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WoLaD: The 1st Interlude V.5

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"Wars of Light and Darkness"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl

"The 1st Interlude"

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Verse 5: "The Great Divide"

   Thunder rumbled, shattering the peaceful hum of the night.  While Elliot and Durnam discussed what they would do about Ilyamay, the echidna queen was readying herself for bed in her hut.  Her husband was one of the warriors, and for the past several days it was his turn to participate in the night watch.

   Mitsukai's diadem rested on a dresser.  Ilyamay ran a wooden comb through her long, lavender hair, the ends falling just above her waist.  Her young daughter, Trudine, was curled up in her little bed near where her mother sat, humming a song to soothe the child as she slept.

   Ilyamay was not the bloodthirsty queen UnDark painted her to be, and took more after Mitsukai in personality.  However, when provoked to anger, she could be as fiery as Alamalie, and would not stand by and watch others defend her.  She would immediately step into the fray, fighting until the wrong that angered her, was made right again.

   This is where Ilyamay and Elliot and Durnam found their greatest difference.  While Elliot and Durnam had a little control over time and space, and even less over the elements as Sutei-Midoka and Kashoku once had, they preferred physical combat over the use of magic and elemental control.  They had all but abandoned whatever special powers they had left, save their control over the Master Emerald alone.  They trained vigilantly for several hours a day, making their bodies rock hard and strong, and their punches and kicks both swift and deadly.  They had taken the Ancient Arts that Kalak taught Arandor and Shadow and made it their primary form of combat and defense.

   They did this in memory of Kashoku, their beloved ancestor, whose unique fighting style had saved the band of echidna soldiers in the woods all those centuries ago.  It was Kashoku who introduced this fighting style to the echidnas in the first place, giving them a way to fight without weapons.  Though weapons were still used, this form of self-defense was valued the highest above all.

   On the flip side, Alamalie's descendants clung to stories of how the wind would bend to her laughter, or how she would tease her brother by sending waves of water crashing over him.  They told tales of how Alamalie loved playing with fire, growing up hearing stories of how her father would hold it in his hands, his fur and skin not burned by the flames.  Alamalie's descendants maintained powerful control over the Four Elements, and treasured them.

   Stories were told of that same first battle where Kashoku saved the echidnas from the attacking bat tribe.  However, instead of remembering his graceful fighting moves, Alamalie's followers fondly remembered how his powerful footsteps caused the earth to quake.  They remembered how the echidna warriors were enchanted by his graceful movements, describing it as though he were moving on a breath of wind, striking with the fury of the strongest of storms, with fire burning in his eyes.

   They loved Kashoku's control over the world around him, much as Alamalie did, even though she never knew him.

   Sadly, the echidnas were slowly forgetting that Kashoku came back to his children as Arandor of Light.  The followers of Alamalie had all but abandoned that belief, while the followers of Sutei-Midoka clung to it helplessly, if only because Acadiar's descendants believed it so strongly.

   Even so, elemental control was something that you were born with, not a battle style that could be taught and practiced by an entire army as Sutei-Midoka's followers did with the Ancient Arts.

   However, Alamalie's descendants had married into different families so many times after eight-hundred years of generations that all of them had gained some form of elemental control.  Only a handful of those that received these powers strayed to the side of Sutei-Midoka; those that did were accepted, only because they neglected their powers in favor for physical combat.

   Ilyamay had a small army of followers, all who were touched by Alamalie's powers through marriage.  It was one large extended family, and yet, there were members who lacked full control.  Some could bend the wind, others could make it rain, while still others could cause the earth to rattle, or fire to burn in their hands.

   It didn't matter what the extent of one's ability was.  As long as you supported the Elements, you were a follower of Alamalie, and Ilyamay.

   Queen Ilyamay was the most powerful of them all.  While her husband only had minimal control over water, their daughter Trudine already possessed influence over each force.  Only seven years old, it was unclear whether or not she had inherited the blood of the Master of the Elements.  Unlike the blood of the Son of Strength or the Daughter of Light, the blood of the Master of the Elements and the Master of Time and Space could pass to multiple children, for in the end they would only awaken in one descendant.

   Good news for the unborn child Ilyamay carried inside of her.

   As she finished brushing her hair, Ilyamay smiled to herself.  The echidnas owed the Element wielders for a lot of their modern comforts.  Fire could be used to make mirrors, and it provided one for Ilyamay to gaze in, her bluish green eyes twinkling with glee.

   She was proud of her beauty.  Many thought she was the first descendant of Alamalie to represent Queen Mitsukai the most.  Many warriors had lusted for her, but in the end, she gave her heart to the water wielding warrior, Matidas.

   Giggling softly, she shook her head, letting her hair wave back and forth.  As she returned her attention to her reflection, she felt something kick her from inside.  Looking down to her tummy, she sighed sweetly.  "Now settle down you.  You're not ready to be born yet, I can promise you.  You've got at least five weeks left before then."

   Standing up, she stretched her arms high in the air, yawning as she was ready for bed.  "You must be a boy, ready to meet your father no doubt.  I swear Matidas and I aren't going to know what to do with you, boy or girl.  Hopefully you'll be a good child like your sister," she said in a teasing voice.

   She turned to where little Trudine slumbered.  With a smile, Ilyamay slowly knelt down, as best as she could manage, to kiss Trudine on the forehead.  The little girl smiled a little, but rolled over, not waking from her sleep.

   "Such a beautiful angel," Ilyamay murmured.  It took her several moments to get back to her feet, feeling pain shoot through her ankles once she did so. As she hobbled over to her bed, she whimpered.  "Oww…I hate the pain in my ankles so much.  Hopefully Elliot will let Ethendore play with you tomorrow so they can keep you busy and Matidas and I can take a much needed break."

   As she stretched out on her bed, Ilyamay blew out the candle beside her, causing the room to go dark.  "Still, Elliot's acted awfully strange lately.  Maybe if he didn't whine over that mark on his face all day long he'd be sweet like Durnam," she murmured softly.  Closing her eyes, she whispered, "I don't see what's so special about that silly mark anyway."

   All was silent for several moments as Ilyamay settled in to sleep.  It was peaceful, until the door flap fluttered, pulled back by an unseen force.  As it came to rest, glowing green eyes materialized near Trudine's bed.  The rest of UnDark's form melted into view.  His twisted grin appeared again when he looked to Ilyamay, and yet he was distracted.  He looked down to Trudine, his grin turning into a sneer.

   "Pah…her sibling will supplant her," he muttered.  Looking back to Ilyamay, he could feel both her aura, and her unborn child's aura, flying at him.  He cringed, hissing softly.  "That brat inside of her is the far more powerful child.  They could do without this miscreant lying here in bed."

   Trudine yawned, turning over once again, undisturbed by UnDark's presence.

   He glared at her, feeling deep disgust.  Closing his eyes, he held a hand over the child and chanted, "You will be a casualty in this war, you worthless child.  Your parents do not need you.  You're nothing but baggage.  If a child must die, it will be you who fulfills this need."

   The poor child whimpered a little, as though she were having a bad dream.

   UnDark opened his eyes, glaring at her.  His heart was slowly becoming more and more malevolent.  He bent this evil to his will, and knew his words had all but damned the little girl.

   "If only killing them all were this easy…," UnDark muttered, growling softly.

   He turned his attention back to Ilyamay, the sadistic smile finding its way back to his lips.  His body slowly went invisible again, his eyes the last thing to fade.

   It was now Ilyamay's turned to be deceived.

   Unable to get comfortable, the echidna queen rolled over in bed.  All she could feel was her back aching and a baby that was not ready to sleep continuing to move so gently inside of her.  As much as she loved it, she was convinced it was keeping her from sleeping.

   "Please, child, don't keep me awake.  Not again.  Oh what I wouldn't give to have Matidas here to hold me," Ilyamay whimpered.  "If only Elliot didn't insist on cycling all of the warriors through the night watch."

   She pulled her blanket up around her neck and closed her eyes again.

   "Elliot…perhaps he loves absolute control a little…too much."

   Ilyamay gasped when she heard this voice.  Sitting up in bed, she looked around frantically for whoever had spoken; it was a voice she did not recognize at all.

   "Who's there?  Who said that?" she cried.

   "Perhaps Elliot should be dealt with, before he deals with you first."

   Ilyamay sat up as best as she could, leaning against the wall behind her, pulling her blanket up to her chin, resting a protective hand on her belly.  Her eyes were ablaze, trying to look as threatening as possible.  "I'm warning you!" she cried, "Show yourself!"

   UnDark cackled softly.  There was no way he was going to let her see him.  Instead, he moved closer to her, still hidden from view.  "I should be the least of your worries, my Queen.  If I were you, I'd be more worried about that Guardian, Elliot.  You speak of him prattling on about his special mark; hasn't that gotten annoying yet?"

   Ilyamay's glare softened.  "So…so what?  It's part of his heritage.  It's been passed down from father to son, ever since Sutei-Midoka received it.  It is something he is proud of; why should this concern me?"

   "But you said it yourself.  It is something he is proud of.  Sutei-Midoka…the beloved son of Kashoku; as powerful as Sutei was, he still received the lesser of the Master Gems from his father.  Even with a special mark that his sister and her descendants lack, Sutei was left with the weaker, less special of the gems.  Perhaps this has been bothering Sutei's kindred for far too long.  They are terribly convinced that it is they who are the strongest followers of Kashoku.  Perhaps now, they are tired of playing the part of the overlooked sibling, forced to watch the favored child soak in all of the glory.  Perhaps, my Queen, they are exhausted of you."

   "How…how dare you," Ilyamay murmured.  She paused.  She noticed that her baby had stopped moving, and that cold shivers ran through her body.  Whoever this disembodied voice belonged to, it came along with a deeply malevolent power.  It left her deeply shaken; she was frozen where she sat.

   UnDark cackled again.  "How dare I?  How dare I?  My Queen, you should thank me for warning you before it was too late!  Here you are, in a delicate condition, and already Elliot shares with his brother Durnam plans to overthrow you.  They will force you to renounce your ties to Kashoku, and then hand over to them full control over the Master Jewel and rule of the village.  They will not stop until the bloodline rests in them and them alone, even if it means cutting off your line…completely."

   A gasp escaped Ilyamay.  She was so cold she trembled heavily now, even though it was a relatively warm evening.  She glanced at her daughter Trudine, still sleeping soundly, undisturbed by this chilling voice.  Her eyes drifted slowly to her pregnant belly.  Though her child had calmed down, a gentle kick was another constant reminder of the life within her.  She could handle Elliot's supposed desire to overthrow her, and even those of forcing her to renounce her ties to Kashoku, but threatening her children was too much; Ilyamay could not let this threat go unaddressed.

   She felt anger enter her heart.

   UnDark's smile twisted so hard on his face it couldn't be persuaded to illustrate any deeper level of joy.  "Will you let him smother your children so his beloved son Ethendore can wear both crowns?  Will you stand for Elliot using his birthmark as an excuse for superiority?  Will you not defend what is yours?"

   "Elliot…," Ilyamay growled softly.  Still, her eyes softened a little.  "I'll talk to Durnam.  He's always been the more level-headed of the two.  Perhaps he can tell me what's gotten into Elliot."

   "No!" UnDark shouted, horrified.  "Those brothers will swear allegiance to each other before either of them will help you!  Do you really think Durnam can be trusted?"

   Ilyamay rolled her eyes, sighing.  "I don't know why I'm even talking to you. You must be some sort of witchcraft on Elliot's behalf, meant to scare me.  Durnam is both kind and just; he'll settle this matter."  Sliding back down under her blanket, Ilyamay curled up to sleep.

   UnDark growled angrily.  He was losing control of the deception.

   "YOU FOOL!"

   Ilyamay let out a cry.  It was loud enough that some of the night watchmen heard it, sending them running for Matidas' post so they could alert him to it.

   She quickly sat up in bed again, pulling the blanket over her head.

   UnDark charged to the side of her bed, bringing the freezing cold air with him.  "You think you can trust that idiot Durnam?  Look at him!  He thinks that Kashoku and Arandor of Light are one in the same!  Do you really think somebody like him can handle something as important as the future of this tribe?  Why do you think he didn't receive the mark?  He's too stupid to pass on such an important bloodline.  Already he teaches his children that your beloved king, Kashoku the Brave, was really some ridiculous hedgehog masquerading as one of your kind!  How can you trust such a fool?  Elliot only allies himself with his brother for the added strength!  You either challenge Elliot directly, or fall prey to both of them!"

   Ilyamay began to freeze.  Her blanket no longer kept her warm.  Frightened by this voice, and even more shaken by his words, she tried to summon fire to her hands to warm her.

   But UnDark wouldn't allow it.  Sneering angrily, his green eyes flashing violently, he seized control of her Elemental powers, something only he, UnLight, or Shadow would be powerful enough to do.

   "Stop it!" she cried, "Stop it!  Leave me alone!"

   "You stupid female!" UnDark shouted, "Go ahead!  Put faith in that kook Durnam and your trust in that wretch Elliot!  When your children are killed only you will be left to blame!  You are stupid!  If only I could strangle you and rid the world of your filthy presence!  You deserve to die for gambling with the lives of your children!  Don't heed my words!  It'll be you who suffers the loss, not me.  Anything, just spare me your ridiculous beliefs before I am sickened beyond healing!"

   Ilyamay closed her eyes, hiding underneath her blanket.

   "Matidas!  Somebody!  Help!" she cried.

   UnDark let out a scream, re-materializing suddenly.  "The only way to stop me is to kill Elliot!  You either lead your followers in a war to supplant him, or your children will die, and you will lose everything that is important to you!  I am a herald of woe!  You either listen to me now, or pay the price later!  What are you Ilyamay?  A warrior?  Or a coward?"

   Matidas ran back into the village.  He could hear Ilyamay crying for him.

   "Ilyamay!  I am coming!" he shouted.

   Trudine woke up when UnDark started shouting.  She began to cry, wanting to run to her mother, but too afraid to move.

   "Mommy!" she cried.

   "Shut up!!" UnDark shouted.  The room began to shake, a violent and cold wind blowing through it.  "The answer lies in taking down Elliot and Durnam!  If you don't, you'll pay for it later!  Already they seek to supplant you!  They will come to you tomorrow to address the matter!  If you don't believe me, you will when this happens!  You can either take them down first, or be their victim later!  It's your choice my Queen!  It's your choice!"  UnDark's eyes were a blinding sheer white shade.  His pupils could no longer be seen as rage thundered through him.

   Ilyamay pulled together in as tight a ball as she could manage.  "Go away!" she cried, "In the name of my ancestor, Kashoku, I command you to leave!"

   UnDark paused, his rage softening.  A small but wicked smile curled his lips.   The storm raging through the home faded, and he could hear Matidas heading for the house.

   He shook his head.  His work was done.

   "If you think Kashoku can save you, you're wrong.  Nobody can save you now Ilyamay, my Queen.  Only you can.  Hide under the covers like a child, and die like a coward, or make a stand against those who seek to destroy you.  It matters not to me, for I will see the bloodshed that I crave, whether you choose to run…or fight."

   "Ilyamay!"

   Opening her eyes, Ilyamay could see her husband Matidas rushing to sit beside her on the bed.  The abnormally cold air was now gone, and the haunting voice seemingly gone along with it.  Matidas put an arm around her; he could tell she was deeply shaken.

   "My lady…?" he murmured softly, "Are you alright?  The warriors said you were crying out for me.  I was afraid it was the baby coming too soon.  Are you alright now?  What happened?"

   Ilyamay shivered, leaning in to her husband.  She didn't answer him.

   "Ilyamay?" he asked anxiously.

   "Daddy!"

   Matidas looked and saw Trudine curled up in a ball under her blankets.  Still terrified from the storm that whirled around the room, she cried out for her parents desperately.

   "Trudine!" Matidas answered.  After laying Ilyamay down, Matidas dashed to Trudine's bed, taking his daughter in his arms, rocking her gently.  "It's alright my dear daughter.  Everything is alright now.  You can rest easy.  I won't let anything happen to you."

   Ilyamay opened her eyes, watching as the father and daughter talked.

   "But Daddy, Mommy was yelling at something, and then the room was cold and windy.  It was so scary!" Trudine cried.

   Matidas didn't know what to make of his daughter's words, but came up with whatever explanation he could to ease her back to sleep.  Kissing her forehead, he started to tuck her back in as he consoled her.  "Now, now, everything is alright.  Your mother just had a bad dream, and when she was scared, her control over the wind stirred up the storm.  That's all.  There's nothing to be afraid of, I promise."

   Trudine yawned, gazing at her father for a moment.  This explanation made plenty of sense to the little girl, and having her father there to comfort her was enough to calm her down.  Closing her eyes, she murmured, "Okay Daddy…I love you."

   The proud father smiled.  "And I love you my angel.  Get back to sleep."  He gazed at her for only a moment, before he heard Ilyamay speak.

   "It was no nightmare."

   Turning around, Matidas walked back to the bed, sitting beside his wife.  "I assumed as much, my dear, but I had to think of something to calm her down," he replied.  Putting an arm around her, he continued, "So it wasn't premature labor, and it wasn't a nightmare, so what happened?"

   Ilyamay didn't answer Matidas.  Her gaze was locked on their young daughter as she drifted off to sleep.  While UnDark had left her shaken, it was the welfare of little Trudine, and her unborn child, that scared Ilyamay the most.  Her trust of Elliot was almost completely gone, and what faith she had in Durnam had been challenged.  It was true that many thought Durnam was silly to believe that Kashoku and Arandor had any sort of link, let alone that they were the same person.  Yet Durnam was so sweet and loving that none of his followers ever questioned him.  Many loved him more than they loved Elliot, and even Ilyamay.  His young sons, Hinsei and Armund, were already following in his footsteps, and were the pride and joy of the village.

   Though his beliefs were strange, Durnam was the one of the two brothers that Ilyamay felt safe talking to.  Even if Elliot lusted for power and Durnam allied himself with his brother, Durnam would be the last one to want it brought to warfare.

   She had no other choice but to confront him.

   Looking to her husband, Ilyamay shook her head.
      "Tomorrow, I'm talking to Durnam about it."  


   Morning came, and there were whispers all about the village concerning Ilyamay's cries from the night before.  Elliot heard none of them, already keeping watch over the Master Emerald long before the come of dawn.  Durnam, however, overheard all of it while cradling his baby son, Armund, strolling through the village with his wife, with little Hinsei walking between his parents.

   Durnam was the last of the royals to start his family; young Ethendore was five years old, while Trudine was seven.  Durnam's son, Hinsei, was just shy of his third year, while baby Armund had yet to reach his first.  Durnam was also the last of the royals to marry, and was the youngest in age out of the three of them.

   For whatever reason, Durnam was greatly loved by all of the village.  No matter what side any of them followed, be it Elliot or Ilyamay, one thing they could agree on was how admirable a leader Durnam was.

   He resembled Kashoku more closely than any of his descendants had up to this age.  Durnam bore those same amber eyes, and had ruffles of golden fur on his chest, mixed with white.  Beyond looks, Durnam possessed the personality that Kashoku was illustrated by in their ancient stories of him.  He was gentle and loving, but at the same time was a powerful warrior, just and wise.

   Many who were against the divide between Sutei-Midoka's and Alamalie's followers, believed it was Durnam alone who could unite them under one banner.

   And yet Durnam was forever humble.  Every morning he would walk through the village with his family, making a point to greet everyone and listen to any problems they had.  Often times he would sit around with citizens just so they could have someone to talk to.  Many felt he was their ambassador, and often times if there was something the village wanted to share with the Guardians and the Seven Elders, it was Durnam who represented them.

   Durnam, the younger son of the last Guardian, was deeply loved by all.

   For this reason, both Elliot and Ilyamay felt they could confide in him, even when they felt they could no longer trust each other.


   "What a beautiful morning," Durnam breathed with a yawn, savoring the morning air.

   His wife, Alexine, let out a warm giggle, holding her husband's arm as they walked, nuzzling his shoulder gently.  "Another glorious day," she replied.

   "Hey Mama!  Papa!  I bet I can beat you home!" Hinsei cried, running a few steps ahead of them.

   Durnam chuckled softly, shaking his head.  "That's not really fair is it son?  I am holding your baby brother after all.  I can't run at full speed like you can!"

   Alexine giggled, while Hinsei tilted his head to the side out of confusion.  "Then let Mama hold Armund!  I have to practice if I'm gonna be a fast runner like you Papa!"

   The parents glanced at each other, realizing quickly that Hinsei wasn't going to abandon the desire for a race, the desire to grow stronger to one day fill his father's footsteps.  Alexine and Durnam stopped walking.  Giving her husband a smile and a wink, Alexine looked to her young son and approached him.  "Then why don't you practice with me Hinsei dear?  I may not be the breath of wind your father is, but running with anyone is good practice while you are young."

   Durnam grinned, glancing at Hinsei, who crossed his arms, appearing as though he was thinking over his mother's words very carefully.  The parents glanced at each other, humored by how serious their son took everything he cared about, while at the same time he was a rambunctious child of light, rarely apt to sadness.  After a few moments, Hinsei trotted up to his mother, reaching for her hand.

   "Okay Mama!  I'll try not to leave you behind!" he cried with a laugh.

   Alexine smiled.  "Okay, and I will do my very best to keep up with you!  Are you ready?"

   Hinsei laughed, jumping up and down gleefully.  "Yes I am Mama!  Let's go!"

   Taking his laughter with him, Hinsei dashed ahead of his mother, leaving Alexine to try to catch up with him.  Glancing back at Durnam helplessly, she quickly returned her attention to Hinsei, breaking into a sprint to catch up with her son.  "My, my, is that my son running faster than the wind?  Keep it up sweetie!"

   Durnam laughed, watching with pride and joy as his wife chased after their son.  He glanced down at Armund, who drifted in and out of slumber.  A yawn escaped him, and for a moment his baby blue eyes fluttered open, gazing curiously at his father.

   "Tell me you won't be as rowdy as your brother.  She and I will never be able to keep up with both of you, I don't care how speedy I am," Durnam murmured with a chuckle.

   Baby Armund smiled, giggling softly as he squirmed in his father's arms.  Durnam grinned, rocking his son gently, singing to him softly.  He took no notice of those around him as he walked towards his home, in gradual pursuit of his wife and son.  There wasn't a face among them all that didn't bear a smile in his presence.

   All except…for one.

   Ilyamay broke the collective enchantment shared by all around Durnam when she walked on to the scene.  Instead of heart-warming, tender smiles from all, the followers of Sutei-Midoka opted for respectful, but wary faces, bowing their heads as she passed.  Followers of Alamalie smiled in greeting, the males bowing and the ladies curtsying in reverence.

   But the Guardian Queen paid them little attention.  Her eyes were trained on one thing.  Durnam.

   The young father continued to sing to his infant son, his eyes twinkling, the corners of his lips curled in the tenderest of smiles.  None would ever dare to break such a beautiful moment, none save Ilyamay.  As though it were nothing at all special, she walked around to face Durnam, pushing on his shoulder to wake him from the day dream.

   "Durnam?  Wake up, I need to talk to you," she muttered.

   Durnam shook his head, slightly startled by the sudden intrusion.  The sudden loss of his father's singing voice caused Armund to start crying.  Flustered, Durnam looked back down to his son and tried to comfort him.

   "There, there my son, it's alright.  I am so sorry," he whispered.

   Ilyamay shook her head, sighing.  "I know you are terribly busy Durnam but I really need to talk to you."

   Armund continued to sob.  Durnam looked up at Ilyamay, glaring at her.  "If you expect me to be lenient because you are with child, you are mistaken," he muttered, "That only means I will not take up physical violence against you."

   Ilyamay's eyes widened.  She had never seen Durnam so hostile before.

   She rested a hand on her tummy, rubbing it as she massaged her neck with the other.  Durnam watched this, raising an eyebrow.  He returned his attention to Armund, and with a sigh he continued, "Did you have some business with me other than disturbing me and my child?"

   Rolling her eyes, Ilyamay realized sympathy wasn't high on Durnam's priority list that morning.  Taking one of his arms, she shook her head, waiting for him to look back at her.  "I'm sorry Durnam, really I am.  From where I stood I couldn't see you holding him."

   "Sure…and I was singing lullabies to myself then," Durnam muttered.

   Lowering her voice, Ilyamay shook her head again.  "Durnam, I know you would never lie to me.  All you want is peace for the village, so I know if that peace we have was threatened that you'd do whatever you could to preserve it, right?"

   Durnam's eyes widened.  "Yes…if this is what you call peace, the villagers having to choose which Guardian to follow."

   "Well, I—I have reason to believe Elliot wants to disrupt that peace.  He…is he not jealous that I wield the more powerful of the two Master Gems?  Would he…would he seek to supplant me to gain full control?" Ilyamay asked, speaking cautiously.

   "What?" Durnam asked.  He suddenly felt ill.  He remembered Elliot's words from the night before…thoughts that had shaken him so deeply he was brought to tears.  Elliot feared that Ilyamay sought to take full control of the village, even going as far as to kill their sons to put an end to their bloodline.  He wanted nothing more than for what little peace they had to continue, but Durnam remembered what was really important; preserving the bloodline that bore the mark.  Durnam swore alliance and fealty to Elliot, promising to protect him to the death.

   The dreaded thought entered Durnam's head.

   "Does Ilyamay really want full control?  Would she kill for it?"


   Durnam opened his eyes.  Ilyamay was gazing at him intently.

   "What…what would lead you to believe he was seeking to overthrow you?" he asked, speaking slowly.

   Ilyamay felt her heart sink.  "Oh, please believe me sweet Durnam.  I'm not trying to point fingers.  I just…he goes on and on about his heritage, how his bloodline is the richest and most beloved of all, even when he only wields the weaker of the two gems.  He acts as though that birthmark of his makes him some sort of deity, greater than Lord Kashoku himself."

   Armund whimpered softly.  He had stopped crying but could sense the horror flooding Durnam's body as his nerves tensed up on him.  Durnam bent his head, gazing at his son.  He closed his eyes again.  He thought, "It's true.  She grows tired of Elliot's superiority.  Maybe she does want to…take it all for herself."

   Looking up, Durnam shook his head.  "Elliot's mark is special, Ilyamay, and none of us will ever know exactly why, for it is a secret only bearers of the mark can know," he said finally.  Readjusting his hold on Armund, he got ready to leave her.  "All I can say is the bloodline must be continued and protected at all costs.  It doesn't matter what Gem he protects; he will always be superior to us all for his blood alone.  He doesn't need anything else to earn this importance."

   Ilyamay's eyes widened with horror.  "Then why not just take it all, even if he doesn't need it, is that it Durnam?"

   He looked back to her.  "My Lady, go home.  I hear you were terrified during the night.  Get some rest, and recover your rationality."

   She pointed a finger at him.  "You say you want peace, but do you really want it Durnam?  Is your idea of peace one ruler for both gems?"

   Durnam sneered at her, feeling anger greater than he ever had.  "Quiet!  You will not make such accusations!  It is you who is threatening the peace!  I will treat these as nothing more than disillusioned ramblings of a pregnant girl, and nothing more!"

   At that moment, Elliot came running up, drawn to the commotion.  "What on Eries is going on here?"

  "You're both trying to overthrow me, aren't you?  All you want is for the bloodline of Alamalie to roll over and fade, just because you think that mark makes you better!  Don't lie to me!" Ilyamay cried.

   The entire village had come to a stop, watching as the two brothers stood together in a stare down with the heavily pregnant Guardian Queen.  Durnam's expression had softened, for he felt sadness in his heart, not wanting to punish Ilyamay for her confusion.  Elliot, however, only felt his blood begin to boil.

   The words from the night before came floating back into his mind.  Ilyamay accused Elliot and Durnam of wanting to overthrow her, and yet he felt he could see right through this ruse.  She only hoped to turn all of the village against them, so she could be the one to supplant them, taking everything for her own.  Even then, he could live with this treachery; it was the most damming of these accusations that caused him to close his eyes and clench his teeth.

   He could hear them so clearly.  Even now, UnDark, hidden from view, whispered them into his ear so only he could hear them.

   "She'll kill Ethendore, and then Durnam's sons, just to ensure the bloodline of Sutei-Midoka, and your precious mark will be gone forever.  You aren't going to let your followers fall for her deception, are you?"

   Elliot opened his eyes.

   "If I have any thoughts of overthrowing you, it's only because I feel you pose a threat to my son, and Durnam's beautiful children.  I believe it is you who wants our bloodline to come to an end, all because you are jealous of the mark Ethendore and I bear.  You are ignorant to its true purpose, and would put the fate of the world at risk, simply so you can be the more special descendant of our beloved king," Elliot explained.  Pointing his finger at her, his voice was stone cold as he uttered, "I charge you…with treason.  You seek to kill, so you will be the most superior.  I could punish you in many ways, but because I believe in leniency, I will let you off the hook, if you only promise to abandon such stupid ideas."

   Ilyamay stared at the brothers, her eyes on fire with hatred and scorn.  "Leniency?  You lie!  You would engage in combat if I were not with child!  Why don't you just admit that it is you who wants all of the glory!  A birthmark is not enough for you!  You would take both gems and all of the village if something happened to end my bloodline. Pray thee, do tell.  Is it not you who would kill my poor children, ending the supposed inferior bloodline of Kashoku, just so you could rule over all?"

   "Liar!" Elliot screamed.

   Durnam shook his head fast.  "Stop this now!  Nobody was plotting to take anyone down!  Listen to yourselves!  Kashoku gave one gem to each of his children, not so they would fight, but so both sides would always have something to keep at the center of their glory!  What does it matter which is stronger?  We are children of Kashoku!  Are you going to dishonor him by fighting in this way?"

   By now, the echidnas of the village had gathered on either side of the fight.  All of Sutei-Midoka's followers stood behind Elliot, while Alamalie's followers crowded around Ilyamay.  Poor Durnam stood in the middle, soon joined by Alexine and Hinsei, who were confused, like most of the echidnas late to arrive to the scene.

   Ilyamay stared at Durnam, feeling tears try to form in her eyes.  She wanted to believe Durnam, but couldn't trust Elliot; not anymore.  Then, she heard that voice again.

   "Look at him, trying to be lenient.  Sure, he doesn't want to kill a child that is unborn…give the baby a few years to grow up, and Ethendore can take him out in his father's name, putting an end to the bloodline of Alamalie.  One can only guess what he'll do to poor Trudine…perhaps once she is older one of the sons of Durnam can have their way with her.  Are you really going to accept surrender so he can sneak in and destroy you later, right when nobody is expecting it?  Are you going to roll over, or stand and fight?"

   "No," Ilyamay murmured.

   Elliot's eyes widened, flashing violently.

   "Look at her…she won't accept your more than forgiving punishment.  She can't even admit that she was wrong.  She won't take this lying down.  Her ego is swollen; if she cannot admit that she is wrong, can you really believe she will abandon ideas for total control?  You can see it in her eyes.  Jealousy.  Wait until she doesn't have that baby to worry about.  She'll come after you like an assassin in the night.  Poor Ethendore won't stand a chance."

   Durnam put an arm around his wife, looking down as Hinsei hugged one of his father's legs.  He was the only one standing in the middle.  The only one who hadn't taken a side.

   Elliot stepped forward, extending his arm, putting his brother and all of his followers behind it.

   "You will abandon these ideas, or suffer the punishment later.  I will not let you call yourself a descendant of Kashoku, if you seek to destroy any and all else that also claim that title," he threatened.

   UnDark grinned.  He walked around the crowd freely, unable to be seen.  He spoke again in Ilyamay's ear.

   "That sounds like a threat to me.  Sounds more like him saying he wishes he could get rid of you, but that he can't find a way to do it that could be called diplomatic.  I'd say there's no need to adhere to diplomacy anymore, do you?"

   By now, Matidas was standing with Ilyamay, their daughter Trudine hiding behind her father.  Ethendore stood with his mother near the front of the crowd behind his father.  Though none of them knew where it came from, both sides were feeling anger.  UnDark's malevolent influence caused tension, mistrust, and rage to build up in the air like electricity in a thunderstorm.  Both sides waited only for an order to come from their leader.

   Ilyamay took a step closer to Elliot.  "No, Elliot, it will be you who can no longer claim ties to Kashoku.  You bring him shame by wanting to destroy the bloodline of his beloved daughter.  Just because you have a special birthmark, doesn't mean you can usurp full control.  The power was meant to be shared, but if you're not going to do this, I have no problem taking it and having it for myself.  In my hands, there will be no need to question who the better of the two bloodlines is."

   Elliot sneered.  He took another step towards her.

   "You either renounce those words, or renounce your name."

   Ilyamay glared at him.

   "You are no son of Kashoku.  Stop calling yourself one, and stop dishonoring his beloved name."

   "It is you who is no child of Kashoku!"

   "You and your son have no right to bear such a beautiful and glorious name!"

   "I dare you to take the name away from me!" Elliot challenged.

   Ilyamay jumped back, pulling fire to her hands, spinning it in a tight ball.  "I will take it, along with the Master Emerald, and full control over the village!  I am the only worthy descendant of Kashoku, for I am the only one who doesn't seek to kill innocents to receive it!"

   Elliot took a fighting stance.  "If it's war you want, then it's war you'll get!"

   Both sides began to cheer, more than willing to take on the challenge.  Durnam was the only one who didn't make a noise.  Instead, he exchanged a worried glance with Alexine, also quiet.  They gazed at each other, almost deaf to the chaos building around them.  They already knew that certain doom was imminent.  The wounds this war would create could never be undone.

   Hinsei hugged his father's leg tighter.  "Papa?  What's happening?"

   Poor Durnam, the only descendant of Kashoku whose heart could not be tainted by UnDark's deception, looked down at his son.  His heart was hurting, his eyes sad, even though the eternal glimmer in his amber irises could never be bid to fade.  His eyes drifted to his infant son, Armund, who gazed up at his father sadly.  Durnam and Alexine locked eyes once more, before both returned their attention to little Hinsei.

   Elliot's army retreated to what was now their side of the village.  Ilyamay's followers retrieved the Master Jewel from where it normally sat with the Master Emerald, taking it to their own stronghold on the other side of the village.  Somehow Durnam found his feet moving, the family somehow bid to go along with Elliot's followers.  Amid the chaos that unfolded around them, Durnam tried pitifully to smile, offering any sort of comfort to his son that he could.

   "It's a battle for power, my son.  It is foolish, and has no reason to be fought, for in the end, the only reason we had such glorious power, is because we wielded it together."

A Great Divide,
   Now stands between,

What's left of hope,
   What's left of me.

The side I take,
  Clear cut as stone.

Fates of all,
   In me alone.
Now it's time for Verse 5! This is a direct continuation of Verse 4, and Verse 6 will continue where we left off here in this multi-Verse story.

UnDark continues sowing seeds of war and deception in the echidna village. After rattling Elliot, he goes after Queen Ilyamay, the reigning descendant of Alamalie. She is pregnant with her second child, around a month from giving birth.

But before he can work on tricking Ilyamay, he is distracted by her daughter, Trudine, only seven years old. Disgusted by the child, he puts a curse on her, damming her to be the one to die if a child is meant to fall in the battle to come.

He's becoming more and more malevolent, increasingly hateful. It only gets worse as time goes by.

Ilyamay proves not as easy to scare as Elliot was, so, in a fit of rage, UnDark full power erupts, and he finally manages to leave her terrified.

The next morning, she confronts Durnam. No matter what side they are on, every echidna in the village loves Durnam. He is the only one that cannot be shaken by UnDark's deception, and many believe if there was to ever be one Guardian to unite both sides of the village, he'd be the one to do it.

He is shaken by Ilyamay's words, but is ready to forgive her, telling her to go home and forget such things. However, Elliot hears them, and takes her up on them. With UnDark still hanging around, continuing to whisper in their ears, there is little Durnam can do to prevent the conflict from erupting beyond control.

The echidnas take their sides, waiting for the first skirmish. Durnam doesn't want any part in it, but follows his brother, simply because he swore to protect the bearers of the birthmark, a mark that doesn't even understand.

And THANKFULLY UnDark doesn't understand it either. If he or Mukot knew that the bearer of the mark would pass on the only hope left for Light, Ethendore and Elliot would already be dead.

So, now all UnDark has left to do is to tell UnLight of his progress, and it will be UnLight's job to prevent Shadow from getting the chance to help the echidnas. Meanwhile, UnDark gets to hang around the village a little longer to make sure the carnage gets carried to a breaking point from which there is no return.

The rematch is almost set. UnLight versus Shadow. Will Shadow get redemption from their last fight? Or will UnLight prove stronger and deftly keep Shadow distracted long enough for chaos to break out between the echidnas?

Will the blood of the Son of the Strength survive?

We'll see.
And yes, the poem at the end is Durnam speaking. Think of what he might mean when talking about "the fates of all." Sure this war affects the echidnas, but what could happen in this battle that would affect the fates of all? Hmm.

lol recognize the name Hinsei? It's Hidama's first name ^^ And Armund should be terribly familiar XD

All characters belong to me, except Shadow, who isn't really present here anyway XD

~ Halo :blackrose:
© 2010 - 2024 ReverseTheEclipse
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Gemzybabee's avatar
this is awesome oh how i've waited on this 8D

omg you fools taking sides... poor Durnam DX