//------------------------------//
// Awaken 
// Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero 
// by That_Random_Pony 
//------------------------------//


"…tal signs… mal. Doesn't… lack of… or…"

"Will… et better…?"

"…on. His vital… are increasing. He's… he's waking up."

Draco groaned loudly as he groggily opened his eyes. His vision was blurred, but he could make out the smell of medicines and others in the room. He glanced down to his chest, grimacing at the trio of tubes in his arms and chest. He reached an arm up and pulled them out slowly, and he felt a hand ease him back down to the bed. Jerosh's scent reached his nose, and then he felt Ember's claws hold his hand. He coughed violently, their voices faint in his head as he sat up. 

"This might hurt, little brother."

Draco grunted with a strain as he felt his senses come back to him all at once. The light of the room blinded him, his nose picked up on his mother's scent, Ember's, his brothers, and Figanti. The slight pain in his head forced him to rip out the last tube and clutch his head. He nearly fell from the bed, Ember pushing him back down before he could. He felt Agner's palm pull away, and the healing stopped. 

"Sorry, but it would have been another month before you would be fine," Agner chuckled. "How do you feel?"

Draco grunted as he clutched his head, keeping still so the pain would ease up. "Like I was hit by a train," he groaned. He glanced around the room, recognizing the Loki'irian architecture of the healing ward. "What happened?"

Ember smiled and held his hand more firmly. "It's gone," she told him.

Draco gasped slightly as he recalled the events, up until a certain point, of the week before. "It worked?" He asked softly. 

Celestia nuzzled his cheek, her wing around his shoulders. "Jaqeluu confirmed it's in Jerosh now," she laughed gently. "There's nothing inside of you anymore."

The news made a smile come to his face, which the brothers were disappointed by. "Remember, Reku'un: Once your training is completed, you'll need to reintegrate the Ashla back into your mind," Figanti reminded him. "You'll only be strong enough if you have the energies of our ancestors."

Draco nodded, just glad he would be free of the… beast. He just couldn't call it a monster anymore, which came as strange to him. "So… We leave to train next week, right?" Draco questioned. They nodded, which brought down Draco's smile into a more serious expression. "I promise… I'll train harder than ever and never slow down. I won't let you down." He turned to Ember. "Any of you."

His family nodded, then left him with his mother and Ember. "Do you really think he'll keep his word?" Fermot asked. His doubt brought extreme surprise to the others.

"I can't tell anymore," Agner sighed, nodding to some of the medical staff that was checking on some of the maturing Signa. "He can be determined when he wants… but he's fighting for a cause he has never known about. It's as if saying we're forcing him to do this."

"We're not forcing him," Jerosh stated, rubbing his temple. "If he doesn't realize what he was destined to do… what Minira has decided for him, we'll all die. We lost Loki'ir… we lost so many to protect him… and now we've lost Derekosh. If he doesn't embrace his role as Doshu'um… then one of us MUST challenge him to Ragnok."

Jaqeluu pulled Jerosh by the shoulder and glared at him. "We are NOT killing our youngest brother!" he exclaimed. "Why would think of such an idea?!"

Jerosh calmly eased his brother back. "The universe cannot wait for him to decide what he wants," Jerosh reminded him. "The Akanites and the Odosiik will fight if we have a Makti. Their armaments are nothing close to ours, but they have enough settlements and fleets for us to modify. With their help and countless more, we can fight. But we need an experienced and informed person to lead us. Herod trained us better than any other Signa. If one of us leads, there could be an early end to the horde."

Jaqeluu and Fermot shook their heads. "We are not speaking of killing our own brother," Jaqeluu said. "Come… we must speak to Renkan."

Jerosh's eyes flashed black, and he followed with a small frown.

In the recovery room, Ember and Celestia were updating him on the past week. Agner had matured, which explained his nine foot height. More Loki'irians had arrived, their ships having been seen by most of the world. There was a bit of panic, some questions they both had to endure about Draco's origins, and another meeting of the Five Nations. King Shadow and King Draco both trusted Celestia, President Toro was uneasy, and Lord Ruffles didn't trust them at all. Many dragons, carrier and fighter alike, were finding Loki'irian partners. King Draco had trusted them enough to allow them to tour around the kingdom, and many adolescent and mature Signa had found their partners. The fighters' bodies grew out to different proportions, but they had similar physical structures to the true Nera'ak. The thought of it scared Draco. What if Ember found a partner? She would become part of the war and fight the Arthanian horde, miles away, maybe even galaxies apart.

The thought also plagued Ember's mind. There were millions of Signa, young and old alike, and many of the younglings were finding their partners in the Kingdom. What if she were to find her own partner? Would Draco love her in her behemoth form? Could they love each other, being planets apart? Could their love endure years of fighting at such great distances? 

…could she survive?

…could he survive?

"Ma… can I speak to Ember alone?" Draco asked politely.

Celestia nodded with a small smile. "Of course," she said. Ember rose a brow as Draco waited for her to leave the room, making sure the door slid back into place before he held her claw.

For a minute he kept silent, just looking at her charcoal grey claw and breathing softly. He had done this whenever he woke from his memories of the war… of losing her. The fact that he comforted himself with her touch showed just how much he loved her. It wasn't as if she didn't remember either, but she didn't have to experience him dying… twice. But whatever it was he had to say… it had to be important. She leaned her head against his, entwining her other claws with his fingers. 

"I'm scared."

He looked up to her, frowning sadly.

"When we left for Gryphos… when I started to train with your dad… when I realized just how much I loved you… I was scared." He placed a hand on her cheek, Ember placing her claw over his hand. "Like I'm scared now. I don't know if I'm strong enough… I barely beat ten of them. And now I have to face trillions of them."

She nuzzled his cheek lovingly, her hand gently fiddling with his fingers.

"I don't know if I can protect you," he sniffled. "My mom… my aunt… Moon… or our friends. I'm supposed to beat these things, bring peace, but now you might not be with me when it all happens."

Ember smiled softly, kissing his cheek gingerly. "But you have to try."

Draco chuckled softly, looking into her two toned emerald eyes. "I do," he laughed. "I'm going to train… like when we were young. You and Moon are going to do the same, I heard… and we'll all go back into the fray. Ember… if I don't make it back… if I can't be here to~!"

Ember's lips silenced him, and he slowly gave in and returned the gesture, caressing her cheek. She slowly ran her claws through his mane, her lips shifting as they went for a short breath. They separated after a moment, gazing into each other's eyes.

"We're going to make it out alive," Ember whispered. "Remember what you told me and Moon? ‘Going in the same way we come out’" 

Draco nodded softly, hugging her close. "Yeah," Draco chuckled. "If this is our last week together, for the next two years… let's make it one to remember."

Ember giggled softly and kissed his cheek. "Maybe after you get better," she said with a smile. 

The door opened, and Renkan stepped in. "I apologize, Ms. Ember," she said. "I'll need to make sure Reku'un is completely able. If you would give us some time." 

Ember nodded, nuzzling Draco one last time. "I'll see you soon, then," she sighed.

Draco sighed softly as he watched her leave, then turned to Renkan. "Let's get this over with."