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Memories	By : Asirainis Category: +A through F > Dragon Quest/ Dragon Warrior Views: 1615 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Quest VIII, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
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- 17
Memories
Chapter Fifteen: Argonia and the Mystic
With the Holy Isle behind them, Trode came out to them. "My, my, what wonderful equipment you have everyone, what happened on the isle?"
Airlia let out a hard sigh, "Marcello."
He nodded as he placed his hand over hers. "Need to talk about it?"
She shook her head, "Not really. I'd rather just forget it ever happened." She took the bag that Marcello gave her and let it fall to the ground of the boat before running into the cabin, shutting the door behind her. The brunette sighed as she wondered if he would ever get over thinking she should be his merely because he saw her first. As she lay on the bed, she fell asleep, trying to forget her woes.
Jessica came into the cabin as she saw the girl sleeping, tears falling down her cheeks as she dreamed of the past, of nightmares that had either already happened and were currently happening. When the girl started to thrash, she awoke the woman gently. "You're safe, it's okay Air." Chocolate eyes opened to see Jessica's face as she tried to calm her breathing down. "It's just me in here, you don't have to worry. What happened?"
Airlia looked down, "Old memories of the past… painful ones."
Jessica nodded as she spoke, "I still sometimes dream that what you did for Alistair never happened, the pain fills me so tightly that I can't breathe."
Airlia nodded. "The dream I had… it was of when Angelo was helping me to get supplies from Simpleton and Marcello confronted us on the stairs. He accused Angelo of trying to 'loosen me up' so to speak, though he didn't use such friendly words."
Jessica nodded, clearly upset by the dream the woman had. "The others may not see what you see, but I've seen it too. There's a darkness in his eyes that scares me for your safety Air."
The brunette nodded as the pair left the cabin to see the coast coming up to them. "So where are we guv?" She asked as Alistair held the bag that she let fall out to her once more.
He looked at the map and said, "We're going to land on the shore near Argonia."
She didn't look up as Trode exclaimed, "Argonia!? We can't go in there Draco! That's where Prince Charmles lives with his father, King Clavius. Prince Charmles is betrothed to Princess Medea. Who knows what would happen if they realized who we were considering our current state…" Sighing, she knew she should take it, simply because it would be bad for her to show her current feelings when he was so seemingly smooth to the others. She opened it to see all sorts of items, including plain gold rings with a note. Reading the note, she hid her emotions.

I heard that these plain gold rings can be the source of much alchemy. Combining them with different items can turn them into something else entirely. I pray something in here can protect you more than I ever could Air. Stay safe. Happy birthday…
Marcello

She looked in the bag to see various items, some nails, some rings, herbs and as he promised, food and drink in several skins. She packed the items into the wagon as she closed her eyes to hide the tears that would otherwise be visible to the others. Blinking, she knew another reason to come in on that coast. "There's another reason that it's good to land on this side of the coast Your Majesty…"
He looked at her, "Oh?"
She nodded. "I had almost forgotten an old story my father spoke of. A spring with magical powers, it may reverse Medea's curse."
He looked at her with tearful eyes filled with hope. "I hope so, Airlia, I truly hope so."
She nodded as Draco came over to her with the map. "Where is it, so I can make sure we get there as quickly as possible?" She fingered a region mostly west and a little south of Argonia.
"Right there, that spring." Angelo studied her for a moment to see the pain in her eyes. He knew something wasn't right… that his brother did something that hurt her badly yet again. He didn't quite see what it was, but he also knew Airlia didn't react without reason to just anything.
He frowned as he stayed close to her, "It'll be okay Air, and you know that. Just don't let that pompous man get to you, because you're stronger than that."
She nodded, "It's just hard when he sees me as an object to possess, rather than an actual human being."
Angelo nodded as he walked over to her, and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, he spoke. "Perhaps the 'curse' that Ishmahri spoke of on you can be broken at this spring as well?"
She smiled at him as she shook her head, "It's just hard to say when I don't even know what this curse is."
Yangus quipped, trying to break the somber mood, "Maybe it's the curse o' desire?" It elicited the laughter he had hoped from the young brunette that he had slowly grown fond of. And yet in that light, she reminded him of the guv just briefly. He shook his head before turning back to see the coming shore.
Airlia turned back to the pot with an iron nail in hand forcing thoughts of him out of her head, "Draco, can I see your boomerang?" He nodded as he handed over the plain boomerang that she had asked him to hold onto. She put them both in the alchemy pot as they neared the coast. Just before they finished docking, the pot went off; telling her the item was ready. She saw the boomerang was the same, but it was reinforced by the iron from the nail. She smiled as she handed it over to Draco, "Now it should go a while longer." He grinned at her in thanks as he placed it back along his hip. Fully docked, they disembarked the boat as Airlia guided them by the map.
Minutes after leaving the ship, they saw a tall creature whose skin was golden, and his head and ears were green. He held a sword in his hands and had a bracer on each wrist and each ankle. She smiled as she walked up to him. He giggled as she spoke, "You're not so bad, are you?" He shook his head, indicating she was right in her thoughts. "There's a man on the other continent, whose name is Morrie. Have you been to his place yet?"
He smiled, "I've been there, but no one was home…"
She nodded, "He's there now, why don't you go there and let him know Ragazzo sent you? He'll protect you and lead you to others who could use your strength to protect them." He smiled happily as he left to go to Morrie's Haven.
Jessica beamed as she came over to Airlia, "Wow, you weren't joking about your dedication to helping protect those who need it huh?"
Airlia nodded, "Father didn't think all creatures were bad. The few we ran into the tower were driven insane by the scepter I think. However, the darker the location, the fewer the creatures… as if they fear its power, or who it belonged to."
The group went about their walk, going down the path, as it followed the river. They saw it spill out into an open field that went up ground to a worn dirt path. Turning left, they followed it until they eventually came to an obvious travelers' path. Airlia smiled as Draco pulled out the map as he touched where they were, enlarging the area, "So we're about here, this is where we want to go, just past the kingdom of Argonia." She pointed to a small forest with a spring inside of it as everyone nodded. So they followed the path west, only to see it veer north to a castle. Airlia smiled as she said, "Angelo, I know you are familiar with Zoom, does anyone else have that spell?"
Draco nodded with a small smile. "Our chimaera wings will be able to return us here, now that we have seen the castle. This will save us unnecessary travels."
Draco nodded in agreement as he turned to Airlia. "Can we hurry to the spring? I'd like to break King Trode and Princess Medea of their curse if I can."
Airlia smiled as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We will, no matter what it takes, that I can promise you. I just wish I knew if this would work or not." He smiled at her as Medea walked between them, a plea in her eyes to Airlia.
Closing her eyes, she nodded. "We're close, let's go this way." They continued to walk for a few hours as night started to fall. As they rounded the bend where Airlia saw the fork in the path and a masked man dressed in blue with tan gloves and boots wandering around. He turned to them, an axe in his hand. "Excuse me, I'm lost, can you help me?" Airlia nodded as Angelo looked at him questioningly. "I've gotten separated from my brothers; I heard that they were going to a tower for safety. Have you heard of some sort of safe tower?"
Airlia thought for a moment as she nodded. "Morrie's Monster Haven?"
He thought for a moment and nodded. "Yea, that's the place! Thanks lady!"
She smiled as she handed him a chimaera wing. "Tell Morrie Ragazzo sent you there to find your brothers. If they're there, he will know where to find them." He smiled as he flung it in the air, disappearing in a flurry of feathers. Airlia looked at her stash of wings as she spoke, "We should pick up more when we reach the next town…"
Angelo shook his head, "When I grabbed the bag, it felt quite heavy, so I opened it to see the chimaera wings… I put them in the community bag when I saw the paper. I briefly skimmed it only to realize it was a note from him to you. So I figured I wouldn't look too deeper into it."
Airlia groaned as she shook her head. So long as he was giving them items, she would have to show appreciation for them, and she worried where he would take that appreciation. Alistair nodded as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "So long as we're around, he won't be able to hurt you Airlia. I just apologize for not knowing it was your birthday."
She nodded as she said, "As I said to Marcello, things like that don't matter so much when you're on the road for a long time chasing a terrible evil." They walked down the path to find a hut on the path. Airlia held everyone back, "A friend might be here. Let me check." She knocked on the door and heard no response. Frowning, she tried again and heard nothing. She turned to the others, her arms crossed, and her hands were rubbing her upper arms, warding off the cold.
"He's not there… perhaps he's down at the spring after all." They looked at her. "He's a gentle sage by the name of Melampus. He is a longtime friend of father's and Calchas's. He, too, tried to aid in finding my family only to come up with nothing."
King Trode nodded. "If he couldn't find your family, then how can he break the curse on us?"
Airlia smiled, "The spring isn't meant for finding people, it's meant for healing ailments and curses. Come." They nodded as they progressed down the path into the woods. It spilled out to a beautiful pond with lavender colored flowers growing along the path.
Medea, tried to not walk on the flowers but Airlia merely smiled at her, "The flowers don't seem to mind, princess. They're quite resilient and soothing to smell."
They remained quiet as Airlia saw Melampus gazing out at the pond. He was the same as ever, half bent over with age, long white hair with a dark cap. He had a purple robe on with a simple leather belt around his waist and held a staff in his hands. Atop the staff was a silver orb with a hole in the center for a sapphire blue gem. Airlia announced her arrival, "Hello Melampus!"
He turned quickly with a smile under his thick moustache and beard. "Airlia! My, it has been so long, too long my dear!"
Airlia nodded as she ran to him, to embrace him. "Melampus, my friends need your help breaking a terrible curse. I had hoped the water might help them."
He smiled at her, "Of course Airlia, any friends of yours are friends of mine!" He looked at Medea, "Such an exquisite beauty!" Airlia smiled, knowing the truth of the matter as the others looked at him with a perplexed expression on their faces.
He continued to gaze at Medea, "I saw many a beautiful princess back at the castle, but you, my dear, oh, you outshine them all. Indeed… Indeed… It's easy to see why your fellow travelers guard you so closely."
Yangus blinked as he finally found his voice, "Wot!? You sayin' you can see the 'orse-princess all proper like!?"
Trode smiled with his eyes closed, proud of his daughter, "Of course he can! Even as a horse, her inner beauty shines through! That's right, my darling…" It then hit him that Melampus was saying he could see Medea truly as she was… as a princess rather than as a horse. Blinking, he thought for a moment before asking, "Wait a moment! How can you recognize this horse as my beautiful Princess?"
Airlia smiled as she explained for Melampus. "His sight failed him years ago. He now sees the world through his mind's eye. And there isn't a single curse that can cover his sight now. He sees Medea as the princess that she truly is."
Melampus nodded as he came to Medea's side. "Please, forgive me princess." She nodded with a whinny as he felt along her neck… "A whinny… Here is her mane, and her tail! Truly a terrible curse on this princess. And you hoped the spring might break the curse Airlia?"
She nodded as she detached the wagon from Medea. "Draco, why not walk her over to the water. Medea – drink it, hopefully it will help."
Melampus nodded, "I agree with Airlia. Try Princess." She knelt down and drank the water.
She began to glow bright white as the horse faded and a beautiful princess remained. She looked at everyone before speaking, "By the Goddess, I'm restored!" Airlia smiled as she ran to Medea, "I'm truly glad for you Medea!"
Medea gave her a strange look as Airlia whispered to her, "I don't have feelings for Draco, nor does he have any for me. If I'm right, it's more of a familial bond, like with Alistair…"
Medea smiled at her with a small blush as she turned to Draco and her father. "Father… Father! Look! I've returned to normal!"
"Father! What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything? Am I just dreaming?" Her blue eyes filled with fear and tears as her hands came to her mouth in fright. "Or is this some new trickery?"
Airlia shook her head, "It's not any sort of trickery. He is likely in shock that you've been returned to your form Princess."
Trode smiled as tears came to his eyes as he spoke, his voice breaking on every word. "No, no, my dear! Airlia's right… I'm sorry. It's just that you take my breath away. Come here and let me look at you!" His arms held outwards as he ran to Medea with such joy. The pair reunited as Airlia smiled at them.
Melampus turned to Airlia, "I felt your father pass, and then come back to this world… What happened?" Airlia frowned as she explained everything to him as succinctly as she could before he responded, "I see, so that was the treachery that happened to these poor people. I understand, I think, about what the curse on you is. I don't think the spring will help, but, please try."
Airlia smiled, "In a few minutes Melampus, I want Medea to enjoy herself after being trapped as a horse for so long." He nodded as they turned back to the excitement of the Princess being human once more.
King Trode whimpered as he spoke to his daughter, "I'm so sorry for making you pull the carriage. It must have been so hard for you. I promise… I'll make it up to you!"
Medea shook her head as she spoke to her father, "Oh, no, Father! You mustn't worry! This isn't just about me. I'm just happy that I could be of service to everyone."
Trode rejoiced as he said, "That's my Medea. Well, it's high time I restored my own visage to its former glory!" He went to the spring and cupped his hands in the water when Medea cried out to him, glowing once more as Airlia's face fell. It was as she had feared. The spring's powers weren't enough to truly reverse Medea's curse. Airlia wondered if she should even bother to try to break her own curse, since they had no definitive idea of what it was or how strong it would be.
Trode turned to Medea as his face fell, tears of joy turning to tears of pain as Medea let out a pained whinny. Trode grumbled as Airlia supplied, "It seems the curse on the two of you and your kingdom were too strong for the powers of the spring. I'm truly sorry, Your Majesty, Princess Medea. However, we should come here from time to time."
Melampus nodded, "The only path left to you is to defeat the one who placed the curse upon her. The one you call Dhoulmagus. You must persevere, no matter how long and hard the road ahead." Airlia nodded as she sighed softly.
"Melampus, should I even bother? We don't even know for sure what it is or how strong…"
He seemed to think on it before he nodded, "Airlia, try it, if it will save you from the one chasing you, I say do it." She nodded as she cupped her hands in the water and raised it to her lips. She let the cool liquid slide down her throat as she waited a moment. She glowed brightly for a moment before it died down. She blinked before sighing hard internally… "I… I don't feel any different Melampus…"
He frowned, "All I can hope for is that I was right about your curse dear child. Let's hope it is broken for now." Airlia nodded as she frowned too. She looked at her hands and saw nothing differently though her arm was burning where her birthmark was.
Saying nothing she turned to Melampus, "It's late; may we sleep at the hut tonight?"
He nodded, "I was just about to suggest that my dear. Let's go, it is fairly chilly right now." She nodded as Draco reluctantly hitched Medea back to the wagon.
The group followed him back to the hut as he let them in. "I'm sorry there aren't many beds here…"
Airlia shook her head, "At least we're safe here rather than on the road."
Melampus turned to his stew pot on the fire. "Dinner is ready, enough for all of you." He poured some into a bowl for each of them, with an extra bowl for King Trode and some fruit for Princess Medea. "This will perk her spirits some."
She nodded as she brought the food out to them. "I'm so sorry Medea. I had hoped that the spring would cure you." She turned to Trode, "Your Majesty, here's some food from Melampus to warm your belly against the chill of the night."
He smiled at her, "I wish we knew what curse you suffered from to know if you were free of it…"
Airlia nodded, "So do I King Trode, so do I." She went inside, downed her meal as she settled into the hay in the corner of the room. Draco decided to sleep outside next to his princess. Jessica and Alistair slept near Airlia and Angelo with Yangus sharing Draco's urge for fresh air.

She wasn't in her body, and she wasn't sure where she was for that matter as she looked around. She was in a room that was lavish, but not overly so as she looked at her hands… But they were burly, like a man's as she tried to pick out where she was. Suddenly that feeling came to the back of her neck again. She turned around to see the jester! Standing she growled a manly growl. "Who are you!" She demanded in the manly voice of her form.
He cackled, "Time to break the next seal!" She stepped back, afraid. "Seal?" He grinned, "Yes, the blood of the sages must be spilt so I can be free to reclaim my rightful place and my rightful bride!" She growled as she grabbed the small dagger in her belt as she launched herself at him. The battle was short lived, as he impaled her, but not without hurting her attacker. "Pity… Such a pity… A weak body won't suit me any further."

Airlia gasped as she awoke, tears streaming down her face. She had felt that blow to her stomach, killing her… No, not her…Him… Whoever he was, he was dead… She had to find him! She had no idea if anyone knew he was dead or not. If she could make it before either twenty four hours had past or he was buried, she could revive him! She blinked rapidly as she saw Alistair awake and looking at her, studying her face as he offered a piece of cloth for her tears. She smiled weakly as she accepted it. He looked at her, "Another nightmare? If so, then the curse either wasn't cured or it was something else."
She nodded. "Wake the others; I don't want to speak of this nightmare more than once."
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Memories