The Roar of Dawn

Meanwhile, Princess Colette continued her struggle against Nocturne and his dragon.

She parried one of his strikes, and pushed him back with her elbow before giving a hard kick. He took it without a waver in his demeanor, and hopped aside to make way for a stream of lightning Fafnir breathed out.

With gritted teeth, Colette held her sword up in defense and concentrated her magic. 

“Faith’s Shield!” She chanted.

Just before the lightning struck, a barrier of golden light formed around her to block it. It shook and cracked a bit under the attack’s sheer power, and her legs nearly buckled from the pressure. Still, she held strong until the electricity disappeared, whereupon her barrier faded and she swayed from exhaustion. Still, she wasn’t allowed even a moment’s respite.

Nocturne dashed up to her with a slash at her legs, and she jumped back to avoid it. However, she stumbled and fell to one knee upon landing, and breathed heavily while shaking her head.

“D-dammit…” She muttered.

Nocturne laughed aloud. “Look at you, on your knees! It’s almost disappointing! Your great-grandmother put up a better fight than this!”

He looked aside and made a gesture, while chuckling in amusement.

“Look, you stand alone. Everyone who followed you has learned of how hopeless they all are.”

Colette followed his gaze to her fallen comrades. Many were sitting down, watching their battle with tired eyes and defeated expressions. Some were being tended to by Lilian’s fellow fae, though even they looked weak and weary.

Then others were completely laid down, with no signs of life in their forms.

‘...I led them to their deaths, didn’t I?’ The Princess thought with a tinge of regret.

Her eyes shifted as she heard a desperate cry from Lilian.

“SIR EDWARD!”

She was on the ground, watching Nocturne’s Champion as he had Edward raised in preparation for execution.

Colette growled and staggered onto her feet, ignoring the stress in her legs. Something in her heart burned, just a little, and compelled her to keep standing.

‘I can’t…let it end like this…’ She thought with rising anger.

Nocturne approached her with a chuckle. “You really do have Princess Jenette’s valiance. Sadly, you wasted it on trying to save your dear Princess Helena. If you had just fought me with your full strength, maybe you could have saved yourself!”

With that, he readied his rapier for a lunge…only to stop and lower it as he noticed something in the distance.

“What is he doing?” He muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Colette looked back in surprise to see that Champion had laid Edward on the ground. The knight then gave Nocturne a glance before walking away and disappearing into a dark portal.

After a momentary silence from the sheer absurdity of it all…a grin formed on Colette’s lips. She shifted her gaze to Lilian, who was also in a state of confusion.

“Lil, now’s your chance!” The golden princess shouted.

The fae flinched as she snapped out of her stupor, then staggered up and started to trudge toward Edward.

Colette then faced Nocturne while brandishing her blade. The burning in her heart became a little more intense, providing her even more will to face the god before her.

“How does it feel to be abandoned by your own dog?” She said in a taunting tone.

He scoffed and pointed his blade at her. “He can leave if he so wishes. You’re all beaten anyway, so I can finish you off myself!”

An aura of chaos exploded around him, and she staggered from the sheer pressure of his increased power. Still, she remained focused and braced herself for the next attack.

‘It’s now or never…’ She thought with a deep breath.

___________________________________________

Meanwhile, Lilian reached Edward and fell to his side. She brought her fingertips to his head and channeled her magic, and her spirit delved into his mind once more.

She quickly reached the golden ball that was his conscience, and was surprised to see it shining brighter than before. The dark chains around it were wavering, as if they were losing strength.

‘Is he hearing me?’ She thought with relief and worry. ‘If so…just a little more!’

With tears in her eyes and a flicker of hope in her heart, she clasped her hands and prayed.

“Sir Edward…wake up…”

After a short while, the light of his conscience suddenly flared, and the chains of chaos broke and dissipated with a snap. With eyes wide in awe, Lilian dove forward while shouting with all her heart.

“Sir Edward, I’m here!”

She thrust her hand to reach into his conscience, and a second after she felt someone grab it.

“Lilian!” Edward shouted back.

With a yell of effort, she pulled back and helped his spirit surface into his mind. When he emerged, light filled his mind to the point where she was blinded.

She shut her eyes, then opened them as she returned to the waking world.

Her breaths came heavy…then she gasped and looked down as she heard Edward breathing hard under her.

“You’re…okay?” She said with uncertain relief.

He looked up at her with wide, confused eyes at first. Then he took a deep breath as he calmed down, and gave her a solemn look.

“...I am.” He murmured. “But you…what happened?”

Lilian looked forward in a sullen manner. “See for yourself.”

Edward sat up to look at the battlefield with her. When he saw the tired survivors and the unmoving dead, he scowled and clenched his fists.

“He did this…didn’t he?” He said with a hint of rage.

Lilian nodded slightly. “Yes…we all fought him, but…we don’t have the power to kill him. We only delayed the inevitable. But…even though he was there, he spared your life.”

Edward got on his feet and summoned his sword. He looked at the star on the base of his blade, and Lilian was surprised to see it glowing.

“Princess Jenette saved me.” He said with a determined frown. “And with her blessing, I’m going to finish this battle!”

He looked even further ahead, where Princess Colette was still clashing with Nocturne and Fafnir, then turned his gaze down to Lilian and offered her a hand.

“Let’s go, she needs us.”

Lilian nodded hesitantly and attempted to stand while grabbing his hand. However, her legs buckled almost immediately, and she panted heavily as all the fight’s toll on her all crashed down at once. Her broken nose throbbed painfully, now swollen to the point where it was bright red.

“I…I can’t…” She sobbed with tears in her eyes. “I’m too weak…I couldn’t even protect you…How can I help Colette?”

Edward gave her a sympathetic look. “Lilian…”

All of a sudden, the World Sword shined with golden light, which startled them both. Edward’s jaw then opened in awe as he saw something behind Lilian.

“That’s…”

She stiffened as she felt something warm wrap around her from behind, and her tears streamed down with the rain as a voice she longed to hear again whispered in her ear.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Lil. You’ve done so well, and I know you can do even more. Now go, they need you more than ever.”

The warmth spread throughout her body, alleviating her aches and pains. Even her nose was mended, to the point where it was like it hadn’t been damaged in the first place.

“Jen…” Lilian sniffled.

Even when the previous Star Maiden’s presence faded, her warmth was still there. With a renewed confidence, Lilian wiped her eyes and firmly took Edward’s hand again.

“I’m ready.” She told him a resolute nod.

He returned the look and helped her up, and together they ran to Colette’s aid.

‘Jen, I promise, your descendant and her Hero will save this world.’ The fae thought solemnly. ‘Just like you and Anne did.’

_________________________________________

As Edward and Lilian approached, Nocturne sneered and made a gesture to them.

“As if just the two of you can change anything!” He boasted. “Fafnir, destroy them!”

The Lord of Nevermore snarled with irritance before taking a deep breath to charge electricity in its maw.

Though Colette was exhausted, with her armor broken and dress in tatters, she still made a desperate dash to cut in front of her friends.

“Stay behind me!” She ordered while raising her sword. “Faith’s Shield!”

When the dragon’s lightning was breathed out, she generated a barrier to block it. It impacted with enough force to shake the barrier and crack it, and she coughed out blood as she pushed herself beyond her limit to keep the attack at bay.

Lilian shook off her surprise, and stepped up to place a hand on the taller princess’s shoulder. Her magic power flowed through Colette to add onto her own. Her barrier was then repaired as it was strengthened, and it stopped shaking against the blast of lightning.

A few seconds later, the electricity faded, and Colette let down her barrier. She waved in place for a moment before falling into Lilian’s arms and dropping her sword, completely spent and on the verge of unconsciousness.

“You…made it…” She whispered hoarsely.

“Colette, stay with us!” Lilian pleaded with worry.

Nocturne approached them, and Edward stepped up front with his sword raised protectively.

“This ends here, whoever you are.” He said with an edge.

The dark god chuckled in amusement. “You speak to your god, Hero of Worlds. And you are no match for me!”

He charged his blade with chaotic energy, then swung down on the Hero, who grit his teeth in concentration. His sword glowed bright gold, and another voice mixed with his to chant out.

“Faith’s Shield!”

The air boomed as the blade of darkness collided with a barrier of light, much like the one Colette had used. However, this time it was being generated by Edward, through the blade of the World Sword.

He winced as the God’s great power rattled the barrier, and his legs nearly gave out from the pressure. Then, once the attack ended, he fell to his knees and panted heavily.

Nocturne scoffed as he jumped back and raised his blade. A bright purple magic circle appeared at its tip, and dark magic rumbled as it quickly charged.

“So what if you have holy magic? It will change nothing!” He bellowed in fury.

“C-crap…” Edward gasped as he shakily stood. “But I can’t…die here!”

“Let me help you!” Lilian declared while laying Colette down.

The human princess watched with darkening vision while her friends worked together to create another barrier, to defend against Nocturne’s incoming spell.

‘...I’m sorry you two.’ She thought weakly. ‘Some Star Maiden I turned out to be, huh?’

Her gaze settled on Nocturne, and she thought of the beautiful smile that used to be on that face.

‘Hel…all I wanted…was to save you. But I guess that was my undoing, in the end…’

Her eyes closed as she began to drift into unconsciousness. Darkness filled her mind, and all noise faded into complete silence. The flame in her heart began to shrink and flicker…

Then a young girl’s voice rang clearly in Colette’s ears, and a great warmth enveloped her body.

“Are you really giving up, just like that?”

A hand touched her chest, and her heart’s fire pulsed.

“You can feel it, can’t you? This holy flame, granted by the Goddess, is yearning to grow. It’s your will, your strength. It’s proof you are a Star Maiden of legend, just like me.”

The last thing Colette felt before the presence disappeared, was lips on her forehead.

“Now stand tall, and show everyone the true pride of a de Leone.”

Even after she left…Colette could still feel that almost maternal warmth. All of her aches and pains were washed away, and she felt more energized than ever before.

“Granny Jen…” She murmured as she opened her watery eyes.

She wiped her tears away, then slowly got on her feet and picked up her sword.

By now, Nocturne’s spell was fully charged, and he let out a delighted laugh before calling it out.

“DESTRUCTION RAY!”

A huge beam of pure chaos was launched straight at Edward and Lilian, who braced themselves for the impact with their barrier. Just before it hit, Colette stepped in front of her friends, which completely astonished them.

A pillar of energy formed as the beam struck, and a shockwave was blasted over the battlefield. Onlookers screamed as they had to hold their ground against the earth-rattling force.

For a few moments, the rain hung in the air as it was suspended by this wave of energy, and only came down when it faded.

And to Nocturne’s complete shock…the Star Maiden and her friends were still alive. Their barrier had held strong with not a single crack, and it was shining much brighter than before.

“...So you’ve decided to stop holding back.” He said with a hint of frustration.

Colette now stood up front with her sword planted on the ground. She stared at the mad god with a great flame in her scarlet eyes. A blazing hot aura flared around her, which turned the cold rain to a warm steam.

“I am Colette de Leone!” She said with growing anger. “Star Maiden of Solaris, and Princess of Leone! Nocturne, you’ve toyed with human lives, turned innocent people into monsters, and attacked my kingdom! And worst of all…you took over the body of my beloved Hel! I AM THROUGH WITH YOUR GAMES!”

Her heat erupted and burst the air around her, which made Edward and Lilian stumble back.

“What the hell is going on!?” He shouted in confusion.

Lilian’s eyes widened in amazement. “This fire…it’s just like Jen’s!”

Colette growled and huffed. “Nocturne…I will free her! Hel, if you can hear me…”

Hotter and hotter, her fire became. It danced erratically in time with her heartbeat, and grew in size until it looked on the verge of exploding.

“Let my flame remind you…OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL!”

Her fire burst as she let out a roar that echoed across the entire battlefield. The flames curled and twisted until they morphed into the form of a dragon-sized lion, which roared along with her.

Like the sun, it unleashed countless rays of light that instantly evaporated the rain with their heat. They shot out far and wide, going over the heads of the awed soldiers and fae and reaching the dark clouds above.

They parted as they were pierced by the hot rays, making way for the clear blue skies. No longer did rain fall upon the field, only the warm light of the sun.

And so, just like her great-grandmother before her, Princess Colette de Leone brought back the dawn to her people.