Author's note: Merry chirstmas, guys! Though it's a bit late, but still happy holidays, everyone! Here's a sweet melody and some simple animation I made based on the Before Light characters, feel free to have a look and listen! And give a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed it!
Video links here:
[Music+Animation]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rImm1PXR0_Y
[Animation]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI8odW1SJLo&t=28s
[Music]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErH_yUSsrZc
Now, back to the main story we shall!
...
...
<ⅩⅣ> - part 2
" Hey, dog…slow down. Slow down, man!" Rio panted, rushing as fast as he could to catch up with the darting speed of the scurrying wolf cub, traversing corridors of glass and zigzagging off behind corners, disappearing in a blink of an eye.
" Dog…! Wait…" After a long nonstop running and hiding from guard droids' surveillance, Rio couldn't help but rest his wet sweaty frame to the side, catching his breath with much effort, while the wolf cub sat a distance away, eager to run more.
Looking back from whence he came, the winding hallways leave no resemblance whatsoever and Rio knew he was lost too deep in the palace quarters.
" How am I gonna go back without you, dog…dog…?"
Isn't Dog waiting for me, just ahead of the corner?
" Hey! Dog!" Rio hissed, afraid his call might summon androids instead.
" Dog! Where are you?"
Usually, Elsa would bark back or either whine quietly for Rio to follow.
But no more did Rio hear any sound from the infant canine.
" Oh no no no no no…" Terrified, Rio pushed further to the corner where he thought Elsa was, turning frantically only to be face to face with a tall sharp masked, four-armed royal droid, staring down at him with that red buzzing mono-eye.
" Argh!!!!" Fear upon him, negating his stance and courage, forcing his legs to give way and the boy tumbled to the ground as the android bent low, examining Rio's face closely.
" Intruder detected. Intruder detected." And the four metal arms sprang out, grabbing each of Rio's trembling torso.
" No!! Nooooo!!!!" Rio kicked and struggled, swinging his sword to no avail as the arms raised him higher and higher to the ceiling until suddenly—
" Detection denied!"
Jolting asudden, the towering droid came to an abrupt halt.
" Stand down. And leave us."
" Yes, your highness." The droid put Rio down gently with a bow, heeding the soft but powerful call obediently before turning away, heading down the opposite direction like nothing had happened before.
Panting still, caught in the shocking fright, it took Rio a couple of seconds to realize a small hand reaching out to him from the side.
A white beautiful hand as clean as snow, lowered down to his level from none other than the Sky Princess herself, smiling kindly as the long curls of dazzling blue hair shimmered under the ceiling lights.
Elsa the cub snuggled on her shoulder satisfyingly.
" You are safe now." Sora Sky Princess bade gently to the dumbstruck boy on the floor.
" Here, take my hand, Rio."
Trembling more and more, Rio aimed his hand down to the palm, holding it as softly as possible in fear that he might hurt her with his nervous sweaty grip. It was so soft, silky, and nice to touch. Rio nearly cried but held his manhood firm for his brave guise.
" Tha…than…THank you…Your highness…" Rio stammered, his eyes darting here and there, not sure where to place his gaze to not seem rude in front of such a divine presence.
Somehow, his awkward appearances were like magic to the princess and the young girl giggled with delight, wanting to know more about this interesting boy.
Yet, the current circumstances forbade them so.
" Rio, listen to me carefully. You are not safe here. You have to leave."
Princess Sora explained earnestly, leading the tranced boy down the hallway to the exit.
" My father doesn't allow anyone to come close to his quarters. He will be very disappointed if he sees you here."
" Bu…bu bu bu But Finnir…Finnir, my friend! He is been caught…androids! I must save him…save him I shall with my bravery… and my sword! Yes! I have to, your highness!"
" Rio, calm down. What are you talking about??" Sora was puzzled by what she heard.
" What happened to Finnir?"
" Your father's droids! They took Finnir this morning! I must save him! Save him I shall!"
Sora gasped in disbelief, shocked by the fact that her father had snatched one of the children away to his secret quarters, where Lord father keeps…
But Finnir is innocent! They are all safe and clean! Uncorrupted!
How could Lord father do such a thing?!
" Follow me." Sora whispered and with Elsa on her shoulder and Rio sticking behind, hand in hand, the two children raced down the corridors, winding left and right, up and down, turning circles clockwise and counterclockwise until finally, they reached the sub-basement of the palace grounds, white-walled environments without sound and movement whatsoever, with narrow cells lined on both sides of one lone path leading to the pale void.
Checking at all the cells, passing by weird-looking monsters and demons strapped on metal desks and attached to wires connected to monitors without readings, kept behind glass doors that slammed shut.
But just as they reached the final cell, they heard footsteps, coming out from within.
Instantly, Sora pulled Rio back, opening one of the glass doors of the cell nearby, and sneaked in just in time before the person appeared out of the last room next door.
Hiding under the metal surgery platform, Rio and Sora both watched, holding their breath as the tall shadow of an armored figure, dressed in glamorous yellow and purple, robed majestically with runes of power scattered across the chest plates and shoulders, walked out and traversed pass the glass door to their cell, holding none other than Finnir the sick bro, now asleep in the armored Starbreaker figure's arms.
" No…" Rio was about to utter and dahs out the room when Sora quickly stopped him.
" Shhhh!"
" But Finnir—"
" I know her. Let's follow her first and see where she takes Finnir." Sora advised and Rio agreed wholeheartedly.
…
...…
Taking a deep breath, the Lord prepared himself for the ceremony to come.
" Show me."
Immediately, a million screens all over the capital lit up all around Caesar Skyman, surrounding him like a pillar of mosaic luminance engulfing the frail lord in its center.
One thing Caesar hoped he has that he still has not yet possessed is eyes that could see everything all at once. His duties as a Lord of Light had diminished his time to create, to build, and design. Perhaps he could construct a pair of glasses that could show him all that he needs to see in one instance after he has dealt with all the opposition and gotten his hands on the Herunis Carna. Soon, Caesar Skylord told himself. Soon…she will show herself to me.
Glancing down on the first screen projected at the very front of the stadium of the Grand Gathering, the happening occurring in real time shocked him so that he focused on that one screen, swiping the others away, staring at a joust between two starship captains and their Starbreakers.
The absurdity was off the charts, and the involvement of Bradson, Castiel Bradson baffled Caesar so much, that the Skylord clearly overlooked one among a million screens, where the princess was racing down the corridors with a boy close by.
…
...…
" Yuri, it's getting late. You wanna have dinner?"
Yuka called from under the attic, where Yuri sat at the round tea table, gazing at the beaming shafts of light protruding out of the newly constructed stadium far far away filled with starships and people from all over the capital.
Vague noises echoed from within the stadium, sending but waves of undiscernable noises throughout the lonesome streets and quiet outskirts of Skyworld.
Are they also there? In the ceremony?
Where are they now…?
" Yuri! Dinner!"
Yuka climbed up the ladder and hollered aloud, pulling Yuri back to the attic of the four-conjoined flat.
" Not hungry!" Yuri called back, but seconds later climbed down after Yuka and sat down at the clover-shaped dinner table.
" What happened to Not-hungry?" Yuka jeered as they ate quietly.
" I don't know." Yuri shrugged.
" I don't feel like eating anything, but somehow… I—"
Before Yuka, Yun, and Yuno could react, Yuri had already dashed to the restroom, bending in front of one of the lavatory booths.
Yuka blinked, mouth wide in astonishment, while Yun floated quickly through the air, accompanying Yuri in no time, holding her blue hair back so as to not be stained.
"...Yuri…?" Yuno came to the entrance of the restroom, pausing quickly as she heard the sounds that seemed like liquidus matter being poured down to a well.
Yun turned around, giving a worried look to her older sister, who just stared sternly with her thin eyes, frowning slightly.
Soon after, Yuri was put to bed once again, resting under the covers while the others finish their dinner in silence.
" Is she sick?" Yuka asked, meeting no answers from her sisters.
…
...…
Vigilantly scanning side to side, Reina and Seito quickly exchanged looks in serious silence.
The enemy Starbreaker is not in the arena, and neither is he outside, Reina surmised as she pointed her gattling gun wrists around her. Perhaps they could get more clues if he—
All of a sudden, like a bursting hot spring out of the canyon, blood spurted out of her knee where a gash so deep and wide, breaking through her armor appeared in just a second.
" Reina!!" Seito boomed, rushing to the secretary's side, shielding her with his bulky frame and Lightning Greatsword.
Captain Bradson jolted as if he was about to fly across to the center of the arena himself, but stayed his ground as to not break the rules of Starbreaker joust.
Delprim Jargo, however, was laughing triumphantly on his side.
" Look, but you cannot see! Yes, that is my design. Darrovid's training has finally paid off ha ha!!" Captain Jargo announced as if he had won the joust already.
" Do you see where he came from?" Seito asked as Reina quickly sealed the wound under her nano Starbreaker armor quickly behind Seito's guard.
" No. But I think I have a way to get him here." Reina then stood out and faced Captain Jargo, fuming.
" Captain Jargo, your designs are illusive, and its attacks remarkable. But I am afraid it is still our win in this joust."
Reina spoke confidently despite Delprim Jargo's incredulous scowl.
" Less talk, more action!" Delprim Jargo barked.
" In my point of view, I am the one that is winning!"
" On the contrary, captain, according to the joust accords, participants are supposed to be Present, WITHIN the ordained arena. Darrovid may have struck a hard blow, but it is insignificant if he is not here fighting himself!!"
Stunned by Reina's correctness to the rules of Starbreaker jousting, Delrpim Jargo opened his mouth to protest, only to remain speechless. The veins upon his round bald head bulged and tensed apparently under the bright skylights.
" Damn you…damn you...Darrovid!!! Show Them What You've Got!!!!"
Delprim Jargo, with one cry of utter resolve, summoned his Starbreaker to the field, and lo!
Seito and Reina both sensed it.
The air flowed backward, the atmosphere drifting drastically to the back, and as they turned around, the void opened, and creeping out with dozens of different weapons circled around him, was Darrovid the black.
In the next blink of the eyes, all the weapons shot out all at once towards Seito and Reina, aiming at their vital organs.
Springing to action, Reina fired all her photon bullets at the coming weapons, parrying them all away to the side of the arena while Seito glowed like a pillar of sheer light.
" FOOLISH!!!!" Seito boomed and immediately reached the speed of lightning the moment his shout began.
" The Moment You Show Yourself is the Moment You FALL!!!!!"
And before Seito even finished his shout, his lightning greatsword had struck Darrovid, aiming at the chest. Feeling his blade stuck in a protrusion stance, Seito looked up.
There, Darrovid stood, his two hands clasped together, palm to palm,
catching the tip of The Lightning Greatsword between his clap.
" …You…!" Seito wasted not even a second, pushing with all his might.
Darrovid too, edged forward with his monstrous unrelenting strength.
Both Starbreakers, black and gold, trapped in a tremulous standstill, either side succumbing to the other.
Yet before Delprim Jargo and all the other captains present could see who was the eventual victor,
And low echoing boom resounded across their years, halting all action and gaining each and every one of them's attention in no time.
" CAPTAINS, STARBREAKERS."
Bradson captain froze.
" THE GATHERING IS ABOUT TO COMMENCE. CEASE ALL DISPUTE, AND ENTER MY ABODE."
" Wha…but…" Delprim Jargo checked his watch quickly, seeing that the Ceremony had started fifteen minutes earlier than he expected.
" Poppycock!!" Captain Jargo guffawed in refute.
" The Skylord would not start any meeting earlier than the designated time! Bradson! You bribed—"
" CAPTAIN DELPRIM JARGO."
" Your…your Highness?!" the bald bearded man jolted in surprise at his name being called by the lord, for the first time in forever.
" THOU ART DISMISSED. LEAVE THE CEREMONY, AND REFLECT ON YOUR MISBEHAVIORS IN THOU LODGING."
" But…But…how…?!" Delprim Jargo sputtered indignantly in protest.
" What have I done wrong?!?!?!"
" DON'T MAKE ME WARN YOU TWICE."
Unable to speak for himself, and deprived of the chance to prove his own worth, Captain Delprim Jargo left with an unceremonious snarl, eyeing Bradson grimacingly as he left the quarter with much qualms and dismay, with his black silent Starbreaker knight leaving by his side.
Soon enough, the Grand Gathering Ceremony began.
There, atop all the assembled captains, standing upon the towering pedestal, was the Skylord himself, both thin arms widely stretch to each end, as if embracing them all in his omnipresent reach.
Caesar Skylord looked to his side, noticing the small throne, the one that belonged to his dear Princess, was yet empty.
Can it be…
But Caesar Skylord decided to leave the Princess be and get things done with.
" Loyal Captains, noble Starbreakers," Caesar Skylord bade them all in his morbid menacing voice.
" We are here, to Transcend."
…
...…
Passing many doors and checkpoints, following behind the tall magnificent Starbreaker carrying Finnir away to nowhere, Sora and Rio sneaked their way forth, not knowing where they were heading to.
" Where do you think she is going?" Rio whispered as they stopped while the queenly Starbreaker paused before another set of doors as the scanners at the foyer checked the passerby's initials before opening its gates.
" I don't know." Sora shrugged, Elsa the wolf cub whining in winder also.
" But we are heading out of the palace. This is the last set of gates before reaching the bridge leading to the towers and buildings outside."
" Can it be…this Starbreaker is getting Finnir back…?" Rio asked, imagining a mad hypothetical which made no sense whatsoever.
Yet, after a short period of thought, princess Sora nodded slowly in agreement.
" You might be right…" Sora surmised.
" Sister Caerlia is kind and thoughtful…She might bring Finnir back. But…"
" But…?"
But before Rio could get an answer, the children stopped abruptly.
For the Exalted Starbreaker not far away had also stopped, in the middle of the long glass bridge.
…
...…
" Yun, could you help me take care of Yuri for a sec? I'll be right back."
Yuno spoke gently, leaving her shift as she slowly made her way up to the attic of their hovering sky pod flat.
" Yo."
Someone was already there, sitting at the round tea table, waiting for Yuno.
Immediately, Skypods and drones surrounded the sitting figure, buzzing and glaring with power, ready to release streams of searing light on the unwelcomed intruder, who, despite all teh flying arsenals around him, still sat leisurely at ease, resting both muscular hands on the tabletop.
" If it is a fight you want, I prefer on that building further away from here." Yuno spoke calmly, walking slowly closer to the figure at the table, her threatening tone emanating out of each word she spoke.
" You know me." The person of huge well-built physique replied with a casual chuckle.
" I prefer to talk."
" What do you want…" Yuno sighed, as she sat down opposite the man before her, with all her drones and skypods still closely aiming at the person's face.
" …Solo?"
" We've talked about this before, and I will state it again." Solo cheerfully sat straight like a gentleman speaking to a graceful maiden of equal rank, and extent of power.
" I wish to cooperate with you. And your sisters of course."
" Is it you, or the Skylord's wish?" Yuno snapped, both arms crossed before her ample chest with one leg resting on the other thigh.
" You know me." Solo chuckled as lightheartedly as ever.
" I am Always on the side of Humanity."
" Then I refuse." Yuno summoned her tea cattle and poured sparkling water only for herself.
" This Skylord is not optimal for my usage."
" Too bad, too bad." Solo peered enviously at Yuno's cup of clear bubbling water.
" I thought there might be a slim chance that my little dilemma would seek resolve from you, Yuno. I know how resourceful you are."
" You don't know me."
" Do I not?" Solo's smile turned to a sneer, a snide sneer.
" Surely, we've already met in different worlds, two, or three other ones than this. Four perhaps if you count the first…But still, this might be the first time we have ever sat and talked like mutual equals."
" I don't care." Yuno sipped her cool water without sentiment.
" This world is what I am concerned about now."
" Then you should be aware of this little dilemma that has been troubling me recently," Solo advised, grinning.
" It might…become your dilemma as well… if not solved soon enough."
Yuno put down her cup impatiently.
" What is this dilemma you speak of?"
" Caerlia."
Solo replied tersely. The one name.
…
...…
" To Transcend, one requires power, and determination to execute the deed." The Skylord continued amiably.
" Power, in the form of Light, from all the good souls, innocent souls you've gathers for the grand cause. Captains, I thank thee."
The Captains gathered all bowed in acceptance of their monarch's gratitude,
except Castiel Bradson.
He knew Caesar Skylord achieved this only through snatching and deceiving Light-Hearted kind for their light hearts.
" Come, my loyal subjects. Bring to me the devoted Light Souls you have gathered and bring them to me."
Lo, one after another, the Captains of their designated airship then carried the giant vessel, a magnified elaborate vase-shaped engine that stored all the light souls that the Starbreakers have assembled during their voyage across the land.
The first captain, with the help of his Starbreaker, brought their Light Heart storage up to the high pedestal and presented it to their grace.
" Zaiten ship, at your service." The Captain of the Zaiten bowed low as the Skylord's androids took the Light storage away back to the inner sanction of the palace.
The next Captain brought up their storage, and the next, and the next. One after another, full of light, ample in source, bringing to their elated Lord's presence before claiming allegiance to their ruler of Light.
" Yamitir ship, at your service."
" Waimar ship, at your service."
" Eoneon ship, at your service."
.
.
.
…
...…
Yuno's thin eyes didn't even widen or react in any proportion at the mention of the name.
" What of her?" Yuno asked placidly.
" Is she not with you?"
" Caesar has granted her too much access in the far past and transferred too much of my jurisdiction to her that now she has become… condescending."
" You can't control her anymore," Yuno smirked mockingly in realization.
" What? Not used to being a subordinate?"
" I serve anyone that benefits Humanity. That is deeply encoded in my blood." Solo replied, his grin slowly diminishing.
" But She…how do I put this. Hmm, hmm…"
Yuno's frown deepened as the Starbreaker General brainstormed for the proper phrase to depict his problem.
But before Yuno could get Solo's reply, Yun dashed out from beneath the attic, looking frantic and deeply in distraught at her older sister.
( Yuno…! It's—)
Yun caught a glimpse of the man sitting opposite her sister and her frightful demeanor changed, her eyes dimmed and fear was no longer in those pupils, but sheer hate and murderous intent.
" Yun, stay." Yuno calmly swiped her Sky pods to block Yun from prancing onto Solo and ripping him to pieces.
Solo however waved politely to the furious girl before him, not at all feeling threatened,
" Yun, what is it?" Yuno asked seriously, turning her younger sister's focus onto her.
Yun stared a hateful stare of sheer dread at the man before turning to her sister, replying tersely.
(...It's Yuri. She's gone.)
Only then did Yuno's thin eyes widen in alarm.
" Ahh, yes. I got it!" Solo clapped cheerfully, finally finding the words to describe his dilemma.
" Caerlia also covets the Herunis Carna…for her own petty desires, if you will..."
Snarling quietly but menacingly, Yuno sprang to her feet, Starbreaker armor sheathing upon her all at once.
…
...….
Coming and going, the Captains all have pledged their loyalty before Caesar Skylord's witness.
All except one.
" Betelgeuse ship." Caesar Skyman sneered from the top of his grand monolith.
" Are you not bringing forth thy patronage?"
Castiel Bradson looked up from the center of the wide crowded stadium, and replied tersely.
" NO."
The grin on the Skylord's lips faded ominously.
…
...…
Staggering, in pain as her world swirled, nausea seizing control over all her other senses,
still,
Yuri knew she must go.
She must get to the source of light, the bright lit stadium as soon as possible.
For she was very sure, through an unexplainable type of perception and foreboding that is yet out of her ken at the moment, her Captain and friends were there, in deep peril.
Pausing to rest at the wall of a skyscraper, Yuri checked her trajectory, trying to focus on the flow of awareness tingling deep down, underneath the pain erupting within her belly, and the urge to throw up nothing left in her stomach.
Northeast.
Yuri opened her eyes once again, forcing her legs to jog faster down the empty boulevard toward the direction her senses stirred her forth.
Use your armor.
" But…" Yuri tried to argue that the stinging pain was in the way, but nonetheless, with a cry of resolve, Yuri summoned her Starbreaker armor and shot out her grappling hook to the sky, soaring up and up, faster than before, just miles away from where Grandpapa Bradson and sister Reina were.
…
...…
" …No…?!"
Caesar Skyman uttered, walking down the long flight of stairs upon his shining pedestal, with his two thin hands he adjusted his crown, his jeweled wired crown sizzling with electric currents and mystic powers.
" Bradson…are you sure…?"
" You took Finnir." Bradson snarled, knuckles white and bulging.
" We have a promise! I stay away from Yuri, You leave the Children alone!!!"
" Alas, things are usually more complicated than it seems." Caesar Skyman cackled with a sadistic grin.
" You said you taught them nothing. You said they remembered nothing at all. But that isn't true, is it…IS IT, CAS?!?!"
" I don't know what you are talking about!" Bradson boomed angrily in the Lord's face.
" I did not restore their memory! I am a man of my word!! Now Release Finnir this instance!!!"
" A man…of your word…" Caesar shook his head dramatically, giggling under his disappointed sigh.
" A man of your word…such a word, Cas, so bold of you to say so, Cas…ha ha..ha ha ha…ha Ha HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!"
And with a strong sudden stretch of his frail arms to both sides, Caesar Skyman had his droids project the scene, the ghastly footage wide and open before all the gathered eyes to see.
" The Light…!"
The terrified, sick Finnir upon the large virtual screen uttered aloud before all their witness.
" Lights…of Caesar…Skyman…!!!! Lights of Treachory…!"
Reina covered her lips with both hands, eyes wide in terror and disbelief.
Castiel Bradson, mouth wide, was speechless.
" There you have it." Caesar Skyman breathed long and deep, before giving out one satisfied sigh.
" Now, I shall have mine."
With a glow of the jewels upon his crown, Caesar Skyman pointed his crooked finger at Reina's face, and then a blinding flash erupted between the Lord and the dumbfounded secretary.
And as soon as the flash dispersed, Reina was on the floor.
" REINAAAA!!!!!!" Castiel Bradson crashed his knees to the ground, shaking the young fainted woman in his arms frantically, trying to wake her back up with his all.
" You!!!! What did you do—!!??" Seito charged forth, only to meet with the same fate as Reina, crashing to the ground senseless.
" Save your tears, Cas." Caesar Skyman whispered, panting exhaustedly as thin streaks of blood flowed down both of his ears.
" I didn't kill them…I am not a killer…"
" Taking their Memories is the same as Murder, CAESAR!!!!!" Castiel Bradson shouted desperately, caressing his unconscious daughter close, sobbing.
" I brought her back…She is all I have left…Caesar…how could you…HOW COULD YOU, CAESAAAAAAAAAAARRRR—?!?!?!?!?!"
…
...…
Crashing down on top of a flat attic, Yuri quickly rose back to her feet, staggering up only to fall again on all fours.
Tears and sweat dripping down upon her helmet visor shielding her face from the fall.
Stand up…
Yuri begged to herself, pushing the ground with her hands and feet drastically, shaking all over.
Stand up…Yuri…You must stand up…You must stand up for those you love…YURI!
Her knees rising, her Starbreaker armor thrusters humming, Yuri rose back up on both legs, shooting out one more grappling hook out to the night sky, pinning the air as the cord pulled her up,
up,
up—
Before crashing into what seemed like a dashing plane, striking Yuri on the side, pushing her with utmost vehement force down,
down,
down,
crashing through the cement pavements and boulevards, leaving one long deep track across her fall, passing through dozens of buildings as they crumbled altogether by the sheer force that pushed Yuri down and beyond until she finally stopped at the foot of a skyscraper that toppled down into smithereens above her.
…
...…
" By jove!!!" Rio uttered, dashing forth and shielding princess Sora bravely from the shattered glass shooting all over the bridge that no longer had a ceiling or any protection at all. Its glass outer walls all but pulverized splinters that descended down below like sharp snowflakes to the dark unknown.
" Princess, are you hurt…?!" Rio asked as soon as the glass shards have all dispersed.
" I…I am alright…" Sora looked up at the barely remaining bridge, gasping in astonishment as she pointed yonder.
" Rio, look!"
There, lying alone, unscathed, was unconscious Finnir.
The boy was safe.
" But where did she go?!" Rio asked, frantically, shocked by the sheer shockwave of the instant disappearance the magnificent Starbreaker caused.
" Where did the Starbreaker go, Princess?!"
Sora herself was wondering the same thing.
…
...…
Firren saw it too, like a comet flashing across the city skyline in but a split second. But he was sure what it meant.
" Momo! Suit up!"
The young Starbreaker girl gapped in shock.
" But co..common…"
" Hurry, Momo!! Time is running out!" Firren shouted, donning his flaming red armor immediately, not even wasting time to teach the young girl how to pronounce the word Commander.
" It's Yuri!! She is in danger!!!!"
This, Momo understood, and her bright yellow winged armor flashed to her presence, ready and humming with power.
…
...…
Barely holding on to her wavering consciousness, Yuri could feel strong hands gripping tightly around her windpipe, dragging her out of the dark heavy pile of boulders and debris, lifting her up in the air as her feet dangled helplessly in the air.
All Yuri could see from her vague sight, were the two prominent curved antlers protruding out of the one before her's sharp imposing helm.
" Yuri…is it?"
Caerlia Lansara Suprima asked menacingly the fainting poor girl in her hands.
" You…You have the Herunis Carna with you…Indeed, I can sense it."
Opening her helmet, Caerlia pulled Yuri close to a fierce embrace, searching through her vigilant senses where the secrets lie.
" I see…It's inside you, deep down…in your memory, in your Light…in your Light Heart, your Light Blood…Give it to me…Give Me Your Light Soul—!!!!!!"
"...no…" Yuri refused weakly, but adamant still.
" No…I can't give it to you… I WILL NOT GIVE MY MEMORY TO YOU!!!!"
Yuri shouted at the top of her lungs, pulling at Caerlia's firm arms away to free herself from that ruthless grip, only to face the indifferent laughs from the elite one.
" You will not…? But my sweet naive child, Your Very Existence Calls for my Attention!!!"
The Starbreaker queen shouted, slamming Yuri hard from the air back to the ground with immense power.
" Your sole being calls for the world to come and get you, poor sister…If you really don't want any of us to have that Memory of yours…You Should Have Perished, FROM THE VERY START!!!!!"
Crushing down those ten fingers did, ruthlessly squeezing Yuri's trachea flat into a pulp as she struggled to break free, in vain.
" Why do you live…if all that inside of you isn't meant for this world? Why do you struggle, if your demise is what your secret needs most?"
No…
" Yes…" Caerlia hissed, pressing all her weight down upon Yuri's windpipe.
" You aren't needed. Succumb thy Memories to me…dear sister. And rest…in…Peace…"
I am…not…needed…
…but a shell…carrying the memory that everyone wants…
…anyone could carry it…
…why…me...…?
…
" Yuri, wait !!"
The small girl scampered quickly and turned into a corner behind the school grounds, and stopped.
" Yuri, what's wrong ?! You have been acting strangely, since last night !"
The young girl panted, leaning her back on the stone wall at the back.
They were finally alone.
Her eyes on the ground.
" Yuri….?"
The boy uneasily asked, sensing something through the girl's teary eyes.
" …Vernui…"
The boy nodded and listened carefully.
" I... I sneaked out last night. While we were about to go to bed."
The boy seemed not at all surprised.
" Where did you go?" The boy asked calmly.
" The backyard. I walked along the bushy road, and then… There's a door on the ground... Next you the rock….."
"Wait… Next to the rock ?!"
The boy asked, greatly surprised.
There was no door there.
But the little girl nodded, her body shaking as she continued.
" It was open, so I went in...."
And the girl fell silent.
" And then ?"
The girl didn't reply.
Her teary eyes, looking at her dusty shoes.
" Yuri, what did you see ?!"
The boy cried, shaking the girl's shoulders frantically
But the little girl gave out a sharp squeak of pain as the boy touched her right shoulder, and both children sprang away from each other, in fear and shock.
" Yuri !!"
She tripped, yet did not fall.
The boy took her hand tightly and hugged her close.
None of them spoke.
As they stood by the wall at the back of the school grounds,
The girl sobbed quietly.
" Caesar sensei was there. Standing in front of a lot of screens, looking at many things… Many terrible things….. And.. And…."
Vernui hugged her tightly, to calm herself from the panic attacks from what she saw.
" And what?! Did he do anything to you…?!"
Angrier as each second passes, Vernui's hate upon Caesar sensei brew to such an extent for making Yuri afraid like this.
" There are children…. Like us… In glass tanks of water... With…. Light….. And… And…. And..."
And Yuri fell silent, shivering all over and sobbing in fear.
Vernui's fists clenched, his knuckles bearing white.
" Caesar sensei… He was angry… He… He forced me to a chair… And took the Light from the tank and….. And….. and…!!"
Vernui hated himself for not realizing it sooner and helping Yuri when she needed him the most.
And out of fear, out of a need for consolation,
Yuri slowly rolled up her sleeve with her shaking hands and revealed,
A white bandage placed on the side of her arm.
" Sensei had a sharp needle…full of shining blood, And…. And…. He pierced it inside me….."
And Vernui, in his anguish, hugged his crying friend tightly, consoling her with all he could, which wasn't enough.
" Vernui…"
she sobbed.
" Am I going to Die...?"
The tears flowing down like streams.
" I don't want to Die….!"
I don't want to Die….!
I don't want to die—!!!!!
…
Realizing that instance of a sudden alien glow that illuminated weakly out from underneath, Caerlia looked downward to see Yuri's whole body, glowing all over with that foreign blue light, blazing brighter and brighter as Yuri's hands, slowly gripping onto Caerlia's squeezing arms, pushed the elite Starbreaker back inch by inch with a growing strength that surged up in but seconds, accelerating into a mighty heave that pushed the lancer queen dozens of miles back.
What is this…What is this force, this Light…Is it—?!
Caerlia dashed forth as fast as she could.
Something is wrong. But she can still get the upper hand back.
Yuri is still far from conscious, a fist or two would be able to take her down—wait.
What if…she is able to fight back now because she is unconscious, granting her the direct link to her lost Memories—?!?!?!
Things have exceeded the exalted lancer Starbreaker's expectations. The longer the battle drags, the less her favor remains. She must end Yuri, here,
Now!
Lunging full speed ahead, with her two hands shooting out with her iron grips wide open, Caerlia aimed thoroughly at the glowing girl's throat once again.
But the unseen force of the faint shimmering glow seemed to be pushing her back, repelling Caerlia further away the more she tried to pursue.
Insolence!!! Caerlia snarled, bursting with sheer strength of her Starbreaking determination through the barricading energy field.
As soon as my fingers touch thee, Caerlia thought, it will be your end—!
Yuri, your Memories, Your codes to the Herunis Carna,
is Mine for the taking!!!!
" YURIIIIIII!!!!!!"
" NOT SO FAST!!!!!"
Flying in with a straight up kick, Firren the flaming one, with Momo of the soaring trailblazer on his back, together struck the Starbreaker queen through the side of her abdomen, pushing her far across the wide boulevard hitting straight into a teetering building that crumbled the very instant they colliding in.
With a cry, Firren activated his flaming swords, his weapons of ignition, bursting up like a sun reborn, when suddenly—!!!!!
Caerlia's dashing fist of extreme force, slamming right through Firren's helm, penetrating all the armor and hide, hitting straight upon the flaming one's skull, sending Firren and Momo both flying in lightning speed, crashing a long deep utter trail through the cement constructs that traced all the way to the other side of the city capital.
" Firren commodor!!!" Momo shrieked in terror as she helped the young man up to a sitting, light blood pouring down all over his face.
" Mo…mo…" Firren managed to croak under his deformed face and crooked nose.
" Save…Yuri…!!!"
" No."
Both Momo and Firren looked up in surprise, at three figures that stood before him,
all shining in blue Starbreaker armor of slightly different hue,
Their shadows glistening under the moonlight.
" Stand down, Firren. We'll handle this."
" But…Yu…Yu...ri…??"
Before Firren could get his confusion cleared, the three unknown Starbreakers were off, dashing across the city to face the one indomitable foe.
Crawling out of the building wreak, Caerlia scoured the area, making sure no one else would further interfere her pursuit.
Or else she might lose control over herself and bring unholy retribution upon her enemies.
There, Yuri still was, floating slightly above ground, glowing with that unique blue luminance, still in her trance.
Now is the optimal chance, Caerlia!
Don't let this fleeting opportunity slip out of your fingers again—
—The Herunis Carna, is MINE!!!!
Caerlia Lansara Suprima made one defining leap forth.
her fingers snaking right upon Yuri's neck, about to crush down—
when suddenly, Yuri sank.
Her fingers passed through Yuri's slender nape.
Lo, Yuri's body plummeted, sinking through the ground, and the tight grip that Caerlia so desperately tried to grasp with her yearning fingers.
" Na…Nani—?!?!?!?!"
Frenzy groping downward, bearing her fingers to the ravaged cement, Caerlia could but watch Yuri sink deeper and deeper, passing through the dirt and debris beneath her feet.
I see…Caerlia put her twin-antlered helm back on with a swift, furioius nod.
" Show Yourself!!!" The Exalted one shouted at the night around her, facing but the night breeze itself.
" Don't make me pull my Lance…!!!" Caerlia threatened as the mist, the thick fog started to build up around her proud presence.
Gazing with but a split second was all Caerlia needed to see that the fog was the creation of a fellow Starbreaker lurking nearby.
Sighing with disappointment, Caerlia raised her one hand lazily.
" Au - Reriad !!!!!!"
Caerlia shouted at the top of her lungs as a golden bolt of thick light shot down to her raised palm, giving shape into a thick crooked lance rifle hovering menacingly next to its wielder's side.
" Go."
Simple as that, the golden crooked lance rifle thrummed with power, ejecting out myriads and myriads of tracing golden beams of searing light, soaring up to the skies before piercing down with tremendous force all over the wide perimeter, devastating any structure and construct in its wake, bringing all that stood down to rubble.
As soon as the first set of golden rays finished, Skypods like silver dots of shooting stars all descended down from the dark heavens, either shooting beams or crashing onto their designated target, who repelled all of them with spins and slashes of her golden land, shooting out beams and streaks of golden demise as the Exalted one danced across the ravaged field, smiting everything, anything that came to its path.
" Come Out!!!" Caerlia boomed after all the sky pods and drones were all but sizzling scrap metal scattered across the battered boulevards.
" I can already see you shivering over there! Come out and face me like a Noble Starbreaker!!!!"
Mustering all her courage, strapping her weapons all around her wrist,
Yuka stepped out under the moonlight,
trembling as she raised her weapons at the undefeatable foe.
Caerlia frowned, squinting her eyes doubtfully.
" …Yuri…?"
The lancer goddess asked in wonder.
" No…No!! I am Yuka!!! And I have come to stop you!!!!"
Yuka cried, charging forth against the dominant Starbreaker queen, who laughed with utter excitement.
" Good…good, good…bring all you've got! Show me All You've got!!! Quench my thirst, Make My Day, young sister!!!!"
With a sound-breaking explosion, Caerlia burst forth, slashing her golden lance down upon Yuka's thin minuscule frame compared to the Exalted one's, but to Caerlia's surprise, her lance touched nothing but air as her lance crashed down the earth three meters deep into the capital soil.
The fog…It's the Fog…!! Caerlia muttered as she sensed multiple needles flying in her direction, to which she deflected them all with elegant agile swipes. But as soon as the needles dispersed, another set came flying in a different direction which Caerlia instantly demolished before they even touched her armor. But then again, and again, darts and arrows and needles came nonstop from each side and angle endlessly, trapping the lance queen at that one spot unable to break free.
" Hoh…You are not facing me enough, young sister…!!!" Caerlia fumed with rising rage.
" IS THIS ALL YOU'VE GOT?!?!?!?!"
" No, but this is!!!"
Caerlia froze, her sharp eyes darting sideways in search of where the voice came.
Only one second too late to realize it came from underneath, popping out from the rubble and debris, was Yuka, pointing a large cannon thruster at her face.
" PROLIFERATING PHOTON PROJECTOR!!!!!"
Yuka shouted at the top of her lungs as the large tubular canister filled up with light and heat underneath the Exalted one.
" Futile!!!" raising her lance high above her head, Caerlia aimed the tip of her Golden lance Au-Reriad downward at the mouth of the Proliferating cannon and heaved downward with all her might, only to realize that her lance wouldn't budge.
" …Na…NANI?!?!?!?!?!"
Caerlia's eyes stared hard and wide at the utter creation above her head, of all the scrapped parts and shattered pieces of the perished sky pods and drones all coming together to form one big metallic hand that grabbed tightly upon the golden humming lance rifle that was trapped within the iron grip.
" You won't see us coming. See ya!" And the fog pulled Yuka away to safety as the Proliferating Photon Projector shuddered more and more, giving out more and more Light of unprecedented proportions that blinded Caerlia's vision, humming loud and deafening all around the Queen of stars and flare as the searing pillar of photon energy surged up into a thick pillar of nothing but Light, like a sword of sheer energy piercing up high to the heavens.
Minutes passed after the light beam finally dissipated, and there, stood, battered but firm, standing tall and fuming with utmost wrath,
was the Exalted Caerlia Lansara Suprima herself.
Armor tainted, but no real damage dealt whatsoever.
Only enraging the Grand Starbreaker more in the process.
" Is that…All. You've. Got?!"
Caerlia snarled, pulling her golden lance out of the dirt.
" How about…I show you…What I've GOT?!?!?!"
" …oh shoot." Yuka whispered far away as all the remaining five lances guarding the Capital on all sides flew rapidly to their master, hovering in circles, rotating around their levitating queen of Stars as a Never-before-seen light of unknown glow blossomed ominous in the center at Caerlia's palms.
No color, was the entity that slowly emerged, in a faint shape of a thin, straight lance.
The seventh Lance.
All light, lights of the capital, lights of the towers and buildings, lights of the stars above and the moon abright,
All light, sucked out of their bearers and all merged into that one thin lance before all,
becoming in an instant,
A lance of All Color.
…
...…
" What is happening…?!?!" Delprim Jargo, half buried under rubble whimpered at the far side of the crumbling city.
" Am I blind…?! Where did all the Lights go…?! Is This The End of the World?!?!"
Heeding not of his captain's cried of frustration, Darrovid yanked the howling bald man up from the wreak and carried him out of range of destruction.
…
...…
Caesar Skyman paused, looking up at the diminishing skylights over his court as a wave of confusion and gasps swept across the Captains and Starbreakers assembled before him.
" Insolence…!"
The Skylord uttered, clenching his fists with fury.
" Caerlia…What Are You DOING NOW?!?!?!"
Bradson, however, kneeling on the ground, with Reina in his arms, cared not of anything anymore.
He just wished to stay longer by his daughter's side.
…
...…
Caerlia breathed slowly, with utmost content at her own deed.
" Consider yourselves fortunate…to be stricken down by this blessed shot."
Caerlia smiled benignly to all beneath her, raising her one hand in a tossing pose, the Seventh Lance, glowing with all the colors of the World, about to leave her throwing hand.
" Behold—
Yggdmille—"
Before Caerlia could finish the first word of her ultimate Starbreaker incantation, a fist, a large enormous fist of immense power burst out of nowhere, sinking straight into The Lancer queen's stomach, halting the chanting and nullifying the Grand Work of destruction, freeing all the colors out of the seventh lance and bring back light to the world in that splitting instance.
" You—!!!" Caerlia croaked, sinking to the floor on her knees, before one tall towering figure clad in lo overpowering grotesque humongous armor, twin canisters as shoulders, arms broad and hulking, with a sphere of Starfire twisting and turning at the mammoth armored being's chest.
" That incantation is not meant here, Caerlia."
Solo's voice echoed out of the robust being's sharp helm of blades symmetrically aligned on both sides upon his scalp.
" And that child, she does not belong to you. Or me.
She belongs to Humanity, which she shall serve...ultimately, under My Watch."
" Solo...Bradinn…You are so fuc—"
And Caerlia teetered to a side and fell flat, unconscious after draining all her strength in that one halted blow.
Carrying the Exalted one on its broad shoulder canisters, Solo turned around to the far away flat hovering within the mists.
" We have a deal, Yuno."
Yuno, standing at the edge of the attic of the flat, scowled at the figure afar,
as Yun and Yuka quickly tend to the wounds of the gravely injured Yuri.
…
...…
Drying his tears after a long heart-breaking sobbing, Castiel Bradson was ready.
"...Do what you must…" the old man breathed calmly, awaiting his fate.
" …I am ready…"
Caesar Skyman raised his finger as the jewel glistened with light, red indomitable light.
But the Skylord refused at the last second.
" No." Caesar Skyman lay his finger aside.
" I don't want you to be ready. I want you to pay, to suffer for your betrayal…
…No. I will not take your memories, and nor will I hurt you in any physical way.
But Cas…You shall suffer more.
You will suffer the loss of everyone, each and every child you so loved and deared…if you dare betray me or disobey my orders ever again.
Do you understand, Castiel Bradson?"
Turning away from the damaged old man, Caesar waved his hands with grand satisfaction, ushering the droids to get all the bewildered captains and their Starbreakers out of his sight as he adjourned to his inner palace,
to enjoy the memory of crushing his traitors.
…
...…
" Damn it…Damn the Skylord, damn Bradson…damn everyone! They all look down on this Delprim Jargo!"
The bald captain snarled, stomping his way back to his fort located at the brink of the flying city in the clouds; His robes tattered and torn by the unexpected hazard and his Uniform and face covered in dirt.
" Next time we shall defeat them, in another joust! No…a joust isn't enough. I want a great win! A win worthy to be remembered through eons throughout! Darrovid, we should fight a great fight against all that oppose us—Darrovid, why are you standing idle? Plan with me the intricate scheme to become number one!"
But the black Starbreaker cared not about winning. He simply craves fight. A battle to quench his everlasting hunger.
And before this black Starbreaker, there seemed like a fight worth his time.
" Demon detected." Darrovid the Black spoke at long last, pointing at the rim of the flying city, a spec of ash, a smudge of Demon residue, staggering out of the barrier to escape the realm of light.
" Nah, Demons lame, Darrovid! The others will destroy it, not us. For we are worthy of great purposes, my boy! Come, I have this idea to topple the hierarchy of Skyworld here…"
Giving the Demon residue one last glance, Darrovid turned away without sentiment, following his vain Captain down the street to their humble abode.
" …Well…we are in luck…Boy…"
Archdemon Plague cackled as its ashes were carried off with the night breeze, soaring across the lands to unknown corners of the barren world below, only to converge once again, and sprout out to its full glory in days' time.
" The dynasty of light…shall surely fall under our wake…!!!!"
[...to be continued]