When Technical Support is Too Helpful

"Alright," Skaea chimed and pointed a finger at the legion of demons, "sic 'em!"

Astraelle stared at the cheeky princess dubiously, "Yeah, I'll just pull the war horn from my ass and summon the rest of the valkyries to charge into battle."

"What a great idea!" Skaea cheered.

Astraelle rolled her eyes, "Master, give me your strength," she thought. A heavy sigh left her lungs and she spoke up after a moment of thought, "How about we not die and try to sneak out of here?"

"I no longer think that is an option," Skaea replied.

"Why?" Astraelle turned her attention from the princess and to the horde of demons.

"I think they are getting closer," Skaea mused. Glints of fire dotted the sky and a burning arrow embedded itself into the wooden door, "Yup, definitely getting closer!"

Astraelle grabbed Skaea's hand and pulled her into the ruins. Hundreds of arrows knocked on the door.

"We are so fucking screwed!" the valkyrie cried pessimistically. She began to run but was stopped by Skaea. She turned to see the determined cerulean eyes of the princess.

"I will take care of them," Skaea stated.

"Are you out of your FUCKING MIND?!" Astraelle shouted hysterically.

Skaea grinned under her blue hood, "I have been dying to try out this spell..."

She stepped away from the door and interlocked her hands. A bright blue spell engram appeared below her feet and radiated from her. Her markings began to glow bright blue through her dark blue robes.

The power of Solaris.

The power of Solaria.

The power of the mind.

The power of the heart.

All those who wish us harm;

All those against us;

Will face the power of the Divines,

Astraelle recognized the forbidden chant too late to stop the powerful princess.

Will face the wrath of the Divines.

Skaea opened her eyes which were glowing brighter than any star in the sky.

"No!" Astraelle screamed.

A rush of wind blasted open the doors. With outside in clear view, Astraelle saw the pillar of light shine down from Heaven and smite the earth. A blast of bright light began to incinerate all the demons. Astraelle shut her eyes and shielded them with her arms.

The sound wave crushed her through the limestone walls and knocked her unconscious.

Ringing. Loud ringing. Loud ringing that deafened her own grunts and grumbles to herself. Loud ringing that muffled the sounds of stone tumbling and crashing. A ringing so loud, she could hardly think; but she could move and she moved the mountain of rubble from off her. After what seemed like hours, she crawled out of the limestone prison, with still ringing ears. She noticed the motionless body of the princess before her. The crumbling walls of the capitol blown away to kingdom come. Smoke rose from the ridge of rock in the distance, the rim of the blast crater.

"Skaea!" she heard her voice vibrate.

She tried to walk but she stumbled down the rubble to the dusty granite floor. She crawled to the princess with the remaining strength she had in reserves. She rolled the princess onto her back, pushed back her hood, and stared at her pale, lifeless face for the first time in years. Her once faded markings etched onto her skin during her Etching Ritual when she became of age were now gone. Her skin was without blemish, perfectly pure.

"Skaea..." Astraelle whimpered, her lips trembled, and her eyes welled with tears. The years of their childhood they spent together flooded her memories, "I can't lose you again..." she sobbed.

She sat for, only the Gods know how long, rocking the lifeless body of her sister and petting her now white, once indigo, hair. Then, she felt her breathing. Her heart soared with joy!

"Skaea!" she eleated. While the princess yet drew breath, she did not stir from her slumber. "She must be unconscious..." she thought. She sniffled and cleaned her nose on her leather arm guard, "At least you're not fucking dead! Or I would've killed you!" She chuckled to herself and began to hitch Skaea on her back, making sure her wings did not poke the princess. "I did not want to face your grandfather and tell him you died under my protection."

Her gut tightened and protested loudly, "Yeah, yeah, I know!"

15 Years Ago

"Let me introduce you to someone, Skaea," Darqlon spoke warmly. A bubbly, bright blue haired and eyed, five-year-old girl bounded down the stairs.

"Gampy!" she chimed.

Darqlon chuckled, "Skaea, this is Heidi," he moved his robe to reveal the little demoness clutching and hiding behind his leg, "She is going to be your new friend."

"Fwend?" the young girl parroted.

"Yes. She will play with you and keep you company when I am busy."

"Otay!" Skaea elated and grabbed the red haired and skinned demoness by her hand, "C'mon! You come have tea with us!" Heidi clutched onto Darqlon legs tighter and did not budge. Skaea looked back at her with curious big, blue eyes, "Whas wong?"

Darqlon knelt down to the little demoness, "Everything will be fine, Heidi. This is your new home. I need you to keep Skaea safe for me. Do you think you can do that?"

"I won't bite!" Skaea smiled.

Heidi shifted her lavender eyes from Darqlon's red orbs back to Skaea, "Y-yes. O-okay, Master."

Skaea took off with her knew friend in tow, nearly dragging Heidi up the marble stairs. The house was a little bigger than her former Master's and a lot cleaner. Heidi followed Skaea, making sure not to trip on all the toys she had strewn about. After a minute of running, Skaea turned sharply into an open door. The room was almost completely purple, save for the white ceiling and floor.

"I like puhple," Skaea remarked, "I like yous eyes!" she added, bringing her face suddenly close to Heidi's. She giggled and pulled her friend to a small, round table. A tea set was placed and there were cups and platters for the four stuffed animals around the table.

"Oh no! Missus Hippo is not feeling well," Skaea said aloud and picked up a purple stuffed hippo doll and threw it on her bed. She smiled at Heidi, "Pwease have a seat."

"Okay..." Heidi reluctantly agreed, not wanting to end up like the poor Missus Hippo.

Skaea poured "tea" into all the cups before sitting across from Heidi, "Why do you have wings? Are you an angel?!"

"N-no..." Heidi answered bashfully.

"They're still pwetty," Skaea gleamed. "How old are you?"

"Seven," she whispered.

Skaea pouted, "I am five!"

Nine Years Ago

Heidi stood at the edge of the forest. Heidi stood at the edge of the forest her Master forbade her to enter. Heidi stood at the edge of the forest her Master forbade her to enter, the same forest Skaea was now frolicking in.

"Oooo! I'm in the scary forest!" Skaea taunted, "Too bad Heidi is too much of a baby to come have fun!"

Heidi clenched her fist, "I'm not scared! Master told us not to play in the forest!"

"C'mon! Rules were meant to be broken!" Skaea pranced up to her.

"No. No, rules were meant to be followed," Heidi corrected her, "Especially rules dictated by a God."

"C'mon Heidi! Live a little!" her blue eyes sparkled up at her. She grinned mischievously, "How can you protect me if I'm in the forest and you're not?"

"Skaea," Heidi exasperated, "the last time I 'lived a little', I got beaten by Master."

"I made it up to you!"

Heidi blushed slightly and turned away, "Sleeping in bed with me hardly counts as anything..."

"It's a beautiful day! You're done with your training and I'm done with my studies!" Skaea held Heidi's hands, "C'mon, what could possibly go wrong?"

Heidi hated Skaea whenever she looked up at her with those gorgeous sapphire gems. Her defenses crumbled under Skaea's gaze. "Okay!" she conceded, "Okay..."

The two of them spent the day exploring the forest. They acted out parts of stories they liked, playing heroes, and champions. Skaea would teach Heidi about the new plants and animals she learned about and discovered. Heidi fished for them in a stream. After eating, Skaea decided to go swimming and convinced Heidi to swim naked as well. The two of them had just finished drying off in the sun when Heidi noticed dusk fast approaching.

"We need to go back. It's getting late," Heidi advised as she got dressed.

"Yeah," Skaea sighed sadly, "I guess you're right."

A rustle in nearby bushes made them freeze. A huge wild boar jumped out of the bushes. The beast easily was twice their height and one ton. It charged at Skaea. Heidi immediately pushed Skaea away. The boar's tusk impaled Heidi through the back. Heidi choked and clutched the bone protrusion. With a sigh her body went limp.

"No!" Skaea screamed in shock, grief, and rage. Her eyes lit up and she blasted the beast with a powerful beam of energy she emitted from her hands which disintegrated the boar. Heidi's body crashed to the ground with a sickening splat. "Heidi!" she cried. She ran to her sister's body and began an attempt to heal her. Hot tears streamed down her face when the yellow energy did not absorb into Heidi. "Grandpa!" she called at the top of her lungs.

A poof a smoke and Darqlon appeared beside her. He saw Skaea crying and the limp, bloody body of his apprentice in her arms.

"Grandpa..." she whimpered, looking up at him expectantly.

Darqlon knelt down and picked up Heidi in his arms. "Your actions have consequences," he stated grimly before disappearing.

"Sister!" she bawled and clutched her arms around herself. She was huddled on the ground with her tears mixing with the blood of her sister.

Heidi had woken up in a dark place. She was floating in the vast void when suddenly, her Master was before her.

"You disobeyed me," he spoke slowly, "and you have paid the price."

"I would do it a thousand times to save and protect Skaea!" she said defensively.

"I know. Which is why your training begins now."

He disappeared and she was consumed by fire. She screamed and writhed in pain and agony.

She woke up screaming and feeling drenched in a cold sweat. She was in her bed. Alive. She was alive! She wanted to go see Skaea but first she needed to empty her bladder. Once she finished her business, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and stopped. She had become a considerably lighter shade of red, nearly pink skinned, jet black hair, with jet black wings. Her nubs of horns were gone as was her spaded tail.

"Valkyrie..." she whispered.

"Exactly," her Master's voice spoke outside the restroom door. She opened the door and saw him standing there, "With a new look, comes a new name: Astraelle."

"'Little star light'?" she questioned.

"Yes. Skaea chose it for you before she left."

"'She left'? Where is she?!" she asked in alarm.

"She decided that it was best if she learned magic from the University."

"So... I won't get to see her?"

"Not for a long time," Darqlon said before turning and walking away, "Come along. Training begins now."