Chapter 23

(Tsukasa's pov)

As we were getting ready for the final battle against Deava, I knew that they needed to know what happened that fateful 17 years ago. So, I gathered everyone together to include Queen Sakura, Kissa, and Tadase and asked them all to sit down. "This will not be an easy subject to hear but you all need to hear it so that you know what to expect from Deava" I began. I used my abilities and they saw the story in their minds.

Late on September 24 Amu Aka-Ryuu was born. She had bright pink hair from day one. Most babies have dark blue or black eyes when born, but not the princess of Theodora. She had deep honey colored eyes. When she was 4 days old, the Tsukuyomi family met with the Aka-Ryuu family and decided that they would have their children be married.

When she was 7 days old, Kissa came to the palace. She told King Yuu that she had seen the future and that I had seen it too. She saw Deava from the realm of Darkness destroy Theodora. Kissa explained that the only way to defeat him was to send their daughter away from her home. She was to be sent on a quest to find four elemental orbs that would help her refine the sword singer magic that ran through her veins.

Queen Aoi gasped and explained that singer magic was rare and that only one element could be mastered. Kissa told the Queen that Amu would have the ability to use all four elements. It was to be the responsibility of the king and queen to call the guardians to protect the orbs within different realms so that no one would be able to take them until Amu was able to earn them. When Kissa was done explaining what she saw, she told the king and queen that she did not wish to remember the prophecy. So, she made up the rhymes then cast a spell on herself to forget where the prophecy came from and returned to the dream realm. The only memory she retained was to go to Earth when she was kicked out of the Dreamworld and to find Tsugumu.

When Amu was only a month old, she went on the journey with her mother to the orb guardian locations in different realms. The Hinamori family followed Queen Aoi on her journey, refusing to leave her unprotected since Queen Aoi did not bring guards. She did not want to tip anyone off from what she knew was going to happen. The last place Queen Aoi went went was to Fuji no Hana, with her sister and her children. Queen Sakura's children weren't much older than Amu and they all got their pictures painted together. Amu 2 and half months old by the time she returned home with her father.

Everything was going good, but they knew it wouldn't last forever. Amu was already a spitfire. She was always laughing and made everyone around her laugh. I had taken Tadase under my care when I heard the prophecy. I refused to let my nephew grow up with a father bent on destroying other people's happiness. So, Amu and Tadase had grown up for the first few months of their lives together.

Then in late January Amu was around four months old, around 2 in the afternoon, the day turned into night and Deava started attacking people in the realm. He used death reach to kill anyone it touched. With each death, he took their energy, absorbed it and then made his next attack stronger. The only positive part was after the attack, his strength went back to normal, but then he killed again, and the cycle repeated itself. The plants withered as he walked by and the air around smelled stale. The Aka-Ryuu family saw the destruction from their palace told everyone to get into defensive modes to protect the country. King Yuu looked at Queen Aoi, he hugged and kissed her with Amu in his arms and ran down the stairs with the Hinamori family into the secret passageway to get their daughter to safety.

Queen Aoi grabbed her sword and summoned her singer magic. She had the power of the air and she was the best chance for her daughter and husband to survive. This was why she sent them away while she and the armies of Theodora fought Deava alone without their King and infant princess.

Tsukasa held Tadase, who was covered by a blanket so that he could not see the monster his father had become, back in the shadows and watched on with horror as his brother killed countless innocent people just to gain another realm, just to get stronger. His main attacks were death touch, black air, silent scream and finally paralyzing nightmare.

I watched Queen Aoi get hit with the nightmare and I watched her fall to the ground. Then I watched as my brother left in search of a pink haired princess. I walked over to queen leaving my nephew in the corner still covered by the blanket and held her head in my lap. She looked at me crying and begged me to keep Amu safe then gave me a vial that I was supposed to give to Amu. This would hide her true identity until the prophecy would come true. I took vial from her and promised to always protect Princess Amu. She smiled as she spoke of her love for Yuu and Amu then she closed her eyes breathing her last breath. I sighed, then cried thinking that Queen Aoi had fought to her last breath and her final thought was of her husband and baby girl.

I got up, went to the corner, picked Tadase and headed to the secret tunnel in search the king and princess. As I made my way through the tunnel, it led to the grove where the king had set up a safe house if he or his family ever had to leave the castle.

I stepped out of it and noticed that the king was holding Amu and crying, knowing his wife was now gone and that he was alone. King Yuu turned when he heard me come out of the tunnel with his sword drawn ready to kill anyone that wasn't supposed to be there.

But when he saw me, he dropped the sword and asked if I was there for Amu. He asked if his wife survived. I told him that I was indeed there for Amu. I told him Queen Aoi had perished in the battle but that her final thought was of him and their daughter and then he started crying more while hugging his now motherless sleeping pink haired baby girl. Tsugumu and Midori Hinamori walked out of the cabin when they were us talking.

King Yuu walked over to me and gave me a small bag of powder. Do not use or lose this under any circumstances Tsukasa. This is for my baby girl. It's truth powder. It will reveal the truth to anyone she uses it on. In addition, if you tried to use, it would be useless so do not waste it and handed it to me. He held Amu for a few more in minutes, handed her to the Hinamori family, then opened a portal to Fuji no Hana. He watched us walk through the portal then turned and walked into the cabin with tears streaming down his face. From there, I gathered all the children that needed to come to Earth with me for the prophecy to come true.

With that, I brought everyone out of the story trance and everyone in the room was crying. Amu just sat there not knowing what to say or do except cry. Ikuto turned her towards his chest and let her cry. Nade and Nagi moved over to Amu and hugged her too, trying to tell her that even though they know they couldn't bring back her mom that she was family and they would always be there for her. Amu said thank you and tried to stop crying.

"I'm sorry everyone, I don't know how else to help you all. I have trained you as much as I can. Now, I have to let you go. Tadase and I will stay here in Fuji no Hana. Tadase, you have no training in battle, so I'm sorry you will not be able to help Amu against your father. Amu, here, the last present from your father. The powder. I don't know why you need it, but he said that only you could use it and not to waste it. I strongly suggest that once you all have your bearings together, you head to Theodora. That will be where my brother is at. Once you all left Earth, he went to where he conquered his grounds and views the property as his. Good luck" I told them all, then I walked out of the room.

(Amu's pov)

After a few hours, Ikuto and I were in our room sitting on the bed and he was holding me as I came to grips with everything I just learned.

"Thank you Ikuto" I said and kissed him. A soft knock came at the door and I looked up as Utau, Kukai, Nagi Nade, and Rima walked into the room and asked if I was okay. "Yea, I'm okay, thanks guys. I know I am taking this hard. I think that if we go do some training, maybe I can clear my head" I said. "What do you think? I asked them and they agreed. We all went to get Yaya and Kairi and went to the field to practice.

"Now I know that we have been training like no one's business, but we need to bring it all together now okay? I'm going to list everyone's attack and defense positions. Here are our attack moves, defensive moves and those who have healing abilities."

"Nade: robe of feathers (holds enemy in place), dance of cherry blossoms (Distracts the enemy), forgetfulness, sleep, healing

Nagi: beat dunk (basketball), blaze shoot (blue energy ball in a frisbee-like shape)

Rima: tightrope dancer, juggling party

Combined: queen's waltz

Kukai: golden victory shoot (soccer),

Utau: star attacks (moon druid), healing

Kairi: lightening blade (soul sword), defense shield

Yaya: Merry Merry, Little Duckies – scramble and dash (attacks), ducky dash (shield)

Ikuto: slash claw, emerald line, sun attack (sun druid) healing magic

Me: (earth) sandstorm, twisters, (water) tsunami, rainy days, (fire) fire storm, meteor shower, (air) windstorm, air raid "

"Now we just need to put it all together" I said.

As we went through the attacks of everyone and the defensive moves, we developed how we were going to defeat Deava. I wanted to try something. Ikuto, hold my sword and try to use my singer magic please. I asked him. Ikuto took my sword, held my hand and concentrated, but was unable to use it. Sorry Strawberry, it doesn't work that way. You can use my powers and I can use yours but not this way he told me. I'm going to try yours okay? I asked him and he nodded.

I held onto his hand and focused on his healing magic. As I did, my sword glowed green. I swung my sword and a beam of green light hit a tree that was dying. The tree was instantly healed and began bearing fruit. That's interesting I told Ikuto.

I looked behind me and my friends asked when I learned how to heal; and I told them that I barrowed the ability from Ikuto. "Okay everyone, I am going to ask you all to something and as weird as it may seem, please bear with me.

Nade, please come here and either hold my hand, touch my shoulder, something but first I there need to be physical contact okay? She chose you hold my hand. "Please imagine using your sleeping ability and transferring it to me. Concentrate on me and I'll transfer it to my sword" I explained. She performed what I asked, and I moved my sword spelling sleep and it shot out a spray to the field that would have put anyone there asleep. "Thank you Nade" I said as I hugged her. "It worked!"

Utau, would you please come next, in order for what I have planned, we need to work together. Will you be willing to do what Nade just did with me?" I asked her. She looked at me and said, "I will do whatever it takes to defeat the monster that destroyed my sister in laws home. I accept you Amu. I will never let anything happen to you or my brother. Thank you for never giving up on me and allowing me to be part of your family, regardless of how I have treated you."

Utau grabbed my hand and said, "what do you need me to do?' "I am going to turn enemies sky into stars" I responded. "Done" she said and closed her eyes. I focused my sword and the enemies are area turned dark.

"Kukai, your turn" I said, while reach for his hand, "can you give me shooting stars?" "Anytime Amu" Kukai said grabbing my hand then we turned Utau's stars in shooting stars.

"Ikuto, you have the power of the sun. I'm using meteor shower, lend me some energy so this doesn't drain me okay?" I asked him. Ikuto nodded summoned his sun power and sent his energy into my attack. "Meteor Shower!" I yelled.

The field in front of us exploded in fire and then I watched a sandstorm form in my mind causing the orb in my sword to change colors from red to brown, and the storm blew into the fire. It started melting into lava. As the lava started flowing down to the earth, I saw a tsunami and my orb turned blue freezing the lava. It changed the properties to glass.

"Kairi, Yaya, Rima, Nagi and Ikuto, use your attacks and destroy the glass." I said. The next moment you hear

Lighting blade!

GO GO DUCKIES MERRY MERRY!

Juggling party!

Blaze shoot!

Slash claw!

Needless to say, there was nothing left of the glass.

Everyone stood there staring at what we had completed together. "I think we will be okay everyone. During the battle, if I call your name or you see me looking at you please come over so that we can do a combined attack" I explained.

"The ones who will be on healing and shielding the most will be, Nade, Kairi, Utau and Yaya. The ones who will be attacking with me most of the time will be Ikuto, Kukai Rima and Nagi. The secondary healers will be Ikuto and I. The secondary attackers will be Kairi and Utau. Do any of you have any questions?" I explained to everyone.

"Where will we all be standing?" Kairi asked.

"The primary healers will be in the back. When it comes to the combined attacks, we will all move around like a dance. A battle is nothing but a dance with swords, weapons and abilities. Do not be afraid to show off your dance moves. Gracefulness is not only for the dancefloor, but also the battleground." I replied with a smile. "It is in these situations, we must work hard to protect each other and everyone else but it is also the time to be ourselves and have some fun. Thank you everyone for your hard work and dedication to helping me."

We went back the palace and prepared to head to Theodora the following day. I knew that had our work cut out for us but that we could defeat him as long as we worked together.