Prologue:

Eons ago, on what is to be the World of 12...

All that could be seen was a field of flames. Amongst the fire was the towering, imposing shadow of the Mechasm, Orgonax, as he continued his vengeful rampage. Around him were figures blasting flames or wakfu, both of which that seemed to do little. Screams and roars filled the air only to mix amongst the rest of the chaos and destruction. The sky was suffocated with smoke that blotted out the sun, leaving it darkened red.

Just a day prior, this was where the children liked to play, a field of flowers that extended farther than the eye could see. Now it was gone, all of it gone. Reduced to ash and flame. Littered with craters from blasts, or bodies.

This world had been peaceful. A paradise.

They'd led Orognax here, knowing he'd been trailing behind their people, looking for what'd been stolen from him.

This, this was all their fault. All of their misdeeds had caught up with them. They should've known they could not run forever. No matter how far they fled, no matter how long they kept going. It was inevitable.

As... painful, as it had been the first time, she took it. She swallowed it because it made him happy. They'd both been happy for the first time in eons upon eons. They were free. At least, she had thought so.

This seemed to be a sign. She could see what was at the end of the path they'd chosen now and how bleak it was. An end that was closing in fast. Her realization may have been for naught, but she had to try and deliver her revelation.

"Qilby..."

Atop a cliff, Qilby stood overlooking the wanton destruction. He can't help but feel a smile split his face and laugh found its way past his lips. Again, history replayed itself, but this time, at his beck and call. Even still, amidst all the destruction- his people shined.

He watched dragon and Eliatrope kin alike fight valiantly against the Mechasm behemoth. Truly a sight to behold. A testament to their resilience and a test to make them stronger. Regain their stride as warriors. History in the making. In the long run, it would be worth it.

It is worth it. Qilby affirmed to himself. His smile curled to a smirk as he looked down at his left palm. Skin stark white with coiling black markings. Palm upturned, a strong turquoise flare of waku came to life. Even after the fight in the palace, he had so much energy to spare. Truly, the power of the Eliacube was exhilarating. The feeling of its essence coursing through every fiber of his being was beyond compare.

But, there was no time to indulge himself.

He grinned, Soon we will have what was rightfully ours, dear Shinonome.

Vain attempts to lift her wings and take flight only resulted in a full collapse to the ground. Pain split her chest. It was difficult to focus. Weakness was taking hold quickly. She'd been meant to monitor the conflict. Keep things in check as need be, but Orgonax's wrath had boiled over to a frenzy. A wild swing resulted in her swiftly getting struck down. Now, her wakfu was slipping swiftly. Her brother needed to get here soon, but he'd pick up on her dying embers- their link would ensure that.

Through the flames emerged a small pack of mangy and hungry, humanoid hyenas, Lu-Fus. Yet another link in her people's long trail of sins through the Krozmos. She pulled her lips back in a hiss, "Your anger is justified, but Shinonome will no pass to you."

A quick jet of flames and she was alone again.

She collapsed right after, the strain of breathing flame was too much. The ground shuddered from the fall of a mighty dragon. Battle between Orgonax and her dwindling people continued without her. Cries of pain, anger, fear...and death, surrounded her like an ongoing nightmare. All she could see was flames, burning away everything. Bodies fell from the sky to be consumed by the devastation they'd ignited. All reduced to ash, then nothing.

Brought down low, how it'd forced a change of perspective. How could she have ever thought this was the right path?

For the sake of their shared, long stewed, bitter resentment.

For their loneliness.

For him.

Just in the process of assessing the fight, Qilby felt a sudden stab of distress as if he'd been struck right in his soul. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. All amusement fell from his face and the realization weighted his stomach like a cold stone. He gasped in shock and immediately jerks his head up. "Sh-Shinonome!"

Immediately seeks his sister's wakfu. The act sloppy out of panic but he locked onto it almost instinctively.

"There!" Qilby opened a zaap portal and immediately runs through, calling out, "Shinonome!"

"Brother Qilby..."

The sound of his sister's voice sent a fear through Qilby's heart that he'd been unaware existed. Her gentle voice dripping in pain and something only he could feel. Something he couldn't pin. He gave it naught further attention, deemed unimportant.

Though her hide was crimson red amidst walls of flame, Qilby picked her out of the haze instantaneously. Before he knew it, he was beside her. Blue eyes wide and heart wrenching as he laid his hands on her side. The touch felt of sticky moisture.

Blood.

So much blood. It poured out of a large gash in her chest the appeared caved inwards. He stood, transfixed with horror. Blood drained from his face and left a chill in spite of the surrounding flames. Were his face not white, he'd have paled.

His mind immediately shut the obvious out. Frantically he urged his dragon twin, "Shinonome, you must get up! I can get you to safety! Hurry!"

Weak, all Shinonome could manage was turn her large, narrow head towards her Eliatrope twin with a low trill, a vain attempt to comfort him, "You, know better...Shinonome cannot."

His dear sister's gentle trill only served to bring a stinging sensation to his eyes, and her words only enforced it. She was dying, and they both knew it. Even still, she attempted to comfort him. He shook his head at the reality of the moment. "No..."

His mind turned frantic. No this, this isn't-this wasn't supposed to happen!

So many thoughts jumped at him at once. A flurry of emotions ranging from fear to absolute wrath quarreled violently inside of him. For a moment, he felt as if he was unable to even think. He wanted to act. It was such a base impulse. So, primitive. Like he was about to lose himself to his internal turmoil. The trembling waver of his dragon sister's dying wakfu, painfully strained on his soul and he was drawn back to the moment. Back to where his dear sister lay at his feet, bleeding her life out.

Whatever won out would have to wait.

"Shinonome...needs you to listen, dear brother..." She didn't have much time left. She had to tell him now.

Qilby knelt down beside her head and, ever so gently, stroked her muzzle. "Yes? I'm here. I'm listening."

There was so much to say. Shinonome knew she wouldn't be able to get it out in time. Her vision was beginning to blur. Reds were only broken up by the white and blue colors of her transformed twin. Regrettably fitting.

This would hurt him. She knew it would, but she could feel her heartbeat slow.

As she struggled with what she wanted to say, Qilby remained patient never breaking eye contact. To see the light in her brilliant golden eyes, grow dim, he could only feel a stab of regret. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not to her. Never to her.

"It wasn't worth it."

The world came to a sudden halt. Sounds of battle became muted. Heat dulled. Everything faded to the background. Shinonome's words a blow he'd been entirely unprepared for. Qilby went still as he stared at her in utter confusion. He knew what he heard, yet he was unable to grasp it.

Even as she continued to speak, her voice strained and full of pleading, it didn't feel real.

"Please, please, reconsider before it's too late..." she rasped weakly.

"I...Shinonome, I," He failed to find words to respond with. "I don't understand, how..." As he struggled with her words, Qilby caught the faintest of movements from the dragon. Before a last rattling breath escaped her and with it, the sensation of something being forcibly wrenched from his very soul. His voice became weak, "Shinonome...?"

Her eyes had shut and her head laid on its side. The chaos continued on without her.

Tears now fell like rain as he looked at the lifeless form of his dear sister, his closest friend. The only one that ever understood him. His eyes darted down to the cruel wound, such an impossibly ugly thing, then back to her. His voice faltered with rising panic, "Sh-Shinome?"

This shouldn't have happened. It wasn't supposed to. It wasn't in their plan!

"Please... please don't leave me! Please! I'll be all alone without you! I...I-" Words were lost as he stared at the lifeless form. The only real friend that remained by his side through the countless eons. Now dead before him with only her last words ringing in his head like the resonance of a bell, and very slowly, they found their purchase and he breathed shallowly with disbelief, "Now worth it? Not worth it? Shinonome how could you say such a thing? After all that's happened till now?" Qilby's voice grew angrier with every word. "Not worth it! Look at where we are now! What we've done-what it cost!"

Anger drained from his face when no response was made. Just the cold reality laid before him. The cruel wound that took her life stared back at him, harsher than any answer made in words. Every fiber of his being wrenched him away from the growing chill and presented his mantra- It was worth it to me.

Qilby pushed out any external stimulation, shut out the world and focused solely on his mantra. It was worth it to him. The death, the destruction, was worth it. The lives of his people, of this world, was worth it.

Her pain was worth it to me. Qilby recoiled from the thought. Eyes wide in horror. No, no nothing was worth that, but-

A coldness then threatened to consume him and he began to sob bitterly to himself. A motion to wipe it away only resulted in Qilby staring, horrified, at the sight of blood staining his hands. The life of his dearest sister and friend. His mouth hung open but no words exited. Limply he looked up to the fight that was still ensuing. Seemingly for the first time he could hear the screams. The roars that trailed into nothing. The fires that grew as they consumed his own people.

Qilby stared as if he'd woken into a nightmare. "What have I done?"

Above the flames and conflict, a furious roar boomed. The meaning behind it clear, wrath. It sounded like thunder and headed straight towards its target with swift, vengeful purpose.

"Qilby!"


Authors note: Thank you for taking the time to read. This is a collaborative story with Miss-DNL.

Comments are appreciated, and please note that there will be no shipping within this story outside canonical pairings.