Finding The Chosen Ones
"Death of the Sky"
_______________________________
A/N: It took awhile but here's the next chapter. It's weird I'm warning you. I decided to start getting to the good stuff. And I've been slacking with the romance and crap. I have decided Sage. Sorry RyoxMia fans, I was just searching through the fanfic archives of Ronin Warriors and there where tons of RyoxMia stories and I want help diversity. :D.
The celebration was, needless to say, huge. The dinning hall was seemingly endless and it was crowded of people off all kinds of classes. A long solid oak table ran through the middle and was filled with the richest and seasoned foods that was known in the continent Sevarien.
Rowen ate at a separate table on a platform above the rest. Usually he ate with his generals and talked of the possibilities of ambushes. Instead, he ate with Mia and the rest of her friends in an eerie silence. Although Anubis was quite unhappy with the previous confrontations he had with the young prince, it didn't seem to damper his appetite.
Nor did it with Ryo, who felt quite uncomfortable eating in front of hundreds of people, especially since he ate with the most primitive of manners. Well he was poor for all of his life. Kento, she noted, only ate the rare meat and drank a lot of wine. Sage also avoided most of the greenery, which was strange for an elf. Cye refused to eat any seafood but had no problem engulfing anything else he wanted to try. White Blaze, well you can guess for yourself.
Mia wasn't on a diet herself. Although previous princess training told her mind to only eat lightly, her mouth didn't respond. It has been numerous of years since she ate food of her home country, or any decent food for that matter. She enjoyed the taste melting on her tongue and savored every bite of the cuisine.
"You sure do eat a lot," Cye commented as he tore another bite of the bread. Mia continued to eat unfazed.
"You would eat like this too if you had to taste some of the foods I had to eat on the journey," she said pouring herself a glass of wine, "and don't talk with your mouth full."
"A journey," Rowen picked up eager to know something about the mysterious group, "A journey for what?"
For a second everyone stopped. The four boys knew she was on a journey and accompanied her willingly. But they didn't know why she was on a journey. Curiosity enveloped them.
"Well you see we are just wandering around looking for magical… ow!" Anubis was cut short with a swift kick from Mia.
"-Just wanting to know more about the world," she said and then stuffed her mouth with food so they wouldn't expect any other explanation. No one seemed satisfied with the explanation but didn't push any further.
The rest of the meal was finished in an uncomfortable and deafening silence.
"Well it's time," he said after all the food was gone and he clapped twice. Immediately there was a rush of servants that quickly took the plates and table away. It almost seemed that everything was cleared in an instant. The guards ushered Kento, Anubis, Sage, and Cye down to the now empty room.
"Mitumbre," Rowen bellowed and the room seemed to shake. Slowly armor clad warriors appeared from the ground, groaning and full of bloodlust. Her friends gasped in surprised, even Mia was shocked. She felt as if she had stumbled inside a fairy-tale.
"Ancient Balarian knights," he said grimly, "This fort was built on their graves."
Mia understood. The power to call ancestral warriors was a power given to one of the highest rank of royalty. Since her mother and father has died she should have the power, but Mia was in hiding so she would not reveal herself as the next in line. Therefore, Rowen now had the power.
"What are you doing?" Anubis yelled in surprise as the zombie-like men limped towards them, spears and swords drawn.
"It's a test," Rowen said stonily, "I want to see if you can survive."
Mia out of impulse grabbed the garments of Rowen and pulled him towards her, keeping his astonished stare with her enraged glare.
"Are you crazy? They can't beat them! This is a death sentence" Mia said in a pure rage that not even Anubis has seen her in.
"Perhaps, but you are a group of rogue stranglers who happened to walk onto our area in a time of war, and your motives cannot be searched by magic. I have no choice but to consider you as spies."
"But we aren't spies!" she yelled shaking him so hard that the guards had to drag her chair and subdue her. Mia could only watch in horror as her friends where getting pummeled to the ground.
A howl came from the zombie as he grabbed onto Ryo, cringing away as if he burned him. But he made up for it when he smacked Ryo to the ground.
'I… I have to reveal myself. I have to stop this!' The thought ran through her head, pulsing through every vein in her body. Even as the chosen ones, she knew that they could not defeat the warriors
A warrior slipped on the ground before Cye, as if someone spilled water before him on the ground. In anger however the warrior grabbed Cye and violently through him against the wall. Cye fell crying in pain.
'But I can't! The monk said I can't…'
A warrior fell backward clutching it's pitch black eyes as if it was blinded. In return, he swung his sword aimlessly and the broad side collided with Sage's head.
'They can't survive this. I have to-'
The warriors stumbled around Kento, it almost was as if the ground around him shifted. But they grabbed Kento for support and they fell on top of him.
'I… I'm sorry. But they'll die.'
"Stop this," Mia commanded in an authoritative time not even she knew she had. She stood up with a certain confidence and prestige that few people ever had and pointed at the chaos before her, even Rowen looked at her with bafflement.
"I have ordered you to stop. Release them at once!" she ordered angrily. The zombies paused, unsure if they where suppose to listen to her.
"Domæshidu! Leave them be. By the decree of Nasuti Yagyu, heir of the thrown of Balaria!" she gazed at the ghosts, refusing to look at her friends that now gawked at her with confusion, betrayal, and maybe even awe. She could hear the collective gasps seep through everyone' mouth.
Rowen almost fell down in shock when the demons disappeared, so this girl wasn't lying. Princess Nasuti survived…
Mia stepped back away from the crowd, she could feel everyone's eyes on her, a bewilderment that grew in the crowd. The next thing she knew she was running with all her might passing the people.
Running away from her friends whom she lied.
Running away from her people whom she hid from.
Running away from herself.
She heard a comforting growl behind her, White Blaze ran in front of her and offered her his back to ride on. She gratefully accepted and clung to the soft fur of the tiger as he dashed outside of the fort to the forest.
"What have I done White Blaze.? What's going to happen," she asked trembling. A loud crack filled the sky. A storm was coming.
__
"What are you doing here?" hissed a tall man with beady eyes to the young messenger with a raven perched faithfully on his shoulder.
"I come with news for master Talpa," said the boy, cringing away from the green haired man. The green-haired man crossed his arms and leered at him.
"He's busy," he said venomously towering over the boy.
"Then I come for Lady Kayura."
"She is not here at the moment. She told me to take care of her affairs," said the man impatiently.
The boy seemed reluctant to tell his news but finally he uttered it, "My raven spy has come with news of Nasuti. She is now residing at the fort near the border on Balaria and Jempt town."
"The last stronghold of the old regime?"
"Yes," the boy confirmed. The man then grabbed the boy by the neck and lifted him from the ground, the raven flew away cawing in fear. The boy desperately clawed at the man's hand gasping for breath.
"Good," he grinned insanely, "We needed to destroy that fort anyway." He threw the boy to the ground.
"You will find Kayura bathing in the hot springs in the meadow near by. Tell her you have a message from Seckmet and she will not kill you.
The boy nodded and ran away in a hurry. Seckmet smiled, his companions will be happy to know that it was time to spill some blood. He walked deeper into the shadows.
___
Cries rang out in desperation filled the night. A search party was quickly organized to find their princess, the girl who survived the attack.
Many men longed for her to take power, to them she was new hope. That maybe if she survived, they could survive.
To Ryo, Anubis, Sage, Yulie, and Cye their best friend was missing. Sage had been searching all night flipping the trees like a ghost. Cye had actually been conversing with some animals in a lake nearby.
Darkness began to fall and Kento morphed into the night, this was his time. He could see better in the dark then he did in the light. Ryo and Anubis paired up searching for her. However, instead of calling for Nasuti, they called for Mia.
Soon the sun totally disappeared and everyone was forced to retreat into the fort, even Kento. It was not safe in the woods of Balaria, even a vampire was in danger.
The guys, soaked, frustrated, and exhausted, threw themselves the ground. Rowen approached them wanting to ask everyone questions, but Ryo had beat him to the punch.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ryo accused Anubis, "Why didn't you tell us she was some ruler of a far away country?"
"I'm just as surprised as you are. She told me she was some servant of a noble that died in the Balaria attack. How was I suppose to know?" he said defensively.
"I wonder what else she hides from us. I don't think it's a coincidence we all are here," Sage contemplated and he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. An almost distressed look replaced his usually calm manner.
"Why do you think that?" Kento asked shaking himself free of water like a dog.
"Think about it if it doesn't hurt you too much. Ryo, you are a werewolf that can stay sane after transformation. Kento is a vampire that can survive in the sunlight. Cye is a merman can breathe air. And I… I am an elf that destroys plant life instead of helping it grow…"
"And I am the only sorcerer that is living after the 'collapse of the sky'," Rowen added receiving a few perplexed looks, "strange so many different magical creatures are gathered around here. If it was a coincidence then it is a very big one"
"Well Mia can sense magic…" Anubis began to think aloud.
"She can what?" Rowen gave Anubis glowered at him as if he had been withholding very valuable information.
"I tried to tell you before but she stopped me. Why is that so important?" Anubis asked scratching his head.
"A magic seeker appears in a legend, she is not suppose to be real," Rowen looked alarmed and began to pace around the room, "this isn't good."
"Let me guess there's a dark prophecy attached to the legend of the magic seeker," Ryo said with a dread growing in his stomach. He was never too good with this magic stuff.
"Yes but I can't be to sure what it says is going to happen. It's written in a dead language, the same one the young boy speaks," he pointed to Yulie who had been crying ever since Mia ran away, "But as far as I can translate… A magic seeker in this world is the start of 'death of the sky' the supposed ending of the tragedy- 'collapse of the sky'."
"Death of the sky. That doesn't sound to happy," Cye said pouting a little, he didn't really grasp the seriousness of the situation.
"It's not suppose to," Rowen looked away grimly, he looked as if he was in great pain, " 'Death of the Sky' refers to the end of the world."
___
*Drip, drip, drip*
"Kind of cold here, huh White Blaze?" she said snuggling closer to the large tiger trying to gather his warmth. The forest was ominous, a seething presence that knew that they where there. It swallowed them up, hiding them from the sky and people.
*Drip, drip, drip*
"I wonder what do I do now. I have them all here but I don't know what to do…"
"Do not worry. The danger will come to you."
Mia knew full well who was talking to her, the monk had come back to talk to her. This time he brought no comfort with his presence.
"What's going to happen now?"
"A war, one more devastating then the fall of Balaria. The Death of the Sky."
"Death of the Sky? If the apocalypse is coming then why did I bother with the Chosen Ones?"
"I want to re-write the future. You have the power to decide the destiny of this world."
"Me? Why me? Why am I special?"
"You are the bond between the worlds."
"Bond?"
"You are chosen to be the fate of worlds by the blood that reigns over you."
"…Worlds? More then one world?"
"…" The monk slowly withered in the wind, disappearing before Mia's eyes.
"No! You are not leaving me," she shouted suddenly, soaked from the rain and tears. Anger took a hold of her, "I want to know what to do! I want to know what will happen! I want answers! I want to know who I am!"
There was silence, no answers would come tonight. Mia screamed in frustration and pounded the ground with her fists. Mud encased her fists and then her body but she didn't care. She needed to release all this tension inside of her but it wasn't coming out.
"Somebody tell me!" her voice soared to the tops of the trees, "What the hell am I?"
Then an explosion within her soul, her body caved within herself, a heat rose up and down her body. Whispers of the dead flew into her ear, whispers of another language. The past reliving in front of her eyes.
"Emveeno! Luthenoro min Gorro!" a woman holding a child…
A memory fading in her broken heart.
"Talpa! MIN GORRO!"
Names that danced at the tip of her tongue, ready to jump to a face.
"Of all the sins you caused me, why can't you let me keep her! Why can't you let me keep Nasuti!"
A sad song echoing, telling of a time long ago.
"She's my daughter, Talpa! Let me keep her!"
"The cold will always be my curse upon you!"
"You must find the chosen ones"
"Mia?"
"You are the bond between the worlds."
"You are special. You can feel my power. Something no one else can"
"Goodnight sister…"
"…A war…"
"Mia…"
"…Death of the Sky…"
"… Nasuti Yagyu, heir of the thrown of Balaria".
"…princess…"
"…daughter…"
"…fate…"
"Wake up Mia!" Two strong arms wrapped around Mia who laid blankly in the mud staring at the sky.
"…Sage?"
'Damn she's cold,' he thought as slowly frigid body to his back. Mia's head slumped lifelessly on his shoulder. She began to murmur meaningless words, as if she was possessed.
"So sorry," she said and then snaked her arms around Sage's neck hugging him tightly, "Chosen One of light. I was using you. Now something bad is going to happen….something bad…bad…bad…"
He could feel her tears drip slowly down her cheek as she hugged him tighter.
"…Horribly bad… so sorry…bad…sorry…horrible."
A chill ran through Sage's back as White Blaze looked at him with intelligent brown eyes, and then darted off before him. Mia kept talking in her sleep-like state, still crying.
"I never meant it to be like this. Death of the Sky."
Sage paused in his walk back to castle. He shifted her down from his back to the ground, so he could look into her eyes. They seemed glassed over, it still was of the intense green like the leaves of a forest, but no longer had vibrant life. But he could still see, she was aware.
"What about the Death of the Sky? What's going to happen?"
"…The bond of a world broken. All will become one…" she murmured as she slumped like rag doll into his chest. Mia felt comfortable near Sage, like a calming candle she had told her mother to light when she was afraid of the dark.
"Are we going to die?"
"Two fates, lying within the hands of the chosen ones. The monk… Talpa… me…"
Mia continued to speak but her voice began to get quieter, until it was no longer audible. Sage then stood up cradling Mia in his arms and shot towards the castle. 'Rowen might be able to make sense of her senseless babble'
___
Kayura burst through the darkness, holding the messenger, dead. Her eyes where violent and her body moved like a feline.
"Seckmet, is what this boy said was true?" she cried out throwing the dead carcass on the ground.
Seckmet grinned, "Hmm. I promised that you wouldn't kill him. Oh well."
"Answer me!"
"Ah, Kayura, put some clothes on will you?" A man with stark white hair and a patch over his eye complained, "You aren't going to battle naked are you?"
Kayura frowned. She has never cared much for modest, even less for those who would not answer her questions.
"Battle Dias… you found Nasuti," she said her eyes narrowing.
"Yes," A blue haired man was sharpening his sword, "Apparently Nasuti revealed herself. She's at the fort in Balaria."
"Kayura grinned demonically, "Where she is, so will be the Chosen Ones, and the last Warlord. Master Talpa will be most pleased."
She disappeared in the darkness, it was time to make plans for an attack.
___
"So she's just been on going on like this? Just randomly talking about the Death of the Sky?" Rowen asked in a serious tone. Sage nodded and Rowen sighed. He stood staring at her body lying lifelessly on the bed.
"You know you shouldn't have left the castle," he said sternly.
"I couldn't just leave her there," Sage replied calmly stroking her bangs out of her eyes.
"She isn't your princess, why do you care for her so much," he asked suspiciously.
"Because she is more then a princess to us," Ryo finally said. Rowen gave the guys a suspicious overlook before placing both his hands on Mia's face.
"Esituxle!" he shouted, a small gasp came from Mia. He then crouched down beside her, holding her hand.
"Mia, this is Rowen. I want you to listen carefully and answer my questions. Where are you?"
"I… I don't know," she said like a child, now in a fetal position. Her eyes began to move rapidly, her mind was off in another world.
"Are you in Balaria?"
"…N…no."
"Anywhere you've been before?"
"No… I don't think… I'm in your world anymore." Her words got a startled look from her friends.
"Do you know what day or year it is?"
"XXX"
"The year of the collapse of the sky?"
She nodded, "He was too greedy. Master Talpa was able to fool the sorcerer. He's going to merge the two worlds."
"The two worlds?" Rowen inquired leaning closer to her… his eyes burning with curiosity.
"This world is dying. He wants the other. But…he… he won't let it happen…"
"Who is he?"
"The monk… he's doing something weird…"
"What?"
"He's going to make it so that Talpa can never control anyone anymore… He's-" she paused, her eyes flashed and she was out of it, a look of pure horror came upon her face.
"It's starting," she said shooting up from the bed wild eyed, "The war is starting! The Death of the Sky!"
"?"
From outside of the room, screams flew through to corridors. The door was slammed open, and a man with blood splattered on him like a new skin fell inside.
"We-were under attack…"
~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Yeah a new chapter. I was seriously considering dumping this whole story. I read my previous chapters and well- they really suck. It makes we wonder if I should cry from how bad they where or in relief I am *somewhat* better. But I want to get at least you guys know what is going on. Please review, I really just want to know if there are people actually reading to story.
If you remember I made reference to the 'collapse of the sky' the chapter before, though it was a very vague description. This will be important to remember.
~*~*~*~Shameless plug time: Guys! Guys! I got a new layout for my Mia/Nasuti site! You better go there and tell me what you think! Do it or… or I'll cry! URL in my profile~*~*~*~*~
I'm pathetic I know.
