6: Darken Flower

1: Sister dying.

"you two need to go now." my uncle Alexander, whom I shared a name with warned. "i will not be able to keep her frozen in time forever, not when i also have to look after her kingdom."

"go where?" i asked him. "what could possibly save her from this?" 

"the everlasting pool." Oberon, my sisters husband, and dark fairy king stated plainly. "it is the only thing that can heal her injury."

"i thought that was just a myth." my mother, Alexandria Darken, the Great Dragon said, she looked to Oberon. "do you know where it is?" 

"i do not." Oberon said, "but i have heard where it may be."

"where?" my father, the light fairy king asked. 

"it the kingdom of Lunistar, it is west of the Dwarven kingdom of Dourhold." he said. "once we find it, i can use my powers to bring her to us."

"we can not be chasing a myth that we dont even know is true or not." i clenched my fists. "myths are just that, myths."

"i was a myth once." mother spoke. "there was a time where the Great Dragon was considered nothing more than a god that no one knew if she was real or not, but here i am."

"mother." i looked at her. "i didnt mean it like that. how can we be sure it is even real?"

"because it is the only option we have right now." mothers eyes begun to well up with tears. "i know i will lose some of you one day, but it is too soon for me to be losing a child."

i walked over to the bed where my sister lay, looking almost peaceful, as if she were asleep. "i will save you sister." i kissed her forehead then turned to Oberon. "i am only bringing you because of your ability to teleport her to us at will, stay out of my way."

"i care for her too, you know that right?" Oberon looked at me with cold eyes. "she is my wife and chose to be by my side."

"at least i know you cant lie to me." i rolled my eyes. "lets get packed, ill meet you in the stables." 

"take us with you." i turned to see our royal tailor Carlisle, who had just become a fairy standing there with Oberon's most trusted advisor, Lunar.

"what good would bringing you do?" i asked a bit annoyed. 

"Alexander." mother spoke calmly. "they are not only our friends, but they are fairies, they can help you. the more people you have with you the better, trust me, you do not want to be doing this alone."

"fine." i looked at the two. "but you two better not get in my way either."

"your more likely to be the one getting in our way." Lunar scoffed then bowed to Oberon, "Carlisle and i will get all the bags packed that will be needed. it is best that the two of you get some rest tonight."

i looked to my parents. "are you sure it is the right idea to be doing this? mother, can you see anything in the future?"

"nothing." she shook her head. "i have not seen her future since the moment she got stabbed. your future however," here eyes started to glow as she looked into the future. "you return safe and sound, but at a great loss. that is all i can see for you." she looked to Oberon. "you return safe as well, but you are not happy." then to Carlisle and Lunar she smiled. "the two of you find love on this quest, but do not take it for granted, for it is not what you think."

mothers eyes returned to normal and she swayed on her feet. father steadied her, "careful my love."

"i am okay." she smiled up to father, then looked back at me. "you need to learn to let go of your hatred for Oberon if this quest is to be successful."

"that may be hard." i looked at the floor. 

"your brother,  Althaeon will be leaving soon to complete the trials to become dragon king." father told me. "go, say your goodbyes, he may not be here when you return."

i nodded, knowing that soon it would be my turn to become king in my own right. i worried about my brother, he was only sixteen and already to go on his dangerous quest. 

i looked to Oberon, "stables at first light, do not be late."

"i was going to say the same to you." Oberon crossed his arms. 

i walked from the room, going to the next door over and knocked. 

"enter." Althaeon's voice spoke from the other side. 

i opened the door slowly. "hello brother, uncle says you are to complete your trails soon?"

"i am." he looked up from the book he was reading on his seat by the large picture window. "is Astraea okay?"

i shook my head and sat next to my brother. "father had to freeze her in time. Oberon and i have our own quest to go on." 

Althaeon set his book down. "i assume mother did not want to crowd the room with all of us, or worry us?"

"it just happened so fast." i looked down. "its my own fault."

"what did you do?" my brothers face looked worried. 

"i was picking a fight with Oberon." i told him. "she rushed to get between us, and that is when she collapsed, i dont think she saw how much blood was pouring from her, but we all saw it."

"you know that is not your fault." Althaeon placed his hand on my shoulder. "she should not have jumped in knowing that she was hurt, it was reckless of her."

"she just wanted us to stop fighting." i could feel my face going red. "i was just so mad that she chose a guy like him to be with, he stole our family away, and tired to kill father, and she just forgave him."

"maybe she had her reasons." he said. "maybe he was doing it for reasons he thought was right and she saw that."

"maybe." i sighed. 

"talk to him on this quest." Althaeon stood. "you may actually grow to learn that the two of you are more alike then you think."

"any idea where you are going for your trails?" i asked my brother, trying to change the topic.

"no," he said. "but i am supposed to travel the a bunch of different places and complete a lot of different tasks. and apparently i should be able to grow my wings during this."

"lucky." i laughed. "i am the only nonspecial one of us now."

"that is not true." my brother smiled at me. "theres Amethyst and Aurora."

"they had their chosen powers at the age of eight." i said. "they may not have long lifespans like the rest of you, but they are something special."

"they are a lot like me," he shrugged. "at least your fathers real kid."

"Amethyst and Aurora are our aunts who came to us at the age of eight, and mother took them in as her kids." i stood and placed my hand on my brothers shoulder. "they are our sisters, just as much as you are fathers son. he claimed you as his own since before you were even born, remember that."

"thanks brother." Althaeon laughed. "i needed that."

"what are brothers for Althie?" i teased, knowing he hated that nickname, but still allowed our sisters to call him by it.

"shut up." Althaeon pushed me. "Alexander the second."

"oh whatever." i rolled my eyes. "you know i was only named that because both mother and uncle Alexander were dead at the time."

"that is how i know you will save our sister." Althaeon went serious. "our family does not give up, even in death. she will be okay, and you and Oberon will save her."

"i sure hope you are right brother." i sat back down. "good luck on your own quest."