain Saffron's past (without too much of a spoiler for later stories) hence the name 'The Whole Story.'

Disclaimer: I do not own Disclaimer: I do not and I repeat, NOT own the characters of the game 'Dragon Quest IX' or the main plot. I only own my OCs; Saffron, her parents, Miu, Renia, Sulina, Fate and his father. I also own the extra plot of Saffron regaining her memories.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-One: The Whole Story

After escaping from the Gortress, Saffron and her friends returned the missing Celestrians back to the Observatory. She then reported to Apus Major about the happenings in the Protectorate which included the rise of the Gittish Empire as well as Aquila's betrayal. To her surprise, Aquila delivered the Fyggs not too long ago.

"With the cuts and bruises he had, Aquila looked like he was in a massive fight," the old man told her, "He delivered the Fyggs safely, saying that you two worked together on retrieving the Fyggs but got separated on the way back. When he left he told me that he was not worthy to be called your master."

'That's a complete lie…apart from the last part,' Saffron's brain argued, 'However, my senses tell me that these Fyggs are the real deal…so why did he…'

"Saffron!" Apus Major called to get her attention, "I know that you will not lie on a serious matter. We shall discuss this later. As for the Gittish Empire…you were too young to remember this but the Gittish Empire was once a small Empire that grew on greed and determination of world domination."

Saffron then told Apus Major that she does remember for she has regained all of her memories. The old man seemed to be pleased but then frowned to see a confused expression on her face, "What is on your mind, child?"

The female Celestrian breathed in deep before exhaling and asking, "Even though I my memories have returned, there are still some questions that remains unanswered…was my mother really a Goddess?"

Apus Major jolted from his seat as if he received a static shock. He then sighed. He guessed that either Greygnarl told her or it accidentally slipped out of Aquila's mouth. In the end, Apus Major told her that he was in no position to answer that and the only person she can ask is the Almighty.

"Speaking of which," he added, "Know that we have the Fyggs, we should offer them unto the Almighty."

The two made their way to the Starflight Express where Stella and Sterling were waiting along with Saffron's team. "Hey Saff!" Renia greeted and looked around, "What happened here? With you being a Celestrian and all, I expected this place to be more…I dunno…bright and cheerful."

A vein popped in Saffron's head for the warrior's lack of respect towards her home. "We still haven't found the source," she managed to say without gritting her teeth, "But no doubt that the Gittish Empire is involved."

The train was ready for departure. Everyone entered the train and Sterling steered it so it was going upwards, the train was going higher and picking up speed. Renia looked out of the window and saw the night sky flashing into different colours. She was unsure whether to be excited or sick. She looked at Miu who was now talking to the old guy and Sulina who was gently sipping her tea. The turquoise haired girl pinched herself to make sure she was not dreaming and she wasn't was, she was actually on a gold flying train along with a group of Celestial beings to meet the almighty creator of their world. 'Wow! This is way better than the life I was destined with.' she thought, "Hey sis! Where is The Almighty anyway?"

That was when Saffron entered the dining cart and answered, "The Almighty resides in a realm different from ours. We are just going through the barrier."

The train made it to the other side of the barrier and came to place with a soft yellow sky and floating islands with gazeboes, rainbows, waterfalls and floating steps. The train parked next to the lowest platform. Sterling said his passenger, "Right, here we are: The Realm of the Almighty."

Since Saffron was nearest to the door, she would the second one to exit after Apus Major. The old man was thrilled enough to light up like a child realising it's his birthday and run out of the train. Saffron then exited the train and as soon as her bare foot touched the floor, she began to feel dizzy and head instantly ached. She groaned in pain and leaned back.

"Saffron!" Miu cried but the girl steadied her herself assured everyone that she was alright. They came to a stone door which was only opened by a child with a pure heart and (surprisingly enough) it was Saffron.

They continued to ascend the floating stairs until they reached to a grand building at the top. Sterling pushed the door open and Apus Major ran inside. He looked around and then blinked hard to find out that the large hole and cracks on the ground were no illusion. "So…the accursed beams went as far as the Realm of the Almighty. But what of the Almighty himself?!"

The elderly man feverishly prayed for a sign but got nothing. The man then sobbed as he gave up his last speck of hope. Everyone looked at him with sympathy. Renia turned to her elder sister for instructions when she spotted Saffron making her way upstairs. She followed her and came to a serene place with a small bathe in a soft glow. A female voice echoed, "Offer the Fyggs to me and the truth shall be revealed."

The Celestrian took the Fyggs from her leader and walked into the light. All seven of the golden fruits hovered into the air and with a flash, they vanished. Then, everyone was trapped in a gold orb and were transported back to the Observatory. "Why are back here?" Stella asked, "Did we do something wrong?"

"Perhaps it has something to the glowing tree over there." Miu pointed out. The Great World Tree, Yggdrasil was glowing. A ghost a woman with gold hair and a white gown appeared before them. "I thank you all for your tribute." She said the astonished group, "I am Celestria, daughter of Zenus, the one who you call the 'Almighty'."

Still astonished, Apus Major asked Celestria what of her father. She told them that her father tried to destroy the world because of its many sins. Celestria's stopped his attack and to prove Zenus that there were still good in mortal hearts, she turned into Yggdrasil and created Celestrians to collect Benevolessences to offer onto her so she can return to her true form. After the purple beams attacked the Realm of the Almighty, her father disappeared and hasn't returned since. She then turned to Saffron and said, "Saffron; Celestrian, Guardian and daughter of Nubian, I am happy that have got your memories back…yet, they all seemed a bit jumbled, causing confusion on your behalf. I shall organize your memories so that you will understand your importance."

At first the black-haired girl felt as if her brain was replaced with jelly but she quickly realised that it was her memories being organised and filled in by Celestria's memory. She then learnt the whole story.

Saffron's mother was Nubian Brown and Saffron's father was Phillip Ryudo. Both of them were Celestrians at birth and both were very talented. The only difference was that Nubian was a sensible woman while Phillip more like a rebel who questions his superiors. Nevertheless, the two of them fell in love which was a problem for Aquila since he was Nubian's best friend and he was deeply in love with her. He tried everything to split them apart from framing Phillip for something didn't do to reporting to the Almighty about Phillip's secret escapades. Eventually, desperate and running out of ideas, Aquila persuaded the Almighty to make Nubian a Goddess and Phillip a mortal so that it was impossible for them to be together. He thought that he won but then he was informed about Nubian giving birth to Phillip's child, a little girl named Saffron. The bald Celestrian was furious about the secret pregnancy and was outraged when he came to Saffron's blessing when she was blessed with witch's blood from her "aunt", blood from the forest spirits and vampire blood from her Godfather.

After that, Saffron was assigned for spilt custody which lead her to contacting the outside world (which was against Celestrian law back then) as well getting the pendant from her Godfather. Aquila was in charge of tutoring Saffron despite what he has done in the past and Saffron-like her father- kept running away from his lessons and hide in the human realm where Aquila finds her and drags her back to the Observatory to punish her. Sometime during his tutoring days, Aquila thought that because he was Nubian's best friend, he might have Saffron's future hand in marriage. Everyone, including the girl's parents, disapproved of this. Aquila was angry and vowed to himself that he will do anything to get Saffron to be his future wife.

Little while after, the Gittish Empire, who were aiming for world domination, began to attack Celestrians and hunted Saffron for her power. Nubian, Phillip and their friends fought against the rapidly growing army. Phillip died in battle Nubian used the last of her life force to seal most of her daughter's powers. Originally, Fate was supposed to take Saffron to a new realm and raise her but Aquila was still driven by his desire to have Saffron as his wife and place the girl in a capsule full of a concoction that made her sleep for five hundred years. During that time, Aquila sealed Saffron's soul deep into her mind and replaced it with another soul.

"Wait a minute!" Saffron said after she heard story. Her memories made much sense now but one thing still remains, "If I was meant to sleep for five hundred years, what made me wake up two centuries earlier?"

"Your powers," Celestria replied, "Being sealed was thought to weaken your powers but you unconsciously broke your mother's seal and used your powers to wake the other soul up."

Saffron understood and asked Celestria what they need to do next. The heart of the Gittish Empire still stands and there are Celestrians that still need saving. With that said, the goddess planted another blue tree for the Starflight Express to land by and disappeared. Apus Major was so shocked about the whole ordeal that Saffron had to call some Celestrians to help him to his room and calm down. Saffron and her team entered the train along with Stella and Sterling and the train flew to the Protectorate.

"So all we have to do is defeat the leader of the Gittish Empire and the world is saved, right?" Stella asked.

Renia said that was the plan but Saffron looked out of the window saying, "I don't think it's that's simple, Stella. In fact, I think there's someone else pulling the strings."

Next chapter!