The Rising of the Sky [WIP]
The sun slid away over the crystalline hills as she peered around the corner of the stockade. She pulled her cloak close hiding her armor. Her long white hair was carefully tucked under her hood. As much as she tried to blend in there was no getting around the symbol of the Lunari glowing on her forehead. But she didn't need to blend in, not really. Not with the moon rising into the sky.
It was Diana's first time in the Freljord, and not even the cold of Mount Targon compared to the chill running through her bones. "What good is a cloak?" She whispered to herself. To her side hung a bent sickle, reminiscent of a crescent moon. Hopefully she wouldn't need to use it, but she certainly wouldn't hesitate. The extreme cold annoyed her, leaving a sour taste in her mouth.
Without a sound she lashed her sickle forward casting moonlight atop the stockade. She willed herself upward and slid across the moon current. The thrill of gliding fast as light never got old. It was exhilarating. No time passed, and yet she could feel the entire journey. A surge of energy and a burst of speed carrying her to the top of the stockade. She didn't smile often, but this was worth it.
After creeping along the stockade for a few moments she spotted her quarry. Bright as ever, Leona sat around a large fire listening intently to Knights of the Solari inspiring troops or gossiping or something. Seeing Leona again reminded Diana of their first meeting. Diana tried to forget.
"Talk about awkward," a quiet voice came from behind her. Diana didn't flinch despite being startled. Diana closed her eyes. Not again. Zoe floated and flipped through the air as she spoke as if distracted by every speck of dust. The hair at her head started a bright orange and flowed behind her in starlit pinks and purples as she bobbed back and forth. There wasn't much Diana knew about her except at one point she was a Lunari like Diana. "I mean, last time you saw her, you did kill like... everyone she looked up to."
"Thanks for the reminder," Diana said sounding oddly sincere. She didn't need to look at Zoe to know it was her. There were few being who could sneak up on Diana. It was a little unfair when they could pop in and out of reality though, so Diana didn't let it get to her. Zoe, as chaotic, clumsy, and childish as she was, had a point. Would Leona even listen?
Zoe came up and put her arm awkwardly around Diana's armored shoulders, "Hey come on, it's just your world that's going to get destroyed. And maybe a couple of others. You really don't have to talk to her. I'm sure, you know, the universe won't end. "Zoe smiled enthusiastically. "But – well, you'll be dead." She added with a frown.
Diana ripped her shoulders from Zoe's grasp. There was little room for fun or teasing in Diana's life. That meant no room for someone like Zoe either. But Zoe brought her a warning. She said, "The Sun and Moon shall share the sky. And down shall fall a shiny guy. When he falls his head will hurt, because he'll land face down in dirt. He'll stand up, if sun and moon give way, and then your world will... be destroyed. All of it." It was unclear exactly how long Zoe took to put it in verse, but apparently she needed more time for a proper ending. No matter, the meaning was clear enough.
Diana stood surveying the scene, planning her moves precisely. There was no room for error. If the guards came to Leona's aide, there would be no way to bend her ear. "You're taking too long," Zoe snapped impatiently. "Leona!" She yelled down. Diana ran to silence her but she was too late. Leona's eyes burned with fury as Zoe disappeared and left Diana standing, illuminated in moonlight, then sunlight as a sword flew through the air. Tilting her head slightly she avoided the blade, but Diana was not the only one who moved with celestial power. Leona's shield slammed against Diana's side in an instant sending her reeling backwards. For a moment she couldn't move, stunned by the concussive force.
"Wait," Diana said weakly. "I'm not here to-"
Before she could finish Leona began to glow like the sun. The hum grew louder as Leona grew brighter and Diana leapt back gingerly just as the light popped around her, setting a small fire to the wooden stockade. Below soldiers ran to and for trying to climb the stockade as the two bodies fought. "Seriously, Leona, I need to talk to you."
Leona said nothing and lunged forward with her blade. Diana instinctively flipped her sickle up catching the Sunblade in her crescent blade. She spun the sickle violently nearly wresting the sword from Leona's hand. "How dare you come before me, wretched girl?" The fury of the sun blazed in Leona's eyes as she spoke.
Leona swung her sword behind her and twirled, using her momentum to slam into Diana. Their blades crackled as they clashed back and forth. Leona was constantly trying to land a killing blow and Diana restrained herself. Sweat beaded on her brow as she deflected blow after blow. There was only so much she could do. Leona kicked out against Diana's knee, driving her to the ground. She wound up to stomp but Diana rolled aside just missing a heavy sun-powered boot to the cranium.
"Enough!" Diana yelled furiously. She swung forward, just now noticing they had left the stockade far behind. "Listen to me!" She had Leona on the run. As they climbed the rocks they danced back and forth a deadly tango. Blow for blow now connected, blood flowing freely. Leona pulled back slightly, for whatever reason, and Diana saw her opportunity. She swept her sickle low and yanked against Leona's ankle, tossing her off balance and rolling her down the mountain. Leona lashed out and grabbed a rock. A mountain? Diana looked around. It was Mount Targon. But that didn't make any sense.
"Zoe," Leona and Diana said in unison, realizing what had happened.
"Wait, you know Zoe?" Leona asked as she pulled herself up. The fury in her eyes was abating, but Diana did not let her guard down.
"She came to you then? Recited her little poem?" Diana spoke between breaths. She clenched her side holding in blood.
Leona grunted and nodded. Obviously Zoe would try Leona as well. Leona was far too stubborn to listen. They both rose to their feet. "The power of the sun is powerful enough to protect the world on its own. Shall we finish this once and for all?"
Leona wasn't going to listen. Not like this, anyway. Warriors like Leona needed to be humbled before they would listen. Diana drew her scythe and winced the pain away. She slammed it into the ground drawing Leona toward her. Grabbing her scythe with two hands she brought the blade straight across Leona's chest sending her flying backwards, barely piercing her armor. She used the moonlight as a tether and followed close behind. A beam shot from the moon clear through Leona. But the power of the sun was strong. At Diana's back, the moon. At Leona's back, the sun.
As Leona found her footing she brought her shield up against a mighty strike from Diana, glancing it away harmlessly. Diana struck again without hesitation and Leona struck her scythe to the ground. She swung, missing Diana entirely as she flipped backwards. The moon drew higher into the sky. The sun shone upon the mountain. Leona charged forward, an enormous ray of sunlight following her. All Diana could do was summon the moon to her aide. The sun and moon climbed higher, nearly touching as both women jumped forward, weapons high, ready for a final clash... that never came.
Between them popped a bubble containing Zoe. Her feet floated just above the ground and Leona and Diana lost all will to fight. The trickster emitted a presence strong enough to calm the ever-opposing furies. Zoe looked at each of them with her purple and green eyes. Her hair flowed and changed colors as she folded her legs under herself. "You are both too blind to see." She pointed up.
Diana's jaw dropped and Leona's sword clattered to the ground. "He's coming," Zoe said in a sing a song voice. The moon and sun overlapped, an eerie inner darkness surrounded by a ring of brightest light, blinding to most mortals. The eclipse hung for a moment and a ray of dark light, impossible to describe descended: the power of sun and moon combined. Light and dark together. And in it, was a man. No, a monster of a man. The fury of the sun and the subtly of the moon were shared in his eyes. "O boy," Zoe said. "You might want to get your uh, weapons ready. End of the world and all. I'm going to leave and come with a name for him. You gals got this, right?" Her fear was palpable as a portal opened beneath her and she dropped through.
Leona wiped blood from her lip. The piercing darkness around him made him impossible to see clearly. In a deep, booming voice he shouted down. "Two protectors for an entire world? You will pay for your arrogance."
Diana looked at Leona. Leona stretched out her hand to Diana in a gesture of friendship – or at least a temporary alliance – but this time Diana hesitated. They had been enemies for so long. But that wasn't important now. Diana and Leona both realized the sun and moon weren't so different after all. The moon gave light in the darkness and the sun cast shadows in the light. She shook Leona's hand and the creature roared. They nodded, and with a unison shouted, "For the Sun and Moon!" as they charged their foe. The Sun and Moon fought side by side, in harmony. The battle raged at the top of Mount Targon. And the world could do nothing but watch.