Utopia

[Rikugurl]

Wide, teary and horrified eyes looked deep into the Chaser's before him, his voice stuck in his throat as the world around him started to crumble. This was what it was like when the raids happened under ground? How... terrifying!
"I....uh....T-th...the mmm-oood dragahh....and umm....th-the Zipp..." Was all the frightened blonde could get out, his body shaking and tears rolling down his face. They were alone now, everyone retreating for either shelter or their dragons. When Terra turned to follow his people, Ventus grabbed his wrist and tugged him back, making the brunette stumble and look over his shoulder. Out of nowhere, the blonde reach up with both hands, grabbing the brunette's face and pulled him down, planting a strong, firm kiss on his lips.

The Flyer pulled away, his face now full of worry. "Please be careful, Terra! COME BACK TO ME!" He yelled over the commotion of the destruction going on around them.


Up above, the Nightmare lit again, becoming a ball of light in the moonless sky, drawing the attention of the Murderous. Still with the flames bursting and shrieks filling the sky, the Murderous didn't seem too distracted, the large beast heading after the Mood and Windwalker instead.
"EEPK OVEINGM!" Axel called and gave an order to Xiu, having him suddenly dive bomb the huge creature in the neck. That caught its attention.


The tunnels around him continued to crumble as he ran through them, trying to remember where the safe den was, where he had spent the whole spell. It was the only den reinforced to withstand raids until a bounder came tumbling down right onto it which would never be the case due to the structure of the tunnels. As he ran, he reached up and grabbed the single charm wrapped around his neck, the first piece of metal he ever made, and closed his eyes.
Please brothers, stop! STOP! I'm here, I've alive, down in the tunnels! STOP!
He clenched onto the charm so hard that the points it had pierced his skin, his blood leaking down onto the magnificent surface.


Leaning against the shimmering crystal wall, a single Divine was looking out at the sands, her red eye content on the scenery. It was a flash of fire that caught her eye, making her straighten and look towards the east. She blinked a few times and pulled her hair back, revealing the eye that was usually hidden under it, scales lining the side of her face and a yellow, dragon like eye focused on the scene. Her red eye closed and he was able to focus, seeing in better detail what was going on. It looked like a battle of some sort, noticing how two other dragons were coming out of the ground now to intercept two others that were fleeing. And one... looked like...
And she was gone, running down the crystal stairs and across the land to the cave.

"MOTHER!"

She climbed up the wall towards the mouth and nearly tripped on her robes as she entered, flying down the tunnel towards the core den. "MOTHER!"
"CHILD!? There is no need to be so loud!" A man called back, his eyes peering at her from the depth of the room but she paid no heed to him as she looked up at the grand dragon who was within. "MOTHER! RIKU AND YUE! THEY ARE BEING HUNTED! THE OUTSIDER'S RAID! THEY'RE CAUGHT IN IT!"


"YUE!" Riku called, feeling how his sister was trembling from the exertion of flying so fast, her wings beating so hard. She had still not fully recovered from the Spell like the others, never having to live through one of them and she was showing it now, her speed and her flight suffering as the Murderous continued chase them, Axel doing his best to stall it.
But it wasn't only Yue who was failing because the minute Divine herself stopped swirling the single talon in the glowing pool at the information that two of her children where in dire trouble, the water that still protected his scales instantly evaporated and they started to shed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

To Sora's horror, both Yue and Riku suddenly fell right out of the sky as if they had been hit by one of their own boulders.
Because Iris wasn't the best diver dragon, there was no way she could reach them in time, the two slamming into one of the thousands of dunes down below, the magnificent glow they both shared going out in impact and together, they started tumbling down into the sands.

"FUCK!" Axel screamed, seeing the Murderous going right for the fallen Divine and he knew he had to do something drastic to stop the fiend. "HARGEC!" A lit in flame, the Nightmare shot down as fast as he could and slammed itself right into one of the eyes of the dragon, a spike from Axel's Wheel ripping right into it. The large dragon gave a horrifying roar and snapped its head back, throwing both the Nightmare and the warrior off course and down towards the ground as well. There was a snap of teeth and then a painful, agonizing cry from the Nightmare as his wing was nearly ripped off. The skin between though was and all balance was completely lost, sending them spiraling now.


"FUCKERS!" A single golden eye narrowed as his Stealth dragon smashed right into the Zippleback, throwing them off course a bit. "YOU DESTROYED MY HOME, I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU!" A blast of fire shot out, catching the tail end of Roxas's rags, lighting them on fire instantly.

[Reno]

"What?!" Divine snarled and then she was moving, Fuujin squeezing her way against the wall to let her mother pass.
"Where are you going?!" The man called.
"I... am going to save my son." She said, not even looking back as she left her cave.


"RIKU!" Sora absolutely screamed, and Iris gave a screech as they made it to the tumbling two. He jumped off her back, unable to stop himself from toppling over some as well before he dived after the silverette, his body crashing into his and grunted as he dug his legs into the earth, sliding them both to a stop. Further below, Iris burst flames towards the ground, making a groove. When Yue hit it, her body sort of fell into it and stopped rolling as well. Iris whimpered and flew to her side, nuzzling her beak-like face.
"Riku... Riku!" Sora shook the silverette who was limp. Some of his rags had fallen off and, without a care, Sora started to rip off his own and covered the silverette in them, trying to keep the heat from killing him. He felt over his heart, hand pressing against it. His heartbeat, felt it, stuttering in his chest.
And then he felt pain, Roxas' pain, and screamed.


"AAAH!" Terra suddenly screamed, stumbling in the tunnel and covering his eye. The pain his murderous was feeling went straight to him. He flailed with his other hand and fell against the wall, falling to his knees and groaning in pure agony. He felt against the eyelid, able to feel his eyeball still there, even could feel some tears that had gathered and fallen on instinct, but when he fluttered his eyes open, he was horrified to discover... he couldn't see anything but blackness from that eye.
If I'm blind... so are you.
"Shit..." Terra cursed, struggling back to his feet. He could tell the Nightmare was down now though. As was the Windwalker. "Get down here!"

The Murderous gave a last snarl to the pair on the sand before spinning and tromping to the nearest hole disappearing into it.


Across the field, Roxas gave a horrible yell, feel the flames burning into the skin of his thighs and the backs of his legs. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Tears rushed down his face as he slumped over. His dragons, confused at the lack of control, started to descend.
And then the Skullion was jumping for them. "I'LL KILL YOU FUCKERS!" Hatori was yelling, dragon ready to pierce them through.

"ROXAS!!" And then the death diver came down right between them, a wing slicing right through the Skullion's body and tearing it in two effortlessly. Two men and and two dragons both fell into the sand. Roxas unconsciously went tumbling off and Nyx and Lyx started to shovel sand over him, putting out the flames that was licking at his skin.

Vanitas pulled up, coming straight for Braig, wicked grin on his face. And then, out of nowhere, the murderous came bursting from a hole, Terra giving a total cry of fury. "YOU BASTARD!" Teeth clamped around the Death Diver's tail. Powerful arms rose and ten scythe-like claws sunk into the wings of the dragon, ripping down them effortlessly, tearing them to shreds. Keir screamed.
"BRING HIM DOWN!" Terra yelled, and Atteris gave a few mighty flaps of his wings as his feet touched the ground and then he twisted his head and yanked down. The dragon hit the ground with a smack and many signifying cracks of bone. It's rider went sailing off and sliding in the sand. Keir gave a weak, gurgling chirp as Atteris sunk his teeth into his neck and then bit down hard.
Terra's eyes, full of nothing but bloodlust, ripped off one of Atteris' scales and pounced down, stalking over the the fallen Flyer. He was groaning, on his stomach and struggling to lift his body from the ground. But his legs were twisted at either angle. Broken.

His rags on his head had come off and as Terra approached, kicking him onto his back, he got a perfect look of his face. It was just like Ven's except with a different head of spiky black hair. And golden eyes that made a sickening feeling twist in his own stomach.
"You want to know something strange...?" Ven was whispering, the way he did when he didn't really want to talk about something but knew it was better to say then keep it in his own head.
"Hmm?"
"My brother, the one who... well you know. He... He had yellow eyes too. Like..."
"Like Xehanort." Terra finished.
He knew who he was. Could see all the sinful things he did in those yellow orbs. He lent over, tangling his fingers into black hair and yanking his head back, hissing in pure wrath, "That was for my father. But this? This is for Ven, you fucker."
He got the pleasure of seeing those eyes widen in momentary understanding, before he sliced the scale over his neck and watched in satisfaction as he bled out on the sand and his life faded away.


And then, somewhere about at the time Terra was heading back to his dragon to get off the sand and Sora was sobbing over the loss of his siblings, of Riku, that was when it happened. There was a shattering cracking noise in the air, a roar of "ENOUGH" and a shadow so large it seemed to encompass them all fell over them.

And then everyone who could watched in pure shock as Divine herself flew down from the sky and landed in the sand. Instantly, a field of grass grew under her feet and spread out around the area. The air turned cooler and the heat that seemed to be forever absorbed into the sand lifted for the first time. Everyone around seemed to be frozen, as if time itself stopped for this moment.
Except for one. Well, two technically, because Iris came running too. Sora's head lifted from where it was cradled in Riku's chest. Just from her presence, the divine's heart seemed to be evening out, as if this grand dragon was his anchor. Sora's eyes were teary as he opened his mouth, "I pray to you Divine... help him..."
"If I take him, I will never let him return here."
Blue eyes shut, then he conceded with a nod. "I know."
"You are willing to lose him forever?"
"I love him..." Sora whimpered. "I would do anything for him."
"I never wished this for him... this pain..." Her head lowered, and for the first time he met her eye to eye. He could see his reflection in those pale orbs. He stared for a long time, seeing in them so much love for her children... but also grief so painful and bone-deep, nothing could make her quite recover from it. Just like the way his mother's eyes looked now, ever since they lost Ven.

He didn't know what gave him the courage, but he reached up, placing his hand on her snout. It was blasphemous really to do so - but, ever since what Riku told him before... that Divine wasn't quite as all knowing as they all thought and that she had some flaws, just like them... "You lost someone, huh?" She didn't need to answer, but even still a sound escaped her throat, something deep and pained. He glanced at Iris flicking his fingers and over she came. He laid Riku down against her flank before he stood, walking forward. And what happened next was really quite ethereal, then he reached up and wrapped her arms around her snout as well as he could.
Her eyes blinked, looking down at him. "What are you doing?"
He could her lower jaw moving. It was kind of ticklish. "Giving you a hug. When someone you care about is hurting, you give them a hug to give them support and comfort."
"After what I did, you still say you care?"
"Of course... I never stopped. How can I fault you for protecting Riku? How can I say I don't understand? We both want the same thing for him... for him to never be hurt."
Divine was silent for a few moments, before saying, even softer, "You're a human. How can you understand?"
And then Sora laughed. Not something harsh or abrasive. Nothing rude or demeaning. It wasn't even quite bitter or humorous. No it was more a choking laugh, one that someone might give if they were holding back tears and just trying to cover it up. "Oh lovely Divine... can't you see what's around you? Those dragons in the sand? Those people who had ridden them? The glorious man behind me? All around me, this is my family. Those I love are dying or are dead. And here I stand helpless to do a thing except watch their lives fade." He swallowed. "But if I can save just one of them though... if I could do just that much... then my broken heart will have something to hold onto and keep it from shattering completely."

For a long slow moment nothing happened. Divine looked down at this young boy, and she remembered.

"Dart!" The Crystal dragon rose to her feet, heavily weighted and sluggish by the eggs warming in her stomach. But at the mouth of their den, she could hear roaring. The sound of the Death.
"Go my love!" The brave Redwing growled.
"No, I can't leave you to fight that monster alone!"
"You must... for our children, you must! I'll come for you when I've got it distracted."
And so she did. Flew as far as she could and found a little hole in the ground.
And Dart never did return.


Months later her children hatched. Five boys and one girl. All of them were white and lovely like herself. Well, perhaps almost. Little Reiku hadn't been quite all white. He was more of a lavender shade, mixing the red and yellows and her own soft white all together to create this new and beautiful shade. He was so adventurous too. Curious of all things. She reminded her most of Dart.
She watched them grow.

Laz, buff but cowardly, gave cries to any little offense and he always needed to be soothed by everyone - and really dear, spiders can't even bite you so don't be scared.
Sephiros, the biggest, would pick on the others usually but sometimes he would just play - but darling, not too rough please.
Yezaa, a bit thin, would always curl up to her first whenever she would return, always with a new 'guess what --- did!'. Yes, Yazzy, I know now please Mommy is trying to feed you all.
Fuuja, the shiest and slimmest, always hid partially behind a rock, so she would only ever see one eye. Princess, don't you ever want to play?
Kadajgara, mind unending in wanting to know everything, was asking her questions ever twelve seconds. Stars are made of fire and gas and yes sweetie dragons did make them but please will you go to sleep?
And there was Reiku getting himself all wet as he 'explored the underwater castles' which was really just their drinking water ('Because, mom, they are worlds to see you know?'). Yes... maybe so hon. Just, please, don't pee in there, okay?

And then Kuku came and everything changed.


Returning from a hunt, only to find her six little babies all gone and dead.
"What have you done, Ku!?"
"Survival of the fittest, mother, just like you said. They do not share your offerings with me so I rid of them so I can survive."
She left with him and created a new world and six new children; maybe just to get away from the pain.

Her eyes fell on her child, so similar to her Reiku. Could feel his life thrumming from him, weak but with her magic about, keeping it steady. And she realized, all at once, that Riku had been right all along.

She drew her head up, slipping out of this boy's grasp with ease and tilted her head back and roared. For a moment, nothing happened. And then, wide eyes of those still conscious watching, two wind walkers flew from the crater, glorious and white and their feathers swishing like music in the air. One by Roxas. One by the Nightmare. The last by Yue. Like music, perfectly coordinated, two lent over and breathed out a green gas. The dragons were revived, shifting over the sounds.
And then Divine looked around and growled something in a different tongue. Iris gave a chirp, her colors turning a stark teal in absolute surprise. Sora too was looking all around, his mouth falling open in shock and then he gasped, unsure what to make of it when, with care, the two dragons carefully lifted up Axel and Roxas (when Xiu growled the female Walker just huffed and slapped her tail into his snout, telling him snarkily right back to just follow and that his little human was going to be fine if he would just let her do her job - though no one but the dragons knew this conversation even took place) and then flew off - towards Paradise.

He was so in shock he didn't even notice as Yue and the other Windwalker came over, the former leaning over Iris and Riku with a worried whine.

"Gather the rest of your family young one." Divine said, looking down at him. "Namine will assist in bringing anyone and anything you might need."
"I-I-I-I... W-What?" Sora just blinked, quite stupidly really, up at her.
But she smiled, her eight wings spreading, giving the ground announcement, "From this day forth, Sky Flyer's are welcome to my home."
Sora might have been crying, as he watched Divine reach out and gather up Riku, cradling him like the precious child he was to her, and he watched her lift off and fly back towards the crater. A chirp made him look over, seeing another windwalker standing beside Iris, her head turning urgently towards the ruins. And, his heart racing, knew there was no time to waste. "Y-Yes, let's go!"

He never noticed Divine did not make it home first without a small... interruption. And that small interruption ended up being in the form of a Stealth Dragon and a man with black-and-white hair. Her eyes narrowed upon them, and anyone would be a fool to challenge her.

[Rikugurl]

"My Divine! Please hear me out!" Came the voice of the man atop the Stealth, his single eye full of despair before he continued to plea. "Take my lover and my children! Bring them your home, give them a life they deserve! I am not worthy but please, please see it in your heart, my unborn child needs to come into your world! Please! PLEASE!" But his wishes went unheard as the mighty dragon suddenly pushed past the man and his mount, continuing her journey back home. The Chaser watched, tears falling from his golden eye and his hang gripped onto his dragon's scales. His shoulders started to shake, losing all hope that his family would finally be able to live in a world where they didn't have to fear death everyday.

When he looked up, his hair blew in the stale night, seeing nothing but the wasteland that he was born and raised in, glancing down to see the destroyed tunnels and dead dragons before looking towards the ruins, seeing nothing but a white light coming from the structure. The SkyFlyers... won and his family would continue to suffer. Himself, his lover and worst of all, his children.


Heads whipped up from the planning table, the leader of the Flyers being the first to quickly walk around it to come to his son who presented himself with Iris and.... Yue?
"Sora? Please don't tell me you are the only one left!" He cried in worry but he could see it in his son's eyes that it wasn't the case.
The man's eyes widened when he heard his eldest son's words, slowly looking up at the large dragon. "The.... the P-proma---"
"SORA!" It was Lilo who rushed up to the man, wrapping her arms around him. "You've done it! You've showed her that we were worth! OH DIVINE THANK YOU!" She cheered, planting a big kiss on the man's lips before rushing off. "I will gather the things!"

Now, just Jet and his lover stood there before the magnificent Windwalker, their son and Iris in pure shock. Tears started to fall from the man's eyes, his hands starting to shake. "I...is it true? Divine.... did she..... did she bless us?"


The world below stopped moving, the rocks and dirt finally taking rest from falling off the ceiling. Wide eyes watched and slowly, their hearts started to calm down. The women of the Chasers all huddled together around the Blubberwing, taking shelter around her. Aqua held her son close, rubbing his hair to calm his cries while Ventus stayed close, his eyes now intent on the mouth of the cave. The men would return.... right?


"Mother?" A tall silverette frowned, seeing the Windwalkers fly over with strange dragons, all landing around a glowing pond where two strange men were being carried to. Divine herself landed, her children all gathering around her, including Kuku who looked none to happy. "Why did you bring Outsiders here?"
Green eyes and a single red wondered over the redhead and the blonde as they were pushed into the shallow waters, their curiosity spiking.
"Why are you healing them!? They are weak, Mother, let them die!" The bleached blonde snarled, coming around to her front. "You're going to endanger us all!"

[Reno]

Terra watched his uncle plea to the Divine, and, when his words failed, opened his own mouth, attempting to call to her as well, but his words failed him. His eyes lowered, gripping the reigns. Was that it then...?

He looked down at the sand and then grunted and lead Atteris down to the blood sands. He jumped off, hurrying over to his father, afraid of what he might find. It was too his relief he found him breathing - but like the Flyer he had killed, one of his legs was twisted and broken, and his breathing labored from the heat in the sand.

"Atteris... let's take him home before he gets worse." He hefted the body of the man up into his arms, then got back onto his dragon, looking up. "UNCLE, COME ON!" He didn't wait to see if he was coming. He just dodged down underneath the surface, trying not to think about what just happened. But everyone else was sure to know soon enough.

The first thing the rest of the Chasers heard was click-clack-click-clack. And then there was a call as a head of a black dragon appeared in the mouth of the cave. It was Atteris. Shortly after, there was a grunt as the young rider slipped off from him and appeared in the doorway, sagging a bit with the weight he held. It made his mother cry out and come running over but he smiled, a bit strained in his features, "He's alright mum. Just took a fall. But... Panther is dead." She took this news in with a frown of concern, the loss of the skullion a hard one to take, but knowing she had been favored today nodded slowly. Terra brought his dad over to his bed and laid him down. "His leg'll need to be set and he's getting a fever already."

She nodded again, assuring she would take care of it, and when she straightened and turned around, Aqua was there her eyes wide and worried. "Braig...?"
He smiled again, still rough in expression, as a placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, he's fine. He'll be here soon." All the tenseness in her muscles drained out at once, leaving nothing but relief and a smile behind. She set Caleb down. "I'll get some water Ida. Caleb, you be a good boy while I work and wait for your father."

Terra ruffled his hair as he passed his nephew, then approached Ventus who hadn't moved an inch. But he was looking up at him with wide eyes. And Terra's lips tingled in remembrance of what happened the last time they were with one another. Had it just been minutes ago, or a century? "I'm back. I'm came back to you." He said and he knelt down, announcing lightly so no one would hear but him, "Ven your family..." And then he trialed off, realizing what he just said. And his eyes widened.
His family...
His family...

"What? What about them?!" Ven was suddenly panicked, reading his silence as nothing but bad news. Terra shook his head, "O-Oh, they're fine. I just... Ven, there's something I need to show you. It's a surprise!" He was suddenly speaking quickly, looking in a rush. "We have to go. Now."
The blonde hesitated, confused, saying shouldn't they stay back and help and he didn't want to get in trouble-
"No time!" Terra took his arm, lifting him up. "I'll say it was my idea." He tugged Ven out, towards Atteris who was staring down at him with a unreadable expression, but Terra could feel his questioning stare. "Wait!" He paused, putting his hands on Ven's shoulders, and then reached down, undoing the tie on the lower knee of his pants, a soft piece of fabric that had been tied into them to patch up a hole. It relieved his knee but he couldn't care less as he rose his hands and tied it around Ven's face. "No peeking, alright?" He helped the blonde up on the dragon and hopped up behind him, reaching around him to grip the reigns and clicking his tongue softly.

Atteris huffed some and headed down the tunnel to the nearest hole.
Are you sure...?
Yes. Yes, I'm sure.


Down the other way of the tunnel, Aqua came to a pause, seeing her husband with his head hanging as he came down the tunnel. Where was his dragon? "Braig...?" she called tentatively.


Sora, still a bit surprise by Lilo, had to shake his head and turn to his father. Then he nodded. "Yes. Riku and Yue fell in battle, so she came to save him. I... I asked her to bring him back, to heal him and then... well... we talked and..." He waved his hands and shook his head. He couldn't find the words. "W-Well, there will be time for stories later! Roxas and Axel have already been taken there. They got injured, so she is going to have them healed! And she said to gather the rest of us to follow! I need to get my treasure box."
Just as he was spinning around to hurry down the hall, his mother's strained voice came to him. "Sora... What about Van?"
The brunette froze completely, and then slowly he turned to face his parents, and the look on his face no longer held his elation. "He... He fought bravely mom... but..." He turned his head away, "But he was already to far gone to be saved..."


There was a chuckle, then a sarcastic hiss, "Hm, survival of the fittest my dear Kuku. Now hold your tongue." Divine said strictly, "As I recall, I made this land you live in and therefore I make the rules and decide who may or may not stay in my land. If you do not agree with this, you are welcome to do as Riku had, and leave." Her eyes bored down into him, glaring and daring him to challenge her, before she shifted forward. Her children parted for her - mainly to avoid being crushed.
They watched as she approached another spring, separate from the one's the outsiders were in, and she laid Riku into it. Though unconsciously, he floated atop the water - no doubt some magic keeping him afloat, and then she swirled a claw into the water. It glowed brighter than before, and streamed shot up and curled around the young boy. Slowly, the scales that were once on his back started to reform and piece back together.

Across the way, the two other dragons had a good grip on the collar of the two humans, and just as they started to exhale, dunked them both into the water then pulled them out quickly.
Even still both started to cough, and Roxas' eyes fluttered, groaned as he felt himself being lifted and laid out onto the ground. "Nnnnn."
His eyelids fluttered, mumbling in confusion as he saw... color in front of him. Green, like the shade of Axel's eyes. But a lot of it. "Dreaming..." He mumbled to himself.

[Rikugurl]

"T-terra!" Ventus gripped onto the man's back as he felt the dragon moving and suddenly, he felt the heat of the outside. Divine, it felt so strange to be outside again, the air easier to breathe and he nearly choked when he sucked it down too quickly, his lung use to the stuffy air below. What was is that Terra had to show him on the outside? He froze when he felt gravity pull at him and for the first time in awhile, he felt that strange feeling of flying again. Where were they headed to? For a moment, he was sure that the brunette was going to show him Vanitas, that he had killed him and wanted to show him the body. As much as he wanted his brother dead, he wasn't sure if that would be such an amazing visual. Then again, Terra was known to be a sick fuck.

He knew first hand.

Still, as they continued to fly off, he knew that they were getting too far away from the battle ground so his dead brother was not a part of the tour. "Terra!? Where are we going!?"


When the young woman came up to her older lover, she panicked when he fell, getting on her knees to face him. His hair was a mess and though he had no signs of wounds or broken bones, he looked defeated. Xigbar, or Braig, was well known to be a strong man, like his brother and nephew and seeing him like this, his shoulders shaking and his face full of hopelessness. "It's over... Aqua. I....I tried." His voice was raspier than ever. "Divine... she came out and she landed during the raid. Things grew around her, the air became so... fresh, like living water. She was.... beautiful and.... and she.... she said that.... the Sky....the fucking....Skyflyers were... welcomed into her home. Aqua," His golden eye rolled to look at her, the rim puffy and swollen from his tears. "I begged her to spare you... and Caleb... and our unborn....I begged her to take you... I may not be worthy but you deserve so much. Y-you're beautiful and you-you..."

The man choked, feeling arms wrap around his neck. "You and the children deserve so much more..."


"Shhh..." A soothing voice filled the wounded man's head as his lover took a large pieces of ivory, placing it under the man's leg. "You'll be alright, my love. Everything will be alright." Her pale fingers ran through his thick, dark hair, feeling how hot his head was. Wet rags were placed on his chest and around his temples to cool him down and she knew that setting his leg was going to be quite painful. "I love you."


Jet looked down at the dusty bricks and shook his head, taking in the news that he lost yet another son. He looked to his side then, seeing Runa cover her mouth as she too took in the information and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Come on... we need to gather our things." The leader gave a shaky smile to the Windwalker who was waiting there patiently before leading her away.

Not long after, the rest of the Flyers met back in the room, rags full of their only belongings. They were wrapped around the various horns the Walker had and carefully, Runa and Jet mounted the graceful creature while Lilo was being helped up onto Iris. When she sat down, her arms wrapped around Sora so tightly. "Thank you, Sora..."


Kuku frowned but backed down, watching in the shadows of the trees as the children followed their mother to the spring, watching their brother heal. It was Fuu who broke away though and hurried over to the other one where the Outsiders were being taken care of by the Walkers. "Thank you, sisters." She smiled at them both and nodded, the two dragons stepping aside to allow her to look over them. They were weak still and would need food and water to regain their strength but she had to smile as she watched the redhead reach out, his long, thin fingers running through the soft grass as if he had never...

Aquamarine eyes slowly opened, his silver eyelashes fluttering as his strength poured back into him. He felt the cool water around him, a warmth still present that he knew so well. Slowly, he rolled over and looked up at the night sky, seeing the thousands of stars up above. They were beautiful but he didn't care for them. He needed to see something even more wonderful, something that would truly bring life back into his body, heart and soul.
"Sora...?"

[Reno]

"That kind of ruins the concept of surprise!" Terra called over the sound of wings beating, the sound of his voice a bit rougher than normal. But Ven couldn't see his expression, which would be a good thing. He saw the building approaching, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Almost there..."


"Braig..." Aqua whispered, trying to wrap her mind around what her husband was telling her. Divine had come out of the crater... had allowed the Flyers entrance. Why? Why now? Was it there belief that finally granted them passage? She shook her head slowly, "Is that really true... Did she really...?"
He whispered to her, that the Flyers were leaving right now. She stared, dumbstruck at the wall just beyond his shoulder, feeling his shaking body against hers.
So many thoughts and questions and whys and what ifs rushed through her head at that moment, but all she did, finally, was lay her head against Xigbar's and weep.


"Mmm... Id...." Came the groan, the man only partially conscious, his red eyes slit behind his lids. There was a pain somewhere low, deep and hurting that made his involuntarily trembling muscles flinch. His skin was scorching, but somehow he also felt cold, shivering some and goosebumps rising over his dark-colored skin. "Tried to..." He said, tongue feeling thick and throat like sand, "Kill 'em... damn Flyers..."


"Lilo... I think we must truly thank Riku." Sora said softly, hugging her back but more gently because, well, men weren't supposed to hug girls tightly. He learned that when he was much younger and she bit him for it. In the shoulder. It had hurt a lot. such childish thoughts almost made him laugh.

Almost, because suddenly Iris gave a chirp or fury, colors going a cautionary yellow, and then dark black in fear. Lilo slipped from his arms as the mood dragon backed away and Namine gave a whimper also backing away. He heard Norn hissing from where he had been about to take flight beside them. Sora blinked at this strange development until he heard a loud huff of breath, and slowly turned around.
His eyes went wide, seeing the Murderous dragon's head poking in under the rags. Claws made a loud click-clack as they sunk into the stone at the edges of the room. In that second, his whole life flashed behind his eyes, certain that, in retribution, they were about to be burnt to nothing by this fearsome and unbeatable foe.
And then he heard a call. "Don't be afraid! Please!"
And then an answer to that - not from any of them, but he couldn't mistake a voice he's heard all his life. "What are you talking about? Terra! Where are we?"
Sora's jaw dropped open, practically ready to hinge off. The dragon struggled part-way into the room, truly too large to fit, but close enough the rags of the grand hall pressed around something atop the creature's neck. At first, he assumed it was a a spike or some off protrusion, until a hand reached down and pulled it up and over himself.

It was the first time he ever saw the rider of the Dragon. He was shocked to discover the terrible and terrifying man he had conjured up in his worst nightmares wasn't even close to his imaginings. He wasn't as old as he thought he should of been either and, when he lifted his bundle, Sora could almost say... he was even quite gentle.
He jumped from the beast and the other in his arms flailed, crying out - and if only he wasn't blindfolded, he probably wouldn't of been cursing so violently in front of their mother. As it was the man just chuckled, looking up at the gathering of dragons and humans alike. "I know you can speak my tongue. So you'll understand my request. Please... take him with you." And then he reached up, and untied the blindfold, whispering something like 'surprise' to the younger and beautiful blue eyes blinked from behind them, looking around in utter confusion.

And then suddenly Sora was in action as he rushed forward, screaming with tears rushing from his face. "Ventus! Ven you're alive?!" He didn't even care of the proximity of the murderous of the Chaser, as he grabbed his brother and enveloped him in a practically bone-crushing hug, close to sobbing like a child. "How are you alive!"


He watched for a small time, before, as his nature tended to be, turned from the proceedings of his brother's healing and followed his sister, stepping up beside her and leaning forward some to gaze without abashment towards the two Outsiders and their outsider dragons. His eyes were on the blonde one, watching him roll of some, eyes only half open as he looked around, at the world around him, mumbling things that didn't make any sense - sounded like gibberish really. "Things," Kadaj started, "Are about to get very, very interesting."

"He will be along shortly Riku." Came the answer at the edge of the water, watching her son float about in the water. She had a feeling he was going to be quite stubborn about leaving until the brunette did arrive.
"Mother... Are you certain this is wise?" Yazoo was the one to speak, looking past her towards the... the Invaders, then up towards her with a petulant frown.
"I suppose we shall learn that together, now won't we."

[Rikugurl]

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Ventus nearly toppled over when he was slammed into by his eldest brother. "S-SORA!" He smiled, tears coming to his eyes too and with the last bit of strength that Sora allowed him to have from that crazy hug of his, he wrapped his own arms around his brother, holding him close. But when the blonde remembered that he had to breath, he gently parted himself from the brunette and gave him a true, loving smile. "Divine, it is so good to see you again..." His whispered, leaning in and giving his brother a kiss on the cheek. He then looked around, seeing a bizarre glowing dragon by his parents and Lilo still on Iris. "W-what's going on? Where is everyone else? Axel? Roxas? Olette?" He questioned, not bothering to mention his late brother who he knew in his heart already met his doom.

When he didn't get a response though, just empty, blank stares, he shook his head and laughed nervously. "I'm alive... yea... I uh.... was... was... k-kidnapped. Um... the Chasers... n...needed me to make something for them..." He sputtered out, unsure what to say, seeing his parents eying the Chaser and Atteris. "B-but I'm here now! I-I'm back! A-are we going to have a... a...p-post raid celebration? Is Axel and Roxas getting food?"
"N-no, Ven... w-we're headed to the Promised Land." Lilo finally spoke, her voice small.
"T-the---"
"Divine granted us... permission for us SkyFlyers to come to her home, to live with her." Jet explained, wondering if this too was one of her gifts, to bring back a son who everyone thought was lost forever.

Ventus's mouth with slack, his clear blue eyes blinking a few times. It was then that the Flyers noticed how much better the blonde looked. He was still pale but he had some meat on his bones and didn't look so washed out and tired as he did for years.
"W-what about.... t-the Chasers? T-they coming too?"


"Mommy?"
A little voice called, a young boy carefully walking over the debris in the tunnel as he ventured towards his parents. They were holding onto each other, knowing that they were both crying. "What's wrong? Are you hurt daddy?"
When he got close enough, he saw his father shake his head.
"Is my baby hurt?" He asked, worried that his future brother or sister had been hurt somehow. Again, there was a shaking of the head. "Well if no one is hurt and you're ok... nothing should be wrong right?" It was then that the two pulled away a bit, looking down at their boy who was giving them a tiny, little smile, his eyes bright and innocent. "If we're all ok, there's nothing to be sad about!"

[Reno]

It was kind of funny to realize they were all speaking the wrong tongue now - luckily Roxas was hurt or he would be damning them for blowing their cover. Then again, it didn't really matter now. Sora even, realized, the irony of it all. The raid they had planned to kill the Chasers in for the death of Ventus... when he was alive the entire time.
When Ven asked the next question, everyone just continued to stand and stare in surprise, completely lost for words. It was so strange to hear him ask such a thing - considering he just told them he had been kidnapped.

It was Terra who answered, reigns rattled as he started to lift himself back up onto his dragon. "No Ven." He settled himself down, looking down towards the blonde, who turned to him, inquiring and confused. "We asked. The invitation is only for Flyers. And... I could of never forgiven myself if... I kept you down there when you have a chance for true happiness." He looked down at the blonde, eyes sweeping over him slowly, memorizing every last beautiful bit of him, because it was probably the last time he'd ever see him. And then he smiled but turned his head to look at his hands, curled so tight his knuckles were white, his voice a bit choked up as he said, "Have a good life, okay?" Atteris started to shift, wings beating irritably as he started to try to leave the grand hall.


"Oh Caleb..." Aqua whispered, picking up her son and letting him settle in her lap, rocking him gently. She kissed the top of his head and wished, with all her might, she could give him the world. "You're right my little star. We are okay, that is something to be glad of."

[Rikugurl]

"WHAT!? WAIT! WAIT, TERRA! NO!" The blonde called, suddenly leaving his brother's side and actually grabbed onto one of the Murderous's scales. "What do you mean 'Only Flyers?' T-that doesn't make any sense!I'm not going anywhere without you!"
"Ventus!?" Jet called but his mouth shut when his son whipped around.
"NO! I MEAN IT! What is life living in paradise if you don't have anyone to share it with!?"
"VEN!"
"NO!" Now the blonde was sounding desperate, his eyes watering before looking back up at the brunette. "Chasers... they're not bad people. They're smart and kind, even if they are a little rough around the edges. If we weren't so stupid, Flyers or Chasers, we'd learn that if he had worked together, life would have been better. We would never be hungry and people wouldn't have to die."

The man's eyes closed, his grip on the scales tightening. "They have families and even children. A woman, a kind woman, is even expecting." Slowly, Ven looked over his shoulder at Sora, giving him a weak smile. "And she sends her thanks... for sparing her life..." His eyes rolled away, looking back up into Terra's. "If anyone deserves to go, it's her and her kids... not me. I've lived my life, they are just starting theirs. They should grow up, not knowing the feeling of hunger pains, or worry every day that the ceiling above their heads will have in. They shouldn't hide from the sun or lay around in their filth. I can't leave and be happy knowing that people are still suffering. No one deserves to suffer and if the Flyers are proven worthy to go to the Promised Lands, so should the Chasers."

Suddenly, Ven wrapped his arm around a mighty arm of the Murderous and buried his face into the dark scales. "I'm not going. I can't go... because I'm not only a SkyFlyer... but a LandChaser too."

[Reno]

The brunette looked down at the blonde that he had come to care for, reaching down and placing his hand on the other's shoulder, fingers curling there. He had enough stretch, he could shove him away and be gone faster than the boy could recover and then he'd have to go. But his movements stilled there, his expression twisting, his voice still all choked up and he wasn't sure if he was happy or in despair Ven wanted to stay with him so badly. Divine, what did he do to deserve not only Ienzo, but Ventus too? "You're such an idiot, you know that..." A tear pattered onto the blonde's arm.

And, regarding this all, was Sora. He crossed his arms, then nodded, "Well then, I guess the only thing left to do it to tell Divine that." His interjection was unexpected, making them both look up at him.
"Sora... what?" His mother was asking, terrified by such an idea.
"The way I see it... we owe just as much to reaching the Promised Land to the Chasers as we do our own, and Riku's, efforts." Sora nodded. "If it weren't for today's raid... Divine might never of appeared. If it weren't for Ven being taken, the raid never would of happened. But also..." He paused, then looked up into the blue eyes of the Chaser - and maybe he could see how such a man could control such a fierce creature. Wrath could sometimes only be tamed through kindness. "Your dragon is the strongest and fiercest. Unbeatable. You could of done a million evil things to us. You could of threaten our lives or held Ven's life against ours, until we were all but forced to try and ask for your entrance into Paradise."
Terra blinked at the notion, then rubbed the back of his head sheepish - the thought never even ran through his head?! Sora tilted his some head with a chuckle and smiled, "But you didn't. you came here, willingly... to give him back. What you did was noble and good... and from the heart. Maybe we all do have differences... but I don't think an act like that should go unrecognized." He stood there then nodded again, his decision made. "I'll speak with her. I'll do everything I can to convince her to grant the Landchasers entrance as well. And if I can't, maybe Riku will be able to."

[Rikugurl]

"Then I will wait here." Ventus said, not minding the man's hand on his shoulder, getting rather use to his touch. It had taken Ven some time to not flinch at any sort of touch, due to both Terra's torture and his brother's mitts. "And if there is no hope, I will have to send my wishes with you. I can't go and I won't, not unless the Chasers can to. You know I am alive and..." Slowly he looked back up at Terra, giving him a small smile, "well taken care of... so don't you worry." His hair shifted in the back where it was still longer than the front when he looked back at his brother and parents. "I don't know who this Riku is but whoever he is, please thank him for me."

Not much left could be said and slowly, the dragons flew off, the only ones left being the Murderous, Terra and Ventus. There was silence between the three for some time until Ven looked back up at the brunette. "No matter what, Terra, I'm not leaving your side... because I love you. And no one, including you and no thing, including Atteris, will make me change my mind."


"THERE!" Lilo called as the dragons flew over the Crater, pointing out where Divine and the other silverette were gathering around a pool. As they descended, the woman gripped onto Sora's shoulders, feeling how the world drastically changed around her, the air crisp and the wind actually blowing her black curls across her face. Her parents must of dreamed of this place. She only wished they were alive for them to see their little girl reaching the Promised Land. As they landed, she was too scared to even move off Iris but Sora jumped down and started to run towards the small gathering, the silverette moving away instantly as they were shocked to see an outsider so close.

With big, clumsy feet, Sora stomped through the pool, not instantly floating over the waters like Riku, the spell breaking instantly from the disturbance. The Divine sank instantly and everyone, including Divine herself watched as Riku surfaced, coughing some and wiping the hair from his face when suddenly he fell back again, the two sinking again before resurfacing, their lips now locked. It lasted for only a moment before the kiss broke and aquamarine eyes looked down into spiraling blue. "Sora!"

[Reno]

The large dragon snorted at the slight - what was wrong with him? He was pretty tame these days!
But the brunette atop him had his eyes widening.

"You know, when it got dark like this and you could hear even the clouds sleeping, there was always something that bothered me." Terra said, softly, thumbing through a book idly, everyone else around them quite asleep, including little Caleb who had curled up in the blonde's lap.
"Hmm?" Ven murmured back, trying not to disturb the tiny weight atop him.
"I would stay up for hours thinking about it, and Ienzo... Ienzo would make it worse sometimes, really." Blue eyes rolled up to look at him and he sighed and shifted, settling down so his head was laying down on the make-shift pillow, about a foot away from Ven's head. "When I became bound to Atteris, I told you how my feelings leaked into him? And his thoughts into mine? Well... sometimes so did his cravings to hurt things." He frowned some. "And it would make me wonder what was wrong with me."
He fingered the hardback on his chest, his eyes darting aside to stare as a loose thread in the material. "And Ienzo... well, his entire family was killed by Atteris... so even after I tamed him he understandably hated him. He never hid that hate. I understood really; it really was just awful. I'd seen what he'd done from his memories. Dragons have a very large and vivid memory, you know." He grinned some at this almost random piece of information, but sobered quickly.
"But..." His lips turned down, "But sometimes the way he would talk and act it made me feel like... like I was the monster."
Beside him, Ven frowned, "Did... you ever tell him any of this?"
"Truthfully? I was terrified too... because I was afraid... he'd come to think that too. And then... then he wouldn't want anything to do with me. I guess that makes me a little selfish but, he was the first good thing I'd had... I didn't want to let it go."
Ven nodded slowly and shut his eyes. And for awhile there was silence; a stretch of it for so long Terra was almost sure he'd fallen asleep. Just as he was shifting to sit up though, Ven spoke, "You're not."
".....?" Terra looked over, meeting those perfect blue eyes.
"A monster. You might be bound to Atteris, but you're not him. And... you're not a monster."
Terra smiled, briefly, then it fell away. "Yeah I am..." He looked away. "I gave into one of those cravings... when I hurt you." And then, before Ven could respond, he got up and headed to his own bed.

"Ven..." Terra breathed, before slipping off of his dragon, level with the blonde now so he was able to reach out and place his hands on his shoulders. "Do you really mean that...?" The blonde, though nervous, said it again. "You really love me...?" He whispered.
"Yes Terra I really, really, truly lo-"
Ven never got to finish his exasperated little rant, because suddenly his mouth was occupied by another, the kiss nothing more then a gentle caress. Atteris rolled his eyes and huffed, pulling out of the grand hall to leave them alone and to fly around and around the ruins because really, just hanging off the side of a building was NOT comfortable.

But for how occupied those two were, there might as well have been an explosion and they wouldn't of noticed that either. When they pulled away, Terra didn't pull far, leaning his forehead against Ven's. "Good, because I love you too."
"You... love me?" Ven parroted, making the brunette grin at the irony of it all. Neither of them could believe, could they?
"I have for awhile now..." He whispered. Those eyebrows furrowed and then Ven asked if that were so, then how could he let him go? Something about that made him chuckle, and nuzzled his nose against Ven's. "Because... more than anything I want you to have a better life than before. I want you to be happy."


As they flew across the sands - possibly for the last time, Runa gazed over her husband's shoulder towards her son, Riku's robes draped over his shoulder and holding Norn's reigns so they could all pass through safely, leading them. She looked at her boy who, in one way or another, made all this possible. And then she said softly, "Jet? I think... one of our little boys turned into a man a long time ago... without us seeing it."

Before Jet could respond, Lilo was yelling and as one they descended. And instantly, everything was so different, and it made them all shocked into silence even as the dragons touched down onto all the green. The only one who could still move was Sora as he came tromping across the world without a care, only one person in mind. "Riku!"

He crashed into him without much of a care, his display inane and quite silly - but he also didn't care about that. For a moment all he could care about was the man in his arms, breathing, heart beating, alive. When they broke away and the silverette called his name though, he smiled, blushing just a bit. "Hey." He nuzzled up against him, whispered, "I told you there was always hope..."

"Veeeery interesting." Kadaj repeated, though no one but Fuujin even heard him.

Before more could be said, Divine straightened and asked, "Is this all then?" She looked about, counting the small party. Only six.
Against him, Riku felt Sora tense a little bit as he looked up at the other, and he could see in his eyes he was about to do something possibly crazy. Or more so, he was possibly pushing his luck. But he made a promise and intended to keep it - and he would try hard and with all his heart, not just for Ven... but for that man whp was willing to save him from the bottom of his heart and, yes, even that mother.

"Well," He pulled away - then promptly remembered he wasn't very artful in the water yet and toppled into it when his feet slipped. He flailed and Riku had to catch his collar and haul him up and he coughed some, absolutely blushing in mortification now. He heard a snicker, spotting another silverette off to the side with short hair standing next to a woman. He blinked slowly, then his head rolled about, realizing that they had an audience of people he didn't know.

This was Riku's family.

"Well?" One of them implored. A tall man who, really, was kind of frightening the way he was glaring at him. He did his best not to shrink back, straightening up some more.
"No, Divine. Half of it... it still back there." He said, then looked to Divine. "And they can't come...because you didn't say they could."
"Whatever do you speak of child? I said the Flyers were welcome."
"Ah... but they aren't. They're... the Landchasers."


OOC: I figured about here is were Kuku is going to intervene and you know, rant about how Sora's trying to do evil things already and etc.
And now I just thought of something cute...

[Rikugurl]

"So then you would suffer?" Ventus smiled, shaking his head, enjoying the man's warmth. It was so different from the suns because in this warmth, he felt safe. How ironic was that? He didn't know how long it had been since his whole life was terrorized by this man, being whipped and chased and tortured. But was that really Terra...? Or Atteris? Or was it a mix of both, the brunette unable to handle his love one's death and the dragon only fed him the idea? All he knew though was that when Terra found out that he had been hurt in the same way, that his pride and dignity had been ripped away just like his, did he become sane again. Still, even through torture or friendship, this man gave him food and water, kept him alive and healthy.

"I think we both suffered enough, Terra. Heh.... Aqua was right. She said 'Love feels like strength. Like you'd do anything to take care of that person. Like... you'd face Divine herself to keep that person alive, even one more day.' I see what she means now because even if She... forces me to go, I will stand up to her and so 'No, not without Terra'."


"Tch, see? Nothing with ever be enough for these Outsiders." A cruel, cold voice came from their right where the strange man had been standing silently. "You give them something and they want more and more. That demand will turn into hate and foolish deeds, just like our little Riku." Aquamarine eyes turned to glare at the man, his grip on Sora's shoulder tightening.
"If we let them stay, our world would always be changing to suit their desires. Our simple world of love and peace will shatter into little pieces over time. War... war is man's nature. They'll bring it here if those 'LandChasers' are allowed, these two sworn enemies. Don't you think, boy?" The man hissed.

His cold eyes them looked up at the mighty dragon. "Humans always want to be first, always want win. War is inevitable."
"War isn't about who wins or loses." Riku suddenly spoke. "War is about fighting to protect the people who you love."
"Tch, right, because you know all about that."

[Reno]

"Face Divine? You're crazy." Terra said, seeing Ven shot him a bit of a hurt look. Then he smiled, showing he had been teasing and laughed, kissing his forehead. "Guess you're lucky I like crazy."


Sora's jaw tightened some with the force he was grinding his teeth, but the man's last words was the breaking straw, "He does understand!" The man shot him a look that very clearly said he was too far under him to even think about speaking to him. But oooh, was Sora going to speak anyways because no one dared sully Riku's feelings for him. He reached his hand out, finding Riku's and cradling their fingers together. "He knows everything about it, because he loves me. And he was willing to lose everything to be with me." If looks could kill, Sora would of been dead already from the force of that man's glare. But he still spoke, "And love is what can bring even the most opposite of people together. It's..." He paused, remembering the look, on his brother's face, and realized what he hadn't before. How long had that existed there, without him noticing? "It's what is bringing the Flyer's and Chaser's together right now! Because... my brother has fallen for one of them and such a thing unites our families."

The man scoffed, but if he were about to retaliate, he never got the chance. Because another of the divines spoke up. He was shortest of them, hair sparkling like silver metal just barely touching his shoulders. He cleared his throat, to get their attention, and then looked at the dragon. "Mother." Kadaj said, all diplomacy, even if the only think on his mind was blue-green eyes and a painted face, "I think we should invite the Landchasers."

This caused an uproar, not only from his father but from several brothers. He waited, patiently, for them to become quiet, before continuing, "It stands to reason, now that we have the Flyer's, that they will need somewhere to live. I have a distinct feeling they will not be quite welcome in our abodes due to differing opinions. Nor is there space anyways. However," And here he waved a hand out, "everything is forest and I do not approve of cutting down trees to make homes."

He brushed back some of his hair, continuing with his smooth logic, "And now that we have intermingling bloodlines there will surely be expansion like the deer and rabbits do."
Sora blinked clueless for a few moments, until he caught onto the meaning and his cheeks flushed bright red.
"So, we are going to need space. Sooner than later, in fact. We have waited for them to die out and they have proved thriving - now with no competition, they will prove further so. If we simply grant those Chasers entrance." And here, with a grand flourish, he waved his hand outwards to indicate the world beyond. "And then everything from here to the ruins can be our new land. Everyone will have plenty of space to live in and we will get what we desired from the start. I believe this a smart, quick, and more peaceful compromise in the end."

He crossed his arms, showing he was finished. Sora blinked a few times, utterly surprised by the aid he been given from the least expected source. And then he looked at Divine and it was like the whole world was holding it's breath, still in the wake of her consideration of all that had been said.
And then she shut her eyes and sighed, wings fluttering along her back as she said, "Very well. The Landchasers shall be granted entrance and in return we shall expand outwards."
Sora felt relief tremble through him as he lent up against Riku, unable to contain a smile.

[Rikugurl]

OOC: Please txt me when you get on!

Riku's eyes brightened, hearing his brother's words and then his mother's. Kadaj was always on logic's side, not on anyone elses. However, he had to wonder why his brother spoke up about this. Was he ready to meet new people, being almost as curious as himself? Or was there something else? Did he see something when he came after him that night?
The silverette felt the arms around him tighten and he looked down, seeing the most amazing smile, the smile he had fallen in love with, and leaned down, kissing his lover passionately. It came to end end though when there was a roar and the two looked up, seeing all eight divine wings spread and glow before a burst of light came from each one.

Each light was a different color; a red, an orange, yellow, green, teal blue and purple. Natural narrow green eyes stared up at the sky as the colors soared out across the land, making him blink. "A...r-rainbow..."His whispered before a smile came across his lips. Riku did promise that... they would all see one someday.
Just as the Skyflyers started to marvel at the sight, everything started to shake, and change before their eyes. The first thing that they could see happen was the shield around the Crater started to expand, growing out towards the south where the Skyflyers and Landchasers lived. What they didn't see was outside of the Crater, what where the shield passed, the land started to drastically change.

Sand turned into grass, trees began to sprout and grow, flourishing under the moonlight with the fresh and crisp variety of fruit and nuts they produce. A large river ran between the Flyer's and Chaser's territory, natural bridges and shallow waters allowing a means to cross. As the shield started to pass over the ruins, the dirty, broken and frail bricks changed, morphing into a pure white marble, the beams polished and smooth. The sandy bricks were washed clean and bleaches, giving off beautiful tans, grays and whites. Blue eyes widened as the room around the two young lovers changed, becoming bright due to light in the new columns. The rags around the entrance changed, becoming silk curtains and green, lush vines that crawled around the beams.

The fire pit in the middle of the room suddenly filled with clean, crisp water, and there was a sudden splash, the blonde man spotting things swimming in it. Up above the pool, something else started to form. It was something Terra had read about in books, something called and aqueduct. From the spout, water started to flow, tricking down into the pool below to create oxygen in the water. Then, all the items sitting around the room changed, being magically restored or cleaned. Lost treasures gleamed again and leather became strong and polishes, the metal holding them together shining and reflecting the changed Ruins.

Ventus's breath was taken away as he looked around the glowing room, not sure what exactly was happening but could feel a warmth, one that told him that everything was going to be alright. He wasn't sure if it was Divine's... or Terra's. Finally, a lively chuckle came from him when he looked to his left at the closest column, seeing a vine wrap around it and flowers instantly blooming from their green buds, giving out an amazing fragrance.


And arm wrapped around the waist of his lover, holding his small family close. Caleb was right, as long as they---
The little family had to brace themselves when the ground and walls around them started to shake. Instantly, they dropped to the ground and stayed close to the walls, under a beam so that if the tunnel collapsed, they would have enough oxygen for awhile. Instead of collapsing, Braig's single eye watched as the walls started to smooth out, mud suddenly running over it and hardening, to give it a stronger shell and a nicer, cleaner touch.
"Aah?" He gasped, seeing the floor below them dry up from mud and waste as ivory started to surface to line the walkways, designs being carved in them magically.

"A-aqua..." Xigbar whispered, making the woman look up and she gasped, seeing the tunnel around them changing. Even the beam there was huddling under changed, becoming something different, a tree unknown to them and the beams started to grow branches, leaves and fruit slowly appearing from the stem. Vines started to crawl across the ceiling and a larger bud would appear every 100 feet and a flower bloomed, producing light from its core. The tunnel brightened up immensely, making the Chasers squint for a moment until their eyes adjusted. And then, everything stood still except for the few vines still crawling around the walls, little flowers blooming here and there. There was a rumble down the tunnel but that too stopped after awhile, leaving the family speechless.

Down the tunnel, in the den of the leaders, Ida herself had covered her lover with her body as the walls started to shake, thinking that another raid was coming down on them. Due to her fear, she had her eyes closed until everything stopped. When she looked up, she went slack-jawed, seeing the room around her completely changed. The walls were a soft tan, covered and decorated in cravings and vines, her Blubberwing sniffing some of them cautiously. The floor was no longer made of dirt but ivory, some of their fur rugs now on the floor to give some decoration. She looked behind her to the mouth of the den only to see something strange. Another piece of ivory was blocking the way to the tunnel.

"WAA!!" The woman nearly fell to the floor when the man below her sat up, his red eyes peering around the room. She watched him for a moment, wondering where he got the strength to sit up like that but she quickly covered her mouth when she noticed that his leg was now straight, the cast she was about to apply, gone. "Your leg..."


And finally, back in the Crater, one side of the mountains that had formed hundreds of years ago started to crumble and form into a flat land, opening a route towards the south, nearly a thousand feet wide. That was when the Divine and the Skyflyers saw the changes in their land, seeing the rivers, the trees, the lake, the palace where the ruins once stood and the hills and ivory doors where the entrance of the Chaser's tunnels were.
No longer did the Flyers or Chasers have to try to get into paradise because it was now at their footstep.

"Look." Riku pointed, catching Sora's eyes, the brunette seeing the river where a few rainbows shot across from each side, but that wasn't what the divine was showing him. No, it was a junction off of the palace that was once the spot the two would meet, now being what looked like a part of the palace itself. "Our Place."