[6 months]
Richard was in a meeting, with the ministers and as usually he didn't showed any interest in their words.
"Your Majesty we know your still mourning the disappearing of Queen Yumaria but it has been six months isn't it out about time…"
"What are you insinuating…"
Richard looked cold and murderess, it was the same look he had before Marika came to the world.
Dantis also noticed Richard was set back to the time before Marika came to this world and a few years after his father passed away.
Marika's absences had affected him greatly, he hardly interacted with people, and the visit's to his children and grandchildren started to decline also. Dantis was starting to worry about him.
"Well Your Majesty we are worried for you, because you'll be turning 28 soon and…"
"Just because I'm turning 28 and not married you are afraid that I would not have an heir to inherit the throne."
"Well that's one of the reasons."
"No that's your only reason."
*knock, knock*
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty your son Khai is here and he wishes to speak to you, it's urgent."
"Let him in."
Khai came in to the room and notice his father's aura, and it was exactly what his mother feared it would become.
Everybody looked at Khai and noticed that he looked a lot like Richard when he was 16 years old, one could easily think he was his biological son instead of adopted son.
"Father I think you should calm down a little."
"Do you have any news concerning your mother?"
"Yes I have but… if mom was able to see you like this then she would probably give you an ear full."
"But since she already knows what's going on with you she had a message for you."
"My dear husband, when I get back be prepared to get beaten up pretty bad, I don't mind you being cold to the whole word, but neglecting our children… I won't forgive you."
"How do you know she is even alive?" one of the ministers asked Khai.
Khai smirked and had a cold look on his face that also resemble Richard current look.
"Because my mother carries half of my soul, if she would be dead I would suffer a shock that would put me in a coma for the rest of my life."
"And what would happen if you were to die?"
Richard heard the words and knew that they were fishing for any information to prevent Marika from returning, or create discord and anger her to the point she would leave him in the end.
"If I were to die…let's just say all hell would break loose and mom won't even spare dad, so you better get the idea for assassinating me out of your head right now. Oh and the same goes for my all my brothers and sisters, touch us or kill us and this kingdom will stop exciting the moment she comes back and find out."
Al the ministers were silent and looked pail.
Khai walked up to Richard and whispered something to him.
"Alright inform Arthur to start and prep for what's to come."
Khai nodded and hugged his father "Dad please come and visit us soon, we know that we your children remind you of her and your happy times with her, but we miss you."
"I know son, and I'm sorry too, I have been a worthless father to you kids, I'll come and visit you guys in a few days, I promise."
Khai patted Richard on the head, like Marika would do.
Richard smiled, and felt like Marika was there for a moment.
[Cave under Alta Rubra]
Marika and everybody else were preparing for the big escape.
Luckily for Marika all the adults were able to fly, only the children and adolescent who hadn't achieved the last stage were unable to.
So Marika told them to make big baskets and carry the children that way up to the surface.
When they were all done Marika told them to evacuate the shafts again.
"Why do we need to evacuate?"
'Well… I lived with only half of my magic for 5 years and was very unstable. I only recently got it back, but I can't control it well.'
'And my safety measures that would keep a damper on it is up there so…'
Callan handed her sword and pointed to where they would be and Liro pointed in which direction she should let out the her force.
'Sure thing.'
But before she could do anything Marika dropped her sword and fell through her knees.
"Guardian what's wrong?"
'How much time before we hit the year mark up there?'
"An hour…"
Marika started to panic and transformed in to a dragon and flew up to the barrier and rammed it a few times as hard as she could.
This sended out an earthquake throughout Cruentus.
Marika landed again and said they need to hurry because she was one month away from losing her husband to a bitch called Alice from the Astrum Clan.
Callan heard that name fall and said "Are you sure?"
'Yes I'm sure I met her and crippled her wings almost a year ago because she dare to touch my husband and claimed my husband as her future husband in front of me.'
Marika picked up her sword and start to concentrate on the crystal.
She placed two well placed swings on the crystal and with the force and the energy she put in the crystals was overloaded and couldn't handle the stress.
Everybody heard it shatter and Marika was leaning on her sword panting because she reduced her energy by three quarters.
Gale was the first one who went up to Marika because the aura and energy he sensed before was a lot weaker than before.
"Guardian!"
Marika flicked his fore head, 'Marika or Yumaria.'
"But…"
Marika had a tired look on her face but still smiled 'You and your brother are so alike, always worrying about etiquette's.'
Marika was still panting and took a pouch from her pocked and took a pill.
"What are those?"
'This will restore my energy in matter of minutes. You think I came unprepared?'
Gale shook his head.
Marika was still panting and Khai started to communicate to her.
"Mommy you need to hurry daddy is in trouble, they are trying to move up the wedding."
"And they locked me, and my brother and sister up somewhere in the palace."
'What! Does your father know this?'
"He does, and he is being pressured to marry that woman early and then they will release us."
'I get it, but tell you other half to send out a telepathic message to your father and tell him not to give in, he needs to hold out for two more weeks. But if you and your brother and sister life's are in danger, transform in to their adult dragon form and find Luca and go to the human world.'
"Yes mommy I'll tell them."
Marika has caught her breath and Gale noticed her energy was back to normal.
'Alright everybody it time to move out and leave this rotten place!'
Caligo, Liro and Callan came up with Reinel, Raphael, and another member of the Sanguis family.
Marika had a viscous look on her face and looked at Raphael.
'Really you are pathetic…You can't and will never beat me and even you tried to get me trapped in here after I set them free, by colluding with the Astrum clan.'
'How do you feel now that everything you thought up didn't happen the way you wanted?'
Raphael laughing maniacally "Even if you get out of here your fiancé will already have married Alicia already, and she probably already have killed or locked up your kids."
Marika burst out in a laugh 'You really think something like that would ever happen, and even if it did, they still have to bow down to me… all of them including Richard, they can't defy me nor do anything against me.'
'Do you know why?'
Raphael scoffed "Who cares, you have nothing left to return to, because it's all taken away by the Astrum Clan.
'They have to bow down to me because I am The Guardian of the 3 World, so no matter what they say, claim or do, they can't go against me even if The Astrum Clan would rebuke me; whipping out their entire clan is child's play for me.'
"There shouldn't be a guardian anymore! We made sure that every possible candidate would be killed once they are found." Reinel exclaimed.
Marika transformed and was calling for all the dragons and all the people who were eligible to transformed did and bowed to Marika.
'See, what did I tell you.'
Marika stabbed Raphael and her sword was cover in blood.
Mira would you be a dear and fly up to that barrier and ram it one time so they know up their they can start with spilling the blood of the people who had you guys trapped down here for years.
Mira nodded and did what she ask of her.
'Caligo, would you be so nice as to bring me as close to the barrier as you can? I'm going to smash this magic wall.'
Caligo transformed and flew up to the barrier, Marika saw the barrier was stained with blood and started to concentrate. And swinger her sword at the barrier and it stated to crack she swung her sword again and the crack were getting more and bigger, at the last swing she left the sword in the barrier so it couldn't repair.
She went down and transformed in to a dragon and let her head being covered in blood of the Sanguis.
She took off and rammed the barrier, Caligo, Liro, Mira, Gale, Callan and Marina fallowed suite and helped her out.
The cracks started to form all over the barrier and with their final time ramming the barrier it started to chatter and a hole was formed.
[Alta Rubra]
Arthur, Ray and Julia were at the rift and where waiting for the last sign Marika told them she would be sending.
Ray got a call from Richard "Any signs from Marika?"
"No not yet… we are waiting for the next earthquake to happen and then start with spilling the blood."
"When is your wedding with that sl*t who thinks that can take Yumaria's place?"
"Tomorrow…"
Suddenly the earth started to shake again and Arthur nodded at the mercenaries.
He knew Marika was ready to escape that place she was in.
"You want to see with your own eyes your wife come out of the rift?"
Richard nodded.
Every minutes that past by felt like hours to them, but they suddenly there were more heavy tremors fallowing up with a loud noise.
Two minutes after that Marika came flying out of the rift up in to the air and she was followed by a flock of dragons, Richard saw the color of them, brown and blue.
He noticed a few dragons including Marika were carrying baskets that had children in them.
The four of them heard Marika roar out loud, letting all of them know they made it out.
Richard chocked up a bit hearing her roar and seeing her up in the sky like that.
Marika saw Ray, Julia and Arthur calling and waving at her.
Marika told the other they were her friends and they could help out.
Marika flew down and the others fallowed her.
When she landed and transformed back she got a hug attack from Julia and Arthur.
'Your finally back girl.'
Marika smiled, 'Sorry for being gone for so long… btw Julia you really did held up your promise.'
Marika touched her belly and noticed she was pregnant roughly around 4 months.
'You better remember to come over and play with him or her when he or she is born.'
'How can I pass up such an invitation.'
Marika looked at Arthur and patted his head, 'You did great, thanks to you we were able to get out.'
"Of course I did great, you taught me."
Marika smiled.
"But what about Raphael and Reinel… are they dead?"
Marika shrugged her shoulder, 'I don't know if the three of them are dead or alive, but before we left I heard Raphael curse at me and swore to take revenge on me.'
'But we can always find someone with earth magic and seal off this rift and that passage that runs to the tunnel that leads to the castle.'
Ray walked up to Marika with the communication spell that was still connected to Richard.
He put it in front of her.
'Hey husband, I managed to get out just in time.'
"Welcome…"
'So when is your wedding?'
"Tomorrow… sweetie are you mad?"
'Hum…that's an understatement…You get an earful when I crashed your wedding with that little sl*t tomorrow.'
'Where are Khai, Regina and Nova?'
"Luca managed to get them out of the palace and took them to The Green Dragon Clan in the human world."
'Where are Own and Vita?'
"They are still at Mystic Mountain, because they refused to go to the human world, they were worried that you would be scared if you came back and couldn't find them there."
'Alright, just keep up your act a little longer, and I'll be home soon. I make a few calls and then the show will start tomorrow, by the way what time does your wedding start?'
"It starts at 12 o'clock in the afternoon."
'Alright sit tight and wait for your wife to come and crash your wedding.'
Suddenly Marika heard a familiar voice and Ray switch places with Marika and she signaled for everybody to be silent.
'Husband who are you calling?'
Richard was enraged and started to yell "Get the hell out!"
Marika whispered to Julia, 'Has he been like this since the start with that sl*t?'
Julia nodded and whispered 'Yes he has, he even gets worse when she tries to touch him.'
Marika wanted to laugh but she knew couldn't.
'Husband I'm just worried, because I heard a women's voice.'
'Oh just shut that trap of yours already, I can't believe you have so little trust in your husband to be. I at least never acted like that when my soon to be husband was chatting with Queen Yumaria.'
'I think Your Highness Julia should calm down it's not good for you and your baby.'
'The only thing that's not good for me and the baby is you! I hope you won't have a hard time when we invite over your husband for a maternity visit, because you are not allowed to come with him and set foot in the palace.'
Marika looked at Julia who was showing maternal instinct at a high level already, and she was only pregnant for 4 months. But then again she didn't have much knowledge about vampire maternal instincts anyway so she let Julia be.
'The women's voice you heard was me, got a problem with that?'
'Of course not your Highness, I was just…'
'Didn't I tell you to shut your trap already, you maybe marrying a king tomorrow, but that doesn't make you a queen. The only title you will ever wear is that of a concubine.'
'You can't compare to Queen Yumaria…you will never have the support or the acknowledgement from the people of Lunae Lumen.'
'Ever since you appeared I prayed to The Guardian of the 3 Worlds to bring back Queen Yumaria my best friend and godmother of my baby, and bring her back in time to crash that wedding of yours, because I think King Lunam is making the biggest mistake of his life by marring you!'
'Now if you excuse me, I'm starting to feel sick, because I was exposed to you for so long.'
Julia stepped aside and Ray appeared again, "Richard you know she is right, we only accept and acknowledge Queen Yumaria next to you."
"But we will come to your wedding day tomorrow, because we are friends."
"Thanks Ray and I'll make sure Julia doesn't have to deal with Alice."
"That would be great, she really hates your soon to be wife, in her mind she holds her responsible for Yumaria's disappearance."
Alice walked up to Richard and tried to touch him but he pulled his sword and pointed at her.
"How many time do I have to tell you, get out and don't touch me!"
Marika observed Richard behavior and could tell this was not an act, he was genuinely discussed by her. To him nobody could replace her and nobody was allowed to touch him because he would feel dirtied if they did, any women who tried would find her death.
Ray ended his call with Richard and then hugged Marika.
"Welcome back Yumaria."
'It's good to be back.'
Marika then turned to the group of dragons.
'For the time being you guys stay here in Cruentus, because no other clan will look for you here.'
'I need to pick up my kids and make a few calls.'
'Ray when are you supposed to leave for Lunae Lumen?'
"Me and Julia would leave as soon as you got back from that place."
'Alright then I won't keep you guys, but can I barrow Arthur aka Alec thill tomorrow?'
"Sure you can and all the people and kids can stay at the palace in the meantime."
Marika hugged Ray 'You're the best!'
"Well it's the least we can do, because you freed us from the Sanguis family."
'Plus you all look tired as it is and you have kids with you and they went through a lot today so it's important for them to rest up and process what just happen today. Not to mention by the looks of it the majority of the children were born down there so this must be shocking to them, and since we are out and the palace, it is big enough to hold them all.'
Marika hugged Julia 'You're going to be a fine mother and Queen, take this with you, if you feel sick or feel uncomfortable, but please do find Genus at the castle if something is wrong due to stress or the long travel.'
'I will don't worry.'
Marika looked at Ray, 'Even if she says it's fine or its nothing you better drag her to Genus got that?'
Ray laughed a little, "Your so over protective of Julia and her pregnancy, but I will."
'What's wrong with that? I don't want to get the news that Julia miscarriage her babies, because of the stress that sl*t puts on her.'
"Well if your this protective of our child, then I know they will be save with their godmother in the future."
Everybody went to the castle and Arthur told both clans to fallow him.
"I'll let Clause know about the guest and then we leave."
Marika nodded but got toppled over by somebody.
"Your back! Your finally back!"
Marika looked on who had toppled her over and saw Clause.
'Uhm Clause…I do understand your happy to see me, but if Richard was to see this he would straight up murder you."
Clause got up and helped Marika up.
'Be grateful I didn't get injured, or else you had to deal with the paper work and political issues that may occurs from it.' Marika smiled.
'But I never thought you would be this happy to see me' Marika smirked.
"Well thanks to your little war I had to deal with a lot of complaints and paper work, not to mention the relocation of the people that lived in Alta Rubra."
"And now the people can't return because a certain Queen made a huge rift in to the ground."
Marika shrugged her shoulder 'And how else was I supposed to pull off the great prison break.'
"Couldn't you have held back just a little?"
'I'm sorry for not being in full control of my magic.'
"Then you better control your emotion from now on…"
'With you around me, you think that's even possible?'
And they both started to laugh and Marika hugged Clause, "Well I did miss you a little…like this much.'
Claus started to pout.
"Well if you would have died then that would be a big loss to this world."
Marika patted Clause on the shoulder 'Well then be grateful that I'm blessed with healing magic, and that I studied medicine, the only way to kill me is to chop of my head, anything else is not lethal to me.'
Clause jaw dropped.
"Clause, The Brown and Blue Dragon Clan will be staying in the palace till Yumaria has crashed the wedding tomorrow."
'And be nice to them, because there are also a lot of children.' Julia fallowed up.
"No problem, I'll make sure they are comfortable till this raudy and rude girl finds a new home for them."
Marika playfully slapped Clause on the shoulder 'I put my trust in a rude, stuck up and a nag.'
And they both started to laugh again.
Marika handed a sword over to Julia and told her to it to Richard, and if he asked where you got it, just tell him that Yume found it and asked you to pass it one to him.
Ray and Julia bit them goodbye and promised to act they were still grieving over her.
Marika waved at them until they were out of sight.
'You remember your promise to me?'
"Of course, now that the Sanguis are gone and prince Alec is found, I will let go of my distrust in others, but I will keep being warry ."
'That's fine, trusting people is a hard and long process, as long as you trust me, Richard, Ray, Julia and Alec than that should be fine don't you think?'
Claus nodded.
Arthur came out side with a pouch, "Richard told me to return this to you as soon as you got back."
Marika opened the pouch and put on all her jewelry.
'That's much better.'
"Aren't those magic repressing stones?" Clause asked her.
'They are…'
'What you thought I was joking about me not be able to control my magic?'
Clause nodded.
'Well.. I did empty out my inner energy a few time down their so the reason that I was fine, was because I wasn't fully restored when I arrived back, but I was hitting my limit just now.'
'Well I don't need the belt, necklace and bracelets because I can control my energy and healing magic, but the earrings is something I need, since they are repressing my battle magic.'
'But I want to wear them because they all have a crest of the 3 dragon clans that rule their respected countries and have close bonds with one another.'
'And it was my battle magic that is responsible for that nice rift in Alta Rubra.'
Both Arthur and Claus jaw dropped.
'Well if you don't mind me I'm going to make a few calls and pick up my kids for tomorrows show.'
'You two can fly on my back and be picked up after that by Canus or Cinis.'
'By the way Claus, is the room I stayed in last time still available?'
"It is…"
'Great I'll take a long hot bath, even thought only 11 hours and 58 minutes had past for me since the war, I really need a bath.'
Claus and Arthur jaw dropped again and fallowed Marika.
"You mean to say that 1 hour down there represented 1 moth up here?"
'Yeh…'
"Did you even get some sleep?"
"Only three hours."
"Aren't you exhausted?"
'Well I am a little tired but when I made my calls and picked up the kids I'll make sure I get some sleep.'
Arthur and Clause looked suspicious at Marika
'Honestly I promise, just wake me around eight in the morning.'
'And we leave at nine in the morning so you two better prepare your stuff before that time.'
"Yes Queen Yumaria."
Marika went inside the room and sighed a sigh.
Clause and Arthur still couldn't believe that only two minutes down there would mean that a day had passed up here.
"She must have been very stressed finding that out."
"Hum…I can't imagine how she felt that the 3 hours that she had slept would mean 3 months had passed and she probably got more stressed she had wasted that time on sleep and give her even more stress and hurrying everything like that."
Marika first made a call to Carl.
'Hey Carl it's your niece, is it save to talk?'
Carl nodded.
What can I do for My Queen?
'Well as you noticed I'm back and I got your clan out save and sound; your brother really is a nice guy, the only resembles you two have are your looks, personality wise your like night and day.'
"Where are you now?"
'We are staying at The Blood Castle in Cruentus, it's just out of safety precaution but I promise to bring them back to you tomorrow, so just bear with it for a little longer. Let's meet up at Richard wedding. I bet your brother Liro will kill you with a hug.'
'By the way how are Lex and Lux?'
"They are still under cover and at Moon Castle."
'What about Elior?'
"Same, he is save and nobody has suspected him."
'That's a relieve.'
'Well I have to make a few more call's, I'll see you tomorrow.'
Carl nodded "Welcome back Queen Yumaria, and thank you Guardian for setting my people free."
'No problem uncle Carl.' Marika teased him.
Marika ended her call with Carl.
The next call she made was to Cinis.
'Big brother Cinis how is Virtus et Caeruleus Viridi?'
"Mari! Your back!"
"Just a moment let me get my father and brother, they are worried sick right now."
Marika waited and heard Cinis shout from his door to his brother and father, Marika giggled a little.
"Mari your back!" Cillus chocked up a little when he saw her.
"Sis why do you look the same as you did on the day you fell in the pit of hell a year ago?"
'That a sharp observation, well that's because for me it's only been 12 hours since the war.'
"You mean that 1 hour down there was equal to on month here?" Cinis asked.
'That's correct.'
"Mari I know you just returned but… tomorrow…"
'I know uncle Cillus, tomorrow is Richard wedding with the sl*t of the Astrum clan.'
"Is there anything you want us to do in stopping this?" Canus asked her.
'Well I need you all to go there and pretend I'm still gone, I will stop this wedding, you just watch and enjoy the show.'
Cinis chuckled a little, "It's never boring with you around, we missed you so much."
"Do expect a little attack from us on you." Canus said cheeky.
'Don't worry I will receive it with open arms' Marika smiled a warm smile.
'By the way who of you wants to make a small detour to Faber Village and pick up Claus and Arthur?'
"Well Canus is heading out soon to Moon Castle and help Richard to make sure that women won't touch him."
"I'll will pick them up." Cinis said then.
'Great!'
'Now I have to pick up the kids and get ready for tomorrow.'
'See you tomorrow.'
Marika ended her call and wanted to take a bath but she then realized she had no clean cloths.
She made a quick call to Julia, Marika knew she was close in size with Julia.
'Hey Julia I realized I don't have any clean cloth, you mind I barrow a set from you?'
'That's fine, just don't rip them.'
'No promises.' Marika said teasingly.
Marika ended the call and went over to Julia's room and saw her taste was similar to hers.
Marika took a few pieces and went back to her room.
Marika made a bath and started to relax.
'Ahh this is paradise…'
Marika started to nodded off after half an hour and quickly got out, because she can't sleep in a bath and Richard wasn't with here so she didn't want to get ratted out for almost drowning.
Marika changed her cloth and now called Vincent.
Vincent was sleeping and took her call half asleep.
'VINCENT!!! GET UP RIGHT NOW!'
Vincent looked spooked at the caller.
"Yumaria! Is that really you?"
'What? You think I'm a ghost?'
'I need a portal to you guys right now.'
Vincent focused on Marika and opened a port.
Marika came through and arrived in his bedroom.
'Thank you, I don't have much time; so are my kids at the main house?'
"Yeh they are there with His Highness Lucius and His Highness Radix."
'Who are they?'
Marika was never told the dragon name of her brothers so those names didn't ring a bell or were familiar to her.
"Ah I mean Luca and Alex."
'Ohh…you should have just used those names.'
'Well I'll go over right away, thanks for the portal and I will get my next ride from William so you can go back to sleep.'
"I have one question."
'And what is that.'
"Where have you been this past year?"
'What may have been a year for the people of The Night World was only 12 hours for me.'
And Marika left the room with these words and ran up to the main house.
Marika kicked in the door.
'I'M HOME!'
Marika was so loud everybody woke up and ran to the door.
Marika saw her brother she ran up to them and hugged them.
Alex and Luca had a shocked look on their face but turned in to a warm smile when she was hugging them and nuzzling them.
"Your finally back save and sound."
'Hum… as promised I didn't get hurt anywhere.'
Marika let go 'I see you got them out just as promised.'
"Of course, they are my nephews and niece thus family."
Marika opened her arms and she got toppled over by Khai, Regina and Nova.
'My darlings have grown so much, I missed out on a lot haven't I?'
Marika cried a little.
'Mom! We missed you so much' *hic*
Marika hugged her children 'I'm home now and I will not leave you guys like I had to.'
'So tell me, what had happened that forced you to come here?'
'And I want the truth…and your father is no acception, he needs to own up for his behavior.'
"Well it was Richard who made the call, when he found out they were locked up."
"He told us the kids were held in a room in the palace and he feared for their life's."
"So we went over to visit them, but that b*tich was refusing us to visit them, but Richard got so angry he almost destroyed a part of his own palace when we told him we couldn't see them."
"Dad was already in a foul mood at that time, because a few ministers were forcing him to get married already, but I stalled it for 3 months because in my human form I look so much like dad, they thought I was his biological child and same goes for Regina, she looks a lot like you and dad…"
'Well this happened 11 months ago, but when that women showed up; at first she tried to get close to us but we didn't wanted that.'
'When that didn't work she pretended to be nice to us in front of dad but she was awful when dad wasn't around. She hit or kick us sometimes and threatened us a lot and started to isolate dad from all of us.'
"But thanks to Khai warning a few days prior, they would not dare to kill us."
Marika looked at Khai 'What kind of warning did you give them?'
"Because my mother carries half of my soul, If she would be dead, I would suffer a shock that would put me in a coma for the rest of my life."
"If I were to die…let's just say all hell would break loose and mom won't even spare dad, so you better get the idea for assassinating me out of your head right now. Oh and the same goes for my all my brothers and sisters, touch us or kill us and this kingdom will stop exciting the moment she comes back and finds out."