Erza turned back to the crystal beside her. A wavering image solidified when her light focused upon it. A young boy, no older than fourteen, argued with a large raven haired man. The man gripped the boy's brown tunic and yelled something into his face before throwing him onto a large crystal chair. The boy's emerald eyes flashed in rage as he watched the man leave the cavern with an entourage of soldiers and other younger children. The image shimmered and vanished. Erza blinked wondering if she'd really just witnessed a vision in the crystal.

"It must be a Herkimer Diamond," Prue said. "They're known to store memories, and allow others to see them. I never imagined one could grow to such a humongous size!"

Prue's voice jarred Erza out of her fog. She drifted up the stairs and directed her spotlight on the next diamond.

The same boy, in a ruby tunic this time, raced through the cavern. His face contorted into a scowl as tears poured from his vivid eyes. He left the city, and the cave, and kept running. The memory blurred; the crystal becoming clear once more.

Erza's heart hurt for the boy. No longer a boy, not yet a man; he'd been left behind when his family left the cavern. She didn't know why, but she felt kinship with the boy in the crystals. She moved to the next shard, eager to discover more.

The ruby clad boy sat despondently next to a stream. A playful breeze ruffled his short, jet locks. He threw stones into the stream; his force causing the water to churn. Suddenly, he doubled over, clutching his ears. His eyes screwed shut, as his mouth opened in a silent scream. Erza found herself mentally rooting for him as he forced himself up from the ground. He turned back to the mountain and started running. The memory shimmered back into a clear crystal.

Erza dashed to the next diamond; eager curiosity becoming a burning need to know what happened next.

The boy knelt in the middle of a street of opaque blue tinted crystal houses. Bodies covered the ground. Men, women, children, all of them were dead. His emerald eyes stared unseeing. Tears tracked down his round face. His torment etched deep grooves into his young face. He threw his head back and roared. The crystal didn't allow her to hear the memory, but Erza could almost hear his anguished cry echo throughout the cavern. The vision dimmed, slowly fading away.

Her eyes burned. A tickling sensation had her rubbing her face. Her hand came away wet with salty drops. She stared for a moment, unused to such a reaction from herself. She hadn't cried since the day she'd buried her family.

Erza trudged to the next prism. Her heart trembled as reluctance and anticipation vied for control of her body. She had no desire to see more misery, but she needed to see what became of the boy.

Two smaller green stones with red flecks supported the smoky crystal. Erza fixed her light on the trio. The transparent part of the crystal shimmered as the image formed. The boy had grown. Erza suspected he was now somewhere in his late twenties. Haunted green eyes stared directly at her. His face had lost the cherubic roundness, transforming into chiseled planes and a strong jaw. Erza felt a small thrill in her belly for the handsome man that the boy had become.

"Every time I try to see her, she draws in her limbs and denies me access. I do not know why she still will not allow me to see her after so long," a rumbling bass voice floated from the crystals as the man spoke. Erza's thrill intensified to a low burn. She loved deep pitches. The deeper, the sexier in her opinion. His words registered in her mind, and disappointment quenched the fire. He had a lover? Here? She wondered.

"I cannot see the Mother, so I still do not know exactly what caused my people to die. I suspect it is something to do with the Guardians. She does not even talk to me, so I am uncertain," he said.

Mother? Did someone else survive the Cataclysm, too? Rin asked.

Erza shushed her, not wanting to miss a single word of the memory.

"I have ventured out of the mountain. There were other survivors. All of them were, like me, children who were outside our home when it happened; whatever 'it' was. My younger brother has taken up the mantle of Rex and leads the Warriors. I did not approach him; though they seek more of our kind. I cannot, in good conscience, face my brother still darkened with the sin I have committed," he continued. His eyes never ceasing their sure gaze.

Wait, this guy was my grandfather's older brother? Now I feel a little gross for thinking him attractive, Erza thought.

Yeah, eww, big sister. Anyway, what sin is he talking about? Rin asked. Her voice betraying her eagerness for more information.

"As the oldest son, I should have been here when it happened. I should have stopped it, but I cannot change the past. I can only do what I believe is best for my people, which is to stay away from them. I will not allow my cursed self to be loosed upon those innocents. I will continue to observe them and see what my little brother remembers of the lessons we taught him. I will also continue in my quest for the truth. The Mother cannot avoid me for eternity. I will have my answers," he said nodding firmly.

The image faded.

"Well, now we know the identity of the boy. Who the hell is this 'Mother' character, and why have we never heard about E's granddad being a younger son?" Faolan quipped.

"Your guess is as good as mine. This is the first time I've heard about it, too," Erza said, searching for the next crystal.

They reached the head of the stairs and stood at the edge of a massive plateau. The stone column towered over them on the right. Their lights couldn't pierce the darkness off to their left. Directly in front of them was a circular pavilion. Weapon racks lined the edges; blades of all kinds glittering brightly in the flashlight beams.

A humming buzz vibrated their bones. Their flashlights went out with echoing cracks. Erza breathed slowly, comfortable in the darkness. She listened, hearing only calm breathing. The Warriors and siblings were taking the sudden change in visibility extremely well. Even Rin seemed to be fine with this darkness. Erza wondered at the change in her sister but didn't ask for fear of shaking Rin's new-found courage.

The humming buzz turned shrill, and suddenly, torches flared to life all around them. In the center of the pavilion, stood...

Is that a knight? Rin asked. Her voice tinged with astonishment.

He stood seven feet tall. She couldn't tell anything specific about his features through the suit of armor he wore. The translucent blue plates of the armor had thick black branches stretching across every bit of the surface. Emblazoned on his pale tunic, a scarlet lion rampant roared its might. The ruby battle ax strapped to his broad back glistened in the flickering torch light.

A large crystal broadsword rested point down in the ground between them and the knight.

"Pick it up, if you can, and fight me. I challenge you," the knight's deep bass rumbled through the cavern. Erza recognized the voice--the man from the crystal visions.

Her grandfather's brother stood before them.

Erza saw Roderick step forward, but he stopped when the knight raised a gauntleted hand.

"I, of the original Leonidas clan, challenge you, the current Regina of the Qikan for the right to rule. Should you be defeated, I will kill you and all your party. Thus, allowing the Qikan to finally die," he said, pointing directly at Erza.

"Why do you believe I am the Regina? It could be one of the other women, or perhaps one of the men is the Rex. Also, why do you wish our extinction, Sir Leonidas?" She asked, waving Roderick away as she stepped forward into the makeshift arena within the pavilion.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Only females of the Leonidas clan are capable of having such eyes, and only a Leonidas can rule the Qikan. I do not wish our extinction. It is necessary. Without the Guardians, nothing stands between the Qikan and the Madness stalking us. The world does not deserve to suffer that which we will rain down upon it. Without a sound ruler, we are lost," He replied.

"So, instead of helping our race to cure the Madness, you're going to assist in our destruction? Yeah, I know where your loyalties lie. And what the hell was that crack about a sound ruler?" Erza demanded, halting beside the crystal blade.

"You are the offspring of a younger son. Your ancestor never challenged our father or me for the throne, making you a false queen. You are not the Regina. I challenge you, so that I may take my rightful position as Rex of the Qikan," he said reaching up and un-strapping the ax on his back.

Erza felt whatever affection she had for him die a gruesome death.

"Wait, wait, wait. Hang on. You want to kill me, become the recognized Rex, and then let our people die? Were you dropped on your head as a child? Your logic sucks. How about this? I beat you, and then I find a way to save our people and keep them alive," Erza replied, grasping the cumbersome hilt of the large sword before her. It didn't budge. Erza loathed broadswords-- unwieldy, clumsy weapons that took more muscle than skill to use.

"You, defeat me? You are unworthy of the title of Regina. You cannot even draw the Lion's Blade, because only the true Rex of the Qikan is able to wield it," he laughed.

"Then why haven't you done it, Oh, true Rex? Waiting for your nail polish to dry?" she said absently.

The odd hum was back, but only in her right palm. The palm holding the sword...

"You guys are just going to stand here and let her fight him? She'll die! Don't the Warriors exist to protect the Regina?" Zeke snapped, breaking her concentration.

"Aye, Lad, we do, but only to a point. When a legitimate challenge has been issued, we can only watch, and wait." Roderick said, his voice strained.

Assuming the conversation was over; Erza closed her eyes and focused on the hum. Thick chords of energy vibrated down the broadsword-- wild, unruly, sporadic. She reached into the weapon...

"We all know that Erza is the rightful Regina! He's had centuries to claim the throne, surely he's forfeited his right to challenge her by now! You can't mean to just stand here and let this happen! Where's your damned loyalty and vows to keep her safe, now?" Zeke yelled, his voice echoing harshly through the cavern. Erza lost her grip on the strands of energy, wincing as his shout rang in her ears.

"Yeah, it's screwed up, but it's how our world works. Not a whole lot we can do about it. Besides, you're an idiot if you think E will lose. Woman's a master with a sword." Faolan's tone almost sounded bored.

"If you won't stop this foolishness, then I..."

"Will SHUT UP!" Erza roared, "I can't concentrate with you lot blathering about behind me! You're a bunch of cranky old men, so shut it!"

The men finally fell silent.

Sir Leonidas shook his head, waiting politely.

How chivalrous of him. Erza thought, refocusing on the broadsword.

She gripped the energy chords and yanked, straightening them. She tightened their grouping and felt the thick hilt shrink in her hand. She continued, crushing the energy into tiny clusters, until the hilt fit her palm easily. She forced the more erratic vibrations to one side. The weight of the weapon lessened exponentially. Sweat prickled her brow as she worked with the remarkable weapon.

An enraged gasp caused her to open her eyes. Instead of the crystal broadsword, Erza held the hilt of a crystal katana. She tested it, checking the balance and sharpness. A natural extension of her arm, it was absolutely perfect.

"How did you do that?" Sir Leonidas demanded, stepping forward.

"'Everything vibes,'" she said, looking over at Prue.

"You bet it does! Fantastic work, Erza!" the other woman crowed, grinning widely as she nodded in approval.

"Bah! What a foolish form. That flimsy blade will never stand up to a battleax. Just one clash and it will break," Sir Leonidas said petulance in his tone.

"Yeah, and a katana can never match a broadsword, either. At least, that's what everyone thought...before I killed my father with one, who carried a broadsword,” Erza said, taking up a guarded position in the center of the pavilion. "Damn, this brings back memories I really didn't want in the first place."

"I had hoped to never re-live that night," Roderick said, his eyes suspiciously misty.

"Suck it up, Cano," Erza called. She really didn't need him succumbing to the Madness on her right now.

"You killed your father for the throne? Heartless wench! I will reclaim the crown you stole!" Sir Leonidas screamed, charging forward, ax raised.

Oh, damn. Not this shit again, Erza thought, waiting till the last second before spinning to the right, slicing at the leather straps holding his armor in place.

Four-hundred years had given her the battle experience she hadn't had at sixteen. Like her father, Sir Leonidas was larger, more muscled, and older. The heavy plate he wore made him slower, even as it protected him. Erza had the advantage of size, speed, and youth. Even at four-hundred years old, she was still half his age…at least!

She knew her sword wouldn't hold out if she blocked his battle ax. She also knew her small blade wouldn't pierce his armor. If he was forced to take the weighty metal off, they would be more evenly matched. He would gain speed and force. She would gain the ability to carve his flesh.

She danced about him, a macabre reenactment of the night she'd become Regina. Her light sword sliced and bit at the joints and straps of Sir Leonidas' heavy armor. Bits of the plate soon began falling off his frame, the crystal of her blade sharper than steel.

He charged again. She waited, spinning left at the last second. She realized her error as he spun with her, following her progress with his ax. She dropped to the floor and rolled away. Erza didn't dare roll under him. With his armor, he could easily crush her under foot. Using her momentum, she flipped back onto her feet. She wished she'd thought to pack a hair tie as she shook her thick mane out of her face.

Another charge. Seriously, does the man know no other moves? Again, she waited. She knew he expected another spin. Instead, she ducked his swing, shoving herself inside the hollow his arms made as he gripped the ax. She quickly sliced through the straps holding his chest plate in place. Then, she dropped to the floor once more and rolled away as fast as she could. She jumped to her feet, ready for his next attack.

Sir Leonidas stalked closer. With a sudden roar, he lurched to the left, the movement unnatural. Surprised, Erza sidestepped to the right to give him a wide berth. Sir Leonidas twisted, shedding the rest of his body armor in a single move. Erza saw a flicker of light and ducked. The thrown dagger grazed her shoulder in the fleshy place between shoulder and neck. She ignored the pain and rolled forward, stabbing up with all the force in her body. Her blade met flesh, piercing his dominant shoulder.

Sir Leonidas dropped his ax; his arm hanging limply from its socket. Erza withdrew her katana from his body and stood back.

"Do you know what made your brother, and now me, more qualified to rule the Qikan?" she asked. Her katana's tip inches from the base of his throat. "You are a pitiable creature. You cowered here in this necropolis out of self-pity and self-loathing. You were selfish and afraid. You were glad the adults were dead so that your father wouldn't know how you had failed to keep these people safe," Erza barked, her tone harsh to her own ears.

"Your little brother, my grandfather, gathered the survivors and gave them a purpose: to find more of our kind. We sought answers, just as you used to, but we never gave up. My ancestors served our people for as long as they could, as will I. Your history is tragic, yes, but you didn't have to let it define who you are. You are the one who does not deserve the honor of ruling the Qikan," she said; her voice softening as she remembered her family. She shoved the painful memories aside.

"You killed your own father for the throne. How does that make you different from me?" the defeated knight growled.

"My father," she said, looking straight at the eye slits in his helmet, "murdered my mother, brother, and sister, before trying to murder me. I never challenged him for the throne. I only wanted to live. All of the Qikan want to live happy, carefree lives. That's what I'm going to give them one day: a life and a home to call their own."

Sir Leonidas was silent for several long minutes. Finally, he nodded and reached into his shirt. The flickering light of the torches glittered in the facets of the jeweled dagger he withdrew. A lion’s head graced the pommel, one eye a glinting sapphire, while the other shone with emerald light.

"Give this to the next head of the Leonidas House, Lady Regina," he said, tossing it to her. He reached behind him, drew another crystalline dagger, and rammed it into his chest.