Canceled Version 5 Chapter 5

The dragon leaned over to Lovell. "So, you're the one?" Its voice echoed.

"Well, yes?" Puzzled by the dragon's question.

"You are the one to take us to Marewood's outskirts, right?" Gale asked.

Turning its amber eyes over at him. "Yes, I am a young lord, but it seems that—"

Kratos pulled the reins, clearing his throat. "Well, you shouldn't be doddle too long, this is my dragon, Shimmer."

Lance ran up to Kratos's face. "So, you're a dragon rider?" spinning around Kratos. "Is it true that you and your dragon drink each other's blood to do the bond between rider and dragon to be even formed—"

"Lance!"

Lance winced as he looked over to Lovell. "Sorry."

"It's ok, but we've been together since she was still an egg," Kratos answered Lance's question. "So, we didn't have to do the blood bond. Lovell, I want you to take the reins when you fly." Handing the reins to him.

Lovell nodded. Gale and Lance jumped into the saddle, Strapping themselves in. Kratos grabbed Lovell and hugged him whispering something in his ear, hugged back, Lovell then hopped into the rider's seat. He was looking back at Kratos before taking off. Shimmer taking off from the spot at high speeds rose into the clouds. Lance more excited as they whooshed off to Marewood. Shimmer's speed was incredible as Lovell held the reins.

"So, Lovell?" Lance now calmed down a bit. "How long would it usually take to reach Marewood by horse or foot?"

"On foot? About six to six and a half months." Lovell looked back. "As for on horse about four to five months? Why?"

Lance shocked. He opened his mouth. "I was curious? Now I'm glad we are flying."

Gale lifted his head. "Where exactly is Marewood located?"

Lovell was turning his attention to Shimmers eyes. She nodded letting him know that she's good on what he was asking. "Let me show you." Carefully making his way to them as he pulled a holo-map out. "It's located here in the neutral territory—" Lovell looking at the map. "I thought my grandmother said it was a part of the Faremin kingdom now?" Confused at what he saw on the map.

"Maybe it's not updated?" Lance commented.

"No, look," pointing at the Faremin border. "this just happened about three day's ago and was in the paper."

They looked at the spot. "Yeah, you're right. What's going on here?" Gale puzzled now as they looked over the map.

"It's going to happen on the eighth of Lark." Shimmer roared.

"But that's a day or two after we get there?" Lovell looked at her.

"Kora was told by Flora, the G.o.ddess of Destiny and Foresight." Shimmers words were reaching Lovell.

Lovell knew Flora too well. She kept trying to tell him his destiny, but he was able to block all her attempts. For he did not want to follow a predetermined path for him or see his future. His face scowled at the thought of her. Lance and Gale could see he didn't like her too much. They both decided to ignore talking of her.

"So, we can prevent it from happening and keep Marewood free from their grasp." Gale was beginning to suggest the idea.

Lovell closed his eyes before making his way back to the riders' seat. Lance was looking at Gale, "I think it would be best if we don't Gale." Lance whispered. "Changing the fate of the town would or could destroy it."

Gale surprised by his words, looked over to Lovell. He could see he was going to do something to save it and there was nothing they could do. Gale prayed that Flora could show him the error of his thinking when the event happened.

Landing just beyond Marewood, Lovell thanked Shimmer for the ride as she flew off back to Kratos. Gathering their things, they set off to the main road into the town. Gale still worried that Lovell would not do the right thing and let destiny take its course on Marewood. As they entered, the people were lively. Shops offering their best goods, smitheries hammering away, tailors checking sizes of their customers. As the folk trotting along the stone paths, horses attached to buggies and coaches. Lovell vaguely remembering that he was once almost squashed as a child when he first came to the town.

"So, where does the Humbly family live, Lovell?" Lance was popping the obvious question.

Lovell's face turned red. "To be frankly honest, I don't know. I was six the last time I was here before being taken by the Goanna Mercenaries."

Lance in disbelief in the matter. "so, then let's ask around!" His playful manner was lightening the mood. "we all go off and ask everyone where they live and then meet… meet up at…" as he looked around. Spotting a fountain towards the center. "There at the fountain?" They Looked over nodding at the suggestion. "So, see you in two hours?"

"Make it five." Gale gestured. "that way we can cover more people before we find something to eat at six."

Lovell walked off without a word. As the others could tell, he was still thinking on how to prevent the dark armies from taking over. Five hours pa.s.sed Lovell and Lance having no luck in finding out where they lived. It felt strange that no one knew them? Gale came rushing over as they stood standing at the fountain's edge.

"I found them." Huffing at his words. Lovell eager to see them. "They live just outside the town. Most folks don't know them because they seemed to keep to themselves after an event twenty years ago." Lovell looked at Lance.

"I think I know why?" Lovell's words finding their way out.

Gale was showing the way as Lovell and Lance trailed close by, as they reached the house, Lovell stopped. He was looking at the place he had last seen Luna at, joy welling up; he looked around to see an older woman tending a small garden. Looking closer, Lovell noticed it was Margret Humbly. Enthralled at the sight of her he notices that she was sad. Lovell could only think of that they must have had some troubles, with losing him after they had just lost their son, only a week before his arrival. Gale looking at Lovell as Lance seemed to stand back as well knew that he was nervous in seeing her after all these years.

Lovell gathered his courage as he walked over to Margret. "Margret?"

Margret surprised to hear her name called out. Looked up, turning over to Lovell's voice. "Yes? Who's asking?" She stood up as Lovell moved closer.

"I don't know if you remember, but it's me, Lovell. From twenty years ago, the little boy your husband, Harry brought home with the infant?" Hoping she still remembered him.

She looked up and down Lovell. She stared long and hard into his eye's. A spark lit up in her own. "Oh, my word!" She covered her mouth as tears flowed from her eyes. "you—your all grown up," grabbing his shoulder, "and—and alive!" Joy was filling her face.

Lovell's eyes soften, "I'm home Margret." Tears were slipping away. Lance was becoming teary-eyed at their reunion.

"But where did you go? Who took you? Did you leave of your own accord? What have—"

Lovell was grabbing her shoulder. "We can catch up inside. My friends and I are getting a little hungry from our journey here." She nodded as she led the boys inside.

Sitting down at the table he notices that there were some photos of Luna growing up with them. He got up and looked at the images more closely. He could see her smiling in each one. Joy filled him that she had a happy life with them. Though Lovell was saddened, he couldn't have been a part of her life like he wanted to be when he brought her to this home. Margret was setting down some tea as she went to start dinner. He looked over at Lovell. His eyes fixed on Luna's pictures.

"She left some time ago with a young man, Lovell." Her voice was cold.

"Did she say who she was leaving with or why she was leaving?" Placing a photo in his pocket.

"Not, really just that she had to find someone she kept calling her 'champion of light'. I don't know where that came from, but it started two years ago before leaving with this Fang character." She turned to them as she finishes fixing up the food. "At first, I thought it was you when I met him, but his hair was the wrong colour, and his facial structure was off. Though not by much. You and Fang do share the same cheek structure and eye's." Lovell went cold. "What's the matter you look pale?"

Looking at Lance and Gale, Lovell knew that this Fang had to be his other brother. "Um, well I think that Fang might be a half-brother of mine, that I never knew of, until recently." Lovell's words were slowly coming out.

Margret's eyes saddened. "So, you have family out there that's alive." Regret seeming to show on her face.

"Look Margret." Gently grabbing her hand across the table, "I would have stayed with you all those years ago, but I was taken by a man who ended being the very person I needed in my life. Though I never stopped thinking of Luna or how you were doing. Through those years." Joy was filling her as Lovell spoke. Lovell pulled his hand away. Turning his gaze away from her. "But I've done many things that would make you hate me."

She leaned over. "Lovell dear, we all do things we regret, but they are what make us who we are. My mother had a saying, all good can be evil, and all evil can be good. How you interpret it is for you to understand yourself." Her words seemed to hit Lovell like he had heard them somewhere before though he couldn't figure out where he knew that Margret never said them to him till now. "Now relax, as I make dinner. My husband will be home soon. So, until he returns, have a seat in the living room."

Gale and Lance nodded heading to the living room, turning on the tv whereas Lovell offered to help with the meal. Margret was thanking him for the offer as she handed him a knife for the meat. Lovell was enjoying the time with her in the kitchen.

Gale turned to Lance. "they seem to be enjoying each other's company?"

Lance looked back at them. "Yeah, Lovell probably would have never met us. If he had never left them, but I think he would not be alive either. I heard that the Faremins' best hunter is looking for him." Turning back to Gale. "I'm worried that he'll get himself killed if he doesn't play his cards right."

"I know what you mean. My father told me that Lovell ever lost his ways if he lets his anger control him." Looking overseeing the smile run across Lovell's face. "He may seem calm now but anger him, and lots can happen very quickly. He may have been told to watch over me and help with people but," turning to the tv. "I'm here because my father doesn't want him to fall into the Faremin armies."

Lance puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that he's—"

"I'm home, honey!" Henry walked through the door. Noticed they had company.

"Welcome home dear." Margret happy to see him. "Guess what?"

"What?" Looking at the three.

"Lovell came back!"

He looked at Lovell. Tears were streaming down as he rushed over. He hugged him tightly. Lovell was telling him what happened to him over dinner. He sat listening, notice that Gale and Lance ate, as Lovell continued to tell his story. Finishing their meal, Henry asked if they had a place to stay. They answered no, then he offered them that they stay awhile for the festival, that was in two days. Lance jumped at the opportunity leaving them to agree to stay. Lovell was saying that he'll have a bath first. Lance was trailing behind. They offered if Gale would join them, he declined their offer. He wanted to talk more with Henry and Margret. Nodding, they headed to the bath.

"Not to pry but what is the festival about anyway."

Margret and Henry looked at each other. "Well, to be frank, Marewoods is being forced to join either Gold Heart Empire or the Faremin Kingdom. We told both forces that we would all vote and say what side we joined through a festival showing the results at the days end." Margret implied. Gale leaned back, knowing that they had the answer from Kora. "Why?"

Gale looked at them, lacing his hands as he rested his chin on top. "Well, before we left the kingdom of River Trees, we met Lovell's grandmother, Kora, and another half-brother, Kratos. Kora told us that Marewood was taken over by Faremin. Then we were told that, by Shimmer, Kratos's dragon, that this would happen on the eight of the fifth month or Lark eighth."

They looked at each other. Margret in shock. "And why are you telling us this?" Henry asked.

"Well, Lovell might try and change the future. I think that the people know if they don't join the Faremin forces. They will be killed. Lovell probably thinks he could stop it from happening, but one cannot fight destiny forever."

They all sat silently as Lovell came down to let Gale know that the bath was free. Gale acknowledged him, as Henry showed them to their rooms. Lovell was not paying attention to what was going on earlier.

The next day Lovell did what he could to help out around the house. Asking what Luna was like before she left. The Humbly's answering each question. Lance was helping with what he could as they watched him struggle with simple tasks. Gale was asking how to do certain things from Margret. She happily told him as his curiosity kept peeking with each new idea. Lovell felt some peace knowing that Luna was safe for now as they relaxed the day away. Even if Lance couldn't figure out how to find a chicken egg, that night Gale got up praying to Flora for help in making Lovell realizing that he would hurt more than help them.

Morning rose as Lovell felt off. He couldn't figure out why. So, Lovell shrugged it off. He was walking down to breakfast with the others. Lance excited to see all the events, whereas Gale tried to calm him down as usual. Lovell could only think of stopping the take over from the Faremin. Once they had finished eating, Margret asked if Lovell wanted to join them at the festival. Lovell declined the offer saying he had other plans for the day. Understanding his disdain for the meaning of the festival, she told him they would be back by dinner time in twenty-one hours. He was nodding as they left.

Lovell waited for one hour before leaving himself and rushing off to stop the faremin from winning over Luna's home over the years. Making his way to the rooftops, he could see what everyone was doing, as he made his way to the Faremin outpost in town. The guards watching the entrance as Lovell jumped down an alley. Looking around the corner, he could see that Faremin soldiers could enter freely. Lovell used a disguise spell so he would blend in. Lovell slipped by, entering unnoticed as he walked around to where the commander was. He wasn't there! A hand grabbed Lovell from behind; it was the very commander he was searching for.

The commander tied Lovell up as he dragged him to the festival grounds. They were blinded as they made their way to the announcement stand. He announced that Lovell had sealed their fate. They heard their swords drawn as screams echoed out. Lovell was trying to protest as the commander removed the blind. They saw what he had set in motion.

The commander whispered in his ear, "If you and the people of Marewood had planned not to join. We had already planned to kill them all if they resisted."

Lovell watched as Margret and Henry killed, he was screaming for it to stop. Tears ran down his face, as he noticed that Lance and Gale were struck down by the soldiers. Screams continued to call out for this to all stop as the commander's sword chopped his head off—

Screaming awake, Lovell drenched in sweat. Looking around he could see Lance dreaming of something entertaining to him while Gale leaned against the window. His heart was pounding from the nightmare.

"Had a good vision, of what will happen if you try and stop the inevitable?" Gale's voice cold towards him.

"You did that?"

Gale looked over to him. "No, Flora just did what I asked her to do so you would see the damage, that you would cause to everyone here in town." Looking back out the window. "That's all. I never thought she would actually do it though."

Lovell got up. Walking to the other side of the window. "Well, it worked." Lovell shivered at the vision. "So, there is nothing I could possibly do to free Marewood, is there?" Lovell was feeling useless to stop them from taking over.

"No, there is but—" Gale stopped short. Looking at Lovell. "We need to find Luna and things will possibly come clear of what you're supposed to do."

Lovell lost at what he was trying to say. "Just say it if you know it. Gale, please? Just tell me?"

Gale moved into Lovell's ear. "you're the Guardian of Light. Lunatic's chosen champion. The curse of the Krisnik family." Lovell's eyes widened as Gale told him.

Lovell had no words to say as he pulled away. He looked at Lance. "Lance and I are also chosen but as those who fight beside you. Like our ancestors before us with your family. Though there are three others to join us in the fight against the dark lord himself, we have known our destiny was to find you and make sure you didn't falter from the light you represent…" His voice trailed.

"And what else?" Lovell growled.

Gale reluctant to say spoke anyway. "Or you become the Destroyer of Darkness."

A cold sweat ran down Lovells back. 'I could. I could destroy everything or save it?' He thought as he fell to his knees. 'Luna could be killed by my hands or protected.' Looking at Gale. "Tell me something is there no way to seal the darkness?"

Gale shook his head. "there is no known way that I'm aware of. Though the possibility is there." Looking straight into Lovell's eyes. "But it seems the lost light has been found inside you." He headed back to bed. "Well, see you in the morning."

Lovell looked up into the night sky. He noticed the moons, Larin and Juna, crossing one another. 'I need to seek the right answer to all of this? It has to be out there? Somewhere…' Lovell thought as he looked over at Lance. Gale was sleeping in another room. Lovell packed some things, then leaving a letter on the nightstand. He jumped out of the window to seek an answer to how he can be rid of the darkness waiting to take him over.

Reaching the edge of town, he looked back, "I am truly sorry guys, but this is for me to find out for myself." Turning back around as he left through the night. Hoping that they would understand his feeling and thoughts towards everything.

Dawn rose, Lance screeching as he ran to Gale. Puzzled as Lance came rushing down. "Gale! Gale! This is bad!" Shoving Lovell's letter in his face. "He left!" Gale opened the letter

/My dear friends, /

/I am truly sorry for leaving like this but if what you said is right Gale. I must seek out the answers I know you and Lance will not have. These answers are both internal and far from reach. I can't tell when I will return to you, but please continue to look for Luna. As I will start looking after I find my answers, I do worry as I leave your company and I wish I could stay, but I fear for your safety with the darkness ready to pounce out and control me. I could always feel it near but never knew what it was till our chat last night. Please forgive me. /

/Your good friend, Lovell/

Gale gripped the letter. "You fool." Tears rushed down his face.

"Are we going after him?"

He looked at Lance. "No, this is something he has never thought of figuring out, and if we follow him, we would only cause him trouble. Besides this is the only way we can help him find his path. He's lost and needs to find his way back to his true self. He may have found the light, but his own light became lost along the way." Ensuring Lance by letting him go away, was the right choice. If not the hard one.

They went to the festival as planned that day. He was trying to not worry about Lovell. As the day rolled on, he noticed a young woman matching Lovell's description of Luna in the crowd. Gale took a chance and called out Luna's name. The woman looked around, seeing who had called her name. Gale rushed over to her. Grabbing her arm. "Luna–Lunatica?" The words were coming out of his mouth as Lance caught up to him.

"Ye-yes, and who are you and how do you know who I am?" Luna's fearful expression was begging her to run.

"Sorry but we've been looking for you with 'him.'" Being vague of Lovell as her champion.

"What do you mean 'him'?"

Gale leaned into her ear, "Milady Lunatica, Your champion of light. That's who." He whispered into her ear knowing that the enemy was maybe also searching for her. He leaned back, seeing her eyes asking what seem to be a million questions — looking around. "It's not safe to talk here. Let's find somewhere more private to chat on the matter." She nodded.

Fang was looking over at them, as they went off to talk. Moved in to see where she was going. Once they found a safe spot, Fang watched the area for anyone wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"So, his name is Lovell." Her voice filled with hope. "Where is he now?"

Lance looked at Gale. "He left town last night." Gale was showing the letter to her.

Joy left her face as she looked at the letter. "oh, and I'm guessing you don't know where he is, do you?"

"Sorry, but he said that he would find us once he has found who he is, and a way to seal the darkness to not hurt you in any way." She took the letter reading every word. "We also know he known about you since he saved your life twenty years ago." She looked up, learning that he was so close, all those years ago. Gale continued to tell her what he knew of Lovell, from what Lovell said about himself.

Tears ran down as she filled with joy and sadness of who Lovell was to her. "Well let's keep moving. So, that the enemy doesn't find me, and hope for the best in his journey of self-finding."