ME AGAIN! LE AWESOME JEN HAS RETURNED! Mein STUPID internet and laptop WON'T let me publish mein story! AAAAAAAAAAAARG so now I'm going to write a lot of chapters and wait for the chance to publish them all when I get to Jo's house. Jo is mein best friend.

Well, see. I don't really know where this story is heading, and so I'm going to wait and see how the plot develops. Arg, I have EXCELLENT ideas but I just can't put them onto paper (or Microsoft Word, more like). I'm sorry if any of the chars are OOC D: be patient, I only started this game 3 months ago. Or was that 4…

Please read Legend of Songtale on Fiction Press :3

Oh and one last thing: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Rose is a cleric. I mean, no, not like the Dragon Nest cleric . But like one who can heal and have basic attack skills.

As my motto says: welcome back, all you faithful readers, and hello to the new ones!

…

Fallen Prophecy

Book 1: Dying Tale, Chapter 1: To Where the Snow May Fall…

"This isn't much of a travelling group, and we have not much of a plan. But to where we're headed… I don't suppose we know either, right?" Rose blinked at her companions, hoping that one of them has a good enough idea as in where to go and where to stay.

The surviving 10 villagers, including Rose and the newborn, have found each other and now travelled together in a small group, using a spared, metal wagon to carry the unburned bits and pieces that might be useful, or memorable. But sadly none was cheered enough to reply. All were still in shock as to what had happened last night.

Rose sighed and looked up to the sky. Where are you? She pleaded quietly. When are you coming? 100 years have passed… But the prophecy has not come true… Where are you when we needed you?

But the morning star just smiled down pitying at her, as the weak light of dawn began reaching up to touch the sky, the star slowly faded. Rose watched until it was almost gone. Where… are… you? Lowering her head, the young women stared at the flower-strewn grass field. A spot of wet coldness touched her shoulder. Surprised, Rose threw her head back up again and stared at the snow drifting down. Lively, white little things. They danced and swirled, embracing each other as they fell to the ground. Their short life-span over, the snowflakes willingly submitted to the earth. How? What…? Rose wheeled about in confusion, and her companions raised their heads slowly to stare at the snow falling with hollow eyes.

Snow in June… The totems… they're all leaking power… They're reaching even to here! So far away from Lotus Marsh… We're… we… Rose's thoughts melded together into one single conclusion: The Dragon was awakening. We have ran out of time. The Prophecy has been denied…

Rose was sure her fear reeked so much that a poochum miles away could smell it. The baby she carried in her arms stared up at her, as if saying: Don't be scared, Rose. Don't be afraid. The Prophecy will be fulfilled in its own time.

Rose smiled fretfully back at the silent newborn. "I would be fine… But I just fear for all of you. All of you young ones, who will have to live their childhood in fear and destruction, war and death… Oh you wouldn't understand. And let's not talk of this matter, shall we? Let's jump to something happier, a little break from all this."

The baby yawned. A snowflake landed square into its mouth. Sneezing, the tiny thing re-opened its sleep-filled eyes and widened the twin sapphire orbs into enormous, deep-blue pools, focusing intently on the snow around.

"We're wandering aimlessly around." The cleric explained patiently to her silently-communicating partner. "I think Mana Ridge is that way. In front of us. It's not very far from our town. And I have a friend at Mana that may help us for a while." Rose stared off into the distant, unseeing, "That is, if they hadn't sacked Mana too."

Rose turned her attention sharply back onto the baby. "Oh yes, I was thinking about this yesterday night, see. I don't suppose you remember the name your mama gave you? No? I guessed so. So what should I name you? Elizabeth? Grace?"

The baby seemed to scowl at all the names. But then again it's probably hungry. One of the kindlier survivor, an old woman, had saved a goat and fed the baby yesterday with fresh goat milk. Mix some salved home-made butter in the lot and POOF! You have a good, healthy, rich drink for any baby.

After handing the newborn to the old woman's care, Rose trudged along with the rest of the group as she focused on only one thing: what to name the baby. At least it took her mind off the terrible events that happened… yesterday night. It hurt Rose to even attempt to recall anything that had happened. There had to be a special name, a very special name in some distant language that would suit the little life she had saved. Something nice-sounding, something meaningful. Rose had wanted her own name to start with an 's', because she liked the sound of that letter. But she had been named Rose, and she was happy all the same. Something that starts with 's'. There were no good names that the cleric could think of that began with an 's'. Something in the old tongue then? In the language of the Ancients… yes… I've been studying that recently with… Rose stopped right there. I've been studying it. She quickly changed, to prevent any unnecessary tears. Yes… there's a lot of good words that start with 's' in the Ancient's tongue… But I think I should make something up… take some of this and some of that!

Rose flipped words back and forth in her mind until she finally stumbled upon a good enough sound. She slowly pushed on from that one syllable, onto the other, and finally concluded it with a perfect ending.

Then, staring around her in surprise, Rose realize that the small travelling group was in familiar territory again. The scent of snow… NATURAL snow… Mana Ridge… Rose smiled happily. "I know what to name the child now!" Rose called to the old woman, 5 feet in front of her, "I had a PERFECT name!"

Smiling, the kind, wrinkled face of the elder peered back at the excited Rose. "Calm down, young one, and let us hear that name. We're getting close to Mana Ridge right now! And my, this fine lady here ate quite a lot." The woman looked lovingly at the baby, who smiled up at her, though it said nothing. Nothing at all.

…

"And here, I dub thee…" Rose paused dramatically, like the way they knighted squires back in the old days. Her travelling companions have now relaxed and were smiling delightedly at the way Rose was naming the newborn, and how dramatic she made it.

"Salkara, the Flower in Water. As in the tongue as my forefathers. Now I pass down to you!" Rose ended the last part so hurriedly and excited everyone laughed happily. The baby, now named Salkara, smiled. Then it broke into a silly grin, like all the other infants. Except it did not laugh. It simply smiled and stared, happy with its new family.

…

"Very clever of you, eh?" The old woman's eyes twinkled as she handed the newly "knighted" baby back to Rose. "Sal—Flower. Kara—Water. A cunning combination. The delicate flower with eyes of water."

Rose was about to answer when a shrill cry pierced the silence of the morning air. One of the younger and none-too-wise survivors has spotted the ugly snout of a poochum poking out at them. "Stop that!" Rose hissed, rushing to the child's side. "You'll attract their atten—"

The young cleric gaped at the arrow protruding from the wagon a centimeter away from her eyes. "Lay low!" she cried to the others as more arrows zipped across the air and cut up the peacefulness that had once settles. Monsters… so close to Mana Ridge? I thought the Coven would take care of them! Unless… Rose pushed the last, horrifying thought out of the way. It didn't matter much anymore. It mattered only for them to stay alive through this sudden new attack.

Everyone gathered their senses and dashed to the wagon, crawling under it and waiting for whatever was shooting at them to show themselves. Rose's eyes were wide with fear, but she also gathered up a little of her senses and pooled a little spark between her hands. The spark grew as she concentrated.

A poochum barked roughly and shoved its snout near the wagon.

ZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

The small blue-green spark lashed out, slashing the monster through its eye and right through to its evil brain. The poochum jumped back, only to fall dead. Then the orcs came. And goblins. There was an army of them, ambushing the travelers!

First came a rain of arrows. Luckily none found its mark, as the wagon proved to be a valuable shelter. Then the orcs threw their maces and clubs. This assault made a significant dent in the metal wagon, and even pushed it back a little.

Rose was not daunted. Stirred a little by the sense of oncoming battle, the young women shot out showers of her own magic: One hit instant death. If only more of us knew how to defend. Even basic skills work well now!

The battle was well turned in Rose's favor when the wagon was lifted.

It suddenly LIFTED straight off the ground, and smashed into a nearby tree.

An ice mage on the enemy ranks teleported away, its work done, and left the lowly-ranks continue their fighting. A fresh rain of arrows came, and one of it struck the shoulder of a man scrambling to his feet near Rose. A scream enveloped Rose's hearing, and she firmly PUSHED it out of her mind. She couldn't be distracted! Running over to gather the survivors, Rose tore off a small rune she wore as a pendant. Holding it high above her head, Rose cried in the ancient language, "Let the Goddess protect us!" A force shield swept around the pitiful 10 figures. Rose tripped over her own feet cutting across to examine the wounded man. He was still alive. Thank you, dear Goddess. Rose teared up once more as she used her powers to hold back the man's pain and heal it. First she cleaned wound, then she fitted the bones back, then she worked to reknit together the severed muscles and skin. If only I studied more on the arts of healing…

So many "If only" s… those are ugly things to think of. If only life was more fair, but it isn't. As Rose learned from the past, life was not fair. It was not fair when one of the enemy archers aimed so well it went through an undetected crack in the force shield and shattered the crystal rune that upheld it.

What happened next Rose did not remember, nor did she care to try. All she knew was that there was something sharp in her side. It didn't hurt, it was just there. Just a little pressure. The world around her was dimmed and the noises faded. The last ten survivors were milling around her, to do what Rose did not know. It was like she had forgotten everything. Then a small hand reached out and tugged on her hair.

The cleric was instantly jolted back into reality, and she sprang up. What had happened to the others Rose didn't know, all she cared about now was to save Salkara. The baby was left on layers and layers of wool, her eyes followed Rose as if to give her hope and strength.

Once again, she concentrated on a pool of magic. Instead this time she did not care to destroy the monsters heading towards her. The spark was sent upwards. It formed into an arrow-shape and suddenly exploded in a blinding, easy to see mass of swirling blue, red, green, that assembled into the shape of an angel. All clerics knew that skill*, it meant that the cleric was in grave danger. The angel will stay in the air for 10 minutes before it explodes and rains toxic on its enemies.

The light blinded the monsters for a temporary while, precious time that Rose needed. The pressure in her side increased, and Rose stared down quizzically. There was an arrow buried half-through her left side. "Where did I get this?" The cleric was about to heal herself when she realized she was out of Mana. "That's not good…"

The baby reached out and tugged on the hem of Rose's simple, homespun cloak. "Hm?" Rose looked down. The baby pointed. Rose spun around just in time to dodge a fast-recovering orc. Fishing a mana herb from her pocket, Rose pooled it into her magic. Then shot out another shower of deadly magic. The arrow in her side increased in pressure, and even though Rose didn't feel much pain, the wound was weighing her down. Blood was spilling out of the wound like a wild waterfall. At this rate Rose knew she would die soon. Should have gotten more runes… I wonder where are the others? I hope they escaped! Please let them still be alive.

Something snapped. The young cleric gasped as she fell down. I should have healed first! I'm an IDIOT… Throwing up a protection shield with weak magic, Rose collapsed inside the crystalline dome and found out she was out of mana again. It didn't matter. She was too weak to try to use more magic. Ugh… I HATE it when this happens.

Wait a minute.

I'm saying that as if it happened before, many times.

But I have never fought before.

Yet I know… I know… Rose tilted her head slightly. She saw an array of weapons clashing against her shield. But she didn't know what for. Why are they here?

Rose sighed and saw Salkara. A pity. What a pity. Salkara stared back at her calmly. Then it reached out a hand.

Where… have I… fought before? Where… am I now? Who… Rose's eyes filled with strange images she had never seen before. Memories. But not her memories. There was a girl laughing. Then it faded into a sunny day with young children milling about. Rose heard laughter, it sounded nice and happy. But then… the imaged burned into a battle scene. Chaos reigned around the young woman. People were screaming war cries and clashing with monsters. A shadowy shape perched on a mountain peak, jutting high above the carnage. It was huge, and in the form of a dragon. It roared. Then the image shattered, giving away to a brilliant star. It was nothing but a clod of light. Intense, piercing, beaming light.

It was fading fast. Rose felt a strange calmness overtake her, as the Star whispered quietly.

"Thank you."

Rose smiled.

Salkara withdrew her hand, puzzled by her savior's smile. The infant watched with silent eyes. The crystal dome around them weakened. It began blinking and fading. The baby wanted to cry out, but no sound came. A goblin smashed its crooked dagger into the dome, shattering it.

Rose's eyes snapped open. "Not today, you won't!" Sending an intense beam of light around her, she pushed the surrounding monsters back with the force of her attack. The cleric jumped to her feet. "Take that!" Rose pooled energy into her hands and burst it in the faces of her attackers. It formed a Holy Cross and shot out fierce crackles of energy. The lightning bolts shot through the enemy ranks, killing a mass amount of them and electrocuted many others.

Rose felt the pain in her side grow to be a monstrous size, but something told her to keep fighting. My work is not done yet.

…

For how long the cleric stood there, sending jolts and jolts of lightning into the enemy ranks Rose did not know. But the angel suddenly exploded. I forgot about that. Monsters shrieked as a rain of blackish-purple toxin showered them thoroughly, poisoning most and killing some. But there was no end to them. None at all.

Rose couldn't fight anymore. Her eyes grew dim for the third time. I'm sorry, I did the best I can…

Sensing their prey weakening, the orc commander shouted for the attack to continue with renewed energy. I'm sorry. But it's the best I can do.

The commander raised his mace. SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH . The monster stared dumbly down, where his waist was no longer connected to his lower body. Then he sighed, as if tired of it all, and fell apart. A figure strode, almost calmly, out of the forest. The sword flashed in the sunlight. With a few graceful strokes, the enemy ranks diminished so rapidly there was soon none of the thousands upon thousands left within a few minutes.

Rose wondered if she was still alive, or was an angel coming to take her away. The figure turned back to her.

"Salkara." Rose used the last of her energy to nudge the infant. Then the world around her faded. It no longer existed.

"Thank you, child."

…

:D Well! That's the end of that! Oh and I actually got to publish the prologue at home. My internet decided to be kind to me. My internet has more power than I do . Well anyways. The * part was that I meant it was a skill that clerics in general know. Not the DN cleric, I mean, his order knows that skill, it's just that DN didn't let people use it in RPG battles. Okay you know what, even I'm confused now. Oh well. I hope you enjoyed! :D

Oh and one last thing: Please help me on DN :3 I suck too much.

Find me as either Songtale, SongChaos, and sometime in the distant future Songflower and Runalr (Jo's char, no wonder why he's name doesn't start with a 'Song').