Once Forgotten 3.5

AU: Ok, so here I am, and I'm back! I wasn't going to post this just yet, but let's just say that a certain someone managed to persuade me to go ahead and post. So, here it is!
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A girl tread purposefully through the Nether forest. Behind her, two great wings were furled slightly, wings of a dragon. Beside her strode the Maladorn, his massive paws making no sound upon the ground.

“You’re sure that this is where he’ll be?” The girl asked, her voice quivering slightly.

“Of course I’m sure! Unlike you lot, I always trusted him!” The Great Creature answered, taking the lead slightly.

The girl flinched at the harshness of his words. “How were we supposed to know? He rarely paid any of us attention!”

The Maladorn whirled on her with a menacing growl. “Is that what you think? Don’t you remember anything? Don’t you remember what he did for all of our sake?!”

Arayinda hung her head, hiding her sapphire eyes that glinted with silver. “I try not to remember that time.”

“If he hadn’t done what he did, we wouldn’t be here, my sister.” Mandar said softly.

She looked up at him. “Yes, I realize that now. But I don’t understand one thing.” Mandar cocked his head. “Why can’t he rescue Helix?”

“There are several reasons for that. Which ones would you like to know?” Nadarin asked, stepping from behind a tree, caressing the trunk fondly.

His brother and sister bowed their heads to him, a gesture he returned. Arayinda brushed her hair over her shoulder. “All of them.” She said with narrow eyes and a clenched jaw.

“First, when Ariadni sealed Helix, I was nowhere near full strength. Second, it would have destroyed what little Balance was left. Thirdly, I had no other choice but to flee Alphairria.” Nadarin replied.

Her eyes widened. “You…you…dispersed yourself?!”

Nadarin thought it over for a moment before giving her an answer. “I suppose that’s the only real way of explaining it. I remember feeling myself shattering, and the pain that was almost too unbearable. Yet I had to; Ariadni was…lost.”

His sister shook her head. “And I suppose Amari forgave you?”

“Amari has always had an uncanny understanding of things, despite being the youngest. I didn’t even bother apologizing, because I knew what she would say. ‘There is nothing to forgive’.” Nadarin couldn’t help but smile.

Arayinda pushed her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “Our sister always was a pacifist.” She glanced at Mandar, who gave her a perceptible nod. She glanced around, seemingly on edge. “My own role has become strained, Nadarin.”

Her brother sighed and turned away for a moment. “I was wondering if you could feel it yet. Despite all that I’m doing, the Balance is still shifting.”

Her eyes lit up with hope. “So you can sense it again?” He gave a nod. “Yet I believe I can shed some light onto this. You’re facing a Nostraeli…”

“Yes, I know. The Mauler has begun to feed off of the lingering essences of defeated M’rachtkenta, as well as anything else. Men, demons, creatures, it all doesn’t matter. Anything to satiate his all consuming hunger. I thought we had seen the last two long ago.” Nadarin said.

“No, Nadarin, no! The Mauler…he has become worse than any Nostraeli we’ve ever seen! The stench of him is the same stench as our Father himself! And we have another problem. I’m sure that you are aware of Flarris?” She asked.

Nadarin gave another nod. “Flamian’s other self. A creature born from a shattered soul.”

“Flarris holds more hatred than Zxypher. Zxypher, at least, only bears hatred to us, the Alphairrians. The Children of The Mother. Her hatred for us is why she seeks to destroy Thyninairinn. But Flarris…he hates all life. Everything. Alphairrian, M’rachtkentan, M’rachtkenta.” Arayinda said, her voice filled with worry.

“Flamian nearly killed himself to contain that monster; if he is released again, I fear we will have no choice but to interfere.” Mandar added.

“Flamian is growing weaker. He is getting more and more strained, and soon, he will break. A draigon he may be, but he is still a mortal.” Arayinda said.

“The Balance is far too delicate for us to take any unnecessary risks. Flamian has yet to draw upon the strength I gave him. The same strength I gave to each of those I chose. But it may not be enough.” Nadarin said, his eyes surveying his two brethren. “Regardless, I must proceed forward. I have worked too long now to turn back.”

Mandar nodded. “Indeed. If we turn back now, the Great Demon will be released.”

Nadarin frowned. “You know it’s best not to speak of him. I imagine he’s managed to regain some strength from the Imbalance.”

His sister nodded. “What do you want us to do?”

“What you always have done. Listen to the Song of Our Mother. Try to keep the Balance as much as possible.” Nadarin replied.

Arayinda hesitated, a question on her lips. “Ariadni…she’s like you, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is. And she is finally beginning to awaken to it. Just as I am most like Our Father, as he should be, as he once was, Ariadni is most like Our Mother.” Nadarin answered.

Mandar turned to leave, but he paused. “The boy, he has Awakened, hasn’t he?”

Nadarin smiled. “Indeed he has. Our Mother’s prophecy is at last coming about. Though how it will all end, even I do not know. But I believe that Mother knows best.”

The Maladorn looked down then back up. “What part will he play in all this?”

“He will take my place in this world.” Nadarin said, his face going neutral. “It is a road none dare to travel, but he will not be alone. He will always have a companion.” He turned around, and found himself alone. Nodding, he glanced up into the canopy of trees above him. Sunlight was still filtering through.
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Kaylandra paced about her hall, a scout bowed before the dais. The throne room was extravagant, but not luxurious. Its extravagance was only to acknowledge the royalty of the queen. Beyond that, it was little different from any other room. She turned to him. “You are sure of this?”

“Upon my honor, My Queen. Not only has Calima declared war upon Salcar, a very ancient ally of ours, but Dalgra has also shown signs of military action. Except, they have not made any movements outside their border. But I fear that they are preparing for something.” The scout answered.

“That will be all. You are dismissed.” The scout stood and saluted, a fist to his heart with spread wings, and left.

“It would appear that things are indeed far graver than we thought.” A young draigonesse said, entering from a side door.

Kaylandra turned to her with affection. “Amaryll! I did not realize that you had returned!” She embraced the girl warmly. “How was your peregrination?”

“It was so much fun! It’s no wonder Flamian always wanted to wander off. The Southern Continents are incredibly well cultured. And they are very accepting. Of course, I tried my best to keep a low profile, but there are criminals in every city.” She answered with a wry smile.

Kaylandra chuckled. “You are so much like our brother. I hope there wasn’t too much bloodshed.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Oh please! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to remove bloodstains? And besides, the Cleaners’s potions always make the cloth weaker. So I used fire.” She smiled.

The Queen shook her head. “I’m beginning to realize just how right Flamian is. Fire does run in our family.”

Amaryll laughed. “How else do you think we rose to the monarchy?”

“True.” She sighed. “And now there is talk of more war. Haven’t we had enough of it? We finally manage to put down that Traitor, reestablish our ties with the wolves, and now this!”

“The end is in sight. It may seem like Darkness is seeping in more and more, and it is. But so is Light.” Amaryll said. The Queen turned to her, her eyes wide.

“You’ve had another vision!” She exclaimed.

Her sister nodded. “Yes, but it is a most puzzling one. There is a war coming.”

Kaylandra scoffed. “I know that. Calima attacking Salcar, our long-standing allies. Dalgra making military preparations. War is inevitable it seems.”

“No, Kaylandra, no. I am not speaking of a war amongst mortal races.” Amaryll said softly. She turned away and stared out one of the windows. “The war I saw is far worse than any war that has been fought within this Realm. The Demons will break into our Realm. There is no stopping it.”

The young queen stumbled and sunk into her throne. The blood drained from her face, her wings drooping. “So Kadrin was right.”

“More right than any of us knew. Gainatharinisidious will lead the rest of the M’rachtkenta and the demons into our Realm. They seek the door to Alphairria. The door that Nadarin made.” Amaryll continued, her eyes focused on things she could not see. “Yet they will also come to wreak havoc and vengeance upon us. We who were born Impure yet rose to fight for The Mother. They will come in great numbers, and with a weapon unlike anything ever seen before. However…”

“What is it?” Kaylandra asked, coming up beside her. “What else do you see?”

“We have but one hope. To restore Balance and ensure the Demons’ defeat, the Great Tower must once again be lit. What once was done for the good of all must now be undone. The Mistake of the Aldinairri must be corrected; The Great Wrong Righted….” Her eyes clouded over.

“A Fledgling young shall fly beyond; a Warrior shall live to Life.
An Old Soul shall bar the Darke; the Tower be uncovered.
The Fallen Ancients shall soon break free, their vengeance to unleash;
An angel tortured hinders their way.
The Gyckma shall be freed once more, to shine again unhindered,
And the War shall be renewed...”

She shook her head, and her eyes cleared. She turned back to her sister. “Goodness! It seems like I’m always going on about something.” Her smiled faltered at the look on the queen’s face. “What did I say? Was it important?”

Kaylandra quickly hid her worry and smiled. “Oh, don’t go fretting yourself. Go on, off with you! I shall you again at supper. You must be tired after your trip. Go on, off with you!” Her sister left with a smile. The queen paced about her throne, before slowly sinking onto it. “The War shall be renewed…”