Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ancelot stood, watching the woman. Those eyes, why did they look so familiar. Placing his hand at his wife's hip, he eased her over slightly. Whispering in her ear, "Hey... it's okay, lets listen to what she has to say." Ancelot listened to the woman closely, even going so far as to sit down upon the step. This woman's words, she spoke highly of her parents. Yet, he knew nothing of them. Nor anything about his father or mother being high crimean nobles. Maybe it was his father? No the way she spoke, it sounded as if he were foreign.

Lifting his head, he gazed deeply into the woman's eyes. She looked rather young to have been in a war roughly twenty odd years ago. Though the air didn't smell like any laguz. No it was different, though he could not place it. Her voice was so soft, something off putting due to the scars that littered her skin. Why couldn't he speak up to her? This was the first time anybody had spoke of his parents, and he just sat there staring. It was a surprise Nukia didn't think he was flirting.

Without budging, Ancelot sat still. Waiting for the woman to finish her speech. Though it seemed there was so much more emotion. As if she wanted to cry, did they truly mean that much to her? Ever so slowly, Ancelot reached out. cupping Aki's hand ever so gently. She was ice cold. Shaking, the young adult folded his hands into hers, holding it as if a child would a parent. "Thank you... I've never known anything about them. I mean... sure, Morven has spoke so highly of my mother. Yet, nobody has ever told me their history or well apart of it." Closing his eyes, Ancelot leaned forward. Thinking hard on what to say next, yet only one thing could come to mind. "Please.. ma'am could you tell me more? If you know anything else about em."

This woman, she was the key to everything. To a past that was forcibly taken from him. Scooting over upon the step and withdrawing his hand, Ancelot patted the spot next to him. "Your travels have taken you so far, and I hate to sound selfish, but maybe you could stay with us for a night and tell us more stories." He waited for the woman to sit next to him. Why was his heart beating so? It was a weird sense about this. Yet, for some odd reason he felt safe. It was so odd.

"It's funny... hearing about people you've always wanted to meet, but never got the chance. As a child, I would've given the world to see my mother again. Tristan... no, my dad... I barely remember him. As the years passed... their faces slowly faded away." Closing his eyes, he tried his hardest to remember them. To remember how things were during those better years before the harsh ones. No matter how hard he thought, no memories emerged. "It's sad... I just recently saw my old home... figured out that I was a Turas." Ancelot chuckled as he turned to the woman. Trying his hardest not to cry in her presence. "Ya know, I never knew my family were swordsmen? The woman who raised me, Kelly, she taught me the way of the spear. Up until... well... until she passed... Ever since, I dedicated myself to it, and all other forms. Even forged a spear, given to me by my adoptive father, to honor her by." Holding out his hand he summoned his familiar weapon.

The elegant spear rested calmly within his palm. Even it seemed to act odd with her. The two fangs, they were practically glowing in her presence. The gold trimming glowed a beautifully from the fangs' light. Why? Then again, why was he telling this stranger so much about his history? He was the one who wanted to know everything she knew! "Sorry... sorry, I'm rambling please... ma'am tell me a story?"

Cassandra smiled as she gazed upon Nukia. while staring at her, she gave the red head a wink before pointing down towards the two who sat so close. As if signalling something more was there. "Think about it one who has no shadow." She whispered, before taking a step back into the darkness. This was her gift to Aki, and she wasn't going to spoil any of it.

Ancelot simply blinked, dumbfounded by a simple name. Who was this Morva? Was it an enemy of there's from the past? No, the name sounded too familiar, yet he couldn't put his finger on it. "Ma'am... we know of no Morva. The one who's been after us, he's a grand beast named Mance. He uses puppets to get his way... these fangs are his. A reward from a fight long fought." Ancelot continued to study the woman. Slowly his gaze turned to Nukia. She seemed to dislike the newcomer, something he truly wished she'd settle down upon. After all, their guest had traveled a great distance to get here.

"Morven has spoken very little of my father... though the tension is... well, it's there. But, he's been like a... well he's went above and beyond for me. Telling me stories of old when him and ma were just kids. Or... whelps? Yes, funny really how your kind call em that." Ancelot couldn't help but to chuckle. Though he wondered, had his mother called him a whelp? Though he had no scales? How would his father react to it? So many questions buzzed about his head. Like little bees looking for pollen.

What truly caught his interest was when the woman pulled out a sketch book. This is what brought her stories truly to life. Tears had filled his eyes when he say what his father looked like. So stoic, so battered, yet the image captured was so detailed. From sleeping to awake. For a mere moment it looked as if he were alive. "So..." Ancelot couldn't help but to wipe his eyes, staining his sleeve with tears. The little ones were quick to run underneath his arms to gaze into the book. Smiling, he laid arms upon their little shoulders. Having the little girl complain that his arm was too hefty. "Sorry sweetie..." He whispered as he listed the shadowed arm.

They looked so alike, they could've pulled of being twins. Yet those eyes, they were ever so sharp. Even with a brutalized face, the man looked formidable. Slowly the woman turned the page. With each turn, his heart raced to see what happened next. "Its scary... how alike we look." Ancelot could only imagine what he was like. From the way the woman spoke, he was a gentle soul. Probably overly trusting like himself? It was something he'd never know.

"Morven said very little about my father, hell it seems everyone I've met along my way has told me little to nothin'. The only thing he was ever told was that his father was unable to protect his mother. Other than that there was nothing. No stories of their exploits nor deeds. To see how trusting the man was, to trust a bandit at that? It reminded him of himself, in a strange way. How he'd stick his neck out for those who probably deserved to die. "Reminds me of... oh what was that berserker's name?" Snapping his fingers in quick sessions, he finally found it. "Gondola! Yes! Forgot all about em... the man stabbed me in the back, but somethin' about em. His eyes, they said something different. A longing, or more of not wanting to do so..." Both the woman next to him and Nukia rose to that name, perhaps they heard of him?"

Though Nukia held a new key. A key he wished to pursue, at least for now. "So you say... the people who know more about my parents still live! That's amazing news!" Ancelot yelled excitedly, narrowly tossing the young ones away as he lifted the stranger into the air and spun her about like a simple ragdoll. "I mean, they must know of all their feats, and and personality! Praise... uuuh.... yes!" Finally Ancelot stopped spinning the poor lass, and set her upon the ground. "Sorry, it's just... this is my chance to figure out how they were."

Slowly Ancelot drew the blade to show the woman. It had never changed from whence it was wielded by Tristan, and even his ancestors. "This blade... all it was before I found it was a memory on a man's corpse. Now, I can learn about those who came before me. Those who once clasped it in battle... I can finally figure out who I am, and what I could have been!" Smiling from ear to ear, Ancelot was ready to face this world. "Aren't you excited Nukia! Another quest lies ahead for us!"

Turning his head back, he noticed the woman stunned for a brief moment. Had she not known? No, she couldn't have if she had been looking all this time. "Sorry... but my father had passed a long time ago. All that was left was his bones, the sword, and battered armor. Though, he had finally been laid to rest. Hearing what you said about em, it makes me feel a sense of pride. I knew he sacrificed himself, but thinking about what you said... his legacy, along with my mothers, lives on in me." He pulled the woman into the tightest of hugs. "I'm sorry for your loss, but thanks to you... I can finally say I'm proud of who I am, and what my parents had done for me. Thank you so much."

Ancelot slowly nodded is head. How long had Mance and he fought? It seemed like forever now. "We too have had our own trials. It seems like we've been fighting him for years now. Even now we must watch our backs. For the huntsmen he has summoned to rid us." Even the Anubises seemed to be getting stronger. the last one they fought tricked them into an ambush. Though with Nukia's training, they were a little safe. Or at least the children were. "I've somewhat retired from fighting for now... opened up a lil shop in a small town near Daien." Ancelot smiled, though holding some of the truth was rather hard.

War was all he ever known, something he wished to truly keep his children away from. "War has pillaged these lands, no where is safe from the darkness that has unfolded. Though we hope to find the light in the dark, it is still a machine that keeps turning. Engulfing and swallowing us... and the poor people of this land" Ancelot stated, there was a hint of sadness in his voice. Something the son picked up rather quickly on.

"Ma'be light swallows the dark daddy." The child said plainly as he attempted to grasp the tail of the stranger. Yet with every attempt, it would flick away. "The dark isn't bad... maybe it just lonely..." at least that's what it told him.

Ancelot knew full well Nukia wouldn't find the dark talk too appealing. Especially after the little incident. Yet he couldn't help but to chuckle. The lad acted more like him than his true father. Ever so trusting of what he couldn't comprehend. Smiling he continued to watch the child play with the tail, that is until he finally grasped it. "oh no... watch out for the..." It was too late, the child had already dug his teeth into the tail. "fangs." Ancelot said softly as Aki's back arched up from the shock.

"Don't know how he got em, must've been... a recessive gene or somethin'." It was hard to speak the truth in front of the boy. The only father he knew was him, so why make him think otherwise? Especially to spook the child with the thought that his birth father is a dark god bound on killing them all.

Gilroy chewed on the tail for a few seconds before releasing it. "Your juice is weird..." Closing his eyes, he began to hear a faint whisper. Was it her shadow? Was it calling him too? "Poor poor thing..." Shifting his small body around, he wrapped his arms around Aki. Hugging her as tight as possible. Yet the shadow behind him began to grow, and grow. "You don't hear it... I hear it... its sad, your sad. The shadow, it tells me this... you're hurting so much... why gram gram?" Soon the figure came into full view. The image of an armor clad being that seemed to consume all light around him.

It daunted over them. Consuming everything within this frozen moment of time. All it did as the child held the woman tightly. Her magic, it felt so familiar so warm. As if mother was reading him a bed time story near the fireplace. Slowly he lifted his little hand, touching the scale of the dark one. the once emerald eye flashed and transformed into that of violet. "You don't understand, it cries out to you, but you ignore it. Afraid what will happen... you fear it." Resting her head upon the woman's bosom the child began to think.

"I'm not afraid of the dark... mommy is, daddy is different... but it has a voice. it cries to me... something hurt it long ago, and its reaching out. Are you the one who hurt it?" Gilroys shadow soon merged with Aki’s. A wave of dread made its way forward as the shadow grew larger. “It calls to you... but you fight it, mama says that’s how I should be...” gilroy lifted his head to stare at the stranger. His violet and emerald eyes flashed held such innocence. “Sis, her power calls to her too... but she says it’s different. Is it wrong for tending to the dark?” The boy’s magic was almost paralyzing. Sure he meant no harm yet it coiled about her shadow.

It continued to coil until the young girl jumped upon Aki’s back. The light aura pierced through the darkness freeing her from the ever tightening hold. The scent from the girl it was off, too off. Suddenly time began moving forward again. Ancelot narrowly stumbled over as he saw Kelly about the stranger’s back. “Goodness kell, when’d you get so fast? I could’ve....” looking down towards gilroy he noticed the child hugging the woman. When did this all happened? “I’m sorry normally they're not like this... well... unless uncle Morven is around with Nestara. Are... Are you okay? You're so pale?" Ancelot asked as he knelt down to get a better look at her.

Gilroy's eyes widened at Aki's words. It wasn't wrong to listen to them? All this time, he thought he was some evil force.The way his mother looked at him, deep within her loving eyes. He saw the fear. The fear that dwelled within. She possessed the dark too, but it cried in pain. She denied it, denied its existence, but it was a part of her; a part of him. This woman, gram gram. She was a key to a brand new world, but she wasn't the silver haired woman in his dreams.

Gilroy's eyes met with Aki's once more. He was studying her now. "All this time... I thought I was the only one it talked to. The only one to befriend it, but now there was hope. A way to mend what was broken! To fix his friend from suffering further. "Thank you gram gram." He whispered softly. Now the dark, it was telling him to search for the true master. The one who roams these lands, the one their parents wishes to hide them from.

“Gram gram?” He chuckled as he ruffled the lads hair. Such a silly little thing, even kelly started shouting the name gleefully. “Hey now you two be good.” Chuckling softly he gazed at the woman once more. She was holding gilroy oh so tight. “Lovable lil things aren’t they? Before long they’ll be strong enough to work in the forge and continue the buisness!” Ancelot states proudly only for gilroy to chime in.


“Mom says I can’t leave remember daddy... not until I-“


Quickly ancelot cut him off. “No son, you’ll grow up nice and strong. Hell I’ll get with uncle Nessie and we’ll make a forge here! One just for the family, besides the horses would love it!" He watched Gilroy's eyes brighten up at the statement. Sure the lad was ill, but they still hoped for the best. That blood in him, for some reason it didn't mix well, or maybe he was born with some disease. No priest can heal him, and even the holy mother could do nothing for him. Very gently, Ancelot rubbed the child's cheek while forcing a weak smile.

Suddenly the child started coughing that dreadful cough. his little hands gripped tightly at Aki's robes. Terror filled Ancelot's eyes, as he knelt down to Gilroy. Placing his hand upon the child's small back. How it scared him so, a child born with weakness. Why must it be their son? "Kelly... go get your brother's rag sweetie." Ancelot said, as the young lass ran into the house. Ever so carefully, he took the child into his arms. Resting his little head against his bicep. "Hey now, breathe.... shhh... shh..."It was so hard to remain calm. This blasted illness, why did it have to inflict such a brilliant child?

Within the shadows of this realm...

Her eyes gazed to that of the girl running up to the lovely family. The boy might not smell it, but she reeked of naga. The daughter of light, and the son of darkness. The sick and the strong. The conqueror and the saver. Still, they looked so peaceful within this little realm of there's. Prayer wouldn't reach them, but she did hope that this peace would last for them. For this moment, it was so important for them all.

Cassandra was studying the woman within the darkness. This was to be her replacement, that was surely true. She reeked of naga. Sighing softly, she gazed down at the runts. They truly were adorable. It was sad to see what future awaited them. A child born of pure dark and the other of divine light. What destiny had in store was a mystery. Though if she knew the struggle of life, the two would grow to either be the best of allies or the worst of enemies. Only time would tell and already the sickly child scared her. Untapped power in such a small body. “Is this your wish lord mance? To kill your son with power he cannot control? Do you not see the strain?” She whispered softly within the shadows. Waiting for the response.

“A fool? I may be a grandmother, well a great grandmother at this rate, but I’m no fool my lord. Not like your apprentices.” She gazed upon Nukia, the ignorance was too hard to believe. This was the child who’d be her replacement. One blinded by naga. After all she is the goddess supreme to these fools. Of course they would be blind to the truth. “That one is hellbent on shutting out the dark, to the point where she is killing her own son, your son mind you.” Yawning the woman rested her elbow upon the arm of the chair, propping her head within the palm of her hand. How weary she was becoming of this game

“Or Could you be talking about the other apprentice? The silver haired one you think is oh so safe in a Daien keep?” The man lurched forward at the response. As if he were oh so surprised about her little discovery. “Please I can sense her magic halfway acrjjoss this forsaken country. And the little things you call seekers. At least now the undead horsemen have a title.” She chuckled at the silliness of the name. Though the reapers feasted upon the flesh of man upon horses of old. Maybe the name rung true in some regards. “Still who do you think keeps nagas attention away? Hmmm? Cause if s**t changes further then all of this will be for nothing!”

Grinning, she turned her gaze away. A sinister grin emerged upon her face. “Then again I can see more than that... that woman is your apprentice. That I am no fool in, but let me ask you this my lord. Did she remind you of that elderly human? How many years has passed since you last held her? To be honest it’s funny the similarities between the two...” she watched as the dreaded lord glared sharply at her. “You lived so many lives, but do you remember her? You have long forgotten your place in this world, hell even naga has. Yet.... can you tell a fool this? Mance, do you remember the name of the human woman who Wishes so desperately to set you free?”

Shoving the dagger further into then man’s emotions. Cassandra gave him little time to recover. “Then again how can you take the blame for not knowing such a mortals name right? These memories are just now unfolding! But I, mance, see it all. I know how she’ll die, I can pinpoint the exact moment. Describe to you every detail, how slow it will be. Worst of all, the woman was actually able to find your mindless shell! Even closer to restoring you than the one armed human!” The moment she stated it, she then swiftly pointed back to Nukia who had struck out at aki. “So yes my lord, does that kitten remind you of her! The only goddamned being on this rock that genuinely cared about you! Is that why you whisked her away to produce a b*****d child! Then turn around to enslave the elder’s only grandson to a hellish existence!” Her eyes narrowed as she glared angrily into the eyes of death.

Gilroy's eyes opened wide when he felt the presence of aki feeding him. All of a sudden it didn't hurt no more. His own blood wasn't boiling, clinging onto her arm. Gilroy continued to feed. Though seeing how his mother struck at the one person to free him from the pain, angered him. "NO!" Gilroy shouted as his green eye shifted to violet. From the ground spewed forth small child like hands, grasping upon nukia's ankles and pulling her further away from her.

Once more the shadow appeared behind the boy. "No more, the shadows tell me now! Thanks to her kindness, i see what you are doing!" Gilroy slowly rose,his once pale skin slowly darkened as life came back. "You're trying to make me something I'm not, something I shouldn't be!" His eye turned to ancelot who attempted to approach, but in retaliation the shadow slammed the father in the chest with it's shadow fist. sending the man flying backwards.

"I am not something to keep locked away from my calling! I'm not a monster, I'm not mama!" Slowly he began to approach his mother. With every step, the grass beneath his feet died, as if sucking the life from around him. "Naga will protect us, I should devote myself to her, but why does she let me suffer mama?!" Once more the shadow thwacked ancelot away. "No more... no more hiding..." Gilroy yelled, his eyes filled with tears. "You know I can see it! In your eyes when you stare at me! The shadows they tell me... they tell me things that are only confirmed by your eyes! What... what am I?!" Gilroy shouted once more, his voice shaking with sadness and anger.

"To be honest, it was to show that I was no fool... and please call me Cassandra my lord." Finally she began to relax as she stared at the family. Watching the performance. The child acted on emotions so fresh and new. His magic untainted, yet pure in form. How Mance once was, but somewhere along the way lost it. "To be honest, I too believe it's time for a restart." Cassandra said after listening to the lord. Though it amused her to think he'd actually get revenge on the tribes who tortured her.

"My lord, I am but one being... no matter how I would love for them to pay, the ones who did this to me... they're long dead. Besides... my lord... could you kill your former mate? It was her who wanted me, to break me. Using the foolish tribes of kin to do her bidding. To make me more metal than woman..." It was rather true at this point. Most of her body was now metal or supported by it. If it wasn't for her natural connection with the minerals then she would have long been disposed of. Something that oddly never displeased her mistress. "To be honest... it's a rather nice change of pace. If I raised my voice like that to naga... well, my 'retirement' would've came a lot sooner." She chuckled lightly at her little comment. No matter how true it was.

Sighing softly she returned her attention back to the people. It seemed that Aki had finally revealed her true self. Finally the little ice cube was growing wise. Smiling, she turned her head to face her lord. That spark within his eyes, how they grew so passionately for the smallest of seconds. Maybe that was the true mance. The one who one over the goddess's heart. Even proving his love by withdrawing the scroll Yo had made for his personal use. After all the years that had passed, the man kept it. A small scroll that should've decayed long ago.

Closing her eyes, Cassandra began to remember something that her mother had told her long ago. "My mother... she believed that when a warrior passes on and their desires go unmet, they are reborn. Then again I always believed it was a wise tale to make my little sister feel better." Smiling Cassadra laid her hand upon Mance's while staring contently into his eyes. "Yet it could be true... maybe she's still out there, adventuring this world trying to find the secrets to make things right. Just like mother did..." Slowly withdrawing her hand, did she give the softest of sighs. "keep holding on to that mance."

Finally things seemed to spice up. That spirit behind the lad was rather ominous, yet it was merely a manifestation of what was to come. "In a way... a part of me believes it's not just for revenge anymore... That little girl reeks of Naga. i can smell her blood from here, and yet the blood of turas surely you can too. At least her magic. Maybe... hmm..." Closing her eyes she continued to ponder the thoughts. Wondering if maybe this was the path things would lead to. An utter change.

"So might i ask this, how was turning my grandson into... a seeker is it? Or whatever he maybe, a happy accident? To ensnare a soul in such a manner, it's barbaric really. Hell... if it was an accident, then my lord... haven't you just inflicted the same curse that naga had placed upon you?" She was more sincere than anything. A curse was a curse, and already he would be taken from his love so young, but now there was a chance he would never see her again. Did he not realize this?

Being called a moral compass was rather funny. "No my lord... I merely wanted to push the buttons to get you to open up. After all, you could sit upon your throne and lie to me, yet you speak nothin' but truths." Holding out her hands she summoned a bottle of wine and two glasses. Setting the glass upon her throne's arm, she popped the cork and gently poured the red, earthen, wine into the glasses. "Mind the taste, I was but a lass when this was made... besides alcohol and truths go hand to hand. Don't you agree?" The man took her jester, and she happily sipped away at it. Aged so finely, it's taste was true and satisfying. "What is your

“So tell me, if you don’t mind what is your grand plan? You allowed your ‘greatest enemy’ to live to raise your son. Then what whisk him away to be a soldier in your war? Are you planning to kill the death incarnates? Or is there more to this, for you to come back this far. Cause this...” she pointed towards he couple who were having there own little bout with the dark child. “Could’ve been ignored entirely and the end goal would still be the same. The silver haired child would grow strong, conquer, and fall. Then history repeats itself. So tell me my lord, why go this far?”

After being thwacked away for the second time ancelot has enough. Summoning his gauntlet, ancelot was instantly engulfed with flames. His once darkened arm lit up. Much like Cassandra’s gauntlet, it was a glistening silver with bright shining Ruby’s embedded from shoulder to forearm. Bolting forward, both beings collided. This time holding his ground against the menacing shadow. “You will not take my son!” Ancelot shouted. This magic it was stronger than before. So much stronger this force was. It had to be mance's doing! It just had to be.

This was gilroy, his little boy! Sure he had some power behind that frail body, but he was a good boy. Both of his kids were, but he was not going to lose him to Mance! Slowly he began pushing back the arm, to much struggle.

"Well... maybe my legacy lives on, I guess the magic of my grandfather didn't go to waste. Merely skipped a generation." She stated with as her brow raised. Though the question was this, why did he wield her gauntlet? It wasn't specifically designed as a prosthetic. A sudden chill shot down her spin. "By chance... was that another happy accident?" She asked as she stared at the gauntlet.

All was going well, until the woman revealed her secret. Suddenly his muscles went utterly dumb, and he was sent flying once more! His feet skid across the ground, pushing up a dust cloud of sand before halting a mere ten feet away. "YOU'RE AKI!" He shouted.

Ignoring the shout of his father, Gilroy merely listened to the words of his mother and grandmother. This magic didn't control him, it wished to be heard. Misused for so long, going unfed and only knowing loneliness. It called for justice, to bring an age of peace. A peace just like this, far away from the world that surrounded them. Yet his grandmother's words were so wise, so inspiring. His true father, mance, cause all this pain and suffering. Yet why? Or maybe he knew why. Maybe it was his magic speaking to him. Or apart of him long lost to time.

The beast within the armor slowly faded, as he slowly approached his mother. Ever so gently he grasped a hold of her hand. "You hide what you are, and it eats away at you. The pain you suffered, the dreams that wake you... momma. This magic... it's not evil... and... I don't understand..." Slowly his right eye reverted to the brilliant emerald green it was once before. "It's lonely... and it calls out... but in a way... so are you?" Slowly he slipped his little hand out of hers, and wrapped himself around her thigh. Hugging it ever so tightly. "I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I ruined gram-gram's visit, and made you fight..."

Ancelot, however, shook his head as he slowly approached Aki's backside. "No son... you didn't ruin anything..." Towering over the woman, Ancelot locked his arm's around her waist. His fiery wings appeared once more, much to her surprise. They burned a brilliant orange, yet no heat radiated off them. With no time to react, Ancelot launched themselves in the air. He felt her tail coil around his leg as the soared high into the sky. Finally, ever so gently, he let her go. Allowing her to catch her own bearings within the clouds.

"Mot-her..." Ancelot said, narrowly choking on his words as tears streamed down his face. How long had he stared within the lake mixed with her tears. Watching her image every day since its discovery in hellsmere. Wondering for so long what she was like. Only hearing stories, yet never this. Forcing back the tears, ancelot finally spoke up, "So-Sorry... I know things were getting tense... its just... I just... I needed to be selfish. Just this once. And to be honest... Nukia can't fly soo..." Forgetting about her winged mount, Ancelot still approached his mother. Wrapping her tightly within his arms as his chin rested upon her head.

"I just... I dreamed of this moment for so long. Wishing that I... that I could save you from this damned world. To rid the curse place on you and dad. At least... what little remains of him now." This was becoming so real. It had to be a dream, yet if it was he prayed to never wake up. "Mother... before we go back down and deal with this... I just want to hold on. Just for a moment. I-I don't blame you for what you did... for what dad did. You both saved me, and if it weren't for you... for kelly... and Cain... none of this would be possible." Forcing the lump in his throat to swallow. Ancelot finally let loose the floodgates, and began to cry. How joyful this reunion truly was.

"I don't know what my father was like... as you know... Mance has changed him. Better yet... brought him back from his endless slumber. Nobody has ever spoke of him. Hell, I didn't even know about you. I was so young when you left... when you both had to leave." Ever so carefully, he brushed aki's hair back. He found safety within her eyes. Something he only found in Nukia's. Yet this was a mother, and he could see her love. It was the same look as Kelly's eyes held. It was a look he long missed. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry for blaming you for leaving... for not thinking why you had to..."

Cassandra chuckled once more. The compliment was well received, after all if a god enjoyed old countryside wine then the odds were in her favor. Taking a small sip from her glass, she gazed over at the man once more. "Please There's more in em than just that my lord. Maybe you don't smell it, but... Vyafos's blood runs through those veins. That boy is more dragon than human. That is for sure. Ice, fire, silver, earth, dark, and light. No wonder he's lived so long..." Then again, mance has merely allowed this by what he had currently stated.

It seemed she caught the attention of her lord once more. Chuckling she nodded, "That's right... you never knew did you? My mate, this one's great grandfather, was Vyafos. Leader of the fire tribe. Like I said before my lord, that boy is as human as my own children." Apart of her wondered what her daughter's children were like. She was that age. If she truly was seeing that whelp then their child was more dragonic than human. It wouldn't surprise her if they were born with wings and fangs!

"We gave the scales to both our children. It's a right of passage in their culture. Ugil... he failed his and became the monster that rules in my time. My daughter... I know not of her trials. Though the boy, he beat the inner dragon and became the man you see." Smiling she stared at the boy. Such an impressive little thing. An ice whelp passing a trial of fire. Then again, maybe he was as stubborn as his own mother. If that was the case then maybe that's why he passed.

"you know life is funny... how it twists and turns and to see how things end. For us of the Turas clan... our fates are always in a noose. There is no such thing as a blissful sleep, nor passing." Sighing softly, she sunk deep into her seat. Even this generation was in deeper than they realized. They too were dangling about the tree, gripped tightly by the rope of fate. "Naga, Gaia, or you... the gods play their hands with us. We are but servants of a fate we do not control. We laugh, and play our little games. Pretending that we can change it, but we cannot. Even with all these splinters in time there is still positive outcome. You toy with Tristan, and he will become you. Naga toys with them, and thus they are blinded. It matters little in this world."

Giving off a heavy sigh, the saddened branded slowly rose from her seat. Her heart ever so hefty with the grief of life. The waves of doubt and despair had crushed her once before, and even now it was so hard to bear. For a new generation would end up just like the rest. "My lord... I care not for my own sake, the care I had in my life is long gone. For that was all for my children, and now look. With this new batch of whelps, they will suffer the same fate. An endless cycle, one I dreamed would change. Something my own brother... Something Ancelot gave his own life for. To free his siblings from this madness." Tears began to streamed down her chin, and dripped upon her shimmering gauntlet.

"I just... I wish this whole damned world would burn. Cause that is what it'll take to free us from our horrible shackles. Something Vyafos had shown me... something he preached daily was a world without the gods rule. A fictional dream yes, but it sounds so goddamned nice." Trying to swallow the spit became too hard as the tears continued to increase. "Naga has taken so goddamned much from us. Tore our entire family to pieces, killed whoever my father mated with... and now you... there will never be peace for our clan. For the blood of Gaia, cause that is our curse. We loved, and we must suffer for it... no matter how long we wish to grasp upon that emotion you created." No longer holding back, her face turned a bright red as she caught her mouth. Trying her damnedest to swallow the emotions down.

"Why? Why? Why must we all suffer for this?!" At this point her entire body shook. Finally breaking down, and in front of the dark one no less. To fall so low. "Just answer me this my lord... why are we play things to the gods? Why must we suffer... Naga has killed so many mates of my father, so many of his children. Only to keep a few of us alive for her own schemes. You use these ones for your own plans... why can't we taste the fruit you once bared with her? Why are we still here? I will answer any question, give anything... just to know if all this sacrifice is for anything or just to punish Gaia for not wanting to be alone. Please my lord... tell me what does all this mean."

Ancelot grew still as he wrapped up his mother once more in a tighter hug. "You didn't abandon anyone... if you would have stayed, then well... I'd be dead. None that you see now would be possible. So why would I forgive someone who saved me, and gave me so much. Now, remind me to show you something once we come down.... something dad would've wanted you to see." Now came for the harder part. She asked so many questions, and he couldn't blame her. In a way, he saw the resemblance between them. They both had undying loyalty to their loves. Caring no expense to protect them, even from the smallest of things.

This, however, was not small. "Mother... Mance... he corrupted the grave and brought your beloved... brought dead back from the dead. He doesn't remember us, and mance has been using him to track us down." Ever so slowly he let her go, then showed Aki the gauntlet. The silver gleamed ever so true within the sun's light. "He took my arm, would've been my life if you didn't intervene. This was given to me by a strange woman in a pure white cloak. She told me it would serve me well, and that all I had to do was trust the metal. Course it's magic, and well... manipulating magic through weapons has... I'm getting off track." Ancelot couldn't help but to give a weak chuckle. Here he was delivering bad news, and already he was rambling off.

"Dad... dad is now what we call an Anubis. A being of darkness who is at Mance's beck and call. More or less..." Pulling his mother into the tightest of hugs. He could feel it, the sadness dwelling. That feeling, of despair and defeat was something he was all too familiar with. "Mother... within the darkest of times there is still hope. Hope that things will get better." Pointing down towards his family, he couldn't help to smile. "You both gave me this... you both struggled to get things going, but look how far we've come. Even we suffered along the way... but... well... it was worth it. Morven said that I had your personality, that I was too stubborn for my own good."

"I'm sorry mother..." He whispered softly. There was still hope to save Tristan. Something he held onto dearly, but the real question was how? If he told the full truth then she would be torn to utter pieces, yet didn't she deserve to know?

Gilroy looked up at her, his face brightening as he held onto her tighter. The darkness that once surrounded him soon disappeared. Fading back into its own domain. "I love you too mama...I'm just... I'm scared. You are too. It tells me this, and so much more."

Cassandra was both shocked, and slightly tickled that the mad god would comfort her. Though his words, they were just sad. Sure he meant well, but it sounded so depressing and miserable. Chuckling softly she wrapped her arms around him. Her tears soaking his robes, yet her muffled, gagging, like laughter still bled through. “You suck at cheering people up.” She whispered softly as her hold tightened. Was this the true mance? The mance naga had imprisoned oh so long ago? Why would she do such a thing, even she could see his true intent. Surely misunderstood turned killer, yet there was a light in his eyes. Was this the human’s doing?

Now came for the hardest part. The question that would make him, or break him. “Events are unfolding for you. So I can’t hold you accountable.... but has it ever ran through your mind that she is still alive?” The man’s eyes lit up, in maybe fear or anger. That war Yo’s people were in, it never ended, and has raged for so long. Countless deaths, souls bound by her present day son. “She... she’s stuck really. Ugil’s magic keeps her alive, and with that extended time... she hunts for your shell.” Biting her lip she began to run what to say within her head. Yet none of it sounded good. Taking in a deep breath, Cassandra did the only thing she could think of; explain.

“My lord... within the day her time upon this world will be no more. Right now she is in battle with those robed death walkers. They know what she’s found... and know what she’s planning. They’re afraid, because to them she is releasing hell upon this earth. Yet the snake has grown and now cornered it explodes with magic they do not understand.” The lord gripped tightly upon her arms, bringing blood, demanding her to tell him where she is. Slowly she shook her head. “If I told you.... then everything she would have worked for would be for not. She will summon you during her twilight hours, and only then you will get what you desire.”

Holding his mother ever so tight, he tried to comfort her. There was no secret about him and his trust for the gods. He viewed them as hypocrits as it was. Though Nukia was devoted to Naga, the goddess of "life". "Mother... I think he sent you away... he did it cause he knew it was the best chance for my survival. If he were to go then we both would've been killed. Yet with you, you had no heart condition. You even had a form! My safety was assured... cause trust me ma... he wouldn't of just stopped with you. Father would've been next, then me... he just... he well.... he delayed the inevitable." It was the truth, a truth she did not yet know. Though one day will all too well.

The hard part was trying to rescue him. That, sadly, was outside of his grip. Unlike the Seeker, he could not walk that plane. Nor did he know if they could help an Anubis. It was far different from them. At least that's what Cain had told him all those years ago. Yet he had to give her a little bit of hope. If any at all that she would be reunited once more. Though that seemed neigh impossible, for his father's book closed long ago, and now he was a mere puppet for the dark lord. Then again who wasn't in this day and age? Hugging his mother ever so tightly, the son tried to cheer her spirits. Even if it was near impossible. "Please... lets not let this bad news ruin such a moment. Mother... I don't know how long you can stay with us, i wish it was forever... but good things must come to an end. So for right now, please get to know your grand kids and maybe, maybe we can get Nukia to calm down." She was ever so protective of him, even with the slightest of sneezes she was on the case.

Taking in one last breath, the man ran his hand through his grey hair. He'll never know how often his father had done such a thing. Nor the slight mannerisms they shared. That was long lost, yet the boy knew one thing. That his mother had a moment to be apart of their world. A chance that he dream of for oh so long. "Please, join us for dinner and we will discuss more things... more pleasant things. Besides you haven't met our youngest." He stated happily. Sure the babe was probably sleeping soundly in her crib, but it was still one of her grandchildren! "Lets get out of the sky... and maybe we can discuss things further."