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Post by Raven on Jul 17, 2016 0:00:26 GMT -5
Ren stepped to the bed and stood over Ayla, looking over her as she spoke of her feelings. Ren stepped forward when Ayla reached out and grazed her side. In an flash Ren stumbled backwards and gripped her head, then her eyes glowed blue and she entered the visions of Ayla.
She felt everything. The touch of the snow upon her face. Each fist against her face, against her side. Those tiny images that Ren had experienced before had been blown into a bigger picture. Ren stumbled back as she saw the images and hit the wall, her hands gripping harder against her head as these memories invaded her. Ren cried out softly when she felt her head cracking, the sound reverbing in the distance as the memory continued forward. “Ayla” She called out and shook her head. “Stop Ayla” she cried through the memories.
The room shook slightly, the air around Ren twisting slightly. A few books fell off the shelf in the corner and the pages fluttered viciously. The blanket on the bed flipped slightly, the wind crawling under its warmth and lifting it in a flurry of emotion. Suddenly the wind died down when the memory came to Ren. She inhaled deeply as she watched. The butterflies filled her stomach, much like her own butterflies she got frequently.
Her eyes looked to herself. The way that Ayla saw her. Ren was beautiful, her hair glistening in the beaming sunlight of the gorgeous sea. In that moment she could hear singing in the background. Like a choir humming in the distance. The shine of Ren’s eyes in the memory, and how it almost made time freeze. Ayla’s hands were so slow to reach for the wheel, and then the incredible warmth of Ren’s touch upon Ayla’s. Every single motion made Ayla’s senses light on fire.
Ren gasped as the memory left her. She looked to her hands and then to Ayla. She didn’t realize how her world was so different among the boat. That she could bring such change to someone. Ren shook her head slightly and leaned against the wall, her eyes looking to Ayla as she questioned about the dreams. Ren nodded slowly, her heart beating in her chest loudly. She could hear it in her ears, pulsing against her temple.
She was startled when the door opened and Jak entered. Ren took the food and listened to Jak speak. She was honestly speechless. What was there for Ren to say? She accepted the food and sat it down on the tableside near the bed. Ren approached Ayla and placed her hand on her shoulder. “Hey” Ren spoke and brushed her thumb against her shoulder. “You need to rest” she whispered and stepped from the bed.
Ren approached the door and opened it. She turned to see Giant coming out of the boy’s room. She waved Giant over. “Watch her for me… I’m going to the ship. I need to meditate before I explode” she told him. He nodded. Always understanding. He had been with her for so incredibly long. She adored him for his continues loyalty…
Giant stepped into the room and looked to Ayla, he stepped over and moved the blanket slowly over Ayla. His hand brushing against her shoulder as he tucked her in slightly..
“Ren!!” Giant shouted. He ran forward towards the port. It was just them back in the day. Flotsam was light aflame, the fire crawling up the mast. “Forget about her!” he shouted loudly. “Ren!” he cried out.
Ren ran onto the deck, jumping through flames, she ran into the captains room. She skid to a stop as there was a hole in the room - dropping into the hull. The fire originated from this spot. She jumped into the flames. Her hair lifted upward and lit aflame, burning away to her scalp. She stepped forward to a burning crib and picked up the small baby that cried loudly.
Ren held the baby close and then cried out as the flames licked her scalp and burned her skin. Her clothing began to melt away to the hot fire. She felt a hand reach down and grab her by the back of her shirt. Ren glanced up and held her burning hand up. Giant pulled her up and carried the two out to the dock.
Ren cried out as her entire body was now black as soot, still burning brightly. The waters churned and a huge wave crashed onto the boat - snuffing the water out easily. Ren fell onto the deck, holding the baby close. Giant stepped forward and held his hand out above her, both legs on each side. “Ren… It’s not your fault” he spoke and then lifted his head. He had long black hair at the time, his beard long and ancient. His skin was a beautiful purple tint. Somehow the fire began to disappear on Ren, her hair growing back quickly, her skin turning back to its gentle pale color.
Giant’s hair burned to a crisp, his skin turned a rough patchy grey color, becoming cracked and broken. Then his mouth began to bleed, his tongue had been bit off. Everything that had happened to Ren in that moment transferred from Ren to Giant. He gasped for air, a puff coming from his lips, and he fell to both of his knees.
“Patheon!” she cried out as Ren gave a deep breath. She stood up and gripped his shoulders, their height finally the same. “Are you fucking nuts?”! She cried out loudly. Giant grinned weakly and then nodded.
“You..duh-duh--dying” he spoke, unable to speak very well at all anymore. He closed his eyes and then gripped her shoulders. “Share” he spoke and then kissed her forehead. “Togev-er”
Ren teared up and then balled up her fist. She punched him in the face. His head went to the side and then there was a long moment. Silence. Out of no where Giant’s huge voice rumbled, laughing hard. In the middle of the laughing the baby cried out.
Ren turned and then picked up the child. It was a fairy. “Shut up” Ren whispered, tears flowing from her eyes. “I fucking hate you…”
She felt a shove from her chest. Giant’s huge finger pushed her. “Shi-shter” he tried to say. Sister. Ren shook her head and sighed deeply. “Yeah…” she muttered.
Giant sat down one the chair next to the bed and leaned back. He reached his hand up and touched his chin - where he once had a glorious beard. His hand moved up his cracked nose and over his bald head… he shut his eyes and then sighed softly.
Ren made her way back to her ship. She entered the freezing cavern and stepped to her deck. Her hands trailed along her railing until she made her way to the wheel. She ran her fingers over the perfectly carved pegs of the wheel and then moved backwards - to the center of the platform. She sat down and crossed her legs.
The frequency of the emotions that flowed through her caused her magic to be chaotic. She could feel it before on edge, she could hardly control it. Between her finding her father and then experiencing all of Ayla’s emotions… and then experiencing her very own reaction.. her hatred and anger - Ren was lucky she didn’t explode in a rage in that small home.
Ren crossed her legs and shut her eyes - her hands sitting on her lap - relaxing. She took herself to the seas. Just her and her ship. Gliding through the seamless seas. Whales and dolphins surrounded her - diving up and down, racing around each other.
Around her boat the wind moved slowly around, causing her sails to flutter slightly. It circled but not in a vicious manner. Rather it was slow, calming… the water around the boat joined the circle, moving gently around under the boat and dock. All this pent of magic had to be released. She did it slowly, letting it leak out from what was a very compressed reserve of potential. She let out a long deep breath, and then drew in another from her nose…
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 17, 2016 15:29:49 GMT -5
Ayla looked up to Ren with fluttering eyes, her breaths were small, her skin pale in comparison to its normal sun kissed glow. Ren’s words sounded as if she spoke from under water. She reached for Ren as she stepped away, “Wait…I…I’m sorry…..” She placed her hand on her chest, it felt like a thousand pounds was sitting on her sternum. “Ren…” She muttered. “I…” She grit her teeth as the memory forced its way into her mind. Her muscles tensed and the blue glow came to her body once again. She curled and her fists clenched shut. Sweat beaded upon her brow as she was pulled along without control through the fire. She screamed in her sleep, which surely startled Giant.
Jak came rushing into the room shortly after the scream, he looked to his sister whom whimpered in her dreams, fully transformed. He touched her shoulder. “Ayla.” He spoke softly as he shook her. The dream continued, the flames had completely taken over Ren’s body by this point in the memory, Ayla let out a cry, from her sleep. Jak looked to Giant a moment. “Where’s Ren at?” He asked and grit his teeth as his sister cried again. He looked to her with black eyes. Jak shook his head and the color disappeared back into his ocean blue. “This….this isn’t safe at all.” He lifted her over his shoulder, a few bolts of the purple lightning came from his body, he let out a low groan. Her power was sucking him in, causing him to transform as well, causing him to fall out of control of his will to change.
Jak fled the room with his sister in his arms. His eyes flashed black once more, he sprinted through the city toward the edge of town. He ran into the caverns, he groaned as his body pushed into the transformation. He fought against Ayla as she woke, her eyes flashed bright white. “Don’t….” He said through grit teeth, “Just….wait…” He felt her body temperature fall, her wings appeared and fell limply to the sides. “Ayla….” He fought against her, but he lost his footing and fell down the rocky cliff within the caverns. They toppled down the rough cliff, Ayla let out a cry as a bone snapped somewhere. Jak let out a growl as he lost control, his ears elongated, his claws came out, lightning shot from his body, his eyes glazed over into a black abyss. He landed at the bottom of the ravine on top of Ayla knocking her harshly into the ground with his back.
It was then that a flash came from the two. The flash of blue exploded through the cavern with purple lightning mixed into it. Stalactites fell from the ceiling at the entire cavern system shook from the explosion of energy. Dust filled the dark cavern, it was thick as smoke. Ayla whimpered from the blackness. “Ayla?” Jak asked, breathless. “Ayla?” He rubbed his eyes and blinked as his vision returned from the blast. Jak looked around the cavern. “Ayla?” He felt the ground near him. He saw a light glow of eyes from across the dark cavern. Jak stood, his muscles shaky. He stumbled and held his head as the black from his eyes faded away. He looked up to see a huge statue it was of two elves. They stood facing each other, one had long claws and dark eyes, the other wings and light eyes. Just like he and Ayla had. Several generations had, had this pairing of the light and dark powers. He heard another whimper from Ayla and it brought him back to reality. “Ayla.” He turned his head, light filtered into the room, the earth above the caverns had broken from the shockwave of their powers.
Jak’s eyes finally fell on his sister, he rushed to her side. She looked to him with a quivering lip, her hands held onto a stalagmite that stuck through her chest. Blood leaked from her mouth. “Ayla, look at me.” He looked into her eyes. “Hey.” He placed his hand on her cheek when her eyes fluttered shut. “Don’t shut your eyes…” He looked to the sharp rock that protruded through her chest. He grit his teeth, they would have leveled the entire city of Cisne if he hadn’t ran into the caverns with her. That blast would have caused the upper city to collapse into the lower city, thousands would have died. The city wouldn’t have been recoverable. They would have lost everything. “Shit…” He stared to the spike, the blood. “Just…just hold on Ayla.” He looked around, he looked to the statue again. He had never stumbled upon the statue. He wondered where they were in the caverns, they had fallen a long way.
“J-Jak…” Ayla whimpered, her hands ran over the bloody spike, it burned within her body. Her eyes lit up dimly. “Help me…” She pleaded, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Please…help me…” Blood leaked from her mouth as she spoke.
“Shhh.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, “Don’t speak, Ayla. I’m going to get you out of this.” He turned and placed his hands on his head, she couldn’t heal herself, she was too weak from the amount of energy that the blast had caused. He looked to her as she leaned her head against the cool rocky wall, blood leaked from her nose.
“I live in the old city for a reason.” A voice came from the shadows of the caverns. “Yet, somehow, my books were still shaken from my shelves.” A man stepped forward and looked to the two.
Jak looked to the man and then to his sister. “Can you help us? Do you know a healer?” He asked quickly.
The man stood before him in royal garb, he wore a bronze chest plate with a beautifully created leather coat over the top of it. His hair was short and silver, his ears pointed, he had an elvish tattoo upon his forehead that added to his ominous appearance. He looked to Ayla, then to Jak, his jaw loose. “Yes, in fact I do.” He stepped forward and knelt in front of Ayla. “This is going to hurt.” He warned before he lifted her off of the spike. Blood seemed from the wound and she let out a cry of pain. The man rushed off into the darkness of the caverns, winding this way and that before they came to a large opening. A waterfall cascaded down from a large opening above, lightning the entire area. A few homes were built into the hard rock of the caverns, surrounding the body of water that the waterfall created. The elf took Ayla into his home and set her down on his couch. “Marilyn.” He called with his old voice.
An old elf came around the corner, her hair silver as the man that had carried Ayla into the home. Ayla’s grip on her wound had loosened, she choked on her blood as it bubbled out of her mouth. The cup of tea that the woman held in her hand clattered to the floor and broke into a thousand pieces. She rushed forward and knelt next to her. “Shhh.” She soothed Ayla when she tried to heal herself again, she couldn’t, her eyes would glow, but her power didn’t come. Ayla gripped her crystal with her bloodied hand. “It’s okay.” The old woman spoke softly. She placed her hand over the wound and a white light appeared.
Jak paced back and forth blood on his hands. He gripped his head, his mind overloading. This wasn’t what he had meant to happen. He stared out to the small city. “H-How many live here.” He asked, trying to get his mind off of his dying sister.
The elder elf looked to him and gave a slight smile as he washed Ayla’s blood from his arms. “A few that have decided to retire from training the new mages in Cisne. This is the old city, this is the original Cisne.” He looked up to the waterfall. “I grew up here before we migrated to the larger space and began to build there. This small hole can’t hold as many bodies as the new Cisne.”
Ayla whimpered, Ren’s name whispered over her lips as she tried to move. The elf woman gently pushed her back down. “Rest.” Marilyn said softly. “Rest, dear girl.” She placed her fingertips on Ayla’s forehead and in that instant Ayla fell unconscious, her body loosened and allowed the elf to work.
Ayla stood, she held a white rose in her fingertips, a smile upon her lips. She looked out over the city as snow fell, the moon was barely visible through the thick cloud cover. She turned, her beautiful black and blue dress playing behind her. Her make-up was immaculate. She stared at herself in the mirror, each line of make up had been placed precisely. “You look beautiful.” A voice whispered through the shadows. Ayla turned to see Lillian standing at the balcony. “Gorgeous, really.” She turned to look to Ayla with a smile upon her lips.
“Lilly…” Ayla searched her eyes, “You…you can’t be here…” She stood frozen. “I…you…”
Lillian moved across the room, she wore all black to blend into the shadows well. She had snuck back into the castle. “I had to see you, Ayla.” She whispered and placed her hand on her cheek. “You have to come with me. We can run away together.” She leaned up for a kiss.
Ayla pulled back, flashes of her beatings running through her mind. Her pulse began to race within her ears as she looked to the rose that she held in her fingertips, she knew it was from Lillian, but she thought that she was much further away from the kingdom by then. “I….if you get…I…I can’t…” She shook her head and looked to the floor.
Lillian came forward and placed her hand on the side of Ayla’s cheek, her touch was warm, it caused Ayla’s heart to speed up. “I will keep you safe beautiful.” She smiled, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen.” She leaned in and pulled Ayla gently into the kiss. Ayla relaxed and kissed her back for a long moment, her hands moved to Lillian’s hips. “See? Nothing to worry about.” She smiled happily. “Come on.” She grasped Ayla’s hand gently and pulled her out of her room into the silent halls.
“Lilly…I’m supposed to go to the ball and…”
“Don’t worry, Alya.” Lillian turned and flashed her a smile. “It’s-…” She fell silent when she saw knights round the hall in front of them. “This way.” She pulled at Ayla and broke into a sprint as they ran down another hall. Ayla stumbled in her heels, she couldn’t breathe with the corset. “Come on….come on….” Lillian rounded a corner and punched a knight in the face before she continued to pull Ayla along behind her. She rounded another corner to find an elbow in her face, it knocked her to her back.
Ayla stepped back, her pulse pounding within her chest.
“You don’t know where she is, hm?” The queen’s voice echoed through the hall. “It looks to me like you’ve known all along, Mélawen.” She stepped forward to her daughter and held her against the wall, she smiled wickedly. “Don’t worry, this time I’ll make sure she doesn’t give us the slip. Come.” Two knights grabbed ahold on the princess and forced her to follow the queen. The queen’s heels clicked against the marble flooring, echoing off of the walls. She led them down into the dungeon and into a room that Ayla had never been in before. The queen pushed Ayla into a chair where she clasped her wrists in place. “Is that tight enough?” She smirked, “I hope so.” She clicked the restraint a few more times, Ayla let out a soft cry.
The queen pushed the struggling Lillian onto a table, she tied her wrists and ankles before she waved the knights away. The queen smiled sinisterly at the girl before she began to crank the wheel, pulling at her limbs. Lillian struggled as the chains tightened, she whimpered and cried out for Ayla. Ayla struggled against the chains as the queen lifted a leather whip from a table. “No!!” She screamed, her eyes flashed blue.
This was the first instance that any of her power had come to surface. The queen looked at her and smiled devilishly. She cracked the whip and a moment later it slapped against Ayla’s neck, the leather wrapped tightly around her neck and the queen pulled at it, choking her. “Be quiet.” She snapped before she turned and lifted a sharp blade into her hands. She turned to Lillian and stepped to her side. “This time you’re not going to disappear so easily.” She spoke before she leaned down, the knife against her neck. The blade slit into her skin easily, creating a surface wound. The queen slashed at her arms and legs, Lillian cried out in pain. After several slashes the queen lifted up a bat that had nails embedded into it. She swung, ripping into Lillian’s body, gouging into her flesh. Ripping away at her. Blood began to pool beneath the mesh bed that Lillian was held above, suspended by the tension in the ropes that pulled tightly against her joints.
Ayla whimpered and shut her eyes, “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…” She repeated over and over again, as she struggled against the bonds, her wrists were bleeding at this point.
The queen turned to her daughter and smiled. “You should be sorry, Mélawen, this would have never happened to this poor girl if it wasn’t for you.” She stepped aside, Lillian took in deep breaths between whimpers. “Victor.” The queen called.
The royal man from the other kingdom walked into the room, a smirk upon his lips. “Yes, my queen?” He asked as he looked to her.
“You know what to do.” The queen handed him a strange device that had a prong shape on both ends with a strap in the middle. He stepped over to the princess and smiled to her. “Remember, Mélawen, you will do as he says.” She then went and sat down in a chair at the other end of the room, a smirk on her lips as she stared to her daughter.
Victor stepped up to the princess and forced her head back in the chair. “You’re going to watch.” He said lowly as he strapped the device around her neck. He tightened it down and the prongs pushed into the base of her chin. Ayla tried to lower her head, to look away from him as he leaned in for a kiss, only to have the device gouge into her collarbones and neck. She let out a cry as he pressed his lips harshly against hers. “Don’t shut your eyes my lovely princess, or I’ll have to persist to further measures.” He grabbed at her body and pulled on her, his own body brushing against hers as he kissed her again. She couldn’t get away, a whimper came over her lips. Victor smirked before he turned and stepped to Lillian. He gripped her by her throat and stared into her eyes. “How does it feel?” He asked, “You’re powerless.” He smirked, “You’re going to die, and the princess is just watching.”
“Ayla…this…isn’t…your fault…” Lillian cried as he stabbed a knife into her abdomen and ripped it around, ripping her stomach open. Blood pooled from her body. “I love…you…” She choked through the pain. “This…isn’t…your…fault…” She whimpered, her head turned to the side and caught the eyes of the princess. Ayla sobbed she tried to look away, only to find that the device around her neck would stab into her with each motion she made.
Victor chuckled as he attached a device to Lillian’s chest. It cut through her bone as he cranked the handle and pulled her ribs away, exposing her heart, Lillian let out horrifying cries as this happened. He reached into her chest and gripped Lillian’s heart that beat quickly, he squeezed it tightly, causing Lillian to scream in pain. He gripped tighter and tighter until her heart finally collapsed to his grip, blood oozed from the muscle within her chest. Lilian fell limp as blood dripped from her body. Victor chuckled as he turned to Ayla. “Now, now.” He placed his hand on the side of her cheek, Lillian’s blood smeared upon her skin. “Not to worry, princess. I’m not quite finished yet.”
Ayla sat up quickly, her breaths heavy, she looked down to her chest, the wound gone and healed. She looked around the unfamiliar home. “Ren?” She gasped for air and stood, she stumbled and fell into the wall as she remembered the explosion. She remembered flying across the cavern from her brother. She remembered the white hot heat that seared through her body as she looked down to the spike that had pushed through her chest cavity. She blinked a few times before darkness consumed her vision once again and she fell to the floor unconscious.
**
Xavier had wandered down to Ren’s ship in his search for the princess. He came onto the ship and sat before Ren with a soft smile on his lips. “Ren.” He spoke softly, so as to not startle her. “Ren…have you seen Ayla anywhere?” He asked softly.
**
Jak came into the room and scooped his sister up, he gave a nod to the elders and stepped out of the room. He looked up to the top of the waterfall where a trail of floating rocks led. He climbed the rocks to the top and to the bright sunlight of the surface. He looked out over the city of Cisne. He had never seen it from so high. He stood atop one of the highest peaks that surrounded the city. He looked down the waterfall that led into the city as he stood there with his sister in his arms. Ayla stirred and looked up to him, he gave her a soft smile. “You’re okay.” He said when he saw fear within her eyes. “Don’t worry Ayla.” He sat her down next to him before he dangled his feet over the edge of the cliff facing the city.
Ayla held her head for a moment before she too sat next to him. “What…happened, Jak?” She asked softly.
“You were overloaded with magic, Sammons pushed you too far…I had to get you out of the city…we caused a huge explosion….”
She looked to a bright blue wording on her arm that glowed from her power. The elder had cast a spell on her. “What…is this?” She asked softly as she traced the ancient elvish words.
Jak looked to her with his ocean blue eyes. “It is a binding spell, the elder used it on you.” He raised his arm to show something similar on his arm. “Sammons had to do it with me.” He nodded. “It will help you gain control of your powers. You should be able to transform and return to your normal resting state with control now, easily.” He looked over the city then and sighed. “I want you to fly us down.”
“I…I haven’t…flown..what if I can’t?” She stood and backed away from the edge.
“You have to believe.” Jak stood.
Ayla gave a nod, she shut her eyes and gripped her fists tightly as she transformed, she lifted into the air and slammed down, her wings came from her back and she looked up to him with her glowing white eyes. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. Jak held onto her tightly as he felt his sister raise her wings and beat down. They shot into the sky. Jak shut his eyes, afraid. Moments later when he looked he saw that they were soaring above the city, flying toward the tower in the center of it. Ayla giggled happily and swooshed through the air, it was easy. Whatever that elder elf had done to her helped. She hovered next to the tower and helped Jak inside before she landed inside, she shut her eyes and the wings and blue glow disappeared.
Jak smiled to his sister. “Much better control.” He nodded.
The two headed back down into the city below. Ayla yawned and stretched. She gave her brother a hug before she stepped into her room and sat down on the edge of her bed. She looked to the glowing writing on her arm in awe as she traced it. It honed her power, allowed her full control. It was incredible. She lifted her head slightly and looked around the room. “Ren…” She muttered softly as she wondered where the captain had disappeared to.
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Post by Raven on Jul 17, 2016 21:15:57 GMT -5
Ren took in another deep breath. She felt footsteps over her ship, the vibration emitting to her legs. The wind surrounded Xavier like dogs sniffing the new person. She knew it was him by the feeling of the wind, outlining his body in her mind. Ren opened her eyes and looked to Xavier who sat before her. In that moment the ceiling shook slightly. Chunks of ice broke and fell into the water, causing several splashes all around.
Ren stood quickly and placed her hand on her gem. She shut her eyes and thought of Ayla over and over until she saw through her eyes. It was darkness, just darkness. Pain. Confusion. Some thing came over her vision, glowing dark hues glanced down to her. A hand reach forward – a concerned face.
“Shit” Ren grit her teeth. What kind of trouble could she have gotten into? She was in the room, sleeping. And Giant was with her. What the hell. Ren stood and then looked to Xavier. “I’ll find her” she spoke and sprung from the ship. Her entire body became surrounded in air as she lifted upwards and flew through the icy cavern, shooting to the room with the waterfall. She landed on top of the waterfall, next to the rushing water. She gripped her hands and then tossed back her hair. Her body glowed brightly for a moment as she activated her powers.
The wind rushed violently, in every cavern in the systems. The wind hit the walls, outlining the rooms. She could see them like a map. The dark rooms outlined by the wind. She saw a figure moving – standing over something. There was no one else in the cavern. Two large somethings – giants in the room. She shook her head – it didn’t make sense.
She flew once more and bolted down the water’s path, shooting up a second water fall and cut a corner, rushing through the cavern tunnels. Her body looked like a bullet, flying through the air swiftly. She then landed in the center of a room and used her powers again – looking for the room with the two giants. She was so far from it… “Fuck” she cried out loud and then shot upward – she zipped from cavern to cavern.
Finally she came to the room with the two statues, the giants… she landed and looked around. “Ayla” she whispered and gripped her gem. She was passed out.. just darkness. She looked around and then leaned down as something glistened in the slight light. Ren touched the glistening bit and lifted her fingers up – blood. She then stepped forward and placed her hand on the huge stalagmite that was covered in her blood.
“Help me…”
“J-Jak…”
“Please… help me…”
Ayla’s words echoed against the walls and stung Ren in the chest. She gripped her fingers into a fist and punched the huge spike – it broke into several pieces and crumbled to her strength. She glanced up and then jolted forward into the air. She felt an endless amount of power flowing through her – her will to find her. “AYLA” She shouted loudly. Her voice jumped across cavern to cavern, through the corridors, but disappeared. “AAAYYYLAAA” she shouted even louder – her voice breaking and scratching to the pain in her chest.
Ren gripped her fists and shook her head as she flew, searching the hundreds of tunnels in the mountain. Someone could get lost for decades in this cavern system. Ren flew through one tunnel and then rushed into another. Three hours passed of her trying to find her way. Even with her powers – there was no way to navigate the caverns without an escort. Ren sat in the middle of a cavern, on her knees – her hands touching the cold cavern floor.
Her body shook with rage, her anger for her failure filling her essence. The room became whipped with wind. Round droplets came dragging off the walls and floating in the air. The droplets gathered around Ren and began to circle around her as the wind pulled it. Ren’s body floated into the air then, the droplets coming closer and closer until they began to join. In center of her chest a small orb of water created – the size of her head at first. Then it grew bigger and bigger until it was several times larger than Ren. She float now in the center of it, the orb of water spinning around with the anger of the winds.
Ren inside the orb began to glow bright blue. She gasped – breathing through the water, like she had gills. Her eyes glow blue and then a flash of light came from her body…
“We have no idea what to expect…” Barathorn stood before his wife. “Evalayne” he spoke and placed his hand on her growing belly. He smiled and kissed her cheek.
A woman stood before the couple. Her body was lined in ancient armor, made of the scales of dragons and unknown beasts. She wore a V like crown over her forehead, her brown hair flowing. She was one of the six Valor Fairys. The ancient fairies, the first fairies, the ones who came down during the Burning Crusade and ended the blight against the Demons. Bringing peace to the world for the living. They resided and remained guardians against the demons….
The woman looked very young, but was older than one could imagine. Her voice was stern, royal almost. “The first to be…” she spoke and then stepped towards the pregnant mother. She placed her hand on Evalayne’s stomach and took in a deep breath. “She will bring greatness…she will face the most harsh cruelties of the world… she will approach monumental points in history - where her voices create the destiny for the world and its people…” she stepped back. “Barathorn… you hail from across the seas, of the Zenfray family. One of the most ancient lines of the elfs… and then Evalayne, decedent of Valor…” she nodded. “We will see this one among the gods…” she spoke and then disappeared…
Ren’s eyes glowed brighter – and then a flash.
The entire orb had suddenly disappeared. Next Ren knew she was in the open air – in the center of the sky miles above Cisne. The entire world paused… Before her a figure floated in front of her. Her mother… The figure was outlined in a white glow, it wasn’t the actual being of her mother… Slowly they came closer and then the woman smiled.
I have been dead for quite some time… A voice spoke within Ren’s head.
I did not send you away my love, it was not me…
Your holds me with him. My body but an empty shell after his sacrifice…
The woman who filled that shell is not me…
Forgive me…
My dear….
It is time to unlock the final door
The figure reached her hand forward. The bubble around Ren suddenly turned into droplets of rain and fell from around her. Ren floated forward slowly and reached her hand outwards. The glowing figure suddenly sucked inwards to Ren.
Forgive… and become a creature of true light
Above Cisne there was a huge flash of bright light. A rush of air came from the skies and pushed against the city, even pushing the water falls slightly like a gust of wind against a stream of water… A beam of light shot from her body, going upward and down.
Then nothing…
Ren float in the sky. Her mother had released something to her, as if she held onto Ren’s power.. to protect her from destroying everything. Ren fell from the sky in that moment, her body limp. Her body turned – falling head first. Just when she would come to the ground – she disappeared. Never hitting the ground.
Ren stumbled forward and gripped Ayla – her hands squeezing her shoulders. Ren had appeared out of no where. She grit her teeth and then shook her head. “Ayla” she cried softly. “I thought you died” she whispered. Ayla’s blood was still dry on her finger tips. “I lost you” she whispered again and then shook her head. “Something – something happened.” She almost lost her breath. “What - whats happening?” she whispered. She felt something moving with in her – her entire body tingled, her skin felt like it was pulling against her, her muscles twitched and her mind felt light headed and then – she fell over…
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 18, 2016 21:15:25 GMT -5
“Ren…” Ayla caught the captain in her arms and held her up, she staggered slightly. “Ren…I’m here.” She whispered into her ear and kissed the side of her head. Ayla carefully placed Ren in the bed and tucked the covers in around her gently. She leaned down and pressed her lips to Ren’s forehead. She sat on the edge of the bed and ran her fingertips along Ren’s back for a long while, she hummed a sweet song, one that she couldn’t remember where she heard it, she couldn’t place where it came from at all. Ayla brushed Ren’s hair from her face and sighed softly, “I’m sorry, Ren.” She stood, her eyes caught a jewelry box. She stepped across the room and ran her fingertips over the beautiful design of the box. It was an old wood that had intricate designs lay into the wood with silver. A tree of life lay at the center of the design, as cliché as it sounded, Ayla loved it.
”Ayla, come here baby.” Cassie spoke as she sat in the middle of the bed, her legs crossed. She held that same jewelry box in her hands.
Ayla ran over, giggles coming over her lips. She climbed onto the tall bed with a pull from her mother’s loving hand. She was so warm. Ayla sat in front of her mother and giggled happily. “Mommy.” She looked up to her with her beautiful blue eyes.
Cassie stare to her daughter with the utmost love, “Look.” She pulled a beautiful necklace from the box. It had an elven star and a small tubular pendant. She smiled to Ayla as she placed the pendant around her daughter’s neck. “Your father and I got this for you.” She kissed her daughter’s forehead.
Ayla had stumbled into the vanity, her hands rest on the old wood on either side of the jewelry box. Her breaths were heavy. She looked up to herself in the mirror, blood dripped from her nose, her eyes had the blue glow around the pupil once more. She shut her eyes for a long moment, the brand on her arm was on fire, the blue glow that it held was bright as a lantern in a cave now. She slowed her breathing and opened her eyes again to look at herself once more. She searched her features, she saw her mother. A small smile curved up her lips as she touched the glass of the mirror. She wished she could meet her mother, just for a moment, she wished she could feel her mother’s arms around her again. She looked back to the jewelry box and felt her neck, the necklace from her memory…she had never known about it, she’d never seen it…did the queen take it? She began to wonder what happened to the beautiful necklace. She lifted the lid on the jewelry box and looked to the beautiful rings that lay in the box, gorgeous craftsmanship had gone into making these. She lifted them into her fingertip and examined each one before she slipped the rings onto her fingers, she knew which one it belonged to. She wore three rings, two on her right hand, on her index and ring finger, and one on her left index finger.
Ayla stopped a moment as she found herself staring at the necklace from her memory. “Oh…” She breathed as she lifted it into her hands. Her eyes fluttered and she fell to her knees, her hands on the vanity.
”Mommy wait!” Young Ayla ran to her mother, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I have to go, baby Ayla. You’ll be safe with Jasper.” Cassie came to her daughter and knelt down. She pulled her into her arms and hugged her for a long moment.
“You have to be safe, mommy.” Ayla whimpered. She held the necklace in her tiny hand. “You take this mommy…it’ll keep you safe…” Ayla held the pendent up, tears rolling over her cheeks.
“Sweetie….” Cassie teared up, she wiped a few tears away as she put the necklace around her neck. “I’ll be safe baby girl.” She kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Thank you, our elders will watch over me now and keep me safe, just for you, Ayla.” She pulled her into a tight hug then and held her there for what felt like hours.
Ayla came to from the memory, her hand gripped onto the necklace tightly, the metal had put impressions into her skin. “Mother…” She whispered, tears rolled over her cheeks. She moved and sat on the edge of the bed as she held back sobs, blood was dried between the links of silver. Her body trembled, a whimper escaped over her lips as she brushed a dried bit of blood from the curves of the star. She grit her teeth then and fell limply over Ren’s body, her knees curled up, her forehead pressed against Ren’s as her eyes fluttered. Her hand balled into a fist around the pendant once again.
”Cassie!!!” Oliver’s voice called as an explosion went off. Ayla stood in the shadows, she looked around. This wasn’t like the other memories. She was in control…she could look every which way, she could move within the shadows of the battle field. Ayla ran forward after she had gained her bearing from the explosion. “Cassie!!” Oliver screamed. She came to the battle then as she crested the hill. Screaming surrounded her, she fell to her knees, her ears overly sensitive to the sounds. She stood, mud caked her knees now. She looked up to the grey sky, rain poured from the clouds. She tripped over a dead body of an elf. She looked to his ears, his armor, the slice across his neck. She pushed herself backward. “Ren…Ren…wake me up…help…” She whimpered, “Please...help…”
Ayla moved away and quickly got to her feet before she ran toward the battle. She heard a woman scream then. The sound of the clattering of swords ceased and an explosion of blue magic came across the entire battlefield. Ayla fell to the power of the magic. “Mother?” She whispered as she pushed forward.
“Give up!” A familiar voce echoed across the field. “You’re surrounded, you’re the only two left….fools.” Ayla knew that voice. She rounded a building to see the Queen atop a black horse, her sword drawn on her mother and father.
“No…” Ayla whispered. Knights surrounded them. “No…no no no…” She went to run forward but was locked within the shadows. She pushed against the invisible barrier. “No!” She screamed, her voice echoed across the land. “Mother! No!!”
“Cassie…” Oliver dropped his dagger, the dagger… “This was a trap, wasn’t it? A trick.” He smiled, almost angrily at the queen. Ayla glanced to the beautiful dagger, it…it was her dagger, she looked to the hilt and then to the dagger at her hip. That was her father’s dagger….how…? She pushed against the barrier again. “So what is it? What is it you want now that you’ve killed so many of your own kind? Helping hands from Cisne? Hm? How dare you turn on --….”
The queen jumped down from her horse and held her sword to his neck. “Not another word from you.” She growled lowly. Her eyes turned on Cassie whom still glowed blue, she had the same wings as Ayla had. The same magic. “I suggest that you stand down too, Cassie.” The queen glared to her.
It was then that Oliver transformed, in the blink of an eye he slashed forward. The queen blocked his first attack, but caught his next in her arm, she growled lowly as she held her hand up. Her eyes glowed red. She gripped him around the throat.
Cassie shoved the queen, knocking her to her back. She grabbed the queen’s sword and held it toward her. “I’ll kill her.” Her eyes flashed a brighter white then. The knights stopped their advance.
“I’d like to see that.” Adriel appeared out of a fiery pit. He snatched Oliver and snapped his neck in a swift motion before he threw him to the side like a bag of trash. Cassie didn’t have time to react, her entire body froze. Adriel leaped forward and pinned her to the ground with his massive boot. “What shall I do to her my queen?” He asked in a low growl.
The queen stood from the mud and smirked, she stood over Cassie, whom was sobbing. “Oli….” She whimpered. She squirmed under the demon’s boot, the blue glow as well as her wings faded away. She lay with cuts upon her body, bruises, scrapes. “Oli…” She reached toward him, her hand lit up green as she tried to heal him…but it was too late. Adriel knew better than to injure Oliver, he knew around Cassie that he had to kill or she would have healed him in an instant.
The queen reached down and ripped the necklace from Cassie’s neck and pulled her rings from her fingers. She looked to Adriel with a wicked grin. “Oh, we’re going to make her suffer.” She waited as Adriel lifted her and clasped her wrists together with magic bands that blocked her magic from any use. Adriel held her there in front of the queen as she sobbed. “I’m going to take your daughter.” She grinned. “She’s perfect.” She brushed mud from Cassie’s cheek. “I saw you with her in the city a few months back. Don’t you think she would make a perfect princess? I need an heir to the throne. You should be honored.” She then waved Adriel off. He slammed his fist into Cassie’s head knocking her unconscious before he threw her over the back of his horse and secured her like a sack of potatoes.
The queen ordered her knights to place Oliver with several other bodies into the small shed that was nearby, she then ordered it to be set aflame. “Make sure you mark this with the crest from the humans.” The queen ordered as she climbed back onto her horse. “We wouldn’t want Cisne finding out that we had tricked them into sacrificing their own strongest mages, now would we?” She then turned. “Captain!” She called to a knight whom ran to her side and bowed his head. “Get me the girl. Deliver her to me.” She spoke lowly. “Make sure you send the message through Sammons that both Oliver and Cassie are dead. Take the girl from their uncle. Now.” She shooed him then.
Ayla was on her knees in the shadows, she had her hands on her father’s chest. “No…” She whimpered as the building was lit aflame around her. “No…no…” She hugged herself to him. “Please…no…”
Ayla sat up with a gasp, her eyes lit white as she stood, her hand still gripped the pendant. “That fucking bitch!” She screamed, her voice full of anger. Her transformation took place then, a blue wave of energy flew through the home and shook it. She fell to her knees sobbing on the floor. “She…took…them…” Her powers fluctuated, the home trembled as her power faded away. The brand on her arm was glowing a bright blue at that point. “She took me…she stole me from them…like a piece of bread…she treated me like a dog…” She whimpered tears fell to the old wooden floor as she beat it with her fist. She let out another cry and her eyes flashed blue, “Who…who would…” She whimpered. “How….she is a monster…a monster….” She beat the floor, her knuckles bled. “How…” She questioned again. She rocked as she held the pendant to her chest. She slowly placed the necklace around her neck before she stood, the pendant glowed blue. She wiped the tears away as she gained control, though the blue ring remained around her pupils. “I’m going to kill her.” She said lowly, her jaw tight. A tear rolled over her cheek.
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Post by Raven on Jul 18, 2016 23:13:27 GMT -5
Please… help
Ren stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes slightly. She was surprised to see Ayla so close to her, her forehead pressing against Ren’s. She reached forward and touched her shoulder. “Ayla?” she muttered. It was clearly Ayla’s voice that called to her in her slumber… Ren’s hues glowed blue in the instant she touched her and she emerged into the dream…
Ren stood next to Ayla, her eyes peering to the battlefield before her. She gasped when her eyes looked to the slain bodies on the ground, blood leaking into the soil. The patches of grass that were once vibrant green were now a glistening red in the dark hue of the thunderous evening sky. Ren stepped forward but something pulled against her. It was like she was traveling through molasses, she could hardly move.
Ren’s eyes looked to the scene as it played out before her. The glowing wings of the woman… the fiery claws of the man. Her eyes fell to Ayla in that moment as she watched helplessly. These people… they were her parents. Ren gasped then when suddenly Adriel appeared and easily killed the man. To watch the agony cross over the woman’s face as the man she loved simply died. So easily. No fight. Not a moment to try and save him. The woman’s head turned to the side… she peered to the lifeless man, her hand reaching for him but it was as if she was a few inches short. Ren felt a dark pressure piling in her chest, her eyes watered as she watched.
Ren looked to Ayla and saw an even worse emotion. Ayla clung onto the man. Her father. Ren stepped over and reached down, her hand pulling at her arm. “Ayla” she spoke. Her voice echod in the dream state. Ayla..Ayla…Ayla…Ayla…
Suddenly the dream ended and Ren sat upward, her hand touching the small of Ayla’s back. “Ayla.- hey” she spoke and then scrambled on the bed, sitting so she was facing Ayla. She held both of her hands as she forced Ayla to look at her. “Hey - you’re in control here” she spoke and squeezed her hands. “We will get her… we will finish this” she spoke and then pulled Ayla from the bed. “Lets go - Come on” she called and tugged at Ayla.
Ren threw the door open and then brought her hands to her lips - whistling. She whistled a sequenced pitches, calling her crew. They rushed from the rooms and gathered behind them. Ren still held onto Ayla, pulling her now. Just as they came to the door Xavier opened it - surprised to see them rushing out.
“Xavier, lets go. We have a queen to kill” she spoke and ran towards the caverns. They crossed over the bridge and past the statue, rushing for the cold docks. “Places boys!” She shouted and helped Ayla leap from the dock to the boat. The men came running forward - jumping easily. Their boots thudding on the wooden boat, moving swiftly.
Jak came dashing in just as the boat was untied. He held his hands out “Where are you going?!” he shouted. Ren gripped her wheel. “Either you come or you don’t!” She shouted. “We can’t run forever. We can’t wait any more!” she turned the boat, peeling away from the dock. “Last chance!” she shouted as the boat began to leave. Just as the boat got too far he sprinted forward and then jumped far. He flew through the air and landed on the deck - his boots skidding against the wood. Giant grabbed Jak before he could fall forward from his thrust.
They navigated the caverns easily, Ren’s eyes glowing as she used her powers to aid her. The waters rushed the boat forward until they came to the river. “Full speed ahead!” she shouted. The main sail was reattached quickly, and the wind picked up with speed. The boat lifted up and rushed forward, moving at an insane speed. “If we go fast… Adriel won’t even know, if he does know - he wont be able to keep up” she spoke as she looked to Ayla.
“We are going to do this” she spoke with anger in her voice. She gripped the her wheel and the boat turned - headed directly for Portland. Ren looked up to the North Star that twinkled in the bright sky, and then to the sun. “We will be there before sundown” she spoke and whistled again. The men began to scramble, setting the boat up for battle again. The Fairy’s emerged from the Hull and stood at attention. The crow lifted from its nest and then shot up into the sky, flying off to scout…
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 19, 2016 14:06:47 GMT -5
Everything was a blur to Ayla as she was pulled along by Ren. It all happened so quickly. The gentle reassuring words of the captain calmed her. She held her hand as she stood just a foot behind Ren on the Flotsam. She rubbed the blood on her knuckles. It was then that she heard the voice of her brother. Ayla looked to him as he made the daring leap over the icy water to the wooden deck. Her brother rushed to her and placed his hands on her shoulders as he stared into her glowing eyes. “This is too dangerous.” He shook his head, “Ayla we have to go back, we have to train. You’ll die.”
Ayla looked to her brother in the dim light of the caverns. She looked to Ren and then shook her head. “The queen needs to die.” Her voice was soft. “She killed our mother and father, Jak….it was all a set up, from the beginning. When they left, when we were young. The queen knew we would get sent to Jasper in Ludwick. She knew she could get a hold of me. She knew Jasper wouldn’t take us in as his own, he couldn’t. He didn’t have the money to care for us.” She shook her head. “She killed our people in cold blood, drew them in and killed them. Told them that it was a battle against the humans…when it was a set up. She killed hundreds of men that day with the help of Adriel.” Ayla sniffled slightly, “Adriel killed our father, a simple flick of his wrist…he didn’t even give a chance for him to fight back…” She clenched her jaw, the scene replayed in her head.
Jak shook her shoulders gently, “Hey. Stay with me.” He stared into her eyes. “How do you know all of this?” He asked softly.
Ayla placed her hand over the old necklace that she now wore. She lifted it from her chest and held it for him to see. “This was our mother’s necklace…”
“You…saw all of that with this necklace?” Jak touched the beautiful silver of the necklace and furrowed his brows. “How?”
Ayla shook her head and stepped away from him as they came into the sunlight outside of the caverns. She looked to Ren as she spoke, that they would be there by sundown. “I don’t know.” She whispered softly as she felt the sea spray upon her face.
Jak watched as the ship was prepared for battle, his eyes wide. “Do we have a plan? Of some shape or form?” He asked as he looked to his sister whom leaned against the railing of the ship.
“Kill the queen.” Ayla looked to him, her eyes still glowing, the brand on her arm was bright blue as well. “That’s all we need, isn’t it?” Her voice was full of anger, just like Ren’s.
Jak paced slightly, he gave a nod. “Y-yeah…okay…” He turned and stepped to the bow of the ship. He placed his hand upon the mast of the sail that was next to him. Purple lightning shot up the sail, he left his hand there, he was giving power to Ren, to help her fuel the ship, to push the Flotsam to even faster speeds.
**
“Why haven’t you found the princess?!”
“Do you even care about your people!!!”
“Where is she?”
“Who took her?”
“Why is our guard still here and not searching!”
“What kind of a mother are you?”
“What queen would let her child get kidnapped?”
“Down with the queen!”
“The king should be here! Where is he?”
Booing came from a crowd of elves that stood at the gates to the palace. The people continued to yell. The townspeople had, had enough. They held torches, swords, pitchforks, daggers.
“Silence!” The queen stood upon the top of the wall. Her eyes filled with hate. “Silence! All of you!” She screamed, her voice echoed and cracked. The crowd stepped back and looked up to the queen. “We have a team searching for the princess.” The queen spoke. “She was kidnapped by a crew of thieves and one of our own knights gave her up to them. This is a tragedy and I urge you to not take it out on your queen.”
“She’s a liar!” A man shouted.
“She works with demons!” Another yelled.
“She’s going to kill our princess!”
The queen narrowed her eyes, the skies above her became black as night, “I will end all of your lives if you do not return to your shops and homes.” She threatened. A flash of lightning came and from a fiery pit several of Adriel’s demons appeared, surrounding the townspeople. The people scattered all but one. A man stood, his sword drawn. “It would be wise of you to leave as well.” The queen said lowly, her eyes a fiery pit from the use of her magic.
“I demand to see the king.” He called.
“You demand?” She asked and smirked. “Oh well then, I must be in the wrong here.” She snapped her fingers. “If you survive, surely you may see the king.” She climbed down from the wall as the demons rushed forward and began to rip the man limb from limb. He screamed in pain as he attempted to fight back against the demons claws. Eventually though, all that was left was a pool of blood, the demons vanished.
The queen marched through the palace in her blood red dress. She shoved the doors of the throne room open to see her kind standing in his battle armor, he stood at the throne and looked down to her. “We have a problem Rydel.” The queen spoke as she came to his side.
“Hm.” He hummed and looked to her with his gray eyes. “We’ve had a problem for years.” He muttered.
The queen narrowed her eyes to him. “What did you just say?” She snapped.
“We’ve had a problem since you decided to take that girl from her home. Since you killed a mass of elves from Cisne and surrounding kingdoms. You need to let Adriel go, he is corrupting you, my queen.” He turned to her. “We have a war at our feet, and you do not care.” His voice was wise as he spoke. “You’ve played puppet with our daughter all these years, you’ve beat her nearly to death. She runs, and all you can think of is to force her home. Instead you lie to your people, you sick demons on them out of fear.” He had a tight jaw as he spoke. “I can not let you control me any longer Kylin.” He searched her eyes. “You have gone too far.”
The queen reached out, a red aura surrounded her hand. “You will not defy me Rydel.” She snapped as she attempted to place him under the trance he had been under for years.
The king stood defiantly. “Go ahead. Sick your demons on me.” He growled. “I am going to go fix this mess.” He shoved her to the side, his silver armor glistened. “The humans have announced their attack, they are coming, we must ready our men or this will be our last hours upon this side of the land.” He left then.
**
The city was silent. People had returned to their homes. The streets were nearly empty as the sun began to set. A young girl nibbled upon bread as she stare out over the sea that was flat as glass. Everything was so calm. The sky was clear. The girl stood as she saw the approaching ship in the distance, the purple glow to the sails, the speed. She ran out on the docks with a grin on her lips. “Flotsam.” She whispered, she knew the lore.
**
“Where are they?” Victor snapped at the demon. “You have to know something.” He growled. “My father has called war upon Portland for recent killings done by your demons. We need to get the princess now!” He demanded.
Adriel turned to Victor and grabbed him by his neck. “You never struck me as stupid, boy. But, clearly you are.” His voice was low, rumbling. “If war has already been called, you’re not going to stop it.” He slammed him against the side of the captain’s door. “We will find the princess, and we will do as we have been instructed by the queen. Now, you will go back to being a fly on the wall.” He released him and walked back to the wheel. He took in a deep breath as he focused, he found Ayla then and gripped onto her mind.
**
Upon the Flotsam Ayla stumbled, her eyes flashed blue. She groaned and gripped onto her head. “No…” She said through grit teeth. Jak caught her as she nearly fell from the side of the ship. “You’re…not…getting me….this time…” She clenched her jaw. A blast of energy came from her body as she transformed, her breaths were quick, she leaned her head back as light seemed to soak into her from the heavens above. Ayla groaned and stumbled slightly before with a single push of her wings she shot into the sky above the ship.
“Ayla!” Jak called. He jumped from the ship just before it bumped into the dock. He sprinted forward, his eyes black as the night. He stare up to the sky, looking to her as she disappeared over the top of a building. “Ayla come back!” He yelled as he continued to run through the silent city. Jak slowed and looked back to the Flotsam, his breathing heavy, purple lightning struck the ground around him. He then turned and disappeared into the streets, chasing after his sister.
**
The queen stood on her balcony, a devilish smile on her lips. She looked to the blur of a blue glow in the sky. “Perfect.” She whispered before she went back into the palace. “Just as foolish as your mother.” She set her cup of tea down and headed from her chamber. “Gather the guard.” She ordered the knight. She made her way to the throne room, her knights lined either side of the red carpeting that led to the thrones. She sat down and wait.
Ayla burst through the doors, seconds later. The room went cold with her power. A blanket of blue covered the room, freezing the knights in place. All but the queen. Ayla stood at the base of the stairs. “You killed them. You killed my mother and father and took me from my brother!” She said lowly, anger in her voice.
“That I did.” She smiled, almost as if she had been given a prize. “You should be thankful.” She came down from the throne and stood before Ayla. “You have lived in the palace. You are royalty, without me, you would be stuck in Cisne. You would be nothing, as your parents were.”
Ayla trembled with anger. “Thank you?!” She snapped, “Why would I thank you for doing the things that you’ve done to me?! You beat me for all those years! You-you!” Her power surged as she pulled the dagger from her hip, she let out a yell as she lunged forward.
Suddenly the sound of metal clicking into place echoed through the air. Alya was pulled back by her other wrist. She let out a soft cry, it felt as though a fire raged within her body. The dagger fell from her fingertips just before she heard another click. Her wrists were pulled together by a set of glowing cuffs. Ayla let out a cry as she fell to her knees, the blue glow disappeared from her body, just like her mother in the memory. The ice disappeared from the room and the knights surrounded her. The queen knelt before her daughter. “You’ll thank me later.” She lifted the dagger and looked to it. “Funny, you’re a fool just like your mother and father both.” She chuckled.
She was kicked to her back then, a demon stood above her. His armor black as the night. “What do you demand my queen?” He asked.
The queen smiled. “Take this mage to the dungeons. I’ll deal with her soon. Oh…and do make sure she’s comfortable, won’t you?” She ordered and waved the knight away before she returned to her throne.
Ayla struggled against the knight, she pulled against the cuffs on her wrists that held together with the strongest bond. She couldn’t use any of her magic. She could barely think. The knight kicked her in the back of her knees and chuckled as he held her by her wrists, he began to drag her through the palace. “Ren…” She whispered, “No…I…” She shut her eyes tightly. She couldn’t make contact. “Please…” She whimpered as her body drug over each stair toward the dungeon. The knight tied a rope around her wrists as she sat on the ground. She felt weak. Whatever magic that enchanted the cuffs was incredibly strong. She could barely think. It was then that the knight began to crank her up into the air. She hung there with her wrists tied above her head, dangling above the ground just enough that her toes could barely touch.
“I hope you’re comfortable.” He slammed his elbow into her chest, knocking the air from her lungs.
Ayla gasped as she tried to catch her breath. She whimpered as she hung there. “Ren…” She fought against the rope. She fought until her body wouldn’t let her anymore, until her muscles shook with each movement. How long had it been? She couldn’t keep track of time. The cuffs around her wrists seemed to distort everything.
**
Jak fought through demon knights at the gates of the palace. With each demon that he killed it seemed another appeared. He growled deeply as he slashed out. Lightning struck the ground around him. A flash of fire in the sky came from above the castle as a storm brewed. The clouds were black as could be, winds kicked up as rain began to pour down upon the city.
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Post by Raven on Jul 19, 2016 20:40:46 GMT -5
Ren looked up to Ayla and held her hand upwards toward her as she shot forward into the sky. “Ayla!!!” she shouted and then shot into the sky. She shot forward - her arms reaching for Ayla to stop her. Just as she got to Ayla she was sent flying in the opposite directly. An arrow lodged into her shoulder, knocking her away. Ren cried out and fell to the ground like a bird out of the sky. She landed on the ground in a thud and groaned, gripping the arrow. “No time for this” she spoke and then broke the arrow in half, leaving the arrow lodged in her breast.
Ren stood up in that moment, in the center of the trade court. She pulled her dagger from her waist and grit her teeth. She lunged forward, wind behind her arms, she slashed through each demon and cut them apart. She twirled forward like a bullet coming from a gun, spinning with her blade - she plowed her way through a group of demons. She landed on the ground and looked up - eyes staring directly to a blade that came her way down.
There was a sudden clash of metal - Xavier intercepted the axe with his sword, sending the demon back. He drove the sword into the demon’s chest and wash the demon burst into red ashes, piling on the ground in its death. She held her hand to Ren and lifted her up. “Come on” he gripped the sword with two hands and then ran forward. Ren stood next to Xavier and flipped over a demon - stabbing him in the back, then with one motion she flipped her blade around and sliced another’s cruel head off its shoulders. The demon’s head fell off and plopped to the ground, bouncing a few times before breaking into ashes.
From the ship the rage of Fairy’s came buzzing through. Their magic bursting in the distance, the colors of their abilities flashing in the air. The demon’s were being shot down left and right, blades cutting through them… It was an all out battle from port to castle.
Ren glanced over and saw something small stepping through the street. She ran forward and wrapped her arm around the being - a small girl had wandered out of her home, curious to the sounds. Ren landed on the porch of the house and pushed her inside, she pulled at the door and shut it. With a burst of magic the metal of the door handle melted - shutting her inside. She turned and then rolled to the side, dodging another arrow that landed in the dirt, sitting up at an angle. With one hand on the ground - she sprang forward like a mountain lion and brought her dagger down into the demon’s neck before her. She kicked her feet at his chest and nabbed the guy’s hand axe. She threw it as she spun in the air - the axe flew forward flip after flip and caught into the archer’s chest, sending him falling backwards off the roof of the house.
Ren landed next to Xavier as they made their way forward. Ren turned when her eye caught action. A line of demon’s seemed to be bulldozed down as something came thrashing forward. Jak’s glorious lightning burst outward and into the sky as she slashed away at the army, catching up easily.
The three lined up toward and rushed forward - taking on the endless army of demons. It was then that Ren saw something in the courtyard. A man in shiny garb held his sword against a demon, pushing him back. “You will die, traitor!” the demon spoke and brought his sword down. The man dodged it and sliced the demon easily. Just then another demon came forward, then two more - surrounding him. The man in silver armor gripped his sword and parried an attack easily. He was bashed down with a powerful parry. He fell to a knee and gripped his sword with strength.
Ren came forward in a spring of speed and cut at the three demon’s legs, sending them falling. She held her hand up and drew the blood from their bodies. It seeped from their demonic skin and then beaded in the air in a mass of red - and then the bodies burst into ash on the ground, the blood as well, drifting into the wind.
Ren leaned forward and gripped the mans arm, helping him up. “You’re not the man you once were” she spoke and then pointed her blade towards the castle. “Aid us and atone from your sins, you will find your haven amongst the elders in a calm retirement.” She spoke and then looked to the king. She held her hand out to shake his. The King lifted his head and then nodded, his hand touching hers - he shook it in agreement. “The wretched Queen will pay for the years of terror she has reigned” he spoke and then the four rushed forward to the castle’s doors.
The doors were shut tight at this point, keeping them from the castle. Ren looked around as they became surrounded and she nodded. “Keep them off me” she spoke and then sheathed her dagger. She held her hands up and gripped the cobble with her feet, lowering her stance. She held her hands out toward the door, her fingers gripping the air. The earth shook slightly as she gathered her strength. She felt different - she was flowing with power that she had never felt before. All of a sudden she felt every soul around her. She threw her head back and then picked up a leg and slammed it down.
The ground before her suddenly cracked, the crack going all the way up to the doors. The world shook even more and then she rose her hands upward. A huge chunk of the ground before her lifted into the air, breaking away and lifting into the air with ease. There was a huge pit before them now… she held the land up and then thrusted her hands forward. It flew towards the huge wooden gate and busted it open, flying in and then crashing in the center of the gate room. The rock broke into chunks as it landed with strength, the door bent and cracked to the force of her throw. The collection of rocks then lifted upward and came flying back out of the room. It was as if each rock, that was once the huge mass she threw, picked a demon and then suddenly burst from Ren in every directly. The rocks flew and busted into each demon with insane speeds and strengths, sending them to their ashes.
Ren’s body stopped glowing its gentle green hue and then she grinned. She leaped over the ditch and landed before the bowed doors. “Lets go!” she shouted and then rushed forward to the new crew of demons who approached them….
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 19, 2016 22:42:11 GMT -5
Ayla was awakened by a harsh blow to her cheek. She let out a soft cry as her eyes fell upon her attacker. Her shoulders stung. She managed to get her eyes on the demon before he hit her again. His eyes were a lifeless white, the color that those who had become blind had. His skin was wrinkled and pale. His ears were odd to say the least, the tips of his elf ears stuck out but skin crossed across his ears, almost like laces of a corset. He had a long pointy beard that stuck out from his chin. Another blow, this time to her ribs. She tried to fight against the bonds. “Don’t use up all your energy.” A voice came from across the room, from the corner, from the shadows. Ayla looked all around, trying to find the source of the voice, “You’re wasting your energy.” The voice again, she couldn’t find it. The demon before her lifted a bat into his hands and rubbed it before he looked to her with his lifeless eyes. His sharp pointed teeth visible even with his fully closed mouth. “The weaker you become the easier this will be.” His eyes locked on hers. The voice was his. But how? He did not open his mouth. Ayla blinked several times, thoughts racing through her mind. He held her chin. “Don’t think too hard.” He took in a deep breath, as if to inhale her scent.
The demon brought the bat into her side, ribs cracked. Ayla let out a scream which was silenced by another blow from the bat against the other side of her rib cage. Ayla grit her teeth as the demon paused, he looked to her and grinned, the full set of his teeth showing then, the yellow at the base of his teeth disgusted her. She looked down as she coughed, her lungs fighting to inflate again as she gasped. He turned and pulled a syringe from the table. He inserted the syringe into a vile of bright almost neon red fluid. He flicked the end of the needle and allowed a small amount of the fluid to squirt out before he turned to the princess. She struggled against the bonds. “Now what did I tell you?” The voice again. Yet his mouth didn’t move. Ayla brought her legs up and into his head, she kicked hard, knocking him back against the wall. A low growl came from the man as he rushed her.
“Get off!” She snapped as she kicked at him again, he grabbed her legs and pulled her to him easily. Ayla struggled against him, the brand on her arm began to glow dimly. The demon stabbed the syringe into her neck and injected the fluid before he ripped it out harshly. Ayla felt the fluid rush through her body, she could feel it spread across her body with each breath. She struggled as she heard the sound of the demon chuckling. Her vision was becoming a blur at this point, she could barely see make his shape out from the surrounding figures in the room. A swift blow to her head came again, the sound of her blood sloshing from her mouth and splattering against the floor seemed to echo through her ears. The pain was incredible now, it was much worse than before. She could feel each broken bone. “Let me go!” She cried, though, her voice was so far, so small. Weak. Ayla tried to move again.
“You’re making this all too easy, princess.” The demon’s voice, his breath hot against her ear. “The more you struggle, the easier this becomes.”
Ayla could feel his hands playing with the ropes above her head. Her feet slowly lowered to the ground. Then, suddenly the tension from the rope was gone. She fell to her back, gasping. Her hands were still bound together by the clasps. She blinked several times as she looked up to the blur of lights. When she saw a shadow above her she swung her tired arms at it, missing entirely. She felt his skinny fingers around her neck, then the pain of being lifted from the ground. He threw her onto a cold metal surface. Ayla blinked her body felt as though it was asleep, her muscles tingled from the drug that was injected into her. She felt a click as the bonds were disconnected from each other, the cuffs like bracelets on her wrists now. Something was tied roughly around her forearms and ankles, then across her forehead. She couldn’t move. She thrashed against the bonds, shaking the metal table she was placed upon. She cried out as she felt a sting in her arm, right at the bend. She then felt a burning sensation as a liquid was pushed in. She screamed out as she tried to fight against the drug that was pushed through her system. The low tune of the demon’s chuckle filled her ears. “I told you, too easy.” She could feel the bonds loosen, though, she couldn’t see….she couldn’t breathe…
**
”Ren…please…please…Ren…” Ayla whimpered in the darkness. She had fallen unconscious from the shock that her body was now in. “Where…” She stood to find herself boxed in. She looked down as blood dripped from her nose and disappeared against the black floor. She beat against the black of the wall. “Let me go!” She hit the wall, the blue of her brand glowed and her eyes flashed white. She stepped back and shoved her hands hard against the wall, knocking it down with a burst of ice. Ren stood somewhere she didn’t recognize. She looked around as her heart pounded within her ears.
“Too easy.” The voice of the Demon came into her dreams.
Ayla spun around looking for him. She stumbled and fell to her knees and gripped her chest as her heart began to race. She coughed up a glob of blood as her body trembled. She looked around the room. It was the dungeon. The holding cells.
“Ayla….” A voice came from one of the cells. “Dear God…it’s you…”
Ayla looked up to the cell in front of her, her eyes fell upon a woman that she knew. She traced the features with her eyes as she fought for air. “Mother…” She gasped out.
**
The demon had Ayla slung over his shoulder, her body limp as a rag doll as he carried her through the halls of the dungeon. He rounded a corner to find himself face to face with Cassie. She stood before him with her glowing eyes. “Put her down!” She ordered. The demon stared to her as he took a step back. “I said put her down!” She raised her voice to a yell as she rushed forward and grabbed him by the leathery top that he wore. Ayla slipped from his shoulder and fell limply to the floor. Cassie slammed him against the wall harshly.
“Ah, I see you must be related.” He chuckled. “You know, I thought we locked you up.” He choked as she gripped her neck.
“You did.” Cassie growled as she gripped more tightly. She pulled his dagger from his belt and slice his cheek with it.
The demon chuckled as he slammed his hands into her chest, fire came from his palms sending her to her back. Cassie got to her feet within seconds and rushed forward with the dagger. She sliced it through his chest at his collar bone before she ripped it downward, cracking his bone. The demon growled harshly as he gripped her wrist. He slammed her into the ground once again and pinned her there. He ripped the dagger from her hand, the blade went flying across the room as he began wailing on her. Punch after punch. Cassie brought her arms up, attempting to block. Her power came through then, a burst of light came from her body, exploding through the castle, everything froze. She slammed her fists into his chest knocking him from her body. Cassie then grasped the dagger, it lit with a blue fire before she stabbed him in the chest. The fire started within his chest, the blue flames licking around the hole that had been created by the blade. The demon screamed in agony as he burst into blue flame and ultimately turned to ashes.
“Ayla.” Cassie ran to her daughter’s side. She knelt down and placed her hand on her back gently. “Ayla.” She spoke as she turned her to her side. Blood leaked from her lips, her eyes fluttered. Cassie looked over her daughter with worried eyes. “Come on Ayla.” She placed her hand on her cheek, her hand turned green for a moment then the light faded away. “No…” She shook her head. “Come on.” She shut her eyes tightly and focused. The healing began and then ceased for no reason. Cassie groaned as she tapped Ayla’s cheek again. “Come on dear.” She whispered, “Wake up, baby Ayla.” She looked to the necklace that was around her daughter’s neck and paused, her breath shook slightly. She reached to the pendant and unclasped it from Ayla’s neck. She then moved her daughter carefully so that she was sitting up. “The elders knew.” She whispered softly as she clicked a lock at the top of the pendent. The tube began to unspin within her fingertips. She placed her hand on Ayla’s cheek and gently brought the pendent to her bloody lips before she poured the liquid into her mouth. Ayla choked slightly before the liquid went down.
Cassie looked to the bonds on her daughter’s wrists. She looked to the pile of ashes and kicked the pile around, but found that the key was nowhere to be found. “Damnit.” She growled as she turned to her daughter once more. “Come on.” She lifted her the best she could by pulling Ayla’s back against her chest. Cassie pulled her down the halls of the dungeon. She took in a deep breath and allowed herself to transform, so that she could gain more power. Her body glowed blue with the beautiful wispy wings just like Ayla had. She lifted and cradled her daughter in her arms as she ran up the stairs from the dungeon. She held her close to her body as she came sprinting down the halls of the castle. Demons turned to her and began to trail behind the two as she ran down the hall. Cassie turned to find herself boxed in. She took in a few quick breaths as she took in the situation before she turned and leaped through a huge stained glass window. It shattered against her back as she flew into the sky the courtyard of the castle. She twirled in the air out of control for a moment before she finally caught her bearings, it had been so long since she flew. So many years locked away in the cells, locked away to wither up and die. But she refused.
Cassie landed just as Ren burst through the gates of the castle. She willed for time to slow and a blue blanket fell over the land. The demons froze in their tracks. Cassie stood with glowing eyes, Ayla held to her body, blood leaked from her mouth. Xavier rushed forward, black blood covered his armor. “Ayla…” He looked to Cassie and then to the princess within her arms.
“Mother…” Jak spoke as he too stepped forward. “Y-You’re dead…” He shook his head.
Cassie gave a soft smile. “We will have time to speak soon, my son. Now is not the time.” She looked to the king. “It’s good to see you’ve finally come to your senses Rydel.” Cassie looked down to her daughter. “We have to find out what the queen had the demon give, Ayla. I can’t heal her.” She shook her head. “I’ve given her a potion from the pendent, but I’m not sure if it will fully restore her heath with the condition she is in.” She looked to Ren.
“Sorry to interrupt this family meeting.” The queen stood at the top of the stairs, her eyes glowing with fire. “Isn’t it just precious.” She cackled.
Cassie spun around as Xavier rushed forward only to be thrown to the side by the queen’s power. “What did you do to her?!” She called to the queen.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” The woman said with a devilish grin.
Xavier staggered to his feet and turned. He watched as the King stepped forward to Cassie, he slipped his sword away. “I’ll take Ayla, you are of better help than I can be.” He said softly before he slipped the princess from her arms. He ran behind the group with Ayla trying his best to keep her safe. Xavier then turned and stood alongside the team. He took in a deep breath as he held his sword with both hands.
Cassie looked to Ren and gave a nod. “We just need to know what Ayla was given, that is all I ask, so that we may reverse it.” She then clapped her hands above her head and ice flashed through the courtyard. All of the demons became frozen solid.
Jak rushed forward and slashed through the frozen bodies quickly with ease. “Come back now!” He grinned before his eyes glared to the queen. He looked to Ren, he knew she had something up her sleeve. Something to make this woman talk. The queen snapped her fingers then and more demons spawned, rushing the group.
The king stare to Ayla in his arms with sad eyes. “I’m sorry honey.” He whispered as he hugged her to his body. A light blue glow came over her ice cold skin. The potion from the pendent was beginning to take effects. The king brushed her hair from her face, blood leaving a streak on her skin. “You’re going to be okay….we’ll figure this out.” He promised as he looked up to Cassie and Jak as they fought off the oncoming demons, Xavier was killing his fair share as well. Which only left Ren to battle against the queen. Jak and Cassie worked together flawlessly, the two powers were perfectly paired. It was how Oliver and Cassie used to fight, they were unstoppable, until that night…. she was still unsure of how they had been overpowered. It was out nowhere. They were surrounded. Cornered. Tired. The fighting had lasted too long, both her and Oliver had worn down to nothing. That was the queen’s plan on that day, to wear them down until she could ultimately take them on. The worst part was she watched the entire time, spawning more and more demons, watching, waiting, until the perfect moment.
Ayla lay in a soft lush field of green grass. The sky was a perfect blue, not a cloud in sight. She smiled as she felt the perfect warmth of the sun upon her skin, like a long hug. She turned to her side to see Ren lying next to her. She leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Come on Ren.” She stood and offered her, her hand. “We wouldn’t want to be late.” She smiled. Ayla led Ren through the field and to a cabin. When she opened the door the entire scene changed. Darkness followed. She turned and Ren was gone.
“Wait…” She whispered, she searched and searched. “What…was I?” She looked down and blood dripped from her mouth and nose. “Where…” She looked up to the palace, a haze took over the world around her. She could hear the clanking of swords, the growls of Jak. “What’s…this?” She stepped forward and touched a dark shadow. The shadow’s cheek to be exact. “Who are you?” She asked softly before she spotted her own body being held by a shadow. She heard yelling as she ran to her side. She looked to the blood that leaked from her mouth and nose. She reached forward but couldn’t touch, her hand fell through the body that was held before her. “What’s…going on?” She listened as her voice echoed. “Hello? Anybody?” She called, her pulse beat within her ears. She looked up to the fuzzy palace in the background and her eyes fell upon another shadowy figure that stood at the top of the stairs. “Wait…” She muttered as she rushed forward. A dagger flew through the air toward the shadow that she had touched the cheek of. She leaped into the air and a flash of white light came through the world as it hit her in the stomach. She fell to the ground and ripped it from her body before she looked to the shadow. The shadow…she knew it…she knew that she knew who it was…somehow…she felt drawn to protect this figure…
The queen stood dumbfounded in the real world as she looked to her dagger that lay on the ground, fresh blood on it. The flash had happened in the real world, the flash of white, a figure appeared in the air in front of Ren, and then was gone.
Rydel looked down to his daughter as blood pooled from her abdomen. His eyes widened. “Uh….” He watched as a gentle white glow surrounded the area and the bleeding began to slow. “Ayla?” He asked, his voice soft. She still didn’t wake…
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Post by Raven on Jul 20, 2016 13:37:03 GMT -5
Ren cleared out the wave of demons before her with a slash of her arm - the wind splitting the demons apart like a sword slashed over their chests, horizontally across the line of rushing hellions. It was then that a figure emerged forward with Ayla in her arms. Ren gripped her dagger - just then Jak and Xavier rushed forward to see them.
Ren turned and she waved her arms once more, slashing downward - the wind mimicked her movements and cut apart her enemies that stand frozen solid. Ren turned her head and glanced to the woman as she spoke to Rydel. It was Ayla’s true mother. She could see it now, as the king held Ayla.
Ren leapt back when a flash occurred, the clattering of a dagger fell to the ground. She looked up and saw Ayla bleeding just then. Ren grit her teeth, Ayla was far too powerful for her own good in this moment. Ren stepped over to Rydel and placed her hand on Ayla’s chest, waiting for the strong beat of her heart. It was slow, and weak. Ren took a deep breath and kissed Ayla’s forehead. She then looked to Rydel and nodded. “Take care of her” she whispered and then ran forward.
They had made it through the main gate, leading towards the courtyard. She stepped onto the cobbled path - her eyes looking up to the Queen who held her hands high. The courtyard became a stuffed with demons, standing at attention. The queen grinned and lifted her head. “You will pay for the abduction of the princess” she spoke. Ren threw her hand up and shook her head to the Queen. A wind became to conjure, circling in the massive courtyard - creating a dome of spinning air, a walled in arena for their battle.
No one could leave, no one could come in. Ren sheathed her dagger and held her hands up. In that second she was rushed by demons, piling around her in that moment. Ren fell to the ground, the demons trying to grab at her. When suddenly they burst away - a gust of ashes in every direction as she blew them apart. She thrashed forward - her arms moving fluidly sending slices of wind forward, cutting at the demons before they could even get close.
Then then clapped her hands together and beads of water formed in the air swiftly, and then began to shoot forward like never ending bullets. Ren stepped forward - no longer moving her hands around, the demons fell to ash before they could come close, paving a path from her spot to the Queen. Ren reached her hand upward- wind moved around the queen and lifted her upward, pushing at her at every side and angle. Not allowing her to move…
Ren’s came to the queen and stood before her as she hovered in the air - choking as she refused to let air into the Queen’s lungs. “You think you are so mighty and powerful” she shook her head and threw the Queen back. The queen hit the wall and then landed on her feet. The Queen laughed, a deep cruel chuckle. Ren stepped forward - but was suddenly shot back at an insane speed. She hit a column and groaned loudly - her ribs popping and cracking as she fell to the ground.
The queen stepped down the steps and shook her head. “You are nothing” she spoke and grinned wildly. The earth began to rumble, shaking violently. The tree limbs began to crack and fall from the few trees around them, the air began to vibrate - chaos seemed to outrage from every bit of nature. Ren stood up and pulled her arm up - squeezing her fist into the air. A huge crack started in the center of the courtyard, shooting down the center of the castle. The two sides of the earth began to split, pulling apart. The castle rumbled and then the stone cracked as well, splitting the castle into two. Bits of each side crumbled off as they split, pulling further and further away.
The Queen’s legs had been on each side, and then they began to pull apart. Easily the Queen stepped to one side - but stared at Ren. At this point Ren was glowing bright green, her power flowing through the world, shaking it and forcing it apart. The Queen hid her astonishment and then thrusted her hand forward. A burst of her power shot towards Ren. In that second a huge stone formed upward from the earth, blocking the attack. She tried several times more - to only be blocked by the stones that shot upward.
The rumbling stopped, she had pulled the earth apart a good four feet. A heat emerged from the crack. With each summon of her demons - nothing occurred. Each demon that stood then was being pulled in - a strong gravity grabbing them hold. Until they were slung into the crack, falling down and down, into the deep pits of hell.
Ren then stood on her side of the crack. “It’s just you a me now” she held her head high and then rushed forward. In that instant the Queen disappeared. A puff of smoke in her spot. Ren landed and then turned, her eyes glowing white now - she searched for the Queen…
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 20, 2016 22:51:45 GMT -5
Jak slashed demons as quick as Cassie could freeze them. Bolts of lightning struck from him and shocked nearby demons, bursting their body into ashes and flames. Cassie was rushed from behind by a few demons, sending her to her chest on the cobble stone of the courtyard. The demons piled on top of her, pinning her to the ground. Though, a burst of blue, an explosion of energy came from her body as she shot into the air, the demons that were within a ten-foot radius of her froze into ice statues. Cassie slammed back down into the ground a wave of energy shot out all around her and shattered the demons into bits and pieces. Jak ripped the throat from a demon, black blood sprayed everywhere, spattering across his chest and face. He moved on quickly, a blur of lightening and growls.
Xavier grit his teeth as he fought against a demon, he was pinned on his back on the ground. “Jak!” He called out, he had an arrow that had been shot from one of the demon archers. It stuck through his shoulder, the feathers on the arrow were red with his blood.
The king looked up from Ayla when Xavier called out. He looked to the trio that were fighting. His eyes fell on Jak first, he was busy with a horde of demons that had just been spawned by the queen. He looked to Cassie to see her pummeling her way through demons, the blows from her fists caused the demons to shatter at her touch. Her eyes were a fiery white. Rydel then looked to Ren he looked up as the dome surrounded them, keeping the demons out. He heard Xavier grunt again as the demon ripped the arrow from his shoulder, shredding the muscle within his shoulder on the way out. The king moved quickly. “Stay here, just for a second.” He set Ayla down with her back against the stone wall that surrounded the palace.
Rydel then ran to Xavier. He pulled his broadsword as he sprinted across the courtyard. The sword lit in an orange magic as he slashed down upon the demon. The head lobbed off of the creature as easily as a knife would cut through butter. “Xavier, watch over Ayla.” He nodded just before he blocked a blow from a demon. “Go.” He ordered as he turned and fought against the being. He swung at its legs, slicing them off before he cut the head from the demon. He ran forward into the battle, aiding Jak and Cassie.
Xavier ran over the Ayla, he gripped his shoulder as his arm hung toward the ground limply. He knelt at her side, “Ayla?” He asked as he looked to her, her brows were pulled together, her eyes fluttered. “Ayla can you hear me?” He brushed her arm. It was then that the world began to shake. Xavier looked to the source of the shaking. He lifted Ayla against his body and hugged her to him as the ground split near him, breaking away. He pulled her limp body along with him toward the others that stood in awe of the incredible amount of magic that was coming from Ren. “Holy shit…” Xavier said under his breath. He felt Ayla pulled from his arm and he looked to see Rydel pulling the princess into his arms.
“Thank you.” He nodded to Xavier before he looked down to the troubled expression on Ayla’s face. He then looked up just as the world stopped pulling apart. The demons were all gone, sucked into the cracks. He looked to Cassie and Jak as they too watched in awe of the display of power. Rydel’s stomach sank when he saw the queen disappear. He watched as Ren looked around frantically. He took looked around, his eyes searching. Demons began to surround the dome, beating against the barrier that Ren had formed. “She’s a coward.” The king spoke, his eyes locked on Ren. “We can’t give her the chance to escape.” He shook his head as he looked down to Ayla, the blood was dried on her face now. Her skin a deathly pale.
Cassie came to Xavier and placed her hand over his shoulder, the blue faded from her body as she reverted back to her normal form, her hand began to glow a beautiful shade of green as his muscles pushed back together and the wound healed. He smiled and nodded to her. She then stepped to Ayla and placed her hand on her icy cold forehead. Her eyes still fluttered. “Baby Ayla, it’s okay.” She whispered softly as she shut her eyes. Though, with all her might, all the focus she could muster, she couldn’t heal her. The green would appear for only a few seconds, healing her slightly, but then disappear once again. Ayla whimpered on the third try from her mother to heal her. “Damn it…” She growled. “We need to figure out what that wretched demon gave her.”
Rydel looked to the princess with sadness in his eyes. “I wish I could have stopped all of this.” He muttered and hung his head. “I’m truly sorry, Cassie.” He brought his eyes back up to the woman that stood before him.
Cassie looked to the king, her ocean blue eyes full of anger, though the hate within her eyes melted away, she shook her head and looked to the castle that was on the other side of the dome. She then looked to the demons that were collecting around the perimeter. “You had no choice.” She muttered.
Smoke swirled around then, seeping from the ground. The queen appeared, a grin upon her lips. “He still has no choice.” She cackled before a puff of smoke came and lifted into the sky.
Cassie had rushed forward, her eyes bright blue. She turned around in the smoke as it dissipated. She trembled with anger now, her hands balled into fists. “Where did you take her!” She snapped. She began to glow and energy burst from her body, it destroyed the dome that Ren had created, it surged through the demons, splattering them. She ran into the broken castle and rushed to the throne room where the queen stood. Cassie rushed forward only to be stopped by the queen whom with the flick of her hand held her against the wall. “Where is Ayla! Let her go! You’ve done enough!” She growled.
The queen snickered, “Oh, but I have just begun.” She smiled darkly.
It was this distraction that allowed Jak to gain ground on the queen. He leaped into the air and pinned her to the ground, his eyes black as the night. He punched her in the face several times, her nose broke and blood spurted from her face. “Tell me where she is.” He snarled as he gripped onto her neck, his claws cutting into her skin.
Cassie fell from the wall she rushed forward next to her son. The queen only grinned up to the two. Jak slammed her against the ground, cracking the tiles beneath her. “What have you done?” He growled. He hit her in her face again and slammed her against the ground. “Tell me.” He ordered, his brows pulled together, hate filled his entire being. “Tell….me…where…she…is…” He crushed the orbit around her left eye with a blow. The queen continued to chuckle as blood splashed from her face. Jak shook his head, he didn’t understand. Half of the pain he had inflicted on her would make any normal being cry for mercy.
Cassie pulled two cuffs from her back pocket that looked similar to the ones that were placed on Ayla. She snapped them over the queen’s wrists just before the queen was able to fight back. It was then that the laughter stopped. The queen looked to the metal on her wrists as it began to glow bright red. “Not so powerful now, are you?” Cassie searched the woman’s eyes as she lifted her to her feet by her neck. “Where is my daughter?” She asked, her eyes almost blinding by now with the power that fueled her. The queen choked and writhed in the hands of Cassie as she shoved her against the wall of the throne room. Fear finally showed in her eyes as she found herself helpless. “Where is she?” Cassie snapped. “I’m not asking again. Hell I’ll have Ren rip this entire castle apart if I have to. We will find her and the king. Whatever you’ve done with them.” She gripped more tightly.
“O-Okay…” The queen gasped, hardly able to breathe.
Cassie loosened her grip slightly. “Where?” She pulled a dagger from her thigh and held it to the woman’s neck.
“One…condition…”
“You’re in no position to ask a favor.” She gripped more tightly and pressed the blade against her neck.
“Ayla gets…to…decide…my….fate…” The queen looked to Jak as he stood behind Cassie with crossed arms.
Xavier let out a laugh that he muffled. “Oh I can promise it won’t be much different. Cassie might be more kind.”
The queen smiled almost sadistically. “We shall see.” She choked as blood bubbled from her mouth. “In the tower keep, that’s where you’ll find her.” The queen smiled, her teeth bloody.
Cassie didn’t pull her eyes from the queen. “What did you have that little puppet of yours give to Ayla? What did he inject her with?” She gripped more tightly.
The queen stared into Cassie’s eyes a long moment. “Once we find Ayla, I’ll tell you. Not a moment sooner.”
Cassie slammed the queen against the wall, she grabbed her by her head and slammed again, knocking her unconscious. She let the woman fall to the floor like a bag of trash. She turned and looked to Xavier. “Where is the tower keep?” She asked as the blue faded from her body once again. Her eyes fluttered slightly, she was tired, her body was not used to getting to use magic anymore. She used to be able to go for days without stopping, but now, she felt like a toddler just learning to walk. She knew the motions, but her body did not agree. “Jak and I will stay here and assure the queen doesn’t leave. Take Xavier.” She nodded to Ren. “Please keep Ayla safe.” Her eyes searched Ren’s. She knew she couldn’t exert much more energy without becoming helpless.
**
Ayla stood in the world filled with shadows she chased after the group as they moved about. The words that each shadow spoke were muffled and muddy. She couldn’t understand a word of what was going on. “What’s….going…on…” She held her side. She looked down to the blood that leaked over her fingers. “Where am I?” She grimaced as she was ripped from the room, she flew through walls and fell to her back. She held her chest, breathless. She held her chest as she stood and glanced around the room. She saw her body laying on a bed. A shadow leaning over it. Muffled words once again. She reached forward and her hand fell through her body. “Why…am I?” She asked, her voice echoed against the black shadows that surrounded her.
**
“Ayla.” Rydel shook her gently. “Ayla wake up.” He ran his fingertips over her forehead. He stood and paced back and forth. He searched through the cabinets in the empty room to find a first aid kit. He rushed to her side and began cleansing the wound. Ayla whimpered and cringed in her sleep.
**
“Ahhhh…” Ayla fell to her knees in the shadows. She gripped her side and screamed out in terror from the pain that shot through her body. “No…no….stop.” She rushed at the shadow that was bent over her and shoved hard.
**
Rydel fell backward and stumbled into the wall. He looked around and furrowed his brows out of confusion before he stepped back forward and began stitching the wound shut.
**
Ayla fell to her knees again in pain. “Stop…” She cried. “Stop….please…” She begged as she gripped her side in pain. She fell to her other side and curled into a ball as the fiery pain continued to rage through her body from each puncture of the needle.
**
Rydel placed a patch over the wound and sighed as he wiped blood from her nose. “I’m sorry Ayla.” He whispered as he pat her head. He looked to the demon that stood at the door. A tall bulky demon. He stood with his arms crossed, he was nearly eight feet tall. The queen had placed him there to keep the king from trying to escape with the princess. He knew he would be snapped like a twig against the giant. He didn’t have powers like the others. Not like Ren or Ayla. “Come on girl.” He shook her again gently. “You have to wake up. Snap out of it.”
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Post by Raven on Jul 21, 2016 20:18:01 GMT -5
Ren grit her teeth when the Queen disappeared. She turned from her spot and then dashed forward. The dome disappeared and the demons began to run forward - the crack in the earth dragged them down, sucking them in like a vacuum space. Ren then ran towards Ayla and the others. Just then she skid to a stop and stared to the Queen who suddenly appeared. Ren then relaxed when the Queen was shackled. She stepped forward and stood next to Xavier. She crossed her arms and then chuckled slightly when the Queen spoke of Ayla deciding her fate. Ren stepped over to the Queen before she left with Xavier.
“When you die” she spoke softly, her voice loaded with anger and dark tones. “The gods will recall every moment of your life… you will stand before the greatness of their judgement. The life you paved here…alone and full of sorrow and hatred will be magnified and picked apart. Your concept of eternal life of which you thoughtfully claimed was but a dream in the distant stars… you will approach your true fate. A fate that was never for the living, but the fate of eternal damnation, to join along the true demons of cruelty… you find yourself but a small peon in their true power. You are nothing. You will die as nothing. Remember that as your last moments come upon you” she then spat in her face. A giant glob of snot hit her forehead and then leaked down slightly, gathering in her hair about her temples.
Ren stood and then looked to Xavier, nodding to him as they stepped away. Xavier stopped before they turned for the corridor of their destination. “I’m not sure what is going to happen. In these moments” he spoke somberly. “Just know it was a true honor to fight amongst you, and a blessing that you and I have crossed paths once again.” He put a hand on her shoulder and then smiled.
Ren bat his hand away and chuckled. “You’ll be fine you damn bafoon.” She pushed him slightly and smiled brightly. “No time to say goodbye, we have to save a princess” she gripped her dagger and then they continued forward.
The castle was terribly silent. Xavier gripped his sword and held it close, ready for something - anything to happen around the bend. They went around to a couple turns and then came to a door. “We go up” he spoke and then opened the door. Their steps echod in the tall tower, they circled up and up. Ren’s stomach filled with anxiety as they climbed higher and higher. The peak of the tower swayed slightly to the wind that pushed to and fro. Ren stopped at the door and then looked to Xavier.
Ren shut her eyes and then tilted her head back. “Theres something beyond the door. Tall, strong, a demon I think…” she turned her head to Xavier. “He is going to be strong, you’ll have to be my unfaltering wall of defense…” she spoke and then nodded. “I’ll open the door and get to the other side, you hold the door opening” she whispered and then her hand reached for the door.
Suddenly the door was kicked back, hitting Ren right in the chest, sending her flying against the wall. The door was caved inward, cracked and bowed. Ren groaned and pushed the door to the side, letting it tumble down the stairs, causing a loud clatter with each step. She felt something hit her stomach, the hilt of his battleaxe pushed into her gut with force.
In that moment the demon was rammed by Xavier. He pushed into the giant beast with his shoulder, sending him stepping to the side. “Down!” she shouted. Xavier looked back and then nodded. He stepped so that his back faced the stairs. The demon held his battle axe up and then brought it down. Ren, who was behind the demon, used her magic in that moment. Xavier was pushed to the side with force, her wind power moving him faster than Xavier could naturally. Ren then rushed forward and jumped into the air - her foot pushing against the arched back of the demon. The demon stumbled slightly, but did not falter in his place. That didn’t go as expected.
The demon turned slowly and brought his axe down above his head. Ren rolled and sliced her dagger against his heel. A dark blood oozed from the slice, but nothing really happened. Ren grit her teeth and then looked to Xavier. “In the room, go” she spoke. She pushed a gust of wind and pushed the demon over, the demon stumbled down the steps and then turned. In that moment Xavier squeezed by and rushed into the room. “Guard Ayla” she spoke and then stood in the doorway.
The demon then charged her, running her right over. Ren cried out as her arm crunched under his giant foot. She rolled over on her side and looked to Xavier. Xavier brought his sword up and blocked the huge axe. He then sliced the demon’s rib cage, but it didn’t seem to bother him. Ren grit her teeth and then sat up. She looked to Ayla and then to Xavier. The tower then began to sway faster from side to side, the bricks made crinkling sounds as they grinded together.
Ren then stumbled to Ayla and placed her hands on her. Just then the demon swung his axe, hitting Xavier in his chest. The axe lodged into Xavier’s chest piece and pressured against his chest. He cried out in a pain and dropped his sword, gripping the axe. The demon pressed to push the axe. He pulled the axe back but Xavier was stuck on the end of it. Xavier lifted into the air and was pulled back, the demon swung to push Xavier against the wall, to chop him in half.
Just in that moment as he would collide with the brick wall - the wall crumbled. A gust of powerful wind pushed from inside the tower and broke the bricks, shooting outward in a powerful force. The sudden change pushed both Xavier and the demon outside of the tower - to fall to their doom.
Ren lifted her hands and both Ren and Ayla lifted into the air and burst through the hole in the tower. They fell through the air, heading down to the courtyard cobble. The entire courtyard then was covered in a blanket of air, catching the four just then. Ren caught Ayla and laid her down…
Xavier gripped the axe and pushed hard - dislodging himself from the axe. He scrambled backwards and groaned as blood came from his chest, it wasn’t too deep but it was a wound never the less. Ren suddenly shot forward and wrapped her legs around the demon, climbing his back. The demon tried to reach back but couldn’t touch her, as his muscles were too large. Ren brought her knife to his throat and sliced with strength, dislodging his head from his shoulders. Ren then kicked back and pushed the demon over, she landing on her feet with ease.
Ren turned her head just then as Cassie dragged the queen by her arm, rushing to the two. Ren knelt by Ayla and stared to Xavier who breathed heavily, trying to maintain himself. Cassie dropped the queen at Jak’s feet, before the group, and rushed to Xavier. Her glowing hand held over Xavier, healing him. “Quickly, the tonic, whatever it is..” she glanced up to the tower, which wouldn’t last much longer standing. She hoped that in that moment the cure wasn’t in the room, as it was going to topple any moment.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 22, 2016 22:57:16 GMT -5
Rydel watched as the scene played out, the strength that both Xavier and Ren exhibited was incredible. He felt like a ghost in the shadows as the tower began to crumble. Luckily he was wisped up by Ren’s power and carried to the ground with Ayla and Xavier. The queen laughed as she watched the tower crumble before her eyes. “Tonic?” She smirked as the tower plummeted into the crack that Ren had torn into the ground.
Cassie lifted the queen up by her neck and stood her there. Jak grabbed her by her arm tightly, his claws dug into her skin and drew blood. Cassie glared into the woman’s eyes. “Where is it?” She growled.
“Oh, it was accessible, it was in the room I had Ayla in.” The queen chuckled as she looked to the fiery pit. “Or maybe it wasn’t.”
Cassie grabbed her by her throat again. “Don’t think that for one moment I won’t fucking kill you.” She snarled, her eyes flashed white.
“Cassie.” Rydel spoke, he was knelt next to Ayla on the ground. “We need to heal her.” He gave a nod and looked to the queen. “She isn’t going to tell you, she’s playing games. She always plays games, toys with the lives of anyone but her own. It’s all a game to her.” His voice was full of hate.
Cassie took in a slow breath as she looked back to the queen. “Where is the key?” She asked. The queen gave her a confused look, Cassie gripped more tightly, cutting off all of her air, her face began to turn beat red. She held her there until she was on the edge of passing out. “Where…are….the…keys?” Blue lit in Cassie’s eyes once more.
“M-my…necklace….” The queen choked, her knees weak, but Jak held her still.
Cassie ripped the silver chain from around the queen’s neck. Upon the necklace a small silver key glistened. She turned and knelt next to her daughter as she carefully pulled the cuffs from her wrists, blood caked the magical cuffs from Ayla fighting against the bonds. “It’s okay.” She whispered softly. Cassie placed her hand on Ayla’s forehead and shut her eyes, her hand began to glow a bright green as she began to heal her daughter, this time without interruption. The bleeding ceased from her abdomen, her ribs found their way back into place. Blood stopped running from her nose as well. Cassie stopped after several minutes of healing, her breaths heavy. Ayla had been near death, teetering on the edge. This explained the shadow realm, she was on the cusp, about to tip over and never return. “Ayla?” She asked softly.
Ayla’s eyes slipped open slowly, she blinked several times to push out the blur in her vision. She looked to her mother with a troubled expression plastered on her face. “Wh-what happened?” She asked, her voice small.
Cassie gave a soft smile. “You’re okay, Ayla.”
“Wh-who?” Ayla seemed puzzled, she held her head as she sat up slowly. She looked around with her ocean blue eyes.
“Tell me dear girl, do you feel the need to have me killed?” The queen said with a devilish grin.
Ayla pushed herself to her feet, Xavier steadied her and watched as she stepped forward. Jak grinned as the princess walked toward the queen. She searched the queen’s eyes for a long moment, her brows pulled together. “Do I have a reason to?” She questioned.
Xavier rose his brows, “Ayla…” He spoke as he stepped to her side. “You have plenty of reasons.”
Ayla looked to him, then to the gouge in his chest plate. She then slowly allowed her eyes to fall on everyone in the party. Her eyes stopped on Ren. “I’m sorry…” She shook her head. “I don’t remember…” She looked back to the queen for a long moment. She shook her head once again and took in a deep breath. “I….I don’t remember….” She whispered.
The queen cackled then. “What’s your name, dear girl?” She mused. “Tell me who you are.” She was getting a sick satisfaction out of a job well done by her demon puppet. “Better yet, tell me what you are, where you are, where you’re from.”
Ayla blinked, she fell silent. She took in a bit quicker breaths, her mind beginning to panic. “I…I…” She shook her head. “I’m sorry…I don’t know…I don’t know what’s wrong with me…I…” She choked through the words.
Cassie gripped the queen by her throat. “You will tell me what it is that I have to do to fix this!” She snapped, the queen only chuckled. In response to this Cassie punched her hard, breaking her orbit around her eye. “What did you have done to her?!!!” The queen didn’t respond.
Ayla’s eyes fell on Ren once again. She stepped to her and looked over her features, taking in every line. She then sighed softly and fumbled with her hands almost as though she was nervous. “I…don’t remember…but…” She looked up to Ren. “I feel like you were important…to me…” She searched Ren’s eyes. She turned and took in a small breath as she looked to the crumbled castle. “What happened?” She asked and began to step forward, Xavier stopped her. “Where am I?” She looked to him. “Did I cause this? Is that why I can’t remember?” She looked to her hands. “Is this my fault?” She sounded worried by the last question.
“No, no…you didn’t do any of this.” Xavier pat her shoulder gently.
Cassie shoved the queen so that her back slammed against a pillar. She looked to her daughter, Ayla’s skin was a bit pale compared to its usual tone. “Your name is Ayla.” She began. “You’re my daughter…” Tears had welled up in her eyes. She had waited so long to see her daughter and now….Ayla knew nothing.
“Ayla…” She muttered softly, as if trying to remember. She sighed softly after a long moment, “I don’t know…” She turned and faced the city, she then looked to Ren once more. She had this odd pull toward Ren. She didn’t understand it what so ever. She fumbled with her hands as she looked to the sea then, she could see the ocean in the distance from the courtyard. She brought her hand to her head again, it ached, it felt as though a nail had been driven through her eye. She looked back to Ren, her eyes searching, almost as though she hoped to remember. She needed to remember…
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Post by Raven on Jul 22, 2016 23:34:46 GMT -5
Ren stepped back when the Queen revealed the location of the key. She looked up just then – watching the thick dust that formed from the fallen tower, it ballooned upward and slowly fall down to the ground like ashes after an eruption. Ren crossed her arms as Cassie unlocked the dreadful handcuffs, her eyes reflecting the gentle glow of Cassie’s powers.
Ren stepped back when Ayla stood up finally, her eyes softening as they looked to each other. Ren smiled and then nodded slowly. Then her smile suddenly faded. I don’t know… Ren’s eyebrows scrunched together as she watched Ayla panic in her state of forgetfulness. The Queen cackled, she laughed, conning them on further. Ren grit her teeth and then balled her fists up.
You’re important to me… Ren’s eyes filled to the brim with tears. She sniffed in deeply and then couldn’t control it. Tears fell from her eyes in warm streams, she fought back her cries – refusing to show that much weakness. Ren stepped over to the Queen, now pinned against the wall. “She won’t ever tell…” Ren spoke with a blank voice. Ren pulled her dagger and looked to the queen with eyes of hate. There was silence for a moment… the Queen’s eyes met Ren’s.
The Queen didn’t speak, Cassie only looked over to Ren as she stood. The world was slow, quiet even. Then with a fluid motion Ren brought her hand up and flicked it. Her dagger slit the Queen’s throat. A flood of blood spilled over the deep cut and ran down her throat, soaking her skin in fresh red blood. Cassie held the Queen – watching the life fade from the queen’s eyes as they continued to stare to Ren. Ren then turned around and sheathed her dagger, walking away.
“We’re leaving” she spoke with the upmost empty voice. Xavier stared to Ren for a long moment and then he stepped over to Ayla. “That woman… on the ground now… she did this to you. She took away your life and memories…. Feel no pity.” He spoke and then put a hand on her shoulder. “We will figure this out… trust us. We are your family” he smiled weakly and then lead Ayla. “We are headed to her ship” he pointed to Ren. “She is the captain of the very famous and very amazing Flotsam. She is … our captain” he smiled and then looked to Cassie.
Cassie had sent the queen down moments ago, letting her die alone. She followed Rydel, quiet as well, sniffling here and there - she had wiped her tears away.
“That’s your mother” he continued to speak to Ayla. “You two have been separated almost your whole life… and only just recently have been reunited” he spoke as they came to the docks. The great ship floated up and down slowly in the dark night. “And I… well” he chuckled. “I’ve been guarding you your whole life. Doing my best to keep you out of trouble” he then chuckled. “Seems it follows you, huh? As you’ve lost your memory and stuff..” he stood on the deck and then pointed to Jak who helped untie the ship. “That’s your brother, you two have both been separated as well…” he then pointed to Ren next.
Ren walked up to her wheel and took the spokes. The members of the ship untied Flotsam and then began to clean the boat. They put away the weapons, started to sweep away the ashes of dead demons. Ren just stood, silently, no expression upon her face. Behind her stood Giant, his arms crossed as his eyes looked to his Captain, worry across his face.
“She… well…” he spoke softly. “She was important to you…” he crossed his arms as he looked to Ren. Ren turned the ship and brought them out of the harbor. Cassie then stood comfortably next to the stairs leading to the stern, her arms hugged themselves, her eyes looking to Ayla – pain etched across her face.
Jak made his way up the stairs to Ren and stood next to her, in silence with her. “Where we headed Captain?” he spoke in a soft voice.
“To find answers… “ she pointed the boat south east, point away from the northern star that twinkled in the distance.
Jak nodded and then stepped away, pausing – he turned his view to Ayla.
“I’m sorry this has happened to you…” he spoke and then smiled weakly. “We will figure this out, we will get your memories back, and you’ll make new ones too…”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 23, 2016 0:33:32 GMT -5
Ayla’s eyes filled with tears as Xavier spoke, she looked to the pain in Cassie’s eyes. She looked to Jak. Finally, she looked to Ren. Her eyes stayed there as Xavier stepped away, he moved to the bow of the ship and leaned against the railing. Ayla stood there, in the middle of the Flotsam. She looked around the ship, at the crew, the beautiful sails. She stayed here for a long time, confusion over her face. She stared back to the castle and Portland as the city became but a speck in the distance. She fumbled with her hands again and looked to her clothing. She placed her fingertips on the hilt of the dagger, the beautiful craftsmanship. It was a good twenty minutes or so before she finally stepped over to Xavier’s side. She stared to Ren, she watched her almost as if she was analyzing her movements. She looked as Ren moved her fingertips over the spokes of the wheel. She watched her eyes, everything…
“Tell me…” She looked to Xavier then, sadness in her eyes. “Please tell me who she was to me. Why do I feel like she is so important? You said she was important. Is she still important?” Ayla looked to him, giving him her full attention as she gripped the railing, the ocean sprayed against her face, a soft smile curved up her lips, she felt safe here.
Xavier took in a deep breath as he looked to the princess. “Well.” He cleared his throat slightly. “Ayla, you have had an incredibly difficult life.” He looked to Ren and then turned his attention to the princess. “That woman that Ren killed….she was a horrible woman…she kidnapped you when you were young, she made you forget your mother and father…just as you can not remember anything now, it was the same when you were just a tot.” He pulled his chest piece from his body and sat down on a crate as he began to try to bend it back into shape so that it didn’t press against his sternum anymore. “That woman was the Queen of Portland, the queen of the kingdom of Sarálonde. That, is your adoptive last name. She stole you to be her own.” He paused and sighed softly, “She beat you, nearly every day, I wanted to stop her, but I was a knight of the kingdom…” He lowered his head slightly as he bent the metal of his chest piece. “Ren.” He smiled to her and looked to the captain. “Ren saved you.”
Ayla looked to the captain then, her ocean blue eyes searching the woman, “She saved me…” She repeated and looked to Xavier. “Is there more?”
“Of course, I wasn’t done.” He let out a soft chuckle. He liked that Ayla was at least trusting. At least she didn’t run away or fight against them. “Ren took you away from the city, I of course got you to her.” He grinned, taking credit, “I had to get you out of the kingdom…Ren took you onto her ship, to take you away to safety. She saved you from Adriel, a demon, whom I am sure we will hear from soon enough…” He paused and glanced over the seas quickly for a moment before he returned his attention to his armor. “Ren is a true guardian.” He smiled, “You had grown quite fond of her.” He spoke and looked to the princess to take in her reaction. “You and Ren. Ren cares a lot about you, Ayla…this…this is going to be hard for her, but, you can learn her again.” He nodded.
Ayla fumbled with her hands as she sat on the crate next to him, she stared to Ren, “Fond of her, love?” She asked softly.
“Hm…” Xavier hummed. “I’m sure it could have gotten to that point.” He chuckled. “You two were together, if that is what you are asking.” He sighed softly. “She cares for you, Ayla, and I’ll tell you this, you would do anything to save her. Anything.”
Ayla searched. She stared down to the deck then, she placed her hand on her side. She remembered the shadow world, she had saved someone, but who. She pulled her brows together and sighed heavily. “I see…” She spoke after a long silence.
“Ren loves chocolate.” He smiled.
Ayla looked to him, confused.
“It’s her favorite.” He shifted and pulled a bar from within the crate. “You should give this to her, maybe it will help to cheer her up. Just, be gentle with her, Ayla. Her heart…no doubt aches right now…” He looked to Ren again, “We will make this right.” He gave a nod.
“Oh…um…I don’t….” She pulled her brows together. “Do I just….?” She looked to Xavier as she held the wrapped bar in her hands.
“When she has a moment.” He gave a soft smile. “You should talk to her, Ayla.”
“Hm…” Ayla gave a nod, “Th-thank you….um…” She looked to him, her eyes searched his.
“Xavier.” His eyes had a hint of sadness, though he held it back quite well.
“Thank you, Xavier.” She nodded and stood. Ayla walked to Cassie and Jak whom stood in front of the stairs that led beneath the deck. “You’re…my mother?” She asked looking to her, “And…my brother?” She looked to Jak, her brows pulled together.
Cassie sniffled and wiped away a few tears, “Yes, baby Ayla…” She whispered. “I…I’m your mother….”
Ayla looked to her and then bowed her head slightly. “Um…” She looked to Xavier for a long moment. “He…..Xavier…he told me…we were separated…”
“Yes.” She nodded, “That witch…” She paused and calmed herself. “The queen, she stole you from us. She killed your father and took me as a hostage….she used me to power her, syphoning me for years as you grew older…you never knew I was just a few steps away….”
Ayla pulled her brows together. “Oh….” She breathed. “I…I…” She looked around and then back to her mother whom pulled her into a tight embrace then. “I’m…s-sorry….” She whispered as she felt her mother shudder. She hugged her back then, the hug was comfortable, it felt as if it belonged.
“No need, Ayla.” Cassie’s voice was uneven with her sobs that she focused on holding back. “You did not cause this, the queen did.” She looked to Rydel whom stood next to one of the ship’s masts. “That man.” She pointed to him. “That is the king, he was your father that you knew, for your life. He tried to keep you safe from her, or at least he did what he could. It didn’t always stop the beatings…but he fought for you…he never wanted the queen to do what she did with you and your brother after the word got back that we had been killed…” She released her then and stepped back. Cassie wiped tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry, baby Ayla.” She bowed her head.
Ayla watched her and shook her head, “No…don’t be sorry…you didn’t do this.” She wiped a few of her own tears away. She wanted to remember. She wanted nothing more than to remember. She stared to Ren again, tracing her jaw with her eyes, her brows, her nose. She looked away, nothing. She remembered nothing at all. A blank slate. Ayla then looked to her brother as he hugged their mother gently to help soothe her. “Um…” She looked to him, trying to remember her name. “What was your name?” She asked softly.
“My name is Jak.” He spoke as he looked to the ocean. “You should go speak with Ren.” He urged her. “I can speak with you later, she…she needs you, Ayla…Go on.”
Ayla searched her brother’s eyes for a moment, he refused to look at her. His heart ached. He was absolutely devastated. He knew chasing after the queen was a bad idea…but…he never imagined something like this would have happened. All that work. Ayla knew nothing. Ayla gave a nod. “O-okay…” She looked up to Ren, her stomach knotted. She was nervous. Worried. Anxious. She stepped up the stairs carefully as the waves moved the boat around. She stood just a few feet behind Ren. She looked to Giant for a moment, he frightened her. She bit her lip and stepped to the side. “Um…” She finally spoke after a long moment of silence. “I…um…” She stepped forward to Ren’s side. “Ren….” She looked to the captain, her eyes searched over the woman, her features as she fought to remember. Nothing. “X-Xavier…um…he…” She looked down and fumbled slightly. “I’m sorry…” She took in a breath. “I….I’m sorry I can’t remember…” She shook her head. “But…I…I want to remember, I can feel it.” She placed her hand on her fluttering heart. “When I look at you, I feel it.” She gave a gentle smile, “I can feel it in my stomach, only when I look at you.” Ayla then looked to the spokes of the wheel. “Ren….I want to remember everything, but I especially want to remember you, especially after what Xavier has told me. I want to know you….I want to remember us….and…” She fumbled again and pulled out the very expensive chocolate. “I think….you would like this….right?” She felt butterflies in her stomach, she didn’t understand it. She took in a quick breath. She was so nervous.
Suddenly Ayla grasped her head. She groaned and stumbled into Ren. Her forehead pressed against the captain’s shoulder. She grit her teeth and whimpered slightly as Adriel tried to burrow into her fears. Her eyes flashed blue and her breathing quickened. “Hel…Help...It…h-hurts….” Her eyes fluttered and the ring began to glow blue around her pupils. “Ren…” She muttered before she fully collapsed.
Moments later, the clouds darkened above the Flotsam as the ship with Adriel and his demons began to gain on them, out of nowhere it seemed the flaming sails appeared on the horizon, gaining fast.
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Post by Raven on Jul 23, 2016 19:52:40 GMT -5
Ren glanced slightly down to Ayla as she made her way around the boat. A deep darkness conjured in the pit of her stomach as she studied the confused face of Ayla. It could be a blessing, she pondered as her eyes looked out to the vast sea. Ren could feel Giant’s presence as he stood behind her, arms still crossed. It had been years since Ren had last felt like this. She remembered that feeling well – Giant’s shadow over her tiny body. He watched her.
Slowly he stepped forward and stood next to her, his arms still crossed. He looked down to her and waited until she looked to him. Her eyes moved over his huge cracked arms and then to his face. “Patheon” she spoke softly. Giant’s giant blue eyes stared to her and then he looked to Ayla.
“Alive” he spoke softly. His words were rounded – like he could say them but not quite.
Ren nodded. “That’s true…” she spoke softly.
“New memories…No pout…” he then smiled and kneeled down. On one knee he was as tall as Ren. “It wont .. happen..again” he spoke slowly. “Giant protect” he then leaned forward and placed his lips upon her forehead. “I won’t fail you again” his low voice rumbled and then he stood. “Be Ren… be happy” his voice rose a little at the word happy. “No like sad Ren.” He then stepped back to the stern, crossing his arms again as he gave her space once more.
Ren gripped her wheel once more and then turned her head – Ayla standing next to her then. Ren tilted her head slightly – watching Ayla stumble over her words. She turned then and smiled to one side as she tried to express how she felt. Ren stepped forward and reached for the chocolate. “Mmm… yeah” she chuckled and then turned the bar of chocolate around. “I am a sucker for chocolate” she smirked and pulled at the paper slightly to open the chocolate.
In that moment a shadow fell over the ship, the sun covered by a dark cloud. Her raven from its perch flew low and started cawing loudly. The crew scrambled to the crow’s call, drawing their swords and guns. Ren turned to look behind her, to see the red in the distance – flames. Ren then turned her head back to see Ayla gripping her head in pain, Adriel tried to reach to her. Ren stepped forward and grabbed Ayla, pulling her into her chest. Just then she glowed bright white –
“The Queen is dead…” Ren’s voice flooded into the darkness of a dream. He queen’s image displayed now, her blood rolling over her skin, and then dropped to the ground. The Queen choked slightly and then her eyes quit moving rapidly, her mouth open – teeth covered in blood, pooling now under her head. Dead.
Then the dream switched – the entire castle was falling, crumbling to ashes, a dark sky above the castle. The crew walked away.
“You’re next… Adriel…”
Then an image of Adriel appeared - being held into the air. Ren stood feet away from him – her hand in the air, lifting him. She brought her hand forward in a thrust and wind pierced his chest, gripping his heart. She yanked it out and squeezed harshly. Then suddenly Adriel burst into ashes, falling into the wind that passed with Ren’s anger.
Ren’s body glowed brighter until suddenly it burst out in a huge wave of power. Her power rushed across the sea, lifting the upper layer of the water and then dropping it. She glowed bright until her glow covered the entire ship. The ship creaked and rumbled slightly.
By now Adriel wasn’t too far from her. He could be seen standing on the bow, looking to the ship now in the distance.
Flotsam began to move upward, gaining speed from the winds. The ship slowly began to rise upward, the bow completely out of water now, the keel line visible. From the sides of the ship two white bars appeared, attached to the sides. As the ship continued forward the crew stumbled back, grabbing onto the masts and lines.
Giant moved forward and wrapped his arms around Ren and Ayla as Ren had shifted slightly with the boat – about to topple over. He braced himself against the ship’s force..
The bow of the ship lifted up, water dripping off the side of the boat as it left the sea. The bars on the side of the ship then dropped a magical sail. The sail’s became taught easily and the ship lifted into the sky faster now. The shadow of the ship lingered over the sea and grew smaller and smaller as they grew further up. Ren’s eyes opened – glowing bright white, no pupils – like a hazed marble.
Xavier stared to Ren as he held onto a mast. They were angled up still. His mouth was wide open as he glanced down over the side of the ship. They were getting further and further from sea. “R-Ren!” he called out.
Ren squeezed Ayla closer and brushed her cheek against her – her nose pressed into her hair. Her magic grew even stronger. The ship leveled out now, approaching the clouds. They pierced the clouds, moving through the white puffs as they rose higher and higher. The ship completely leveled as they sat on top of the sea of clouds. The wind carried them with ease, the ship didn’t rock or waver, it was as if the sky was her sea.
The crowd finally relaxed as they tensed up. Xavier stepped forward – scared that he might move the ship with his step.. but he did not. He moved closer to the stairs and then crawled up the steps, hunching over slightly. Behind him was Cassie and Jak who came over to Ren. Xavier placed his hands on Ren’s shoulders.
“Ren. Ren … hey” he shook her slightly.
Ren’s marbled eyes returned to normal and she looked to Xavier.
“Oh…” she looked around and then smiled bright.
“It actually worked” she grinned wide and then ran to the side of the ship. Her hands planted on the rails she looked down. They floated over the endless sea of clouds. It was beautiful… the sun played over the white clouds. Their ship created a slight wake in the vapor, which easily reformed as they continued forward.
Ren smiled big and then laughed loudly. She banged her fists on the railing and then jumped around, twisting in the air. The air up high felt so fresh, so cold and tasteful. She leaped into the air and landed on her deck, she twirled around as she felt weightless. The sky was her sea.
“I always dreamed of this” she laughed loud and then jumped back to her wheel. “Isn’t this cool?!” she shouted.
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