"…ivine one?"
"Div… ne?"
"Divine one?"
Alear slowly opened his eyes as he woke to a familiar scene. But something was wrong. He felt… cramped? Something was pressing against him. As he turned to look, he felt his heart nearly stop.
Her eyes met his and a mutual feeling of surprise was clear as day on her face. "You? Or, wait, me?"
"Ah, you're both finally awake! It's been so long!" Their voices rang with glee as both Clanne and Framme cheered.
The door to the room opened and another familiar face made their way in.
"What is all this ruckus? Clanne, Framme, what are you two-" Vander's voice cut as he looked at the scene in front of him. "D-divine ones, you two are awake! That I might see you two awake before me…"
The two divine dragons glanced at each other for a moment, both confused.
"Ah, apologies. I am Vander, 32nd steward of the Divine Dragons. The two before you are Clanne and Framme, 33rd stewards of the Divine Dragons."
"I- I know, but something's not… right… I'm sorry, could you give us a moment? I just… it's all going so fast," he told them.
"Of course. Clanne, Framme, let us leave them be for now. Whenever you are ready, please, allow us to escort you two to Queen Lumera," Vander said with a bow.
As the door closed behind the stewards, the two divine dragons once again looked at one another.
"So I suppose we meet again?" Alear spoke first.
"Yes, though I don't believe we ever truly met, right? The me from another world, huh?" She said.
"Um, what should I call you? We're the same person, or, we were the same person after all," he asked.
"Aleah. And you are?" She introduced herself.
"Wait, we don't share the same name?" He asked. She shook her head. "Well that makes things easier then… I'm Alear.
"I see. We may have served the same role in our respective worlds, but there are still some differences. That being said, I must thank you for saving what was left of my world," she nodded.
"That's right… but in the end, I couldn't save my own," he bitterly admitted.
Sombron had won. Their combined efforts weren't enough. He had watched as his comrades fell before him. How everyone tried their hardest to protect him. But it wasn't enough. But now, in this familiar scene, hope began to fill his chest.
"We can change that, can we not? The world I am originally from, that world parallel to yours. I believe our two paths have merged. That's why the two of us can exist at the same time," Aleah explained.
"So that makes us siblings? Twins too, just like the fell dragons of your world," Alear deduced.
"Yes, however unlike that world, I believe that both of us are strong enough to make it out together. You know, I always wished for a close sibling. I had Nel, but the relationship she wished for was different. Of course, I love her all the same, but the bond between siblings is something I never had the chance to relish in."
"I hope I can be a good brother to you then," Alear chuckled. "And I hope we can save everyone now. You know mother is first, right?"
Aleah's eyes widened. She shook her head.
"In my world, the day I woke was the day Lythos Castle was besieged by Sombron's forces. I believe it may be possible to stop that. Especially with the two of us," Alear assured her.
"Then shall we get going? I'm sure mother would love to see us again," Aleah smiled.
The twins made their way to the door, opening it to see a familiar sight. The Somniel was always a pleasant place for them. Soft music played as they descended the steps to meet with their stewards once more.
"All set?" Vander asked. "Let's proceed to the castle then. I'm sure Queen Lumera will be over the moon to see the two of you once again."
"Yes, let's move," Alear nodded.
As if on cue, the corrupted appeared all the same. Unlike his past self, Alear held his ground. Unflinching, he, alongside his sister, wielded the swords given to them by Vander. They were simple iron swords, nothing quite like the Libération they were accustomed to, but they would do.
Just as before, both Clanne and Framme had been separated, yet Vander stood steadfast in the face of unknown enemies as he took a stance in front of the divine dragons.
"Well then, shall we get started?" Aleah asked. A smile adorned her face as she stepped forward. She was raring to fight. All those years spent gone had her in the mood to get her blood pumping.
"I guess we shall," Alear said as he stepped forward behind her. "Vander, take the closest one on the left! Aleah and I will take care of the other two!"
"Understood!" Vander nodded as he rode his horse into battle.
Just as he approached his enemy, so too did the twin dragons. "Aleah, immobilize them! I'll finish them up."
She nodded, understanding the intent behind his every word. It made sense for her to immobilize them. She was more nimble than him, yet he had more strength. All she needed to do was aim for the legs. She was confident her other half would be able to land the killing blows.
It didn't take long for the three of them to reach the twin stewards. And as more corrupted showed up, a voice made itself known.
"Alear? What happened?"
"Marth, I'm glad you're doing well. Seems we've been brought back to fix all our wrongs," Alear told the hero king.
Yet as Marth materialized himself beside Alear, another Emblem made herself known beside Aleah.
"Ah, Tiki! It's good to see you. I wasn't expecting you to be here," Marth spoke.
"Mar-mar! Where are we? What's happened to the evil dragon from before?" The girl asked.
"We'll have time to talk later. For now, shall we finish the job here?" He responded.
"Of course! Now then, Aleah, let us go forth!" Tiki commanded.
"As you please," Aleah nodded. The two ran forth as they engaged.
"I suppose we should follow in their footsteps," Alear looked at Marth. The man simply nodded with a smile as he readied his rapier.
And in record time, the corrupted that surrounded them had all fallen. And as if on cue, Lumera descended from the sky to meet them.
"My children…" she teared up as she approached them with her arms open. Both Alear and Aleah embraced her. "I'm so glad to see the two of you."
"It's good to see you as well, mother. We have a lot of catching up and explaining to do."
"Explaining?" Lumera's confusion was clear in her voice.
When they arrived in Lythos Castle, Lumera's curiosity was overflowing from what her children had said earlier.
"What did you have to explain?" She asked.
"If you wish to speak privately, we shall take our leave then," Vander bowed before beginning to walk for the door.
"No no, it concerns all of us actually. I'd like you all to hear it even if it may sound unreasonable," Alear requested.
All eyes were on him as he took a deep breath. The young stewards sat beside Aleah while Vander stood beside Lumera.
"Aleah and I are both from separate worlds."
Lumera's brow furrowed as she questioned him. "Separate worlds? You're my children. What are you talking about?"
"I know it may sound odd, but I'm from a future where Sombron wins. He… he was able to obtain all of the emblem rings and brought the world to its end. But when I woke up, I was here," Alear explained.
Aleah spoke up to tell her own story. "He saved what was left of my world as well. In my own life, Sombron and I clashed, taking each other down. But the Fell Dragon had a child that worked towards his ambitions. The dragons who still believed in me summoned Alear and he was able to stop the one that nearly ended the world."
"Does that mean you two know?" Lumera asked, being careful with her words.
They both nodded. Their Fell Dragon heritage wasn't lost on them.
"I see. Then I trust that you know what you two must do to stop him once and for all?" She asked.
"Yes, and his plans have begun to unravel already. The corrupted as we call them, the enemies we faced on the way here, are part of his doing. Tonight, Lythos Castle will be under attack. Leading them will be…" he hesitated as his memories of Veyle and Lumera's relationship worried him. "It's someone who we need to save. I know you'll probably hold some ill will towards her for her role in the attack, but please understand that it isn't who she truly is."
Lumera sighed. "I understand. Someone important to you?"
"Yes… I know it's selfish of me, but it isn't her fault. Sombron's underlings have been manipulating her," he told them. "She'll be in a cloak. You won't see her face, but please keep in mind that she's truly innocent in all of this. I'll do whatever I can to protect anyone."
"We will," Aleah corrected him. "We're in this together now you know. We're siblings. Of course I'm here to help you, so don't go around trying to be the hero by yourself."
Alear smiled at his twin. "Thank you… I'm glad to have you by my side. We'll all stay with you, mother, to ensure your safety. Elusia may worship Sombron, but not all of them are bad. Stay on your guard tonight. I'm sure they'll be here."
"If I may, Divine One, but does that mean you're already familiar with the royals of all the regions?" Vander asked.
"Oh, that's right… Even if I may remember you all, none of you know much about me. I hope we can all get along once again," Alear bowed.
"P-please, Divine One, you really don't have to bow! We're just your retainers!" Clanne panicked as he spoke.
"It's alright, Clanne. And please, Alear is fine. I may be a Divine Dragon, but I'm truly no more important than anyone else. I appreciate you all for the work you've done."
"Speaking of," Aleah interrupted. "You guys have been working all day, haven't you? If what Alear is saying happens, the attack will be tonight. Don't want you all to be worn out."
"Understood. Clanne, Framme, I suggest you two get some rest before night falls. You two have been working hard lately," Vander told them.
"Vander, you should probably get some rest too," Alear spoke up. "Don't worry about us. We'll be alright. I may have just woken up here, but I'm a lot more capable than it might seem. You saw us right earlier."
He nodded. "Thank you Div- er, Alear. Then please, excuse us."
The stewards left, leaving the two fell dragons with their mother.
"So he won in your world?" Lumera asked.
"Yes," Alear sighed. "Despite our best efforts, his strength was overpowering. I- perhaps it may have been my fault. I admit, I made many mistakes throughout our journey."
"But now, we can change that," Aleah took his hand in hers. "Look back on those mistakes and let us help you. Don't forget that we're all here with you."
"Thank you… We'll take everything back. I won't let it end the same way. And that starts tonight," he nodded and looked at Lumera. "To be honest with you, tonight, in my world… you gave up your life to protect us."
"In the attack, right? But if we're ready for it, we should be-"
"No, even if we're ready, there's no telling how much may be different now. But the attackers are strong. The one that killed you is the same person that I must ask we save," Alear admitted.
"Sombron's influence?" Lumera asked.
"Kind of. There's a mage dragon who can alter people's minds to some extent. The person in question… she's one of Sombron's daughters. Our sister."
Lumera's eyes lit up in understanding. "I see. Well, more family would certainly benefit you two. Not to mention, I wouldn't mind having another daughter to dote on…"
"You're not upset or anything?" Alear raised an eyebrow recalling the resurrected Lumera that guarded the final dragon shard.
"No, of course not. Even if that girl may have been responsible for my death in your world, Sombron is powerful. Not to mention, I didn't even know there were still mage dragons alive. The poor girl probably had no chance at resisting their combined power," Lumera shook her head.
"Ah, of course you wouldn't. Sorry, it's just… you were resurrected as one of the corrupted in my world and the two of you faced off against one another. I know, I'm probably an idiot for comparing the corrupted you to the real you, but the last time I saw you, I…" Alear trailed off as a tinge of guilt hit him. He knew it was irrational. The woman had been raised as one of the corrupted. It wasn't her.
But to his surprise, he felt his mother's arms wrap around him. "It's been hard for you, hasn't it," she slowly stroked his back. "But it's alright. I'm not going anywhere. I'll do whatever it takes to stay with you all. No matter what. Even if my life was shortened by saving the two of you, we'll always be together."
"Thank you, mother… I- I don't know if I could stand losing you again. I'll do what I can to protect you. Tonight, we'll stop any harm that comes our way," Alear declared.
"Maybe after tonight, we should all stay at the Somniel until this war against Sombron is over," Aleah suggested. "Lythos Castle can always be rebuilt. It'd be far easier to stay elsewhere if the enemy can't reach us."
Lumera nodded. "I agree. The Somniel was designed to keep the two of you safe. We can stay there as we travel to collect the rings and bracelets. Ah! I almost forgot," their mother said before exiting the room for a moment.
When she returned, she carried with her two weapons, both nearly identical to one another.
"I believe these may be familiar to you two?" She smiled as she unsheathed one of them.
"Libération," Aleah smiled, thinking back on the journey that she had gone on with her sword.
"These were made for you two so long ago," she said with a yawn. "To see you wield them now would be a delight."
"Get some rest, mother. We've been sleeping for a thousand years, so let us watch over everyone. We'll be fine,"Alear told her.
She laughed. "Of course. Thank you for coming back to us. I missed you both. Make sure to wake me up if anything seems off, okay?"
"Yes, mother. Sleep well."
Lumera exited, returning to her chambers leaving the twins alone.
"It's really happening. To think I'd ever see you in person," Aleah smiled at her brother. "We haven't had much time to talk, just the two of us, but there's nothing else to do now, so…"
"I'm surprised as well. Never thought I'd ever see my mother again, let alone you," he shrugged.
"Our mother. It's a little strange though. You're me and I'm you. But not exactly. It's nice having a sibling though. Someone I can confide in. I would say I hope we'll get along, but I already know we will. We get along with almost anybody," Aleah laughed, thinking back to all the enemies that were befriended along their journey.
"Yeah… can't wait to see them again. Last time I saw them… it was so close. We were so close to saving our world. Just one final push was all we needed, but… we couldn't do it in the end. But now, knowing everything that might happen? With you by my side, I'm sure we'll overcome anything."
"We will," Aleah stated triumphantly. "I know we will. The future is not written. Anything can change, and we'll make it."
-A-
Night had fallen and just as they had expected, Elusian soldiers had arrived. But they were ready. The covert nature of the attack meant that the numbers weren't overwhelming, but there was still more than enough for them to put up a fight.
The battle began with a blast of magic from mages in the rear. Fire came hurtling down from above as the Elusian soldiers advanced under the cover of the magic. However, they didn't stand a chance against the might of two highly experienced divine dragons.
As the divine dragon twins moved in and out of the Elusian forces' formation, they tore everything apart. Clanne and Lumera stayed toward the rear, casting magic to support the twins. Vander and Framme took on any who managed to pass them.
The tides of battle were clearly in their favor. The Elusian forces fell as their assault was thwarted. To make matters even worse, the arrival of the Firenese Prince made retreating not an option.
Alear stepped back, narrowly missing the blade that was aimed at him. 'Misericorde, huh? About time she showed up' he thought as he jumped back to gain some space.
Sure enough, the hooded figure of Veyle stepped forward, her dagger in hand. "Unfortunate. You should just accept your fate and lie down and die for me."
Before she could even think about charging the same spell that had once killed Lumera, Alear had already reached her, grabbing her shoulder while his blade threatened her neck.
"Go back where you belong. You shouldn't be here," he calmly spoke.
The girl's eyes widened at how quick he intercepted her.
"Step back if you understand. I'm sure you have a way out," Alear said before pushing her away. "Your assault failed. Retreat while I still have the patience to spare your life."
The cloaked Veyle turned to flee, vanishing from a warp spell that had been cast on her by one of the Elusian mages.
Minutes later, the rest of the Elusian forces fell, either dead or captured. The attack on Lythos castle was over.
"Damn, that was harsh. Would you really kill her if you had to?" Aleah asked.
Alear's silence told the whole story. But eventually, he spoke. "No… I couldn't do it. I could never. Underneath that cloak is a kind girl. One who only ever deserved happiness. We'll find her again. And this time, I won't fail."
"I'll be right beside you," Aleah nodded. "Ah, here they come," she motioned her head towards the approaching Firenese Prince.
"Divine Ones! We didn't know you were awake! Oh how incredible. To think I'd get to see the two of you up in my lifetime," Alfred spoke eagerly with a bow. "We were on our way here to ask Queen Lumera about the sudden attacks from some strange creatures, but we found the castle under attack. Are you all okay?"
Alear waved his hand. "We're alright. No one was hurt too badly. Nothing Framme can't fix anyway. So about the corrupted, the monsters that have been attacking Firene? As you may have already guessed, they're a result of Sombron's influence. We need to collect the Emblems to even stand a chance against him, so we're going to travel all over Elyos to get them."
"Oh, well that makes things easier then," Alfred scratched his chin. "I almost forgot! I'm Alfred, Crown Prince of Firene! These two are my retainers, Boucheron and Etie. It's a pleasure to meet you, Divine Ones."
"Just Alear is fine," the man in question corrected.
"Aleah as well. We may be divine dragons, but we're not so high and mighty now," she added. "Nice to meet you all! I'm sure we'll get along great. Now then, to Firene, I presume? If you came here for help, look no further!"
"We'll be glad to have you," the prince nodded.
"We should get going then. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get there. Their appearances are rather unpredictable, so we should head there immediately," Alear suggested.
"Understood. Let's set off then!"
-A-
The trip to Firenese was, fortunately, uneventful. While they did cross paths with the occasional corrupted, they were quickly dispatched before continuing along.
"How beautiful," Alear said, reminiscing. Firene was the same beautiful place as ever. Nothing like the kingdom he had seen in Aleah's world.
"It truly is," Aleah agreed. 'As beautiful as the day I left it' she thought to herself. In death, she had watched the fall of Firene to the corrupted masses. It was truly heartbreaking to see the companions she once knew so bitter and filled with hatred. Their warped personalities were all that was left. When she watched her counterpart reclaim what had been left of the many kingdoms, she felt a sense of relief that the souls of the slain corrupted could rest in peace.
Even as she recalled the past that she had left behind, a comforting hand from her twin reminded her that all would be well. Alear's eyes said it all. He understood the pain she felt. Having bore witness to what Nel was forced to do, he knew it must have been hard.
"I'll be sure to give you a tour of the country when all this business is over and done with. But anyway, we're almost to the castle. First, we've just gotta pass through Florra Mill Town and we'll be there in no time!" Alfred told them. "Oh my mother and sister will be so excited to see the two of you awake!"
"We'll be glad to see them as well," Alear spoke. He nudged Aleah a bit, as if to remind her that her friends were well and alive now. To encourage her to rekindle the relationships she had with all of their friends.
Their chatter quickly subsided however, as they approached the town. The sounds of footsteps alerted them to a new face.
"Alfred! Oh thank goodness you're here!" A girl's voice called out.
"Céline? What happened?" Alfred responded to her, rushing ahead of the others.
Céline paused to catch her breath, but quickly updated them on the situation. "The Elusians are marching on the castle. Mother sent me to warn you, but these monsters showed up here! On the way here, I got separated from Louis and Chloé. We've gotta go help them and save mother!"
"It's alright, I brought some backup," her brother responded with a grin, motioning his head back to the approaching party.
"Th- the Divine Dragons!? You two are awake? How incredible! Oh goodness, with the two of them, we'll be done in no time!"
"Good to see you," Alear said with a warm smile.
"Oh where are my manners! I am Céline, Princess of Firene. I'm glad to see you all well. Vander, Clanne, Framme, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Indeed it has, Princess Céline. Now then, not a moment to waste. Let us proceed forth in ensuring the safety of all of the villagers here. There appears to be a large number of corrupted about."
"Before we head off, Céline, may I see your emblem ring?" Alear asked, much to Alfred's confusion. He had never mentioned the ring.
"Certainly!" She said as she took it off of her finger.
"How did you know?" Alfred asked.
"I'll explain everything once we've met with Queen Ève. We should get moving though," Alear told him.
Alear took a breath. Ring in hand, he chanted. "Care for us, Emblem of Echoes!"
The gemstone of the ring shined brightly as the woman who resided in the ring appeared in a flash of blue light. Her bright red hair shined brilliantly, matching the beauty of the flowers that covered Firene, her expression was gentle, and the voice that soon spoke was kind.
"I am Emblem Celica," she said. "I detest violence, but I will always fight to save innocents."
Alear bowed. "Thank you for answering my call, Emblem Celica."
"Wait, Alear, what happened to everyone?" Celica asked.
"I'll explain everything later. But I'm sure you remember this scene, right?" He motioned toward the corrupted that swarmed the town.
"Florra Mill Town… I think I understand the situation now," Celica nodded. "Well then, shall we get on with it? Who will I be paired up with today?"
"The Princess, as usual," Alear answered.
Taking back Florra Mill Town was quick and simple. While Alear led Vander, Clanne, and Framme north towards the bridge, Aleah led the others East towards Céline's retainers.
Along the way, they stopped to save the locals from the corrupted, making quick work of the group that surrounded a house.
"Emblem engage!" Céline called out as Celica appeared before her. She gave a single nod before the two disappeared from sight, merging as one and reappearing beside the two retainers and letting loose with ragnarok against the nearest enemy. It didn't take long for Aleah and the others to catch up.
As they advanced, Alear and the stewards were fighting their own battles against the corrupted that had managed to ambush them from within the fortress. Libération gleamed in the sunlight, the colors of the flowers reflecting off the polished blade in a beautiful display.
Alear himself soared through the sky, twirling through the air before landing gracefully with a heavy swing, aided by the force generated as he spun. The corrupted on the receiving end took the entirety of the hit, staggering backwards before vanishing like they always did when defeated.
The two groups met up once more as they came face to face with an Elusian commander. The man wore heavy armor and wielded a spear, something that both divine dragons remembered well. They nodded to one another before resuming command over the battlefield.
"Clanne, Céline, throw whatever magic you have in front of us. It doesn't matter if it hits or not, just throw it out there! Vander, Boucheron, Alfred, watch the approaching corrupted from behind!" Alear called out.
"Chloé, make sure that Elusian doesn't reach the castle! We can't have them know we're coming as support. Framme, support either unit. Alear and so will deal with this guy!" Aleah added.
The two looked at each other, nodding to one another.
"Emblem engage," Alear said as Aleah rushed forward. The two merged as one, the glow of the emblem shining on the rapier that Alear wielded. His walk soon broke into a run as he ran after Aleah. Although they hadn't said a word, the two divine dragon twins worked flawlessly together.
"Ready?" She called back to him.
"Always!" He answered. His sword pointed to the sky as he readied an attack. Aleah swung first, the weight of her attack being enough to knock the Elusian off balance. Alear dashed forth just as her sword connected and let loose a flurry of rapier stabs, finishing the man off.
As the Elusian fell, the two turned back to watch as the remaining corrupted soldiers fell as well. The transformation wore off as they approached their group. Just overhead, Chloé flew back, landing a short distance.
"Well done everybody. I'd love to stay and speak with the villagers, but I believe we have more pressing matters approaching the castle," Alear spoke.
"Yes. Please, let us make haste for the castle. I'm sure mother is waiting for us," Céline nodded.
Just as they set out however, the flapping of wings alerted them to a newcomer.
"Divine One!"
As Alear and Aleah but turned to look back, their emotions were conflicting. Whereas Alear felt an initial surge of panic, Aleah's eyes lit up as she recognized the woman who rode the wyvern above them.
"Zelestia! You made it back as well? Oh how I've missed you all! Where are Madeline and Gregory?" Aleah asked cheerfully.
"That I do not know. Following our defeat, I awoke in the mountains not far from here," the mage dragon admitted.
"Just like how you met us when I was summoned there. Perhaps that means Gregory is in Brodia while Madeline may be in Elusia," Alear spoke up. "I was worried, you know? Your counterpart leads the assault on Firene Castle. Are you prepared to meet her should you come with us?"
"Of course," Zelestia nodded. "Whatever stands in our way will be dealt with all the same. It doesn't matter if the threat may be someone familiar to me. So long as they are a threat to the Divine Dragon's will, they must be stopped."
"I see. Then let's set off. We can't waste any time," Alear turned back to the road ahead. It was time to change
'It seems Veyle didn't show up…' he thought to himself. 'Was it because of her defeat in Lythos? When will we meet her again?'
"Something on your mind?" Aleah asked him. "You can tell me, you know."
"Yeah, guess I can't really hide anything from you, huh? It's… Veyle. Last time we fought here, she saved me from a corrupted that had snuck up behind me. I expected to see her, but perhaps her future has already changed," he sighed.
"C'mon, have some faith in your sister. She'll be fine. I'm sure we'll find her soon," Aleah comforted him.
"You say my sister… were you not close to Veyle in your world?" He asked.
Aleah shook her head. "I never met her. Truthfully, I barely knew much about her. The Four Winds were originally formed to guard her. When she died, they shifted their focus to Nel and Nil- or rather, Rafal. I truly wish I had a chance to speak with her, but…"
"I understand. I'm sorry for what you had to go through, I-"
"No, it isn't your fault. There's nothing for you to apologize for. I'm sure when we meet her here, we'll get along just fine. I… I always wanted to be a big sister, but I never had the chance. A-anyway, we're almost there. Let's focus now."
True to her word, they were fast approaching the castle. It seemed as though the Elusians still didn't know about them. The soldiers that stood guard outside didn't seem like much of a threat. It didn't take long for the outside guards to surrender as the miniature army that consisted of three dragons and a lot of royalty stormed the castle.
Just as expected, Zephia was at the forefront of the madness. Firenese guards were dead on the ground having been overwhelmed by the Elusian soldiers. Yet as Zephia turned to greet their new guests, her eyes narrowed as she saw her lookalike.
"And who might you be?" She spoke, venom laced in her voice.
"Someone you could have become," Zelestia talked back. It wasn't like her to give much attitude, but seeing the person she could have become unsettled her.
"And the divine dragons. I see. You wish to take back the castle?" She questioned. "Take her away," she commanded a nearby soldier, pointing at the queen.
"We will take it back. Don't think we'll let you off so easily," Alear readied his weapon.
"Unfortunately, that isn't up for you to decide," Zephia replied. "Though I must thank you for allowing me to witness the might of your forces. Just another thing to report back. Have fun with the Elusians! If we ever meet again, you won't live to see a third meeting," she said before being warped away by a nearby mage.
"As expected," Alear grinned. "Now then, shall we?" He asked as he turned to the Elusians that blocked their way.
The castle was retaken in record time. Just as he had hoped, Queen Ève was untouched.
"Thank goodness you're alright," the woman sighed in relief as she hugged her two children. "I cannot thank you all enough for coming here," she said as she looked at the party that had formed.
"It's alright. We're here because we knew this would happen," Alear told her. "I've got quite a bit to say, so if you wouldn't mind…"
Everyone gathered around as Alear began to speak. Even the Emblems who had been in the dark despite remembering the past as well.
"To put it simply, Aleah and myself are from a future where Sombron won. We're not quite sure what caused it, but our worlds seemed to have merged. She and I should not both exist at the same time. Zelestia is also from Aleah's world, and she also remembers the future. The Emblems seem to remember as well, though from my world, there were only rings, no bracelets. It was Aleah's world that used the Emblem Bracelets."
"If it were anyone else, I'm sure you'd call them crazy, but please believe us," Aleah said. "This time, we can change everything. We can stop Sombron this time. Knowing everything we do about the future, his plans and everything, should be more than enough to save our future."
"Of course we believe you," Alfred spoke up first. "Why would you two lie to us? Especially for something as dangerous as Sombron's return. We're with you 100%!" His words were met with nods from around the room. All of their allies were in.
"Thank you," Alear sighed. "I cannot exaggerate how much this has been weighing on my mind. We have a lot of work to do, but for now, we should rest. I'd like to invite everyone to live in the Somniel for the time being. At least for as long as Sombron is a threat. Queen Ève, I understand that you-"
"It's quite alright. I have a country to govern. I'll be fine here. I take it you'll be going to Brodia next for their Emblems? In the meantime, I'll send word to Solm about your plans. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to help out," the queen assured them.
Alear bowed. "Thank you so much. We have a lot to do if we're going to stop him."
With that, the group departed, leaving the Firenese Queen to herself. The woman clasped her hands together in prayer. 'Be well, everyone. Come back home safe,' she prayed for her children.
When they arrived in the Somniel, their exhaustion quickly became apparent. The adrenaline of having to take back the castle had kept them feeling motivated, but with that time having since passed, their fatigue was showing.
"Welcome back, everyone," Queen Lumera greeted them. "My, I haven't seen many of you in quite some time. And… a mage dragon?" Her curiosity got the better of her as she looked at Zelestia.
"Queen Lumera! What a delight it is to see you. I understand you may not know me, but in our world, you took me in when the mage dragons all died. For that, I will forever be grateful," Zelestia said with a bow.
"I see," she said with a motherly smile. "I'm glad I had that impact on you then. Please, everyone, make yourselves at home. The Somniel is large enough to accommodate many more people, so please go ahead and enjoy yourselves while you're here. Relax and refresh yourselves."
Truly, the Somniel would be their sanctuary for the coming months. It had everything they needed to sustain themselves. Soon enough, everyone began to set off to do their own thing. And as the sun fell, the Somniel was tranquil.
And as everyone turned in for the night, Alear found himself laying in bed with his mind still racing.
Aleah turned from her bed, looking over at him. "You alright?"
He turned to answer. "Yeah. I'm alright. But… I just have a feeling that she's around, you know?"
"Do you want to go down? Give it an hour or two?" Aleah suggested.
"Yeah… I do. Would you want to come with me?" He asked.
She was already climbing out of bed before he had even finished asking. "Of course I'll go with you. I want to meet my younger sister too, you know. Never had the chance last time."
"Thank's Aleah…"
The two divine dragons made their way back to the ground below them. Alear led them both to the same place he had first met Veyle: Florra Mill Town.
The two walked side by side as the moon glowed beautifully above them. It seemed as though everything was alright in the world. But they knew better. Just across the ocean, on the opposite side of the continent, Sombron's forces were growing.
But as the two continued to walk, they felt the presence of an enemy behind them. However, as they turned to face whoever it was, the enemy fell, defeated.
Her voice rang out, much to the relief of Alear. "Phew! Glad I got here in ti-"
"Veyle?"
Engage was a really fun game to play even if the story itself was lackluster. I really enjoyed the characters though, so I really wanted to write something for this game.
I've always liked the idea of both avatars being present, but never had an idea that would fit with my general writing theme of NG+. But the Fell Xenologue presented the perfect opportunity since they showed the alternate Divine Dragon being the other avatar that wasn't picked. This fic probably won't be very long, but we'll see.
I'm not sure if I'll do any sort of pairings in this. We'll see eventually, but I was thinking Aleah and Nel at the very least.
Rest assured that I'm still working on writing Penance, but I just haven't had much motivation to write anything. Both of these will run side by side, but I may throw in a few oneshots as ideas come to me.
Thanks for reading.