Disclaimer: Yeah, this time I've got two lawyers. Don't ask how I get into this much trouble. Anyways, Bob and Tom now say that I don't own Esca and I know better then to argue with them (they are lawyers).
Author's Note: So after a long break and a horrible October (on my birthday, ironically Halloween, I learned that my friend was in the hospital in a medication induced coma) I'm back to posting! Yeah, I'm depressing… oh well, the story isn't! I think… I hope… oh, I forget! Anyways, enjoy reading!
Sisters till the End
This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!
Chapter Eleven: StoriesIt was a dark day, the sun hidden by a cloak of dark gray clouds that cast shadows below them as they flew by overhead. A cold wind whipped around, sending frail branches flying in its force. People walking were habitually affronted by flying pieces of assortments collected by the wind and shown around Zaibach. Bitter iciness had seeped into the wind and attacked anyone with a harsh whiplash of cold shards.
However, inside the Vione the weather was not noticed. No matter how cold it would get, they would not take notice, for there were more important things to do. Sitting together in a small room shadowed by large machines that regularly bleeped and blipped in a pattern known by the inhabitants of the room, the Star Dragons sat around a table, some playing a card game while others monitored special monitors. Yumi and Anika gambled money while Philomel sat in the corner, watching with his arms crossed. Kalirice was nowhere to be found.
"You know," Anika said, putting down a card and glancing at Yumi. "I never really understood the importance of the Second."
"You are too young to realize the impact of the legend," Yumi said coolly.
Anika glared and slammed her hands down on the table. "Don't you tell me what I'm too young for," She yelled. "I am perfectly capable of understanding."
"You just said you didn't fully understand it," Philomel said viciously. Anika rolled her eyes. "That's because I never understood the legend."
Yumi eyes widened a bit. "Are you saying you have never heard the most popular legend of Gaea?" She asked incredulously.
"Duh."
Shaking her head, Yumi stood up, her shoulder length red hair reflecting the little light they had in the room as she went to stand by Philomel who, in turn, retreated deeper into the shadows. "Child, the story begins in a time when the Mystic Moon and Gaea were one. A time when winged people of Gaea ruled and soared the crystal skies with their angelic wings. These people were called the Draconians.
"Smart, sophisticated, they held within their hearts a bit of magic that allowed them to make their wishes come true, along with the will to do good. They thrived and lived fulfilling lives, which here one Gaea would seem like a dream. Their cities were boundless with beautiful towers, halls; there was no need for weapons since the Draconians were peaceful. They lived on the Mystic Moon for many centuries in peace until one day a prophet visited an elder Draconian and told him of the fate of the Mystic Moon.
"Many Draconians had wanted to use their magic in a different way and they rebelled, splitting the Draconian race into two, the Black Dragon Clan and the White Dragon Clan. The Black Dragons wanted to use their magic for reasons deemed unclean by the White Dragons and the White Dragons wanted to keep the magic pure and untainted by evil. A great war broke out on the Mystic Moon and lasted for many years. Then, the White Dragons created a single stone to harness the power of their wishes, which they used to wish for a new world where they could go, one that they would not destroy. Their wish was granted.
"This new world was called Gaea and hidden from the Mystic Moon. All Draconians were sent there to live. Both clans took land and made it their own but the battle still continued. It was a long time; some say centuries other say a millennium, before something extraordinary happened. The first person from the Mystic Moon, born of Draconian blood, arrived on Gaea in a great pillar of bright white light.
"The man was named the First, for he was the first man to ever set foot on Gaea. The Draconians discarded him as an alien and fought for control of him. Unknown to them this man was much more then just a foreign object to be stared at. Since he was of Draconian blood he held within his pale skin the power to change the destined outcome of the war on Gaea. There was a spike in rash feelings towards the clans from all sides and the First did not know what to do. Deciding that the Black Dragon Clan was the best option for survival in a war he joined them; he did not know that his actions of self-loathing and greed altered Gaea and caused catastrophe among the countries.
"Strange events began to take place. Waves as a high as any mountain would come crashing down on a town no where near water, a thunder storm would take out twelve farms in the course of one night, winds so violently decapitated many villagers, houses and towers, no matter how strong, would crumble by mere touch. The Black Dragon Clan was growing hungry for blood and the White Dragon Clan had lost their morals and was slaughtering innocents. It was pure chaos and Gaea's future was surely lost.
"Until the First saw his mistake by siding with the Black Dragon Clan. He learned of his powers and his destiny and knew what he must do to save a world once so pure. He altered Fate, using his powers, and in the end almost died. With energy low and his body broken, he swore to never let anything like this happen again. So he created three beings to protect Gaea; one of the Mystic Moon's energy, for that was where he had come from, one of Gaea's energy, for that was where he had been, and one of the Dark Moon, for it held both planets together. The beings took form as women and stood by their master, watching as he withered in pain and soon gave his last breath to Gaea, saying that he would return as the Second and that his coming would be foretold by the Protector of Earth."
"However, something went wrong and the Protectors came here first instead of with the Second. It was said that the Naii would receive the Second once he arrived and would take him to the Temple of Artemis to reenact his powers and call his Protectors to him," Philomel added from the depths of the shadows.
Anika stared at Yumi. "But… Why?" That was all she could say. Yumi shrugged and leaned back. "It is a legend with no end. That is why it is one of the more popular here."
Philomel snorted. "And here we are, sitting on our behinds while the legend is coming true out there."
Anika quirked her eyebrow at Philomel; he was very harsh and aloof when it came to other people but when he fought it was with such force and vigor she wondered how he could still remain in control. "My, my, Philomel, are you showing emotion? And here I was thinking you only cared about yourself."
Philomel snorted. "Think whatever you want, wench," he spat.
Yumi chuckled and patted Anika on the shoulder, keeping the teen at bay before she got in over her head. While Anika was skilled there was no way she could ever take on Philomel and expect to live. "Come now, we have more important things to talk about," she said at the sound of a beeping behind her. "It looks as if we've found the Second."
Anika jumped to her feet and ran to a consol, typing in something very fast, and stared at the screen and it reported why it was beeping. "He's with the Dark Stars," she said, a little confused. Philomel swiftly came up behind her and hit a button. Pictures and stats came up on the screen. "The Dark Stars are a band of rebels lead by Tandor, a Zaibach experiment for their troops gone wrong. He's half bat half human with, ideally, the ability to emit super sonic sound that can paralyze, break bones, and detonate things. When he escape fourteen years ago it was known that he could only temporarily paralyze an opponent," Philomel growled, looking at the picture with hate burning in his eyes. Oh how he remembered his last contact with that monster… how he had wanted to find him and rip out his guts just for what he did…
Yumi cleared her throat. "His second in command, known at this time, is an assassin called Naru," she said as a picture of a girl with dark pink eyes and black hair popped up. "She's slightly erratic in emotions so it's hard to gauge her but she seems very loyal to Tandor. Her history is very common, her parents were young when they had her and struggled with the cost of raising her. When she was five they made a deal with a traveling magician who traveled with a ring of others in a circus.
"Naru grew up in that circus until the circus broke apart; at the time she went with the magician and they disappeared for a year before the magician died and Naru went off on her own. We have no source of information on why she joined Tandor or even how she came across him. All we know is that she is deadly loyal to him."
She waited till the picture changed to show a girl much more mature then Naru, with brownish green eyes and dirty blonde hair. "Era Syminiack," Anika said, surprising both Yumi and Philomel. "She used to baby sit me when I was little. No one knew much about her, not even her, but I once heard my parents talking of a great fire in her village. Her parents vanished and a friend of her father's, Samuel Frinn, a retired royal guard, took her in. He died when I was five she was fifteen and left our village. No one has heard from her since."
"Well, she lived as a mercenary until Tandor picked her up two years ago," Philomel said bitterly. "The last is Puck Tal." A picture of a woman with strangely colored eyes and pure white hair took the place of Era's. "She grew up in the wild, no known family, and is of Draconian blood. She has a violent temper inherited form her bloodline and can be very dangerous. Other then that she avoids people, has a fear of large amounts of water, and is delayed in language skills."
"You forgot to mention one thing, Philomel," Yumi said as Philomel fixed her with a glare. "All of these people have special powers, Anika. They are not normal. When we leave keep that in mind."
Anika nodded. "What is the plan then?"
"We leave and approach their base in stealth mode then use the Comrade Method and leave," Philomel said.
"Comrade Method?"
"One of us enters their base under the influence that we're friendly. Then the other two break in," Yumi supplied.
"Oh."
"Think you can handle it?" Philomel asked. Anika fixed him with an I-Can-Handle-Whatever-You-Can look. "Let's go," she said.
Author's Note: Stories! Yay! Now you have information on the Dark Stars! Also, I'm thinking about doing a cute little quiz in one of the chapters. Yes, random. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review!
~The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat~
~~ShadowKat~~