Dragon Prince: The Storm's Heart

Epilogue: A Family Reunion

The wind was soft against her skin, a feel that she'd grown to enjoy. It didn't matter what others thought, a Flenimu doing Sky Magic, they could laugh all they want, make fun of her for all she cared. But the fact stood strong; she enjoyed the sky. It had been there form birth, a natural sense of connection to the vast blue ocean that lay above them each day.
Shira was joyfully aware of the wind all around her. She could takes the cloud spray and smell the raw, endless sky. She heard the rush of the air as it parted to make for her body.
She was soaring.
She pumped her wide mage wings up and down, enjoying the way she pushed the air around, currents tense and smooth as water, the tips of her wings brushing lightly against the sky. She stretched them out to their fullest span, so that she could see the sun glinting beige and blue of the feathers underneath her wings.
She felt at home in the skies, ducking and diving through the clouds. Over the past few weeks, she'd explored much of the surrounding area around the Storm Spire. Sometimes, a few curious Skywing Elves would fly up to see her, all of them had the same reaction: shock.
Shira smiled, the warmth she felt in her chest as she flapped her wings, watching the land of Xadia below, it was a sense that she enjoyed, a feeling that just gave her great joy. She felt free up there, alongside the birds and dragons and the other creatures that ruled the skies.
She heard someone flying alongside her and laughed softly when she saw Callum flying on his new mage wings too.
"Catch me if you can!" Shira challenged Callum playfully.
"You're on!" At that, the two of them started flying around in a game of chase. After a few moments of gliding, the wind, chilly as it was, felt like a god's touch on her skin. She closed her eyes and reveled in the feeling of absolute freedom.
They flown like that for a few more minutes, both enjoying the gradually raising sunlight, dipping into and out of the cloudbanks like a pair of playful dolphins.
But as they both played together, Shira had spotted three white-haired figures on the staircase of the smaller mountain. But they had collapsed on the ground from the lack oxygen so high up. "Hey Callum! Tell my Dad that I'm going to be busy helping three travelers."
"Sure thing." As Callum flew away to the mountain, Shira flew down to help the three travelers.
Coming to the ground, her wings faded, allowing her arms to take their original form. Shira could see that they're Moonshadow elves. She begun drawing a magical blue rune in the air. "Ventus Spiralis." A trio of sparkling sky-blue magic went around them. The three elves coughed several times, gasping in a breath before beginning to pant after they felt new air entering them.
"Who?" One of the male Moonshadow elves is wearing his Dragon Guard uniform, as is his female counterpart, though the second male is wearing the similar outfit as Rayla is.
"Are you three okay?" The three of them gotten up looked at her in surprise and confusion.
"Yes, we're fine." The female elf stepped towards Shira, feeling more curious. "But can you help us? We're looking for our daughter, she's around your age..."
"Kind violet eyes, purple triangles near her eyes, and extremely brave?" Shira finished for the female elf.
"That's right!" exclaimed the female elf excitedly. "Have you've seen her? Is she here?"
Shira nodded with a smile and walked up towards the steps. "Yup." She soon spread her arms with a smile. "Manus! Pluma! Volantus!" At that moment, the three elves were stunned to see Shira's arms have became beige-colored wings. She soon launched herself into the air and flew off again to get use to the feeling of flying in the sky.
It was a long, but quiet trip as they headed up the mountain. Shira kept a keen eye over the three Moonshadow elves warily whenever they weren't looking from overhead, but she didn't notice that the female Moonshadow elf saw it more than once.
"What's your names?" Shira asked them curiously as she flew a little away from them.
"I'm Tiadrin." The female elf smiled at Shira warmly. "That's my husband, Lain." The other Dragon Guard nodded. "And that's our best friend, Runaan." He looked at her in wary confusion.
"I'll tell the Dragon Queen." Shira soon flew off with the new message to deliver.
Tiadrin and Lain looked at each other, hope written on both their faces. "Let's not waste any more time." Lain took his wife's hand in his and squeezing gently. "We will see our daughter again."
Tiadrin smiles and kisses his cheek. "I know." She whispered, moving so the front of her body is facing his. "I wonder how much she's grown since we last saw her."
Lain wraps his arms around her waist and plants a kiss on her forehead. "No matter what, we'll always love Rayla for who she is." He tilted her chin up with a finger and pulling her towards him, planting a chaste kiss on her lips. "Ya know, our Rayla is very strong-willed, just like ya. If I had ta guess, she's decided ta finish wha' we started an' has a new Dragon Guard protectin' the Dragon Queen and the Dragon Prince."
The three elves soon arrived to a large platform at the top of the mountain, a bridge of wood and stone ahead of them while on the other side of the bridge, was a large mountain, cut into the stone. It looked slightly rough and worn, but still beautiful as it reaches out to the sky, while at the very front, was a massive door engraved with beautiful runes.
"Great!" Tiadrin's eyes shone brightly. "Let's keep going."
Ibis's ears flicked up and turned to look at the entry warily. He creeps forward, his staff held out in front of him protectively, and makes out a shape in the growing darkness. "Show yourself!"
One of the figures stepped out of the shadows, a hood covering their face, and slowly walked forward. Ibis can obviously see that they are carrying a weapon and tightened his grip on his staff, ready for anything to happen. But the figure makes no move to grab their weapon and stops several feet from Ibis.
Ibis doesn't waver, though. "Who are ya?" He still keeping he guard up.
The figure reaches up and pushes their hood back, revealing an female Moonshadow elf with short white hair, bangs swept to the side, and curved horns. "Hello, Ibis."
His eyes widened as he recognizes the three, uncloaked elves. Two of them are Rayla's brave parents, Tiadrin and Lain. But the third one is Rayla's uncle, Runaan.
With Lain and Runaan by her sides, Tiadrin now took a moment to gather her surroundings. They were in the first chamber. The opening to the Dragon Queen's chambers lay in front of them.
The trio looked at each other, and mirrored the other's pensive expression. They looked to Ibis. He smiled.
"It's alright," he said. "Everyone knows what you did. Thanks to Prince Callum."
"Prince Callum?" Tiadrin asked. "Who is that?
That is not a draconic name, so it can't be...." she trailed off, looking at Ibis expectantly. Ibis's eyes widened a little in realization. He fiddled with his fingers awkwardly. "You see, I'm not sure I'm really the one to tell you this—"
"Spit it out," Lain said, rolling his eyes.
"Just say it," said Runaan.
Ibis sighed. "Well, it requires a little explanation. See, it's been a few months since the egg was taken." Lain and Tiadrin exchanged relieved looks, while Runaan looked guilty. A few months wasn't so bad. They had prepared for years.
"Their journey was long, but to summarize, they were forced to hatch the egg along the way, and the Dragon Prince Azymondias, more affectionately referred to as "Zym" was born.
King Ezran discovered his father's death and returned to Katolis to claim his throne. Rayla and Prince Callum returned Zym home safely, but the dark mage Viren rallied traitorous humans of the Human Kingdoms against Xadia. A battle ensued, which we won with the help of the Five Great Kingdoms, and your daughter sacrificed herself to kill the dark mage Viren, who was attempting to kill the Dragon Prince."
Tiadrin gasped in horror and Runaan's eyes widened with horror.
"...but Prince Callum saved her." Lain thwacked Ibis over the head.
"Why would leave of like that?" demanded Lain. "This our daughter we're talking about."
"Why were you so anxious about telling us who this Prince Callum is?" Tiadrin demanded. "He seems like a noble human."
"He must be very unique," agreed Runaan.
"Well, for starters," Ibis said carefully. "He happens to be the only human, as far as I know, who can harness primal magic naturally. It is quite impressive, I must admit. He has unlocked the Sky Arcanum, at the very least. I suspect he has some connection to the Moon, for him to have performed the spell that revealed what happened here that night the egg was stolen."
"That is impressive," Lain agreed.
"However, he also happens to be dating your daughter," he said bluntly, unsure how else to put it.
The three elves exchanged glances, unsure how to feel about this information.
"That is... a lot to process," Lain admitted.
"But everyone knows that we didn't abandon the Prince?" Tiadrin clarified nervously.
Ibis nodded. "Yes, Prince Callum was sure to remedy that." He soon saw Shira watching them and gestured for them to come into the chamber. "The Queen requested to speak with you once you were well," Ibis informed them. "You may go in any time." He left to attend to something else.
Lain, Tiadrin, and Runaan turned to face the entrance to her chambers.
"I'm nervous," Tiadrin admitted, breaking their silence. "Last time we were in there...... we failed." Lain nodded weakly.
They began walking forward. Lain slipped his hand in Tiadrin's, and their fingers entwined. Tiadrin glanced at her husband.
"Whatever we do—"
"We do it together," he finished with a smile.
They entered the chamber, and looked up, beholding the Dragon Queen, who waited there, expectantly. But standing there was Shira, who was watching them with a smile.
"My Dragon Guard," Queen Zubeia said with a smile. "I owe you everything." Tiadrin fell to one knee, bowing to the Queen, and Lain followed suit along with Runaan copying their movement.
"My queen," Tiadrin said. "I beg your forgiveness."
"For what?" Queen Zubeia demanded.
"We failed you," Lain answered. "The Dragon Prince was captured under our watch."
"Rise," the Dragon Queen demanded, and Lain and Tiadrin did so reluctantly. "You never failed me. You never left. You never stopped fighting. Of all my Dragon Guard, only you remained behind. Even though you were left alone, you stood strong. If I hear correctly it is because of you, Tiadrin, that my son lives, that he was not slain here. And it was your daughter, Rayla, who returned him to me, along with Prince Callum and King Ezran." Tiadrin and Lain smiled at each other.
"I cannot repay my debt to you," said Queen Zubeia. "But I must try. Please, what do you ask?"
"My Queen," Tiadrin addressed. "We wish only to serve you, and to see our daughter again."
Queen Zubeia shook her head, smiling."It is only those who deserve all of the world's blessing who want nothing, but what matters. Your family will be honored for generations to come. You will continue to serve, per your wish, and you will of course, return to your daughter. Your daughter's request is also to serve."
"And she's here." At Shira's comment, Rayla had entered the room with Callum walking behind her, her parents wrapped her in loving hugs and making her cry out in joy. It was such a beautiful scene. But Rayla became tense when she suddenly saw Runaan standing nearby quietly. Runaan looked extremely stricken with guilt as he looked at her. Rayla stood in front of him, but she looked uncertain of what to do next. Runaan soon pulled her into a hug and started whispering her countless apologies for whatever happened during the day of the assassination of King Harrow.
Everyone came out of hiding from the other chambers to watch the reunion between the tearful family. To their amazement, a mix of humans, elves, flenimus, and dragons were all watching them in Queen Zubeia's lair. They stood together as new friends, new families.
A suddenly thought ran through Runaan's head. A paralyzing one.
"Ethari!" Runaan yelled, alarmed at the missing presence of his husband. He knew Ethari. He knew that Ethari wouldn't miss him coming back for the world. So, where was he?! The worst situation possible kept replaying through his head. He refused to see it... No...
"He's alright, Runaan," Rayla explained. Runaan sighed, the clarification taking a huge weight off his shoulders. Ethari was alright. The love of his life was alright.
But they suddenly heard the loud, flapping sound of wings and the ground shook as a massive force landed on the ledge. Shira turned to see Aethra flying into the chamber with a passenger on her back. Shira immediately took note of the warm brown hue of the elf's eyes. He appeared to be around the same age as Runaan. His skin seems to be darker than others, the color leaning more towards blue rather than purple. Lavender markings framed the sides of his face, and his snow white hair tumbled down to his shoulders. His horns were adorned with gleaming metal clasps and twinkling jewels. He had on a simple sleeveless black top and gray pants that meets his black boots, but around his neck is a purple scarf.
Runaan gasped when he saw Ethari stepped from the other side of Aethra and into the light.
"R-Runaan?" Ethari whispered, tears running down from his face.
"Ethari?" Runaan's voice was faint and filled with desperate hope. As he continued looking at Ethari, it almost seemed as if he was checking he wasn't dreaming.
Shira watched on with curiosity, wondering which one of them would go to each other first. She smiled as the two went towards each other at the same time. They both embraced. Not a simple embrace, but a long, emotional one from their cruel time apart. She looked away quickly as they both started kissing each other in the center of the light. Shira heard quiet sobbing as they hugged each other again from the two reunited lovers. It wasn't long till Lain, Tiadrin, and Rayla was pulled into the reuniting hugging duo too.
Shira smiled softly at the sight and leaned against Ibis's side as he gently pulled her into a sidelong hug. Families leaned into each other as they watched the beautiful sight before them.
A new future is coming for them all.