When the Heavens Clash Ch. 1 – Edge of the Eclipse

Author's note: A long time ago, a few of my readers informed me that Michael Maurino, aka IronStylus, had taken a gander at A Boy and His Fox and mentioned in a forum post that he enjoyed it. I'm not able to really attest or verify that information as I never was able to find the post they were referring to, but the thought of it was still something that made me ecstatic. So in hopes of rectifying my lack of a discovery, I came up with a solution. I know that Michael Maurino's absolute favorite champions are Diana and Leona (understandably, their story is amazing.) Because of that, (as well as it being a long time coming) I've created this story detailing the journey of the rival beauties as they struggle for survival in a harsh wilderness. I hope you all enjoy, and thanks for your support. Best of luck in life and literature friends. Feel free to share your thoughts. - Kiba

Diana

The first thing I was aware of when I awoke to the world around me was a throbbing pain in my head. It was an intense and agonizing pulsing that caused my vision to lack any sort of shape or clarity. Unable to observe my surroundings, a wave of nausea rolled over me as the foul scent of blood and death flooded my nostrils. My lungs were tight, trying to breathe in the air but at the same time wishing to escape the horrid stench that refused to fade. It was then the realization dawned on me that I was unable to move, and as my sight cleared I looked down to find that I was bound tightly to a large wooden stake.

My senses were right at the identification of blood. Large streaks and pools of it coated the verdant ground all around me, leading a trail of death to the gleaming crescent shaped blade that lay embedded in the earth far from my grasp. How did this happen? Did the Solari somehow manage to capture me? Whose blood was it that now covered the floor in front of me? Where was my armor? So many questions went unanswered in my mind, and as I began to strain against my bonds, trying to break free I heard a weak groan from the other side of the pillar. Someone else was here?

"Hello?" I called out experimentally, waiting for response from my fellow prisoner.

"What happened?" A voice wondered out loud, clearly waking as I had. It was a familiar voice that sent a tide of rage and fear through my spine. It was one that I knew all too well: the voice of the Sun' champion.

"Leona!" I hissed, trying once again to pull away to no avail. "Solari scum, what did you do to me?!" I roared angrily before the rope constricted against my chest, silencing me. In a quick moment, the pressure was relieved as her breathing began to calm from its initial panic.

"By the Sun's light Diana, I demand you release me now!" She growled back. "I don't know what foul trickery you used to bind me so, but unless you wish to suffer the wrath of the Solari, you will let me go NOW!" That's when it dawned on me that the both of us were indeed prisoners in this place. Neither of us was responsible for our predicament.

But I also knew that like all Solari, Leona most of all was not to be trusted. "I did nothing to you Solari. When I awoke I was bound to this pole as you are. I remember nothing of how I arrived here." Leona paused for a moment, processing the information before speaking again.

"I smell blood. Are you wounded?" She inquired, a tone of concern in her voice.

The question surprised me. Many times I've contemplated the conversations I would have with this woman were we to clash, but never in my wildest imaginings would I have expected that. "Why bother answering a question you clearly have no care of knowing the answer to?" I retorted.

"You know nothing about me Lunari, I care far more than you know. I pity you greatly. What happened to you weighs on my heart greatly, and I am sorrowful that even I am unable to show you the true path of the Sun's light instead of the false way you've fallen to." Angrily, I lunged against my bonds causing a loud crack to come from the other side of the pole where my rival banged her head from the unexpected tug.

"I do not want your pity or your sorrow! The Moon has watched over me and granted me strength, so do not talk of matters you know nothing about! Your people have tried to silence me for too long, but never again will I worship your false light!" A moment later I too felt my body slam against the pole as Leona reciprocated my pitiful attack.

"I planned to show you mercy when I came free, but no longer heretic! How dare you insult the light of the Sun with your blasphemy?!" This spawned between us, much to my chagrin, a petty war waged with the tightening and releasing of our bonds and the flinging of insults until minutes later both of our struggles had weakened to the point of becoming futile.

Now my head throbbed even more than it had when I first awoke, and I had no intention of continuing this monotonous feud any longer. "Truce?" I offered dizzily.

"Truce." She groaned, placing her head lightly against the large stake. "Listen Lunari, it's obvious that we are both stuck here in one another's company?"

"Funny, I never pegged you for being so clever." I retorted sarcastically, drawing a frustrated sigh from Leona.

Her words came through gritted teeth, as if it pained her to say them. "The only way we're getting out of here is if we work together. Then we can both go our separate ways and we'll never have to speak of this again. Agreed?"

"I think I'd rather stay tied to this pole just to spite you." I snidely shot back.

"Why must you be so difficult Diana? I'm just trying to help us both!"

"I don't need your help Solari!"

"Oh really? Then why haven't you freed yourself yet?"

I muttered a curse under my breath. She had me there. "Alright…if, hypothetically speaking, I agreed to work with you, which I don't," I quickly added, "what would you suggest I do?"

Leona turned her head so that when she spoke her plan would be better heard. "I can still move a little in these bonds."

"I'm aware." I muttered, the stinging in the back of my head serving ample reminder.

"Well, since I am not in my armor perhaps I can dislocate some of the bones in my body and slip free. " So she too was unarmed. That made little sense, the progeny of the Sun never went anywhere without her precious runic artifacts. Of course, I would have said the same about myself, had I know been disproven by my current state.

"Why couldn't you do that from the beginning? What help would I be to that plan?" I asked.

"The bonds are still too tight for me to dislocate anything. I need you to exhale all of the air you can so the bonds will loosen enough to let me move. Please Lunari, if you were to ever listen to me just once in your life, I'd ask that it be this time."

"…Fine…" I surrendered, "I'll go along with your plan. But once we are free our co-operation ends, understand? This does not make us friends!"

"Noted." She sighed taking a breath of preparation. I blew all the air I could from my lungs, causing the rope to slack slightly against my compressed chest. A sickening crunch followed by a slight whimper of pain preceded another crunch and the ropes falling around my feet, allowing me take in precious air.

Immediately, I dashed forward diving for my blade only to turn and see that she too held her sword, clutching it tightly with both hands and holding it towards me in distrust. The two of us glared into one another's eyes, waiting for the other to make some sort of attack and neither one trusting the other enough to lower their guard. We slowly began to circle one another, unsure of how to continue.

I knew how the Solari were, however. She would strike me down the instant she got the opportunity, and I intended not to grant it to her. Quickly I rushed towards her, my blade arcing towards her in a diagonal slash, only to for hers to clash against the moonsilver, resulting in a shower of sparks as the two of us became locked in a contest of strength.

"I should have known you'd go back on your word heretic." She growled, her strength winning out as I began to slide back along the loose dirt beneath my feet.

"It is you whose word can't be trusted tyrant." I hissed before swinging my sword in a circle, causing her blade to lose its hold on me. She however, seemed to have the same idea as I did, leaving us both to watch helplessly as our blades were ripped from our grips and hurled through the sky to land elsewhere in the canopies of the jungle."Damn it!" I screamed before wheeling on my opponent. "This is all your fault Solari! So help me, once I find my blade I am ending this once and for all!"

"My fault?" She scoffed. "You're the one who attacked me!"

"Only to prevent you from attacking me!"

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"It would if you weren't so stupid from staring into the Sun all the time!"

"At least my light is brave enough to always show its face, unlike your precious Moon!"

The two of us grappled with one another, falling to the earth in a tangled flurry of limbs until our fighting was interrupted by a snarl. We paused, still gripping one another as our eyes went to the source: a large tiger with fangs bared that slowly began to stalk closer. Carefully, we released each other and climbed to our feet, slowly backing away from the large predator.

"It must have been attracted by the scent of the blood." Leona whispered to me.

"What do we do?" I asked shakily, "Neither of us have any weapons."

"Stay absolutely still." She instructed. "Tigers see based on movement. If we stay perfectly stationary, perhaps it will simply leave."

"It's not helping." I muttered as it continued to come closer. "I thought you said it would just leave if we were still."

"I said 'perhaps'!"

The tiger let out a ferocious roar before coiling like a spring and pouncing towards us, claws extended and ready to tear us to pieces. The two of us gripped one another tightly and collectively shrieked before a small orange blur bounded in front of us chittering wildly. "Gnar, gnar!" It squealed excitedly as it easily grabbed the tiger by the fangs, and with impossible strength hurled it to the ground.

As the great beast rose back to its feet, the small Yordle cackled maniacally and leapt on to its back, holding on to its whiskers like reigns as the big cat roared in anger and frustration. It began to pounce wildly, trying to escape from its assailant, and seeing our chance, Leona and I ran as fast as we possibly could into the forest.

My legs burned from the strain I put on them as we leapt through fallen trees and avoided large boulders. The primal fear of our encounter kept the both of us going however, until finally we collapsed to our knees, breathing heavily. "I think…we escaped…the tiger." She gasped.

"Yeah…than the Moon…that creature…saved us." I panted, before rolling on to my back tired. "What manner of thing was that?" I asked, "I've never seen such a monstrous Yordle before."

"Nor I." Leona admitted, laying down beside me and looking up at the canopy. The Sun was beginning to set, causing twilight to cascade through the leaves to color the landscape in its golden embrace. "Diana…" Leona finally whispered after a few moments.

"What is it Solari?" I responded indignantly.

"We're going to die here aren't we? If we don't stick together…I think this jungle will actually be the death of us. How did this happen? Why did this happen?"

"You can't possibly be suggesting…"

"Yes, I think we should stay together. At least until we make it out of this place. I know you and I have never been on the best of terms, but we don't have much of a choice here Diana."

As much as I wished she wasn't, I knew she was right. Without her help, I wouldn't survive another night in this Hell, not without my armor and weapon. I turned to look at the fire-haired champion of the Sun. Her worry was apparent in the features of her face, just as I'm sure mine was. "Alright." I finally agreed, "Until we leave this jungle, we will work together as companions. Nothing more, understood?"

She frowned, but nodded anyway. "Understood. Come, we should make camp before night falls. The last thing we'd want is to have no fire when the Sun sets." Turning over she climbed to her feet before offering her hand to help me up. I knocked it away, standing on my own and moving past her to find a suitable clearing. I may be forced to rely on her, but she would never have my trust.

Leona

As the first day in this Light-forsaken jungle came to a close, I continued to stack the tinder in the small hole I'd carved into a log with the sharp rock I found. I could feel Diana's eyes glaring at me as I worked, judging every movement I made with extreme scrutiny.

"I'm impressed you know what you're doing." She commented as I grabbed a stick and placed it in the hole between my hands. I didn't respond; I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of getting to me. Instead, I let my actions speak for me, rolling the stick as quickly as I could. Within moments, small wisps of smoke began to form as the tinder began to glow a soft orange. Leaning down, I pursed my lips and blew on to the embers, causing the beautiful flames to rise.

Diana was watching more intently now, a rare look of approval in her eyes. "Check it out." I gestured. I knew it wasn't polite, but I couldn't help the smug grin that came to my lips. "It needs a bit more tinder in order to become a full campfire."

"Yes, I'm well aware how to make a fire." Diana grunted as she went to collect more of the dry moss. "That's what happens when you don't have a home to go to. You learn to live on your own." I, of course, said nothing. I'd always felt bad for what happened between Diana and the Solari. She didn't find comfort in the Sun's rays the way their people did which was regrettable. Had the elders simply left her in peace, perhaps things would be different. But they paid for that mistake, I reminded myself. That was why they had become enemies.

Instead, I gathered more twigs, building a small pyramid of sticks before taking the moss Diana offered and stuffing it into the base. It wasn't long before a crackling fire sat between the two of us, a symbol for the distance apart our worlds truly are. Were, I corrected myself again. Now they were in the same hellish world that this jungle made up, thrown in by a cruel twist of fate with no explanation.

I sighed softly, unsure what to say to her as my hands ran through my dirty hair, matted down from the muck and grime that the Lunari and I had rolled around in earlier. She wasn't much better off than I was. Her normally beautiful white hair was greasy and her braid was loose and frazzled. I'd give anything for a bath, I decided. A buzzing in my ear distracted my thoughts as I swatted away a pesky fly that had come to investigate our camp. It returned once more, and as I went to swat it away again, the realization dawned on me. "Water." I muttered.

"What?"

"Water." I said louder. "There are bugs flying around us, that means there must be a pool of water nearby. Perhaps it's a spring or some sort of creek. We could use it to gain some supplies for the days ahead, not to mention you would be able to clean up a bit."

Her eyes sharpened as she focused on me intently, her lips pursed in a flat line that showed she took issue with something I said. Though I'm sure I could have sworn allegiance to the Moon at this point and she'd still disapprove of the way I bowed my head. "Are you trying to say I'm dirty?"

"N-no! Of course not. Well…we both are, I'm just trying to say there are benefits to going to find the water."

The Lunari rolled her eyes before standing and walking towards the edge of the clearing. I sighed, not even a day and already she'd gotten fed up of being in my presence. "Well, are you coming?" She called over her shoulder.

"Yeah, sorry." I called back before standing up, leaving the crackling fire as it was so that it would be there when we returned. The two of us continued walking for some time before I asked the question that had been on my mind. "Are you sure we're going in the right direction?"

Diana stopped and turned to face me, taking a deep breath. "Listen princess. I didn't question your ability to light a fire. I didn't question you on your plan to escape the ropes we were tied up in. I even trusted your judgment on the tiger instead of bolting and leaving you to be mauled to death by that overgrown kitten. Would it kill you to once, just once trust that I know what I'm doing?" When I didn't reply she turned away from me and kept walking. "Thank you!"

"Potentially." I muttered under my breath. I knew I was being petty, but she was always so harsh even though I'd done nothing wrong. She continued to break through the underbrush, pushing back branches only to release them so they'd spring back and hit me. It was a practice I began to grow very tired of, and just as I was about to scold her for her childishness, she stopped suddenly. "What is it?" I asked.

"Look at this." She whispered softly, crouching down to the floor and brushing away dirt. Stooping over to join her I was shocked to see what looked like a stepping stone with ancient glyphs carved into it.

"Are those…"

"Hieroglyphs? Yes. But it's odd…these symbols are from both the Lunari and the Solari. Even in the temple I found my armor, there were only Lunari glyphs. I've never seen both of them together before." Diana looked at it puzzled, clearing away more of the stone to show that it led further into a pathway in the distance. "Come, the spring is not much further ahead."

"How do you know?" I asked. She shot me another look of daggers. "Just curious, not doubting you." I explained.

"That's what the stone says. 'Welcome to the Hot Springs'. I imagine that the springs are at the end of this path." Without another word, she continued forward leaving me speechless. I hurried after her, amazed. She could read both ancient Solari and ancient Lunari; even before she killed the Elders, few of them could boast being able to read only part of the ancient Solari text.

Sure enough, a few more paces ahead caused us to arrive at a large ruin. The building was ancient. The once proud columns that lined its entrance were either cracked, fallen, or simply gone. The surface of it was covered in thick vines that seemed to choke the life out of it, like everything else in the forest. Diana and I began to clear the entrance of the fauna, until at last, the opening into the ruin was accessible and allowed us to slip inside. Not even a few steps inside, and a soothing aroma washed over the both of us.

"What is that smell?" I asked happily, sniffing the air to get a stronger scent. "It's heavenly."

Diana grinned smugly as she walked further in. "Dried feces soaked in ether. They used it in ancient days to light torches that'd last for millennia. This place is no exception." I grimaced at the thought and decided to cover my mouth and nose. No matter how nice it smelled, breathing in crap probably was not the best of ideas. "Oh relax princess, ether kills bacteria. Don't let it get on you though. It may smell like heaven, but it burns like Hell."

I got the sense that the Lunari enjoyed tormenting me like this, but still I pulled my hand from my face anyway. Further ahead were torches that still flickered in the darkness, revealing a glistening pool that bubbled tranquilly, just as she had promised. The ground beneath us ceased to be the crudely cut bricks that had contributed to the hallway and outer path, now replaced with smooth polished tile that reminded me of the baths that were held within the Institute of War for after the League's intense battles. I often wondered myself why I had never seen Diana present there. "These are more than springs," I whispered in awe, exploring the large chamber to find what I was searching for, "it's an ancient bathhouse." I turned, revealing the ancient bottle I'd discovered. It was cracked, causing the scent of the lavender oil housed inside to rise into the air. It was well preserved within the glass container and setting it down I began to look through more of them for something that was able to be consumed.

"Let me." Diana offered, turning the glasses and wiping the dust from them so that she could read the labels. "Rosemary petals, lemon oil, jasmine extract, peppermint oil, chamomile buds…what use could anyone have for all of this garbage?" I blinked in surprise.

"You don't know?" I asked in surprise. Diana glared at me again, and I chastised myself for not phrasing the statement better. "They're bath oils. They often relieve stress, and also help to detoxify the body."

"I'm aware of what they are." She muttered.

"Then why did you…"

"Because such things are pointless! Bathing is meant to already clean one's body, adding more cleanliness is redundant and stupid." She reached further back into the shelves and pulled a bottle forward with a smile. "Yes! Excellent."

"What is it?" I asked, looking over her shoulder. She offered me one of the bottles, inside the sloshing of liquid could be heard.

"Our saving grace princess. It's wine. The stuff lasts for eternity, it will be good to drink. Go ahead, open it, I'll see what else they have stored in here."

"Are you sure?" I asked, "I mean about opening it now. I don't mind waiting and sharing it with you." Grasping another bottle she pulled it forward, also tugging a strange clay pot along with it.

"Here's another bottle and…" She opened the jar, sniffing it before placing it on the top of the counter with another grin. "Food."

"More immortal consumables?" I asked. Diana nodded.

"Honey. Once when I was examining a Lunari ruin, I ended up lost in one of their labyrinths. I found a 5,000 year old jar of honey that kept me from starving until I found my way out. For a week all I had to eat and drink was wine and honey. Best week of my life."

I found it hard to imagine that that was the best week of her life, when for most it would be considered the worst. The woman had very strange taste for sure. "What about the water? Can't we drink that as well?" Diana glanced to the pool for a moment before shaking her head.

"It's mineral water, not the potable kind either. Chances are it has various types of salts in it, and judging from the bubbles it's most likely a carbon-dioxide spring too. The good news is, that means there aren't any creatures in it waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander in." Just as she stood up to open one of the bottles of wine she froze, her eyes focusing as they quickly swept the room.

"What is it?" I asked, unable to sense any nearby danger.

"Look at the floor." Diana whispered.

"I don't see anything."

"Exactly. All of the bottles, the pathway, the entrance hall…all of them were covered with dust. So why…"

"Is the floor completely bare." I finished for her, leaning down to inspect it. I placed my hand on the smooth tile, seeking a reasonable explanation for what was going on. It was then that I had my answer. "Diana, take off your boots."

"Pardon?"

I began to take off my own, before gesturing to hers so she would do the same. Hesitantly she did, watching as I placed my bare feet on to the tile. "The grout of the tiles has holes bored into it. They're using the steam from the underground spring to heat the floor so your feet don't get cold. There isn't any dust because the steam keeps washing it away. And now that our feet are bare, can't you tell the floor is slanted? The entrance is downhill so all the dirt just washes out."

"Fascinating, in all my studies I've never found something so ingenious like this before." Diana muttered, a rare joy sparkling in her eyes. I couldn't help but feel that this bath was the best thing that had happened to us today. It seemed we were finally starting to get along. I knew that if I could continue to impress her, the two of us may actually be able to make it out of this jungle alive. Grabbing the bottle of lavender oil, I uncorked it and poured a bit into the bath causing the scent to rise from the steam and mix with the aroma provided by the torches. I began to unfasten my tunic that I wore when out of my armor, only for Diana to look at me puzzled. "What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for the bath of course." I replied, removing my clothes until I stood completely undressed. I smiled at the Lunari before slowly stepping into the water, sinking up to my neck with a relaxed sigh. "Aren't you coming? The water is excellent."

Diana shifted hesitantly, as if contemplating her answer. "Turn around." She whispered finally, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I want to get in the bath, but I can't do it with you watching me. So turn around." I shrugged, doing as she asked. I could hear the rustling of cloth as she stripped down, followed by the sound of her slowly descending into the spring. I looked over my shoulder briefly to see that she was on the complete other side of the large pool, her back to me. "Why are you so shy?" I asked, "It's not like there's anything I haven't seen before."

"Maybe I just don't enjoy being ogled princess." She shot back causing me to frown.

"Why do you keep calling me 'princess'? I have a name."

"Because I know how used you are to being treated like royalty. Well this is as good as you're getting from me. Sorry if I'm not like the rest of the Solari who bow down to worship the ground you walk on." She grumbled.

"They do not worship me!" I snapped defensively. "And I'm not treated like royalty! You act like I'm some sort of spoiled brat who gets everything she wants."

"And don't you?!" Diana argued. "You've never known what it's like to be rejected by your people. To have to work, day in and day out, trying to earn the approval of some arrogant stuck up clan just because you're different. No, not you princess! All you have to do is stand there and look pretty while everyone fawns over you because of how beautiful and radiant you are. You have no clue what hardship is. That's why I call you princess, princess."

Now I was angry. How could she even begin to say such things to me? "Oh I'm sorry Diana. I'm sorry that I actually have the courage to accept my responsibilities instead of running from them like a frightened child. Let me just apologize for actually trying to fit in with the rest of the Solari, even though I was born in the Rakkor. It's not as if I had to leave my friends and family because the Sun decided to choose me as its champion. You've no room to complain Diana, at least you chose to be the Scion of the Moon! I was just thrust into this position without any say of my own. But does anyone ask or care what I want? No! Of course not! I'm the champion of the Sun, it's my destiny to protect the Solari. It's not as if I could just…oh I don't know, leave behind my entire clan like you, just because I'm a little bit different than the rest of them!"

"Oh yes, it must be so hard for you!" Diana snapped back sarcastically. "It must be so difficult to be respected and admired for doing absolutely nothing! Well unfortunately princess, we aren't all so fortunate! Some of us actually have to rely on our strengths instead of having everything handed to us on a silver platter just because you're beautiful and I'm not!"

The two of us fell silent, our anger still boiling beneath the skin. I kept quiet, holding my breath before sinking in the water. I couldn't listen to her any more; her selfishness was driving me insane. How could she be so spiteful when it was she who abandoned her people, not the other way around? When I came up for air, I'd calmed down significantly. I began running my hands through my hair to remove the dirty clots of mud and grime from it, cleaning it back to its normal fiery splendor.

Diana stayed quiet, and looking over my shoulder I saw her doing the same as I, though now that her hair was clean she continued to braid and unbraid it anxiously. "Diana…" I finally breathed.

"What do you want princess?" She asked coldly.

I sighed softly. The last thing I wanted was to start another argument. "Do you really think that you aren't pretty?" I asked.

"Well it is true isn't it?" She retorted. "Everyone loves you. You're every Solari's dream while I was considered the bottom of the barrel. So why don't you tell me?"

"You really are." I replied. "I don't think you aren't beautiful, I just think you're shy. So you don't know much about bath oils or hair treatments or whatever, who cares? You still manage to have an amazing body and wonderful hair. I'm sure there are lots of guys who would kill to have you."

"That's easy for you to say. You weren't there when I was growing up in the Solari. Boys used to pick on me and call me names. Bookworm, nerd, freak…believe me princess, I've heard them all. They don't find me attractive. No one does."

"I don't think you're unattractive. Just a little…intimidating." I turned from the wall, picking up one of the porous stones that lined the wall and soaking it in the water before wading behind her. "Maybe it's just because you're so tense. Here, let me help." I offered, running the pumice over her back. She turned in surprise, covering herself with one arm and shoving me away.

"No, don't touch me!" She cried out, moving quickly away from me. "Just leave me alone! I didn't ask for your help! Why can't you understand that I don't care if people like me or not? I just want to be left alone!" She turned away from me again, causing me to bite my lip nervously. I knew that wasn't true. I could sense it in her heart that somewhere inside she still yearned for acceptance. "Please, just leave me alone." Her voice quivered as she spoke, and it almost sounded as if she were crying.

Silently, I turned back around, using the stone to wash myself. I didn't know how I was supposed to get through to her, or if I even could. It was hard being faced with this burden. As much as she denied it, she was still Solari, and that meant it was my duty to protect her. It was a duty I failed, and every moment I spent here in this jungle with her was a reminder of that failure.

As I began to finish up, I noticed a pale glistening on the tile, just outside of the bath and following it, I saw that the full moon was now shining high above us, filtering in through a small slit in the ceiling. As it rose further, so too did its light until it came to rest on the wall in front of me. I gasped, dropping the stone. "Diana…" I whispered shakily.

"What is it now Solari?" She asked impatiently.

"You really need to see this." I whispered.

To be continued…