I felt bad for the short chapter 8... so here is a significantly longer chapter 9.. with more story :D
Shard stood quietly on the balcony, admiring the star-filled sky. He glanced behind him with a soft smile, seeing Elise sleeping peacefully in their bed. He took one last glance toward the moon, then returned to bed. He carefully slipped underneath the sheets, wrapping his arms around his mate and pulling her to his chest. Elise muttered something softly in her sleep, smiling. Shard chuckled silently, feeling more at peace than he ever had. It did not take long for sleep to find him.
He was running, terrified. This place was unfamiliar, with walls of stone and red carpets down hallways that seemed endless. He could hear the voices of soldiers chasing him. When he dared to glance back, he nearly tripped in shock. Leading a contingent of Dark Land troops was a cruel looking Bisharp, a mega houndoom at his side. The troops were killing anyone who crossed their path, and the houndoom walked away calmly. As he watched, Shard found himself cornered. The bisharp approached, lifting a sword without even a hint of emotion before bringing it down upon the boy. But he paused, a gleam of regret in his eyes. Shard sprang awake with a gasp, a cold sweat gracing his body. Elise groaned beside him as sunlight filtered in from the balcony.
'What the hell was with that dream?' he thought quietly. The umbreon sighed as he climbed out of bed, grabbing his clothes and heading to the shower. 'Perhaps this will help clear my head..'
Shard was plagued by his dream the rest of the morning. As they were eating, Elise finally spoke up with worry.
"Is something bothering you?" She asked softly.
"It's nothing, babe… just a weird dream, that's all." Was his soft reply.
But Shard felt as though there was something he had forgotten., something important. He just couldn't shake the feeling that it had been more than a dream.
"Are you sure? You seem a little off today." Came the worried voice of his mate.
"No…. I don't know…" He sighed softly, resting his head on his arms. Elise slid closer, pulling him to her to comfort him.
"Whatever it is, we'll face it together." She stated calmly, a determined tone now meeting the worry. Shard couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks." He stated softly.
Meanwhile, in the guestroom upstairs, a newcomer sat, gazing at herself in the mirror. She had been called pretty before, having a peculiar 'wild beauty' about her. She quietly traced the contours of her muzzle with one red claw, then reached back to finish braiding her unruly mane. She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart, she couldn't look outwardly nervous. The zoroark stood quietly, swallowing.
"alright Veyra… No need to panic… just gotta watch them, and then report home… That's not so hard right?" She spoke, trying to reassure herslf.
Just then, a murkrow flew into the room, a message in its beak. Veyra took it quietly, scanning over it. She paled at what was written.
"Oh Arceus…. i… I can't do THAT…" She whimpered out. Her orders had changed…. She was to kill the girl. "but…. If I don't…. Shanna will be punished…"
"Why must my life be so fucking hard!?" she yelled suddenly.
Hades stepped through the archway into his 'Reflecting room'. The seven of the room's eight walls were ceiling-to-floor mirrors, and in place of his reflection in each was a dark shadow.
"Master…. What is it you wish of me?" the hellhound spoke, kneeling respectfully to the dark being.
"Bring the young prince here when he is found…. We will have use for him yet." Came the reply.
"As you wish."
With that, Hades went to relay the order to his men. The prince had to be captured.
"Pitiful fool…. Your usefulness has reached its limit." Whispered the shadow as it faded from the mirrors.
A figure stood upon the hills, gazing toward Aurora. Their white robes billowed gently in the breeze as a figure in black joined.
"He is there, dear brother?" spoke the one in white.
"yes, dear sister…. But the dark is closing in as well…." Spoke her sibling.
"Then why do we not act to protect him?"
"Because it is not our place… His fate rests in his own hands… and Father has forbidden our interference."
The female in white nodded softly, turning to her brother.
"Then shall we return home?" She asked softly. The male hesitated briefly.
"that is likely best…. It is not yet time for us to act." With that, the duo left the hill, as unnoticed in departure as they had been in arrival.
Dark beings, mysterious figures, and a spying zoroark.. oh my! what lies ahead for dear Shard & Elise? Who is this mysterious prince? Who are the figures on the hill? Who is Father? When will i shut up? Who knows? :D