The Quest
The Cursed Princess
Once upon an unknown time, that long ago in the kingdom of Fireheart lived yet another pathetic princess whose father had neglected to teach self defence to. So when she became another victim of yet another dragon abduction, he should not have been surprised. Yet he was.
This caused plenty of chaos and rumours spread and quite right to, after all most of the people could sense that there was more to the dragon abduction than what had met the eye. They believed that there was something more going on and they knew that they were in some way, right. In fact, they all had the same theory about who was really behind it.
For you see, in this kingdom, there was another and older princess. A princess that was born out of wedlock two years before her father got married and had another when she was the age of three. A cursed princess cursed with magic that would cut her every time she used it. She had snow white eyes instead of the proper crimson eyes of the land and jet black hair instead of the blond of her father. With a big black X on her stomach as a stamp of her curse. A princess named Cari Lu'Elliette.
Even though her father neglected to teach his youngest daughter self defence, he did not do the same with the other. She knew how to fight and she knew that if she was in that room with her sister at the time, she would not be a prisoner of the dragon now. She had blamed herself a lot for her sister's abduction and the guilt cut deep within her. She had tried to find her diligently both night and day, well, as much as she could staying inside the kingdom, as her father did not want her to leave.
Yet regardless of how much she loved her father and sister and regardless of how much they loved her back and regardless of what she did, nothing still did not stop the rest of the kingdom from hating her. In fact they even taught tower children to hate her.
They all had blamed her for the loss of their beloved princess. This was how and why they came to the misguided conclusion that she was the reason that her sister was now in the hands of the dragon. They believed that she was conspiring with the dragon right now to claim the throne for her own. This lie spread like wildfire as they all wanted to believe it and did little to question it.
This caused them to hate her even more and soon they all called her the true enemy to the crown. They even spoke of her in this manor. In fact whenever they saw her they would throw things at her if she was alone. Which led some to be put behind bars and being called treasonous. Soon this caused them to want her out of the kingdom, if she was out of the kingdom then they would get their beloved princess back and things would go back to normal.
This led to a riot demanding an audience with the king. A wish that was quickly granted and they flooded the hall of the castle. Then King Alexander and Princess Cari walked at the top of the front. King Alexander stood in front of his throne and Cari beside him. She tried not to make herself too noticeable.
When they saw her they looked at her with nothing but disgust as their bloodlust caused them to grab and push the king's adviser Earl in front of the crowd. They wanted her dead and gone but they knew better than to kill her.
The King sighed, clearly knowing what was going on. His heart sank. He thought that him being King would prevent this. However Cari had told him again and again that this day was inevitable. They hated his daughter and loved the other and they did little to hide it. They must have spread rumours among themselves that justify in their minds their unjust hatred for her. He had hoped that his people would have been better then this and the hatred hatred would fade out over time.
Cari also knew this but did not look away in dread nor did she let herself show her upset about this matter. She knew that regardless of what she did, they would interpret it as a sign that they were right. She had known that they hated her and that they had always wanted her gone. She knew that was why she had started to go around with guards.
She knew that they did not care nor did they want to know what she was going through, nor did they even wish to entertain the idea that she really did love her sister and father. If they had then it would have forced them to reconsider and they were far too deep in their narrative to key anything change. No, she knew, to them she was a tyrant in the making. Her father had always tried to protect her from these truths but she was able to pick them up a long time ago.
"Well, what is the meaning of this Earl?" Her father demanded, pretending to be innocent.
Earl stroked his bald head and looked back at the people with his lime green eyes. He had a distinct large nose and a small thin mouth.
"Your majesty!" He exclaimed as he bowed low, the tip of his nose almost touching the floor.
"Enough! Get up!" He sighed, mildly annoyed by his grovelling.
"Well...The people…" He looked behind him to see that everyone was staring right at him with impatience. "They, urm, want her to be exiled by tonight... on the charges of treason."
"I will not, can not do that! And what is the basis of this alleged treason?" He snapped, his voice like a whip.
"B-but your majesty! You must have thought it odd?" Earl questioned.
"I know not of what you speak!" Said the King, but he clearly knew.
"Your deceased wife, the Animagan Queen Akicho, remember how she died shortly after the missing Princess Hikari was born? You remember! She was burnt to ashes!" He explained.
Cari failed to hide her shock as she looked at her father.
"She-she did! Why wasn't my sister and I told of this?" She asked.
"Are you accusing my daughter of murdering my wife?" He asked dangerously.
"Well, you can not-" Earl said, rubbing his hands together.
"She was three years old for Minna's sake! Hardly even old enough to comprehend her place let alone kill anyone!" He stormed, cutting his hand as he slammed it in a white jewel on the arm.
Cari closed her eyes.
"It's alright father! I-I think that it's better this way." She said, not wanting to draw more attention to her and getting all of this over and fine with.
King Alexander gave her a warning glaring glance. She felt slightly afraid but had to push through the fear.
"No, father."
"But you are my daughter and next in line to the-"
"I know, however, I can not rule over a kingdom that despises me. For, regardless of if I stay or go then there will be chaos and I also know that they will not stand for me to be on the throne either and nowhere do I. You must know they would find a way to throw me out and lock the doors and throw away the keys. It would be like travelling through the Demon Realm for me." She said, taking a breath to calm her emotions.
"So, I will be leaving, and father, please do not stop me, and, when I do leave, I will be getting back that hair that they want. The princess that we all love and want back. If I fail then let my life be forfeit, however do not punish the people for their opinions only their actions and when you do, do not do it out of anger but with a clear mind and a calm heart." She said to him, loud enough for the people to hear she then turned to the people.
"And I must admit that I have been trying to find her, however this has given me the opportunity to do this and when I return, if my sister is not with me then do to me whatever it is you wish. However if my sister is with me then don't you dare allow your self inflicted lies to poison her or yourselves for that matter!" She shouted as she left to pack before anyone could say anything.
She packed all the essentials, strong dragon dung genes, which was the strongest material which was sterilised which caused a chemical change, not that they knew it of coarse, that made it look like silver cotton, and a long sleeved shirt and hunters jacket made of the same things and chain-mail made of melted dragon scales.
She then packed a brush and a cloth. She then looked at a book that her sister gave her. It was a crimson leather bound book which was called The Gathering Of The Three Heroes. She had read it many, many times but never found it dull. She hugged it and closed her eyes and she saw the image of her sister in her mind.
"Is it too late for me to change your mind?" Her father asked her.
She slipped the book in her leather bag and shook her head.
"Then is there anything that you need?"
"Yes, my crossbow, Eagle." She replied, not wanting to look at him fearing that doing so would dampen her resolve.
"Then may I give you something?" He asked, as he produced a silver bracelet no less than one inch deep with two dragons facing a black gemstone as if they were going to fight to the death for it.
"Please put this on for good fortune." He said, raising it to her.
"Thank you!" She replied mildly, shocked as she slipped it on her wrist.
He smiled with relief and left her to pack other belongings that she knew that she would need. She then saw the evening dawning. She made her way to the door flap to the kingdom. Her father and everyone was waiting for her. He gave her Eagle and the cooks then stuffed a basket filled with food they had made for her.
She thanked and said goodbye to them and then walked along the long door bridge. When she was at the other end she looked back. Catching the last sight of her father as the bridge rose up and cut her off from her kingdom, her home and everything that she knew.
Now she looked away. Now she had to rely on what she had been taught.
The Conspiracy
After leaving her kingdom and her home behind Cari made sure to put a great deal of distance behind her before she put up camp. She dared not stop for fear that someone would try to take the opportunity to kill her. Yet at the same time enjoying the silence and the sound of the birds singing in their trees.
She took this time to gather her thoughts and figure out where her sister would most likely be. She knew that the dragon did not take her out of the kingdom and across the Royal Sea. She knew that even a dragon could not fly that distance, not unless he or she had a meal or two and none of the witnesses reported seeing a food pouch on him or her.
She took out her map of the Kingdom Isles and a sandwich that the cook had packed for her. She took a bite and opened the map up. The Kingdom Isles were made up of a circular island which was Fireheart, and the land the others formed a triangle with Lightlot, the kingdom that she was in right now, being the only one that did not have an island. Miémory was at the top of the triangle with an island to form the arrow point of the Kingdom Isles and the other two parts were split down the middle ending at a faded point of the Kingdom Isles those kingdoms were Scorcher and Mortmore.
Right, so now the question is, where did the dragon take her? Well, it can't be Lightlot. No, our kingdoms have been tightly knit since the foundations and they would not even think about betraying my father nor his kingdom.
Miémory, also no, they are far too neutral for to have any involvement, or be of any help.
Scorcher?
Possible, after all they are closely knit with-
Mortmore! It's Mortmore. After all for some reason they have always believed that they had a claim to Fireheart and seem to not even recognise the monarchy.
With her deductions she rolled up the map and finished her sandwich and put the bag under her head and closed her eyes. She had a strange dream of a thirteen to fourteen year old girl sleeping and with a kiss from a boy of that same age range, she woke up revealing purple eyes.
She woke up early in the morning and slowly dragged herself to her feet. Her eyes were suddenly filled with focus as she remembered the night before. She then had a small piece of chocolate cake for her breakfast. Then packed the rest away for later and took a small look at what the cook had given her.
Well there's enough food for me here to get to Mortmore, but not that much to get back, not without my sister. So, I'm going to have to eat half as much as what I would normally eat.
No, more like an average peasant in the Dark Kingdoms. I sure wish that someone would just rescue them from those evil kings. I mean I bet the hounds eat more than they do!
With this in mind she slung the black dragon dung rucksack on and went on her way. She had decided to run to help strengthen her legs. She knew that she would need the training, after all she might have to fight that very dragon. Also once she was gone, she would need to run as fast as she could to get Hikari a safe distance from wherever she was being kept.
She became so lost in her own thoughts that before she knew it was time to eat again. She was at the border of Lightlot and knew by nightfall she would be in Miémory. She knew that traveling between both of those kingdoms would be a breeze.
After then came the hard part, getting into Scorcher. No, she would have to think of a plan to get into Scorcher, however she knew that bridge should be crossed when she was close to the border, that way she would know exactly what she would be dealing with.
She then could feel her legs ache slightly and knew that she needed lunch. So she continued her training by doing a few sit ups and push ups. Then when she felt satisfied she ate half a sandwich and then she was off again.
She did not stop until the sun was down and set up camp again.She did even more push ups and sit ups before eating more of her sandwich.
She swung the rucksack under her head.
Then just as she placed her head on he bag she heard a wig snap behind her.
She slowly took out her crossbow and as silently as possible loaded it. Listening closely as she heard a second and when she felt sure enough she swung out the crossbow and aimed it at the source.
Her eyes met a boy a year or two younger than her in black armour with white eyes and short black hair with skin so pale that one could wonder whether or not it ever saw the light of day! He had dark shadows under his eyes and just as dark lips. Yet she could not help but notice that their eyes were similar.
Oh dart! A reaper.
This was what people of that land called someone from Mortmore.
"So, what's a reaper like you doing here?" She asked calmly.
"Dunno, what's a Hothead like you doing here?" He returned the question.
"Looking for someone. Now tell me, who are you and what are you doing here?" She said as she twitched the crossbow.
He sighed and sat opposite her and warmed his hand by the fire.
"I'm Prince Ryo Kizeru and I might as well tell you after all, what harm would it do? We will have what's rightfully ours soon enough. And none can stop the plan in place. Right now I'm on my way to see King Morin. I have to tell him that, this time, Miémory cannot stand on the sidelines. No, not this time." He said.
"And why is that?" She inquired, as her curiosity started to rise.
Maybe this will give me all that I need. After all, as long as he does not know who I am I can get all I need from him.
"Because, now, we have an ensured win. After all, my older half sister, who I never met, will soon inherit that land now that the brat's out of the way." He boasted.
"Half sister?"
What? How? Do we have the same mother? Now and why do we have the same mother. What's going on? I have to find out more.
"Yes, that Princess Cari, she's my older half sister on our mother's side. What didn't that fool King Alexander tell you? Well why wouldn't he? After all, we are the children of the Draganna. Yes, that Draganna, the Dragon Queen." He laughed.
He raised his hand.
"That is why we have an ensured win!"
Her eyes twitched as she tried to conceal her shock at all of this incunabulum. She could not help but feel overwhelmed by the utter disbelief.
She was not only a bastard but a half dragon? Then that should mean that she should have a worse curse than she got! After all, the gods had always cursed two types of people, one, bastards and the other, hybrids. With that in mind she realised something.
"Half dragon? Shouldn't you be cursed?" She asked.
Already knowing that if what he was saying was true then that should mean that they should have the same curse.
"Of course, dimwit! After all my eyes are white, every time I use my magic I get cut and every full moon I painfully transform into a dragon!" He exclaimed.
"I even have an X on my arm to mark me cursed!" He said, showing her.
She stopped her eyes from looking aside to stop herself from showing any signs of guilt of using this boy like this.
She did not want to give him any indication of who she was. She had to hide her utter shock too. She had to pass it off as mild shock, for if what he was saying was true, then why did she not turn into a dragon every full moon? What was it about her or him that spared her from this fate?
She started to store her bracelet.
"So, what would happen if the plan of putting Princess Cari on the throne fails?" She asked.
Ryo looked aside and his lip curled and his eyes stung of shame. His eyes were filled with anger and frustration. His breathing became deep and rapid.
"Then, when she comes of marital age my step-mother told me that I will have to marry that brat!" he growled.
She looked at him with nothing but anger.
"Yeah, I know. Shocking isn't it? A Reaper and a Hothead marrying. The idea repulses me! In fact I would do anything to avoid such a fate. In fact if I had it my way, I would much rather marry someone who I wanted." He shouted, wrapping his arms around himself.
She looked down.
"Yeah, so do I." She agreed suddenly, realizing that she had never even thought about who she was going to marry.
"Anyway, you go ahead and here!" She said, as she gave him a piece of her cake.
He took it with suspicion but took a bite and headed on his way, leaving, unbeknownst to him, his half-sister to think about a great many things, including what must be done after her half-sister is safely home.
She already knew and had made up her mind and knew exactly what she needed to do. She knew even-though none other than the people of her kingdom would like it. She knew that that had to be done. She let herself cry over the decision that she had made but then wiped her tears away before she closed her eyes.
The Quest Complete
After learning about the truth she knew better than to go to the king of Miémory so she traveled directly to the border of Scorcher. She did not dare stop. No, she did not dare to let herself miss out on her training. She knew that she had to get there as fast as she could, after all, it would only be only a matter of time until it was known that age was on this quest.
She soon looked at the high wall that looked like the edges of a dragon wing around the border. Now the question was, how was she going to get in? She knew that whatever she did, it was not going to be easy.
She looked around and spotted that there were several trees near the wall. She knew that was a good place that she could hide for a few days to look at the patterns of whenever they opened the doors. There she would be able to spot the best time and chance to enter the kingdom.
She ran over to them and jumped. She gripped a branch and climbed the tree.
She stayed there for several days. Carefully watching the people below. Studying everything that everyone did and said. She knew when people came and left. She did not leave the tree only for taking a dump and a tinkle.
She soon noticed that there was a cart filled with hay always at dawn and left by midday. She knew that was the only way in and she somehow had to get in that hay not only as quickly and silently as possible but as lightly as possible. She sat there on that third day thinking about how she could do this. She knew that she would have to get her timing right and train to do it.
"Hey!" Whispered a voice in her ear.
She jumped and flicked her dagger out and at the man in front of her. His face was hidden in the shadows.
He smiled and nudged it aside as if it was nothing.
"You're not a bounty hunter are you?" He asked, his voice deep and was thick with a royal accent.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him in suspicion.
"Relax kid! Name's Kir, bounty hunter and I can see that we have the same problem." he said with a slight, silent chuckle.
"I think that the hay's exactly what we need to get in." He whispered as he came closer.
"And how would you-" She asked, both cautious and curious.
"Oh, tomorrow see I've already tipped Jared off. He's the man that comes in and out. The one with the red hair and orange freckles, and I'm going to climb in and take my bounty." He said, as he came closer.
The sun rested upon him. This revealed his long black hair with a white fringe which was shorter at the front but longer at the side of his wolf-like amber eyes. His face was extraordinarily pale and handsome. With long and slender but masculine hands.
He looked down and he rested his back on a branch.
"Those are interesting eyes, white's such a rare colour." He said, as he took out a matchstick and started to suck it.
He smirked with a bitter irony that she did not care to know about.
"I could say the same about your hair." She remarked, trying not to make herself too vulnerable.
He looked at the white fringe and chuckled.
"Oh that! Trauma hair I'm afraid. Got it from a bounty I collected. I underestimated the opponent so it's my own fault." He said as he twisted the longer parts.
"Although, I was afraid when I got the cut I was afraid that the hair wouldn't grow back, but I was glad that it did but I was surprised that it was white. Which was a pleasant surprise." He added, with a pleasant smirk.
"Speaking of which, do you want me to get you in there for a coin or two?" He asked.
"Sure." She said as she flicked two at him.
He looked at them with genuine surprise and gratitude.
"Wow, I thought that you'd give me a few coppers but this-this is two emeralds. Just who are you?" He asked.
"Cari Lu-Elleitte." She said as she turned. "If I'm going to trust you to get in then I'm going to have to trust you with that."
"Wow! You're a real princess! A young one no doubt."
She let out a sigh.
I don't know if I'll get along with him. I better stop him from doing something embarrassing.
"I'm a-"
"I know! But a princess is a princess in my eyes. Plus I'm the last person to judge."
"What about you Kir? What's your story?"
"I used to be a prince but that life just didn't interest me." He said as he gave a bitter chuckle. "Guess I'm too much like my father in that regard. Don't know if that is a good thing though…"
"So you ran away and became a bounty hunter?"
He shrugged.
"Thought it would be fun." He mumbled, as he rested his head on the branch and closed his eyes and so did she.
They entered and parted ways in Scorcher and soon she was at the gates of Mortmore.
She remembered what Ryo had said and came to the conclusion that if what he had said was true then that would mean that she would be able to walk right in. She would be welcomed like an old friend.
Assuming that he did not recognise you right away.
Well if that is the case then this could be a trap but there was nothing that he had said that struck me as a lie. On top of that it explains everything after all, this would explain the way that the kingdom treated me and why my sister's alive.
So, I go through the front door?
I go through the front door.
She then walked right up to the gate where there was a guard walking right up to her. He was wearing the same armour that Ryo did but this did not have the same care put into it.
"Yo, who're you?" He asked.
"Why? Don't you recognise who I am?" She asked as she lifted her top revealing her big black x on her stomach.
His eyes widened as he bowed.
"I'm sorry Princess Cari. I'll show you to King Vladen right now." He said as they walked quickly to the castle.
She was given a room and she stayed there for a few hours until she was called.
She was taken to the main hall where King Vladen, who looked just like Ryo but with scarlet eyes and his frame was muscular and his skin was stern and ruddy due to the time in the sun with a scythe on his back.
His wife Queen Kirtanna sat next to him. She looked proud with black hair that rested on the floor with pantone green eyes. She was so thin in the face that she was able to see what her skull looked like and her lips were painted black and dark crimson on the upper lip. She was thin apart from the pregnant stomach.
"Well, how are you, sister of my son? Have you got my crown?" He asked, his voice reminded her of coals.
She sighed.
"Well, that depends, do you have my sister?" She asked.
She could see the deep frown on his forehead.
"Well I can't get it if I don't have a little insurance. The people need a little persuasion."
He smirked and nodded.
"I can have her executed tonight if that's what you want."
She shook her head.
"I want her brought here now, I can't trust your executions. Plus, there's just something that, doing the killing myself, that I kind of like." She lied.
He smiled and nodded.
"Bring her!" He said, as some of the soldiers went to get her.
"I'm surprised that you're here and how did you know the truth?"
"Oh, I prefer to do things myself. I can't trust anybody else and I met someone along the way." She half lied.
Soon she heard the clanging of chains. She had to take a breath to mentally prepare herself for what age was about to see.
She, when she knew that she was ready, turned her head to see her sister. Her blond hair was faded and tangled and her eyes were almost dead and she was in rags. She was thin but she looked strong enough to walk around.
"Car-Cari?" She asked.
She gave her a hard look and placed her hand on her dagger and walked right up to her she drew it out and wrapped her arms tightly around her and she closed her eyes. Before anyone could do anything she willed herself away from Mortmore. When she opened them again she found that she was in Scorcher. Her arm split open and a trickle of blood dripped down.
"I'm sorry I had to do that. I'll explain when we get home."
"Cari what's going on? Why did he-"
She placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her dead in her eyes. As the back of her hand cut in the center.
"I need to tell when we get home and not a moment sooner."
She nodded.
"Cari, I can't tell you how it's good to see you. I can't put into words just how much I've missed you." She admitted, as she hugged herself again.
They then heard a loud roar that sounded like the loudest trumpet that they had ever heard! They turned to see a gigantic, thin purple dragon with scales that shone like new amour. She looked down at then to reveal glowing green eyes with a crown of silver horns and talons. She had large bat-like wings that were the size of a long tree.
"That's her-" Hikari whispered. "That's the dragon!"
Cari looked at her and her intuition told her that this was Draganna, her mother. She felt some instinctive respect and awe for her. She had always wondered about this elusive figure called her mother and she could never imagine that this was her. She felt like she wanted to kneel and bow in front of her. She did not even want to call her mother but Your Majesty.
She had to shake off her overwhelming emotions and took out her crossbow. Her trembling finger rested on the trigger. Her face became paler than snow. Her breath became shallow and rapid. Her eyes wide. Her heart beating like a drum. She fired before her mind was allowed to comprehend.
The dragon deflected it like a small mosquito, then again, that was exactly what it was to this creature in front of her. She turned her head to her and dived right at the two her wings snapped the sound barrier as they beat the air. When she slowed herself to land, their hair was pulled back and they had to get down low to stop themselves from flying away by the force of the wind.
"Now, Cari, is that how I treat your mother?" She asked, her voice was loud but smooth and lyrical. Almost trustworthy and regal.
"Mother?" Hikari shouted, covering her mouth in disbelief.
"No, that's how I treat the one who kidnapped my sister!" She shouted, her voice bailey audible.
Then she landed and the ground shook beneath them making them lose balance and they hit their shoulders on the ground below
"So, little Alex told you?" She asked with an echo of a laugh.
"No, Ryo did." She said as she rose to her feet and pulled back another arrow and gave her bag to her sister who put it on.
She then pointed at her.
"And that woman, his wife, was more of a mother to me than you ever were."
She then let the arrow go and the dragon opened her mouth and when she drew her fire breath the arrow caught fire. Cari smiled as the arrow flew into the mouth of the dragon and into her stomach. She then fired another at the fire lit arrow and this. This fell into her stomach. Knowing the acid was flammable, she had her path clear.
She fired another arrow at the arrows already in the gut. She fired shot after shot at the stomach. Then she led out a blast of fire. Cari dogged out of the way and then willed the fire to arch over light the tips of her arrows.
She then looked up and spotted another set of fire balls at her. She jumped out of the way again and again and again, firing shot after shot at the stomach. Then the arrows all became inflamed and spread inwards. Which was set alight the stomach acid and turned her digestive system into a roaring blue fire.
The flames came out of both ends of her and Cari raised her now less trembling finger and fired on her exposed stomach and fired again and her the point of her arrow reached the stomach organ setting the rest of the arrows alight and now it was burning away the stomach, along with the womb that her and Ryo developed in.
The dragon roared which deafened them.
Both mother and daughter looked at each-other with a cold look with soldering fire in them and the dragon's eyes glowed crimson and soon became a large pile of ash.
Cari fell and her body became black and hard and from her sides grew black hair and she felt her body get smaller and smaller. She tried to move her arms and legs but they could not move!
Then her sister ran to her and picked her up gently. Her eyes wide with shock and soon broke into tears as she pressed her sister up into her chest.
"I don't know what had just happened, but I'm going back and I swear that I'm going to find a way to reverse this!" She cried as her single tear fell on a single black feather like a raven's.
The Princes Heart
Hikari cried as she caressed the black feather in her hands barely understanding what was going on. However, what she did understand was that her sister had come to rescue her. The next thing that she understood was that the dragon that had kidnapped her had used magic to turn her sister into a feather.
She knew had to get out of Scorcher and get out of Scorcher fast.
She got to her feet and used the core to put her tangled hair up. She then ran away from the heat of the lava and into a forest with orange bark and crimson leaves and yellow grass.
She then spotted a shadow in the distance. Quickly, she climbed the tree near her. She looked at him waiting patiently for him to come and pass. Then she saw his white eyes and black hair and black lips and his skull-like face. Her eyes widened in fear as she saw the boy that had done nothing but hurt her for the past year. Yet she could not notice that his eyes were like her sister's.
That was when she spotted something the colour of hey in the top half of her sight. She looked up wondering why there were several thin stands of hey was they. Only for her to see that it was hair! She raised her fingers and suddenly realised that it was her hair! That meant that...Her eyes darted to see that her feather was at the base of the tree and in Ryo Kizaru's hands!
She gulped as she stayed there. She could hear the pounding of her heart, painfully in her head. She felt herself start to sweat and tremble as she knew that she could do nothing but start there, watching him.
She waited there hoping that he would put her down and move on. He then smiled a smile that she never knew he could, pitiful one. He looked at the feather and stroked the centre. He looked as if he had sorrow in his eyes. Almost like he was breaking inside.
"Oh, I see that you're trapped too. It's alright...I can do something about that." He said as placed his hands on the feather like two pieces of bread of a sandwich.
He closed his eyes and his pupils became cat-like and the iris expanded and became purple. Her eyes widened as she remembered that this was the way her sister's eyes became whenever she was using magic. Then purple expanded from the core and completely eclipsed the rest of the feather.
Then his hands parted and wind pressure flew away from the feather and was soon shining. She had to look away as the light became too bright to look at without blinding her. Then, when the light died down she looked down she, saw that her sister was back.
Her eyes widened in shock and confusion.
Why would he do that? Why would he help my sister? What is he up to? Does he know that I'm here? Could it be that he is …nice? She wondered.
"Aahh!" She heard him shout.
She looked down, alarmed, to see that his arm spontaneously parted and his blood squirted from his vanes! She quickly dropped and took out her water skin and poured it over the wound.
"You! How-" He spat, confused as he pulled back but she gripped harder.
She pulled out some rags from the bag. She quickly wrapped it around and tied it.
"You're like Cari." She said as she pointed back.
He looked back. His face was paler than she thought it could go. His lips pressed together as dread entered his now white eyes.
"That's Cari?" He asked, barely using his voice.
"Yeah, and she was the one who rescued me. Although it was odd...it seemed as if the king had welcomed her...But then she killed that dragon that kidnapped me." She explained as nothing but horror entered his face.
"She turned her into a feather so, thank you." She turned to see that he was fleeing off to Mortmore.
She was about to follow but a hand wrapped around her wrist. She looked down to see her sister shaking her head.
"Cari?"
"We don't need to concern ourselves with him."
"But he's like you! He saved you!"
"I'll tell you all about it when we're back home."
They both looked on as Ryo Kizeru became a speck in the distance.
The Exile
Hikari looked at Cari, finding it difficult to read her face as they walked away from Scorcher. She seemed distant, the way that she was when she was in deep thought. She had known better than to interrupt her while her sister was like this, but she could not help but feel uneasy. She seemed paler than usual. She seemed to be colder too. Hikari wanted to ask why but she didn't want to interrupt her sister's thoughts.
The trip back seemed to be going faster than Cari remembered and they were in Miémory by nightfall. This gave Cari time, time to think about what she had learnt and what she had to do because of it. She knew that she no longer belonged in Fireheart and knew what she would have to do even-though neither she nor Hikari would like it. In fact she could feel her heart sinking as she looked at her sister.
She then closed her eyes and let her mind sink into dream. In her dream she found that she was sitting with a ripped up tapestry surrounding her and a scarlet thread in her hands. She then spotted a thin bony hand with scars and hardened fingers and palms. In the fingers was a needle. She reached out and picked up two pieces with a red background with Ryo and Hikari on.
She then stitched them both together. She then walked to other pieces with all of the five Kings of the Kingdom Isles and stitched them together. She then came to five dragons, one purple, one red, one black, one white and the last was green. She then stitched them together beneath her and Ryo. This, she knew, was now the complete tapestry.
Then her needle turned into an arrow and crossbow and she saw masks of all of the gods of the planet of Merth and the rest of the universe and she raised her crossbow to them and fired. They all smashed revealing demons behind them.
She then found that she was in a dungeon and she found that there was a key in her hand and she walked to the door and she turned. She then was greeted by a light and then her sister's face. She wiped her eyes as she frowned slightly. She wondered what that was all about, but that light...She wanted to see that light again.
They all packed their things and ate their breakfast as they walked and crossed Lightlot. Then when the sun was down the door bridge dropped and they walked in. They were greeted by their father who embraced the two girls.
Cari then pulled away as if she had something to say but she shook her head. They then were brought in and started celebrating. All the cooks put on their best food and it seemed that all tension and anger broke into joy and laughter. Hikari noticed that Cari was distant and did not eat as much as she usually would. She looked over at her father who looked at her almost as if he understood what was going through in her mind.
When the celebrations were almost over King Alexander rose to his feet.
"Greetings all!" He boomed, his voice carried all the way in the hall.
"We are here to celebrate the return of my daughters and to congratulate Princess Cari on completing her quest." He said as he raised his goblet and as did the rest. "To Princess Cari!"
"To Princess Cari!" They all roared.
Cari looked away; she did not want to allow herself to enjoy this moment. This was the first time her kingdom had shown any acceptance towards her but at the same time kept a steel look in her eyes. She closed them in dread as she rose.
"Thank you, however I am undeserving of either your praise or being called your daughter. See I was born as part of a conspiracy to deliver the Kingdom of Fireheart to her enemies. My mother, which, on my quest I found out was a dragon, the dragon that not only stole Princess Hikari but killed her mother in order to put me on the throne and if that was to fail then they would have forced Princess Hikari to marry the dragon's other child, Prince Ryo Kizeru, by younger half-brother." She explained. "So as long as I live, there will always be the possibility that I will be used, somehow against you, thus I feel that-that the best thing for all of the Kingdom of Fireheart is to have me executed."
King Alexander closed his eyes and let out a sigh, almost as if he had been expecting this. He placed a stern and firm hand upon her shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me this, however I can never bring myself to kill you. You are my daughter but I understand and know why you are doing this and I have to admit that I have known about this for quite some time now. I knew that I was a fool to think that I could hide it from you so I will not execute you so I hereby strip you of your place here, and even-though you will always be my daughter and I will always love you. I know that I must send you into exile and from this moment on you shall call yourself as Cari and Cari alone and if I should send for you then you must come, do you understand?"
She nodded. She felt her lower lip tremble slightly as she could feel her year welling up.
"I will leave right away, Your Majesty."
She went to bow, but he stopped her.
"Father, I want you to call me father."
"Y-yes father."
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