Character Profile: The Sky Tides
CHARACTER INFORMATION-
Canon Character and Series: Ruby; Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete
In-Game Name: Ruby Lock-Strafe
Age: Appears 17, but is really 120
Gender: Female
Position & Ship: Convoy; Pilot
Appearance: Ruby has two different appearances, and which one she uses depends on where she is and who she's around.
Her most common form is her real one, and has been dubbed her 'flying cat' form, due to most people mistaking her for a flying cat when she is, in reality, a baby dragon. She is about the size of a large kitten, with light pink fur covering most of her body. Around her neck is a fluffy patch of cream-colored fur that hangs over her chest, and two long wings have sprouted from her back. Her tail is a little longer than that of an average cat's, and much more tapered to the tip, but she has the ears and general build of a cat. Tied around her head is a bright yellow ribbon, and down the center of her forehead is a brown triangle.
Her other form is that of a demi-human. In this form, Ruby is obviously more human-looking, with peachy skin replacing most of her fur. Her hair is rather long and the same pink as her fur is in her little dragon form, and tied back most of the way by her yellow ribbon. Her face still bears some feline features, such as a little fur around her cheeks, fangs, and elongated ears. Her nose is also longer than a normal human's, and rounded to look like that of an animal's. She's even retained her brown face markings and chestfluff, though the fluff could easily be mistaken for an accessory by someone not in the know.
As far as her clothing goes, she's often seen wearing a long, pink cloth like a lopsided poncho over an off-white shirt that ends just shy of her stomach, and a two-tiered, floor-length pink skirt with a few belts slung diagonally across her hips. Her shoes are simple slide-on shoes made of a durable black leather, and her hands are gloved in similar material.
Personality: Ruby is, in a word, complex.
She comes off as quite a brat to most, and for good reason. Ruby will speak her mind at the worst moments, will defend her opinion with all her might, and will almost never budge when she decides on something. She is determined to get her way come Hell or high water, and when she wants something, she fully intends to get it. Unfortunately, this often puts whoever's the object of her affections in a strange place, as Ruby doesn't usually take 'no' for an answer.
Her friend Hiro seems to get the worst of such treatment. She's very protective of him, especially around other girls, and gets jealous at the drop of a hat when she thinks his attention is on someone else. Towards anyone who is a threat to her being with Hiro, she tends to show them a cold shoulder. She loves Hiro very much, and with any person she grows to love, not being able to make them happy or letting them down hurts her in a big way, as does being less than someone else in their eyes.
Ruby can be sweet and caring when she wants to be, though. She's a loyal friend to those who've shown her kindness, and will do whatever she can to help someone she cares about. She’s got a good sense of justice, and doesn’t like seeing anyone being mistreated or abused, especially if it’s for a stupid reason like their race or how they look. She doesn’t see why people have to discriminate, and thinks everything would be much simpler if everyone ignored the little things and hated people for stuff that was actually worth wasting energy on.
She also has an extremely short temper. Insults, messing with her Hiro in any way, or just being a jerk in general will get you on the bad side of her bad side, and fast. Ruby will give you a piece of her mind-and possibly a piece of her fist, too -faster than you can say ‘uncle’. She might be a girl, but she’s a girl who’s not afraid to start kicking your ass the moment you give her a good reason to.
Abilities/Weapons: After ingesting a sizable mana crystal as a child, Ruby has developed strong fire magic, the most prominent display of which is her fire breath. She tries to keep her usage of the magic to a minimum, so as not to exhaust the mana crystal, but it’s nothing to scoff at.
Long-term exposure to mana crystals has also altered her body, allowing her to shapeshift between her dragon form and her demi-human form. It’s a very exhausting process, and using it more than once a week will leave her too tired to do much of anything for at least a full day.
As a dragon, Ruby is also capable of flight. She’s very fast and agile, and can even carry small objects to and from different places. Nothing heavier than, say, a head of lettuce, though. Her muscles aren’t strong enough to hold more than that.
How well can your character hack?: None. Not at all.
Weaknesses: Ruby’s biggest outright weakness is Hiro. She loves Hiro to death and will do absolutely anything for him, or to protect him. Messing with him is a foolproof way to get to her, and she will give up whatever she has to in order to keep him safe. She also gets extremely jealous of other girls being around him or taking any of his attention.
She’s not very physically strong, either. Sure, she might be part dragon, but that doesn’t mean she’s a heavy-hitter. It’s nothing to overpower her if you’ve got muscle, and just keeping her mouth shut blocks off her fire abilities. Her dragon form is also much weaker than her demi-human form, as her size and strength are diminished to accommodate her body. Her magic is weaker as a demi-human, however, and using it in that form drains her mana crystal much faster than it would using it as a dragon.
She’s not very big on water in either form, either, unless it’s hot. Getting her dragon form completely wet will keep her from flying for a short time, and can even slow her movement down until she dries out. She can’t swim unless she’s a dragon, either; she has a little coordination problem with human arms and legs when it comes to things like swimming.
History: For Ruby, some of her early years are a blur.
Ruby, still a young demi-human, had been trapped at the bottom of an ancient ruined temple for many long years. It was only due to the mana crystals she found there that she managed to survive, as their magic helped keep her alive. She had even ingested one when she first found them, thinking they were edible, and in doing so, she was able to use it to awaken the ability to breathe fire. Living around them for so long had also corrupted her body, and she flickered in and out of being herself and being a strange cat-like creature. It was a lonely, confusing existence, and one she longed to escape from.
It was a few years later that she first met an aspiring treasure hunter and her life started in earnest.
He had come to the old shrine find treasure, but all he found was Ruby, alone among drained mana crystals at the lowest floor of the collapsed temple. After more than 100 years, the crystals could no longer sustain the tiny creature, and the remaining magic that hadn’t been taken in by her body started to wane. Unable to leave her there to die, he took her with him back to the surface world, and she became part of his family.
Though they lived in a remote tower in the middle of the Badlands, both the boy and his grandfather were worried about Ruby being harassed or injured, as she was a demi-human, and asked that she remain a ‘flying cat’ as long as possible to keep from being discovered. It would be easier to pass her off as an exotic pet than a demi-human, and safer for everyone. She didn’t like having to hide who she was, but for the sake of the boy who’d saved her, she agreed. They lived this way for many years, both growing into fine treasure hunters, and Ruby soon found herself falling in love with her friend. She was the only girl right for him, she thought. They were meant to be together, and sooner or later, he would realize it, too. Or, so she hoped.
All the ruins within their reach had been explored over their many years together, and the treasures both furthered their grandfather’s research and provided them with the money to live rather comfortably in their standalone home. The only one they had yet to explore was the Blue Spire, a tall tower said to be as old as the world itself. It was locked up tight, and Hiro had never found a way in. Yet, when a strange light started shining out of the Spire’s top, Hiro knew he had to give it another try. Something was in there, and he just had to know what.
Using the two Dragon’s Eye gems he’d gotten from two ruins on a dragon statue in the Spire’s courtyard, he awakened a stone dragon, and defeating it gave him access to the inside of the mysterious Blue Spire. Attracted by all the commotion, Hiro’s grandfather decided to come along and explore the Spire with them, hoping to find the answers to all his many questions. It was dangerous work, as the ruin was filled with monsters and demons, and no matter how Ruby insisted they should go back and forget whatever was at the top of the Spire, Hiro continued on. When they finally reached the top, they saw an amazing sight: A girl trapped in a massive mana crystal.
As they approached, the girl seemed to come to life, pushing through the crystal as if it were made of liquid and emerging on the outside. She claimed she had to find the goddess Althena immediately. It was a matter of dire importance, and it could wait for nothing. Hiro seemed to miss all that at first, unable to do nothing more than gape and claim she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Ruby was having none of that, and demanded they dump the girl right then and there. She was obviously out of her head, and she wasn’t the nicest person, either. Besides, her man was making goo-goo eyes at this random chick! She had to go.
Hiro, of course, wanted to help her, even though Althena hadn’t been around in decades. They started down the Spire when a strange shadow appeared before them. It was Zophar, an evil being that Althena had sealed away long ago to protect the world from his madness. He demanded that the weird girl go with him, and when she refused, he placed a terrible curse on her. All her powerful magic was sealed away, and she was in terrible pain. She could hardly even walk on her own! With the promise of returning, Zophar vanished, leaving Hiro and Ruby to make their way out and get help before she died of her curse.
As they attempted to leave the Blue Spire’s courtyard, however, they were attacked by a massive Ivonian military ship, the Destiny. The same ship had confronted Hiro and Ruby days ago, and its’ captain, Leo de Alkirk, had given them a bit of trouble. He was back for more now, claiming the girl they found was ‘the Destroyer’ sent to kill Althena or something. Sure, she might be spacey and rude, but she wasn’t ‘the Destroyer’. The girl didn’t even know what a joke was, for crying out loud! How could she possibly be dangerous? Either way, they didn’t have time to waste; the curse was progressing quickly. Hiro and Ruby managed to give Leo and his men the slip by telling them that the girl was just a friend and that the real Destroyer had appeared at the top of the Spire. As Leo’s forces charged into the Spire, the group got out of there as fast as they could and returned to Hiro’s home.
They asked Hiro’s grandfather if there was some way to break the curse, but it was almost impossible to dispel one so strong. They would have to find a very powerful priest to call on Althena’s power in order to save Lucia, and the only one he knew of that could do such a feat was a man in the little town of Larpa. With no choice, the group made their way through to Larpa and searched the shrine there for the priest they’d been told about. It was a strange shrine, as the priests demanded payment to pray to Althena, and none of them would speak of the man they needed unless it was to insult him. Running out of leads, they went right to his home to ask for his help, but he refused them. He had given up on being a priest of Althena when he failed to save his beloved many years ago. His power had not been enough to cure her sickness, and she died.
Still, they pleaded to him for his help. If he didn’t help them, Lucia would die for certain. Hiro’s determination moved the former priest, and he agreed at last to try and break her curse. The priests at the shrine hated the taciturn man, however, so they had to sneak in through the back to get inside without being seen. Once they were inside, the priest prayed as hard as he could, asking Althena for her blessing and to break the curse that darkened the girl’s heart. As if by magic, she was healed, her pain lifting and her strength returning. Happy though they were, they were all very worn out by the day’s events, and decided to stay in Larpa for the night. In the morning, Lucia had decided to go to Althena’s holy city of Pentagulia by herself, and left immediately. Hiro couldn’t let her go on her own, especially after they learn that Leo is looking for Lucia under Althena’s order. They head to Pentagulia to stop her, but they arrive too late. The Destiny had captured her, and the only way to save her was to sneak aboard and break her out.
They then fled deeper into the Badlands, where they came across a travelling circus and the star of their show, the dancing gypsy Jean. They all showed them great kindness, and since they were on the run from the Ivonian military, the troupe offered to let Hiro and the others join their carnival. They declined, but spent the night with them anyway to recover. It was Jean who also saved Lucia that night, when a giant plant monster attempted to eat her alive. She was very strong, and they convinced her to come with them. The Destiny continued to pursue them, but time and time again, their group managed to give Leo the slip. Eventually, they made it through to the holy city of Pentagulia, and Lucia got her meeting with Althena. Except, the Althena was a fake, and when they declared it, they were thrown in prison. Leo, in disguise, is actually the one to free them and reunite the group outside the city.
The next place they go is a little village in the trees, home to a gang of thief children under the guidance of a mysterious demi-human boy. Something about him reminds Ruby of a dragon, and he reveals that he is decended from a great dragon. His dragon’s blood is what allows him to have a longer lifespan than a regular human or demi-human, and explains why he is still alive after so many years. And the reason Ruby recognizes the dragon in him? She’s a dragon, too. There were once four Great Dragons, who lived endlessly until they had a child. Their long lifespan would be passed on to the baby dragon and the old dragon would age and die. The Red Dragon met the same fate as the other three: Killed in an uprising among the small follower groups of the Dragons over 200 years ago. His shrine had been destroyed and his offspring supposedly killed as well. It seemed that it had survived, however, in Ruby. Being trapped under the ruined shrine for so long had accidentally protected her until it was safe for Dragons to exist again. It was a huge shock to Ruby to learn of this, but it was also a very sweet victory. No more being called a flying cat!
The dragon-boy is also the one who reveals that Althena gave up her godhood when she fell in love with a human, and has been dead for many, many years. She left a strange message behind, that when read only proved what they had been told. She had really become human, and the woman they so intently hunted for no longer existed. It’s not long after their talk that the little group is attacked, with many of the children being kidnapped by the Shadow Dragon Cult. They tracked the Cult to their hideout in Abantiare, saving all the children that had been captured and held there, before heading back into the Badlands. In Azado, they were captured again by Leo and his crew, but when someone started assaulting the town, it was up to the gang to help Leo stop them. From there, they were taken to Bellcius, though in a more comfortable fashion after their assistance in saving Azado.
In Bellcius, Jean left the group to have a talk with a martial arts master about the Shadow Dragon Cult, but the man turned out to be the real leader of the Cult. He and Jean fought, and when she lost, she and the rest of the party were thrown in prison. Again, it’s thanks to Leo (or, ‘Mystere’ as he liked to call himself in disguise) that they manage to get free, as he breaks them out against his orders. Now free of Bellcius, they all return to the Badlands just in time, as they begin to declare their independence from Ivona. Sightings of Leo and the Destiny stopped, and with no further danger to their lives, the group can go their own separate ways. The goodbyes were sad, but Ruby was grateful to be going home at last.
Lucia went her own way as well, though Hiro never could get her off his mind no matter how hard he (and Ruby) tried. Ruby had to face up to the fact that, over their little adventure, her friend and her love had become out of her reach. So when he decided that he had to find her before she got too far away, Ruby refused to go with him. She didn’t want to stop him from being happy, but it hurt too much to see them together. Wishing him all the luck in the world, the two life-long friends parted for the first time.
Sure they would meet again someday, Ruby took up a job on the Convoy and prepared for her first solo adventure.
Canon Character and Series: Ruby; Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete
In-Game Name: Ruby Lock-Strafe
Age: Appears 17, but is really 120
Gender: Female
Position & Ship: Convoy; Pilot
Appearance: Ruby has two different appearances, and which one she uses depends on where she is and who she's around.
Her most common form is her real one, and has been dubbed her 'flying cat' form, due to most people mistaking her for a flying cat when she is, in reality, a baby dragon. She is about the size of a large kitten, with light pink fur covering most of her body. Around her neck is a fluffy patch of cream-colored fur that hangs over her chest, and two long wings have sprouted from her back. Her tail is a little longer than that of an average cat's, and much more tapered to the tip, but she has the ears and general build of a cat. Tied around her head is a bright yellow ribbon, and down the center of her forehead is a brown triangle.
Her other form is that of a demi-human. In this form, Ruby is obviously more human-looking, with peachy skin replacing most of her fur. Her hair is rather long and the same pink as her fur is in her little dragon form, and tied back most of the way by her yellow ribbon. Her face still bears some feline features, such as a little fur around her cheeks, fangs, and elongated ears. Her nose is also longer than a normal human's, and rounded to look like that of an animal's. She's even retained her brown face markings and chestfluff, though the fluff could easily be mistaken for an accessory by someone not in the know.
As far as her clothing goes, she's often seen wearing a long, pink cloth like a lopsided poncho over an off-white shirt that ends just shy of her stomach, and a two-tiered, floor-length pink skirt with a few belts slung diagonally across her hips. Her shoes are simple slide-on shoes made of a durable black leather, and her hands are gloved in similar material.
Personality: Ruby is, in a word, complex.
She comes off as quite a brat to most, and for good reason. Ruby will speak her mind at the worst moments, will defend her opinion with all her might, and will almost never budge when she decides on something. She is determined to get her way come Hell or high water, and when she wants something, she fully intends to get it. Unfortunately, this often puts whoever's the object of her affections in a strange place, as Ruby doesn't usually take 'no' for an answer.
Her friend Hiro seems to get the worst of such treatment. She's very protective of him, especially around other girls, and gets jealous at the drop of a hat when she thinks his attention is on someone else. Towards anyone who is a threat to her being with Hiro, she tends to show them a cold shoulder. She loves Hiro very much, and with any person she grows to love, not being able to make them happy or letting them down hurts her in a big way, as does being less than someone else in their eyes.
Ruby can be sweet and caring when she wants to be, though. She's a loyal friend to those who've shown her kindness, and will do whatever she can to help someone she cares about. She’s got a good sense of justice, and doesn’t like seeing anyone being mistreated or abused, especially if it’s for a stupid reason like their race or how they look. She doesn’t see why people have to discriminate, and thinks everything would be much simpler if everyone ignored the little things and hated people for stuff that was actually worth wasting energy on.
She also has an extremely short temper. Insults, messing with her Hiro in any way, or just being a jerk in general will get you on the bad side of her bad side, and fast. Ruby will give you a piece of her mind-and possibly a piece of her fist, too -faster than you can say ‘uncle’. She might be a girl, but she’s a girl who’s not afraid to start kicking your ass the moment you give her a good reason to.
Abilities/Weapons: After ingesting a sizable mana crystal as a child, Ruby has developed strong fire magic, the most prominent display of which is her fire breath. She tries to keep her usage of the magic to a minimum, so as not to exhaust the mana crystal, but it’s nothing to scoff at.
Long-term exposure to mana crystals has also altered her body, allowing her to shapeshift between her dragon form and her demi-human form. It’s a very exhausting process, and using it more than once a week will leave her too tired to do much of anything for at least a full day.
As a dragon, Ruby is also capable of flight. She’s very fast and agile, and can even carry small objects to and from different places. Nothing heavier than, say, a head of lettuce, though. Her muscles aren’t strong enough to hold more than that.
How well can your character hack?: None. Not at all.
Weaknesses: Ruby’s biggest outright weakness is Hiro. She loves Hiro to death and will do absolutely anything for him, or to protect him. Messing with him is a foolproof way to get to her, and she will give up whatever she has to in order to keep him safe. She also gets extremely jealous of other girls being around him or taking any of his attention.
She’s not very physically strong, either. Sure, she might be part dragon, but that doesn’t mean she’s a heavy-hitter. It’s nothing to overpower her if you’ve got muscle, and just keeping her mouth shut blocks off her fire abilities. Her dragon form is also much weaker than her demi-human form, as her size and strength are diminished to accommodate her body. Her magic is weaker as a demi-human, however, and using it in that form drains her mana crystal much faster than it would using it as a dragon.
She’s not very big on water in either form, either, unless it’s hot. Getting her dragon form completely wet will keep her from flying for a short time, and can even slow her movement down until she dries out. She can’t swim unless she’s a dragon, either; she has a little coordination problem with human arms and legs when it comes to things like swimming.
History: For Ruby, some of her early years are a blur.
Ruby, still a young demi-human, had been trapped at the bottom of an ancient ruined temple for many long years. It was only due to the mana crystals she found there that she managed to survive, as their magic helped keep her alive. She had even ingested one when she first found them, thinking they were edible, and in doing so, she was able to use it to awaken the ability to breathe fire. Living around them for so long had also corrupted her body, and she flickered in and out of being herself and being a strange cat-like creature. It was a lonely, confusing existence, and one she longed to escape from.
It was a few years later that she first met an aspiring treasure hunter and her life started in earnest.
He had come to the old shrine find treasure, but all he found was Ruby, alone among drained mana crystals at the lowest floor of the collapsed temple. After more than 100 years, the crystals could no longer sustain the tiny creature, and the remaining magic that hadn’t been taken in by her body started to wane. Unable to leave her there to die, he took her with him back to the surface world, and she became part of his family.
Though they lived in a remote tower in the middle of the Badlands, both the boy and his grandfather were worried about Ruby being harassed or injured, as she was a demi-human, and asked that she remain a ‘flying cat’ as long as possible to keep from being discovered. It would be easier to pass her off as an exotic pet than a demi-human, and safer for everyone. She didn’t like having to hide who she was, but for the sake of the boy who’d saved her, she agreed. They lived this way for many years, both growing into fine treasure hunters, and Ruby soon found herself falling in love with her friend. She was the only girl right for him, she thought. They were meant to be together, and sooner or later, he would realize it, too. Or, so she hoped.
All the ruins within their reach had been explored over their many years together, and the treasures both furthered their grandfather’s research and provided them with the money to live rather comfortably in their standalone home. The only one they had yet to explore was the Blue Spire, a tall tower said to be as old as the world itself. It was locked up tight, and Hiro had never found a way in. Yet, when a strange light started shining out of the Spire’s top, Hiro knew he had to give it another try. Something was in there, and he just had to know what.
Using the two Dragon’s Eye gems he’d gotten from two ruins on a dragon statue in the Spire’s courtyard, he awakened a stone dragon, and defeating it gave him access to the inside of the mysterious Blue Spire. Attracted by all the commotion, Hiro’s grandfather decided to come along and explore the Spire with them, hoping to find the answers to all his many questions. It was dangerous work, as the ruin was filled with monsters and demons, and no matter how Ruby insisted they should go back and forget whatever was at the top of the Spire, Hiro continued on. When they finally reached the top, they saw an amazing sight: A girl trapped in a massive mana crystal.
As they approached, the girl seemed to come to life, pushing through the crystal as if it were made of liquid and emerging on the outside. She claimed she had to find the goddess Althena immediately. It was a matter of dire importance, and it could wait for nothing. Hiro seemed to miss all that at first, unable to do nothing more than gape and claim she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Ruby was having none of that, and demanded they dump the girl right then and there. She was obviously out of her head, and she wasn’t the nicest person, either. Besides, her man was making goo-goo eyes at this random chick! She had to go.
Hiro, of course, wanted to help her, even though Althena hadn’t been around in decades. They started down the Spire when a strange shadow appeared before them. It was Zophar, an evil being that Althena had sealed away long ago to protect the world from his madness. He demanded that the weird girl go with him, and when she refused, he placed a terrible curse on her. All her powerful magic was sealed away, and she was in terrible pain. She could hardly even walk on her own! With the promise of returning, Zophar vanished, leaving Hiro and Ruby to make their way out and get help before she died of her curse.
As they attempted to leave the Blue Spire’s courtyard, however, they were attacked by a massive Ivonian military ship, the Destiny. The same ship had confronted Hiro and Ruby days ago, and its’ captain, Leo de Alkirk, had given them a bit of trouble. He was back for more now, claiming the girl they found was ‘the Destroyer’ sent to kill Althena or something. Sure, she might be spacey and rude, but she wasn’t ‘the Destroyer’. The girl didn’t even know what a joke was, for crying out loud! How could she possibly be dangerous? Either way, they didn’t have time to waste; the curse was progressing quickly. Hiro and Ruby managed to give Leo and his men the slip by telling them that the girl was just a friend and that the real Destroyer had appeared at the top of the Spire. As Leo’s forces charged into the Spire, the group got out of there as fast as they could and returned to Hiro’s home.
They asked Hiro’s grandfather if there was some way to break the curse, but it was almost impossible to dispel one so strong. They would have to find a very powerful priest to call on Althena’s power in order to save Lucia, and the only one he knew of that could do such a feat was a man in the little town of Larpa. With no choice, the group made their way through to Larpa and searched the shrine there for the priest they’d been told about. It was a strange shrine, as the priests demanded payment to pray to Althena, and none of them would speak of the man they needed unless it was to insult him. Running out of leads, they went right to his home to ask for his help, but he refused them. He had given up on being a priest of Althena when he failed to save his beloved many years ago. His power had not been enough to cure her sickness, and she died.
Still, they pleaded to him for his help. If he didn’t help them, Lucia would die for certain. Hiro’s determination moved the former priest, and he agreed at last to try and break her curse. The priests at the shrine hated the taciturn man, however, so they had to sneak in through the back to get inside without being seen. Once they were inside, the priest prayed as hard as he could, asking Althena for her blessing and to break the curse that darkened the girl’s heart. As if by magic, she was healed, her pain lifting and her strength returning. Happy though they were, they were all very worn out by the day’s events, and decided to stay in Larpa for the night. In the morning, Lucia had decided to go to Althena’s holy city of Pentagulia by herself, and left immediately. Hiro couldn’t let her go on her own, especially after they learn that Leo is looking for Lucia under Althena’s order. They head to Pentagulia to stop her, but they arrive too late. The Destiny had captured her, and the only way to save her was to sneak aboard and break her out.
They then fled deeper into the Badlands, where they came across a travelling circus and the star of their show, the dancing gypsy Jean. They all showed them great kindness, and since they were on the run from the Ivonian military, the troupe offered to let Hiro and the others join their carnival. They declined, but spent the night with them anyway to recover. It was Jean who also saved Lucia that night, when a giant plant monster attempted to eat her alive. She was very strong, and they convinced her to come with them. The Destiny continued to pursue them, but time and time again, their group managed to give Leo the slip. Eventually, they made it through to the holy city of Pentagulia, and Lucia got her meeting with Althena. Except, the Althena was a fake, and when they declared it, they were thrown in prison. Leo, in disguise, is actually the one to free them and reunite the group outside the city.
The next place they go is a little village in the trees, home to a gang of thief children under the guidance of a mysterious demi-human boy. Something about him reminds Ruby of a dragon, and he reveals that he is decended from a great dragon. His dragon’s blood is what allows him to have a longer lifespan than a regular human or demi-human, and explains why he is still alive after so many years. And the reason Ruby recognizes the dragon in him? She’s a dragon, too. There were once four Great Dragons, who lived endlessly until they had a child. Their long lifespan would be passed on to the baby dragon and the old dragon would age and die. The Red Dragon met the same fate as the other three: Killed in an uprising among the small follower groups of the Dragons over 200 years ago. His shrine had been destroyed and his offspring supposedly killed as well. It seemed that it had survived, however, in Ruby. Being trapped under the ruined shrine for so long had accidentally protected her until it was safe for Dragons to exist again. It was a huge shock to Ruby to learn of this, but it was also a very sweet victory. No more being called a flying cat!
The dragon-boy is also the one who reveals that Althena gave up her godhood when she fell in love with a human, and has been dead for many, many years. She left a strange message behind, that when read only proved what they had been told. She had really become human, and the woman they so intently hunted for no longer existed. It’s not long after their talk that the little group is attacked, with many of the children being kidnapped by the Shadow Dragon Cult. They tracked the Cult to their hideout in Abantiare, saving all the children that had been captured and held there, before heading back into the Badlands. In Azado, they were captured again by Leo and his crew, but when someone started assaulting the town, it was up to the gang to help Leo stop them. From there, they were taken to Bellcius, though in a more comfortable fashion after their assistance in saving Azado.
In Bellcius, Jean left the group to have a talk with a martial arts master about the Shadow Dragon Cult, but the man turned out to be the real leader of the Cult. He and Jean fought, and when she lost, she and the rest of the party were thrown in prison. Again, it’s thanks to Leo (or, ‘Mystere’ as he liked to call himself in disguise) that they manage to get free, as he breaks them out against his orders. Now free of Bellcius, they all return to the Badlands just in time, as they begin to declare their independence from Ivona. Sightings of Leo and the Destiny stopped, and with no further danger to their lives, the group can go their own separate ways. The goodbyes were sad, but Ruby was grateful to be going home at last.
Lucia went her own way as well, though Hiro never could get her off his mind no matter how hard he (and Ruby) tried. Ruby had to face up to the fact that, over their little adventure, her friend and her love had become out of her reach. So when he decided that he had to find her before she got too far away, Ruby refused to go with him. She didn’t want to stop him from being happy, but it hurt too much to see them together. Wishing him all the luck in the world, the two life-long friends parted for the first time.
Sure they would meet again someday, Ruby took up a job on the Convoy and prepared for her first solo adventure.