Sorry for extreme delay. Holidays and work, my friends. Here we go.

Chapter 19

Party

The dark halls of the dungeon burnt away underneath the beautiful sights of illuminated candles dangling above. Rocky walls and crumbling ceilings became the vision of a tent perfectly designed, adorned with colors that seemingly clashed, but held a feeling of warmth anyone could enjoy.

Within this tent danced the visages of hundreds of happy villagers, all illuminated with their own happiness as a tune mixed with strings and brass played a melody that melted the heart down to its purest form. Tables surrounded the wooden flooring below, filled with food that perhaps was too fanciful to be true.

Luna blinked, losing the feeling of the poison lurking through her body as she instead felt her fingers moving on their own. Her eyes darted down, and sure enough, she was playing an ancient ancestor to the guitar she loves so much. It looked surreal, but its sound was perfect.

But its appearance gave her the perfect answer as to what's going on. Her arms were covered in a robe, with her hands far paler than usual. This wasn't her once more; her past has returned, surfacing like the perfect dream she could only wish to attain. Once again, she was thrown back in time, for reasons she could hardly explain, nor did she dare to try. Her brain refused to move any limb, forcing her to be a passenger on a voyage with seemingly no end.

Was this still close to the last memory? Perhaps she was to find out. Her fingers finished their turn, before she stopped and took a bow, much to the delight of the raucous audience. Her smile was quite infectious it seemed, for as she felt her muscles tense, everyone beamed with joy.

"Madam, you're playing is exquisite! As expected from the Louds!"

"You are truly the gifted saint of Loch Loud!"

"Encore, dear lady! Encore!"

In her mind, Luna nearly shrunk from embarrassment, but her body didn't relate. It instead lapped it up, with her smile growing bigger by the day. "Goodness, I thank you all! Just give one moment as I exchange this wondrous tune for another!"

The young ancestral Loud stood up and walked away from the party, hearing the joyous shouts of so many as she wandered towards a table. Over in the center of the tent, the sounds of feet smacking hard against the ground made her heart skip; the happiness of the occasion was more than enough to inspire her music creativity.

But as the instrument touched against the side of the tent, a strange thing occurred, one that was immediately picked up by her journeying descendant. What was it? A sudden occurrence of fear? Pain? Longing? Whatever it was, the Luna of the past shook her head, wiping away some excess sweat covering her brow.

"Get it together. You can't look ridden with sickness. Not during the festival!"

But no matter her protests, that ache wouldn't leave her soul. Face becomin flush, she quickly took a seat to the corner, taking a few deep breaths. Luckily nobody seemed to notice, with even her temporary fanbase dispersing across the party. A sigh of relief escaped her system, and she relaxed.

Her head couldn't comprehend it. "Stage fright?" She wondered, "I mean, I had it, but she seemed like she was eating it all up? What gives?"

Perhaps that wasn't the case after all. Whatever it was that caused her grief vanished as soon as her eyes laid sight on a certain duke. Against the large throng of villagers, his white hair stood out amongst the rest. Beside him, a younger boy quickly followed, his own look of white locks clashing hard with his innocent appearance.

Luna would normally be happy to see her little brother regardless, but her ancestor seemed a tad bit different. There was relief, yes, as well as the expected happiness, but there was something else that the young rocker couldn't quite put her finger on.

Was she not only happy, but thrilled? Must be closer than she thought.

The Duke gave his sister a courtesy bow, before showing off a cheeky smile. "Sister, done for the night? The party just begun! Look at dear eldest sister!"

All eyes were casted upon the center of the tent, where Luna discovered the ancestral Lori somehow doing a perfected dance with two fans. She looked like a princess dancing like that, with all the village boys flocking close. If it wasn't for the King himself with that scary eye, perhaps one would've found himself a date for the night. Alas, no early Bobby was spotted.

The medieval Luna giggled, before taking the Duke's hand. "Oh, forgive me, brother. Just resting myself before the next song. Oh no, did I worry you?"

Her worries went unfounded, for the early Lincoln let out a giggle of his own. "When do you not worry me, sister? But seriously, are you well? Our friend here wanted to hear the sounds of that strange drum you invented!"

Attention now fell upon the other boy, who looked frightened being there. Luna recognized him immediately. It was the same small child she saw the last flashback, though unlike then, he was at least clothed here. He looked like royalty, though it was obvious Lincoln dressed him up in some of his spares. Had to admit, his reluctance of being in a crowd was a little endearing.

"Oh hello there! Liking the party?" Luna asked.

The boy jumped hearing her voice, before giving a small nod. "Um... yes... yes..."

Lincoln couldn't help but laugh. "Come now, no need to be shy! The family loves you, no?"

They do? According to her own ancestor, that was the case. "Seriously, lighten up! Did you see how happy father was getting another son?" As she laughed, a hint of doubt filled her heart. "Um, but do you remember anything yet? Anything about your real family?"

Both looked at the young kid, who could only look down clumsily. "N-No... nothing, ma'am."

"You can call me sister, you know? And... man, that's bizarre..."

He shook his head. "I-It's okay! I'm... I'm happy I found you guys!"

That lead to a pat from the Duke himself. "Now there it is! I love hearing you happy, new brother!"

Luna couldn't agree more, giving him a courtesy nod. "Indeed! We're all happy to have ya, Abraham!"

Luna was happy. Her head was not. "W-What did she... what?"

But before she could attempt to think it over, the tent suddenly had a change in tune. The happy jolly dances were replaced by a look of concern as a man came charging in from the entrance. Based on his outfit, he was clearly in a scuffle, and his breathing came out in rags.

"M-My Liege! T-The Savino's! They're-"

But his struggles were ended by a lone arrow to the back, followed by a whole volley suddenly piercing the tent. Screams filled the air as the sound of hooves smashing hard against the cobblestone ground filled the night.

Luna heard her early father shout: "All of you, run! Men, get out there, now!"

Luna was caught in a quick tuff, unsure of what to do. Outside the tent, she saw hundreds of shadows bouncing against the fabric, a deadly war seemingly breaking out. The Louds versus the Savino clan; a true battle she feared to ever see.

It was the Duke, though, that broke that trance. "Come sister, we must flee! You too, Abraham!"

And as the tent began to burn, Luna felt herself journeying far from her body, leaving behind the past, and returning to a grim future.

FROM: A local soldier in the Savino territory, date unknown

"Those two kids... I fear for Lady Savino. She's bad with losing children. She already lost one it seems, and now to possibly lose two she swore to take care of? I cannot begin to fathom her grief. The wars against the Louds are getting more and more brutal, and I can't help but think she wants to find a cure through this madness. God help us all... God help us all..."