The seagulls cried out, their sharp voices piercing the sky as the sun slowly rose along the horizon. The aggrivated seagulls splattered and played in the waves along the crystal white beaches, trying to grab bits of food that washed on shore. A soft red glow stretched across the ocean water, giving it the appearance of blood. However, the illusion would not last long before the sun once again blessed the land with its light.
"And so the morning comes / And with it, I lament / What evils of the night / The day itself has sent?" a soft voice whispered, softly. Slowly, Aika stepped on to the temple balcony. She paused to overlook the ocean, taking curious note in the thrashing of the waves and the squabbling of the birds. She glanced up to behold the slowly rising sun, then smiled softly. "How... poetic. Everything seems to follow some sort of harmony. Just as the Goddess Althena cherished music and art... nature flourishes like a symphony or a mosaic. Even the darkness has a certain musical rhythm, echoing in the night or on the wind. One would think Althena created the darkness herself!"
Aika chuckled, then tilted her head.
"Light attracts the dark / Like ocean and its shallows..." she muttered. "There can be no light / without darkness in shadows..."
Aika turned on her heel and headed back inside the temple, her footsteps echoing in contrast to the cries of the gulls.
"Hn." Aika narrowed her eyes. "Listen to me! Althena created the darkness? Utterly ridiculous."
Aika chuckled once more as she walked down the empty halls by herself, each movement graceful and oozing with elegance and charm.
"Or is it? No one will ever know the answer to that, will they? After all... the Goddess is dead."
"So you'll give it to me?"
"Of course! I want to help a future Dragonmaster!"
The young man from the forest grinned brightly as he regarded the creature before him. The creature was a small female blue dragon with rainbow wings and fuzzy blue fur. She was perched on a rock within the wet cave that was home to the blue dragon. She watched him, grinning brightly.
"Dragonmaster Nightstar... I like the sound of that!" the baby dragon giggled.
"Even if the Blue Dragon protests?" Nightstar asked, smirking.
"He'll understand... we're family!" the female dragon cried. "Besides, the Dragonmaster is champion to the Goddess Althena. You'll be a living legend!"
"...The Goddess..." Nightstar muttered, his voice tense. "...Yes, the Dragonmaster is her greatest champion..."
"What's wrong, Nightstar?" The baby dragon blinked.
"...Nothing, Yuki. I was just thinking," Nightstar replied.
"Imagine... serving under Lucia as her Dragonmaster... that would be so cool!" Yuki giggled. Nightstar's face twisted in to a scowl.
"Serving..." Nightstar grunted. "Dragons can do more than serve..."
"Hm?" Yuki blinked.
"Nothing..." Nightstar sighed. He turned away, heading for the cave entrance. "Tell your uncle that I said hello," he called. "...And that Papa is doing fine... well, as fine as can be expected for someone who is losing all sanity," he added, with a touch of bitterness.
"Hey!" Yuki cried suddenly. Nightstar stopped and glanced over his shoulder. He blinked repeatedly as the baby dragon disappeared, to be replaced with a beautiful young girl. Her royal blue eyes shimmered, catching the light at just the right angle to make them sparkle. Her long blue hair was two-toned, the bulk of it a lovely shade of pure blue flowing down her body like a river, ending around her calves. Her long, thick bangs were a lovely shade of dark royal blue, contrasting yet blending in with the rest of her hair. Her skin was a fair tone, untanned from having been in a cave for so long, and her figure was gifted for one who was supposed to be still an infant. At least in dragon years.
"Can I come with you...?" Yuki asked, hopeful. She blinked as Nightstar just stared. He looked like he was in shock, his eyes wide. His cheeks were a brilliant shade of red as his jaw hung, totally limp.
Yuki blinked repeatedly.
"What's wrong?" she asked. She glanced down at herself. Her eyes bulged out of socket and she let out a shriek. With a flash, she quickly reverted back to dragon form. "I've been in this cave so long that I forgot about my armor!" she wailed, still covering her chest. Nightstar was perfectly still, his face glowing. Yuki's cheek twitched and, with a frustrated cry, shoved the Blue Dragon Helmet over Nightstar's head. Nightstar didn't protest or move as the helmet blocked his vision, having been put on backwards.
After a few minutes, the helmet was turned around by Yuki. She was once again in human form, but this time she wore armor. Nightstar's face slowly returned to its normal color as he looked at Yuki, fully clothed.
"So?" Yuki asked.
"So?" Nightstar repeated, confused.
"Can I come with you?" Yuki inquired. Nightstar stared at her, then nodded slowly.
"If that's... what you want to do..." he said.
"All right!" Yuki cried. "I can be your dragon companion!"
"Dragon companion?"
"Yeah, you know... Alex had Nall! Hiro had Ruby! You'll have me!" Yuki explained. "Though, Hiro wasn't really a Dragonmaster... he didn't have the eyes or receive the Dragon blessings... Lucia was the one who had the power bestowed upon her, not Hiro..."
"...If you say so," Nightstar grunted, suddenly very tense.
"All right then!" Yuki crowed. "Let's go, Dragonmaster!"
Nightstar regarded Yuki, then nodded. A smile played upon his lips.
"Let's go, 'Dragon Companion'."
"...Do you have it?"
"Of course," Ookami smirked as she twirled the shimmering green crystal in the palm of her hand. "I mean, what'd you expect?"
"You to act a little more professional?" Karu offered, quietly. Ookami glowered at him, then shrugged.
"Aaaanyway," she said, in a sing-song manner. "Here's yer Star Dragon!"
Ookami tossed the green crystal towards Aika, which caused Karu to yelp in alarm. However, much to Karu's relief, Aika caught the crystal with little effort.
The crystal glowed a soft, green color the second it touched Aika's hand. Aika regarded the crystal quietly before reaching up to draw back her hood.
The hood revealed a beautiful woman with waves of soft violet hair streaked with slivers of red, which seemed to pool around her shoulders like liquid silk. Her bright red eyes twinkled delicately, her entire posture both delicate and refined. She ragiated elegance, her very surroundings paling in comparison.
"Whoo, so that's what you look like!" Ookami blinked. Behind her, Karu's cheeks flushed as he stared in quiet reverence.
"Surprised?" Aika asked, smiling sweetly. She glanced down at the crystal in her hand, which glowed brilliantly against her hand. "...More surprises will come, I assure you."
"Yeah?" Ookami tilted her head. "What's up?"
"It's been a long time, has it not?" Aika whispered, ignoring Ookami as she smirked at the crystal. "You remember me... just as I remember you."
The crystal flared, indignant.
"Now, now... no need for such language!" Aika crooned softly before she held the crystal up. "It's your own fault. You were careless."
Without another word, Aika turned the crystal's point to her forehead.
"H-hey, what the-?" Ookami began, then stared in shock as Aika shoved the crystal in to her forehead. The crystal glowed violently as it slowly disappeared, as if being absorbed. In a matter of seconds, the crystal was gone. Aika closed her eyes as a powerful shiver ran through her body.
"Aika?" Karu ventured.
"...I am fine," Aika whispered, her voice soft.
"Where did...?" Ookami began, then blinked as Aika waved at her to be silent.
"There is still much to be done," Aika pointed out, her eyes opening.
"...I guess we're working on a 'need to know' basis, huh? Awfully suspicious." Karu grunted. He yelped as Ookami elbowed him in the side, then glowered irritably.
"Whatever, it doesn't matter!" Ookami grinned. "So now what?"
"...You will continue the hunt for the dragons," Aika replied. "I will deal with a more pressing matter..."
"I'd think the dragons were rather important." Karu grunted, then yowled when Ookami elbowed him again.
"Indeed they are," Aika smiled. "But it would be for naught if this avenue isn't dealt with."
"Yeah?" Ookami blinked, ignoring the pained glares of her brother.
"...There are two rings that I must have." Aika turned to look at the sky, her expression thoughtful.
"We're busting our chops fighting dragons and she's worrying over jewelry?" Karu muttered. "Women..."
Ookami smacked Karu upside the head with her hand, causing him to flinch.
"Are we going to have to find them?" Ookami asked.
"No. As I said, you will fight the dragons. I have someone else who will find the rings," Aika replied. "Rather, he already knows where they are."
"Eh? Who?" Karu blinked.
Aika closed her eyes once more as a wind started to pick up, blowing angrily about her. Aika's robes fluttered about her, helpless against the assault.
Ookami and Karu stared in confusion as Aika slowly tilted back her head. A soft, forlorn sound escaped Aika's lips as she started to sing. The song was dark and chilling, making the two Vile Tribe warriors back away.
Lightning struck as Aika increased the volume of her song, which rippled through the landscape like a wave in the ocean. Ookami backed away in to Karu, who looked surprisingly stern as he stood protectively by his sister.
The two watched as a soft green shimmer appeared in the sky before it was quickly engulfed by purple. The light pulsated in tune with the rhythm of Aika's song before it twisted about to form a beautiful collar of onyx, decorated with runes of silver and gems of purple.
The collar slowly floated downwards behind Aika. A powerful gust of wind picked up as a black cloak materialized out of nowhere and covered the collar, the outline of a figure appearing within the billowing robes of darkest night.
A sharp gasp of air echoed as the sung stopped abruptly, the figure collapsing to its knees on the ground. Aika slowly turned about to look at the figure, her expression surprisingly vicious.
"What in the...?" Ookami whispered.
"..." Karu's jaw clenched.
"Surprised?" Aika asked. Ookami opened her mouth then shut it when she realized Aika was not addressing her.
The figure shifted, then gazed up at Aika slowly.
"...Who...?" the figure began.
"Did you really think my master would let you go after what happened?" Aika interrupted. "Do you honestly believe that?"
"..."
"Her master?" Ookami glanced at her brother.
"..." Karu signaled to Ookami to be quiet.
"...I did my time," the figure snarled, bitterly.
"Did you?" Aika smirked. "What you did, dear one, is anger a dark god with your treachery!"
"Was he not the god of treachery?" the figure returned, nastily.
"Be as it may..." Aika replied. "He does not take kindly to those that betray him. No one betrays him."
"He isn't man enough to taste the bitterness of his own actions?" the figure chuckled darkly.
"...You would be wise to silence your tongue," Aika observed. "Have you not noticed the collar?"
"...Collar?"
"Yes, collar!" Aika smiled, her eyes shimmering nastily. "That collar was given to you first and foremost! There shall not be a repeat!"
"...What...?"
"My master controlled you through hatred... your hatred of this world... and it failed!" Aika chuckled. "I will not do the same. Instead... I will control you through pain... and pain, you will feel!"
"..." Ookami glanced at Karu. "...I don't like this talk of treachery, betrayal, and pain."
Karu nodded in agreement.
"Pain?" the figure repeated.
"Indeed! That collar gives me the ability to make you scream in agony as I send bursts of energy through your entire body if I so choose!" Aika laughed, daintily. "It does not matter where... or WHEN you are! I can hurt you simply by wishing it!"
"..." The figure grew silent.
"Yes, when!" Aika replied, suddenly very quiet and thoughtful. "That's exactly it."
"..."
"Do you remember... the Ring of Faith and the Ring of Hope?" Aika replied. "Surely you must?"
The figure tensed but said nothing.
"I want them. You will get them to me," Aika replied. "I know you gave them to someone... back then. It is impossible to find them now, a thousand years later... so I won't even try."
"... ..."
"I know you gave them to... him." Aika closed her eyes. "I know you gave your ring to him... so that he might have both. What he did with them afterwards, I cannot begin to fathom."
"...Believe what you will."
"I intend to," Aika opened her eyes. "And I also intend on sending you back to him... so that you can take both rings from him."
"If you know so much, why don't you?" the figure sneered.
"...I cannot... and even if I could..." Aika whispered, suddenly very shaky. She quickly composed herself, shaking her head to rid herself of the half finished thought, and glared viciously at the figure. "...You will have to."
"...You're still angry," the figure observed. "You're still upset over-"
"Hold your tongue unless you want a demonstration of your collar!" Aika snarled, suddenly livid.
The figure paused then went still. Aika glowered at the figure, her breathing ragged.
"You will go back..." Aika hissed. "...And, once you have taken the rings, you will kill him!"
The figure tensed, surprised.
"...You will kill him... and then return to the present with the rings... and give them to me," Aika continued, slowly starting to calm down once more. "Then and only then will my master and I allow you to die."
"...You ask me to kill... him... in exchange for my soul...?" the figure demanded, weakly.
"I am not asking. I am telling," Aika replied. "And if you betray me, I promise you... that you will regret it."
"..."
"Go." Aika turned to look at the sky. "Now."
"..." The figure drew back, shakily, before it pull the robe closer. Aika raised her hand, which glowed a brilliant green. Seconds later, the figure disappeared with a flash of emerald.
Aika shivered and collapsed to her knees with a pant as the light dimmed.
"...Um... 'scuse me."
Aika looked up and glanced at Karu and Ookami. Karu hissed in alarm as Ookami tilted her head and crossed her arms.
"I'm not going to pretend I understood a word of what you two were yacking about," Ookami began. "Seems like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to me... but I'd like to know one thing."
"Ookami!" Karu hissed.
"Why don't you just have him nab the dragons back then, along with the rings?" Ookami asked.
"OOKAMI!" Karu snapped.
"...Because they are weaker then," Aika replied.
"Uh, isn't that a good thing?" Ookami arched an eyebrow.
"...No. Perhaps it makes them easier to capture... but it lessens the rewards greatly," Aika replied as she fumbled to her feet. "They would be all but useless to me."
"...Oh." Ookami blinked. "I... guess that makes sense."
"None of this makes sense!" Karu snapped, then yelped as Ookami whacked him upside the head.
"Whatever," Ookami replied. "I don't care one way or another... just so long as we get what you promised us."
"I assure you," Aika smiled. "You will get what you ask for. I am not like the humans. I will not betray you or deceive you with pretty words and false promises."
Ookami nodded.
"But didn't she say her master was the-? OW!" Karu yelped when Ookami elbowed him once more.
"You don't get it, do you?" Ookami snarled. "This is different!"
"HOW is it different!?" Karu demanded.
"This is a promise between one woman and another," Aika replied. "If she holds her end, I will hold mine."
"..." Karu arched an eyebrow.
"Yep, a woman's vow!" Ookami agreed, nodding sagely.
"…It's a woman thing?" Karu inquired.
"Yes." Aika smiled. "A woman's thing."
"..."
Ookami beamed.
"...Ya mean, like, cramps and-OW!"
"Idiot."