Chapter One: The End of the World
The World's End
Far in the Future
He blinked once, twice. Opening his eyes to nothing but ash. Ash was surrounding him, covering him.
"No." He pushed himself up as he stared at the ruined landscape, the city swallowed by ashes. "No no no." He looked upward, and froze. The sun was gone. Covered by the Darksign, it hung in the ember colored sky. "Damn you Gwyn." Oh how he remembered the one who he served all those centuries ago, only to watch as his paranoia slowly destroyed him. And now it led to this. A dead and damned world of ash, the Ringed City buried under ash, Filianore… FILIANORE! The knight looked around praying that his centuries frozen in time allowed his work to succeed, for if he failed… if he failed then he would have lost his last friend. He raced forward, eyes darting around for a sign for any sign of the goddess.
"Llloorrdd…" He froze and looked towards the direction of the deathly drawl. Crawling across the ashen desert, a trail of black blood behind his almost mummified body, was a Pygmy. He raced to the Pygmy and knelt down to check him.
"Tiss tooo llatte forr meee Mmiinne Lloorrd." Oh how he wanted to weep at the death of this one who recognized him "Theee Reeeddd Hoodd"
"What?" He asked, only for the Pygmy to pull itself towards him.
"The Red Hood, beware The Red Hood." The Pygmy was able to say before it dropped to the ashes below, gone forever. He bowed his head before looking around again.
"FILIANORE! He called out again. Looking around rapidly in fear, he kept clenching and unclenching the grips of his greatswords, just to be sure they were there. He couldn't see her though. All he could see was ash, ash, ash, a white gown. He froze and looked closer, it was a white gown. He raced over to the gown and cried for joy for there she was, still as beautiful as the day he first met her. Filianore, the youngest daughter of the god Gwyn, the slumbering princess of the Ringed City. he pushed her dark locks away from her face revealing pale porcelain skin and a silver crown. And her eyes, the encroaching darkness around her eyes was still there but it was far less than it was. He could have stayed there for the rest of his undying life as he pulled her into his arms. The black metal contrasting with the virginal white silks she wore. Her eyelids began to flutter and for the first time in unknown centuries, Princess Filianore opened her eyes, revealing the most beautiful blue he had ever seen.
"My knight.." She raised a hand to his cheek, cupping it with the same care and affection that she gave to everyone she met. When he first arrived, it was her who made him feel welcome. Not Farros with his brash nature and thundering personality, not Gywnevere with her teasing and holier than thou attitude. Not even Gwyndolin, outcasts that they both were, had welcomed him as Filianore had. "Thou hath kept thy promise to me." And she smiled, a smile sweet and true, he was always a thrall to that smile.
"It was you Fili," He began. "I always keep my promises to you." She began to weep and he raised one cruel gauntlet to wipe away the tear from her eye and held her close.
"I…. Thank you Harry." His heart leapt at the sound of her saying his name. For the two of them at that moment were no longer princess and knight. They were just Fili and Harry, and he couldn't be happier. "What happened? How am I awake?" Harry brushed away the hair that was falling into her eyes as he stood up, Filianore still held in his arms.
"I'll explain later, right now we need to find a way out of this nightmare." Embers fell gently from his cloak as Harry pushed forward, onward through a desert of ash the two stopped when they reached the circular plinth containing thrones.
"The thrones of the Pygmy Lords." Filianore began. "It really is gone." She looked up once more to the blackened sun and whimpered as she curled herself up into Harry's armor, he had refused to put her down despite the fact that she could walk.
"Here." Harry reached into a pouch on his armor and pulled out a black stuffed dog. "Why don't you hold onto Padfoot for a little bit." Filianore hated feeling like a child but took the stuffed dog carefully from Harry, knowing how much he meant to him. The two continued, only for Harry to freeze suddenly. Cresting the dune of ash behind the thrones was a Pygmy crawling away, and both of them heard the rough and feral growling from behind the dune. Harry looked on in trepidation before he began to crest the dune, and before them was him. A broken and chipped greatsword stabbed into the ground as he was turned towards them, his red cloak dirty and torn, stained with ash. His armor and chest had a massive gouge in the left breast that tunnled into his body, the studded tasset around his hips was ripped as were his boots and gloves. A dark and dirty grey beard reaching down to his knees.
"What." His voice was raspy, ancient, decrepit, yet Harry recognized him immediately. "Still here?" He began to stand, but it came out looking like a feral crouch as he held out his hand "Hand it over. That thing, your Dark Soul." He was Hollow, Harry knew he was Hollow "For my lady's painting."
"Gael?" Harry began as he carefully placed Filianore on the ground and stepped forward, a hand near one of his greatswords. "You aren't well old friend." He took a step forward. "Please leave us be, and don't make me do this." He saw Gael look behind him… no…
"Princess…." The Last Slave Knight began. "Where have you been?" Filianore wept as she recognized the decrepit warrior in front of her. "You abandoned us.." Gael's grip around his greatsword tightened. "You left us alone…" He took a step towards her and Harry stepped to block her. "I shall take your Dark Souls…" Harry unsheathed one of the greatswords from his back, the blade already beginning to glow with fire and ember. "And with the soul of the Last Ringed Knight and the soul of Filianore... my quest…. SHALL BE FINISHED!" Gael yanked his sword in an overhand flick which sent the body of the Pygmy on it flying at Harry. Harry quickly swung his blade, bisecting the Pygmy and spraying dark black blood across himself as Gael lunged towards him, blade first.
Filianore looked on in horror as her friend battled against one of the greatest knights in her father's army, for a slave-knight that could survive to the end of the world was no threat to take lightly. The broken blade and flaming greatsword clashed back and forth, Gael lunging like a cat on a mouse and Harry batting him away. Only for him to misstep. Gael's blade shot forward and before Harry could riposte. SHUNK. He looked down to see Gael's blade embedded in his stomach, his ears suddenly pierced by Filianore screaming as Gael lifted him up be the blade, and with a fling of the Slave-Knight's wrist, Harry was sent flying, his back colliding with the heavy stone of the wall with a loud CRACK before he flew through the damn wall! Colliding with the ground he looked up to see Gael approaching Filianore, his broken blade dragging across the ground to bring down on her. Harry refused for this to happen.
She heard a roar from where Harry had collided with the wall as the stone exploded in a wave of fire and lightning. Filianore watched in awe as Harry shot across the battlefield like a falling star, blade in hand he thrust forward and impaled Gael in the chest before shoulder-checking the slave-knight off his weapon. Gael only pushed himself to his feet as he lunged towards Harry, blades clashing and blue flame…. Wait, blue flame? The firestorm around Harry was starting to burn blue as it encompassed him and began to spread to Gael.
"HARRY!" Filianore pushed herself to her feet and ran towards Harry, perhaps a miracle could stop this fire, it just seemed… wrong, distracted by the flame and Filianor both Harry and Gael slashed each other causing both men to fall in pain. As Filianore reached Harry she began batting at the flames. Only for her dress to catch fire by the blue flame. She panicked before realizing it wasn't destroying her dress, it even felt cool. And the last thing Filianore heard before she blacked out were voices, voices of children.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
October 31st, 1994
About ten minutes earlier.
Iris Lillian Potter pushed a lock of ruby red hair out of her eyes as she looked down at her plate. The reason for why tonight of all nights everyone was telling her to lighten up. It was Halloween. And everything shitty in her life had happened on Halloween, Potter Luck, Draco and Neville liked to call it. The petite Hufflepuff looked around the Great Hall to her other friends.
Ron was over with Neville, the two boys chatting, probably about quidditch in Ron's case and Plants in Neville's case. She smiled, those two were usually her first defenders from any sort of slander or shit that would be spread. And Ginny, Iris glanced at Ginny, the little red head was like a coiled spring, she looked like she was going to punch someone, most likely Nott, what with the way he ran his mouth.
Over at Ravenclaw table she spotted Hermione sitting with Luna, Hermione's space was filled with books and papers, at least she wasn't going on about S.P.E.W. anymore, especially after the other houselves formed the Society for the Protection of Elven Lives and Livelihood, otherwise known as S.P.E.L.L. Iris wasn't certain what pissed Hermione off more, the fact that she was yelled at for over an hour by a group of irate houselves who loudly explained that why they needed to be bonded to a witch or wizard in order to live, or the fact that they had a far better acronym than she did. Iris had five Galleons on the second one. As for Luna, well... Luna was being Luna. A giant bowl of pudding in front of her as she swung her bare feet back and forth from where she was sitting, the poor Beaubaxtons students looking like they wanted to be anywhere else as Luna was most likely trying to explain the dangers of Nargles. Iris frowned at Luna's bare feet before looking over to The Bitch. She had no idea why someone so sweet and kind as Cedric was with that fucking bitch Cho Chang. She always picked on Hermione to the point Hermione was nearly killed by a fucking troll her first year because she was crying in a bathroom. And Luna... Iris took a deep breath as the list of crimes Cho and her fellow shitstain friends had committed against Luna was by far larger. They may actually call her a Dark Lady if she ever was able to claim vengeance, after all, no one would suspect a Hufflepuff.
Over at her own table, Iris saw Hannah and Susan both giving her looks. Yeah, both of them knew some sort of shit was going down tonight, she also saw how Susan's eyes were scanning the room, mostly at the front towards the goblet and the other Aurors that were on duty, "A good friend dies for you." Susan once told her when she and Hannah had her cornered once after class last year. "A great friend kills for you." Hannah added as both girls rolled up their sleeves to reveal the thin daggers on their arms. "And we'll all hide the bodies." Iris finished. She smiled at the memory before looking at the Slytherin table.
There were the rest of her friends. Draco was holding everyone's attention, most likely with one of his carefully crafted speeches, his platinum gold locks gleaming as always. Thank God and Hecate he no longer put that grease shit in it. At his side were Vincent and Greg, both boys were sweet and really got a bad reputation, but they helped explain to her about the ancient Bannerman laws of the wizarding world and how their houses were pledged to house Malfoy. Pansy was over to the side with Daphne and Astoria, most likely plotting. As for how she gained the friendships of those girls, well she could thank Lockhart for that, and the manners drilled into her by Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia.
She smiled as she thought of her Aunt and Uncle, they were probably at home with Duds right now. Her smile turned to a frown as she remembered what the three would most likely be doing. Uncle Vernon would be keeping tissues and wine ready for her Aunt, while Dudley would be holding a picture frame. The picture in the frame would be containing the image of a boy three years older than her with her fathers unruly black hair and the bright emerald eyes Iris and her mother shared next to a newborn blond baby as he tickled the blond baby's feet. She lost her father, her mother, and her older brother that night.
"And now!" Everyone quieted as Iris looked to the front, Headmaster Dumbledore in a less garish than usual set of robes up by the Goblet of Fire "The moment you've all been waiting for." The goblet flared as it shot out a scrap of paper, Dumbledore catching it as it fluttered to his hand. "The Champion of Durmstrang, Mr. Victor Krum." The Durmstrang students began pounding their feet in what Iris could only describe as a warrior's call as the burly wizard that was Krum stood up and was guided away to a side room before the goblet flared again. Once more, Dumbledore caught the paper as it fluttered towards him. "The Champion of Beabaxtons, Ms. Fleur Delacor." The Beabaxtons students had a mixed reaction, some hollered in joy, others cried in sorrow, yet the elegant Fleur Delacor stood as she was guided to the side room as Krum was before the goblet gave it's last flare. "The Champion of Hogwarts…" Dumbledore paused as he read the name, everyone on the edge of their seats. "Mr. Cedric Diggory!" Iris let out a joyful cry that was nearly lost in the roar of the Hufflepuff table as Cedric stood to hugs and cheers as he was guided away. "And now with our champions selected we can enjoy…" The goblet coughed. Dumbledore stopped speaking as it flared once more and shot out another name, Iris looked over to Nevil and Draco, the looks of confusion on their faces spelt only one thing. This was not supposed to happen. Dumbledore caught the paper and unfolded it, he was frozen before he spoke the name, his tone once warm and cheerful now filled with sorrow and ice. "Harry Potter."
The great hall was silent, almost to the point of where it felt like Iris was being choked. This was just cruel. She looked over to Fred and George, as did everyone else.
"Do you think this is funny?" The headmaster asked, his voice cold as the heart of winter and rage just licking at the edge of the chill. "Do you two think this is funny? An attempt at a joke? Because this is just cruel." The twins jumping to their feet and pulling out their wands as the aurors did the same.
"I, Fred Weasly."
"I, George Weasly."
"Solemnly swear on my Life..."
"And my Magic..."
"That we were not the ones…"
"Who committed this act…"
"Should we be shown as false…"
"Then Hecate damn us for all eternity." Both twins raised their wands in the air.
"Lumos!" They cried out as the tips glowed bright causing tension to relax as the Aurors put away their wands and returned to their stations.
"But who did it?" This question, surprisingly came from Professor Flitwick. "Who put a dead child's name in the goblet? And to what end?"
"He's not dead." Everyone rounded on Ludo Bagman. "If Harry Potter was dead, then no name would have emerged from the goblet." Iris felt her heart stop then and there. Her brother was alive? Harry was alive! "And since the... Champion in question isn't here, then the goblet will simply bring him here."
"How?" Iris's voice was tiny, yet all turned to her. "How will Harry get here?"
"As I stated Ms. Potter, the goblet will bring him. It apparently summons a person by wrapping them in blue flames, I hope he's not near anyone though."
"Why would that be?" Professor Snape asked as he tilted his head.
"Well Professor, past reports of this summoning have shown that the flames can be easily transferred between people by contact. And those people can also be summoned as well. It's a lot like…."
The goblet suddenly exploded in a raging inferno of black and orange flames, Iris was far enough away and could still feel the blasting heat as she put her hands up to ward it off. The pillar of fire coming from the goblet shot straight into the sky before exploding into three individuals and blasting them across the room. The first, an armored warrior wearing armor that was almost flaming and a hood pulled over his head with a burning cape attached, was tossed to the teachers. The massive flaming greatsword he carried flew through the air and buried itself into the stone. The figure was bleeding heavily from a stab wound, Iris could see it from here. The second figure, another warrior, was dressed in torn metal and leather armor along with a red hood. He had a massive chunk missing from his chest, his greatsword was chipped and broken and skidded near where he landed. Which was at the foot of the Aurors who looked to be setting up triage around him due to the heavy amount of wounds on him. The third figure was that of a young woman wearing a white dress and clutching a stuffed dog as if her life depended on it, she skidded across the floor to where Iris sat.
Iris was frozen, obviously this woman in white with floor length hair wasn't her brother. Perhaps someone he knew? She stood up and carefully knelt down by the woman. Her feet were bare, her dress was dirtied in…. Yes that was ash. And the stuffed dog… Iris knew something about that dog was familiar. Carefully turning it, and ignoring everyone else telling her to back away from the woman, she let out a gasp as she saw the name lovingly stitched into the dog's side. Padfoot. This was Harry's favorite toy, her Aunt and Uncle told her how he never put Padfoot down.
"Iris." She turned to see Hermione, the bushy haired witch looking on in worry as she knelt down next to her.
"Mione we need to.." She never finished as a scream pierced through the hall, looking over Iris's eyes widened in horror as the red hooded man stood. Towering above everyone in the room he held an Auror by the neck in one hand and his greatsword in the other.
"Sir!" Professor Dumbledore began as all the teachers and Aurors pointed their wands at the man. "Put the man and sword down please!" His eyes were hardened as Iris took in the red hooded warrior. The dirty grey beard that hung down from his face made him look like a monstrous Santa Clause, and the sword in his hand really wasn't helping.
"Blood," He began, his voice low and haunting. "Blood of the Dark Soul. Blood for my Lady's painting… It fills this room. Enough blood to create her new world." And with that, the monster ran his sword through the Auror. It was quiet for one beat… two…
"OPEN FIRE!" Another Auror yelled as stunners, blasting hexes, and an assortment of other multicolored spells shot through the air and collided with the stranger. And all he did was look down at his wounds, weeping black blood as the spellfire continued to rain down on him.
"Is this the blood? The blood of the Dark Soul?" He seemed to ask himself before letting out a monstrous roar and launching himself towards the line of Aurors. Bringing his blade down Iris could only watch in horror as he cleaved one man in half and pulled out a crossbow, shooting off several bolts each one hit an Auror and pinned the to the stone wall. The beast continued to slash and carve his way through the Aurors, and then he turned to them. "Princess…" He began, and was looking at the woman. "I don't believe we were finished." He began to make his way over, slashing out at anyone who tried to stop him. It was chaos in the great hall. People were being cut down, students were being evacuated. And Iris refused to move from her spot, holding herself over the woman protectively she turned to see her friends approaching her.
"Greg! Vince!" The two looked to her. "Get her out of here!" The boys grabbed the woman by her arms and dragged her back as the figure approached.
"Nev, Draco, Ron. slow it down." They nodded and began casting charms and transfiguring the floor to form barriers and ice.
"Susan, Hannah, Ginny. Potshots." The girls nodded as they began firing off bludgeoning curses towards the beast.
"Hermione, I need a weakness." The bushy haired witch was scanning over the figure approaching them.
"That chest wound seems like the best bet, that or the face." Iris began shooting her own spells with Hermione, the warrior holding up it's blade to block their spells.
"Luna! Try to disarm it!" There was silence, Iris turned to see Luna wasn't there. Eyes darting around the battlefield she saw the tiny blonde was shaking the arm of the black armored warrior. Trying to wake him perhaps? "LUNA!" She yelled, only for the girl to turn and raise a thumb. Iris blinked before returning to shooting at the creature again.
"Souls…" It began speaking again as it swung it's blade, Nevile, Draco and Ron having to jump out of the way or be bisected. "I WILL HAVE YOUR DARK SOULS!" The creature dashed forward, barreling through the others and picking up Iris by the rm. She froze as her wand dropped to the floor. "And so I shall have your Dark Soul." The beast whispered. Only for another force to slam into it with the force of a freight train. Iris looked up from where she tumbled to the ground. It was the black armored warrior with his burning cape. Fire was radiating off his entire body, his left hand looked like a torch. The ridiculously sized draconic greatsword he wielded was burning with flames as it was crossed with the monster's sword.
"Ring-Lord. It seems you live." They both pushed back. And the stranger, this Ring-Lord, swung his blade releasing a fan of flame which stunned the red hooded warrior before leaping into the air slamming his blade down upon the beast. Over and over he pushed the red hood back with headbutts, blade swings, and fire waves. Iris only watched in awe as the dark knight riptosed the red hood's blade and led him throughout the great hall stopping at the center where they traded blows. Only to watch in horror as the red hood impaled him on the broken sword. "You are skilled old friend. Skilled enough to guard the Ringed City. Skilled enough to slay Dragons and Guard Filianore." He twisted the blade as the Ring-Lord dropped to the ground. "But you are not skilled enough." He yanked out his sword and turned to them. "Now." His cape was flaring with red magics and almost seemed alive. "Release your Dark Souls to me." He took a step forward before a golden lightning bolt shot past Iris's head and hit him dead in the chest. Iris turned to see the Woman in white stride forward, a cold look in her blue eyes as she took in the two warriors.
"Slave-Knight Gael." The woman readied another lightning bolt which she hefted like a spear. "Step away from him."
"You hold no power over me anymore daughter of Gwyn." The red hood, Gael, replied as he raised his crossbow. "Pray tell, which of us is faster, you are not your brother." The woman only smiled.
"I know. As for who is faster, I would have to say Lord Hadrien." The Draconic Greatsword burst through Gael's chest from the back. Looking down at the blade, Gael turned his head to reveal Hadrien…. Hadrien oh god it was Harry. The Slave Knight dropped his crossbow, his sword clattered to the ground as he looked at Harry.
"Mine old friend….. Forgive me I…"
"I know Gael… rest now old soldier." Harry pulled his greatsword from Gael, causing the red hooded knight to fall to the ground. He then picked up the broken greatsword. "Let you be a place of rest for all who come after." He held out his hand as Gael's body began to burn and immolate until a pile of bones remained. He then gripped the greatsword and the blade began to warp and burn until a coiled sword remained, stabbing the sword into the bone pile it burst into a bonfire in the center of the hall as Hadrien sat down next to it. The woman in white stepped forward, her lightning bolt dissipating as she sat down next to him. Both of them then looked around, seeing all who remained in the hall and as quiet as church mice.
"No need to be shy." Hadrien began to speak. "Filianore and I don't bite." he looked around, no one laughed. "Well then." Hadrien began as he pulled out his greatsword and began to clean it next to the fire. Pulling down his hood Iris nearly whimpered. She was always told that Harry looked like her father with her mother's eyes. She was told right. Only he was stronger, broader. Knightly even. She stepped forward and sat by the fire. It felt… calming, relaxing, her stress just seemed to melt away. Harry looked at her closely. "You look familiar." he was studying her closely. "Have we met before?" Iris smiled and held out her hand.
"My name is Iris Lillian Potter." Harry's face grinned before it slowly morphed into shock and realization.
"Iris….." He seemed almost afraid. She stood and stepped around the fire before wrapping Harry in a tight hug. His armor was warm, he smelled of ash and blood, but she didn't care.
"Welcome home brother." She whispered in his ear.