Information

Diagla
Legacy Name: Diagla

The Hydrus Kumos
Owner: OtakuOokami

Age: 14 years, 5 months, 2 weeks

Born: November 10th, 2009

Adopted: 13 years, 5 months ago

Adopted: November 26th, 2010

Statistics

• Level: 10
   
• Strength: 15
   
• Defense: 13
   
• Speed: 10
   
• Health: 10
   
• HP: 10/10
   
• Intelligence: 0
   
• Books Read: 0
• Food Eaten: 0
• Job: Store Clerk

When I was little, my parents gave me everything I wanted. All the love and comfort and toys a kid could ask for. I wasn't a spoiled brat, I was always grateful. Heck, sometimes they even gave me things I hadn't asked for simply to put a smile on my face. It was almost as if I was living a charmed life...that is, until my tenth birthday. Instead of the usual big party with family and friends, my parents took me on a boat to the Omen Islands.

They seemed sad, almost mournful as we sailed there. We landed the boat on the beach of one of the islands and walked for a while before coming to a tidal cave. My mother began sobbing as we approached the mouth of the cave, my father put his arms around the both of us as we entered. This was when I started to get scared. I asked my parents what was going on and why we were here, but they didn't answer... Well, they did answer, but in the way that adults answer children when the truth is simply too hard or awkward to even make up a fable for, with awkward silence. That only made me more uneasy.

A few yards into the cave, we came to a large, wooden doorway. The double doors were carved with depictions of terrifying sea monsters and raging seas. The doors opened before my father could even touch them, and deep inside the dark, water filled chamber I heard a woman's voice saying, "I've been waiting. Have you brought him to me as promised? Your first born son?"

"As promised, Merana," my father said sadly, "We surrender our son into your service."

Small, dim torches suddenly lit up on the walls, as if on cue, illuminating that woman upon her throne. The one with the horns of a demon and a tail like a serpent... the sea witch Merana. She smiled at me as she slithered forward from her seat. It wasn't a kind smile, but a menacing one. A smile full of evil intent. A scheming smile like a villain in a kids' cartoon...only much more frightening. "Excellent," she said, almost hissing, "My, my, don't you look like a good, strong lad."

I inched backward as she approached me, hiding behind my crying mother. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want her smiling at me. I closed my eyes, hoping this was just a weird dream that I'd wake up from. Unfortunately, Merana's cold, clammy hand on my cheek only served to cement the awful truth. This was real, and my parents were really handing me over to her.

"There, there, little puppy," Merana cooed, "Serve me well and you have nothing to fear from me."

"Lady Merana," my mother said, still crying her eyes out, "Please, reconsider. Please, don't take my baby from me."

"You should have thought of that before you dared steal from my shell garden," the witch snapped, "It's all about fair trade, you know. I let you and your husband live and you give me your son in exchange...Or, would you rather I kill you all here and now?"

My mother broke down, falling to her knees in tears. My father clenched his fist, looking away. "We don't have a choice, Dear," he said to my mother, then to me, "Diagla, I'm sorry, but it's for the best. Do as Merana commands, serve her well...and, don't forget about your mother and I..." With that, my father helped my mother to her feet and started leaving with her. I tried to follow, but the wooden doors shut before I could reach them.

"Don't worry about them, a bargain is a bargain," the sea witch said, slithering over to a bubbling cauldron and filling a small vial with the contents, "Now, come to me, Diagla...I have a little birthday gift for you. Drink of this elixir, and gain the power of the sea."

I swallowed hard, but did as she asked. My hands trembled as I took the vial from her and began to drink the disgusting, salty brew. After downing the last drop, I felt the most horrible pain all over my body as it twisted and mutated. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like I was drowning, and all I could hear was Merana's wicked laughter. That was the beginning of the worst ten years of my life.

Merana is a cruel mistress. She would order me to do horrible things to people and I had no choice but to obey. I drowned swimmers, assassinated those who defied her, sank ships full of innocent people with orders to murder any survivors. It still makes me sick remembering the horrible things I was forced to do. And when I failed her, even a little? I was beaten, starved, tortured. In the few moments I had where Merana had no tasks for me, I would help random strangers, often from the shadows...but when Merana caught me, I would suffer her full fury. Then, one day, that all changed.

I was walking through the jungle when I heard people arguing. "We're not lost! I have an awesome sense of direction!" I heard a male voice say.

"Then how come we are passing the same tree for the 45th time, Mach?" another, deeper male voice said.

"You know," a female voice said, "Maybe we should ask for directions..."

Both male voices, along with a third, yelled, "NO WAY!" Following their voices, I came upon the small group of travelers. There was a chubby, dark skinned human woman, a very tall galactic Celinox with a huge blade across his back, and two unusually short Priggles, maybe three feet tall, one dusk and the other twilight. I approached them cautiously, slowly coming onto the path.

"I...I couldn't help but overhear that you're a little turned around," I said, not looking any of them in the eye, "If you tell me where you're headed, I can point you in the right direction. I...I live around here..."

"Perfect!" the woman said, "We're trying to find the lost ruins of Mekalekahai Mekahaini Ho."

I blinked. "I...I'm sorry Miss," I said, "There's no such thing."

"No such thing?! Then this map is a fake?!" the dusk Priggle cried, "Oh, man! Way past uncool! I'm gonna have a major bone to pick with Isaac when we get home!!"

"I can point you back to Port Plunder," I offered, "It's just wes--" Just then, a throbbing pain pierced through my head and I heard Merana screaming my name. I doubled over in agony, then began heading back to the tidal cave. She knew...

When I returned to Merana, she was in a state of utter rage. "Diagla! What have I told you about your disgusting 'good deeds?!'" she bellowed as I collapsed before her throne, "It seems I need to beat those impulses out of you harder than I thought!"

I cringed, readying myself for her whip upon my back. I heard it crack, I felt the wind of its descent, and then...no pain. I looked up only to see Merana barehanded and her whip...in the hand of that short, twilight Priggle from before. He just stood there, defiant and nonchalant, eyes closed. "Funny. He never gave his name, but I doubt it's Toby," he said, not even looking up.

Merana screamed and I looked toward the door. The human woman, the Celinox, and the other Priggle were standing there. "This is a new low, even for you, Merana!" the woman said, hands on her hips, "And I've seen those tabloid pictures of you without your weave, you bald-headed heifer!"

"You insolent little... You have no business interfering! Diagla is my slave and I shall do with him as I wish!" Merana screeched.

"Looks like someone needs anger management classes," the dusk Priggle said with a smirk, "and for once it's not Daemon...go fig."

"I manage my anger very well," the twilight Priggle said, "With explosions and kneecap breaking."

"If he were mine, I'd treat him a lot better," the human woman said, ignoring the two Priggles' banter.

"If he were yours? Well then, let's have a little wager then," Merana said, "You and I in a challenge of your choice. If you win, I shall transfer Diagla's bond over to you...but should I win, I take your three obnoxious companions."

"You're on," the woman said, "The game is Block Brawler II. Best of seven rounds, no time limits, no character switching."

"Ookami, I respect your noble intent, but are you sure you want to do this?" the Celinox asked, "What if you lose?"

The woman just smiled as Merana summoned up the arcade machine. "Relax, Vince," she said, "I'll stomp a mud-hole in her. I've played that game all my life, I'm an expert."

"And if she still loses, I have a contingency plan," the twilight Priggle said, "I'll Randomness Order out of here and leave the rest of you to rot."

"I suggest that you three leave now anyway," I said as the two contestants chose their characters, "Merana is a master of cheat codes and exploiting glitches. I've seen her defeat many an opponent through her trickery. Leave me to my fate, I wouldn't blame you."

"No, if Ookami says she shall prevail, she shall," the Celinox said confidently, "She fights for a just cause with noble motives. She will not fall to a cheating witch like Merana."

"Besides," the dusk Priggle added, "she's a cheap player who spams special moves and low blows like no body's business. Cheapness always beats cheats."

I watched the match tensely, praying that their faith in their friend was not horribly, horribly misplaced. It was a fierce battle, the two women's battle cries and the furious click of buttons and joysticks echoed through the chamber. Finally, it was the last round. They were tied, three to three, and both had only a tiny bit of health left on their characters' meters. The twilight Priggle was clenching a large, green gem in his hand. I don't know what for, but it seemed to glow and radiate a strange power. The Celinox stood stiff as a statue, watching intently as the two women positioned their characters to face each other. The only one who didn't look even a little worried was the dusk Priggle. He was just tapping his foot rapidly, impatiently, looking at his wrist as if there were a watch there, not impressed at all with how long it was taking for something to happen. Then, finally, Merana made her move with a flying kick. Ookami jumped at just the right second, flying over Merana's character and hitting her in the back with a raid kick move while her guard was down. It was a K.O. Ookami had won, Merana had been defeated. There was much rejoicing and shouting of, "Booyah!"

"NOOOO!! This isn't POSSIBLE!!" Merana screamed, "How?! Where did you pull that out from?!"

"Pure freakin' skill," Ookami said, "Now, a deal's a deal! Transfer Diagla's bond to me and no funny business."

Merana sneered. "Yes, a deal is a deal," she hissed, snapping her fingers, "The useless creature is yours now. Take him and leave before I change my mind and kill you all!"

I felt a great weight lift from me when Merana snapped her fingers. I felt the darkness of her will and desires pushed out by a warm, caring presence. This had to be the will of my new mistress. "Come on, guys, let's go home and let Merana nurse her bruised ego," Ookami said with a smile, "She doesn't seem to take getting pwned that well."

As we left that cave together, I felt as if I'd been reborn. Not in the on fire sense of the word, but in the sense that my life had begun anew. I was now in the hands of a mistress who cared about me, who would allow me to make my own choices and follow my own path. The sun felt like it was shining warmer than ever, the sea glistened more beautifully than it had in years. Now I heard more happy laughter than screams of terror. All that remains now, is that I prove myself worthy of this new life and the people in it.

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