Being an Aldrothian was never an easy thing, and despite what it seemed like, being an Aldrothian Deity was even harder.

Zane had never chosen to be an Aldrothian Deity. Hell, if he had an option he would have been born into a normal family. He always kept quiet about these kinds of thoughts he had. His relatives never were all that great at keeping his secrets, although they were perfectly silent about everyone else's. If he ever spoke to any of them about these thoughts, he had no doubt that they would reach his parents and the other Aldrothian Personifications in just days.

There was no one here he could trust.

"Are you sure about that?" A voice asked him, generally quiet but also strong.

Zane looked over his shoulder, wanting to see who had spoken to him. All he could see was a mass of shadows, but that was to be expected in his corridor. He widened his eye, peering through the darkness as it got lighter in his vision. He could see in the dark, although it did give him headaches every now and then.

He saw the outline of a female, but she was no human. She had a pair of horns on her head, and a pair of wings on her back. A long reptile tail would flick every now and then, but other than that she was as still as stone. Her scales were all black as the night, much darker than her hair, which perfectly matched Zane's. But her scales weren't as shiny as the ebony armor covering her body. She was observing him with her one visible eye, which was a silvery gray with a thinner slit than normal humans. And, on her neck, against the pale white skin, he could see a scar.

"Do you truthfully not remember me?" She asked him, her tail flicking again.

"I'm sorry, but I do not." Zane apologized with a nod, honestly feeling bad that he didn't know who this person was.

Looking at her more, she looked familiar. Very familiar actually, but he just couldn't remember her name. He also couldn't tell whether or not she was hurt by his response, her face was blank of any emotion and expression. It was like she was a robot or a statue, which honestly made the Aldrothian Deity uncomfortable. And, if he was to be completely honest, it reminded him of Laurance.

"I'm not surprised. It has been exactly nine million eighty two thousand nine hundred sixty five years since we last saw each other." She responded, getting off of the wall and approaching him.

There was only one person who would actually keep count of all the years, and still remember them.

"Stargazer." Zane identified the female, dropping his goblet in the process.

Stargazer held out a hand, which was then enveloped by a jade greenish blackish Magicks. The goblet didn't hit the floor, and none of the contents inside of it were spilled. It floated back up to Zane, the entire cup radiating the same color as Stargazer's hand. Zane grabbed the goblet, feeling the aura of his sister's Magicks before the light faded.

"Using your Magicks is bad for your life force, Stargazer." Zane reminded her, now holding the goblet with his tail. "You know this. It'll drive you insane, consume your very soul."

"I'm dead inside anyway, and I was dead on the outside." Stargazer shrugged, not really caring about the topic. "Besides, even if I do die, father will just bring me back.."

"Father brought you back to life?" He questioned, his shock visible on his face. "That's.... strange.. he usually doesn't revive his children unless they're Aldrothian Deities..."

"I confronted him about that." She nodded, agreeing with what he said. "He didn't give me an explanation, he just sent me here to find you. He said that there was something you needed to tell me."

"Ah, yes, about that...." He forced a smile onto his face, becoming even more pale than ever. "Perhaps we could talk about something else before that? It's very serious, but it may set you off."

Stargazer's mouth became a thin line across the lower half of her face, her eye narrowing. Clearly she was not amused, or believing of Zane's statement. She knew he was hiding something, he always was. And she was always good at getting the truth out of him.

Zane couldn't stop the sweat on the back of his neck. He was trying to form a brick wall around his thoughts, like Stargazer had taught him to so people couldn't read his mind. He had never been good at it, except for dire situations. This wasn't really a dire situation, but it could easily become one. Stargazer may be only half Aldrothian, but she was the child of an Aldrothian Personification and the descendant of an ancient hero of immense power. She could easily break his head open against the floor, if she really wanted to.

How was he supposed to tell her the bad news? She mostly never took things to heart, but something like this... well, if he had heard it and he was in her place, he woukd be devastated. He still remembered how broken and depressed she had been when her lover passed away, let alone how depressed she had been throughout the course of her entire life.

Aphmau protect his soul.

"Yes, let's." Stargazer said after a moment, closing her eye as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Really?" Zane asked her, astonished. "You usually always get down to business with people."

"It's been years since we last saw each other, brother. It won't kill me to spend some time simply talking with you." She responded, her tail flicking again.

"That's great! There are plenty if things for us to discuss!" He beamed, grateful to all Gods of every religion that she had agreed. "There have been new discoveries made since you were around, I'm sure you'd love to stop by the library and do some research on them. You always were the smartest in our family."

"Someone had to make sure you passed those exams." She replied, but she seemed to brighten up at the thought of learning more. "What exactly are these discoveries?"

"Mostly new fields of research, data, historical findings. There was even an entire book made about the cannon at Starlight Wonderland." He answered, not fully knowing all of the details. "I never looked into the discoveries myself, so I don't know everything exactly."

"Starlight... Wonderland...?" She slowly repeated, looking at him like he was crazy. "Has society gone crazy enough to start research fairytales?"

"I almost forgot that you lost half of your memories... I'm assuming you have your memories from the medieval times. Where did we live, and who was I?" He asked her, wanting toi test out his theory.

"We lived in the city-state village of O'khasis. You were a prick back then, but I assume nothing about that has changed." She responded, batting her eyelashes innocently.

"Hardy har har." Zane fake laughed, rolling his eye. "At least your memory is intact."

"Half of it." Stargazer corrected him, going back to her serious attitude. "You said I have my memories from the medieval times. Does that mean I have modern memories too?"

"Yes, but each time you're revived you only wake up with half of them." He nodded, handing her an apple he had picked earlier. "I wouldn't worry about it though, the other half should stabilize in just a few days. Or, knowing you, a few hours."

"Hopefully. I swear to Mikazuki that if society has come to doing research on fantasy items, I'm going back to Nerulla and hanging myself all over again." She scoffed, taking a bite of the apple.

Zane bit the inside of his lip nervously, shuffling on his feet. He was really starting to feel the butterflies in his stomach, and knowing him, he probably ate butterflies not that long ago. He curled his tail around one of his legs, using the spike at the end to scratch an itch he was having.

He was really starting to wish that he was better at lying and faking/hiding his emotions. He could easily fake happiness, that wasn't very difficult. For him, hiding his fear and nervousness was hard. If he kept this up, Stargazer would know that something was definitely wrong.. if she didn't know already.

"While I'm speaking of it, what is happening in Nerula lately?" Stargazer asked him, swallowing the bite of apple. "Or have you not been paying attention?"

"Other Realms, Dimensions, and Universes is Garroth's specialty, not mine. You can't blame me for not knowing the current condition of your home Realm!" Zane defended himself, lying about not knowing the condition.

"Where is that blonde mongrel anyway? Usually he's yelling up a storm, or parading around the Realms, practically holding up signs about his plans." She tapped her foot against the floor, the hard ebony echoing against the tiles. "Is he even awake?"

"Yes, yes he is awake. He woke up around three or four days ago, I believe." He nodded, taking a sip of his beverage. "I think that's why you're alive again. Why father would bring you back now, I don't know. Maybe he thinks you'll be helping Garroth conquer all the Realms."

"I'd rather give myself up to Corruption before I do such a thing." She stated, a certain distaste in her voice. "Now tell me, Zane.... what happened to Nerula?"

"I.... I want to tell you, Star, I really do, but I...." He trailed off, trying to find the right words. "I don't know how you'd react."

"I don't exaggerate, and I'm nowhere near overdramatic. Nothing could change that." She rolled her eye, tossing the now finished apple out the window. "Now, tell me... what. Happened. To Nerula."

"Nerula... doesn't exist anymore." He let out a heavy sigh, preparing his protective Magicks just in case.

Stargazer stared at him for a good, long moment. There was nothing on her face, no signs of anger, sorrow, or anything at all. Her face was just... blank. Then she started laughing, making Zane look at her like she was the crazy one in the family. She gave him the thin, faint ghost of a smile. It was a bittersweet feeling, sort of. Seeing Stargazer in a happier mood was always so relieving, a sure sign that things would be okay in the end. However, Zane was afraid that she was in denial of the gruesome fate that her world had received.

"You were always terrible at jokes, but this?" Stargazer laughed, shaking her head. "Where have you been learning, brother? Because your mentor in humor is... questionable."

"Stargazer Celestial Ro'Meave, I swear on my halo that this is no joke. I swear on my halo that Nerula was destroyed, that the Realm no longer exists." Zane stated, his voice strong and firm as he stood up tall and straight.

Srargazer took this into consideration. She knew that when an Aldrothian swore something to someone, or themselves, that it was no joke. She glanced at his halo, gleaming gold and floating above his head a symbol of his good natured heart and resistance against their father.

She started to cry.

Zane was horrified. Stargazer never cried, literally never. At least, he hadn't seen her cry whenever he was with her, which had been most of the time. She had been "too" strong to cry, as some people had put it. Some even said that she couldn't cry, and Zane had actually believed it. But she always insisted that she could cry, and that she just never did because she "didn't like the way it felt on her cheeks". Never before had Zane had greater doubts on that reason.

Well, he actually had had greater doubts. He had even greater doubts when Garroth had first said he would change his ways eventually.

Stargazer has lost control of her emotions completely now, unable to contain the tears fully. The fresh droplets flooded her eye and rolled down her face, splashing onto the hard floor. If she was trying to contain her feelings, she was doing a horrible job at it. Or maybe she was doing a good job at it. Zane didn't want to know the answer, it was difficult enough seeing her break down like this.

"Stargazer...." Zane began, but stopped himself before he said anything else.

What was he supposed to say? He had grown up with Stargazer, but he had never seen her break down like this. Hell, he had never even seen her show even a quarter of this emotion. He had no idea what to do. He didn't even know Stargazer on her more personal levels. That was a difference between them-- Stargazer knew how to be quiet about her personal life, and Zane didn't. If his honorary mother were still around and were here, would she have known what to do?

"I managed to save some things from Nerula before the destruction occurred." Zane offered, already opening his halo's portal. "Two of them you'll definitely want."

Stargazer slowly looked up at him, trying to see through her tears with a series of blinks. Zane reached inside of the opened portal, reaching around and pushing things out of his way. By Aphmau, he really did have a lot of things in here.

I'll have to clean it out later, Zane thought grumpily, wilting at the thought of physically cleaning his treasury out. Why do I have a bucket in here?

Finally he found what he was looking for. He grabbed the two items, clutching them tightly as he pulled them out.

One was a Jade Broadsword with an ebony handle, Nerulian symbols engraved into the gemstone blade to spell the name "Mikazuki". It was in a strong sheath of black leather, with a moonstone buckle circling the middle section. There was a jade embedded on the middle of the sheath, the symbol of the Jade Jury engraved into it.

The other was a miniature Dragon statue, which was made entirely out of pure jade. The Dragon was looking down at its front talons, which were wrapped around a golden orb. The wings were folded up against the back, just out a little. The tail was wrapped around from the back to the front, the end of it resting just beneath its front talons. The entire statue radiated with a jade green glow, and Zane could feel the ancient powers and energies surging within it.

The miniature Dragon statue immediately launched itself out of Zane's hand. The Aldrothian Deity nearly fell over from the sudden movement, and he barely caught sight of it before it entered through Stargazer's chest.

The Nerulian Dragon Hybrid pressed her hands to her chest, sobbing quietly as the statue was in her. She looked up at Zane, and through the tears staining her face, he could see genuine happiness. She stood up from the ground, gently taking the Jade Broadsword from his other hand, and slinging it around her torso.

"Thank you, Zane...." Stargazer whispered quietly, hugging him. "Thank you for saving the only things left of my ancestor... her sword and Relic."

"I would mention her ebony armor, but you're wearing that right now." Zane grinned, returning the hug with joy.

The two siblings, although only half related, stayed like that for what felt like hours. They were just hugging each other, not wanting to let go. It felt like old times, if Zane was being honest. He had missed Stargazer a great amount since she had died, and he had never really gotten over her death. The way that she, her ancestor, her entire bloodline had to die was always heartbreaking. Their last acts of protecting the Realm they loved so much was through suicide, that way Corruption and Tartarus couldn't consume them.

"I hate to bring it up, but...." Zane began, pulling away from the hug. "Did... did Diamond come with you?"

"No... no she didn't...." Stargazer sighed, looking at the ground. "As expected, father wouldn't give me a reason for that either."

"He's keeping something from us, I know he is." He nodded, flicking his tail. "I don't know how I know, but I do."

"I suggest that one of us stays here, and tries to find out what we can. The other has to go to Niflheim, and either confront him personally or search his Plane for clues." She suggested, going into a type of spy mode.

"Neither of those are gonna be easy." He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "..... I need a shower."

"We're Ro'Meaves, Aldrothians at that. Nothing is ever easy for us." She pointed out, before catching onto the last part. "You haven't been taking care of yourself ever since I died? For the love of Mikazuki, Zane! Do I have to do everything for you?"

"Pretty much, yeah." He nodded, blushing out of embarrassment. "Now, uh, back to your plans?"

"Riiiiight." She narrowed her eye at him, but continued nonetheless. "I think it'll be the best ootion for you to--"

Stargazer's voice got cut off, replaced by a loud gasp as she froze. Zane lunged forward, catching her as she nearly fell. He looked at her face. Her skin had become even paler, and her eye was entirely white. She was having a vision.

Stargazer grasped onto his hands, squeezing them tightly, like she was afraid to let go. Zane was afraid too, to be honest with himself. During her visions, Stargazer needed to hold something or someone. It was a way of keeping herself connected to reality. If she didn't, then she was more likely to mumble her words and stay in the Futuresight for Aphmau knows how long.

"Stargazer, can you hear me?" Zane asked her, as she could usually say a word or two before the words of the vision.

When she opened her mouth, however, the voice speaking was not that of Stargazer Celestial Ro'Meave. It wasn't even the cold, almost robotic sounding voice she gained when having visions. No, this was a clear voice, one that was close to Stargazer's but too different to be it. He had heard this voice before, he knew who it was, but he would never say the name outside of these moments.

But... this wasn't as much of a prophecy as he was expecting. In fact, the words were very clear in meaning and what was going to happen. Was the situation that urgent?

"Yes!!!" The voice cried, grabbing him by the shoulders. "I-- he-- they-- there's no time!!! The Divines, Garroth, everyone-- the destruction of Aldroth, the blood--"

"Star, slower! What do you see!?" Zane demanded, but he knew that the person speaking was not Stargazer.

Stargazer leaned in close to him, and whispered a few last words to him. They made a chill go down his spine, if he even had one. Did Aldrothian Deities have bones and organs?

"The Dragon brings death,
The Dragon brings salvation.
The voices of ancient souls are winning,
The rings are only the beginning."

Zane let the words sink in, as Stargazer's eye returned to normal and she collapsed in his arms, unconscious. He tried to speak, but his throat was dry and his voice was lost. He could feel his legs trembling as he tried to stand, and he cried out as he looked ahead and saw Garroth approaching him.

"I have wonderful news, Zane!" Garroth beamed, grinning brightly in a way that seemed prehistoric to Zane.l

"I truthfully wonder what that could be." Zane sighed, still trying to cope with the words of the prophecy.

Garroth held out his hands, but took Zane into a bone crushing hug despite his protests. He nuzzled his head lovingly, and pat him on the head as he pulled away. Zane glared up at him, fixing his hair. He hated it whenever someone did that, and he hated it even more when Garroth acted like everything was all fine and dandy between them. Then Garroth made his announcement.

Oh, how Zane wished he could turn back time.

"I have Laurance... you failed, Líkúorianō."