1 Dragon's Destiny
Chapter 18
"…And so that's the story." Finished Duran, completing the extensive story that Lumina and the others learned only that day. Evening had covered the Grasslands Kingdom and the five warriors sat around the dinner table, talking to Duran's aunt and little sister.
"You poor thing…if I had known it was like that, I wouldn't have believed that the Dragon Emperor was responsible for my brother-in-law's death. You may stay here as long as you like." Duran's aunt, Stella, offered. Lumina looked silently up and nodded in gratitude. Everyone else had eaten their dinner except for Lumina; she was nowhere close to hungry.
"We have to return to the Mana Tree and see what's down that hole!" exclaimed Hawk forcefully, slamming his fist on the table. Angela nodded, she had been crying during the retelling of the story.
"But w-we can't go there alone! Th-that's why Duran sent that letter…" she sobbed.
"What letter?" inquired Nysoro, but there was a knock on the door. Duran stood up and answered it, and immediately started to laugh happily. Several more footsteps were heard, and three new visitors entered the dinning room.
One was so short she barely made it to Duran's stomach. She wore a blue cap and a magenta robe. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and looked no older than seven years old! Attached to her back was a long flail that looked eerily made out of human bones and a skull on top.
The next girl had dirty blonde hair, which was brought in a long ponytail down her back. She wore blue armor and purple boots, and in her hand was a golden spear, with golden stars carved into it. She had piercing sapphire eyes that sadly reminded Lumina of Koren. The next person was…
"Kevin!" Lumina shouted happily, smiling for the first time in several hours. Kevin smiled back, his hair no longer orange but snow-white with an orange bandana and a matching belt along his wait. He wore a light blue vest that showed his muscular chest, covered with a few battle scars. Lumina ran over to Kevin and hugged him tightly, Kevin returning the embrace.
"Duran's letter to me everything. Me so sorry about Koren! He so nice…" Kevin trailed off, tears forming in his eyes. Duran smiled and sat back down.
"I suppose you two have met before? Ah well, Lumina, this is Lise," he said, showing his hand towards the girl with the dirty blonde hair, "And Carlie." He introduced, moving his hand to the little girl.
"Can you believe Carlie only fifteen like me? She half-elf, she very short anyway…" Kevin laughed, pointing at Carlie.
"MEANIE!! Carlie not short, just small-boned! Anyway, at least Carlie not furry like Kevin…" Carlie retorted in a high-pitched voice.
"Jealousy! Jealousy!" Kevin taunted and stuck out his tongue. Lise interrupted the fight.
"They're always going at it, I'm sorry your highness…" Lise apologized, bowing to Lumina. Lumina moaned.
"Don't do that…just call me Lumina, okay?" Lumina sighed. Lise nodded and looked at Duran.
"I brought a book that might help us with Kuk…here." She proclaimed, and took a very large book out of her pouch, and slammed it on the table.
"Kuk is the God of Darkness, the opposite of the Mana Goddess. When the world was just born, Kuk created the God-Beasts to fill his chaotic dreams. But the Goddess appeared, and created the world anew, sealing the God-Beasts into the Mana Stones. As for Kuk, she sealed him away into the very core of the world, in another dimension. She turned herself into the Mana Tree and covered the gateway to the dimension, which has been named "Crystalia"."
"Crystalia is a world of demons, Kuk's children. It's full of evil and darkness, and no one has ever gone there. With the Mana Tree destroyed, I can only guess Kuk's plan is to reclaim the world! So, we have to go to Crystalia before Kuk gets to us first." She concluded dramatically. Everyone nodded and fell silent. After the moment passed, Duran stood up.
"We need rest, especially Lumina. You all can stay at the inn, it's just above my house." He suggested pointing northward. Suddenly, Duran's little sister piped up.
"Big brother! Don't go! Please?!?" she whined, her eleven-year-old voice still undeveloped.
"Wendy, I'm sorry, but it won't take long…" Duran replied gently. Wendy sighed and nodded, and the warriors head towards the inn.
* * *
Duran, Hawk, Nysoro, Lise, Carlie, Stella and Kevin met in front of Duran's house the next morning.
"Where are Angela and Lumina?" Hawk asked impatiently, but his answer came as Angela stepped out of the inn.
"Lumina asked me if I could alter her clothing. She looks so pretty!" Angela giggled excitingly, and moved out of the way. Everyone stood in awe at Lumina as she stepped out of the doorway, completely changed.
She no longer wore her tomboyish clothing, but a long green skirt with slits up to her upper thighs. Over lapping her skirt was a long crimson gown, open and the top gone with the back drifting behind her skirt. She wore an emerald sleeveless and strapless top that attached to opaque sleeves that extended past her hands. Her hair was done up as it was before, a high ponytail with some drifting to her shoulders. On her forehead, however, she wore a bright emerald, with long strips of liquid like metal that stayed in place even as she moved.
"Amazing…but why the big change?" Nysoro asked, a bit concerned.
"I've been running away from my position as Crown Princess of the Dragon Tribe all my life. It's time I finally got serious about it, and took my role." Lumina answered. She took from behind her back the long, crimson cape that had once belonged to Koren and handed it to Stella.
"Guard it with your LIFE. And…this too." She added, taking out the heirloom Dragon pendant. Stella nodded firmly and took both items. Lumina smiled and walked over to Duran.
"Let's go." She said firmly, and Duran sighed and nodded. He took the drum from his belt and rang in it the air. The great white dragon soared from nowhere and landed in front of the warriors.
"I'll be staying here Lumina, but the best of luck!" Nysoro cried out, and stood at Stella's ankles. Lumina smiled and turned to the dragon.
"Lumina, this is Flammie. Flammie, Lumina!" Kevin exclaimed proudly. Flammie took one look at Lumina and bowed deeply.
"Oh…it's alright…stand up!" Lumina giggled and Flammie stood back up, purring.
"C'mon girl, to the Mana Holyland!" Duran ordered, and Flammie swooped them up and rose into the sky, Nysoro and Stella waving below.
* * *
Flammie dropped them off directly at the torn and ripped Mana Tree. Lumina was the first to step forward and look down, the others following behind her, weapons out.
Suddenly a rush of violet energy struck the warriors and Lumina felt a deep sucking feeling inside her, like her soul was being dragged down. But her entire body was lifted off the ground along with everyone else's and all seven of them were plunged deep into the hole.
When Lumina found it safe again to open her eyes, it was the same as keeping them closed…almost. The seven warriors found themselves on solid ground, but all around them was darkness and bareness. Streaks of purple eventually flashed by, but they disappeared before a second glance. All around them, a deep growling sound was roaring.
"What is that…OH GODDESS! CARLIE WATCH OUT!" Duran screamed and dove, throwing Carlie out of the way. Looking at her direction, Lumina saw a black shadow with red eyes and black gleaming teeth. Hundreds more stood ready to pounce all around them. Angela began to chant her most powerful spell, and the prism light covered the demons, destroying them all.
"RUN! THERE'S A PATHWAY OF FLAMES! FOLLOW IT!" Hawk roared and dashed forward. Indeed, a pathway of purple flames lead the way to a even purpler glow at the horizon of the dimension. The seven fighters ran as fast as they could down the pathway, their footsteps echoing into the silence. But shrieks of anger and roars of rage broke the silence as more demons flew after them like fury. Angela shot a Saint Beam at the mass and some fell back, but even more appeared, trampling the fallen.
The flame pathway eventually revealed a huge palace, bigger than Altena's, Forcena's, and the Dragon Tribe's put together. The castle seemed to be made out of black crystal, or glass.
"It's diamond! The place is called Black Diamond Castle, Kuk is inside!" Lise shouted over the roars of the demons. Angela eventually gave up on casting and ran full force with her friends. The citadel grew larger and larger, and suddenly, Lumina felt the dropping sensation once more, and everything went black.
Waking up on seemingly solid ground, Lumina felt absolutely terrible. The thoughts of Koren being dead and her father's and Loki's passing filled her head with misery. Duran and the others also sat double over, near tears.
"I see the day my father left…the day I found out that he had died…my mother dying hours later…" Duran sobbed, his face in his hands.
"I remember when my best friend, Eagle, was killed and his murder blamed on me…" whispered Hawk, shaking his head.
"Mother…I really did love you so much…Koren…you were my best friend before you changed…" whimpered Angela.
"Carlie miss Heath! Where is my Heath?!?" bawled Carlie, her face streaked with tears.
"Karl…best friend Karl…come back…" Kevin howled, clawing his hair.
"Father…Elliot…oh my kingdom…I still see it going up in flames…" Lise cried, supporting herself on her spear. She shook her head and stood up, looking at everyone.
"This area is called the Anti-space. Kuk himself resides here, the palace we saw before was an illusion to lead us here…" she informed quickly and motioned everyone to stand up. With much difficulty, the party stood up and walked the flame pathway to the Black Diamond palace. About halfway there, Duran fell to his knees again.
"Father…Mother…no…" he cried uncontrollably, heaving with sobs. Lumina knelt down to him.
"We'll get your father's revenge! Just focus your anger on Kuk, and let it out on him." She spoke gently, reassuring. Duran looked up at her, his true innocence now showing. Lumina embraced him like a mother and Duran cried into her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry…all these years I have hated your father…I feel like crud for doing that. Kuk will pay for everything he has done to all of us!" he roared, and everyone nodded weakly. Lumina and Duran stood back up and Lumina supported him on her shoulder. The warriors finally reached the Black Diamond Palace, the door gleaming, beckoning them to meet its Lord.
Lumina stepped forward and opened the palace doors. They did not make a sound, easing open as if they were used regulary. She walked forward, her steps echoing emptily into the palace, her friends and comrades behind her.
They found themselves in a gigantic evil cathedral, covered in stained-glass paintings. Black pews filled the room, leading up to a alter covered in human skulls with rubies inside their eyes. Above the alter, the biggest stained-glass picture shone in the purple glow. It depicted a large cobra-like creature, long and black, with fangs gleaming with poison. Below the serpent was a picture of the world, being burned by the fetid acid.
But the rest of the paintings were far more interesting. A entire wall was dedicated to Forcenan soldiers, and Duran ran over.
"This must be from the Great War! How did…oh…my…" he gasped turning pale. Everyone turned to stare at what he was looking at, and paled as well.
It was Loki.
"AARGH! NO! FATHER!!!!" Duran screamed in anger, and pounded his fist to the ground. Lumina shook her head angrily, as Angela screamed.
"MOTHER!" she screeched and kneeled to a painting of the Queen of Reason. Lumina gasped lightly, surprised at this horrific collection. The other fighters spread out, finding their own relatives and friends. Lumina finally came across her own fears, and saw Koren and her father depicted together.
"This is a trophy room…of all his victims…" Lumina whispered, touching Koren's painting. Lise gasped loudly.
"Look! Look above the main picture!" she shrieked pointing up. Above the picture of the serpent, was a strange thing…
Seven empty windows stood open, ready to accept.
"Oh gods…no…don't tell me those are…" Angela whined, and Lumina nodded.
"They're for us…" she replied and felt the cold draft once more. Gathering at the alter, wisps of purple mist began to take a shape. The twisted masses twirled around, screaming shrilly and shrieking at their foes. Finally, the mist darkened to a black robed figure.
Kuk had finally appeared to them.
Chapter 18
"…And so that's the story." Finished Duran, completing the extensive story that Lumina and the others learned only that day. Evening had covered the Grasslands Kingdom and the five warriors sat around the dinner table, talking to Duran's aunt and little sister.
"You poor thing…if I had known it was like that, I wouldn't have believed that the Dragon Emperor was responsible for my brother-in-law's death. You may stay here as long as you like." Duran's aunt, Stella, offered. Lumina looked silently up and nodded in gratitude. Everyone else had eaten their dinner except for Lumina; she was nowhere close to hungry.
"We have to return to the Mana Tree and see what's down that hole!" exclaimed Hawk forcefully, slamming his fist on the table. Angela nodded, she had been crying during the retelling of the story.
"But w-we can't go there alone! Th-that's why Duran sent that letter…" she sobbed.
"What letter?" inquired Nysoro, but there was a knock on the door. Duran stood up and answered it, and immediately started to laugh happily. Several more footsteps were heard, and three new visitors entered the dinning room.
One was so short she barely made it to Duran's stomach. She wore a blue cap and a magenta robe. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and looked no older than seven years old! Attached to her back was a long flail that looked eerily made out of human bones and a skull on top.
The next girl had dirty blonde hair, which was brought in a long ponytail down her back. She wore blue armor and purple boots, and in her hand was a golden spear, with golden stars carved into it. She had piercing sapphire eyes that sadly reminded Lumina of Koren. The next person was…
"Kevin!" Lumina shouted happily, smiling for the first time in several hours. Kevin smiled back, his hair no longer orange but snow-white with an orange bandana and a matching belt along his wait. He wore a light blue vest that showed his muscular chest, covered with a few battle scars. Lumina ran over to Kevin and hugged him tightly, Kevin returning the embrace.
"Duran's letter to me everything. Me so sorry about Koren! He so nice…" Kevin trailed off, tears forming in his eyes. Duran smiled and sat back down.
"I suppose you two have met before? Ah well, Lumina, this is Lise," he said, showing his hand towards the girl with the dirty blonde hair, "And Carlie." He introduced, moving his hand to the little girl.
"Can you believe Carlie only fifteen like me? She half-elf, she very short anyway…" Kevin laughed, pointing at Carlie.
"MEANIE!! Carlie not short, just small-boned! Anyway, at least Carlie not furry like Kevin…" Carlie retorted in a high-pitched voice.
"Jealousy! Jealousy!" Kevin taunted and stuck out his tongue. Lise interrupted the fight.
"They're always going at it, I'm sorry your highness…" Lise apologized, bowing to Lumina. Lumina moaned.
"Don't do that…just call me Lumina, okay?" Lumina sighed. Lise nodded and looked at Duran.
"I brought a book that might help us with Kuk…here." She proclaimed, and took a very large book out of her pouch, and slammed it on the table.
"Kuk is the God of Darkness, the opposite of the Mana Goddess. When the world was just born, Kuk created the God-Beasts to fill his chaotic dreams. But the Goddess appeared, and created the world anew, sealing the God-Beasts into the Mana Stones. As for Kuk, she sealed him away into the very core of the world, in another dimension. She turned herself into the Mana Tree and covered the gateway to the dimension, which has been named "Crystalia"."
"Crystalia is a world of demons, Kuk's children. It's full of evil and darkness, and no one has ever gone there. With the Mana Tree destroyed, I can only guess Kuk's plan is to reclaim the world! So, we have to go to Crystalia before Kuk gets to us first." She concluded dramatically. Everyone nodded and fell silent. After the moment passed, Duran stood up.
"We need rest, especially Lumina. You all can stay at the inn, it's just above my house." He suggested pointing northward. Suddenly, Duran's little sister piped up.
"Big brother! Don't go! Please?!?" she whined, her eleven-year-old voice still undeveloped.
"Wendy, I'm sorry, but it won't take long…" Duran replied gently. Wendy sighed and nodded, and the warriors head towards the inn.
* * *
Duran, Hawk, Nysoro, Lise, Carlie, Stella and Kevin met in front of Duran's house the next morning.
"Where are Angela and Lumina?" Hawk asked impatiently, but his answer came as Angela stepped out of the inn.
"Lumina asked me if I could alter her clothing. She looks so pretty!" Angela giggled excitingly, and moved out of the way. Everyone stood in awe at Lumina as she stepped out of the doorway, completely changed.
She no longer wore her tomboyish clothing, but a long green skirt with slits up to her upper thighs. Over lapping her skirt was a long crimson gown, open and the top gone with the back drifting behind her skirt. She wore an emerald sleeveless and strapless top that attached to opaque sleeves that extended past her hands. Her hair was done up as it was before, a high ponytail with some drifting to her shoulders. On her forehead, however, she wore a bright emerald, with long strips of liquid like metal that stayed in place even as she moved.
"Amazing…but why the big change?" Nysoro asked, a bit concerned.
"I've been running away from my position as Crown Princess of the Dragon Tribe all my life. It's time I finally got serious about it, and took my role." Lumina answered. She took from behind her back the long, crimson cape that had once belonged to Koren and handed it to Stella.
"Guard it with your LIFE. And…this too." She added, taking out the heirloom Dragon pendant. Stella nodded firmly and took both items. Lumina smiled and walked over to Duran.
"Let's go." She said firmly, and Duran sighed and nodded. He took the drum from his belt and rang in it the air. The great white dragon soared from nowhere and landed in front of the warriors.
"I'll be staying here Lumina, but the best of luck!" Nysoro cried out, and stood at Stella's ankles. Lumina smiled and turned to the dragon.
"Lumina, this is Flammie. Flammie, Lumina!" Kevin exclaimed proudly. Flammie took one look at Lumina and bowed deeply.
"Oh…it's alright…stand up!" Lumina giggled and Flammie stood back up, purring.
"C'mon girl, to the Mana Holyland!" Duran ordered, and Flammie swooped them up and rose into the sky, Nysoro and Stella waving below.
* * *
Flammie dropped them off directly at the torn and ripped Mana Tree. Lumina was the first to step forward and look down, the others following behind her, weapons out.
Suddenly a rush of violet energy struck the warriors and Lumina felt a deep sucking feeling inside her, like her soul was being dragged down. But her entire body was lifted off the ground along with everyone else's and all seven of them were plunged deep into the hole.
When Lumina found it safe again to open her eyes, it was the same as keeping them closed…almost. The seven warriors found themselves on solid ground, but all around them was darkness and bareness. Streaks of purple eventually flashed by, but they disappeared before a second glance. All around them, a deep growling sound was roaring.
"What is that…OH GODDESS! CARLIE WATCH OUT!" Duran screamed and dove, throwing Carlie out of the way. Looking at her direction, Lumina saw a black shadow with red eyes and black gleaming teeth. Hundreds more stood ready to pounce all around them. Angela began to chant her most powerful spell, and the prism light covered the demons, destroying them all.
"RUN! THERE'S A PATHWAY OF FLAMES! FOLLOW IT!" Hawk roared and dashed forward. Indeed, a pathway of purple flames lead the way to a even purpler glow at the horizon of the dimension. The seven fighters ran as fast as they could down the pathway, their footsteps echoing into the silence. But shrieks of anger and roars of rage broke the silence as more demons flew after them like fury. Angela shot a Saint Beam at the mass and some fell back, but even more appeared, trampling the fallen.
The flame pathway eventually revealed a huge palace, bigger than Altena's, Forcena's, and the Dragon Tribe's put together. The castle seemed to be made out of black crystal, or glass.
"It's diamond! The place is called Black Diamond Castle, Kuk is inside!" Lise shouted over the roars of the demons. Angela eventually gave up on casting and ran full force with her friends. The citadel grew larger and larger, and suddenly, Lumina felt the dropping sensation once more, and everything went black.
Waking up on seemingly solid ground, Lumina felt absolutely terrible. The thoughts of Koren being dead and her father's and Loki's passing filled her head with misery. Duran and the others also sat double over, near tears.
"I see the day my father left…the day I found out that he had died…my mother dying hours later…" Duran sobbed, his face in his hands.
"I remember when my best friend, Eagle, was killed and his murder blamed on me…" whispered Hawk, shaking his head.
"Mother…I really did love you so much…Koren…you were my best friend before you changed…" whimpered Angela.
"Carlie miss Heath! Where is my Heath?!?" bawled Carlie, her face streaked with tears.
"Karl…best friend Karl…come back…" Kevin howled, clawing his hair.
"Father…Elliot…oh my kingdom…I still see it going up in flames…" Lise cried, supporting herself on her spear. She shook her head and stood up, looking at everyone.
"This area is called the Anti-space. Kuk himself resides here, the palace we saw before was an illusion to lead us here…" she informed quickly and motioned everyone to stand up. With much difficulty, the party stood up and walked the flame pathway to the Black Diamond palace. About halfway there, Duran fell to his knees again.
"Father…Mother…no…" he cried uncontrollably, heaving with sobs. Lumina knelt down to him.
"We'll get your father's revenge! Just focus your anger on Kuk, and let it out on him." She spoke gently, reassuring. Duran looked up at her, his true innocence now showing. Lumina embraced him like a mother and Duran cried into her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry…all these years I have hated your father…I feel like crud for doing that. Kuk will pay for everything he has done to all of us!" he roared, and everyone nodded weakly. Lumina and Duran stood back up and Lumina supported him on her shoulder. The warriors finally reached the Black Diamond Palace, the door gleaming, beckoning them to meet its Lord.
Lumina stepped forward and opened the palace doors. They did not make a sound, easing open as if they were used regulary. She walked forward, her steps echoing emptily into the palace, her friends and comrades behind her.
They found themselves in a gigantic evil cathedral, covered in stained-glass paintings. Black pews filled the room, leading up to a alter covered in human skulls with rubies inside their eyes. Above the alter, the biggest stained-glass picture shone in the purple glow. It depicted a large cobra-like creature, long and black, with fangs gleaming with poison. Below the serpent was a picture of the world, being burned by the fetid acid.
But the rest of the paintings were far more interesting. A entire wall was dedicated to Forcenan soldiers, and Duran ran over.
"This must be from the Great War! How did…oh…my…" he gasped turning pale. Everyone turned to stare at what he was looking at, and paled as well.
It was Loki.
"AARGH! NO! FATHER!!!!" Duran screamed in anger, and pounded his fist to the ground. Lumina shook her head angrily, as Angela screamed.
"MOTHER!" she screeched and kneeled to a painting of the Queen of Reason. Lumina gasped lightly, surprised at this horrific collection. The other fighters spread out, finding their own relatives and friends. Lumina finally came across her own fears, and saw Koren and her father depicted together.
"This is a trophy room…of all his victims…" Lumina whispered, touching Koren's painting. Lise gasped loudly.
"Look! Look above the main picture!" she shrieked pointing up. Above the picture of the serpent, was a strange thing…
Seven empty windows stood open, ready to accept.
"Oh gods…no…don't tell me those are…" Angela whined, and Lumina nodded.
"They're for us…" she replied and felt the cold draft once more. Gathering at the alter, wisps of purple mist began to take a shape. The twisted masses twirled around, screaming shrilly and shrieking at their foes. Finally, the mist darkened to a black robed figure.
Kuk had finally appeared to them.