//------------------------------// // Inspiring Family // Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero // by That_Random_Pony //------------------------------// It had been three whole days since Draco was hauled in with his brothers. Three whole days that Celestia refused to abandon her son's bedside. Raising and lowering the sun was all she would do, barely eating as she tried her best to help the healers in any way she could. But she was forced to leave the room multiple times so she could nourish herself. Celestia couldn't believe how his conscious brothers could wait so patiently. And what shocked her most of all, was the fact that Figanti wasn't even around. She practically damned her position as princess to be with her son. Moon was another who could barely go on without being by his cousin's side. Fluttershy would try to get him to eat, to sleep, to do anything other than wait outside of Draco's room. He would leave her at night to pace outside of his cousin's room, his animalistic behavior driving him. Luna tried her best to get the both of them fed and rested, even resorting to waiting for the two to sleep to get them in their own beds. It was all for naught, because they would both do the same exact thing once they woke up. If Ember wasn't still recovering and taking care of Dawn, she was sure she would probably be doing the same thing. But she had to focus on caring for Dawn, with the help of Urishana, while she got her strength back. She wanted, desperately, to see him; to know that he was getting better… to know that he was alright. No matter how many times Urishana assured her, she didn't want to hear that he was okay. She needed to see him with her own eyes. "Ember." The dragoness picked her head up and looked to Urishana, who held her claw gently. "He'll be fine… I've seen him survive what would kill others. This is just another one of those moments." She nodded softly, gripping Urishana's hand tighter as she sniffled. "It's been nearly two years," Ember whispered. "I've waited to see him all this time… I couldn't stand it one bit… and now this happens." Dawn was sleeping against her mother's bosom, and she gurgled when her mother wept. "I just want to be with him. I thought we would be done with this soon, but now it looks like we may never be. Why can't it just end?" Urishana's grip tightened suddenly, and Ember mentally slapped herself for what she had said. She found out that her healer's daughter, Nimani, was part of the casualties from the Iikro's attack. Her body had been nearly torn apart… and she died slowly from her sounds. The Signa explained that the energy of the Iikro could keep a wound from sealing, causing the victim to bleed out from even the smallest scratch. Her daughter had died like this… her only child had died a horrible death. "Urishana… I didn't mean to-" She put her hand up, letting to of Ember's claw as she sat straight and sighed shakily. "Now you know what our kind has felt for a million years," Urishana stated flatly… somberly. "Ember… my daughter is now in Minira's garden… She had faith that this fight would end by the time she would bury me. She believed in Reku'un. The League believes in Reku'un… we all believe in him." "He's only one man," Ember told her. "You can't put all that weight on his shoulders alone." Urishana looked at her with offended glare, one Ember thought she could never have. "The Makti AND Doshu'um have the lives of every Loki'irian and every being in the the galaxy in their hands," she practically growled, standing up with anger in her eyes. "They are the men that will never give in to the horde. The men that lead us against this darkness! And the Oracle that named Reku'un so long ago saw something that none of us can see, but she saw it in the first Alamonshuor to become Makti! That is why we believe in him! That is why we have all of this responsibility on his shoulders! THAT, is why we do not mourn our dead! BECAUSE WE WILL WIN THIS DAMNED WAR IF IT KILLS US ALL!" Urishana sat down and cried. She was a woman of respect, and was highly spoken of throughout the fleet. And now, she was reduced to sobbing her seat as she remembered that she would never see her daughter again. Ember watched with regret as her friend hauled her eyes out, whispering words in Neric along with her daughter's name. Dawn woke up to the healer's sobbing, and she started wailing as well, Ember holding her close as she tried her best to calm the hatchling. Urishana stopped her crying and waited for the small dragoness to relax and slip back into her dreams. "I… I apologize," she sighed shakily, wiping her eyes quickly. "I sometimes forget offworlders don't understand our culture. And… I shouldn't have taken it as personal." "Urishana, you don't have to apologize," Ember told her, grasping her hand with a claw. "I… should have been more cautious with what I'd said. I just… never expected any of this to ever happen to us." A light laugh escaped Urishana's lips before she looked up to Ember and smiled. "We and the horde tend to do that," she said with a slight grin. "It's just… I just… don't know what it will be like without her. She hadn't even gone through her maturity… she's need been deployed… she was too young for that fate." Her grip on the dragoness's claw tightened suddenly, a few more tears escaping from Urishana's eyes. "I'm sorry, Urishana," Ember said softly. She could only imagine how much the Signa was suffering, especially since she hadn't left her side. No time to mourn, no time to bury her own child… and no comfort from the man she loved, who was just as occupied with the aftermath." "I'll be fine," Urishana murmured, standing up before heading to the door. "I just need time." Ember nodded. "I'm here, if you ever need me," she smiled. Urishana returned the gesture, then headed out the door. Where… where am I? What… happened? There was a white void… no sound… no life… just an empty space. Draco tried to walk, but he found that he couldn't. He couldn't even feel his own body. His voice wasn't physical. It sounded like an Ina thought. What the… Colors rippled throughout the empty space, filling the white with burning, enormous trees. The forms of dead Loki'irians and Arthanians gained color, along with pools of blood and scattered weapons. Several burning trees fell on their sides, sending shockwaves through the ground with each that hit the forest floor. Soldiers roared, scouts fed on corpses of either side, and Alphas looked for any surviving warriors. Draco couldn't feel any Loki'irians… only faint signs of dying warriors… children… it was terrible to feel. This will be our fate… Draco gasped when he heard the voice. He recognized it… but he was unsure who exactly it was. …we will burn like our home once did… He could see a soldier feeding on what remained of a female Signa, her throat torn open as it feasted on her. …there will be nothing but darkness… Above, an Arthanian carrier's main cannon hummed as it glowed an ominous red. The beam collected into a single barrel, then aimed at the trees below. …darkness… death… and destruction… With a deafening whine, a powerful blast rocketed into the ground, leveling a city wide portion of the forest. Slowly, the beam tore apart the land, until all that remained were lifeless wastelands and carcasses. The scene before him vanished, black replacing the white void. The horde will never relent… they will always search to destroy whatever life Minira has granted. And they will be unstoppable. … … … … What am I supposed to do? Surprisingly, Draco felt his body appear from thin air. He looked around for anything… then stopped when he saw… the first Reku'un. He stood bloodied and wounded; injuries from his final battle. Beside him, another man stepped closer, just as beaten. Slowly, hundreds of men began to appear, all of them severely bleeding and battered in various places. They parted as one man in particular walked towards Draco. He was a man of daunting height, clearly strong like the rest, and… familiar. As the man got closer, Draco's mind ran memories… memories from when he was barely a lunar cycle old. The man… was his father. Gonak Alamonshuor. He stood in front of Draco, then placed his right hand on his son's right shoulder. You're an Alamonshor. What do you think you should do? … … I… … I have to… keep going. Gonak smiled, then nodded for him to continue. I… can't give up. I shouldn't care how the odds are stacked… what will happen when I fight. I have to fight for everyone I love… for those that have fallen… for those that can still have a future. You are Doshu'um Reku'un. We aren't supposed to give up. When the final battle begins, you must lead our people into a fight they cannot win alone. You must give everything and anything you have in you to see the horde fall. … … I'll… try my best. But… can we win? The Makti of the past each smiled with pride and determination. We know you will. One by one, each leader of the past vanished, slowly dwindling until it was only Draco and his father. I'll see you when it's time, ninjot (son). Herod (Father)… thank you… Go am smiled softly, then placed his hand on the side of his son's head. I want you to know… that your mother and I are proud of you… and that we love you. I know… I know, Herod. His father's touch vanished, along with him. That's it… no more doubt. We're going to win this war. I'm… never gonna quit. I can do this… we can do this… I know we can.