A Hero Reborn

Despite having memories trickling back into his head of a time long forgotten and knowing that they were his, Dust was still having a hard time grasping that he was the hero he and so many other people in Aurora Village idolised and had done since he could first grasp the concept of admiration. All of those stories that Ginger had told him throughout his childhood…they'd all been about him. She'd known his previous life… It made him wonder if she'd known who he was…that he was still the friend she'd known.

Also, had he really gotten a one-thousand hit combo?

But then there was something else. What he'd done… Sen-Mithrarin had defeated General Gaius in Everdawn Basin, bringing an end to the war fifteen years ago. Ginger had said that General Gaius had been consumed by the flames of Everdawn, Sen-Mithrarin following, but the Captain of the Guard…

"That soldier…the Captain…" he murmured. Fidget ceased her flying and settled down on a nearby tree stump to listen. The Blade of Ahrah still hovered at Dust's side. "He said that Sen-Mithrarin…that I killed someone," he added, his voice dripping with concern. "General Gaius…" Fidget shuddered.

"Can't say I ever hoped or thought I'd hear that guy's name again," she muttered.

"Do you remember anything about him, Dust?" the Blade of Ahrah asked calmly. Dust thought for a moment — the things coming straight to mind were what he'd heard from others. For now, he could picture a face, but nothing more.

"At the moment, only what I've heard," he admitted. "We've got a fair few Moonbloods living in the village now, and Mom told me that Gaius led the campaigns against them over fifteen years ago…nearly drove them to extinction…" He paused, a field of fire crossing his vision. He could see a Warmblood he somehow knew to be General Gaius in front of him, holding a broadsword at his side.

He'd faced him. Told him to raise his blade to fight or drop it and surrender. Dust could hear and remember himself saying those words, even though he'd never spoken them in this life. Had he really…?

"Did I…?" he asked quietly, unable to finish the question.

"It is true that you faced General Gaius in the Everdawn Basin, and that you defeated him," Ahrah confirmed. "However, you did not directly end his life."

Dust closed his eyes as visions of the fight began pouring into his mind. He could see himself disarming Gaius and knocking him backwards…only for something to send him flying moments later. Everything went black for a moment before he could see himself dragging his weary body across the scorching ground, answering a foggy and unclear voice. He could see Gaius hanging off an edge overhanging a lava lake beneath them. He reached out his hand…

"You tried to save him," Fidget explained sadly. "But he let go…" Dust nodded, his eyes still closed as the memory finished playing in his head.

"I remember," he murmured. "He said the world he loved was gone, and told me to cherish it," he added, his voice ringing with a sad nostalgia as if he were remembering an old friend. Why did he feel that way about a man who had supposedly been his enemy? Luckily Fidget brought him out of the brief musing before he could dwell on it for too long.

"And? Have you?" she asked. Dust smiled slightly.

"Well, I can't say that I've wanted for anything all my life," he replied, his tone becoming brighter. "Mom's barely let me have a down moment." It was true — his mother always knew how to cheer him up when he was upset about something, and had taught him the value of things both materialistically and sentimentally. As such, Dust had never been spoilt and knew how to work for something he truly wanted, but at the same time would happily accept a treat if it came his way. "Not to mention her curry is something else."

"Sounds like you've struck gold with this new life," Fidget grinned, once again taking flight to hover by Dust's shoulder with her green eyes twinkling. "And high time you got lucky," she added. "After everything you did, you deserve it."

"Thanks, Fidget," Dust smiled before his thoughts drifted to his mother again. All those stories she'd told him… She'd known Sen-Mithrarin…known him… "I wonder if she knew," he thought out loud. Fidget frowned in thought for a moment, humming as she did so.

"Say, Dust?" she piped up after a second or two. "What's your mother's name?" she asked. Upon seeing Dust's questioning frown, she added: "Just out of interest." Dust saw no harm in replying — maybe Fidget and Ahrah would know his mother too.

"Ginger, why?" he replied. Fidget nearly fell out of the air.

"WHAT?!" she shrieked, the noise going straight down Dust's ear and causing him to wince and checking that his eardrums hadn't burst.

"FIDGET!" he hissed. Fidget ignored him.

"Ginger is the one who's been raising you these past thirteen years?!" she screeched.

"I take it you know her, then…" Dust grimaced, still checking his hearing.

"Of course I know her!" Fidget snapped. "I don't know if those memories have come back to you yet, but she was pretty important during our last adventure!" Dust scowled at her.

"Once again, you are delving into the realms of Not Making Any Sense, Fidget," he retorted. "Mom said she knew Sen-Mith…I mean, me…but I'm asking if she knew that I'm still him."

"It hasn't twigged that she might have adopted you because she knew you before?" Fidget pointed out with her voice still dripping with irritated cynicism.

"Why wouldn't she tell me if that was the case?" Dust questioned. The Blade of Ahrah thankfully decided to step in before the argument could spiral into a full blown shouting match.

"I would imagine that she did not want the mantle of Sen-Mithrarin being a burden to you in your new life, Dust," it suggested. "Such a reputation is a heavy one to bear for a full grown man, let alone one as young as yourself." Dust calmed down, as did Fidget.

"Guess I should be grateful for that…" Dust mumbled, wondering to himself if there were any others who'd known. He was starting to remember Ginger…his adoptive mother…at a younger age. It should have been impossible, but he could see her at merely a few years older than himself. She was sad and distant…that had to have been shortly after she'd lost her family and home.

"In any case, she's done a pretty good job at the whole mothering thing from what I can tell," Fidget said, bringing Dust away from his memories. "Especially if your life's been pretty good up until now," she added with a frown. "What happened to send you running all the way out here anyway? The way Ahrah puts it makes it sound like you were in a bit of a fix." Dust frowned.

"You don't know?" he asked. Fidget pouted sarcastically at him.

"Oh, forgive me for not paying much attention to things because I was chasing down a crazy, flying sword!" she snapped dryly. Dust felt his heart rate starting to increase as his reasons for being in the Glade came back to him…

"Aurora was sieged by the Royal Guard," he explained. "At first, it sounded like they were just looking for Moonbloods but then they mentioned something about a white fox-Warmblood that shouldn't exist. They chased after me as soon as they saw me."

"'Shouldn't exist'?" Fidget repeated in astonishment. "That's a bit cr…" She cut herself off again as her eyes went as wide as her head. "Wait! Did you say Aurora Village?!" she squeaked. Dust froze…

By Elysium, how long had he been in the Glade?!

"Wait…oh, no!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet and eyes turning wide with terror. "Mom! The villagers… They…they were hurting them! They were hurting her! She…they could all still be in trouble! I shouldn't be here. I've got to do something!" He grabbed the Blade of Ahrah out of the air and began racing through the Glade, heading east towards Aurora Village.

"I would advise against doing anything rash, Dust," the sword spoke.

"I have to go back, Ahrah!" Dust protested urgently. He stopped in his tracks for a moment — he needed to be sure of something. "Look, those skills that came to me back when I was fighting the Captain… You awakened those too, right?"

"As I said the first time you fought using me," Ahrah replied calmly. "You wield the Blade of Ahrah, and with it, all skills imbued therein." Dust grit his teeth in determination.

"I can help them with these skills," he insisted. He may not have stood a chance against the Royal Guard before, but now, with this newly reawakened power coursing through his veins…he felt like he could take on anything. There was something else…he felt like he needed to be there. He needed to fight…to protect them. "And if I'm Sen-Mithrarin, I have to help them!" he added. Fidget flew up next to his shoulder, her face glowing with confidence.

"Well, count on me to watch your back, Dust," she grinned reassuringly.

"You'll come with me?" Dust blinked, half in surprise but also half in relief.

"Don't you remember?" Fidget smirked slyly. "I've got a few tricks of my own up my metaphorical sleeve." Dust chuckled — oh, he remembered alright. Those light pebbles Fidget had started with hadn't been much to sniff at, but he could also see, in his mind's eye, the nimbat shooting fireballs and bolts of lightning. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he was looking forward to fighting alongside the little orange fur-ball again. "Besides," Fidget continued. "We went through way too much together for me to just ditch you ten minutes after our little reunion."

Wow. Had it really only been ten minutes? Dust could have sworn that it felt longer. Pushing the amount of time he'd been sheltering in the Glade whilst his home was still in danger to the back of his mind, Dust pressed on through the trees, through the barrier that Ahrah claimed to have powered (it was a Blade of Elysium — Dust was guessing it was powered by the same kind of magic at least) — he had to stop when he saw the unconscious bodies of soldiers strewn in the tree branches.

"What happened to these guys?" he asked.

"As I said, Dust — the barrier will not allow any to pass who mean you harm," Ahrah replied.

"What exactly happened to them?" Fidget quizzed.

"An electrical discharge — enough to render them unconscious but not enough to do permanent damage," Ahrah answered. There was an uncomfortable pause which Dust ended.

"It's given them amnesia, hasn't it?" he asked dryly.

"And you call yourself the Voice of Reason…" Fidget grumbled.

"I did what I had to," Ahrah protested with not change to the tone of its voice whatsoever. "Let us press forward."

"We're not done talking about this, Ahrah," Dust said warningly as he pelted past the unconscious soldiers than through the forest leading to the valley where his home was located. Making his way through the trees, he came across the deer herd once more although they scattered soon after he arrive on the scene. Dust didn't blame them — it wasn't exactly often that people just ran through the deer's territory in such a manner — but what replaced them nearly made him jump out of his skin.

A pack of grotesque creatures that Dust had only ever seen on bounty hunt fliers sprung from the woods, blocking his path. He recognised the types — imps and beasts — and they were even more hideous in real life. The bounty posters didn't do their monstrous appearances justice.

"AH!" he yelped. "Where did those things come from?!" He wasn't proud to admit that his voice cracked.

"Calm yourself, Dust," Ahrah spoke. "Focus on what you have remembered of your skills."

Dust barely heard the last part as an imp sprung towards him and he cried out in fear — in his panic, he spun Ahrah around while averting his gaze, only opening his eyes when he heard the screeches of the monsters colliding with something (unfortunately they were still very much conscious).

"Good to see you've still got Dust Storm going for you," Fidget smirked.

"Sorry — I panicked," Dust grimaced.

"Hey, I've got your back, remember?" Fidget reassured. "Fire up that Dust Storm again — time for a reminder of what your old friend Fidget can do."

Dust obliged, spinning the Blade of Ahrah in front of him at top speed to create a whirlwind that was sending the imps and beasts flying. He noticed Fidget's paws glowing for a moment before a set of glowing projectiles fired from them — as soon as they mixed with the whirlwind, they split apart and began pelting the monsters like hailstones. It was a miracle Dust and Fidget themselves didn't get hit. Put it down to magic. Dust continued the assault with Dust Storm until the Blade of Ahrah slipped in his grasp, hitting him smack on the temple. To add to things, a painful jolt surged up his arm, nearly causing him to drop the sword.

"Ow…" Dust winced. "Forgot about that…" he winced. To be fair, you couldn't blame him for not remembering that Dust Storm would hurt after a while. The imps and beasts were still standing so he switched to melée combat to finish them off, with Fidget swooping in to get a few attacks of her own.

Once the area was cleared, Dust slumped against the nearest tree.

"Phew…" he huffed.

"You've changed — it used to be me who got scared out of my skin at the first sight of monsters," Fidget said.

"Can you blame me?" Dust squeaked, his voice cracking again. "Those things sprung outta nowhere!"

"I take it monster sightings have become significantly lower over the last decade then," Fidget guessed. Having caught his breath, Dust pushed himself back to an upright standing position.

"I've come up these cliffs with Kalyn more times than I can bother to count for years," he explained. "We've never had a problem with monsters before."

"That's weird…" Fidget admitted. "Why would they be springing up all over the place again? And why now of all times?" Dust was thinking the exact same thing and automatically glanced at the Blade of Ahrah as if expecting an answer out of the sword.

"I cannot say for certain," it spoke. Dust sagged in disappointment — so much for that. "Let us continue to Aurora."

"Way ahead of you there," Dust said, already getting back into a jog as he reached the top of the valley before jumping down to the floor below. Fidget was having no trouble keeping up and was always just a short distance behind him, hovering just over his shoulder.

"Who's Kalyn?" she piped up as they ran into another batch of monsters at the valley floor. Dust sent an imp flying before answering.

"My best friend," he replied. "I don't know if you knew a couple called Moska and Sarahi at all?"

"Moska's got our freaking autographs," Fidget replied. "Of course I know him." Dust remembered Kalyn talking about the autograph earlier. She hadn't mentioned a nimbat signature, though. "Is Kalyn their kid?"

"Their eldest," Dust confirmed. "She was born a few weeks after Mom took me in. We've known each other since forever."

"Well, any friend of yours is a friend of mine," Fidget grinned. "Can't wait to meet her." Dust didn't miss the sly snicker in the nimbat's voice.

"It's not like that, Fidget!"

Monsters were pouring into Aurora Village by the time Dust arrived. His sense of urgency rose beyond what he'd ever felt before and he rushed forwards past the farm. On the Blade of Ahrah's suggestion, he forced himself to not get to the point where he threw all caution to the wind and a good thing too — if he had, the spiked slimes and the giants would have had him for late lunch by now if it weren't for the number of parries he'd done to block their attacks.

What he had noticed was a lack of soldiers — the village guards were still fighting but it was now the monsters and Dust knew that they had more experience with those than with the Royal Guard. That's what Aurora's guards were trained for — monster fighting. Not warfare. He eventually spotted his teacher through the chaos.

"Corbin!" Dust shouted. Corbin sent a beast packing before responding to the call.

"Dust?!" he cried. "Get out of here! It's dangerous!" He was cut off by an imp trying to jump him from behind. Dust charged forward and with astonishing precision batted the monster away before it could do any damage. The act knocked Corbin backwards as well but he was otherwise unhurt.

"I think I can handle it," Dust said simply, holding out a hand. "How many more are there?" he asked as Corbin stood up, eyes wide in amazement.

"Uh…there's…another pack coming in from the east," Corbin replied. "But we can…"

"Okay, you take care of things here," Dust instructed. "I'll help out over by Old Bram's."

He left without another word, Fidget following closely behind him before Corbin could say another word of protest.

As soon as the last of the monsters had been either felled or had left the village, Dust ran back through town to find Corbin again. It didn't take him long — the guard had been looking for him as well.

"Corbin!" Dust cried out in relief. Corbin also heaved his student's name in relief and pulled him into a quick hug. Dust noticed that some people were staring but that most of the villagers were tending to others. He also spotted the Moonblood locals coming out of hiding looking utterly shaken. "Are you okay?" he asked, out of breath.

"I'm fine," Corbin replied. He glanced over his shoulder where his sister, Colleen, was tending to her husband and young children. Thank Elysium, she was okay. "Dust…how did you…?"

"Never mind that!" Dust interrupted. "Did anyone get hurt?" Corbin's face fell.

"From the monster attacks? Nothing we can't heal with basic medicine," he replied. "From the Royal Guard…"

"What happened?" Dust asked, his eyes wide with worry. Corbin looked heartbroken.

"They didn't spare any of the Moonblood guards," he admitted, his voice clearly pained. Dust's heart sank.

"No…" he murmured. Fidget gripped his arm in comfort and Corbin knelt down so that he was at the same eye-level as his pupil, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"Dust, we are all counting our lucky stars that they didn't find the Moonblood villagers," he reassured. "The guards didn't die in vain…"

"They shouldn't have had to die at all," Dust muttered to himself, his voice dripping with regret. He recognised it… He remembered arriving at a destroyed Denham Village only to find all of its inhabitants dead… "I wasn't fast enough." Corbin's grip on his shoulders tightened.

"Dust, I refuse to let you blame yourself for this," he snapped. "None of this was your fault. You didn't have to come back to save us, kid," he added. "Why did you come back?"

Because I had to.

That's what Dust wanted to say.

"I…couldn't hide in the Glade and do nothing," he said instead. "Knowing that the Royal Guard were…" he trailed off, wanting to change the subject. He'd been running through the village fighting the invading monsters, but there had been some faces he'd not yet seen, not including the Moonbloods. "Corbin, are you sure there were no other casualties?"

"No other fatalities," Corbin reassured. "So many of the soldiers went after you that we were holding our own until the monsters showed up." Dust felt a touch happier and even surprised — despite their monster training, the village guards had been holding up better against the army? Maybe it was the drop in forces on their side?

"Needless to say I finally achieved that one-thousand hit combo I was telling you about," Corbin continued with a grimace. Dust's eyes went wide. "I can't say that I'm happy with the circumstances, really…" Dust pinched his eyes closed and let out a regretful sigh.

"I thought I told you I hoped you never got into a situation that called for you to pull that kind of thing off," he said.

"Like I said," Corbin shrugged. "I'm not…" He stopped in his tracks, suddenly clocking what the boy said. "Wait, what did you say, Dust?" he asked. Dust froze. Wait…

Someday, I'm going to be just as powerful as you, and then I'll be able to get a one-thousand hit combo.

Well, let's hope you never have to.

"I…I said that I…I…" Dust mumbled. He could see Corbin as a boy, younger than he was now. A boy who looked up to a hero with such admiration.

Of course. He was the one who had saved Corbin in Ivydale Glen years ago.

"Dust?" Fidget piped up. Corbin's expression went from confused to shock.

"What the…?!" he spluttered upon seeing the nimbat. "Fidget?!" Fidget took the opportunity to give her old friend an examination.

"Wow," she said. "You've grown up," she stated before shooting a sideways glance at Dust. "Unlike this guy who seems to have done the opposite…"

"Fidget, no…!" Corbin exclaimed before Dust stepped in.

"It's alright, Corbin," he cut across. "I…I know who I was…" he admitted. "I remember." Corbin looked stunned for a moment before relaxing, although his face was etched with sadness.

"I see," he murmured. Dust frowned and asked if Corbin had known that he was his hero, reborn. "To be honest, we all did, Dust," the guard admitted sadly. Dust looked shocked. "Well, except the kids. We didn't tell you because Ginger didn't want to burden you with what you did fifteen years ago." Dust nodded in understanding.

"Guess you were right, Ahrah," he said.

"Do not resent them, Dust," the blade requested. Dust was taken aback at that one.

"Wha…? I don't!" he protested. "Why would I?" Luckily Corbin stepped in before Dust could ponder the question for too long.

"When did you start remembering who you were, Dust?" he asked.

"The Captain of the Guard cornered me just outside the Glade," Dust explained. "I panicked and the next thing I know I'm holding the Blade of Ahrah," he added, gesturing to the sword in his hand. "Things just started coming back to me in bits and pieces from there." Corbin nodded and sighed once again.

"This is the last thing that Ginger wanted for you, Dust," he said. "Not the memory thing," he corrected himself hastily. "Just…getting involved in conflict again." Fidget nudged Dust's shoulder gently, giving her friend a small smile.

"Sounds like she cares for you a lot, Dust," she noted. Dust glanced around the village again — a lot of people had seen him by now. He would have thought they would have let his mother know that he was unharmed (mostly — the knife from earlier had left a nasty gash in his upper arm).

"Speaking of Mom, where is she?" he asked. "Is she okay?" Corbin's face turned crestfallen again.

"I…" he began, taking a deep breath before starting again. He knew that this news would hurt the boy. "They took her, Dust, not long after you fled."

"WHAT?!" Dust cried.

"We tried to get her back!" Corbin continued, his eyes filled with regret. "But the other villagers…" He looked shaken by the memory. "And with the Moonblood guards being cut down…we had fewer forces to work with. In the end, she told us to help the others and we lost sight of her." Dust was looking wobbly on his feet.

"Mom…" he whispered. He hadn't been fast enough…

"I'm sorry," Corbin murmured as he pulled the boy into a hug that offered little comfort. The Blade of Ahrah hung limply at Dust's side and Fidget buried her face into his silver hair as he fell silent. All was quiet until the Blade of Ahrah spoke up.

"Dust, I can sense that Ginger is still alive," it said. "If we move quickly, we may yet be able to save her." Dust shot upright with an exclamation, causing Fidget to tumble over in midair for a moment before righting herself.

"You'd better not be messing with him, Ahrah!" she squeaked.

"I have no reason to lie to my Master, Fidget," Ahrah said as-a-matter-of-factly. Dust was already hopping from foot to foot.

"Then I shouldn't be staying here!" he exclaimed. "I need to find her!" Corbin looked horrified.

"You're going to set off just like that?!" he cried. "I know you're Falana's hero and everything, Dust…" He paused. "Heck, you're my hero," her added in an undertone.

"Do we have you to thank for Dust's combat skills not being rusty?" Fidget asked. Corbin nodded. "And you've been his instructor how long?"

"Five years," Dust cut in.

"Yeah, can't say I was expecting that," Corbin admitted with an embarrassed grimace before he went back to the topic at hand. "Anyway, even if you are the legendary Sen-Mithrarin, Dust…you're still a kid."

"I noticed," Dust replied sarcastically.

"He's got a point, Dust," Fidget agreed. "I mean, you could at least get some protective gear or something." Dust pouted at her. "I don't care how good you are with that sword. Ginger will probably throttle me if she found out that I let her son run around Falana when he's now most likely a wanted fugitive…"

"Who said anything about being a wanted fugitive?" Dust interrupted, his voice squeaking again. Fidget once again ignored him.

"…without some decent travel clothes," she finished insistently.

"What is wrong with my clothes?" Dust huffed. Fidget stared at him incredulously.

"Uh…have you not seen the holes in that shirt?"