Somewhere on the Blue Star an island sat in the middle of an ocean. No known map would have this island charted, and no average mortal could ever find this island unless its creator wanted to be found. Rising out of the center of this rather small island was a tower. In a world that was shrouded in death life bloomed from every portion of the island, as if life was pouring from the tower itself. Constructed from ivory white marble and shimmering crystals, the Goddess' Tower seemed to be the only symbol of life left on the Blue Star. Reconstructed in the image of the Goddess Tower on Lunar, the structure rose up with the center tower surrounded by four smaller versions of itself. In the upper most chamber of the Tower, sat the Goddess Althena on a throne of light. Flanking her on both sides were the two Dragon Angels.
Althena gazed around the room with her fathomless, blue eyes. Its crystal floor glimmered from the light of her throne despite the gloom coming in from the outside. She frowned at the dark clouds covering the skies above her. The circle of pillars surrounding her sanctuary were casting their shadows and forming what almost seemed like a cell door. She rose from the throne and it disappeared. Her long, rose dress trailed behind the Goddess as she walked across the crystal floor. Long, blue hair the color of a clear sky flowed as she moved. Althena stopped at the edge of her sanctuary and looked down. Her island was shining with life, but the world around her was dying. A small humming sound alerted her to the movement of the two Dragon Angels.
Gods of Compassion, the Dragon Angels were her loyal servants. The twin gods both had the head of a dragon, but walked up right as a human would. They wore only long white robes with red and yellow mantels draped over their shoulders. Each of their right hands held a long staff topped by an orange sphere sprouting two wings. Each Angel was surrounded by a white aura of peace. "What troubles thee, Althena?" they asked as one.
The Goddess looked back and smiled at the two gods. They knew exactly what was on her mind. Her smile was the only response she gave them, for they needed no other to understand her feelings. She glided past them and stopped in the center of the chamber. Althena lifted her hands and several white globes appeared before her. Each of the globes slowly began to show events happening in other places on the Blue Star and Lunar. Those portrayed in the events were mainly the few heroes who were trying to find a way to defeat the Demon Dragonmaster. The first viewing globe showed the Blue and Black Dragon Knights along with the heirs to the Blue and Black Dragon Auras. The four of them had just finished burying the last body killed in the fire caused by the Shadow Dragon. The Goddess frowned in dismay over the deaths and accepted the prayers the two Knights offered to her. If only she could actually do something to help those poor souls who had moved on from this world, but at this time she was powerless to venture to the Spirit Realm.
Mirage and Argile said their final prayers and began to lead the two young Dragons away from the ashes of the town. At the edge of the town the group stopped and talked for a moment. Argile finally pulled a small parchment from someplace and opened it. There was a flash of red light, and an ethereal red dragon flew straight up into the air. It hovered there for a minute. Finally, the ethereal dragon turned and shot off in an eastward direction. Without any hesitation, the small party ran east. Althena knew that Ruby's spell would lead them to the Black and Blue Dragon Auras.
The Goddess smiled faintly and moved to the next viewing globe. Inside its white light were the forms of Connery, Alliea, and the boy Itise. The three had just reached the mining colony of Zaback. The small thief was just now speaking to one of the local officials. Althena knew that there was a sizable Hades Army force just three days north of Zaback. Connery began to shout at the uptight looking official. The gray haired man in the brown robe did not seem to believe that Connery was any one of improtance. Having no choice left, Connery activated the White Dragon' s Rune. There was a quick flash of white light and he was wearing his magical equipment. The official's hard, gray eyes went wide as he started to babble incoherently. Althena smiled and nodded. It seemed that Connery had everything under control.
The next globe held the two still forms of Fox and Narin. The Red Knight and young Red Dragon were huddled amidst a mass of bushes. The Goddess expanded the scene and saw that there were monsters from the Hades Army all around the Knight and Dragon. The two of them were somewhere in southwest Stamaria in search of the fabled Damon's Spire. They would only find the Spire if its current keeper deemed their intentions honorable in nature. Althena shuddered as the monsters came ever closer to finding the two hidden companions. She turned her gaze to the next globe and watched as Cole and his new party neared Fox's position. The Goddess hoped with all her might that the green-eyed warrior would unknowingly make it to the Red Knight before it was too late.
She continued to watch Cole, Damion, and Vaul move across the southwestern Stamarian plains and into the forest that held Fox and the Hades Army. Cole. Althena watched him closely. His soul was still darkened with pain and grief. The pain and grief were in turn blocking the emotions and virtues that were necessary to be a Dragonmaster. He had regained the ability to Hope, but that was not enough. Althena, herself, hoped that Damion would be able to help Cole find the things he had lost with Leeta's unfortunate end. But there was still the great power Cole harbored within. He still did not know of his ties to the Goddess' Tribe, whereas, the Demon Dragonmaster did. Cole's power was still pure, but Kole had turned his immortal power to darkness. Althena dreaded to think what would happen if the Demon Dragonmaster ever learned too completely control his dark powers.
The Goddess waved her hand and all the viewing globes vanished. She was moving to sit on her throne again when a wave of dizziness overcame her. Althena fell to her knees and grabbed her head with bot hands. "What is wrong, Althena!?" said the Dragon Angels as them floated to her side.
They slowly helped her to her feet. "A great many people have just passed to the next plane," answered the visibly shaken Goddess. "Their lives were all just taken by a great power." Then it hit her. "The Demon Dragonmaster has begun to use his true powers." She regained her balance and began to move away from the Dragon Angels. "I did not expect him to use that power so soon."
"What can we do, Goddess?" said the Angels. "We cannot leave the island without the Demon Dragonmaster finding us. And if he finds you, he will use the Green Dragon's powers to steal yours. If that happens, all will be lost."
"Then we shall not leave the Tower," replied Althena. She started to take several determined strides towards the stairs in the center of her sanctuary. She placed her right foot on the first step and spoke. "Luna will."
Both Dragon Angels floated towards the Goddess as she began to ascend the stairs. "We cannot allow you to do this, Althena. It is too dangerous for many reasons."
Althena was half way up the stairs when she stopped and turned to look at the Dragon Angels. "My people are dying. They have learned to live without my protection, but this is a foe that is beyond their comprehension. I cannot just sit by and watch as they are all slaughtered one by one. Cole and the Dragon Knights may succeed in their battle against him, but what good will it all be if there are no lives left on this plane to free? I must leave the safety of the tower and save as many of my people as I can."
The Goddess stood for a moment, but the Dragon Angels did not try to stop her again. She turned and continued her ascension. Just before the final step, she spoke one last time to the two Gods of Compassion down below. "Once the transformation is complete, I want you to make sure that I retain my memories. I must remember who I really am, or else this will all be for nothing. Then I want you to do one last thing. I want you to transport me to the eastern border of the Hades Army's realm. From then on you are not to contact me whatsoever. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Goddess."
She smiled at them and took the last step. Althena stood at the top of the stairs and spread her arms. She focused all her power inward and began to construct a psychic vessel to store her power as a deity. As the Goddess began the transference process, a golden light surrounded her. Her physical appearance began to change. Her long blue hair began to shorten until it was five inches below her shoulders. Althena'a skin became less pearly and more flesh toned. Her face lost that ageless feature, but the eyes remained a fathomless blue. Finally, the Goddess' rose gown disappeared, and in its place materialized a set of clothes that a Goddess would not normally wear. A black skirt with a white trimmed hem billowed down around a pair of brown traveling boots. Tucked into the skirt was a gray, buttoned blouse, and over the blouse was a black vest. A heavy gray robe appeared on the shoulders as the long blue hair was drawn back into a ponytail. The golden glow faded and the Goddess Althena was no longer present. In her place was the woman known as Luna.
Something was different. The Demon Dragonmaster tensed as somewhere on the Blue Star something released an extraordinary amount of power. Kole rubbed his eyes and refocused on his surroundings. The remains of Gikil, the capital city of the Kingdom of Pikrak, was nothing but a smoldering pile of ash upon rocky ground. The obliteration of this city had been a successful test for his new power. He was the only soul in sight. None of his troops had come with him on this mission. Kole had wanted to keep his true strength a secret for as long as possible.
There was another surge of energy, and Kole nearly lost his balance. "The Goddess," he muttered. "It has to be the Goddess." He closed his eyes and stretched out with his senses. For a moment he felt Althena's ever present aura. He tried to locate its source, but once again could not get an exact feel for where she was. Then, suddenly, she was gone. Kole strained his senses to pick up any trace of the Goddess' aura, but there was absolutely nothing.
"Strange," he said. "Althena, what are you up to?" He started to smile. "Well, if you have gone into hiding, I'll just have to flush you out."