Chapter Sixteen: The City Of Dragons

Lithos…lusec…wecos…vinosec…

I was floating away, floating away into darkness and I could not see where I was going…

Lithos…lusec…wecos…vinosec…

Then, with a loud thud, I hit the marble floor hard.

Lithos…lusec…wecos…vinosec…

I groaned with pain, trying to lift myself up. But I couldn't move. I had no will to. I lay there with my eyes half open, those magical ice tears stinging into my cheeks.

I saw the world through icy blue, and I heard the world as if under arctic water. Someone- Maika, I think, was talking to someone.

"Go, my dear…go and get ready…I will take care of her. They will soon be coming."

"Yes, Mother dear," a cruel young woman's voice said. Her dark figure towered over me, and I could not see her clearly, but I could sense her divine amusement. "If I see your little boyfriend and your brother at the party, I'll be sure to say hello for you." She turned around and was gone.

That voice…

"Up," Maika commanded at me.

My limbs obeyed her over my own mind. As smooth as glass my body lifted itself onto its feet and my head turned abruptly to face her.

She smiled coldly. " You must be cold, Kyonae…here…we want you to look nice for the party as well."

At a lift of her hand a light blue cape rose from its place on a hook over to place itself on my shoulders.

"There, now…you look just fine…the Dratilian mark of a sorceress." She looked at me. "Do not be sad, little Kyonae. Once I take over the world I will change you back to normal. Of course, by then it might be too late. With or without this spell, you are still a sorceress. Like me. Like Ultimecia. Like my dear Sanya. Too bad your brother wasn't born a sorcerer…he might have been able to save you."

"Brother?"

"Why you didn't know? No, I guess not. That strange Squall Leonhart boy is your twin. You may not have noticed it before…" She came forward and ran her index finger down my scar, sending a modest surge of electricity through my numb body. I didn't have the strength to groan in pain. "But now you look just like him. And your sister Ellone…and the Laguna fellow…your poor, meddlesome father…he misses you too."

"What about my mother? My real mother?" I asked tonelessly.

"Oh, she's been dead for years. Her name was Raine. But she's of little importance to you now."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing all this…" I drifted off sorrowfully as she pressed her finger on my frozen lips.

"Listen to me, girl," she said bitterly, her smile remaining. "This would have been done long ago if you hadn't run from me. Now after all these years, I've found you…and this time, you will not slip from my fingers. My true daughter will live forever, the ceremony will be carried out…and if you do not cooperate, you will die in the process." She went for the door, and placing her hand on the knob, turned her head back to me. "Oh…and by the way, Kyonae…you might want to cool it down in here. It's much too warm for an ice sorceress." She went out the door, locked it, and was gone.

I was momentarily released by the slave spell, my insides filling with cold, brutal anger immediately. Looking around the room through my ice blue vision in sudden rage, I shot out my hands.

"Blizzaga!"

Icy liquid immediately shot form my palms, covering the walls and the floors, the ceiling covered in icicles, snow coated everything in a thin blanket of its innocent whiteness. Vases cracked and exploded, the water within them freezing in midair. Suddenly my rage ceased. Faint reflections of me glimmered softly in the smooth glassy ice, mocking my trembling form as I fell to the cold icy floor, snow still falling lightly from where I did not know.

"Someone help me…anyone…"

But I knew no one would. I'd abandoned Sa-Shenu, turned my back on Seifer, and once everyone found out what I was…

I would be alone. Forgotten. Hated for the sorceress I was.

My secret would be discovered.

Oh, how the tables have turned on me…

*****

I stood in front of the mirror, trying to brush out my dark black hair. A storm was passing through thunder rumbling so loudly, I could barely hear myself think. I missed Squall terribly, though he had gone only a few hours ago. This was no ordinary mission. There was absolute danger involved. I hoped he would be all right. I hoped Kyonae would be okay, too. Even I was beginning to doubt the thought that she'd been executed. But what would a sorceress want with Kyonae…?

Lithos…lusec…wecos…vinosec…

Suddenly lightning flashed, and my mirror image vanished. Before me was Kyonae in the mirror, a light blue cape around her and dark blue tears engraved frozen onto her terrified face. She had no pupils. Her voice was screaming in my mind, pleading hysterically and so loudly I dropped to my knees, holding my forehead…

(HELP ME! RINOA, HELP! SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME! SHE-)

The lightning faded, and she disappeared from the mirror and my thoughts. Irvine was helping me up. "Sweet Hyne, Rinoa, are you okay?"

"Uh…yes, I think so," I gasped, confused. "Didn't you see that?"

"No. I was just sittin' there and suddenly you went all twitchy. Why? What d'ya see?"

"I saw Kyonae. She was begging for help…she's in trouble…" I never doubted my own sorceress powers. Defiantly I looked out the window at the so far rainless storm, then went to go get a jacket on. "Come on!"

"Huh? What? Where are we going?"

"We're going to Dratilia, that's where. Let's get the others."

"What? No! Squall told to you couldn't go with him, remember?"

"Yes he did, Irvine. But he never told me I couldn't go after him." I stormed out the door to find Zell, Selphie, Ellone, Fujiin, Raijiin and Quistis, Irvine reluctantly following.

***

I never thought it would come in handy to have Squall Leonhart on my side. He was one of the elite soldiers of Balamb's force, and when he, Laguna and I left for Dratilia, no questions were asked.

On the way I told them everything, from the kidnapping, Sa-Shenu (who was now leading the way), the fight, the dream, all the way up to Sorceress Maika herself. Laguna looked worried, even for him. He walked ahead to keep track of the Guardian Force, leaving Squall and I to ourselves. The thunderclouds seemed to be following us, roaring and flashing arrogantly, but no rain. Squall turned his head to talk to me, a questioning look on his scarred face. "I was wondering…why are you so worried about what's happened to Kyonae? What's in it for you that you care so much?"

"What?"

"We're out here in a thunderstorm, Seifer, heading toward a city I've never heard of, following a bird that supposedly talks to you, and all because you are just so damn sure that Kyonae's alive and we've gotta go save her before some sorceress kills her. Why do you care about what happens to my sister?"

"Uh…" He caught me off my guard. I wasn't exactly sure how to answer. "Well, you see…um, what I mean is…oh, come on, I'm not that heartless not to care!" I snapped inarticulately at Squall, who was giving me a cock-eyed look.

"You used to be that heartless, Seifer. What happened?"

"People change, okay? I may not look it, but I'm a changed man. I have no sick plots to take over the world, okay? When you actually meet a girl who you nearly destroyed, it tends to change one! So get off my back, Squall!" I quickened my pace to outwalk him, but he'd come to a dead stop in the road. I turned my head to see him there, a look of sudden realization on his face, like he couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out until now.

"You love my sister…don't you?"

I froze. I felt like the police or something had caught me. A bead of sweat ran down my forehead, feeling very pressured. "Well, uh…"

Fortunately, I didn't get the chance to answer him, because just then Laguna cried out ahead of us, "Guys, look! We're here!"

We both ran ahead to meet him, as he was pointing ahead. Following his gaze, we saw the city of Dratilia.

It was just as large as Osiria, maybe larger. High, craggy mountains and a large lake, in the middle of which stood a pedestal-like cliff going up at least 1,000 feet, bordered it. There was a large front gate, on either side stood guard two stone dragons, each different in appearance and extremely lifelike even from a distance. A large stone castle stood in the middle of the city, towering over all the cottages and houses. It looked like something in a fairytale.

"Well…I guess there's nothing to do but go on, right?" Laguna asked to no one in particular. Silently, we all began to climb down the rocky hillside to cross the stretch of trees that lie between the Dratilian gates and us.

Suddenly out of behind one of the trees the figure of a young woman jumped out in front of us. She had neat bright red hair that was cropped short at an angle, a fair face, deep emerald eyes and crimson robes, a symbol of a flame stitched upon the chest. She stood ready to fight, fists clenched.

"Step no further if you do not wish to invoke my wrath!" she threatened. "You lousy Dratilian soldiers!"

"What? We're not Dratilian soldiers," Laguna said nervously, stepping back.

"You mean…you do not wish to invoke my wrath?" the fiery young woman said, dropping her fists, disheartened.

"Hell, no," I insisted.

Another voice came from behind the tree, a calm, collected voice. "Once again, you have accused mere travelers of being Dratilian soldiers. Really, how many times has this happened today?" Another young woman stepped out, with equally neat and short but wavy chestnut brown hair that was straightly cut, pale, oval lilac violet eyes, shy, apple blossom pink lips and leaf-green robes with a flower stitched on the chest.

"Well, I couldn't be sure!" the redhead argued. "They could've been anybody!"

By this time another young woman had stepped out of the woods, one with short, extremely neat jet black hair that was cropped short to an angle opposite of the redhead's. Her eyes were sharp yellow and catlike, taking in everything around her. Her skin was near white, her lips dark red. Her robes were black with a yellow lightning bolt stitched onto the front. She stood erect and tall, very alert. She stepped up to me and lifted up the falcon necklace. "He is a friend, Ember. Calm yourself." Her tone of voice was as clear and sharp as her appearance. She made my heart jump in nervousness, especially because I had had the necklace tucked under my shirt so one would see it. She pierced my eyes with hers, as if reading my thoughts. And she was. "This is Seifer Almasy. And Squall Leonhart. And Laguna Loire."

"Seifer Almasy? Wearing a necklace of Dratilia? No way! What the hell's he doing here?" the redhead gasped, earning a warning glance from the brunette.

"Pardon us," the raven-haired woman said, bowing shortly with apology. "My name is Naomi."

"Eve. Delighted to meet you," the brunette smiled.

"The name's Ember. I'm so ecstatic to make your acquaintance, really, just delighted," the redhead drawled sarcastically, mocking the other's tone.

"We thought you were Dratilian soldiers on the way back from a hunt. We apologize. We are a resistance faction called the Forest Mages, determined on pulling Queen Maika from the Dratilian throne."

"But I heard that everyone respected Queen Maika," I wondered aloud.

"Of course everyone respects her," Naomi said in a bittersweet tone, her eyes glinting. "Because she killed everyone who did not."

"We're on a similar mission," Squall spoke up beside me. "We're going to rescue my sister from Maika."

"Kyonae…yes, I see. Otherwise you would not have that necklace in your possession. We, too, know of her. You are in luck. Tonight there will be an extravagant parade celebrating. No doubt Kyonae will be the guest of honor," Naomi said grimly, as if she knew something I didn't. "We may be able to rescue her and take down the Queen as well."

"How would we do that?" asked Laguna eagerly.

"Naomi's the greatest of all of us at coming up with plans," Ember offered. "What d'ya propose we do?"

"Well…none of you are trained snipers, are you?"

"Irvine," we all said in unison. "But he's back at Garden."

Naomi blinked slowly, a strange foreboding smile on her lips. "I would not be so sure of that, my friends. I will bring them into the city and find some robes for them to wear so they won't be vulnerable to suspicion. Ember, Eve, stand guard here…just in case. Meet us in the Castle Dungeon in 18:00 hours. I will have come up with a plan by then. Come, Almasy, Leonhart, Loire."

Obediently we followed the lightning mage into the stretch of trees, exchanging nervous glances. In one of the clearings there were four horses, which Naomi told us to ride. We each got on one, and rode toward the city gates.

I rode up beside Naomi, trying to make a joke. "I guess you guys have never heard of cars, huh?"

"We like living in the past. Us Dratilians would rather feel the racing heartbeat of a palomino to breathing vehicle exhaust. It is amazing how much we do without modern day things. Osirians are the same way." She sighed. "How alike our two nations are, and yet we have been at war for centuries. It really is depressing."

"Why have you been at war?" I asked.

"Petty things, mostly. But there was a legend…it's been told and retold so many times, no one knows whether it is true or not. But what I know of it…it may seem a little farfetched to you."

"Tell me."

"If you wish. Once, back in the Middle Ages, Dratilians and Osirians lived in peace and harmony, as all nations do sooner or later. There was the brash, ever-flaring King Solarus of Osiria, the ruler of the day and the sun, and wise, ever calm Queen Lunora of Dratilia, the mistress of the night and the moon. The most powerful magical creatures at the time were the Dragons, whom, if befriended, would protect its ally's nation forever from enemies, plague, anything or anyone who wished harm, and attack any nation their ally wanted destroyed. One day, King Solarus discovered Queen Lunora's daughter, Princess Katarina possessed the divine, unique power of summoning and befriending the Dragons. He demanded that the Princess share the power with him, which she kept in the silver confines of a metal figurine of a falcon, which she kept around her neck at all times."

"What? You mean-"

"I am not finished yet. Queen Lunora knew Solarus' ways, and knew he would use the powers foolishly for his own benefit and no one else's. So she forbid Princess Katarina to ever let the necklace out of her sight, and to never give it to the King of Osiria for any reason. Solarus came up with a plan. He sent his son, Prince Darion, to Dratilia in disguise of a squire in a plan to charm the princess into giving them the necklace. But his plan backfired. Darion fell instantly in love with Katarina and wanted to do anything he could to keep the necklace safe from his selfish father, within the walls of the Dratilia kingdom. So the young couple made another necklace, completely identical to the first one- except that this one did not have any magical powers. Prince Darion went back to his father with the fake necklace, claiming he had managed to steal it. But when he found out it possessed no power whatsoever, he became enraged and had his own son killed. Now the two nations were on the edge of war- Princess Katarina was heartbroken because of the death of her love, and Queen Lunora was enraged because her daughter was hurt and because Solarus had been so heartless as to kill his own son over a talisman. And King Solarus was angry that he still did not have the necklace.

The war began there. Katarina then summoned four dragons: Thundaga, the dragon of lightning, Firaga, the dragon of flames, Blizzaga, the dragon of snow, ice and the ocean, and Blossoma, the flower dragon. She asked them to guard the city forever, which they gratefully did, until they turned to stone, where they stand at the gates today. That is why Dratilia is often called the City Of The Dragons. History of the necklace stops there. Some say Katarina kept it until her death, some say she threw it into Lake Drilta, and some say it was fought over so much that it just became lost."

"Could this be it?" I asked, holding Kyonae's falcon up.

"Hmm…maybe, but I doubt it. A lot of people took on to Katarina and Darion's idea and made copies of the necklace and tried to pass it off as the real thing. Now it is almost considered as a good luck charm in Dratilia." She glanced at me. "But who knows? It could be. Legend has it that if the real necklace was ever found and used by an heir of Katarina, it would awake the four Dragons from their stone form and they would avenge the Princess and destroy whoever the heir wished to be destroyed; and be at his or her every command."

By now we were just coming to the open gates of the city, where the gigantic statues of the Dragons stood guard. I could almost feel their ancient eyes squinting down at me. I saw Sa-Shenu flying swiftly overhead. Kyonae had to be here. I could feel it.

"I'm coming, Kyonae," I whispered under my breath, looking up at the castle. "I'll find you and everything will be fine. Just you wait…"

A/N: How was that for a long chapter, huh? Eve, Ember and Naomi were special guest stars in this chapter, from another story I'm working on called The Keeper Of The Dragon Pendant, but I haven't posted it up yet. Please R/R!