Darkening Hopes
Chapter 3
A malevolent shadow, silhouetted by the moon, gave a rather exasperated sigh. A swish of a cape, a wave of a hand, and the purple orb rose up again. Another wave of the same hand, and a pearly mist swirled within the sphere. The young man heaved yet another sigh. How many of his troops went down to that blasted Bounty Hunter?!? Every soul was crucial to this part of his plans. And now Lumina had escaped...
Archdemon glared at the orb, causing past events to emerge from the milky dust. Slowly, a scene formed, and the Dark Prince watched carefully. Two soldiers were dragging in a frail body into a stone cell. They laid it down; her golden hair gently flowed to the floor. Then, one caused a pink light to appear between two fingers and he slowly lifted it down to the young woman's hand. Five miniature bolts of bright rose lightning struck the victim's fingers, causing the hand to give a sharp jolt and settle, small sparks of the pink light still drifting around her fingers. He repeated it to the second hand, then stepped back and allowed his partner to open her mouth and place two fingers on her fangs. Small green shockwaves struck the teeth, causing them to retract to normal. Then, the two men left the cell.
The Prince raised his eyebrows. That was a rather sharp idea. Even though Sleep Flower had weakened her mental and physical strength, her claws would be enough to rip through their armor. Archdemon lifted his hand and made an effortless gesture. Suddenly a distant sound, similar to crystal or glass breaking, went across his mind. If she was out of the Fortress, there was no need for the spells to still be in effect, so he disabled them. He waved his hand again, and the white swirl dissipated.
All he had to do now was wait for the Heroes of Mana to make the slightest mistake...then he would attack...and bring HIS princess back.
Soft, cynical laughter followed that thought, and shattered the uneasily still air around the Dark Castle.
* * *
Lumina shifted in her sleep. Demons of sleep had been plaguing her for a while now, but tonight was especially turbulent. Sweat poured down her forehead as the nightmare attacks continued. A demon slashed her against the head repeatedly...thwap...thwap...
Thwap.
Lumina's eyes flew open to find a large, blue eye staring right into hers.
"AHHHHH!"
"AAHHHHHHHH!!!"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"AAAAHHH-mmphhph!!"
"Carlie?"
Lumina let a muffled half-elf go. The little girl, who was in truth a great warrior and a Hero of Mana, crawled back a little bit, still holding the cloth she had been using to soak up the sweat on Lumina's brow. She was in simple clothing, no more than a nightdress, and her eyes were sympathetic.
"Carlie sorry! Didn't mean to wake schleeping Lady...Carlie go now, if Miss Lumina wants..." Carlie squeaked and started off the bed. Lumina sighed, and then smiled.
"No, you can stay Carlie, you just scared me that's all..." Lumina cooed, and the half-elf giggled and crawled up to sit on the Princess's stomach. Lumina smiled again.
"What are you doing up so late Carlie?" she questioned. The little girl fiddled with the sheets.
"Big attack. Not here, don't worry, at big mountain castle. High on mountain. Everyone woke up, meanie Duran-head shook me awake. Carlie kicked him, he didn't even say ow...But whole castle awake, they stay away from here. Try to make you sleep more, that's what Princey Koren told me! He also tell Carlie that Miss Lady Queen Lise go back home. He say they need her, then he left to go talk to his daddy. Then, Carlie heard cry from here, saw you shaking and all sweaty, and Carlie decided to help! You don't think they'll be mad at Carlie for waking you up, do you?" She asked, her eyes wide. Lumina paused to take in everything; Rolante had been attacked, the castle was in an uproar, Queen Lise had left, and now she had a four-foot Halfling on her stomach worried about getting spanked.
She laughed.
"No Carlie, you actually did me a favor. I was having a nightmare..."
"OOH! Heathie says nightmares are bad..."
"...So thanks, really. Is everyone okay? I mean...the people in Rolan-I mean the Big Mountain Castle?" Lumina rephrased so Carlie would understand. She nodded.
"Only three warrior ladies get hurt, but not killed. But Queen Lady Lise was so mad; she was kicking over those big metal people and screaming at the moving metal people to get her armor and spear. Then she leave, blue haired witch lady tried to stop her but she already gone." Carlie concluded, then became fascinated by a cricket that had jumped on the windowsill. Lumina blinked and tried to make sense of it.
'Metal people? Moving metal-oh, of course, the guards and standing armor...' she thought, and looked back at Carlie, who pouted as she watched the cricket hop away to play it's fiddle.
"Okay Carlie...I understand...thank you for telling me that." She cooed, and Carlie giggled and brushed her overly curly blonde hair behind one ear.
"You welcome! Carlie let you sleep now, you needs rest." Carlie replied, and hugged Lumina quickly before scampering out of the room and closing the door gently. Lumina lay back down and as soon as she put her head on her pillow, she was in the arms of Hypnos.
* * *
An uneasy morning came.
The five Heroes of Mana and their relatives and friends sat around the council table in the middle of the Forcenan throne room. It was only in the gravest of circumstances that the table was brought out, and the last time it had been used was when Kuk had killed Koren's mother, Amia. Now, silence drifted itself over the warriors until King Richard stood up. He took a deep breath, and relayed his thoughts on his fellow mavericks.
"We all understand what has happened. We all know what is going on...The Dark Prince has returned to Fa'Diel, and once again threatens the peace of the world. There is no Sword of Mana to claim, there is no Tree of Mana to conquer. Only the world to triumph over, only us to destroy to make that complete. We know his goal, to capture Lumina for whatever reasons..."
Drakonis shifted.
"...and we cannot let that happen. Lumina is family, a friend, and a very close person to all of us. But the most obvious reason that the Dark Lord wishes to capture her is that she is a Dragon. And a very powerful one at that. There is no way of telling what he may use her for, but we can all imagine it could never be for the good of our world. Therefore, we must spread across the land, seek out information about this new threat, then attack. He has not yet revealed himself, but due time, he will. It is not like him to stay in hiding forever..."
"So now, my friends, we must decide what to do with our current situation. Lumina cannot return to the Dragon Palace, nor can she stay here. Therefore, it is with a sad and heavy heart, that I say that Lumina must be hidden for as long as we can manage. I ask you now to place your opinions for a locale and whom will go with her." The great King concluded, and sat back down. Silence fell over the table, and Duran stood up.
"Of course her highness cannot stay here! We saw what happened at the Dragon Palace, there is no way our warriors could do any better against the forces of the Underworld. I suggest that we take Princess Lumina to Mintos. Under the cover of night and protection of the Beast Kingdom she will be safe." The Paladin explained, and sat down. Kevin stood.
"Lady Lumina cannot stay with Beast Kingdom. Night be better for Underworld, they find her more easily, they get stronger, they beat our fighters. Mintos small village, not able to hold against army. They fall quickly, and then forest will be invaded. Me suggest Princess Lumina stay in Altena. Cold weather, help keep their armies back." Kevin suggested and sat down. Angela heaved an irritated sigh and stood in defiance to Kevin's proposal.
"That isn't possible Kevin. Our forces are very weak now that Mana is gone and our magic has dissipated. We would not stand for a minute against them. Plus, the sub-zero temperatures would be too much for the party with her. We as a country would not be able to support her, my apologies, I have no suggestion..." she ended with a tone of sorrow in her voice, and seated herself. There was no movement in the room for quite some time. Then, Koren stood.
"...We can't stay here...because we're too weak, same with Altena...the Moonlight Forest would provide the Underworld with more strength...so we must think of a place where the Underworld cannot go...a sacred place..."
"OOOOH! OOOOH! Pick Carlie! Carlie know where!" Carlie screamed suddenly, making everyone jump and glare at her. She stood on her chair and faced the crowd.
"Heathie once told Carlie that um...um...there's a plaaaace...called...The Ancient Ruins of Light...which...um, The Goddess herself was said to walk on and um, she can go there since it's all sacred and pretty and stuff..." She squealed, and everyone muffled their moans and thought. The Ancient Ruins of Light?!?
"Oh DUH!!" Angela exclaimed, smacking her forehead, "Of course! The Underworld COULDN'T go there! It's too enriched with the power of Wisp! If that power still exists...I heard Jose tell me once that there was some sort of barrier around there that could block off anything impure!"
"Then how did Lightgazer get in?" questioned Loki. Angela pondered for a moment.
"...It was already inside, it was within the Stone of Light, remember? But anything else evil would be repelled, right?" she replied, and everyone nodded.
"Then it is decided, Lumina will be taken to the Ancient Ruins of Light. But, who will go with her?" Richard boomed out, and for the first time, a melee of voices rang across the room. It took at least five minutes for the arguing to stop, and silence strung its harp once more. Everyone looked at one another, until Lumina stood.
"...I want to decide...I've been thinking through this whole meeting-."
"-Which means you weren't paying attention at all..." mumbled Drakonis. Lumina gave her father a look and continued.
"And I thought everything through. Hawk, I want you to return to Navarre...don't complain," Lumina interrupted Hawk's beginning statement, "You need to gather information about the Dark Prince from the Fortress. And who knows that place better than you do? Right? So do it." Hawk let his complaints go and nodded.
"Loki, you are head of the Gold Knights. Period. You always have been...except for that twelve years but that doesn't matter right now. And as a Gold Knight, what is your purpose?" she asked, and Loki blinked in confusion.
"...Why, to preserve the peace as mercenaries and be sent about the world to protect nations in need..." he answered, and Lumina nodded firmly.
"Well, Rolante needs you. It is most likely that they will attack them the most now that the Empire has been felled. I want you to gather your best knights and go to Rolante tomorrow at daybreak. Get there as soon as you can and assist the Amazonesses, okay?" Loki nodded and Duran looked at Lumina in puzzlement. She smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry Duran, you will not be going with your father. Instead, I want you to come with Koren, Carlie, Angela, Kevin, and me to the Ruins of Light. I need all the Mana Heroes possible to protect me just in case the barrier is down." Lumina spoke in remorse, and Duran nodded. Loki gripped his son's shoulder in reassurance, and Duran squeezed his hand. Richard stood once more.
"Are you certain? Very well, the parties have been decided. You must travel on foot to the Ruins of Light, as air travel will be more easily intercepted. Everyone, we are on the very brink of a cliff, a cliff known as world destruction. You know your assignments, Drakonis, Vealena, and I-."
"What about me?!?"
Everyone turned around quickly to find Nysoro flying in and watched him settle on the table. He barely had time to fold his wings before Lumina grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
"...Hrm...I guess that means...he's going with you..." Richard trailed, and Lumina nodded. Then the two Dragon's muttered inaudibly about Lumina's lack of communication with friends and Nysoro's lack of comprehension. The King cleared his throat and began once more.
"Fine, then Drakonis, Vealena, and I will stay here and await your return with information. We must succeed, everyone. The very fate of the world, is in your hands once more..."
"Failure is not an option."
Chapter 3
A malevolent shadow, silhouetted by the moon, gave a rather exasperated sigh. A swish of a cape, a wave of a hand, and the purple orb rose up again. Another wave of the same hand, and a pearly mist swirled within the sphere. The young man heaved yet another sigh. How many of his troops went down to that blasted Bounty Hunter?!? Every soul was crucial to this part of his plans. And now Lumina had escaped...
Archdemon glared at the orb, causing past events to emerge from the milky dust. Slowly, a scene formed, and the Dark Prince watched carefully. Two soldiers were dragging in a frail body into a stone cell. They laid it down; her golden hair gently flowed to the floor. Then, one caused a pink light to appear between two fingers and he slowly lifted it down to the young woman's hand. Five miniature bolts of bright rose lightning struck the victim's fingers, causing the hand to give a sharp jolt and settle, small sparks of the pink light still drifting around her fingers. He repeated it to the second hand, then stepped back and allowed his partner to open her mouth and place two fingers on her fangs. Small green shockwaves struck the teeth, causing them to retract to normal. Then, the two men left the cell.
The Prince raised his eyebrows. That was a rather sharp idea. Even though Sleep Flower had weakened her mental and physical strength, her claws would be enough to rip through their armor. Archdemon lifted his hand and made an effortless gesture. Suddenly a distant sound, similar to crystal or glass breaking, went across his mind. If she was out of the Fortress, there was no need for the spells to still be in effect, so he disabled them. He waved his hand again, and the white swirl dissipated.
All he had to do now was wait for the Heroes of Mana to make the slightest mistake...then he would attack...and bring HIS princess back.
Soft, cynical laughter followed that thought, and shattered the uneasily still air around the Dark Castle.
* * *
Lumina shifted in her sleep. Demons of sleep had been plaguing her for a while now, but tonight was especially turbulent. Sweat poured down her forehead as the nightmare attacks continued. A demon slashed her against the head repeatedly...thwap...thwap...
Thwap.
Lumina's eyes flew open to find a large, blue eye staring right into hers.
"AHHHHH!"
"AAHHHHHHHH!!!"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"AAAAHHH-mmphhph!!"
"Carlie?"
Lumina let a muffled half-elf go. The little girl, who was in truth a great warrior and a Hero of Mana, crawled back a little bit, still holding the cloth she had been using to soak up the sweat on Lumina's brow. She was in simple clothing, no more than a nightdress, and her eyes were sympathetic.
"Carlie sorry! Didn't mean to wake schleeping Lady...Carlie go now, if Miss Lumina wants..." Carlie squeaked and started off the bed. Lumina sighed, and then smiled.
"No, you can stay Carlie, you just scared me that's all..." Lumina cooed, and the half-elf giggled and crawled up to sit on the Princess's stomach. Lumina smiled again.
"What are you doing up so late Carlie?" she questioned. The little girl fiddled with the sheets.
"Big attack. Not here, don't worry, at big mountain castle. High on mountain. Everyone woke up, meanie Duran-head shook me awake. Carlie kicked him, he didn't even say ow...But whole castle awake, they stay away from here. Try to make you sleep more, that's what Princey Koren told me! He also tell Carlie that Miss Lady Queen Lise go back home. He say they need her, then he left to go talk to his daddy. Then, Carlie heard cry from here, saw you shaking and all sweaty, and Carlie decided to help! You don't think they'll be mad at Carlie for waking you up, do you?" She asked, her eyes wide. Lumina paused to take in everything; Rolante had been attacked, the castle was in an uproar, Queen Lise had left, and now she had a four-foot Halfling on her stomach worried about getting spanked.
She laughed.
"No Carlie, you actually did me a favor. I was having a nightmare..."
"OOH! Heathie says nightmares are bad..."
"...So thanks, really. Is everyone okay? I mean...the people in Rolan-I mean the Big Mountain Castle?" Lumina rephrased so Carlie would understand. She nodded.
"Only three warrior ladies get hurt, but not killed. But Queen Lady Lise was so mad; she was kicking over those big metal people and screaming at the moving metal people to get her armor and spear. Then she leave, blue haired witch lady tried to stop her but she already gone." Carlie concluded, then became fascinated by a cricket that had jumped on the windowsill. Lumina blinked and tried to make sense of it.
'Metal people? Moving metal-oh, of course, the guards and standing armor...' she thought, and looked back at Carlie, who pouted as she watched the cricket hop away to play it's fiddle.
"Okay Carlie...I understand...thank you for telling me that." She cooed, and Carlie giggled and brushed her overly curly blonde hair behind one ear.
"You welcome! Carlie let you sleep now, you needs rest." Carlie replied, and hugged Lumina quickly before scampering out of the room and closing the door gently. Lumina lay back down and as soon as she put her head on her pillow, she was in the arms of Hypnos.
* * *
An uneasy morning came.
The five Heroes of Mana and their relatives and friends sat around the council table in the middle of the Forcenan throne room. It was only in the gravest of circumstances that the table was brought out, and the last time it had been used was when Kuk had killed Koren's mother, Amia. Now, silence drifted itself over the warriors until King Richard stood up. He took a deep breath, and relayed his thoughts on his fellow mavericks.
"We all understand what has happened. We all know what is going on...The Dark Prince has returned to Fa'Diel, and once again threatens the peace of the world. There is no Sword of Mana to claim, there is no Tree of Mana to conquer. Only the world to triumph over, only us to destroy to make that complete. We know his goal, to capture Lumina for whatever reasons..."
Drakonis shifted.
"...and we cannot let that happen. Lumina is family, a friend, and a very close person to all of us. But the most obvious reason that the Dark Lord wishes to capture her is that she is a Dragon. And a very powerful one at that. There is no way of telling what he may use her for, but we can all imagine it could never be for the good of our world. Therefore, we must spread across the land, seek out information about this new threat, then attack. He has not yet revealed himself, but due time, he will. It is not like him to stay in hiding forever..."
"So now, my friends, we must decide what to do with our current situation. Lumina cannot return to the Dragon Palace, nor can she stay here. Therefore, it is with a sad and heavy heart, that I say that Lumina must be hidden for as long as we can manage. I ask you now to place your opinions for a locale and whom will go with her." The great King concluded, and sat back down. Silence fell over the table, and Duran stood up.
"Of course her highness cannot stay here! We saw what happened at the Dragon Palace, there is no way our warriors could do any better against the forces of the Underworld. I suggest that we take Princess Lumina to Mintos. Under the cover of night and protection of the Beast Kingdom she will be safe." The Paladin explained, and sat down. Kevin stood.
"Lady Lumina cannot stay with Beast Kingdom. Night be better for Underworld, they find her more easily, they get stronger, they beat our fighters. Mintos small village, not able to hold against army. They fall quickly, and then forest will be invaded. Me suggest Princess Lumina stay in Altena. Cold weather, help keep their armies back." Kevin suggested and sat down. Angela heaved an irritated sigh and stood in defiance to Kevin's proposal.
"That isn't possible Kevin. Our forces are very weak now that Mana is gone and our magic has dissipated. We would not stand for a minute against them. Plus, the sub-zero temperatures would be too much for the party with her. We as a country would not be able to support her, my apologies, I have no suggestion..." she ended with a tone of sorrow in her voice, and seated herself. There was no movement in the room for quite some time. Then, Koren stood.
"...We can't stay here...because we're too weak, same with Altena...the Moonlight Forest would provide the Underworld with more strength...so we must think of a place where the Underworld cannot go...a sacred place..."
"OOOOH! OOOOH! Pick Carlie! Carlie know where!" Carlie screamed suddenly, making everyone jump and glare at her. She stood on her chair and faced the crowd.
"Heathie once told Carlie that um...um...there's a plaaaace...called...The Ancient Ruins of Light...which...um, The Goddess herself was said to walk on and um, she can go there since it's all sacred and pretty and stuff..." She squealed, and everyone muffled their moans and thought. The Ancient Ruins of Light?!?
"Oh DUH!!" Angela exclaimed, smacking her forehead, "Of course! The Underworld COULDN'T go there! It's too enriched with the power of Wisp! If that power still exists...I heard Jose tell me once that there was some sort of barrier around there that could block off anything impure!"
"Then how did Lightgazer get in?" questioned Loki. Angela pondered for a moment.
"...It was already inside, it was within the Stone of Light, remember? But anything else evil would be repelled, right?" she replied, and everyone nodded.
"Then it is decided, Lumina will be taken to the Ancient Ruins of Light. But, who will go with her?" Richard boomed out, and for the first time, a melee of voices rang across the room. It took at least five minutes for the arguing to stop, and silence strung its harp once more. Everyone looked at one another, until Lumina stood.
"...I want to decide...I've been thinking through this whole meeting-."
"-Which means you weren't paying attention at all..." mumbled Drakonis. Lumina gave her father a look and continued.
"And I thought everything through. Hawk, I want you to return to Navarre...don't complain," Lumina interrupted Hawk's beginning statement, "You need to gather information about the Dark Prince from the Fortress. And who knows that place better than you do? Right? So do it." Hawk let his complaints go and nodded.
"Loki, you are head of the Gold Knights. Period. You always have been...except for that twelve years but that doesn't matter right now. And as a Gold Knight, what is your purpose?" she asked, and Loki blinked in confusion.
"...Why, to preserve the peace as mercenaries and be sent about the world to protect nations in need..." he answered, and Lumina nodded firmly.
"Well, Rolante needs you. It is most likely that they will attack them the most now that the Empire has been felled. I want you to gather your best knights and go to Rolante tomorrow at daybreak. Get there as soon as you can and assist the Amazonesses, okay?" Loki nodded and Duran looked at Lumina in puzzlement. She smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry Duran, you will not be going with your father. Instead, I want you to come with Koren, Carlie, Angela, Kevin, and me to the Ruins of Light. I need all the Mana Heroes possible to protect me just in case the barrier is down." Lumina spoke in remorse, and Duran nodded. Loki gripped his son's shoulder in reassurance, and Duran squeezed his hand. Richard stood once more.
"Are you certain? Very well, the parties have been decided. You must travel on foot to the Ruins of Light, as air travel will be more easily intercepted. Everyone, we are on the very brink of a cliff, a cliff known as world destruction. You know your assignments, Drakonis, Vealena, and I-."
"What about me?!?"
Everyone turned around quickly to find Nysoro flying in and watched him settle on the table. He barely had time to fold his wings before Lumina grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
"...Hrm...I guess that means...he's going with you..." Richard trailed, and Lumina nodded. Then the two Dragon's muttered inaudibly about Lumina's lack of communication with friends and Nysoro's lack of comprehension. The King cleared his throat and began once more.
"Fine, then Drakonis, Vealena, and I will stay here and await your return with information. We must succeed, everyone. The very fate of the world, is in your hands once more..."
"Failure is not an option."