Fire of Mars

Aetri roared with wrath as his body shook, shifting within, changing with the clapping of the storm above.

He gripped the anchor with shivering arms and tore away the dream, his eyes opening to the rain of the storm and the writhing Ignix which now stirred to its feet.

The Young warrior was whiplashed, his heat was spinning and his blood was boiling, it is why He could not dodge in time before the Ignix grasped him in its dagger-like talons.

It crushed his ribs, the boldness of its roar ringing in his ears as it smashed his body into the water. It showed no mercy, slashing at his ribs and his arms, both narrowly missed, although, with a clever darting strike, Aetri felt a warm river flood down his cheek, a white-hot pain forcing his eye shut.

He was half-blinded, the sky felt like it was spinning, flashing bolts scattering the sky, unleashing a wild hurricane.

A spear struck at Aetri's side and a gaping, gushing pain oozed from the spear: a sharp onyx beak, that hummed with rage.

Battered mercilessly, the Young warrior had his sides clobbered, his nose crushed and his head held under the water, the Ignix's beak lashed at Aetri, who could barely parry with his sword; still clutched tightly in his hand.

Pain screamed through every muscle of his body, his ribs were broken, his left arm shattered, the wounds on his eye and his torso bled profusely as he faced a foe that truly no man could hope to battle.

When it was done and he hung limp in the Dragon's grasp, the Beast cawed widely and tossed him into the water.

All was quiet as He floated in the lake, darkness coveted him gently and his pain was forgotten. The waters felt unnatural as if a slither of divinity swam alongside him.

Visions flashed in his disoriented mind, they crept along the river bed, their bodies were soft on his, with ripe breasts but different sensations. One was soft but wild and wet, another was strong and unwavering but also warm and full of life, but the last was crazed, burning and proud, it glowed and snatched, reaching for him as the last of his daydreams, seeped into his mind.

---

"You watched from the top balcony as Your family tried to hide away from the everlasting flame" The Boy shook his head, reeling back into Black-Crow's arms as Goosebumps flushed across his neck, the heat of the room came to its peak, their breaths sizzled in the hot air.

While the people below had been stumbling to escape through the tunnel after his royal family, crying out and screaming for mercy from the coming hell. But their voices became silent, the light faded from the hall, sweeping all in present in darkness.

The Young prince looked down, as did all in horror as stepping freely from the King's escape route, was a silent swarm of twisted knights. These shambling monstrosities where caped and clad in armour, ash white with gilded accents, all held torches that burned with a bright orange flame.

The Royal family flew back, Ozwuld raising his mace as the Golden Garrison rallied around their people. These men where huge, easily 8-9ft tall in their titanous ivory plate. Each stood with their faces covered by white helmets, and each wore a coat of arms, a skeletal dragon, laid upon a white Sun.

These towering foreign knights halted in a tight formation, showing little signs of hostility as they held-fast for the one that led them.

"Enough of this, name yourselves, why have you laid siege to our kingdom!?" Ozwuld growled.

Heavy steps boomed in the silence, footsteps marching closer and closer, until from the shadows, a gleaming, glowing figure emerged. Like an angel this tall, lean figure was covered in armour plates of shining silver. The pale pauldrons waved into sharp scales, patterned black tails from her huberc fell free from each side, a cloak like a blanket of iridescent snowflakes resting on her shoulders.

She was tall, a good 7ft in height, athletic of build as her armour was clearly extremely heavy and seemed ludicrous for a normal person to carry. The Helmet gave the Young prince shivers, a skull visage was shaped into the faceplate and visor, huge curled horn like an Ox jutted out from each side, decorated with...

Aetri froze as He saw the great horns of black crystal, rising high and etched with gold. The Trio of Arches pointed straight up from the forehead, it was octagonal and abyssal, a mystery to the heart and alluring to the eyes... it made all who saw it... pause, as an unnatural air of calm filled the room.

He knew what this was, every person there knew what this was, one of the legendary Trivium long held by Royal Family: The Crown of Kings.

This figure stepped closer, confidently, the city folk, nobles and royals backing away, the room filling with the figures laugh as they looked on with confusion.

They did not threaten, they did not say a word, the Ivory Knight, doubtlessly the head of this day of atrocity. In fact, the gentle hum of a familiar tune began to echo from her skull-helm, the soft hum of an older sister, peeling apples for the boy in the Royal grove as she played her loot and sang the outer braziers to life.

He grimaced deep, his heart rumbled as if ready to crack as the Ivory Knight strode to the Tall Throne, a great gleaming structure of Blackened Dragon bone and ominous obsidian. Her gauntleted hands stroked it's arms and admired it quietly, as The Iron Dragon stepped forward.

His helmet laid in his arms where he had removed it, and his battered face and scraggly hair, stained with blood oozing from a wound on his forehead. He looked grim and lost, doom lingered in his golden eyes "Edwyn, I know it's you. Unmask yourself."

The Ivory Knight looked at him, for the first time, Her eyes where hidden by her caved visor. The Air stood still, boiling and uncomfortable as it was, and reaching up slowly, the Knight unveiled the fickle Mystery, hidden behind Crown and Skull.

Edwyn of the Summers, the Royal Bastard and Elder half sister to the Prince and his siblings. Tall as a tower, she pulled her head free and a waterfall of long ivory locks, white as fresh fallen snow, fluttered messily on her shoulders.

Her golden locks of blonde hair where long gone, only this platinum mane remined.

Edwyn, despite her terrible reputation was known to be beautiful, a temptress, and that beauty remained, although their was a darkness to the colour around her eye lids, with the fiery orbs themselves, being blood red.

The Beauty had remained, but it was now reinforced with a manic smile, seemingly untouchable in her smugness and joy.

However the boy had sharper eyes than most, a gift from his mother, and spotted the small brand under her left eye, a whirling flame with white wings, burned into the flesh. Her lips were red, and silently, proceeded to do very little, but listen with a grim smile.

"What is this?" Queen Guinevere spat, pushing her daughter fiercely behind her and stepping forward. Edwyn did not stir, nor did her guard, although the Bastard Princess' smile deepened.

"You think you can just storm in here, with power unknown and crush a legacy built to withstand the wrath of the heavens a thousandfold years before you were born? You are the Bastard Mistake of a Great man, Unworthy to bare his blood or his name, and nothing more!" Guinevere was the She-Griffyn, she was mighty once, but after the birth of her children, she had been slowed to a walking pace.

Edwyn did not stir, she merely folded her arms and clicked her fingers.

Two of the beastly Ash-Knights appeared at the queen's side as if out from a puff of dark smoke, eyes widened as they drew their Blackjacks and viciously clubbed the Queen; gashing her brow, she fell immediately to the floor, slumping over and quivering as they whisked her up.

Her brow already spilt, gushing red, she looked dazed and confused, the mark of internal damage. Ozwuld lit up with wrath as they dragged her away, her daughters screaming, her son shivering as Black-Crow clutched his arm.

"Get your hands off of Mother!" Princess Evangeline demanded with power.

"You're a monster, we loved you and You're a Monster!" Maggie roared in her little roar.

Edwyn watched as Ozwuld stormed forward, and then... slowed, a look of conflict on his face "I am a Lord, anointed under the Seven Saints. As where you, I will not break the code of Familicide, face me, girl. Face me in combat to the death and die with Honour, do this the right way, Edwyn, do this last task with Honour."

The Boy tensed violently, clenching his teeth as He went to scream. Black-crows fingers slithered in like a snake, constricting his neck and pressing on his throat. He felt something click as pins and needles flashed under the skin.

Something had been dislodged, bruised.... pushed out of place, His voice would not leap from his throat, only a fickle wheeze crept from his lips on command. He struggled the best he could, he was strong despite his size and slippery, but Black-Crow was more than Human, she easily held him steadily in her arms, wrapped gently around him in a hold that forbid him from leaving.

"Do not Squeak, or this game of Cat and mouse will be terribly short." Crow warned coldly.

He hated her, he hated this, He wanted to yell and scream to his uncle, blast the honour, fuck the Codes, she had their mother and planned a fantasia of conquest... and if the quivering boy suspected correctly, Edwyn wanted him too.

For the first time, Edwyn spoke, in a low, very powerful voice that was unnervingly charming but black as pitch "A Battle to the death? Hmmm, I always did wonder about 'Battles to the death" Edwyn grinned and laxed on one of the large arms of the Throne, as if in casual conversation "Knights, lords and kings alike all scamper to their honour, like it will feed their children, pay their taxes, defeat their enemies, but it's all for naught, It didn't stop me or my children devouring the farmers and townsmen on our way here, didn't stop me burning their houses and raping their women. Funny that."

The People shook with terror, and the Lord Regent shook his head "You are not like them. You don't understand what these things can do, what Mars can do! Accept my charge, Die with what little shred of Humanity you have left!" He demanded.

But the Princess' smile disappeared and her eyes... became serpentine, burning with a glow like the hottest Furnaces of Hel.

He remembered it all so clearly, heat lingered in the air, growing so fearsome that beads of sweat began to form on the boys head. The Figure that was Edwyn stood tall, and erupted in vicious grey smoke. A glow verging on the supernatural, began to ooze from her face; The cheekbones rigid and the skin hardening into sharp, ivory scales.

All felt her Ire, her power swelled the room and burned all hope away. All shrunk under this alien power that blazed under Edwyns skin, even the Iron Dragon.

He stood frozen, wide eyed and locked in by this creature's inhuman gaze. It has begun before any could stop it, she had swept in, a rolling fire, her taloned fingers wrapping around Ozwulds neck, singing the hairs of his beard.

There was nothing to be done, the minute her skin met his... he started to burn.

"Do you feel this heat?" Edwyn asked lowly, whispering to her uncle as He shook violently, his eyeballs smoking as his skin blotched, his blood beginning to boil in his veins. "This is the flame of the sun, so hot that it burns white; A force of destruction, so proud and so fierce that even Dragon fire melts in it's wake!" Edwyns nails sunk into his blackening flesh, his screams scorched by her red hot fingers. A white fire had begun to spring up on his skin as Wyn roared with joy.

"UNCLE!!!!!" Evangeline screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"NO!!!!" Maggie roared, both seemed ready to charge only... a ring of fire erupted around Edwyn, forcing all who would rush forward back on threat of meeting the same fate as their lord.

"...And yet, this heat may be hell for you, but it is the catalyst of all you see today, the sun that burned before the moon on my birth, it created that foolish girl that you so wronged, that you so beat and abused, that you all doubted and spat on, You burned that girl alive!" Edwyn roared.

Ozwulds skin began to melt and flake away, his muscle blacked, his body consumed in Ivory flame as Edwyn lent in and gazed deep into his smoking eyes, stained with pain and terror.

"...Only Mordred of the House of Vortiger, daughter of Black Clara who you fucking murdered right in front of her daughter. I am fire, I am the burning sun that rises in the east, I am the Host of Mars, the Rightful Ruler of the Ninefold and the Pendragon Queen."

Ozwuld shimmered, his flesh was being eaten away, and yet, his face cracked into a smile, splitting the flesh "Y-Youh, arrr... no.... Queen... You are no.... Drahhgon.. hughhughhughhaaahehe." Ozwuld laughed his voice fading as the light faded from his eyes... and flame swallowed him whole.

The Boy had stopped shivering, all was silent... all He could hear was the sound of his heart, a tears began to stream down his face.

Mordred, The Dread Queen tossed the burning bones aside and turned to the crowd who could do little but stare in horror. "Now, what have we learned today? Upset the Queen, be made ash. Simple rules, simple precedents, Defy me and it's over. With that in mind I have but one question which for the sake of every sorry soul in here, better receive a clear and punctual answer..." Mordred crept forward to her Little sisters, both terrified of this monstrously tall warrior.

"...Where is our beloved little Brother, hmm? Evangeline, Morgana. SPEAK!"

Princess Evangeline and Princess Morgana both jolted, though the younger stood tall and met eyes with Edwyn, sucking in her lips... and spitting right in Mordred's face. The Saliva sizzled away immediately and the Fiery Queen grasped as her sisters arm, "...Maggie. Where, is, Arthur?" Her eyes flickered around as Maggie scowled "Wheres our beloved Spymaster? Black-Crow? I'd so love to see her again?"

Maggie got into her sisters face, small but defiant "You'll never see either of them ever again." She whispered with a Smile. Mordred frowned "Where is he? WHERE IS HE!?" She roared, but the Young princess refused to cave, she'd die before allowing Mordred to get her hands on her little brother.

Aetri's mind rumbled, he clutched his head as the waters began to rush and rapid in every direction, clouds formed above, screaming in a chant unknown to human ears. The Same was true of Uld, the clouds roared in the sky as Lee, Crow and the others fought their foes with a ferocity.

Though all paused at the sight of the behemoth cyclone in the sky reached down and lightning flashed towards the earth, sending massive waves in the lake, making the Ignix Scream.

The Past screamed in his ears, forced itself back to the front of his mind, filling him with an unnatural wrath. It coursed in his veins, submerged him in the black depths of the waters, the climax of his sleep.

Arthur, Crown Prince of Britannia, stared with wide eyes from above, and turned back, fear rushing in his veins as an animal instinct demanded that he run as far away as possible. But Crow wouldn't move and He looked back, to be startled by the sight. Blood ran down from Crow's eyes, blood-red tears as she went pale, her mouth opened unnaturally wide like serpents.

Arthur grimaced, she had locked him in her grasp.

His eyes met with Maggie and Evangeline below, both stirred with a sisterly authority, yelling with their eyes "RUN!"

Mordred noticed their eyes and looked up to the barred balcony above the Great Throne... but nobody was there.

The Dread Queen cast Princess Morganna aside and marched over to her squire who held out a very long two-hander, covered in blood and worn from battle.

Mordred beheld the blade with reverence, her fingers gripping the Beige silk of the handle which began to dance with flame, the Horsehair wrap of the legendary blade of house Havel, the material stained black by the flame in Mordred's fingertips.

The Crossguard of black iron began to glow red with heat, and as she lashed the crystalline-blade free. Karhiem; the Blade of the mountain, erupted with heat, glowing from its heart as the flame of Mars was born anew within its shadowy depths, coating its ethereal body in furious ivory flames.

Mordred smiled softly to herself and raised the sword, declaring with all of her might "Upon this blade, I christen this rule of fire. Under the eyes of our Seven saints, in the name of the Scaled ones and Gleaming Uthyr, I declare this Blade born anew: Dyrnwyn, my White hilt that sweet Britannia will knell before, or be made ashes in its wake!

Britannia will suffer me now!!!" She roared, her white fingers wrapped tightly, on Dyrnwyn's now ivory Hilt.

She swung the blade, sending embers into the air as the people began to scream and run in panic. Mordred grinned madly and screamed, "Hear me, My Children!" The Black Knights stood to attention immediately "Find My little brother, Find Arthur, every man, woman and child will be put to the Fire until we find him!"