Tonoki

**Tonoki Elwolfe** is the main character of Tonoki's Tale. He is an Aerian prince, later crowned king after the death of his father, Monokai, in a war that began a new era of peace. His life story is centered around three important betrayals that are all cleverly set up by Kyuuri himself.

## Appearance

Tonoki is an average height brown haired boy with a couple of lighter brown streaks in his hair. His sideburns are grown out, giving him facial hair on the sides of his chin. His hair is very wispy and smooth. He has bright green eyes and pale tan skin with wide yellow wings. He has light brown freckles on his face, arms, and hands. His wing color has been slightly faded and darkened due to the curse that Monokai placed on him.

Tonoki usually likes to wear a short sleeved jacket that is either dark green or white, with a half cape around his neck that is either light blue or red. A black hexagonal gem holds the cape in place. Under his jacket is a pale green shirt. On his right arm, he wears a long black sleeve with fingerless gaps, and on his left arm he usually wears a shoulder pad that is either golden or green. His white pants are somewhat baggy, and he wears blue and gray boots that go just below his knees.

## Personality

Tonoki is a very curious and adventurous individual. He prefers to learn things for himself rather than to be "told" the information. He would openly discuss his curiosity with his Aerian friends despite the fact they partially disagreed with his thoughts. Being told that he was born with "defective wings" was something he unhappily learned to accept throughout his youth. He was jealous of others who flew, and he often desired his own ability to freely fly himself. When meeting new people, Tonoki is shy at first, but proves to be easy to get along with. He loves making others laugh and smile. When confronted with the first two betrayals, Tonoki is so devastated he breaks down immediately, angrily sobbing in both instances. He is very sensitive and emotional, being easily swayed by emotions. He hates the idea of breaking bonds with any and all friends, which is especially why he is so heartbroken by Gray's blatant betrayal. He is also very attached to the few dragons he had developed bonds with. Most of Tonoki's friends describe him as "a dreamer" for how often he looks for new things to learn and new things to do.

## Story

### The Silver Dragon

The entirety of the first book is told from Tonoki's perspective. The book opens with him waking up from a dream where he is soaring above his kingdom, before waking up and being reminded of the reality that he could never fly because his wings were born defective according to his father, king Monokai. Despite this, he still goes about his day rather well. He goes to hangout with his friends before his afternoon classes begin, and the four of them are interrupted by Monokai appearing to check in on his son. This shows that Tonoki is rather uncomfortable when being reminded that he is royalty, and he genuinely prefers to be seen as just other Aerian individual. Later that day, he runs outside to play in the forest alone after dinner, but gets lost when he is too caught up in the exploration. He is saved by the one and only Dragonberry. The Lunian prince escorts Tonoki to a nearby cabin where he treats his wounds. Upon meeting this boy, Tonoki slowly begins to realize that Lunians aren't the monsters that all of Aerial had described them to be. The following morning when he meets king Birtoka, he learns the truth behind Luna's history. He learns that a rebellion that occurred decades ago had resulted in the "hostile" nature that Luna had at the time, but things have been mellowed out ever since Birtoka's crowning.

Tonoki is taken into the heart of the kingdom and into the castle where he is given temporary sanctuary. His idea that all Lunians were monstrous savages was eventually replaced with the realization that they were just like Aerians, people. They had no intention of hurting him, in fact, they were pleased to be of assistance to him, even if they had at first speculated him to be a spy. Tonoki finally gets a true face to face experience with the dragons. Dragonberry explains the simple yet dangerous tasks of dragon tamers to him, continuing to serve as his escort. Eventually when Yuki reveals that Tonoki is cursed, he is in denial, yet somehow feels that he should have known there was something off about Monokai. He nervously comes up with a plan to reveal the truth that doubles as a chance for him to see his old friends again, and the Lunians gladly help him.

Tonoki arrives in Aerial, pretending that he had escaped Luna and was ready to return home. Everyone accepted him with open arms, exclaiming their disgust towards Lunians while Tonoki was forced not to object. The plan to reveal Monokai's immortality worked, and Tonoki attempted to flee the kingdom with his friend Micah, but Micah alerted the guards, so Tonoki left alone. When returning to Luna, Dragonberry did his best to comfort him and tell him that they'd help Tonoki not only find a way to break the curse and heal his wings, but also a way to get through to his Aerian friends. Tonoki is tasked with befriending a large silver dragon that will lay an egg capable of healing some of Tonoki's wing scars. Dragonberry and Tonoki become closer friends, with Tonoki considering him his best friend at this point.

Meanwhile, Monokai unleashes several small attacks on Luna's border in an attempt to save Tonoki. The two kings declare war, and Tonoki feels heartbroken in a battle between two places he could equally consider to be home. Meeting on the large field that bordered the two kingdoms, Tonoki fears that he would have to fight the people he was raised with. Monokai and his second in command attempt to capture Tonoki, but Dragonberry fends them off best he can before Birtoka fights them off and takes them on, giving Tonoki ease. Dragonberry orders the other Lunians to simply fight off the Aerians or to capture them, but not to wound them. Overwhelmed with emotion in the middle of battle, Tonoki attempts to fly, trying to directly defy his father. He reaches a few dozen meters, but then falls from the sky. Dragonberry catches him before he can hit the ground, and they watch as Birtoka starts telling off Monokai angrily, upset with the fact he had raised his son to be nothing but a tool. Monokai prepares to swoop in and finish him off, but Dragonberry rushes in and takes the hit instead.

With Dragonberry on the verge of death, Tonoki breaks his curse by casting a curse on Monokai in an effort to save Dragonberry's life. With the war ultimately won, Birtoka slays Monokai once and for all. Dragonberry and Tonoki are taken back to the Lunian castle to be treated while the rest of Aerial is in shock upon finding out that Monokai was lying about Tonoki and his wife the entire time. When Tonoki returns to his home kingdom, he is crowned and begins to set the kingdom in motion for a reconstruction.

### Tonoki and Orion

The book begins with Tonoki announcing to his closest friends that he and Gray, an Aerian girl he had fallen in love with, are officially engaged. The two are excited to continue rebuilding the kingdom. About three years have passed since the events of the first book. Dragonberry is oddly suspicious of Gray, but Tonoki reassures him that there is nothing to fear.

One day, a strange young boy named Orion appears, saying he is Tonoki's son from a future timeline that has been destroyed by Gray. Tonoki at first doesn't believe this, and tells Orion to leave or he'll call the guards, but Orion manages to prove it by telling Tonoki things that only he would know. In search for Gray to ask her if it's true, she is suddenly nowhere to be seen. Tonoki calls for Dragonberry's assistance, and Orion fills him in gladly, saying he also recognizes Dragonberry. Both of the kingdoms are searched for Gray, and still nobody can find her. Orion claims he has a hunch of where she went, and goes to find her. Tonoki follows before she appears exactly where Orion had predicted. Gray is upfront about her motives, but twists her wording so that it messes with Tonoki, making him less inclined to oppose her.

After Gray disappears again, Tonoki takes a while to cope before going after her again. However, Orion tells him they don't have much time if they want to save the timeline from the same fate that Orion's timeline had. Dragonberry agrees with Orion, and Tonoki reluctantly obeys their advice. Seeking out Gray again, he has a few run ins with her second in command, Kyuuri, who has a strange fascination with Tonoki. He prevents Tonoki from getting too close to Gray, which makes it harder for them to track her down.

With his conflicting emotions of heartbreak, anger, and denial, Tonoki falls back again, and stops pursuing her. Dragonberry takes it into his own hands to hunt her down since Tonoki is unable to. Orion also is occupied, trying to hide from Gray so that he doesn't get captured. Left alone in the castle, Tonoki overhears Gray and finds her hiding in the throne room. He chases her across the castle before confronting her in a small battle. Tonoki still tries to convince her that this is wrong and that they can start over, and Gray deceitfully accepts his offer. She nearly kills him, but Dragonberry rushes in and saves him again, killing her instead. He exclaims his own love for Tonoki before running off, knowing Tonoki does not feel the same. Tonoki lays on the floor, his heart and mind in shambles.

He suddenly remembers that Orion's timeline is being erased since they managed to defeat Gray, and he runs out of the castle to find his son from the future. Orion slowly fades away, thanking Tonoki before he departs. Tonoki feels hurt even more than before over the fact that even his own lover had betrayed him, yet the Lunian prince was the one that really had feelings this entire time. Confused and lost, Tonoki starts isolating himself in the Aerian castle.

### King Kyuuri

In the final book, Tonoki spends several days in the castle alone, laying in his room. The kingdom had developed a distrust for him due to the fact that Gray almost destroyed the kingdom, and Tonoki still considered her to be a good person. A few times, he is visited by Dragonberry, who tries his best to reassure him. On the day that Tonoki finally leaves the castle, he is confronted by one of Gray's henchmen, Kyuuri. Kyuuri tells Tonoki he has an offer to make, and due to not being in a stable mindset, Tonoki listen to what he has to say. Kyuuri explains that he can help Tonoki regain the trust of the kingdom, but Tonoki shuts him down, saying that nobody's going to trust someone who literally served the woman that tried to destroy everything. He orders for Kyuuri's arrest before retreating back into the castle. There are no records of any Aerian by the name of Kyuuri ever existing, which Tonoki finds extremely odd.

He confides in Dragonberry again, asking for advice as Dragonberry himself will be crowned Lunian king within the following months. Dragonberry says he doesn't trust Kyuuri either, and so Tonoki spends some time in Luna asking for help from Birtoka as well. When he comes back to Aerial, Kyuuri appears again, saying he has another offer, that he can give Tonoki emotional support. Tonoki again turns him away, telling Kyuuri that he should just turn himself in. Kyuuri instead invites himself into the castle and begins to reassure the rest of the Aerians that he means no harm. They all reluctantly obey, and Kyuuri escorts Tonoki back to the throne room. He lets Tonoki know that he is not a horrible king, and that over time, he can help him restore the kingdom. He apologizes on Gray's behalf, and Tonoki eventually listens to him out of annoyance.

Tonoki ends up trusting Kyuuri a lot, and isn't entirely sure why. Something about Kyuuri's presence is very soothing to Tonoki, and he allows him to help with the rebuilding of the kingdom. Dragonberry's suspicions increase further, and he attacks Kyuuri. Tonoki interrupts their fight, and Dragonberry leaves due to Kyuuri's presence being extremely discomforting to him for reasons he cannot describe. Tonoki begins to spend a lot of time in the large field between the two kingdom borders, feeling internally conflicted over what he should do as the king. Kyuuri reassures him, telling Tonoki all sorts of advice on where to start. During one of these instances, Dragonberry returns, now being the official king of Luna. He reminds Tonoki that Kyuuri loyally served Gray all that time ago, and Tonoki tells him that Kyuuri has changed. The kings argue for a while before Kyuuri starts to tell Dragonberry to back off, now visibly hostile. Kyuuri and Dragonberry fight in the field, one clearly much stronger than the other, and Tonoki finally turns his back on Kyuuri, guarding Dragonberry from a hit, but costing him his wings. Astonished, Kyuuri quickly flees the scene while Tonoki says his goodbyes and bleeds out. His story ends there, revealing him as the final traitor, the one who had betrayed himself.

## Trivia

* Tonoki's design is loosely based off of the *Kid Icarus* protagonist, Pit.
* The name "Tonoki" was originally used for another character who was meant to be the protagonist of a series called "Reawakening: Jungle" but the concept was scrapped, and the name was recycled, be used several years later for the currently existing Tonoki.
* Tonoki was originally going to be the one to kill Monokai, but this was scrapped due to Tonoki being written as an emotionally driven character, and killing his own father would be too violent of an act for someone such as him.
* Throughout development, Tonoki and Dragonberry's relationship was constantly changed until it was ultimately decided to be kept ambiguous.
* In Aerian culture, green eyes are considered one of the most attractive features. This is the main reason so many female Aerians fall for him.
	+ To an extent, this is also why the kingdom was so quick to trust Monokai, as he has green eyes, too.
* Tonoki was originally going to be much shorter, and viewed as a runt. This was later replaced with the curse cast upon his wings.
* Most of the events that happened in Tonoki's life were due to Kyuuri influencing it directly so that Tonoki would be put through numerous difficult situations purely for Kyuuri's own interest. In a sense, he can be considered a chosen one, but for terrible reasons.
* Tonoki's design has undergone over four revamps ever since he was first created.
	+ The only thing these designs had in common were his hair color and his wing color.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [1]Book One Chapter Four
2. ↑ [2]Book One Chapter One
3. ↑ [3]Book One Chapter Two