Seeing why I took this off the web, you'll need to bear with me before we get to the actual fanfiction.
Production[]
Original: Prodigia ~ Dark Scars, also by me
Original Series: Prodigia
Current: Dark Scars
Current Series: None
Disclaimers[]
Prodigia: I will not be bringing back the Prodigia series, and major parts of the story will and have been changed.
Dale: Please do not confuse Dale Sunwillow with Dale Starheart, they are two different characters and have nothing to do with each other.
Riolu's Characters: I originally received permission to use Riolu's characters... at least a year ago? Idk, it's been a long time. Most of Riolu's characters have become somewhat irrelevant to this story, and if you spot them, it'll most likely be a cameo unless they appear often throughout the story. Note that the events of this story are not canon to Riolu's fanfictions unless she wants them to be. If you must see the original message where I got permission, go here. Don't mind me, I'll just slowly die of embarrassment in the corner.
If I got any details wrong, Riolu's free to edit this, they are her characters after all.
Gale/Puppet Master Relationship: I have reason to believe the two are related, which is how this story caused such a mess to begin with, drat it- Which led to me saying they're related in this story. However, I believe it's more of a father-son relationship over a sibling relationship, so Dale and this story might be getting a few tweaks... heh.
Aly: Yes, I have to admit that I did add myself Aly and the gang as cameos. Note that the events of this story are not canon to roleplays or Smart-Alecky. Five minutes later and you're shipping me her with Gale.
Note that this story is fanon, and Dale is not a real NPC. Someone actually thought he was canon and it lead to the trend of hating on Gale due to major misconceptions. I do not hate on Gale, neither should you.
Prologue[]
An unknown figure walked through the dark unexplored area of Firefly Forest. Hearing someone running behind them, the figure sighed and turned into a pure shadow. Seeing yet another wizard who thought they had a chance against him, he silently raised his staff using a marionette stick, summoning a dark blast that quickly knocked the wizard's pets into unconsciousness.
The wizard's eyes widened in fear as they vainly cast Falling Star Smash. The figure flinched before blasting them with Shadow Magic. He could have finished off the wizard and their pets, but a small part of him felt ashamed of what he did. The figure took on their solid form once again, and left the wizard alone, leaving them for Noot to find.
Chapter One[]
A spirited young pickpocket sprinted down an alley, an angry Trialmaster running after him. The Trialmaster was aided by a Tarragon, as he knew fire magic was ironically strong against the "wizard" - which the pickpocket wasn't.
Darting down another alley, the cloaked pickpocket sprinted to the well marking the crossroads. Now, you're probably wondering how he got into this mess to begin with, and how come there are pickpockets on an island with an abundance of currency. You see, this particular pickpocket is the outcasts of outcasts, not even welcomed among people who also have bounties over their heads. He's forced to steal for a living, as well as a few other... misdemeanors. Enough with my chit-chat, let's get back to the story.
The Trialmaster growled in frustration at realizing what the pickpocket was planning. Calling on his Sprike, he picked up speed. The pickpocket noticed, but smirked - he was already close enough to druid step. Upon his vanishing, the Trialmaster skid to a stop. The pickpocket - who had revealed himself to be a druid, in other words, a male dryad - had escaped into one of the trees. The Trialmaster's Sprike sniffed around, trying to find him.
Meanwhile, the pickpocket sat inside the pocket dimension of a pine tree, behind the Trialmaster. He was confident all will go well when he heard a familiar screech - his phoenix. High above, a phoenix soared, one of the last of its kind. The Trialmaster recognized it and smiled, knowing that the phoenix will reveal its owner's location. On time, it swooped down and landed on a pine tree, extinguishing its flames so it wouldn't hurt the plant. It was hard not to notice the out-of-place bird with its magnificent display of feathers.
The druid bit back a scream of pain as the Trialmaster broke off a single branch, trying to flush him out. Then the pickpocket realized how stupid he was. He screamed as loud as possible, awakening a mandrake who joined in. It set off a chain reaction, causing more mandrakes to join in, and the Trialmaster, as well as his pets, covered their ears and ran. A mandrake's scream was quite painful to a wizard and can be influenced by a druid or dryad.
As soon as the Trialmaster left, the pickpocket druid stepped out of the tree with a sigh of relief. The phoenix took flight and perched on the boy's shoulder, who was a bit crossed with it. "Flame, I told you he figured us out already. You were supposed to hide until he left." The phoenix chirped in disdain. The boy sighed, "Dad's is not going to be happy about this."
As he ran home, the bird flew towards the Academy. The young druid was not its only master.
A fairy stood by an open window, looking for something. He was at the Academy, a place where young wizards could learn and be safe.
Well, it used to be. He thought bitterly to himself, I should have done something, but how could I? Anyone in the right mind would've done as I did, yet would expect me to kill him nevertheless.
Before he could continue down his path of dark thoughts, a phoenix landed on the window with a shrill chirp. He looked up and held out a gray arm for the bird to perch on. "Good afternoon Flame, what were you up to today?" The bird started chirping rapidly with beautiful melodic notes - that is, if you weren't trying to translate them. The fairy chuckled, "Woah, slow down Flame. I can barely understand you."
The phoenix started its series of chirps again, this time less quickly. As he listened to the bird's retelling of the day, a commotion occurred downstairs. A group of Trialmasters argued with an icy fairy and a group of misfit wizards about who would go in the Ice Tower to save Ada.
"You went in last time and it took you hours! We know the towers well and can get it done faster." Said the fairy while crossing her arms.
"Maybe if you six were here to begin with, we wouldn't be in this mess." A Trialmaster retorted, Solarasis perched on her shoulder.
Upstairs in the Attic, the fairy began to be irritated by the arguing. Carrying the phoenix, he flew down the stairs. He wasn't too worried about them questioning the bird, since they currently believed it was a Smoldash.
"We can't predict the future! How were we supposed to know that- Gale!" The young techy wizard looked at his fairy friend in relief.
The teenaged fairy sighed, gazing at both groups, "Can't you ever agree on everything?" Gale didn't notice, but one of the younger Trialmasters was watching the phoenix in recognition and was instantly reminded of the mandrakes' screaming. Trying to get that horrid sound out of his head, he didn't realize the fairy was watching him in a strange manner, intentions unknown as always...
Chapter Two[]
The figure sat in a tree in a cat-like manner. He had to admit, he was spoiling himself by allowing him to be able to enjoy moments like these again, but then again, it's not as if he wanted to give up his freedom to begin with. Curse. What a horrid name, only reminding one of what end I'm doomed to meet. Yet that's what I'm stuck with.
He didn't get to enjoy his time in peace for long, as someone was walking through the woods. As he shifted back into a shadow, he watched them look for something. Will I never get to be alone? Though it is odd that they came here, wizards are usually too frightened to enter this part of the forest.
The wizard started searching through the brush, quickly finding what they were looking for - a dark, withered druid's staff, topped with a sphere-like crystal. Recognizing it instantly, the figure began to wonder how they knew it was there. Crossed, he waved a marionette stick, causing the staff to vanish from the wizard's grasp and into his own "hand".
The wizard, startled by the unknown source of Shadow Magic, began to glance around. The figure, however, didn't need to do much to scare off the wizard, as a low growl came from the bushes. The bush seemed to have exploded like an Earth spell as the crystalline hound burst out, hostile. The wizard ran back to the main parts of Firefly Forest as fast as their legs could carry them, not wanting to find out what other dangers the woods held.
The crystal monster of a beast looked up at the tree the figure was in, letting out a happy bark - or at least, the closest a crystal hound could get to a bark. The figure took on a solid form and gave the creature a bitter-sweet smile.
The druid ran out from the woods and quickly waved at Flora before dashing off somewhere. Flora stopped what she was doing and crossed her arms, "Now what did that silly boy do now?"
Reaching the darker part of the woods, he grabbed his robes from where he hid them. The instant he did so he was reminded of the portion of his life where he was fully under his father's control. Shuddering, he reluctantly slid them on.
The druid followed a path, hoping to get home before his father did, but was stopped by a familiar voice. "You're late. Again. Does checking on Pippet and the Titan really take that long?"
He looked up to see a familiar wizard seated in a tree, with a dark, scar-like marking on their arm. The druid looked at the ground, "Sorry..."
"Sorry doesn't change anything, you should know that better than anyone else." He snapped coldly, disappointed in him.
The druid sighed, he should have known better than to hope his father would be in a good mood today. "I'll try to-"
"You already 'tried'. Next time you show up when you're expected or I'll send Rock after you." The crystal hound perked at hearing his master say its name, then glared at the druid. The hound was heavy enough that a fairy would have trouble picking it up, and had sharp crystals similar to that of a Glacias. Not to mention its wickedly sharp teeth, claws, and horn.
"Sorry." He muttered again, more quietly.
"Oh and I don't want you going back to the Lost Island."
The druid looked back up sharply, "Why?"
"It's fading again. Not to mention it's enough trouble as it is to keep control over. You're presence there doesn't help." The wizard responded, "I'll see you tomorrow, and I expect you to be on time." The druid didn't get to say anything before his father turned back into a shadow and vanished. Sitting on the ground, the old crystal hound padded over, revealing its good-natured side as it kept the druid company.
"How come I'm never enough?" He wondered aloud. Soon, he fell asleep, the hound keeping watch.
Chapter Three[]
A fairy tiredly made sure everything was fine before locking the doors of the Academy. Flying to his room, he eyed a picture on his bookshelf and sighed wistfully. Yet then his consciousness nagged at him, reminding him why he was Academy Keeper in the first place. He doesn't want me anymore, so what? I have better things to do.
Nevertheless, he fell asleep restless that night. In the morning, someone banged on his door. "GALE!"
Sitting up with a yawn, he stared at the door. How did anyone get into this cursed school to begin with?
He was about to open the door when he noticed the photo on his shelf again. He slid it into a drawer before opening the door - he didn't need anyone asking about it. "Who- Oh it's you Noot."
The smaller fairy looked up at him, "We have a bit of a situation."
"What now?" Gale asked a bit grouchily, too tired to be polite.
"Remember how you told the Trialmasters that you weren't sure if you actually managed to fix the pedestal?"
"Yes."
"Well they went in anyway, and you didn't actually manage to fix it."
The gray fairy said something rapid and foul in a foreign language before flying off somewhere, causing Noot to blink in surprise.
The young druid was quickly awaking by the crystal hound, who was intent on licking him awake. "Ugh, you may be a Crystal Monster but you act like a dog- oh wait, you're already a dog." He said bitterly, not happy about being awakened.
He went to the bush and retrieved his staff, which was in a different spot than before. Did someone touch it? If they did...
He shuddered at remembering how angry his father was when he lost his old one. It's not my fault that Luminex showed up.
The hound cocked its head at him curiously, and the druid cautiously patted it on the head, avoiding its horn. "I'll see you later, Rock." He then darkly muttered, "I hope we're not enemies by then." He teleported to Archives, where he had work to do.
After working hours with the mind illusions of the Archives, he heard someone walk down the stairs. Within moments he could hear their ranting, "Of course they send me down here. They know it gives me a bloody headache but they still send me down here. Why? Because they went into that tower without my permission!" The druid soon saw the owner of the voice - a gray fairy who seemed to be a few years older than him. Levitating so he wouldn't be heard, he hoped the fairy wouldn't spot him.
The fairy, however, picked up the druid's presence as soon as he levitated. The fairy stared in the direction of the bookcase the druid hid behind, addressing him in that odd British accent the fairy had, "I know you're there, don't bother hiding. Let me guess, Pippet again-" He paused as the druid stepped out from behind the shelf. "...Crikey," was the only thing the fairy could say.
Chapter Four[]
Gale was immensely stressed, and feeling a bit hurt, as he attempted to deal with the druid who was now in his room. After thoroughly questioning him, the fairy felt no better about the situation. So he replaces me. He abandons and replaces me. I should've known.
He turned his back to the druid, not wanting them to see him cry. Why do I even care? He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.
The druid, however, noticed anyhow, "...are you okay?"
"Yes!" The fairy snapped. "I'm fine."
Outside, the phoenix sat on the windowsill. Listening to the two boys, he soon began to realize why the fairy still hasn't let him in. The bird had known the whole time but said nothing. Trying to figure out another way in, he flew to the window closest to the druid.
The fairy sighed and turned to the druid, "Look, I don't know what you're doing here, but you need to go, now."
He crossed his arms in response, "Why?"
"I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but anyone from the Order isn't welcomed here," Gale responded coldly.
"Is that so? Because you seem to know Pippet well."
"That's none of your concern!"
"Oh really? Seeing I'm sent to deal with him so often, it is my concern."
"...what do you mean by deal with him?" The fairy suddenly asked, worry filling his gaze.
"Making sure he doesn't mess up like usual," The druid attempted to remain casual in order to gain the fairy's respect, but it was hard to take him seriously.
"He doesn't 'mess up', it's not his fault he wasn't created to do the tasks you send him on."
"Not me, the Puppet Master. And since when did a goody-two-shoes know so much about the Order?"
Gale suddenly looked very uncomfortable, "I don't."
"Oh really? Suspicious seeing how good you are at Shadow magic." As they argued, Flame picked at the window latch with a talon.
"I never cast a Shadow spell in your presence, what makes you think that?"
"You found me in the Archives as soon as I cast the levitation spell."
"Noot can do the same thing."
"Noot doesn't get a headache around Shadow Magic, I heard your ranting."
"That means nothing-" At that moment the phoenix burst in.
"FLAME!" They exclaimed in unison, equally annoyed with the bird. Then they stared at each other.
"How do you know Flame?" Questioned the fairy, now glaring.
"I can ask you the same thing."
"Last time I checked, you're younger, which means I've known him longer."
The druid crossed his arms, "Yet you're Academy Keeper, meaning that if you have an endangered species in your procession, it belongs to the Wardens and the government in general. So do you expect me to believe they allowed you to keep him?"
"They don't know about him." The fairy responded while gently stroking the bird's feathers, seeing Flame landed on his shoulder.
"You're not as loyal as I thought you were."
"Of course not, I'm loyal to no one, not even the Wardens. I do as I choose."
The druid watched the fairy in interest, "How come you're still here then?"
"I choose to be here."
"For a rather long time, I see. You sure you're not the slightest bit loyal to this place?"
"If I was, how come I didn't..." He trailed off. That would be a lie and I know it. I guess I have become a bit attached to this place.
"'How come you didn't' what?"
"Nothing, you're right." He looked a bit smug at that, which angered the fairy. "Just because you're right about that doesn't mean you're right about everything." Gale snapped.
Yet that didn't smother out the druid's pride.
The figure looked irritated. Not only was the task incomplete, but the druid also has yet to show up. He called upon the hound and sent it after him, following the creature from a distance. He didn't like the sense of not knowing what would happen next, he preferred control over his situations.
Soon he followed the hound to the Academy, picking up the aura of someone he knew, the figure frowned. Warping himself and the creature onto the floating island, he continued to follow it, once in his life grateful for something - nightfall.
Chapter Five[]
The druid was now determined to find out more about this "Academy Keeper" and why he hasn't dealt with him yet. He could always teleport away, but he was too curious. "So how do you know so much about Pippet?"
"That's none of your business." Said the amber-eyed fairy, uncomfortable.
"I'm not stopping until I get answers."
"Which you will regret."
"Oh really? What are you going to do, cast a spell on me? I can take it fine." The druid responded arrogantly.
"You're just like your father." He spat in response,
"...what's that supposed to mean?" He asked the fairy a bit quietly.
"You're just as bad as him. Arrogant, selfish, proud, a control freak, self-centered, caring for no one but yourself."
"That's not true!" He protested. "In fact, you're more like him than me-" The druid suddenly paused, the fairy gazed at him silently. "You know him, don't you?"
The gray fairy tried to avoid the druid's gaze, "No."
"You're lying."
"There's a difference between knowing of a person and knowing them." The fairy replied, trying to stay calm.
"Well, then you know of the Puppet Master quite well. Then again that's expected from someone who's rich, got admitted into this old school, and was taught to hate him from the start."
The Academy Keeper stared at him, "I beg your pardon-"
"You heard me."
"Listen, you don't know anything about me. I don't what you think about this place, but it's wrong. I was admitted into this place out of pity, I tend to this school and don't care if it's old, and I didn't hate him from the start, he gave me a reason to. "
"And how did he do that?" The fairy didn't answer him. "So?" Yet only silence met his questions.
The figure loomed the halls. It was fully dark out and the doors were locked. He simply hoped none of the freed Wardens would awake and detect his presence, for he was not yet ready to carry out that part of his plan. Rock was busy scratching at a door with a whine. Inside, both boys silenced, each equally knowing who was at the other side of the door. Flame took the opportunity to hide in the closet.
The instant the door open the fairy fey stepped out of the room, irritating the figure. He still had unfinished business with the young Keeper. The druid, however, looked at the ground, already knowing the punishment in store...
Chapter Five[]
"I really didn't mean for you two to meet this way, but I guess it works." Said the Puppet Master, taking on a solid shape and leaning against the wall.
"So you do know him?"
"Of course, hard to forget someone who keeps interfering with my plans. Vainly attempting to stop me, messing around with Pippet's orders, and now you. The list goes on and on, seems that he took after me more than I thought..." He looked thoughtful and slightly irritated.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, so he didn't tell you? Expected to be honest, seeing how he's so obsessed with pretending to be innocent."
The druid was quickly confused, "Innocent of what?"
"Innocent of being part of the Order. He thinks if he can cover it up, he had nothing to do with it."
"Do you expect me to believe the Academy Keeper worked for you?"
"That, and being your sibling." The Puppet Master's tone grew cold. "He's a traitor, just like you I see. Can't be trusted, false promises, such a shame." The druid looked at the ground, knowing what would happen next. The druid's gaze grew cloudy and he lost control - he was now a puppet, doing his father's bidding and only his bidding. Yet so many questions swarmed the druid's semi-consciousness. Sibling? But he's a fairy. Is that how he knew Pippet and my - our father so well? Why didn't he tell me? Is that why Flame followed me around that day? And... what if I didn't lose against that Luminex, would I be able to ask him?
Yet the druid's questions may never be answered... unless fate chooses otherwise.
Miles above the ground, Gale sat on the roof of the Astral Tower, safe from harm. Why? Why does this always happen to me?
First, his mother died, then his father abandoned him, and now he constantly returns and torments him. The fairy barely escaped his father's wrath when he attacked the Academy, and now that the fairy was caught with that druid he could already tell he was destined for trouble.
He was bitterly thinking about how his father simply forgot and replaced him when he heard someone in the attic. Calling on an old skill, the fairy melted into the shadows, remaining unseen as a figure came out and began to search. When they finally left, he was trembling. I'm eighteen. Eighteen and I'm still scared of him! By the Faen wind, why do I still care what he thinks of me? Why do I let him scar me so easily?
He walked out the shadows, now in plain sight. I really shouldn't be doing these things again, but I guess I can't change what I am, can I? I'm a Dark Fairy and Ivory Fairy because of him, that's something that I just have to live with. Just like I need to learn to live with the fact he doesn't care about me anymore.
After thinking about things for a while, the fairy finally came to peace with himself. Looking at the stars, attempting to ignore the dangers that lurked the island, he finally said in his quirky British accent, "I guess I just need to let go."
Epilogue[]
I can not write an ending for him, but I can summarize. Zion is once again under the control of his father and lost his temporary freedom. Who knows what goes on in his head nowadays. Well, I guess Riolu knows. One day he'll be caught, or he'll disappear without a trace as he did for Rhett.
Gale, on the other hand, has somewhat accepted his circumstances, something he should have done years ago. No matter how badly you've been scarred in the past, or how dark your past might be, one day, you'll find a way to live with them too.