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Chapter 3:

A Hidden Past

Raven slowly walked out of the woods as he pushed his hair behind his ears, he slowly placed his hood back over his head as he walked towards Inuko and Rebecca. Rebecca smiled at Raven as she handed him a plate of eggs and bread.

"Do you feel better hun?" she asked.

The shadows of his hood covered his face as he slowly grabbed the plate from her.

"Yes, thank you." he replied.

Inuko crossed his arms against his chest as he looked at Raven.

"Seems you returned tothe Raven I know." he said as he lifted himself up from the tree.

Raven stared at Inuko as in a split second time seem frozen, the young girl replaced Raven as a young wolf replaced Inuko.

"Maybe its for the better..."she said.

The wolf looked at her quietly as the images faded time returned to normal. Raven began to walk away from them as he sat alone

by the spring eating his food slowly.

Just as he finished, Inuko patted him on the head

"Come lets go Raven." he said.

Raven stood up as he saw the image of his mother holding the little girl in her arms.

"Am I the real me?" he said to himself as the image faded.

He turned and slowly walked beside Inuko to Rebeccawaiting by the dirt path. The group continued on to the mountains of Celeria, Rebecca dashed past Raven as she turned around and began to walk backwards,

"Hey Inuko, would you happen to know which way to take?" she asked.

Inuko scratched the back of his head and replied,

"I am not very familiar with this region, maybe Raven will know." he said as he looked at him at his side.

Raven continued to stare down towards the ground as they

walked,

"....yes..."he replied quietly.

As they continued to walk down the path, a folk in the road appeared before them. There a tall post stood, the arrows where broken with age as the words were unreadable. Rebecca studied the sign trying to make out the strange shapes.

"I think its that way." she said as she pointed to the left path as it leads down an open field of flowers.

Inuko walked over to the right path as he pointed down that path towards the hills,

"I have a feeling its this way." he said.

Rebecca and Inuko both argued on which path to take as Raven seemed unsettled by something. He quickly turned around as he heard children laughing surround him, Inuko turned to Raven as he began to worry.

"Whats wrong Raven?" he asked.

Raven turned around and around as he tried to find the source of the laughter. Rebecca slowly turned as she grabbed Inuko's arm,

"Somethings wrong here isn't it Raven?" she asked.

Raven quickly came to a halt as he slammed his hand towards the ground.

"Aura!" he yelled.

Time seemed to halt as white feathers surrounded the group, the area around them began to swirl and morph as the feathers began to spread. Large white wings burst from Raven's back as they extended towards the heavens. They quickly enclosed around Raven's body as the sky was filled with white light. The sound of chimes filled the sky as it echoed both far and wide. Inuko and Rebecca's body was frozen in time as the reflections in the eyes revealed the wings slowly opening revealing a young woman in white; her long gray hair flowed in the air as it gently fell to her sides. She slowly opened her eyes as they glowed like the morning dew. Her necklaced glowed with a brillant light as her wings returned to her sides. The surrounding area around her began to morph even more, she looked up as she extended her hand into the air. A white halo appeared around her hand as it began to spin growing bigger and bigger. In the center of the halo, waves of aura sprung; many colors formed as it sparkled like

stars.Two children appeared before her as their image was distorted; two young girls standing in fear below the angel. Gusts of strong wind pushed them back as their mirror they were holding slowly began to crack before Aurora's might. The two girls projection shattered as the mirror shattered with them. The halo filled the air as the illusions burst into shards. The angel stood there as the breeze lifted her hair; her wings burst as the feathers gently fell to the ground. Suddenly, time reverted back to normal as Rebecca and Inuko was able to move once more not knowing what happened. Rebecca turned around to see a horrible discovery, they stood on a narrow pathway high in the cliffs as nothing stood down the pathway she wanted to go.

"T-The road i-it's n-not there?!" she yelled.

Inuko quickly grabbed her arm as pieces of the ground broke away; the pathway grew narrow as rocks fell to the darkness below.

"W-what is this magic?!" he said in a deep tone.

Raven stared at them as if nothing happened, the pendant glowed as the images of those small children flowed into his mind. Raven began to continue across the narrow bridge as Inuko and Rebecca looked at him. As they crossed the narrow bridge, Inuko caught up to Raven and grabbed hold of his arm,

"Raven? What was that just now?" he said.

Raven tried to continue on but Inuko pulled him closer to him.

"Just an illusion..."he replied in an empty tone.

Inuko grabbed his other arm as his grip tightened, Raven turned his head away from Inuko's face.

"R-Raven. Please tell me." he said.

The wind passed by them as Raven's cloak moved in the wind, his pendant swung back and forth as Inuko's fur gently waved back and forth as well. His stare seemed to pierce the walls Raven tried to place up,

"Its nothing. Just old magic, we are almost there."he replied.

Inuko slowly released him as Raven continued down the rocky path, Rebecca jumped down and landed besides Inuko.

_"Hun? If he says its okay then please leave it be. Who would have thought we were trapped in an illusion way out here?" she

said._

Inuko looked into Rebecca's eyes and nodded.

Several hours later, the group came to a large steel door. Inuko placed his claw on the door as he glided it along the designs.

"So this is the door to the kingdom of Celeria?" he asked.

Rebecca nodded,

"Yes, only craftusers can open this door."she said.

Raven stared at the huge doorway as images flashed into his mind, a young maiden covered in blood holding a child as she fell to the ground. It began to rain as the young maiden tried to shield her child, the door slowly opened as another woman saw the two in the rain. She rushed to them as the rain fell over them,

"P-Please, watch...Re..be..cca...." the woman in blood spoke as her life ended.

Knights came running out the door as they dashed to theaid of their queen. The queen slowly lifted up the child as she covered her from the rain,

"Rebecca..." she said as she smiled at the young girl in her arms.

"Raven! Hellooo wakey wakey." Rebecca said as she waved her hand in front of his hood.

Raven's vision ended as he regained his surroundings. Inuko looked at him as he took a deep breath,

"I see...an echo..." he thought.

Rebecca slowly walked up to the door as she lifted her hand into the air,

"Door of Isis, door to my dreams. Open now in the name of Princess Rebecca De La Reigna!" she yelled.

Inuko quickly turned to Rebecca as he stood in shock,

"P-Princess?!" he muttered.

Suddenly, the door began to shake as the designs glowed a brillant light. An image of Isis appeared forth on the door as the door began to open.

"Welcome home Princess of Celeria..." the door spoked.

Inuko looked inside the doorway as Rebecca began to smile and laugh. A city streched out as far as the eyes can see, tall buildings as towers reached the heavens. Ships flew in the air as lights filled the sky, there in the center was a large beautiful crystal castle that stood before its people. Banners floated in the air as its walls sparkled light like emerald. People dressed in long cloaks passed by, as they sell and trade goods. Rebecca grabbed Inuko's hand as they walked into the gateway to Celeria.

Raven looked at the doorway as Isis' image appeared before him,

"Forsakened One, your kind is not welcomed here. If you chose to enter here, your punishment will be death." she said in a dark tone.

Raven looked at her as his eyes filled with pain, he lifted up his hand as the pendant began to temble as sparks flew from it.

"BEGONE!"

Raven's hand was engulfed in black flames as black lightening shot from it striking the doorway. The portal became distorted, meanwhile on the otherside Inuko looked around at the sight,

"Raven? Have you ever seen a city like this?" he said as he turned around as saw he wasn't behind them.

He looked at the portal as black waves emitted from it. Rebecca turned around and saw the portal become unstable and distorted,

"That never happened before." she said.

Suddenly, Raven appeared before them as he floated to the ground. Small black mists emitted from his body as electritity shot from the portal as it forced itself closed.

"Lets go...." Raven said in a dark tone.

Rebecca ran up the stairs as she dashed to the balcony, she leaned against the railing as the gently breeze brushed against

her face. She took a deep breath as she exhaled,

"It feels soo good being back home." she said smiling.

Inuko walked over to her and grabbed the railing,

"So Princess. Where to now?" he said.

Rebecca looked at him as she placed her hand behind her head,

"Oh umm heh heh I was going to tell you sooner or later. Heh heh." she said nerviously.

Raven stood at the bottom of the steps as he looked up, he stood in slience as he walked away towards the castle. Black aura emitted from his body as he walked down the stone pathways. Inuko and Rebecca leaned closer together as they kissed under the setting sun.

A few hours later, Inuko and Rebecca stood before the crystal Palace as Knights stood tall in their armor as they watched

a maiden-in-waiting rush towards the Princess with her arms open wide.

"Oh, Rebecca you are finally home." she said.

Rebecca hugged her tightly,

"Yes, thank you. I missed you Alex." she replied.

Alex stepped back as she began to look at Inuko.

"Oh? Who's this? Rebecca have you finally found someone? The queen will be soo happy to hear this news." she said in excitement.

Rebecca and Inuko began to blush, Rebecca grabbed hold of Inuko's hand and hold him close to her.

"Where is mother?" she asked.

Alex placed her hands together,

"She should be in the throneroom talking to that hooded stranger. Lady Reigna was shocked when he entered the palace, he requested an audience with her. I don't like the feeling that I got from his aura, it felt soo hateful and cold." she said in a worried tone.

"Hooded Stranger? Could it be?" Rebecca questioned.

Inuko's heart pounded as he became very serious,

"Take me to him right away." he said.

Alex lead Rebecca and Inuko down the palace halls as they stopped before the throneroom, she slowly opened the doors.

The cloaked figure stood before the Queen as he was holding her thoat. Black waves continued to emit from his body as

the figure's grip tightened. Inuko ran towards them as Rebecca ran behind him.

"RAVEN!?" he yelled.

The figure began to laugh as he slowly turned revealing himself,

"S-Seth?!"

Inuko came to a halt and Rebecca cried out for her mother.

"You have gotten in my way for long enough. Thanks to you, this woman shall die because of you!" he loudly said.

Suddenly, the royal knights rushed in with their lances held high.

"Release Lady Reigna you monster!" they commanded.

Seth raised up his hand as a shockwave struck all of them throwing them back. Inuko and Rebecca fell to the floor as lightening sprayed above them from the shockwave. The Queen grabbed Seth's hand as she tried to breath, Seth continued to laugh.

As his grip tightened she couldn't hold on any longer.

"Mother!" Rebecca yelled in tears.

Suddenly, a hand gripped tightly on Seth's hand as it forced him to release the Queen. Seth quickly turned around as he stood in shock,

"Y-You?!" he said.

The Queen fell to the floor as she lifted herself to see a horrific sight. A tall figure stood besides Seth as black armor covered his body, horns formed from his forehead as his long white hair twisted in the air. His blood filled eyes glowed a fearsome color, black wings spread forth from his back as an eye opened on his chest. Inuko looked at the figure as he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"I-Iskar?!" he said.

Suddenly, more knights came bursting in with mages at their sides. They froze in fear as they saw Iskar standing before them,

"I-It's the F-Forsakened O-Ones! The Forsakened Ones are attacking the Palace!" they screamed in fear as the knights stepped back as the mages tried to focus their attack together in hope to protect their Queen.

"Iskar the Fallen Angel... I never thought we would meet so soon." Seth said as Iskar's grip tightened.

Iskar stared at Seth as he turned and saw the upcoming threat ahead of him. Black mist engulfed Seth as he faded away leaving

Iskar with a new trouble. Rebecca ran to her mother as she tried to pick her up. Arrows began to fly towards Iskar as he lifted

his hand in the air as they burned to nothing. The Queen's body tembled as she watched the fearsome power of Iskar the

Fallen Angel. Inuko stood up and ran to the knights to stop their attack.

"Stop! He means no harm! Stop attacking him!"he yelled.

The mages were finished gathering their energy as they started their chant to call forth their ultimate spell.

Rebecca recognized the chanting as she begged them to stop.

"NO DON'T! Not Ragonok!" she cried out.

Inuko quickly turned to the mages as a balls of pure energy formed around them. He ran towards them trying to interrupt their spell,

"ISKAR RUN!!" he yelled.

Iskar looked at the group as his eyes widen,

"KILL THIS THREAT TO OUR QUEEN, RAGONOK!!" the head mage yelled.

Electricity streamed as it connected the orbs together, symbols of old surrounded his body as beams of pure light shot forth as it everyone surrounding the head mage were thrown back. Streams of the unstable energy headed towards the Queen and princess as they lost control. Rebecca's eyes widen as the blast headed straight towards them, she closed her eyes as she tried to shield her mother from the blast.

Suddenly, Iskar appeared before the them as his body takes the full force craft. Inuko watched as Iskar's wings burned up as his armor began to crack and shatter before Ragonok's force. Rebecca and the Queen were forced back from the shockwave as Iskar began to be pushed back, his flesh being torn from his body as the last thing Inuko saw was Iskar's face as blood poured from his mouth.

"I..I.nu..ko..." Iskar said.

Suddenly, Iskar's armor completely shattered as white light from the blast filled the room. As the light faded, Rebecca laid on the floor unconsious as Inuko lifted up Raven's lifeless body as blood oozed from his wound from the blast. Inuko gripped his body closely to him as he began to cry for his fallen comrade. The queen looked up as she saw them, tears filled her eyes as she slowly stood up and walked over to him placing her hand on Inuko's shoulder. Inuko looked up and begged the queen to heal his friend. The queen sat down before him as she slowly lifted Raven's body from Inuko's hands.

"I..I am sorry. There is no magic not even our most powerful mage have that can revive the dead...but maybe his big sister can set things right..." she said as she smiled down at Raven.

Inuko looked at her as tears slowly fell from his muzzle,

"W-What?" he said.

The queen placed her hand on Raven's wound as her eyes glowed the same as Raven's Angel form. Lady Reigna and Raven were surrounded by water as it turned to ice, as the ice melted. Revealing Raven being held by a Merimaid who's scales shined like the rainbow.

"My dear sister, you protected my daughter and myself from both Seth and Ragonok. Here, take the life I shall give you. This young creature before us, needs you at his side my sister. Please look after my daughter Raven..." she said softly as she gently kissed Raven's cheek.

Suddenly, water quickly surrounded Raven's body as the Queen's body transformed into a small crystal shard. Raven's body began to glow as the wound healed completely, the water slowly disappeared; all that was left was a tiny blue shard as it floated above Raven's body. It descended and fused it Raven's pendant; Raven's hair slowly began to change to the color blue. His body began to descended to the ground as Inuko held him close to him placing his head on his chest.

"Raven..."