1: On Thy Day Of Joy...

1:- On Thy Day Of Joy...

The ice has never been colder, nor the flames hotter for centuries. Simultaneously, in the Royal Castles of Glacilia and Incendia, maidens, stewards, decorators, cooks, servants and castle guards roam about the corridors and hallways, there are sweet smells in the air oozing from the kitchens, and happiness is printed on every salamander or yeti's face as they prepared their castles for a grand feast to celebrate new lifes, the birth of the newborn heirs in both tribes.

Sovereign Firn Snowdrop II, and his wife, Sovereigness White, rulers of the Ice Tribe, Glacilia, and leaders of the Realm, celebrate the birthing of their son, Heir Frost. A perfect and handsome yeti. They have waited so long for an offspring and a son was born to them.

Sovereign Inferno Magmis, and his wife, Sovereigness Agrimitra, rulers of the Fire Tribe, Incendia, also celebrates the birthing of their desired, long awaited daughter, Heiress Fiammetta. A salamander of rare beauty at birth.

The feasting halls were set, and their long tables assorted Glacilian or Incendian delicacies, with nobles, well-wishers, friends, families, and servants present to felicitate and feast, yeti and salamanders apart. In both kingdoms, musicians, actors and jesters perform to entertain as well as celebrate the newborns. Gifts were showered upon the Royal Babies, and as custom demands, the Head Shaman of each tribe cleansed and blessed the child of their Sovereign, and the merriment continues.

Also, as at the same time, very, very far from the jubilations, deep into the dark of Oscuria, growling, squeaking, screaming and squealing of different beasts echoes as the fog moves through the wasteland, and at the largest dark tree, at the heart of the Dark Tribe, upon it a crooked and horrific castle is built, bats of varying sizes flutter in, out and around it. Inside this nightmare, in a spooky room filled with bats and eats, cobwebs and spiders the size of your fist, and moving shadows, illuminated in an eerie green tint from the green flames of Hades burning on the touches and candle chandelier, there a large, black, well carved and decorated throne, floating on a cloud of shadows, a rather smaller dark elemental sits.

At the sight of this small, shrewd elemental, one would suppose it is a nine years old child, but no, this child has actually lived for nineteen winters. She was small, light and smooth skinned, raven black hair over her cute round face, with sparkling dark eyes, small nose and try perfect mouth, and two small horn protrusions beautifying her forehead whereas a tiara beautifies her head - all together, exceptionally beautiful.

This child was Zella, the Demon Queen of the Dark Tribe.

She sat majestically on this throne, looking to two huge antique mirrors hanging in front of her in midair, smiling. One mirror showed the celebrations of Heir Frost's birth at Glacilia, while the other reflected the celebrations of Heiress Fiammetta's birth at Incendia. She watched them, giggling and smiling evily. A relatively huge bat with clear green eyes and broad wings flew into the room and landed on Zella's waiting arm.

"Hmm... Slendid, is it not?" She said to her pet. "How they smile, and laugh, and merry, look at," she spoke slowly and in a sweet, gentle child's voice. "Birth of their feeble offsprings, they celebrate." She giggled harder.

The bat opened its mouth, and it spoke, "Zha zeneralz zha zull zedri, zmi zivulnezz."

{The generals are all ready, my evilness.}

Zella squealed in excitement, "Ooooh, the perfect way to ruin such a perfect day, this is going to be, is it not, Letoz?" She stroked her per bat, Letoz, as she spoke smilingly. "To all tribes at once, dispatch the Grand Guerrillas, except for these two. The strongest rival tribes, I'll take care of myself."

"Zimmezetli, zur zvickeznezz." Letoz said, and took off.

{Immediately, your wickedness.}

The mirrors disappeared with the wave of her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, shadows encompassed her, taking her away and she reappeared on the balcony at the top of the castle to watch her army of beastly creatures take off to do her bidding on big monstrous bats.

"Go, my children! And what we deserve, take!" She exclaimed at the top of her small voice, raising her hands to the black sky, greenish lightning flashed. "Go! Their day of joy to a day of sorrow, go turn! The day they shall know who to rightfully serve, today is!" She laughed demonically as the thunder posted in the background.

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Whilst the celebrations was still incessant, a sudden noise is heard, loud and vicious, the blaring of horns and the banging of drums - it was a noise of war. So loud, it could be heard from both Glacilia and Incendia.

The Grand Guerrera of the Glacilian Army, Lanche Frostbite, stomped into the feasting hall in full body armor, silencing the cheerful chatters and laughs, replacing it with whispers and murmurs as he marched to the Sovereign, and bows.

"Where is this noise coming from?" Firn asked.

"Reports say that it is coming from the Frost Fire Valley. I believe it is the Incendians... again." Lanche replied, only to aggravate the murmurs.

"Inferno..." Firn hissed under his breath. "Rally up the guerrillas. I'll send him off himself." And he hoped quickly too. Lanche bowed receiving the order and then marched out in the same manner he came. Firn stood from his seat at the table, "Beloved Glacilians, this celebration is now on ice!" He declared to every yeti in the hall. "Please, I apologise for the irritating interruption, but, return now, safely, to your various homes. Guests are welcomed to stay here in the castle, we have more than enough rooms. Go now, and hope that matters will be settled in time to continue our festivities! Raise your goblets all!" He ordered, and everyone raised their wine goblets. "Forever by the Glacier Line!" He called, holding up his goblet.

"Glacilia shall never die!" Every other yeti responsed, then they emptied their goblets and orderly exited the hall.

Firn faced his wife, who now cuddled the Heir, "White, take Frost and wait for me in the throne room where it is heavily guarded."

"Today of all days," White sighed, cooing at baby Frost. "Stay safe, my love." She said softly, placing her furry palm on his cheek.

"I will return to you," Firn smiled, brushing her fur before moving her hand from his face. "Escort the Sovereigness and the Heir to the throne room, and keep them protected!" He ordered some castle guards as he marched out too.

Similarly, at Incendia...

Inferno's Grand Guerrilla, Ignis Burrn, marched into the feasting hall, unnoticed by the wild partiers as she approached the Sovereign, she bowed.

"What noise is disturbin' a day bunin' with joy?" Inferno enquired.

"The soldiers heard it comin' from the Frost Fire. I have already assembled the legion. It appears to be the Glacilians matching on us." Ignis answered.

"Ha! Firn finally attacks first!" Inferno said to his wife and they laughed. He stood up at the head of the table, "Silence!" He roared, and silence answered, even the air stopped moving. "We are goin' tah hold dah celebrations till when'ah return. 'Nd where am'ah goin'? It seems tha' those prickly icicles have mustered up some smolderin' flames tah strike us first, 'nd whilst we merry!" The salamanders booed and laughed. Inferno raised a palm to silence them again, "Ah'was in no mood tah battle, but if they asked for it... They're goin' tah get it, hot!" A cheer erupted. "Somebody go warm mah armor! Ah have a boilin' feelin' tha' Ah will return victorious, 'nd it will be double celebrations!" The fire elementals present cheered happily. "For now return tah yah flame boxes 'nd pray by dah Burnin' River, Ah'shall return victorious!" He declared, they cheered and everyone started to scurry out. "Don't forget tah grab a flagon of wine here or a lump of meat there on yah way out! Haha!" He laughed as he watched them tussled for the leftover foods on the table while they rush out.

Agrimitra stood up with Fiammetta in her arms, laughing too. Inferno faced her, "You too need tah get. Keep our Heiress safe till I return. Secure yourselves in dah throne room where it's safe."

"We'll be fine. Go, burn some yeti for me," Agrimitra said smirkingly, she planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Oh, I will," Inferno smiled, then walked away. "Protect yah Sovereigness and Heiress with yah lifes!" He commanded the castle guards on his way out.

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Frost Fire Valley, a wide valley separating the Ice Tribe from the Fire Tribe. In it runs two unnatural rivers, one of molten lava, the other of glacier. The valley has been a battleground for yeti and salamanders since the Abomination. The presence of the opposing elemental rivers made the valley not too heated for yeti and not too harsh for salamanders, perfect temperature to condone both elementals. And it is this Frost Fire Valley the rival Sovereigns meet for battle on hearing the noises of war.

By the side of the glacier river, Glacier Line, Sovereign Firn sat in his battle armor, on his huge armored ice-spitting Lynx, his Grand Guerrilla Lanche by his side atop a Ice-Wolfe, and his army of yeti behind. Opposite them, by the side if the molten river, Burning River, was Sovereign Inferno in his war armor, mounted on his burning battle Phoenix, his Grand Guerrilla Ignis on a huge lava drooling Salamander while the rest of the army behind them, ready for war.

"Inferno!" Firn yelled across the valley to him. "Always with the awful timing. You chose the wrong day to armor up for war, my friend!"

"Awful timing?! Me?! Yah drums of battle disturded mah pleasant day!" Inferno yelled back.

"What do you mean; 'my drums'?! If not you, then, whose horns and drums drew me out for battle?!"

"You chose tah attack me first, snowman! And today, Ah will be victorious!"

"You speak unmeaningful words, Incendian!" Firn summoned his vitarma•, ready to end this quickly. He locked his vitarma; an ice bow and aimed for Inferno's head.

"But yah gon' die a meanin'ful death, Glacilian!" Inferno formed his own vitarma, a fiery blade dribbling with molten lava, and pointed it at Firn.

★A 'Vitarma' is a weapon formed from the élan vital of an elemental. It could be in the form of any weapon, principally the one the elemental is most comfortable with, and its acquisition enhances the offensive abilities of any elemental tenfold. It is a characteristics mostly accustomed to battailous elementals.

As the Sovereigns raised their weapons, their subordinates behind them, too, armed themselves. And at that point, the sound of war horns and battle drums begun to play in battailous symphony and everyone paused, surprised as well as discombobulated, because none of them blew horns, or beat drums.

"My Sovereign, look! Up there!" Lanche alerted, pointing to the rim of the valley.

That was when they all saw it.

Dozens upon dozens of hideous figurines flew over the valley, shadowers riding monsterized bats, blowing war horns and banging drums, growling and laughing, announcing their arrival. At the head of the flight was the largest bat you could ever see, and mounted atop it was Zella, with a smirk. She looked down at the battle ready salamanders and yeti.

"At them, look. Like little children, they argue." She said in her sweet lovely voice as she lowered her hovering bat closer to them.

"Who are you, child?" Firn calmly asked, sensing her intense dark aura.

"Who am I, he says..." Zella chuckled loudly, her followers laughed after her, then suddenly she stopped, demonically yelling, "Who am I?!" She took in a deep breath, calming herself. "Right, about me, you wouldn't know, since discarded, we have been. Listen up, for only once, I shall say," she cleared her throat and sat upright, "Zella Nefaris, Sovereigness of Oscuria, Demon Goddess of the Dark, and soon to be Superior Sovereigness of the Elemental Realm and Beyond, I am." She proudly acknowledged.

"Zella?" Firn and Inferno said in unison.

Inferno erupted in sudden laughter.

Zella furrowed her brows at his attitude. "Something amusing to cause this unacceptable attitude you are displaying, I don't recall saying."

"Oh, no, no, no... You didn't. It's just all tha' gusto in tha' tiny little body tha' makes you feel all chummy - tha's funny... Imagine it all burstin', hehehehe...!" Inferno snickered, and his guerrillas laughed along.

"Ugh, unspeakable..." Zella shook her small noggin, pinching her nose bridge. "Well, go on. Fight and eradicate yourselves. Easier for me, make things."

"Go back to whatever pit you crawled out from, young witch. Your ancestors have all tried and they have all failed. So will you, if you move further." Firn spoke firmly.

"I - am not - my ancestors." Zella growled, matter-of-factly.

"So, what is it you want, dark child?" Inferno asked her.

"Inferno! We do not bargain with a witch! Especially an Oscurian one!" Firn shunned him.

"Ah'am just askin'... Might be yah fault she's here!" Inferno faced Firn.

"My fault?! You're the hot-headed, troublesome one... perhaps it's your fault she's here!"

"Enough bickering!" Zella roared, and there was silence. She inhaled deeply. "Yes, for a reason, I am here, and either of you figureheads, it is not... Give to me, each of you, your elemental gems." She said slowly and softly. The two Sovereigns glanced at each other, surprised by her demand. "Take it without even asking, I know I can, but asking, I am, and ask me again, don't." She added, noticing their hesitation.

"You know what' you ask cannuh be given," Inferno spoke first.

"Do. Not. Make. Me. Ask. Again." Zella repeated her words one after the other to relay the full message.

"Begone, witch!" Lanche suddenly lunged an ice spear at her.

"No!" Firn exclaimed, but it was too late.

The spear went straight for Zella, but she effortlessly stopped it with her palm sheathe with shadow. The ice spear shattered on collision and mixed with the shadow, and it crystallized to form a pure black shapeless solid compound with shimmers of blue and white, hovering around her palm.

"Hmm... Dark and Ice. Such beauty." Zella spun the compound over her fingers and it sparklened in the sunlight. She smirked at the disbelief on everybody's faces below her. "Strong allies, we could've made, you and I, but busy ruling selfishly, you were - you discarded us, you forgot!" She roared demonically, reshaping the compound into a sharp spearhead and sending it hurling back to Lanche. Firn, acting on impulse, fired a counter shot to deflect the dark-ice spearhead, saving Lanche from seizing to exist.

Zella took another deep breath. "Fine... Again, I will ask... Give to me, each of you, your elemental gems." She repeated.

Inferno and Firn looked at each other - for the first time, they agreed on something.

"The answer is still no, with," Firn said, steadying his Lynx, readying his vitarma.

"Okey... Fire Tribe, what about you?" Zella asked.

"Ah'cannuh comply to yah terms, either." Inferno stated, doing the same as Firn, their guerrillas too.

"Hmm... Hoping you'd say that I was, you see," Zella smiled from ear to ear. "To fulfil my destiny without some dramatics and bloodshed, I wouldn't want, would I, now?... Oh... Elementals don't shed blood, I forgot." Her army of evil monsters began to growl and drool, "Besides, dying for action, my children are. To bite off some fiery or icy heads, they would like. As we speak, that fate, other tribes are suffering... The time you joined them, it is! My children, attack!" She ordered, raising her two arms to the fleet and the Oscurian shadowers dived down to the Frost Fire Valley below.

Battle commenced...

To Be Continued in the next Episode 🔥

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