The Diamond Star
Chapter 15: The Past Returns
Disclaimer: YGO and its characters are not mine. All my characters, etc. are mine.
Seraphim suddenly felt drained. She could feel the power coursing through her, drawing her somewhere. She decided to follow that instinct. Signaling to Seto, she flew into the trees. His link to her and the diamond star through his gem would ensure his following her. Right now, she just needed to find out what was pulling her...and where.
As she flew through the trees, Seraphim could hear Ksho following her. Seto, sensing her need to be alone, had withdrawn to follow her closely while staying out of sight. He did not want to leave her alone just yet.
As She flew, Seraphim began to remember her old life. The one she had tried to forget. This place...it WAS her old life. The memories assaulted her as she flew blindly through the forest.
~*~
A young girl, probably three years old, squatted near a big blue lake. She smiled mischievously as she trailed her fingers in the clear water. Her dark hair swayed in the wind and her chocolate brown eyes danced and sparkled with life. Then she lifted her head, someone was calling her.
"Seraphim! Seraphim sweetie! We have to go now! The party's about to start! Oh, there you are," a woman hurried through the trees to the little princess. "Here you are, why haven't you come when I called you?"
"Hello Mama," the young Seraphim smiled sweetly.
The woman had long dark hair that reached to her knees and liquid gold eyes. Her skin was tan, and her wings were a tawny golden-brown. She was Queen Raaiel. The lioness queen. So beautiful, her coloring was like that of a lion, but she was neither fierce or brutal. She was a kind and gentle queen, and mother.
"Sweetie, we have to go. Your birthday party is starting and I have a surprise for you," Queen Raaiel tucked long dark strands of hair behind her pointed ears. "But you must come quickly...or it might disappear!" Seraphim's mother grinned cheekily.
"No fair Mama!" Seraphim whined, "What is my surprise?"
"You'll find out if you come with me," Queen Raaiel replied, holding her hand out towards her daughter. "Now come along."
Seraphim reached up and took her mother's hand. Her tiny wing fluttering in the wind. She couldn't use them yet. She wasn't allowed to fly until she was ten years old.
~*~
Seraphim smiled as she remembered, that had been the day she met the other guardians. They were her best friends. It had hurt her so much when Ksho killed them. To see their lifeless eyes and know she had caused it.
~*~
Laughter rang throughout the forest. Meryllyn and Selene ran behind Seraphim. Meryllyn had silver hair and eyes like clear blue water. Her fair complexion complemented her hair and eyes by making her look soft, yet cold. Her hair was done in a waist-length French braid and swayed wither her every move. She was the guardian of the silver icicle and carried it well. Selene had pale golden hair and ice blue eyes. Her hair was shoulder-length and her bangs swished in front, nearly hiding her beautiful eyes. Her complexion was also fair, befitting to the guardian of the moonstone crescent. Meryllyn and Selene were sisters, differing in age by two years. All the guardians ranged in age from nine, Seraphim, to nineteen. Meryllyn and Selene were ten and twelve.
That day they were playing team tag. The oldest guardian was made to be "it" and had to catch all the younger ones. So far, only Meryllyn, Selene, and Seraphim had been able to escape.
The three young guardians raced through the trees, Meryllyn and Selene through the air and Seraphim on land. The three made quite a chase, laughing all the while. The sunlight streamed through the canopy of trees. It was the most perfect day Seraphim had ever known.
~*~
Silent tears coursed down her cheeks as Seraphim remembered her experiences with her friends. They had been the only friends allowed in the palace grounds. They were the most important thing besides her parents in the world to her...when they were still alive.
~*~
A twelve-year-old Seraphim walked beside the lake. She was trying to get away from it all again, her life. They expected so much from her, it was almost suffocating.
"Seraphim?" an older man walked towards Seraphim through the trees. He had wheat-colored blonde hair and dark eyes. His skin was an fair olive color and his wings were a pale blue-green. His hair was done in the common style for males, shoulder-length and half up.
"Hello Daddy," Seraphim sighed.
"Seraphim, where have you been? the coronation ceremony started an hour ago," replied King Latsinto.
"Coronation for what? Just another party to show off your wonderful daughter," Seraphim duplicated what she had heard him say about her so many times.
"This is different Seraphim," her father replied. "This coronation is for you. You are to be given your destiny."
"And what is that? Another crown?" Seraphim continued to stare at the lake.
"No. Today you will receive the Diamond Star," King Lastino said the words with great reverence.
"So?" Seraphim replied, "I don't want it. I don't want to be a guardian, I don't want to be a princess, I just want to be me."
Her father sighed and put his arm around her. "Seraphim, you are you. But part of you is a guardian, and part of you is a princess. The last part of you is just a plain girl. But you have to be all three parts. Understand?"
Seraphim looked up at her father. It was no wonder his name meant wisdom and honor. "Yes daddy," she replied half-heartedly.
"Now, this is for you. They canceled the ceremony when it was evident you would not attend," he winked at her. Taking a silver chain from his pocket, he fastened it around Seraphim's neck. The pendant on the chain glowed brightly. It was the diamond star. "Now Seraphim, you must protect this with your life, alright?"
Seraphim looked at her father again, she nodded, "Yes daddy." Together, they walked back towards the palace, and the celebrations.
~*~
Her father had taught her so many lessons. One of them was to accept the destiny that she was chosen for, no matter how hard it was. She would have to accept that.
~*~
Seraphim, fourteen years old, was participating in the annual spring festival race. It was an obstacle course which required running, swimming, and flying. So far, she was in the lead. Looking behind her quickly, she dove into the lake.
The cold water rushed past her. She used her wings as well as her arms and legs to propel herself through the water. In no time at all, she had reached the other side. Shaking her wings off, she proceeded to begin the last phase of the race.
Her closest competitor was a brown-haired boy, maybe a year or so older than her with bright blue eyes. Just as she took off, he reached the bank. Flashing him a cheeky "I'm going to beat you" smile, Seraphim flew off.
A while later into the race, Seraphim could just make out the finish line. She was going to win. Looking behind her quickly, the only person she could see was that boy. She could tell he was probably a commoner, he wasn't dressed like the other high-ranking teenagers in the race. But still, something about him was special. He smiled at her and motioned sideward. Seraphim turned around and swerved, that boy had just saved her. She would've hit that tree for sure if he hadn't warned her.
Seraphim shook off the feeling, she couldn't afford to get off-track now. There was a race to win, and then the party afterwards. She would be able to find out about him then.
~*~
Seraphim sighed, that boy, she spoke with him later. She remembered every word, you might say that he was her first crush. 'I wish I could have know his name,' she thought sadly. 'He died with all the others...'
~*~
Seraphim wandered through the dark palace grounds. Everywhere she looked, all she saw was lifeless. She was dirty and bloodstained, but she was alive. Walking through the deserted pathways, staring at the faces, so many faces. She could see her entire race. Her beautiful people. All killed by one man. One entity. Ksho. Seraphim came to the place where her guardians fell. Each of them still wore a look of determination. Her parents, she could see their peaceful faces.
"Did you know this would happen?" she asked quietly. "You were always so smart. Did you know? Is THIS my destiny? Do I have to defeat him on my own?" Seraphim let the tears fall. Twelve tears, one for each of her friends, one for each of her parents. As the tears splashed onto the ground, she thought of each of them. Their faults, their strengths. The way they were when they were together.
Then Seraphim gasped, it wasn't possible. Kneeling on the ground, she looked closer. It was. Brushing aside strands of dark brown hair, she looked into the face of the boy she had raced against only two years before. She had never even known his name. He had told her it was too embarrassing, he was talking to the princess and his social position would scare her away.
Seraphim hadn't cared. He had been her only friend outside the palace. As she stared at his face, another tear dropped. Seraphim blinked. Steel will had replaced her once bright heart. She would make Ksho pay, all her friends, her family. He had killed them all. Wiping the tears from her face, she resolved to punish her enemy. Struggling to her feet, she fell once more in a deep slumber. She would lie there for over a millennia, then she would find the keeper of the emerald leaf and defeat Ksho once and for all.
~*~
Seraphim remembered her vow well. As she flew out of the woods, she came upon a rustic garden-type setting. Breathing in sharply, she recognized the place. The ruins were from a time long-forgotten by humans. The ruins were the holy temple of the gems. This was where she had defeated Ksho the first time, but this time, he would not take her loved ones from her. He would not take Seto.
Whirling around, Seraphim saw Seto and Ksho come crashing through the trees. Ksho grinned. "Is this the end princess?" he asked. "Again?"
Seraphim looked coldly at him. This was the end, for him.
And yeah...that would be the end of that chapter. Anybody want to take a guess who that boy was? ^-^ I'll try to update soon. Bye!
Chapter 15: The Past Returns
Disclaimer: YGO and its characters are not mine. All my characters, etc. are mine.
Seraphim suddenly felt drained. She could feel the power coursing through her, drawing her somewhere. She decided to follow that instinct. Signaling to Seto, she flew into the trees. His link to her and the diamond star through his gem would ensure his following her. Right now, she just needed to find out what was pulling her...and where.
As she flew through the trees, Seraphim could hear Ksho following her. Seto, sensing her need to be alone, had withdrawn to follow her closely while staying out of sight. He did not want to leave her alone just yet.
As She flew, Seraphim began to remember her old life. The one she had tried to forget. This place...it WAS her old life. The memories assaulted her as she flew blindly through the forest.
~*~
A young girl, probably three years old, squatted near a big blue lake. She smiled mischievously as she trailed her fingers in the clear water. Her dark hair swayed in the wind and her chocolate brown eyes danced and sparkled with life. Then she lifted her head, someone was calling her.
"Seraphim! Seraphim sweetie! We have to go now! The party's about to start! Oh, there you are," a woman hurried through the trees to the little princess. "Here you are, why haven't you come when I called you?"
"Hello Mama," the young Seraphim smiled sweetly.
The woman had long dark hair that reached to her knees and liquid gold eyes. Her skin was tan, and her wings were a tawny golden-brown. She was Queen Raaiel. The lioness queen. So beautiful, her coloring was like that of a lion, but she was neither fierce or brutal. She was a kind and gentle queen, and mother.
"Sweetie, we have to go. Your birthday party is starting and I have a surprise for you," Queen Raaiel tucked long dark strands of hair behind her pointed ears. "But you must come quickly...or it might disappear!" Seraphim's mother grinned cheekily.
"No fair Mama!" Seraphim whined, "What is my surprise?"
"You'll find out if you come with me," Queen Raaiel replied, holding her hand out towards her daughter. "Now come along."
Seraphim reached up and took her mother's hand. Her tiny wing fluttering in the wind. She couldn't use them yet. She wasn't allowed to fly until she was ten years old.
~*~
Seraphim smiled as she remembered, that had been the day she met the other guardians. They were her best friends. It had hurt her so much when Ksho killed them. To see their lifeless eyes and know she had caused it.
~*~
Laughter rang throughout the forest. Meryllyn and Selene ran behind Seraphim. Meryllyn had silver hair and eyes like clear blue water. Her fair complexion complemented her hair and eyes by making her look soft, yet cold. Her hair was done in a waist-length French braid and swayed wither her every move. She was the guardian of the silver icicle and carried it well. Selene had pale golden hair and ice blue eyes. Her hair was shoulder-length and her bangs swished in front, nearly hiding her beautiful eyes. Her complexion was also fair, befitting to the guardian of the moonstone crescent. Meryllyn and Selene were sisters, differing in age by two years. All the guardians ranged in age from nine, Seraphim, to nineteen. Meryllyn and Selene were ten and twelve.
That day they were playing team tag. The oldest guardian was made to be "it" and had to catch all the younger ones. So far, only Meryllyn, Selene, and Seraphim had been able to escape.
The three young guardians raced through the trees, Meryllyn and Selene through the air and Seraphim on land. The three made quite a chase, laughing all the while. The sunlight streamed through the canopy of trees. It was the most perfect day Seraphim had ever known.
~*~
Silent tears coursed down her cheeks as Seraphim remembered her experiences with her friends. They had been the only friends allowed in the palace grounds. They were the most important thing besides her parents in the world to her...when they were still alive.
~*~
A twelve-year-old Seraphim walked beside the lake. She was trying to get away from it all again, her life. They expected so much from her, it was almost suffocating.
"Seraphim?" an older man walked towards Seraphim through the trees. He had wheat-colored blonde hair and dark eyes. His skin was an fair olive color and his wings were a pale blue-green. His hair was done in the common style for males, shoulder-length and half up.
"Hello Daddy," Seraphim sighed.
"Seraphim, where have you been? the coronation ceremony started an hour ago," replied King Latsinto.
"Coronation for what? Just another party to show off your wonderful daughter," Seraphim duplicated what she had heard him say about her so many times.
"This is different Seraphim," her father replied. "This coronation is for you. You are to be given your destiny."
"And what is that? Another crown?" Seraphim continued to stare at the lake.
"No. Today you will receive the Diamond Star," King Lastino said the words with great reverence.
"So?" Seraphim replied, "I don't want it. I don't want to be a guardian, I don't want to be a princess, I just want to be me."
Her father sighed and put his arm around her. "Seraphim, you are you. But part of you is a guardian, and part of you is a princess. The last part of you is just a plain girl. But you have to be all three parts. Understand?"
Seraphim looked up at her father. It was no wonder his name meant wisdom and honor. "Yes daddy," she replied half-heartedly.
"Now, this is for you. They canceled the ceremony when it was evident you would not attend," he winked at her. Taking a silver chain from his pocket, he fastened it around Seraphim's neck. The pendant on the chain glowed brightly. It was the diamond star. "Now Seraphim, you must protect this with your life, alright?"
Seraphim looked at her father again, she nodded, "Yes daddy." Together, they walked back towards the palace, and the celebrations.
~*~
Her father had taught her so many lessons. One of them was to accept the destiny that she was chosen for, no matter how hard it was. She would have to accept that.
~*~
Seraphim, fourteen years old, was participating in the annual spring festival race. It was an obstacle course which required running, swimming, and flying. So far, she was in the lead. Looking behind her quickly, she dove into the lake.
The cold water rushed past her. She used her wings as well as her arms and legs to propel herself through the water. In no time at all, she had reached the other side. Shaking her wings off, she proceeded to begin the last phase of the race.
Her closest competitor was a brown-haired boy, maybe a year or so older than her with bright blue eyes. Just as she took off, he reached the bank. Flashing him a cheeky "I'm going to beat you" smile, Seraphim flew off.
A while later into the race, Seraphim could just make out the finish line. She was going to win. Looking behind her quickly, the only person she could see was that boy. She could tell he was probably a commoner, he wasn't dressed like the other high-ranking teenagers in the race. But still, something about him was special. He smiled at her and motioned sideward. Seraphim turned around and swerved, that boy had just saved her. She would've hit that tree for sure if he hadn't warned her.
Seraphim shook off the feeling, she couldn't afford to get off-track now. There was a race to win, and then the party afterwards. She would be able to find out about him then.
~*~
Seraphim sighed, that boy, she spoke with him later. She remembered every word, you might say that he was her first crush. 'I wish I could have know his name,' she thought sadly. 'He died with all the others...'
~*~
Seraphim wandered through the dark palace grounds. Everywhere she looked, all she saw was lifeless. She was dirty and bloodstained, but she was alive. Walking through the deserted pathways, staring at the faces, so many faces. She could see her entire race. Her beautiful people. All killed by one man. One entity. Ksho. Seraphim came to the place where her guardians fell. Each of them still wore a look of determination. Her parents, she could see their peaceful faces.
"Did you know this would happen?" she asked quietly. "You were always so smart. Did you know? Is THIS my destiny? Do I have to defeat him on my own?" Seraphim let the tears fall. Twelve tears, one for each of her friends, one for each of her parents. As the tears splashed onto the ground, she thought of each of them. Their faults, their strengths. The way they were when they were together.
Then Seraphim gasped, it wasn't possible. Kneeling on the ground, she looked closer. It was. Brushing aside strands of dark brown hair, she looked into the face of the boy she had raced against only two years before. She had never even known his name. He had told her it was too embarrassing, he was talking to the princess and his social position would scare her away.
Seraphim hadn't cared. He had been her only friend outside the palace. As she stared at his face, another tear dropped. Seraphim blinked. Steel will had replaced her once bright heart. She would make Ksho pay, all her friends, her family. He had killed them all. Wiping the tears from her face, she resolved to punish her enemy. Struggling to her feet, she fell once more in a deep slumber. She would lie there for over a millennia, then she would find the keeper of the emerald leaf and defeat Ksho once and for all.
~*~
Seraphim remembered her vow well. As she flew out of the woods, she came upon a rustic garden-type setting. Breathing in sharply, she recognized the place. The ruins were from a time long-forgotten by humans. The ruins were the holy temple of the gems. This was where she had defeated Ksho the first time, but this time, he would not take her loved ones from her. He would not take Seto.
Whirling around, Seraphim saw Seto and Ksho come crashing through the trees. Ksho grinned. "Is this the end princess?" he asked. "Again?"
Seraphim looked coldly at him. This was the end, for him.
And yeah...that would be the end of that chapter. Anybody want to take a guess who that boy was? ^-^ I'll try to update soon. Bye!