Dawn Warriors: Chaos

Promise

Aurora slowly sat up straight and put her feet on the cold floor. The floor was the only cold thing about her kingdom, and she was already used to it. Sun was known for it's heat almost just as much as it was known for the forests. Using the wall as support, Aurora got up and started walking to the window to open the curtains. She felt a pair of hands guide her to her desk and soon felt the sunlight in her eyes. She looked up and saw Orion was the one who had opened the curtains.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"About ...half past one."

"Oh..."

"In the afternoon."

"Yup, there it is!"

Orion handed her a paper bag and cup of coffee.

"Got your favourites."

"Thank you!"

Aurora sat down and started eating.

"I don't know what Alexander used to to drug you...but it was strong." Said Orion.

"Moon dragon tears," She said after taking a sip of coffee, "that filth can put me down in less than a minute."

"What is it with you and being vulnerable to things associated with the moon?"

Aurora almost choked on her coffee at the thought that came into her mind.

"No idea. Must be a side effect to being the only magical human."

Orion raised an eyebrow and picked up the report Ruby had sent her the day before. He had clearly already read it, judging by how he looked at it.

"First, the puppet master, then you get the location of the place where the agents are...reset, and still on the same day Alexander tried to kidnap you to do King knows what."

"Will you help me destroy it?" She asked.

"Yes...after visiting Diana."

"That's today?"

Orion nodded.

"Star and Comet preferred not to come."

"You have to give her the news, it's understandable that they don't want to be present. I'll send Charlie to accompany you."

*

Ava finished stitching the wound on her father's arm then served them some tea. Being a creature of darkness had its down side, one of them being having no capability to heal.

"I told you it was a bad idea," She said whilst putting the first aid kit away, "the Royal Guard would rather die than let her get scratched by people like us."

"Didn't hurt to try."

"It hurt me."

"Don't give me that face, Ava."

"I'm just saying, you need to be more careful, she's dangerous."

Alexander put his teacup down and pondered on her words. Ava was his daughter, he'd grown her in his lab by joining his dead wife's genes with his own. How that had worked was still a mystery to him, but he never really questioned it much. He did always keep in mind that it wouldn't have been necessary if the Royal Guard hadn't murdered his wife. Did she try to kill Aurora in the womb? Yes. But he didn't care, they had killed her and that's why he had chosen this path.

"I'll be more careful...I promise! But I still need to capture that creature, the council wants results."

*
Aurora, Orion and Eric stared at the green colored lake in silence. No one really knew what to say, the cave was creepy and the lake had been the stage of many horrors.

"Thanks for calling me." Said Eric.

"You deserve to see this place go down just as much as I do," Aurora replied, "now here's the plan: Based on the test results I received earlier the issue isn't the water, our problem is some sort of plant at the bottom of the lake. I'll go destroy it and you guys just be ready to pull me out."

"Won't you lose your memory again?" Eric asked.

"Given I'll be in and out, I'd say I'd only lose like 1 or 2 minutes of memory, worst that can happen is me forgetting how I got here."

Orion and Eric looked at each other. The two had disagreed on a lot, but they both agreed this was a bad idea.

"Alright, I'm ready to go." Said Aurora as she fastened her breathing mask, handed Orion the rope and jumped into the water.

"So... you're going to marry Aurora in..."

"Five years. We get married in five years."

"Nice...so you two are like...chill about it?"

"I guess. Like, we were raised knowing that one it would happen...I never had a problem with it, but Aurora on the other hand didn't seem to like the idea."

Orion saw the water go back to normal and pulled Aurora out. She got up and gently twisted her hair to get rid of the water. Orion dropped the rope and went to her with a towel.

"You're fine, right? All memories in order?"

"The effects will actually only kick in after a minute or so."

"Oh...oh, this is awkward."

"Wouldn't be us if it was any other way." Aurora replied with a smile.

*
Aurora and Orion arrived in the palace, she was still soaked but the joy she felt that no one else would suffer like she had. She caught Orion looking at her, she'd seen that look before.

"Why do you look at me like that?" She asked.

"Oh, I-I don't really know...it just happens."

"It's adorable." She said with a laugh.

Orion suddenly stopped and held both her hands in his.

"Aurora, I know our lives have been... chaotic, but I've come to realize that even with all that, the greatest joy I have is knowing I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life. And I wouldn't want to face this mess any other way."

"I'm happy I'm stuck with you, too...even if I don't really show it."

They sat on the grass and watched the sunset.

"Promise you'll stay?" Aurora asked, "No matter what?"

"I promise. Love you."

"Thanks, Orion...that means a lot to me. I love you too."