Arkana

Determination: The Great and Powerful Arkana. Much loved *violent coughing can be heard* by her mismatched clan, she strives to be a kind leader, always trying to do her best for the team. *more violent coughing* Team spirit, right guys? *at this point everyone looks pretty done and not full of team spirit*

Tesona: I mean, seriously though. We haven't died yet under her care, so that's a good sign, right? *Most people agree, apart from Ironside who blows a raspberry* I think there were at least a thousand things that we could have died from and none of those things happened.

TideBreaker: Well I mean there was this one time where we were almost-

Khaadgrim: We were almost KILLED by an AVALANCHE! Can you believe it? But then I-

Dusklight: *rolls eyes* started lying till no one believed you anymore? Mm yes that happened.

BloomingRose: Well I mean, she was nice enough to let me build a greenhouse in the lair, and now look at all the beautiful plants that live here! *dodges a blow from a sword-welding lily* Gilderbrave I blame you for that.

Gilderbrave: What? I wasn't doing anything wrong I mean I just brushed my coat over the flowerbeds and poof the next morning they were there

Determination: GUYS have you forgotten what you are here for

Curiosity, Obsidian and Polaris: Nope! *cue shining halo over their heads*

Ironside: Oh come on of course those dimwits forgot- *Tesona drop kicks him into the stratosphere*

Determination: *facepalms* Guys you had ONE job

Demoxi: Beating Orifade in a race?

Determination: No.

Orifade: Alright fine I'll do it! The Great and Powerful Arkana, aka the leader of this clan, aka the founder of this clan, is very brave and mighty... yada yada... chose this spot by rolling random coordinates... yada yada... is pretty fierce and pretty wise (not entirely true but)... is actually pretty understanding just a more reserved leader... etc etc why were we reading this again?

Ancalagon: I think it was something along the lines of "showing our gratitude for her"

Determination: *Mutters under his breath*

Glitch: Hey anyone else got anything smart-alecky to say?

Aurora: Arkana dearie I made cookies for you! *Rubyhiss, behind her, holds up a plate of double chocolate chip* If you want them come and see the nice organised party-

Arkana: *comes out of room* Determination when I said "help me re-write my bio because it looks and sounds so out of date" I didn't mean this. *gestures*

Determination: Ark I'm so sorry-

Arkana: *grins* but I guess this works too


Arkana grew up in a family built on honour. Born to a leader of a clan, she was the next one in line to succeed the throne. While many dragons were skeptical of putting a dragoness in charge, others were fine with it, excited for the change in tradition. As such, Arkana was put under constant pressure to act as a 'lady dragon', behaving responsibly, regardless of whether she actually had any responsibilities, acting kindly to those in need. Her whole life was looked upon as a shining example to all, her actions, her words, who she made friends with, she was idolised. Arkana was so cold.

So...
And all that... was before he passed away. Arkana slowly became more distant, everything... was just there. But on the outside, she learned to contain herself, keep calm. Everyone else was amazed. How did she do it? To them, she was going to be the perfect leader, but still too young, so for the meantime, her mother, the Queen, took over. Arkana continued striving to gain the trust of her clan, waiting for her time.

By and by, the Queen met up with a strange new dragon, a King Berhanu of a distant clan. He was a widower, with a son for a heir. She was delighted. Maybe, someone she could ally herself with! She was having trouble supporting the clan all on her own, and desperately needed help. It wasn't long before his sweet smile and charm won her over, and soon shared many of the clan's responsibilities with him. Arkana was suspicious. After all, what King would be willing to sacrifice his time for no possible gain?

Sometimes, his son would come over to the clan to spend the night while King Berhanu went on important business trips. His name was Xesire, a guardian, and her mom loved him like a son. Sometimes, she would praise him for actions part of Arkana's daily schedule, asking her to be more like him, while he stood there smirking. Most of the time afterward, he would rub it in her face. There would also be occasions where he would create a problem then blame it on Arkana, smearing her reputation in front of her friends, family, and most importantly, her clanmates, whose trust she had worked so hard to build. Arkana felt freezing, but she didn't recognise it.

Then one day, it all changed. Arkana awoke to the sound of the alarm and thundering feet.

"Mutiny! MUTINY!" Cried a dragon, before she heard him scream. Moments later, members of the royal guard burst into her room, swords pointed, teeth bared.

"Miss, you're coming with us"

The King circled around the great hall in front of shackled Arkana and her mother.

"I can't believe they fell for this!" He gloated to Xesire. Berhanu gestured at the painting on the ceiling of the great hall, where artists had spent thousands of years working on the masterpiece, and had only been completed the year before. "This is amazing! This place... all to ourselves." Arkana looked at all the fallen strewed on the ground, a consequence of the battle. She did not cry a single tear for them but... her heart felt lost. All the loyalty she gained from them! What would it come to now? She looked at the traitors, those who had agreed to join the Kings ranks. Among them, she saw friends, loyal members of the council. What made them turn from the peace her family upheld for centuries? She looked over at her mother. Tears were streaming down from her eyes as she repeated the empty words "I'm sorry" over and over again.

"Do you know why I would do this Sephia?" Berhanu grinned, asking her mother.

I'm sorry

"Because I love this place! And I love your people! And I would hate to see them perish through your incompetence! Not. Of course not. What kind of King would give away his own time without a reward?"

I'm sorry

When Arkana heard this, she thought back to the time when she first heard about this 'kind, gracious king'.

"But now that I have added your empire to mine, I can finally be one of the most powerful rulers in Sornieth!"

I'm sorry

Arkana could stand it no longer. "It the expense of your people?" She gestured at her fallen subjects. "What kind of King," she spat, "would gain for himself at the expense of his subjects?"

Berhanu narrowed his eyes."Impudent child. Obviously this is not at the expense of my subjects. All these dragons are your responsibility until the kingdom is officially handed over."

Arkana was confused for a moment. How has the kingdom not been officially handed over? Behanu had obviously won the battle, and there were no remaining dragons loyal to their side...

"...by first disposing of the heirs" King Berhanu smiled. "The queen is easy to get rid off. All I have to do is marry her then I will be the rightful heir to the throne. But you. I can't have you running around alive. Oh what problems shall I have? So we need to dispose of you... manually."

Outside, the day continued as per normal. Arkana wondered how a day like this for her could be absolutely normal for everyone. It made her appreciate all her calm and peaceful days leading up to this moment. Behanu sharpened his claw and pointed it towards Arkana's neck.

"Any last words?"

Arkana glared at him, refusing to bow towards her captor. Whatever she said to him wouldn't matter now anyway.

Behanu spoke once more when Arkana failed to do so. "That's alright." His eyes danced with glee.


Suddenly, Arkana felt a rage overcome her like none she had ever experienced before. He had taken her family, her lifelong companions, but he would NOT degrade her honour and everything she stood for. Using strength she never knew she had, she ripped her shackles apart and delivered an uppercut to Behanu's face.

"You...you will not dishonour my family." Akana panted. "My father was a better King than you will ever be!" Behanu slowly picked himself up from the ground and merely laughed.

"All your family ever was were token dragons," Behanu replied, throwing himself onto her and using his body weight to pound her into the ground.

"Smiling mannikins." He slammed his claw into her face. Arkana could feel the build-up of arcane energy within her, fueled by her anger.

Wait for it

"Now your clan will see how a real ruler leads." Behanu raised his claw, "Goodnight princess."

NOW

There was a flash of pink as Behanu was catapulted into the air, screaming. Arkana used her legs as a boost and flew up to meet him. The beam had torn a hole in one of his wings, and he grimaced with each flap.

"By official rules, this would be where a duel stopped. This, however, is not an official duel." Arkana said, looking down on him, analysing her next best move.

Behanu charged forward, but Arkana easily dodged his blows. They came out weaker, feeble and poorly timed. The crimson on his face, however, merely made him look more determined to land a hit than before. And in a moment of distraction, he did. Arkana looked down at the growing stain of red on her chest. It hurt alright, but it wasn't going to kill her, as far as she could tell.

Okay. That was enough. No more time for careful planning.

The next time Behanu swung his claw, Arkana grabbed it like she was giving someone a handshake, then proceeded to arm lock it. She threw his body over her own, letting him fall for a moment while he tried to figure out which way the ground was. Arkana gathered energy in her claw before blasting it at the other, unharmed wing, dropping Behanu into complete and uncontrollable freefall. He screamed again, frantically looking for something to break his fall. Keeping her wings close to her body, she dove after him, but not to save him, no.

"That's for tricking my mother," She cried, slamming her tail into his chest.

"This is for taking over my kingdom," She delivered a swift bolster.

"And this," She took his weakening body and threw it toward the quickly approaching ground below. "is for my honour."

The body made a sound similar to an earthquake as it hit the floor. A small cloud of earth rose up and drifted away in the wind. Inside, Xesire was pleased. He thought it was the sound of his father decimating Arkana.

She landed softly on her feet, then went forward to closely inspect the dragon lying on the ground. It gave her a chill, but she was already used to those. She listened for a heart beat. None. She looked towards where the clan stood and weighed her options. Even if she went back victorious, her old clan would be unlikely to turn back to her and she would be arrested and executed. If her mother was smart, she would sneak out in all the confusion to be created when the soldiers found the body with no sight of Arkana around. Making her decision, she flew silently into the forest.

Home was no longer hers to go back to.