Hello. I don't usually do notes at the beginning, but today's chapter has something a little different. I included a song. Specifically "The Dancing and the Dreaming" by John Powell written for How to Train Your Dragon 2. I do not own the song. Honestly, I could just see Danna singing this with his wife. It is slightly different because I left out Gobber's lines. Also, if you haven't heard it, go listen. It is such a good song! Really, the music of the entire HTTYD series is amazing, John Powell is a legend.
Chapter 26
Dorothy rubbed Jack's back, sympathetic to his distress over his first kill.
A giggle but across the ice, but it wasn't Rapunzel. It made the fine hairs on Alviss' body stand up because it sounded like Phantom. Looking across the way, Lunestra was on the field.
"Ooo." Nanashi apparently had not learned his lesson with Loco. "I'll -"
"Stay put." Sol's emphatic statement made Nanashi freeze. Solara dropped off Lucian's back. "She's mine." Something about her posture made the others back up. "Babbo…stay there."
"What!?" The boys were shocked as Solara strode out alone.
Dorothy wasn't shocked, but she was confused. "Lunestra…has…almost no magic. She only has one ÄRM…but it's not…a classified one."
Girom seethed next to his sister. He was supposed to take on Solara. What were these bitches doing?! Yet he couldn't say anything for fear of setting off his sister. No matter how much he hated this female, they could not kill her.
"Pozun, what's going on?" Alviss asked.
"The Bishop Lunestra is the only member of the Chess above Pawn that has as little magic as she does. She gained and maintains the position because none of the Rooks and few of the Bishops can stand up to her speed and strength. She is also…Phantom's adopted daughter."
Team MÄR looked back at the field. Alviss was struck by the contrast of the two. Black hair, white hair; blue eyes, red eyes; sun, moon. Yet…there was also a distinct similarity between them. What was it?
"They're built the same." Jack pointed out.
Alviss blinked. Jack was right. Solara and Lunestra were built the same and the fact that they were standing in the same position was what made it apparent. Something about this image was bothering him, but he couldn't clarify what was wrong.
"Third match! Chess Piece – Bishop – Lunestra! vs. MÄR – Captain – Solara! Begin!"
Lunestra giggled, then blurred as she raced forward. At the last second, Solara side-stepped her attack. For a while, this repeated, Lunestra attacking and Solara nimbly avoiding her. Those watching were confused. This wasn't like Solara.
Lunestra stopped and scowled. "Why aren't you fighting?" Solara's teammates were shocked. She sounded like Solara. What was going on?
"Not really into self-torture." Was Solara's bizarre answer. Before Lunestra could snap back, she asked, "What did he tell you?"
"That you abandoned me!" Lunestra snarled. Solara blinked owlishly.
"That's it?"
"What's that mean? You need more to damn you?!"
"Did he tell you how you got here?"
"Huh?"
"How did you get here? I'm from Earth. Abandoning you would require either me being from here or me dumping you here. Doesn't really make a lot of sense now, does it?"
"Stop trying to confuse me!" Lunestra lunged at her and Solara jumped back. Lunestra punched the ground and it cracked under the blow.
"You really should stop." Solara said.
"Why?! You're not my sister! You haven't been my sister since you abandoned me!"
An eyebrow rose. "I've never been you're sister. I'm an only child."
"Lair!" she shrieked and rushed Solara.
Solara blocked Lunestra's flurry of punches. Finally, she knocked down a blow and slapped Lunestra across the face, hard enough to knock her sideways…and her mask went skittering across the ice.
Most of the Chess Pieces had never seen Lunestra without her mask and Team MÄR obviously hadn't. So no one was ready to see Solara standing impassively in front of a furious white haired, red eyed version of herself.
"You…you're not even trying, are you?! Fight back, dammit!" Lunestra swung again…and Solara vanished. Lunestra stumbled through the empty space and whipped around looking for her.
"Up." Lunestra jerked her gaze up at Solara's voice. Solara was over her head, having jumped. Solara flipped as she came down and Lunestra sprang out of the way. *CRASH* Solara's boot hit the ground in a powerful kick…and the ground for a five foot radius shattered.
Lunestra stumbled back, shocked. Solara turned to look at her. "H…how…?! How is there such a difference between us?!" Lunestra charged at her again, but this time Solara caught her fists.
"You have a scar on your left temple, mostly under your hair."
"How'd you know?!"
"Because I have the same scar. How is there such a difference between us? Because six years ago, a monster inhabited Babbo."
"W-what?"
"I've dreamed of MÄR Heaven my entire life. But six years ago, I encountered Phantom and Babbo. Remember?"
Lunestra stared. Then the ring ÄRM on her hand flashed. Suddenly, no could see either of them. Instead, a scene was playing out.
Fire. Everything was on fire. She was crying. She was scared. She couldn't find her knight. "Daddy!" she cried, "Daddy, where are you?!" He would make everything better. He always did.
She tripped on something in the smoke. It didn't feel like a rock. What was it? She touched it. It was a person. "H-hey, wake up. It's dangerous here." She shook the person. The haze cleared some and she realized the person was covered in blood. She saw his face. She screamed. "DADDY!"
"Daddy, daddy, save me, save me." A deep bass voice mocked her from the shadows, laughing cruelly.
Phantom stepped out of the dark. She couldn't see him clearly. He was holding Babbo, who had a nasty sharp-toothed grin. They were laughing.
"Daddy won't save you, cause daddy's going to die." Phantom said, his voice a high baritone. Her dad disappeared.
She could feel her rage stirring. She didn't try to stop it. With a scream, she charged at him. He seemed surprised because initially he didn't do anything. She hit him hard enough to make him stumble. She kept hitting him. He grunted under the vicious assault.
This small ten-year-old had a lot of power. He found her interesting. He decided to take her. He knocked her back and she found the chain wrapped around her throat. "I will remake you. You will be my daughter…" She struggled. He and Babbo laughed. Babbo hit her in the left temple. She screamed as pain erupted, tearing through her, body and soul.
The scene splits.
Sol passed out, hanging limply in Phantom's grip. He picked her up and started walking away. As he walked, the color started leeching out of Sol's hair, turning a shocking white.
Sol lunged out of her bed, screaming and swinging. She just missed punching her mother in the face. Sol noticed her and charged at her, blood running down her face, making her look terrifying. Her mother has to run out of the room and lock her inside. Sol destroys everything in the room in her rage.
Sol wakes up, confused. "Who are you?" She asked Phantom. "I am Phantom." "Who is he?" "That's Babbo." "…who…who am I?" Phantom smiled. "You are Lunestra. My adopted daughter."
The door to the room is thrown open. Sol charges at the person in the entryway. "Sol, stop!" Sol freezes. Koyuki looks at her for several moments, then hugs her. "I'm here." Sol hugs her tightly, then collapses as her injury becomes known to her mind with her rage gone.
Lunestra watches the final battle from the battlements with Rolan. Her red eyes can't see the Cross Guard captain clearly. This fight was upsetting her. She didn't like her daddy getting hurt.
"Are you okay, Sol?" Koyuki asks her now black-haired friend in the hospital. "…no. I don't think I will ever be okay again." The now blue eyes closed, so they couldn't see Koyuki's distress.
The scene dissolved.
No one made a sound. Alviss remembered Solara's fight against Garon. You destroyed my dreams. You stole my sanity. He was fairly certain no one had realized that she meant literally.
"…I…" Lunestra dropped to her knees. "…I don't…didn't…"
Solara's expression was soft. "It wasn't a 50/50 split. More like 80/20. That's why you don't a lot of magic or the rage. But you got the sense of humor and the ability to connect cleanly with your other emotions, which is what I used to balance out my rage."
Lunestra blinked up at her. "Y-you're not…upset about…me being with the Chess?" her voice wavered.
Solara shook her head. "I'm a berserker. You think I'm going to judge you for not understanding what you were doing?"
Lunestra released a watery laugh. "I guess not."
Solara pulled her to her feet. "Do you remember…Mama and Daddy's song?"
Lunestra frowned. "I…think…so?"
A sweet tune slid through the air. Solara was whistling. The tune tugged at the heartstrings. Then, to the amazement of her friends, Solara started singing.
I'll swim and sail on savage seas,
with ne'er a fear of drowning.
And gladly ride the waves of life,
if you will marry me.
No scorching sun nor freezing cold
will stop me on my journey,
if you will promise me your heart,
and love…
Lunestra picked up the line as Solara let it trail off.
…and love me for eternity.
My dearest one, my darling dear,
your mighty words astound me.
But I've no need of mighty deeds
when you feel your arms around me!
The two started dancing around each other. Solara's teammates found themselves smiling. The Chess Pieces were completely confused. Solara took the next verse.
But I would bring you rings of gold,
I'd even sing you poetry.
And I would keep you from all harm
if you would stay beside me.
Lunestra laughed as Solara whirled her around and picked up the song.
I have no use for rings of gold,
I care not for your poetry,
I only want your hand to hold.
Solara took the next line,
I only want you near me.
before they sang together, whirling across the ice.
To love and kiss, to sweetly hold
for the dancing and the dreaming.
Through all life's sorrows and delights
I'll keep you laugh inside me.
I'll swim and sail on savage seas,
with ne'er a fear of drowning.
And gladly ride the wave of life
if you will marry me!
Solara and Lunestra stopped. Lunestra was laughing and Solara was actually smiling. Lunestra stopped laughing, stepped away from Solara, and the two looked at each other for several moments.
"I want to come home." Lunestra said suddenly. "C-can I?" This question was quiet but carried in the silence.
Solara's smile widened. "Yes."
Lunestra's smile was brilliant. Then she apparently thought of something. "Pozun!"
"Y-yes, Ms. Lunestra!"
"I surrender." Rapunzel shrieked at Lunestra's statement, making her grin.
"Winner – MÄR – Solara!"
Rapunzel started screaming that she would kill Lunestra for surrendering, only staying put because Girom had a hold of her. Lunestra just laughed at her. "Go screw yourself, you hideous hag, cause ain't nobody else gonna do it!" Solara barked a laugh at that.
Solara held out her arms. With an ecstatic grin, Lunestra ran to her. In her arms, the two sides kissed. As eyes went wide in surprise, they quickly had to close them as there was a blinding flash of light.
When the spots cleared from everyone's eyes, jaws dropped. Where there had been two people, there was now only one.
Solara and Lunestra had both been really pale, Solara seeming more so with her black hair. The person in front of them had a golden undertone to her skin.
Solara's black hair had been bone straight and Lunestra's white hair was sporadically feathery. This females hair was…calling it red was similar to call the ocean blue. It didn't really describe it. The wavy, curling hair that cascaded down to her butt, consisted of various shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, causing it to look like fire.
Solara's ice blue eyes were piercing, while Lunestra's blood red eyes were just disturbing. Vibrant amethyst eyes blinked open, like she was waking up. She looked down at her hands as she open and closed them a couple of times.
At first, no one knew what was going on. Then Jack remembered the picture in the locket. The little red haired girl was… "S…Solara!" She looked up, turning towards Jack, who sprinted over to her. Her expression was blank. Jack caught her upper arms and shook her slightly in excitement. "You did it! You got back what Phantom stole from you!"
Sol blinked and looked at her hands again. "I…did…" A slow smile took her face. "I did!" She started laughing. It wasn't the rusty sound they were use to or the mildly hysterical thing Lunestra had picked up from Phantom. It was a rich sound, that sounded like Danna's. Sol picked Jack up, making him squeak in surprise, and spun him around. "I'm not broken anymore!"
As Sol danced across the ice, taking the startled Jack with her, her friends stared. Sol had never acted like this before. Dorothy and Nanashi looked at each other and started laughing.
Alviss' jaw hung as memories he had allowed to slip away surged up.
"Hello."
4 year old Alviss jumped in surprise as a voice came from behind him. Looking away from his project, he found a little girl his age with bright red hair and purple eyes standing behind him. She smiled sweetly at him. "Uh… hi?"
She giggled. "Did you just make that a question?"
Alviss flushed. "Uh, well, you, uh, surprised me." He stumbled over his words.
"Sorry. What are you doing?" She leaned sideways, trying to look past him.
"I-it's a castle." He shifted so she could see better. She seemed to take it as an invitation to come closer because she sat down next to him, observing his soil castle.
"It's cool. Are you gonna give it a moat?"
"I hadn't thought that far ahead."
"Oh." After a moment, she asked, "Can I help?"
"Okay." The two worked together, building the castle bigger, digging a moat, and decorating the castle. They talked and laughed, getting dirty and not caring. Hours slid by, with neither noticing until the girl just stopped, looking up at the sky with unfocused eyes.
"Hey, are you okay?" Alviss asked.
"I…have to go."
"Oh. Okay. Will you come play again?"
"I don't know." She looked at him. Something seemed…off. "I never know where I'll show up. I'd like to though."
Alviss frowned in confusion. "Huh?"
She smiled. "I'm asleep." Alviss' eyes went wide. "It's time to wake up." The color drained out of Alviss' face as he realized that what had looked odd to him was that she was becoming transparent. "I hope I get to see you again."
"Ah, wait!" Without thinking, he reached out to grab her hand. His hand passed through hers and they both shivered violently, eyes wide in shock as a bizarre feeling snaked through their bodies. "S-sorry. I… W-what's your name?"
She blinked. "Solara. What's your?"
"I'm Alviss." At this point he could barely see her. Except for her bright amethyst eyes. "See you next time." He wanted to see her again, so he simply decided he would.
She stared, then she smiled. "See you next time." Her voice echoed as a she completely vanished.
She showed up every day after that. Alviss felt like he was floundering as memory after memory crashed over him. Like the day he lost his mom.
"Alviss…?"
Sol's quiet voice broke through the pain swamping his eight year old mind. He lifted his head from his knees to look at her with watery eyes. She was crouched in front of him, concern etched on her face.
"What happened?" She reached out but stopped short of touching him. They hadn't touched since that first day, but right now…he just needed to be held. He lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her waist, and burying his face in her chest.
Sol didn't ask anymore questions or push him away. She put her arms around him and ran her fingers through his hair. When she started humming, he lost it.
His sobs were harsh and tearing, his tears hot and thick. His father had left before he was born, so his mom was all he had. She had gotten really sick about a week ago and this morning…she didn't wake up.
Eventually, his tears ran dry. He could hear her humming quietly. After a few moments, "I'm sorry, Alviss. She was really nice." His heart clenched and he tightened his grip, but he didn't say anything. She rested her cheek on his head and started humming again.
Her scent was soothing, so he simply stayed there. Before he knew it, time was up. He had fallen into a light doze but came awake as a strange sensation slid through his body. She had stopped humming. He lifted his head and was startled to realize that his head had been against the wall. Jerking upright, he found her disappearing, as she did every day, but he was left sitting…inside her. He could feel her, but his touch was passing through her. She looked at him, wide eyed.
Before he could apologize, she smiled softly. "I hope you're feeling better. I wish I could stay…but I'll see you tomorrow." He didn't want her to leave, but she had family waiting for her. He wished he could go with her, but he didn't know how. He refused to cry again. At least she would be back tomorrow.
She leaned over and pressed a phantom kiss to his cheek. "See you next time." Her voice echoed as he touched his cheek, shocked.
After that day, being away from her was…uncomfortable. Like a string between us was being stretched too far.
He watched as Sol came back over, hugging Lucian and Dorothy, and thwacking Nanashi on the back.
Looking back…there were so many clues…how did I miss it?! And…dammit I knew she was Danna's daughter!
Danna was laughing at a comment that the 10 year old Alviss had made. "Ah, Alviss. You're like the son I never had. You make me miss my little sun." He rubbed Alviss' head.
Alviss grinned, then frowned in confusion. "I thought you had a daughter?"
"I do. Oh, right, I said sun. I meant the sun." He pointed to the sky. "Her name is based on it."
Alviss froze in surprise. "Uh, you've never said your daughter's name."
"I haven't? Huh. I guess I haven't. Her name is Solara."
"S-!" He cut himself off. Maybe the name is common. "Um, w-what does she look like?" Was Danna really Sol's missing father?
"Well, she looks a lot like her mother. Except her eyes, she had my eyes. Oh, here," Danna pulled something out from under his shirt collar. It was a gold heart-shaped pendant. He squeezed its sides and it popped open. He held it out to Alviss, revealing a picture. "That's me, my wife Akane, Solara, and her friend Koyuki. Koyuki is basically another daughter to us."
Alviss' eyes were wide as he looked at his sunshine with her family and the friend that she always talked about. She had been upset lately because her father has been missing for the past three months. Now he knew her dad was here.
He felt slightly guilty, since he had been hanging around the Cross Guard and Danna for the past two months, but he always wandered away when Sol showed up. He just didn't want her near the fighting. Today he would stay here. She deserved to see her dad. She'd be so excited. And hopefully neither of them got mad at him.
But she didn't show up that day… She never showed up again… Was…was that when she encountered Phantom?! Sol turned from the others and came over to him. His chest felt tight, making it hard to breath. His heart was pounding. I… I missed her.
"Alviss? You okay? You're kinda pale."
"I remember." He blurted.
