Duel In Palus (Prologue: Wheels of Friendship)

[Black Clay Lord]

BEHOLD: The prologue to my 1st ever Multipart Project in like forever.

Years ago I swore I would never do these again, but... I've got a fire going on.

And this fire will see this through to the end with no cliffhangers at all.

I'll be starting the 1st chapter soon, but I've got another thing to finish first.

Yes, there's some mud in here, but not much. More of it will come in the later chapters.
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One starry night, Aquarius sat upon the edge of Olympus's most magical of lands: The Wonderland Marsh. Known heavily for its unpredictability, the marsh was ever changing in many aspects. One day, there was more quicksand than there were snakes, and the next, there could be more snakes, and less quicksand. But, its most popular feature, were magical rifts that allow one to experience the Earth's past under the light of the full moon. Quite literally so.

But, the moon was new, and the past was not what Aquarius came here to experience. A nice pit of mud, only about thigh deep, hugged Aquarius's legs as she sat on the marshland, gazing up at the stars themselves. Here, she had an easier time seeing them all, naming the constellations just by looking at them. "Let's see... Cygnus is there... Ophiucus... Oh! There's Perseus!" She says, smiling as she admires her own handy work at this, and just rightfully so.

And yet... Another thing was on Aquarius's mind. Or rather... Someone. 5 days ago, Aquarius met a man named Ajax, who came from a land known as Palus; a land that Aquarius herself had only just heard about recently, and she got to know him rather well despite his short time on her home turf. She felt that she should've asked him about his homeland, what it like, and what his lifestyle involved. She felt a bit guilty that she missed her chance to do so.

Aquarius sighed. "I should've asked Ajax more about his lifestyle..." She said to herself. "About what his home was like... Man, I knew I should've snatched the chance when I had it." Yet, she knew there was no point in crying over spilled milk, so to speak. She did of course, remember something from that day. "I did promise him & his sister Lea I'd come visit them..." She said. "Yeah, perhaps I will! I bet their lifestyle's fun!" She giggled soon afterward.

But, little did she know that this couldn't be plenty farther from the truth. In the Northern Wastelands of Palus, Ajax belonged to a group of Nomads who traverse these deserts in search of food & water; scarce commodities in that region. The group was lead by the great Chietainess Garnet, Ajax's own mother. "Pick up the pace!" She exclaimed. "We must find a spot to rest at before another sandstorm blows over! Or worse!" She then follows up.

Ajax stayed close to his mother. Then, from the corner of his eye, he spotted something. A lake, filled with fresh water. "Hey, down there!" He exclaimed, pointing to his find. Garnet glanced to where Ajax pointed. "Aha! Nice eye, my son!" She said proudly. Without hesitation, Garnet lead her people down to the lake. And sure enough, the lake was as real as can be, having welled up to the surface almost recently; like a miracle. And that wasn't all either.

There was plenty of vegetation & good game here. Food for the nomads. And best of all, the spot would serve as a shield from any sandstorm that would blow over. Well, at least reduce exposure to them, but every bit helps. The nomads set up camp right away, and while Ajax helped, his mind crisscrossed. Which does not go unnoticed by his mother. "Ajax?" She says to him. Ajax glanced up to Garnet. "Uh, mother?" He said, attentive as she approached.

"Whatever is the matter? Is something on your mind?" Garnet asked. Ajax shifted his attention away, glancing at the lake. "Tell me." Said Garnet. "Ah, see..." Ajax said. "Days ago, I made an otherworldly friend," He started. "And, a really cute one at that." He then says. "Surely to goodness it is not one of the Azura Hosts." Garnet said, crossing her arms. Ajax shook his head. "Not really, no." He said. "Her name's Aquarius Socrates. She said she's 1/2 Mermaid."

Garnet's arms unfolded, and she put a hand on one of her hips. "1/2 Mermaid?" She asked, her other hand on her chin as she rubs it. "That's rather intriguing, for our land does not have actual mermaids." She said. "But you said she's from another realm, yes?" She asked. Ajax nodded. Garnet nodded back. "That would explain it then." She then said, looking to the lake. "For now though, my son, let us set our camp up." She then says as she & Ajax return to work.

Meanwhile, back on Olympus, Aquarius has come back home, enjoying a nice hot pot meal prepared by her mother Palutena. She herself noted Aquarius's demeanor. "Aquarius?" Palutena asks. Aquarius looks to Palutena. "Mother?" She responds. Palutena pulls up a seat by Aquarius & sits down. "Honey, you look as if something is on your mind." She said. "Can you tell me what's wrong?" She then asked. "Uh... What if I don't want to...?" Aquarius asked.

"You know I can't help you if you don't tell me what's bothering you." Palutena said. Aquarius sighs as she eats more of her meal. "Well... 5 days ago... I... I met a man." She said. "You did? What was he like?" Palutena asks. "Well, finely toned, had some scars here & there... Oh, and he wore his hair long." Aquarius answers. "Let me guess: King Ryoma?" Palutena giggles. "No, not really." Aquarius said, also giggling despite being serious.

"His name was Ajax." She then said. "Ajax, hmm?" Palutena said. "That's an interesting name. Where's he from? Is he around?" She then asks; not that she had any interest in him, since she already had a husband. "He said he's from a land called Palus." Aquarius said. "But, he's... most likely still there." She said, before sighing. "I should've asked to learn more about his home..." Palutena put a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Listen..." Palutena says.

"You might've missed the chance to do so the first time, but who knows? You'll get to actually see that land sometime." She said reassuringly. Aquarius smiled. "You think so?" Aquarius asks. "I know so." Palutena answered. "Now, why don't you go read your siblings a bedtime story?" She asks with a smile. "Some have said it's your turn." Aquarius nodded. "I know which one I'll read some of them already!" She exclaimed, as she finished all her meal before hand.

Back on Palus, Ajax & Lea relax in a tent set up not too far away from their parents. Lea looks to her brother. "Still think of Aquarius on occasion?" She asks him. "Yeah, she sure was cute..." Ajax admits. "Chin up, brother." Lea said. "She did promise that she'd come see us some day. I'm sure she'll hold onto it." She adds. Ajax smiled at Lea's words. "Sure hope she does sometime." He said. "I think she'd like what she'd see here." He then adds soon after.

Nevertheless, both parties retired for the night moments later. On Olympus, the next following day, Aquarius was back at the Wonderland Marsh, noting how magical it was more so than it was yesterday. "I feel so strong in this place today!" She happily exclaimed. But that happiness was quickly short lived. Suddenly, Aquarius sensed something was not right. Looking to her left, she spotted a huge bolt of magic come her way, and she jumped out of the way.

Right away, she knew that the bolt was meant for her. "Who's there?!" She said. "Damn it all! Did you have to move out of the way?!" A voice asked. Aquarius was quick to recognize who that was. "No... It can't be!" She said, her voice filled with dread. Stepping out from the foliage was a figure of great evil. Sauda Carlyle, the 1st Supreme Princess, and eldest adoptive daughter of the Supreme Archduke Wolfgang Carlyle. Aquarius got to her feet quickly.

"Sauda!!" She said, clearly not happy to see her sworn nemesis. "What're you doing here, you evil wretch?!" She then angrily asked. "Still can't get angry enough to actually cuss me out?" Sauda asked mockingly, chuckling in a way only an evil princess could. "But, I suppose I can let you in on my little plan, since you won't be living long enough to even care anyway." Said Sauda. "I'm here to gather whatever magic power rests in this glorious place," She says.

"And while I'm at it, I'm ordered to kill anyone who stands in my way. That includes softy 1/2 Mermaids like you." Sauda finalized, before grinning most dastardly. Aquarius huffed. "Haven't you learned your lesson?" Aquarius asked, Celestial Sword at the ready. "You & your fellow Supreme Royals can never defeat us no matter how many times you try!" She exclaims. Sauda laughed heartily. "True, we did have shortcomings against the likes of you." She said.

"And your many other friends. But this time, this time... I'm going to kill you! I'm going to win!!" She proclaimed, just before pulling her own sword out, taking a battle stance. Both combatants stare each other down, poised to fight one another. The marshy quicksand beneath their feet trembling as the magical power between these two started to quake & quiver, swallowing them both some to their butts at best. Elsewhere on Palus, the day was calm.

Ajax & Lea had a good hunting day, much to the other nomads' delight. Ajax certainly hit gold so to speak. However, little did they know that their quiet day was about to be short lived. Little did Ajax suspect that Aquarius was indeed coming to his realm; just not in the way he would be expecting her to. And as battle lines were drawn between Aquarius & Sauda were drawn, their great duel was not going to be staged on Olympus for very long. Oh no...

Destiny would drive Aquarius far from home soon, and she would not be alone, for that same destiny awaited Sauda as well. Their battle was going... To be set on Palus itself. What will this battle struggle ensue for these two?

Aquarius Socrates, Palutena Socrates, Sauda Carlyle: Me

Garnet, Ajax, Lea: Sabbie