A Meeting With the King (Vash/Aya)

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I sat outside the doors of King Ayalan's audience chamber, trying not to fidget; I don't sit still very well for very long. I'd left 'Guo and Rin to practice meditation with each other so I could have this conversation.

The Order needed the support of all Realms, if it could manage it. I had heard quite a bit about Aya, but I'd never met him; still, he should be willing to support our cause.

I hoped.

That didn't mean I wasn't nervous. Rynsaeth whispered soothing, amused words into my mind, but I wasn't paying attention, for once, to my sister.

A steward exited and bowed. "The King will see you now," he said.

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Ayalan sighed as he folded his arms, standing behind the steward,"No need to be so formal. I'm a person, not a cherished item."

The steward nodded politely, bowing out of the way between the two.

Aya stepped down from his chair- he opened his eyes revealing his yellows and stated, "How can I help you? You'll have to forgive my lack of being here- I'm usually down with the townspeople on the street, so I'm not too used to the whole..'formality' formality..if you catch my drift."

He smiled and turned around, allowing Vash into the room that was mostly bare- it was actually a strategy room in progress, but Aya sighed, wondering what was the matter for this red coated, blonde haired man.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I nodded, smiling softly. I looked around the room - then chose a place to sit. I didn't think he'd mind, since he didn't seem to be big on the little formalities.

"I guess I should get right to the point," I said to him, after waiting for him to sit. "I... hm. THe problem is, how to begin... the beginning's rather a long story, so..." I lost myself in thought for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose the best place to start would be the events of a few months or so ago; I'm sure the rumors and stories have reached you Kingdom by now, that the Heroes and a small group out of myths and legends defeated the last remnants of Ketuluna and saved the world."

It was sad, I thought to myself. If only more of them had joined us... if only...

"Of course, most people don't believe the stories," I said. "After all... the group that helped the heroes are the stuff of fairy tales.... Knights that keep the moons' powers from reaching out, and destroying the world..."

Of course, the stories had changed and evolved from the truth; we'd done it to prevent a war that could have destroyed the world. We actually enhanced the world, made it thrive better; but the Allorans hadn't been able to accept that, that we'd been created for them. And, truth be told, I'd learned later, many of the Ketulunans had had ulterior motives. BUt that was a tale I would keep to myself.

"I'm sure you know," I said quietly, "what Order I speak of, King Ayalan."

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Aya listened to the words, as he spoke gently from his understanding, "A mythic group that most people feel have been gone or never existed to begin with. It's been said in books, lore, and tons of tribal passing down, but the evidence of the lunar knights has not been made apparent all too clearly."

He sat up and sighed as he placed his hands behind his back, "Most people don't think the Nerezzian Assassins are still around however- they also don't think the Undian Navy has any power..So I've seen the myths and legends break before my own eyes. Tell me, why is it that you tell me of the group you speak of in particular?"

Aya placed his hands on a table, standing up, "After all, if I may, calling yourselves an order requires a few talented people all guided toward one cause. So tell me your business so I may better understand your intentions."

It seemed Aya was being nice, but also had to be a King- his personality was clearly conflicted between being nice and fearful of naivety for sake of the kingdom.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I closed my eyes.

"The legends are true. They've been corrupted over the years; many of them speak as though the forces we serve are the forces we fight against. But they're true. King Ayalan, I represent the Order of the Lunar Knights. We exist for one purpose - the same purpose we were created for, long ago. To protect Allorum from the horrors of a world war, and to prevent the genocide of our people, by sealing away the powers that the Ketulunans foolishly bore into the world."

I sighed, looking him in the eyes; not a smart thing to do with most kings, but the kings of this generation were different from most. "King Ayalan, the Lunar Knights were tied to the old blood of Ketuluna Herself. When King Xiza destroyed Lunatopia, my people's last haven, all but a few of the Knights were slaughtered trying to stop him. And with the people's minds now more open than they've been in the millennia since we were created, it's time for the Lunar Knights to come out of hiding. To stop being fairytales. But we can't do it without support."

I dropped my eyes away. "Because where Lunar Knights exist, the Lunars do as well... And most Allorans still don't want to believe in that kind of power outside their control..."

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

The information was being absorbed as Aya started to pace, listening intently, "So...another group finds themselves in the midst of war..."

Aya stared Vash in the eyes as he spoke further, and he nodded for a moment-.."King..Xiza? Really now...you're asking for nearly a direct line of war as well as my support..Xiza is strong; And I don't wish to be making enemies of entire kingdoms.."

He folded his arms first as he spoke, "While I understand what you are saying..I think I must make it clear that there must be some sort of proof behind the claim."

Aya slowly rolled up his own sleeve showing the sign of a Nerezzian assassin on his hand extended onto his forearm, and hid it once more.

It seemed he wanted a direct line of proof, speaking softly, "The lunar knights would be both an invaluable ally as well as a very harsh outlook on my life...I would also need the trust of everyone involved..because if Xiza alone did as you say..that means an order of you could potentially wreak havoc on Allorum.."

Aya ..didn't seem to be hostile. He seemed to be...cautious around this information, expecting Vash to remedy that caution.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I closed my eyes and exhaled softly.

"I have already spoken with Xiza Tyrmond, to obtain the truth as to what happened that night," I said quietly. "Xiza destroyed our city - but it was Trucido who was to blame. Seems like that's teh story behind most of what happened during the Sumatas' reign of terror." I shook my head. "As for proof... I must ask you to forgive my boldness."

I took off my coat, then my shirt, turning my back and the rather spectacular Crest to Ayalan. "This is the mark of a Lunar Knight. Most of us don't have anything near this large or impressive, though." I quickly pulled my shirt back on, leaving my coat hanging over the back of the chair. "If you need more, I can show you one of my powers as well. After all, fancy tattoos are good to mark people from special organizations, but I understand that anyone could have one - the power behind us is something far less easy to show."

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Ayalan looked at Vash with a hand under his chin, watching the man as he mentioned that man...Trucido. He felt his missing arm- his mechanical one now. The coldness of the steel inside was not nearly enough to match Trucido's heart.

Aya knew how serious that kind of threat could be.

However his attention refocused to see Vash's back- the insignia was quite impressive; and Aya stood up as he cleared his throat.

"Then have at you."

The king held out a balled up hand, this was not a fight to the death but a test of strength- common in Nerezza for the amount of fights that people would get into in order to prove their honor; however, Aya did this as a test to let Vash show his abilities as well as for Aya to personally judge him- he wouldn't need more than a few moves back and forth to tell if he personally believed in Vash's strength alone.

"And prove to me the might of the warriors that represent that which guides our nightly spirits."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I smiled, holding out a balled fist in return.

"I accept the challenge, dagger of the night," I replied, using one of the many titles given to the group his tattoos marked him as a member of. "I shall test my conviction against yours, and let the gods decide this matter."

The traditional response, of course.

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Ayalan smirked- he rushed in and attempted a blow; a left hook to be precise, but the whole fight he would be throwing feigns as he spoke.

"Tell me, Vash. If you are so determined to bring back the lunar knights-"

He backed away after his attempted strike.

"How many of you are there left?"

Aya started to speak to himself a bit, getting some magical incantation ready.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

Hand-to-hand isn't my strong suit, so I stepped back out of range, calling power, ready to block whatever he had coming next.

"I don't know," I said simply. "As far as I know, only two of us survived Lunatopia's destruction; their Successors are only now coming into their power." The glow of my power surrounded my hands, held in a defensive stance. "I won't know until I find them how many Lunars were able to choose outside their bloodlines."

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Ayalan's next move was a levitation spell- as he rose high, he pulled out his chakrams, enchanting as they spun around him- a new trick from his large book of tactics. When he was ready he looked up and smiled, "It seems that you have quite an order to assemble then..your aura grows strong; I think you may be telling the truth for certain!"

Aya laughed and sent forth the four chakram= where their target was would be unknown to Vash as they spiraled in the air.

"And when you all assemble..what is your goal? Your Tasks at hand?"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

Taking to the air? Well, then. I'd been looking for a chance to show off. I called several Wisps from my cross and from the energy within me, creating my wings as I lifted into the air. Saving enough energy that I could still create the shield I'd been concentrating on, I sent a pulse of energy at Ayalan, only enough to sting, not seriously injure him. I didnt' want to be arrested for injuring the man.

"To rebuild the Order. To finally rejoin the world. To create a place where all of those who serve the Moons need never fear persecution! A home!"

[Aya Dauzi Invargas]

Aya smirked- an aerial battle would make this easier for his own tactics, as he kept steadfast- he did not move out of the way of the wisps, as taking damage was in his nature at this point; the chakrams however seemed to rotate around Vash, mystical energy intertwining as Aya's hands emitted an energy toward them, almost like string.

"A home? To rejoin the world? The goal is more noble than I would imagine, but will the people agree with your goal as being so noble as I would?"

Aya's body took a few stinging red inducing wounds to his arm and armor, as he brought his hands together in a clasp...he looked up at Vash.

"I think I can accept your ideals."

The chakram stopped as well, floating in mid air. Suspense was up with the chakrams it seemed.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

The chakram were a distraction, I thought to myself, but still a viable source of damage. Aya was an excellent fighter - his previous position and his current one made that no surprise. Still, I had the advantage in experience, at least. I flapped back a little bit, so I could keep more of an eye on the whole battlefield.

"We have no choice," I said to him. "Our Order has two choices - adapt, or die. With Knights being chosen all over the world... We must be able to move freely. Our ways are dying, our Knights are dying, our race is dying. We can't survive in a world that still fears us."