"Greetings, friends," Lucia, or rather, the image of Lucia, said. Tsadde was observing this strange feat from all possible perspectives, finding that it was fairly three-dimensional. Ayin thought he had done enough experimenting when he plunged his hand into the image's head. The image laughed, strangely enough. Tsadde pulled back at Ayin's quick whack with the back of her hand. The image smiled and gazed at Ruby. "Hello Ruby. I'm glad to see you again. You too, Nall. Have you two finally managed to get along?" Ruby and Nall were stunned. They were clearly not expecting this to be an interactive sort of image. The image Lucia laughed again, and turned to Ayin. "So this is the next Dragonmaster. I must admit, I am very surprised at this outcome. You are the very first and possibly the last Dragonmistress, Ayin. It is quite a turn of events. Now, to see if you are truly destined to become Dragonmistress. Here is my test." The others listened intently as Lucia began.
"As twilight hath fallen,
We gaze up above.
To the world we both knew,
The world that we love.
The Silver Star, Lunar-
Its light shining bright.
We would gaze from this peak
At its face in the night."
The group stood there, perplexed. "So, that was it?" Tsadde spoke up.
Lucia nodded. "It is more of a riddle. It is not too complicated; the real test is at the location in which I spoke. If you succeed, you will gain much more than you bargained for. That is all I have to say. I bid you farewell, and please, be careful." With that, the image fizzed and blinked out.
Denyx scratched his head. "Soo...?"
Jerin shrugged. "'We would gaze from this peak at its face in the night."
"Hmm," pondered Ayin, as she repeated the lines of Lucia's riddle. "I think I know where we're supposed to go! Lucia spoke of a peak, right? Obviously, it'd have to be pretty high up if they wanted to get a clear glimpse of Lunar."
Tsadde looked around. "Well, if we're supposed to see this high peak, we should do so outside."
Ruby shivered. "But it's freezing out there!"
Nall smiled. "Funny, I don't mind a bit." The group started towards the exit.
Seren hesitated. "Maybe I should stay here and watch Kossori. No telling when he'll wake up." Nall nodded, and the group continued.
The harsh wind blew relentlessly as Ayin's party entered the cold, open atmosphere of the Blue Star. "Maybe I should have stayed with Seren," Ruby said, her teeth chattering. Ayin gazed at the tall spires of jagged peaks surrounding them. Tsadde pointed out one particularly elevated peak, stretching out high above the rest.
"Okay, there's our destination," Nall said. "I hope the wind's not too strong." He transformed into his powerful dragon-state, and the others clambered aboard. With a great heave, the white dragon pumped his mighty wings and propelled himself into the sky. Despite the buffeting winds, Nall managed to fly up towards the peak. He landed in a fairly sheltered area. "Looks like we'll have to climb the rest of the way," he said. Having disembarked, the group made their way up the steep and narrow path.
Ayin reached the top first. For some strange reason, the prevailing winds did not blow there; as though they were in an enclosed area. "This is getting weird," Tsadde said as he came up beside her.
"We're here! So, where's the sword?" Denyx exclaimed.
Ayin glanced up at the dark sky. Sure enough, she could clearly see the Silver Star in all its splendor.
"Hey, look at this," cried Rykea. He bent down by some sort of carving in the ground, slightly hidden from view by snow. Having brushed most of the snow away, Rykea soon recognized what it was. "It's some sort of teleport. I wonder where it leads."
"Maybe that's what Lucia was talking about when she said the real test is at the location in the riddle. I don't see what else it could be. It wouldn't hurt to try," Nall suggested.
"Yeah, unless it 'ports us right into a pit of jagged spikes and sharp icicles," retorted Ruby.
Rykea shook his head. "Please, you two. Try to get along. Besides, if this does take us anywhere, I doubt Lucia would have it be a pit of spikes."
Ayin walked over to the teleport. "Does it still work? I mean, who knows how long it's been since it was last used?"
"Only one way to find out," said Rykea, and he stepped onto the teleport. He disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Guess it works," said Denyx dryly. He followed after Rykea. Soon the others came behind them.
They found themselves in a dimly lit cavern. The crystalline walls seemed to produce their own light as they glowed with some coruscating source. As the group cautiously made their way deeper into the cavern, Denyx couldn't help but feel as though something was there, waiting for them. It felt familiar, but yet it was strange. He shook it off; dismissed it as just an after-effect from being exposed to the biting winds from before.
Before them, a large crystal hovered above. It wasn't a transport, that was for sure. Nall examined it. "It looks to be some sort of stasis capsule. But for who?"
That strange feeling crept over Denyx again, the same familiar presence. Unwittingly, he placed a hand on the crystal. Suddenly, the crystal glowed brighter and brighter, pulsating with energy that came from within it. The crystal slowly dissolved, melted, as though it were constructed of ice. Ayin and the others all looked in awe, Denyx had stumbled back upon releasing this unknown force.
A young girl stood where the crystal had once been. She didn't look much older than Tsadde, maybe even younger. The girl had shoulder-length blue hair, and her clothing looked a bit worn, yet fashionable. She opened her eyes, azure blue eyes that seemed as blue as the Star itself. "Hello," she said, her voice was sweet and gentle, and sounded as pleasant to their ears as if she had sung it, which probably would sound beautiful as well. "My name is Lumiya, daughter of Hiro and Lucia; and Guardian of the Blue Star."
Nall's lower jaw could have plunged through the floor at those words, and judging by Ruby's expression, she would have done the same. Denyx, still on the floor, just stared, as did Ayin, Tsadde, Jerin and Rykea.
Ruby finally found her voice. "I knew that pendant looked familiar! It was Lucia's! And that headband as well. That cloak-I recognize that beat up old thing anywhere!! That was Hiro's-and that's his boomerang!!!"
Lumiya looked at her and smiled. "Yes, Ruby. These were gifts from my parents. I guess you can say I've been in some sort of suspended-animation all these years."
"Must've been a lotta years," Denyx said as he got up. "I knew I felt something weird in here."
"I guess I'm better perceived by the younger dragons than I am with the older ones."
Ruby huffed. "Who're you callin' old?"
Lumiya giggled. Ayin quickly recalled why they were there in the first place. "Hey, where's the Sword of Althena?"
Lumiya looked up. "Oh! That's right--the test! If you want the sword, you'll have to fight me!"
"You're kidding, right!? I mean, you're only--say, how old are you?" asked Jerin.
"I'm 4,914 years old in actuality, but if it were then, I'd really be 13."
Jerin looked a little confused. "Ah. Well, you still can't possibly challenge us!"
"I'm pretty good with a boomerang, and I know a couple of other stuff too. So come on! Which one of you is the next Dragonmaster?"
Ayin stepped forward. "Uh, I am."
Lumiya looked as if a rock had landed on her head. "Y-you're the next Dragonmaster? But you're a girl!"
Lumiya looked over to the dragons for conformation. Nall nodded his head. "WAAAA!! A DRAGONMISTRESS?!?! HOW COME IT'S A GIRL!?! IT'S NO FAIR!!! LUNA HAD ALEX!! MOM GOT HIRO!!! THERE'S NO DRAGONMASTER FOR ME!!!!!!" (If this was visualized, you'd see sweat-drops all around, anime-style :p )
Ayin tried to calm her down. "Uh.....it's okay Lumiya. I'm sure you'll find someone. It doesn't have to be a Dragonmaster. Hey, I had dreams of meeting a Dragonmaster, but it turns out I am one!"
Lumiya looked a little, if not totally convinced.
"Okay... but that doesn't let you off the hook to do battle with me!" With that, she flipped backwards and landed in a fighting stance, boomerang in hand.
Ayin reluctantly brought out her sword. "All right, but I don't want to hurt you."
Lumiya nodded and then lept into the air. "SQUALL!!"
Ayin felt herself lift off the ground as a sudden wind came up, seemingly produced by Lumiya's boomerang. Ayin managed to break free of the deadly twister. This kid wasn't kidding! Guess I have to do more than I thought. "Thunder thrust!"
The bolts splayed harmlessly around Lumiya. "Hah! What was that?" Ayin took that moment to charge at the girl, knocking her off her feet. "Ahh!! Hey, no fair!" The girl scrambled up and launched her boomerang again. "BLACK STORM!!"
A huge, rushing tornado came at Ayin. She lept back, unfazed. "THUNDER BALL!!!"
Lumiya fell back as the bolts of electricity struck her. "KYAAAAA!!" She fell to the ground in defeat.
Ayin rushed over to her. "I hope she's all right. I didn't want to, but what else was I supposed to do?"
Nall placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you didn't, you wouldn't have passed the test. Jerin will tend to Lumiya."
Jerin knelt down beside them. "She's not hurt bad. Little litany."
Lumiya breathed softly as she felt much relieved. She sat up slowly. "Guess I'm not much of a challenge. Yet, you did defeat me fairly in battle. The sword is yours, Dragonmistress. I didn't quite catch your name; what is it? I know only the names of the dragons."
Ayin smiled. "My name is Ayin Yutsora."
"I'm Tsadde Yutsora."
"I am known as Daleth."
"I am Rykea Ausa, Premier of Vane."
"And I'm Jerin Mortasia."
Lumiya stood up, brushing off her clothing. "Nice to meet you all. Guess you'll be wanting that sword now, huh, Dragonmistress Ayin?"
"Please, just call me Ayin. Yes, I think that we should get the sword and be on our way."
Lumiya raised her hand above her and mouthed something, inaudible to the others. A shape took form and gently placed itself in her outstretched hand. "Here it is! The Sword of Althena!! Only a couple of previous owners," she added with great flourish. Then her jubilant mood turned suddenly downcast. "Guess you'll be leaving now. Well, go on. You got what you came for." She turned and handled her father's boomerang.
Ayin felt sorry for her. Being all alone up here can't be fun. "Hey Lumiya. Why don't you join us? We won't mind the company, and your fighting skills might come in handy."
Lumiya's mood took a complete U-turn again. "Really!!? I can come? Oh I'd love to-oh, but the Blue Star..." She looked forlorn; torn between two different things.
Do not worry for the Blue Star, Lumiya. It will always be here. Besides, it would be terrible for you not to experience the wonders of Lunar. It is so very different from the Blue Star. Go, my daughter, and aid the Dragonmistress in her quest. Take care......
Lumiya blinked back her tears as they welled up. Thank you, mother... She turned to the Dragonmistress and her friends. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
All he felt was sore. Kossori slowly opened his eyes. Ugh, where am I? Why's it so cold? Last thing I remember, that Rykea blasted me. I'll have to admit, he is good. I doubt that was the full potential of his powers though, o-ho no, and if that's the case, I won't get off so lucky next time. He struggled to get up, the slightest movement made him wince in pain. "Wait-a-minute, this must be the Blue Star! I made it here after all. But where are those losers?"
He was startled when a sudden flash of deep blue stepped in front of him. "Ah, so you are awake. Just in time to go home with us." Seren motioned to the doorway where the others had just entered.
Kossori gritted his teeth. Too late! Just great!! He pounded the floor angrily with a clenched fist. Seren had gone over to greet the others.
"Did you get it? Have you found the sword?"
Ayin nodded excitedly, and displayed the finely crafted weapon. "That's not all we found either, look! Seren, I'd like you to meet Lumiya, daughter of Hiro and Lucia."
"Daughter of Hiro and Lucia!!?!?!" Kossori and Seren exclaimed.
The vivacious little girl smiled and clasped her hands together. "Hello Miss Blue Dragon Seren!!"
As Lumiya shook Seren's hand 'till she thought her arm would fall off, Rykea confronted Kossori once again. "So, you're awake. I'm glad I didn't harm you too much."
"Sure, whatever," Kossori retorted. "I don't need to hear this, Rykea. Whatever you have to say, I sure don't wanna hear it."
Rykea sighed. "Please Kossori, we were friends once. What happened? Why is it that you're against us?"
Kossori lept to his feet. "None of your business!!!" He raced towards the transport crystal and disappeared.
"Uh, guys? We got trouble. Come on, we'd better leave too. Our objective is finished."