Fated (Chapter Fifty-Six)
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mindcrackloveChapter list: http://tanadin.dreamwidth.org/382.html
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Character status spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet
Chapter Fifty-Six
Sunspire, Minecraftia. November 1, year 573. Time instance 483Z.
Adrian’s eyes slowly slid open and the first thing he heard was Iirkolav’s voice, followed by Nia’s, and rage blossomed in him. He had woken up in a bad mood and as he sat up, he was immediately snarling. “You’re an asshole.” He jabbed a finger at Iirkolav, green eyes narrowed accusingly.
Iirkolav shrugged. “Guilty as charged. What did I do this time?”
“You forced that potion into me. You know I hate going monstrous. I could have killed somebody!”
“No.” Iirkolav told him. “I was watching you the entire time. I was ready to redirect you or knock you out if needed. And I was right in that some of your human mind is still there when you transform due to the potion- not a lot, though. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Adrian got up and stormed out of the treehouse, ignoring Nia trying to convince him to stay and calm down.
No. He wouldn’t calm down. He was pissed as hell and wanted to punch someone, specifically Iirkolav, and specifically in his stupid scarred face.
He growled low in his throat and eventually leaned his forehead against a tree, shutting his eyes and breathing heavily, trying to purge the memories of his transformation from his mind.
You killed a Hostile. You’ve got that going for you, right? You did something right.
Somehow, the thought didn’t comfort him that much.
He felt someone touch his arm and almost jumped out of his skin, but it was only Niel, smiling slightly at him.
“Hey! You’re up.” Niel’s expression faded when he noticed how tortured Adrian looked. “What’s wrong?”
Adrian quickly reset his features. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Niel crossed his arms. “You’re not fine. What’s wrong?”
Adrian wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“Adrian.” Niel moved back into his sight, locking their gazes together. “Something’s going on. What’s wrong? I can’t help if I don’t know.”
“You can’t help at all.” Adrian mumbled, voice growing quieter as he looked into the determined eyes of his friend.
“Maybe I can.” Niel said, standing on his tiptoes to try to get eye-level with the Davion. “Is it something about your monstrous form?”
Adrian sighed. “Yeah, it…it is.”
“What happened?”
Adrian’s eyes slid away from Niel’s, but a quiet growl from the ninja drew them back. Adrian looked at him, slightly worried and confused. He’d never heard a sound like that from his friend before. Now that he thought about it, Niel had been more confident and outgoing lately, but he couldn’t place why.
More like who he wanted to be.
Adrian took a deep breath and began to talk, telling Niel about the battle and how he had almost died (and how he almost wished he had), how Iirkolav had forced him to take the potion, and the carnage that ensued after. He didn’t notice the tears streaming down his face like the blood had streamed from his enemies until Niel stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him, letting Adrian drag them both to the jungle floor as he practically fell, sitting.
Adrian hugged his friend tightly and buried his face in his shoulder, shaking from the scenes that would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his life.
“I’m n-not like the others.” He sobbed. “I’m not like Shred, I’m not like Nia…I c-can’t go into battle and j-just shrug it off, it’s not something that just happens in life…Niel, that was horrible out there, I’m so, so glad you didn’t go, please never go, I can’t…I can’t let you take that, I can’t risk losing you to that…” His words grew more and more incoherent and his arms moved tighter and tighter around Niel, so much that they hurt the smaller boy’s chest but he didn’t mention it, didn’t really feel it.
He just held his scarred friend, who seemed whole on the outside but was drowning in blood and tears in his mind.
~~~
Tarsen sat numbly by the stone he had carved with the tools he had borrowed from a Sunspine. He read the name, over and over, but he still couldn’t quiet bring himself to believe that Aldobiva was gone.
They should be together, he thought as he ignored the footsteps behind him. Aldobiva and Vorna. But there was no body for Vorna, was there? Just a scream and some mud.
A shiver ran down Tarsen’s spine, which was echoed by the person behind him. They moved to sit beside him and he glanced to his right, not too surprised to see that it was Samuel.
“How are you holding up?” Samuel asked quietly.
Tarsen just shook his head, looking back at the gravestone. “I don’t know.” He confessed after several seconds. Eventually his eyes drifted to Samuel and he stood up with a sudden energy, his friend not far behind with confusion written across his face.
Tarsen reached forward and seized Samuel’s hands tightly, looking into his friend’s eyes. “Two of the four dead were friends of mine. I’ve lost two of my only friends but I won’t lose another. I won’t lose you. I promise, okay? I promise I won’t let you die. I won’t let that happen. I can’t let that happen. You, Tim, Tranpar…all three of you are my family now, but you especially.” He moved his hands to Samuel’s shoulders, shaking him a little. “I won’t lose you.” He repeated. “You’re not allowed to die on me, got it?”
Samuel nodded. “Only if you promise not to do anything stupid and get yourself killed.”
A mischievous grin broke out across Tarsen’s face. “Me? Stupid? Never.”
Samuel shook his head, laughing, and pulled Tarsen in for a hug. “I’ll be fine, okay?”
Tarsen nodded slightly, hugging him tightly. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Bound as brothers until the end of time.
Shred stepped backwards into the jungle, feeling like an intruder despite Samuel asking her to come along. She left the two alone, Mira close behind her. She reflected quietly to herself that perhaps Tarsen wasn’t as much of a trashbag as she had originally thought.
~~~
Iirkolav awoke the next morning to the shouting of Skullblades and the roar of a dragon.
“Sheathe your weapons! I am here to assist those of the prophecy!”
Iirkolav quickly clanked out of the treehouse and swung down to the ground via a rope, scrambling to get to where the voices were coming from.
He charged into the clearing just as a familiar red dragon landed. He was far larger than Iirkolav remembered, and definitely looked older, but the way he held himself and looked around…
“Mokdal!”
The dragon’s head swung towards Iirkolav and his eyes widened, wings flaring. “It can’t be…Iirkolav?!”
Iirkolav grinned, exposing his sharp teeth. “One of two.”
“I saw you die!” Mokdal protested. “And it’s been two hundred years! Your kind doesn’t live that long, do they?”
“Nope. Let’s just say Norazdomu had a hand in it. What about you, though, huh? You’re fucking huge, and speaking a language other than Dranonic!”
Two centuries can change anyone.
Mokdal blinked and nodded. “I’ve been learning your tongue over the past two centuries in case it was needed again. It seems that it was.”
“What are you doing here? It must have been idiotically dangerous to leave the Dragonlands, especially at a time like this.”
“The stars spoke to a young cosmic dragon, sending me to assist the descendants. I learned they were in Sunspire and set out immediately.” His head swung around, searching amongst the gathered people but only seeing Sunspines. “I assume they’re around here?”
“Yes. Many of them are still sleeping, but if you land in the larger clearing to the west, I can gather them up to meet you.”
Mokdal nodded once more, spreading his wings. “Tell the Skullblades not to shoot me, will you? I prefer having my hide intact.” With that, he took off, the wind of his passage buffeting Iirkolav with the leaves it raised.
-~-
“Mokdal.” Vechs mumbled thoughtfully. “I wasn’t sure if we’d ever see him again.”
“Great. My favorite dragon.” Blame said sarcastically. “He didn’t like me very much.”
“You did kind of slice off his claw.”
“Look, you’re the one who attacked him first.” Blame rolled his eyes. “What even happened to that claw, anyway? I didn’t keep track of it.”
He watched Vechs reach for a pocket in his toolbelt, and his eyes widened as he withdrew the claw. “No way. You still have that thing?”
Vechs nodded, carefully looking it over. “It’s a useful item. You never know when you’ll need a dragon claw.”
“It’s been two fucking centuries!”
“You still have your swords after two centuries.” Vechs countered.
Blame couldn’t think of an argument against that.
-~-
The first words out of Mokdal’s mouth when the descendants (plus Iirkolav, Ragebent Blade, and Fatewriter) approached were addressed to Shred.
“You smell like the skeleton man.”
“Well, I am a Skullblade, so.” She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Which skeleton man do you mean?”
“The one called Blame the Controller.”
“My ancestor. Right. That would make sense.”
Mokdal surveyed the group gathered before him (even Axid had healed enough, between the salve and the potions, to walk, but her movements were stiff and pained. Onai held her hand) and snorted his satisfaction. “This is a very different group than the last I saw gathered to fight the Hostiles.” He shuffled his wings. “But you are more and less capable in different ways. Let’s hope it’s enough.” He looked over at Iirkolav. “We do have a plan, yes?”
“Yes.” Iirkolav cleared his throat, looking over the group. “In case you hadn’t heard yet, Vallor’roth spoke to Fatewriter, telling us that there is a threat in the north as well as the south- a few of the Hostiles are attempting to get the Heart of Pain from Kaepravah, Iilthrid’s eldest daughter. If they obtain that, we’re completely and totally fucked, forever, until the end of time. But in the south, the Hostiles still have control of Kalt’on, and it’s best to strike now while they regroup and kill as many as possible. So, we’re obviously doing the smart thing and splitting our forces.”
Protests immediately sprang up, but Iirkolav raised his damaged hand to quiet them. “Does anyone else have any other suggestions for taking out both threats at once?”
Silence.
“Then that’s the plan. Both missions are dangerous, but of the two, the northern mission is safer. Those who can’t fight as well will go north, with a few capable fighters, to convince Kaepravah to send the Hostiles packing. You aren’t to try and kill the Hostiles, got it? You’ll get your asses handed to you. Meanwhile, the southern group will consist of everyone else, and our job is to fuck up the Hostiles.”
“I will go south.” Mokdal rumbled. “You will need a dragon with you, and I’m practiced at avoiding human anti-dragon weaponry.”
The groups were quickly formed, with only a few issues arising in the process.
Every large group has its difficulties.
Valkan downright refused to go south, despite his abilities in combat, without his brother. It was clear, however, that Trymdas would die almost immediately if he were to head into Kalt’on. Reluctantly, Valkan agreed to go north, although he was clearly unhappy about it.
Also unhappy about the northern mission was Shred.
“I’m one of your best fighters!” She protested. “I have to go south!”
“What about Mira?” Iirkolav growled. “Will you leave her somewhere while you go to Kalt’on? Or will you bring a defenseless dragon hatchling into the heart of enemy territory?”
Mokdal snarled. “I will not allow the valk’vanor into that desert.”
“I…I mean…” Shred fumbled for an argument, but she knew she was beaten. She sighed and trudged back to lean on a tree moodily.
In the end, the groups were decided, with the larger group going to the south where the greater danger waited.
Nia, Nessy, Zekara, Claire, Nak, Iirkolav, Onai, Axid, Zel, Marcus, Mokdal, Katrin, Mitven, Blade, and Fate were to travel to Kalt’on to destroy as many Hostiles as possible and drive out the others, while Shred, Tarsen, Samuel, Tranpar, Valkan, Trymdas, Tim, Adrian (who refused to go south despite his abilities in battle), Niel, Baltbee, and Xullos were to head to the north to locate Kaepravah. Fate gave them a few details that Vallor’roth had shared with her for locating the daughter of Iilthrid, but apologized as it wasn’t much.
Kaepravah was as elusive as she was powerful.
With that, the group split to pack their things and prepare, for at dawn on the third, they would depart.
But in their hearts, every one of them knew that the group would never totally reunite. It would never be whole once it divided.
Then again, it never had truly been whole.
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Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 03:23 am (UTC)G.C. (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
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Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 05:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 08:49 pm (UTC)But wow. You took that...a lot deeper than I meant it.
I like it. ^^
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Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 06:50 am (UTC)-the lurkiest lurker
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Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 06:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 08:56 am (UTC)I'm still pretty sure I missed something . . .
-Anon Cami
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Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 03:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 10:30 pm (UTC)-Anon Cami
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Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 02:22 pm (UTC)(I wasn't a huge fan of Adriel before, but this chapter may have changed my mind. Even if it's just a friendship it's adorable.)
(::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::) (::)
-the lurkiest lurker
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Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 11:43 pm (UTC)Hooray for reunions and alas alack for partings. (::)(::)(::)(::)
- Scara
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Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 03:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 07:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 09:58 pm (UTC)- Scara
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Date: Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 11:22 pm (UTC)-darkangel4182
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Date: Thursday, November 26th, 2015 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, November 26th, 2015 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, November 26th, 2015 04:55 pm (UTC)dammit editor XD
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Date: Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015 12:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, April 22nd, 2016 01:49 am (UTC)-deathbysandblk (on mobile)