Disclaimer: This fanfic is purely for the fun and enjoyment of myself and others. All legend of dragoon characters places and things belong to Sony and other involved companies. I own none of it. I make no money off of this fanfic. It is strictly for the enjoyment of myself and others.
Author's note:
This is the sequel to Return of the Dragoons. I just thought this title seemed more fitting then the last. Well, hope you like it! ^_^WAR FOR VALORIA
CHAPTER 1.
New paths to cross
Dart winced in slight pain as he slowly opened his eyes. He didn't know if it had been hours, days or perhaps even years but once his eyes focused on his surroundings he knew this much, he had never been here before. The whole area was dark and somewhat moist. The faint sounds of dripping mildew could be heard in the distance. The ground he was lying on was damp and seemingly rough and uncomfortable.
Slowly, piece by piece, his memory returned to him. They had been investigating a disturbance over by the region where the moon that never sets had dropped upon Endiness. They had arrived and they had been… attacked…
"ATTACKED!?!" Dart quickly rose up to a sitting position then suddenly screamed as sudden bursts of pain quickly assaulted his chest area, so violently that he fell back onto his back, breathing deeply. Yet even then, each strand of air he sucked into his lungs was like swallowing daggers. He was sure he had at least two broken ribs. Yet he still couldn't afford to play sick. His friends had also been attacked just as savagely as he was. He needed to find them. He needed to make sure they were ok.
Once again, Dart attempted to rise, yet once again he was assaulted by the same pain, this time forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut and simply wait it out as the pain took much longer to subside now. Dart let out a shaky, tentative breath, looking around in morbid fascination as a trickle of his own blood slowly began to slide down the side of his mouth. The room was simple. No, it was more like a cage. Solid iron bars lined the outer wall to his right where he could see into an empty dark hallway. The entire area was a rustic brown color with chipped metal chipping away everywhere. He was positive this place was extremely old and obviously not kept in great care. The faint sound of dripping water could be heard in the nearby distance, probably liquid from a leaking pipe. Nonetheless, in his current condition it made the hairs on his back stand on edge. He was cold. Extremely cold. He wasn't sure if it was because of his injured ribs or just that there was an extreme amount of ventilation around in the area.
Dart closed his eyes, feeling more helpless now then he ever had in his life. What the hell happened? They should have been stronger then they were then. Why were they beaten so easily? Shouldn't their dragoon armor have protected them?
A slight stir from the corner of the room broke him away from his train of thought immediately. "Who's there!" He rasped, anxiously. Unfortunately, try as he might, he couldn't seem to move much. So great was the pain now that even the slightest movement wracked his body with convulsive trauma.
"Don't worry. I'm not your enemy Dart." Came a weak, accented voice. Dart knew that voice anywhere. A smile slowly formed on his face as his expression lightened. Dart closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the cold wet depths in which he lay. It was also cold. Why was everything so cold here?
He heard the faint noise of shuffling, and assumed that it was his royal companion making his way towards him. Dart wanted to open his eyes to regard his friend but he couldn't even gather the strength to do that. He was completely exhausted. He needed sleep. Yes sleep was good. Only he couldn't relax because of this god forsaken coldness.
Albert crept along side his comrade. He was no worse for wear then his friend. His once, richly tailored hair was now matted with blood and grime. His own dried blood caked the right side of his face and ran down the edge of his mouth. He could no longer feel anything in his left arm and he was sure his leg was broken. None withstanding, the king of Serdio would not simply stand down to just roll over and die. They had all been beaten severely. However, of all of them, Dart seemed to be in the worst condition. He saw all the many cuts and bruises the man had taken to the face. That must have been from the other dragoons when they were fighting with him. He wasn't sure. Everything seemed to go black for him after he himself was attacked. But Dart's bruises weren't what was worrying Albert. He was positive his friend was suffering from a concussion and maybe even some internal bleeding. He could see the clearly defined indentation in Darts torso area, indicating a good number of broken ribs. Not to mention the many broken bones he noticed on his friend's right leg. They were efficient in making sure the lead Dragoon did not get far it seemed. Yet Albert was furious. Even though the cell was old and all, couldn't they have at least put them in a more dry area? As it were, the entire floor was engulfed in a small pool of ice cold liquid in which Albert did not want to know the origin of. The liquid was ankle high and the fact that Dart was shivering violently as he lay amidst it, gave him no comfort.
Albert painstakingly removed his cloak from around his shoulders and wrapped his friend up in it the best way he could without moving him too much.
Albert's ministrations were suddenly halted as he heard the abrupt sound of clapping from the nearby distance. Albert's mood immediately darkened as he snapped his head towards the source of the sound.
The man standing there, as he had suspected, was a dark dragoon. He was the leader of the bad guys they had been fighting earlier. Albert had known that this man was the one who faced off with Dart but he was so muddled that he couldn't remember much more after that.
"A touching display of camaraderie and affection for your friends King Albert. Even after these long years, I had nearly forgotten how much you deeply care for your subjects." The voice was flat and emotionless, yet even through the mask Albert could faintly detect a trace of familiarity to the tone. He had heard that strong, will-pitched tone elsewhere in his past yet he could not place it for the world.
"You look at me with confusion. That is understandable. I would not be surprised if you recognized my voice. For although many years have passed for me, not so many have gone by for you."
"You speak in riddles villain!" Albert snapped back, growing sick and bored of this cruel game. "I know you not. For if I did, I would immediately be able to place you. Understand, I do not make it a habit to so easily forget my enemies."
The Dark Dragoon chuckled as he absently placed his palm to a section of the cell door. To Albert's immense shock, the door hissed open readily to his touch. The Dark Dragoon made no comment of this however, continuing his trek towards the defeated King of Serdio. "You speak the truth, your majesty. But in that truth, lies the root of your folly. For in the past I was never your villain. Quite the contrary actually…"
Albert stifled the shock that suddenly seized him. It could not be! His mind raced in a million directions at once yet they all inevitably converged on the same conclusion. Albert tried to hide his growing anxiety and shock with a carefully well placed expressionless visage, yet the pale tone in his complexion gave him away entirely.
"Ah, I do believe his majesty has finally realized the truth."
Albert clenched his fists in rage, slamming his right, into the small puddle of water encompassing the entire room. "Damn you, vile worm! Tell me who you are! I am tired of these games!"
The Dark Dragoon seemed a bit taken back from the ferocity of Albert's demand yet he quickly recovered his discomposure. Slowly the Dark Dragoon nodded his head then steeped down low so that he was facing him face to face. With a slight flip of the wrist, the Dark Dragoon popped at the release switch on his helm. Albert had to avert his gaze as a huge mist of white steam immediately hissed from the sides of the helm. The Dark Dragoon seemed not to care for his discomfort however. He easily propped his palms about the jaw line of the helmet and raised it away from the head underneath. Albert cleared his eyes with some difficulty but upon seeing the face beneath the helm, he immediately figured he had not cleared them enough. His eyes grew big with disbelief. It was just as he had suspected yet he had been praying it wasn't true.
Yet there was no denying it. A clean shaven jaw line, stern face, dark blue eyes that once captured the radiance of compassion, now engulfing the void of emptiness. Though his hair was much longer then he remembered it to be, falling about his eyes the way it did, it was still the crisp golden hair of the man he had remembered dearly and was glad to call his friend; Lavitz.
Albert steadied his gaze, hardening his eyes. "What manner of treachery have you instilled on my dear friend now?" He asked in calm controlled indignation. "This is now twice the name of a good man has been defiled by the likes of evil. You do dishonor to a man that died a hero! Why do you continue to defile him in such a way."
The empty, emotionless eyes that stared back at the king of Serdio closed briefly as the man bowed his head slightly. "I am deeply touched that his majesty thought so highly of me. I had not known."
"I have had enough of your games!" Albert yelled defiantly. He tried to rise but even now, his injuries prevented him from doing even that. With a low grunt of pain, the king fell back slightly into the low puddle with a loud splash. Though his body had failed him, his eyes did not. He stared daggers at the man standing before him staring at him with pity in his eyes. "What mind control have you used on my friend!?!" Albert demanded angrily.
"There has been no mind control involved." Lavitz replied nonchalantly. He easily replaced the helmet atop his head, sealing the joints back into place so that it fit snuggly about his face once more, shielding his appearance from the rest of the world.
"I am the real Lavitz."
"That is preposterous!" Albert roared in outrage. "Lavitz would never behave in such a way! Lavitz would never attack his comrades."
"Yes it is true. The Lavitz you remember would never do any of those things. However, the Lavitz you knew was naïve and far too sentimental for the challenges that later engulfed him."
"Albert narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I don't understand…"
The Dark Dragoon shook his head by way of dismissal. "In short your majesty, the Lavitz you knew has grown up."
Albert balled his fists even tighter, his eyes gleaming with a passionate hatred for the man. "I don't believe you."
"Belief or disbelief…" The armored figure shrugged. "I honestly care little which you chose to follow. I have my orders."
The Dragoon stooped low once more, much to the chagrin of the king of Serdio. "Hmmm…" He mused studying the unconscious Divine Dragoon. "It appears my healing powers are leaving me. I have dwelled in this realm much longer then I had planed. Already my energy reserves are depleting. We can't have that now can we?"
Albert looked at him with clear disgust. "Now what are you raving about?"
"Close your eyes, your majesty. You will soon discover the import of all that I am saying."
Albert glared defiantly at him. "I will keep my eyes open, thank you very much!"
The armored figure shrugged nonchalantly. "As you wish."
A few moments passed uneventfully as the armored figure kept his hand outstretched over the forms of both Dart and Albert. Then suddenly a green glowing wave of warm light slowly engulfed them. Albert at first drew away for fear it was a poison spell. Then slowly, involuntarily closing his eyes, he began to surrender to its warm touch. The soft warm wave of light seemed to seep through his entire body as if it were air swirling through his lungs, rejuvenating suffocated muscles and tendons, breathing fresh life to each cell in his entire body. Albert hissed a sigh of ecstasy as he felt the wave finally leaving him. When he finally reopened his eyes, he noticed that the warm glow was leaving Darts comatose body as well but it seemed as if the man now had a content smile on his slumbering face.
Albert immediately looked back towards his captor and noticed that the armored dragoon's form seemed to slump heavily in exertion. Albert flexed his arm, realizing that he was now fully healed. For whatever reasons this charlatan had done what he'd done, he'd also made a big mistake. Without a second word, Albert immediately rammed into the slumped figure, ramming his elbow into the man's throat. Albert had miscalculated his opponent's condition however. The Dark dragoon immediately turned the tables on the King, flipping the King himself into the wet floor, submerging his face into the watery depths below. After a few seconds he pulled he kings face back out by the hair. Albert sputtered and growled, angered at his failed attempt to escape.
"A sneaky trick your majesty." Lavitz breathed, seemingly still at a loss for breath. "Sneaky yet clever. There may be hope for you and the others yet."
"What do you want with us?" Albert asked, breathing heavily.
Lavitz shook his head slowly. "You will be informed in time." With a sharp kick, Lavitz woke Albert's slumbering companion, albeit most rudely. Dart groaned slightly yet Albert noticed the man's pallor had returned to a healthy tan sheen.
"Get up." Lavitz ordered, kicking Dart again. Dart let out an angry groan. Slowly his eyes fluttered open. Then immediately he rushed to his feet breathing hard. Albert almost stumbled back in shock. He had not realized how much the healing spell had affected their injuries.
Dart's eyes adjusted onto Albert's. "Albert? What's going on? Where are we?" He asked in confusion.
"You will find out all of this in time." The armored Dragoon stated mechanically.
For the first time Dart realized he was standing there. Reflexively he reached for his sword yet he discovered it wasn't there. "Damn." He hissed silently, glaring at his captor.
"Do not concern yourself with escape. It will avail you none." The armor clad figure replied nonchalantly. "The both of you would be better off simply following my orders… Trust me, old friend."
The voice held no compassion in it. So plain was it that it almost seemed as if it were said in mockery of their past friendship. Dart glared at the armored man now, with venom in his eyes. "So I take it you're the one who captured me? You're the one wearing the face of Lavitz?"
Lavitz shrugged, growing tired of this little game. "I 'AM' Lavitz. I fail to understand why the two of you find it hard to believe."
"I tend never to believe anything spoken from the mouth of my 'enemy'." Albert said in rebuke, placing special emphasis on the last word.
The Dark Dragoon shrugged, yet Dart almost noticed a slight sag in the man's shoulders as he turned his back to them. So quick did he regain his composure however, Dart had to wonder if it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. "Regardless…" Lavitz replied. "You are still called in the main chamber halls. Come this way."
Lavitz didn't wait for them to reply. He simply walked out into the open hallway, absently making his way down the empty hallways. Albert and Dart traded dubious glances with each other. Neither one knew what was going on. Yet it seemed as if their captor had just… left them behind…
"I don't like this." Dart said, eyeing the exit suspiciously.
"I fear we have no other choice but to follow him my friend." Albert said remorsefully, placing a hand on Dart's shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Dart asked, turning on his friend in shock. "You can't be serious."
"He's got us dead to rights." Albert replied. "We've no choice but to follow him so that we may find out what became of our friends. "We don't even know our way around here. All I know is that we are in what was left of the tree of Soa. From what I remember of the past, there were many vicious monsters lurking around here. In our current condition we could do nothing to combat them. We are just as trapped out there as we are in here. He know's it and we know it. We are effectively his prisoners still."
Dart sighed angrily. "You're right. I don't like it but I guess we really have no other choice."
Albert smiled disdainfully. "No my friend. We have not."
****
Neither Dart nor Albert knew how long they had been walking. They only knew that the trek had been long and tiresome. They scaled many gaseous potholes, evade attacking vines, dodge hungry monsters and all the while somehow manage to keep up with the retreating form of the Dark Dragoon. Both men were down to their last leg in fatigue, both ready to give in to the blissful surrender of unconsciousness. Both were ready to call it quits. That was until they finally stumbled into a large dark empty room. The room was spacious and pitch black at every angle. So dark was it that they could barley even see themselves. The Dragoon was totally gone from any sight they may have found of him.
"Damn!" Dart snarled. "I knew this was a trap. Nothing more then another sick game these twisted bastards are throwing at us."
"Believe me Dart, this is anything but a game." Said a loud oddly familiar voice from within the shadowy depths of beyond.
"… Shirley?" Dart asked in baffled confusion. Slowly a soft pale yellow light seemed to fall on an armored figure. At once Dart thought it was Lavitz but he soon realized his error. This dragoon was different. The armor was sculpted in a different way, befitting of a woman. Just as Lavitz armor gave him the masculine dragoon characteristics so too did this new dragoon give off the female characteristics. She too wore a silken cape amongst her wings. Slowly she raised her hands about her head and easily popped the seal of her helmet.
Long red hair splashed out from beneath her helm. Both Dart and Albert's eyes widened as they gaped in awe at the beauty of the woman who stood before them. Sure Dart had seen the apparition of the ghostly woman who fought in the original dragon campaign but it paled in comparison to the beautiful woman who regarded him and Albert now. She smiled kindly towards them, yet with a good amount of sadness.
"I apologize for bringing you all here."
Dart immediately came to his senses. His eyes narrowed as he rung his fists. "Shirley I don't know what this is about but you've got a lot of explaining to do! Where are my friends."
Shirley smiled once more, her soft red eyes dancing with kindness. "Why they are here, waiting for you." Dart's eyes widened as four more spotlights bore down on the comatose forms of his companions.
"Are they bewitched?" Albert asked, staring at their slumbering forms.
"No." Shirley replied. "I have merely put them to sleep. They are dreaming softly of everything we are about to discuss. They are here and attentive though only in spirit. I have done this so that what I am about to tell you may have minimal disruption. I would rather not deal with any rash actions."
"So that's why you picked us." Albert said, mystified. "You knew we would be more susceptible to listen more to what you have to say rather then attack you head on."
"That is correct Albert, King of Serdio. You and Dart are the two main leading figures of the dragoons of present. You both have the patience and experience of leadership."
Dart said nothing, simply pursing his lips. "So now that you have us, you might as well go on with what you have to say."
Shirley nodded slowly. "Very well. What I am about to tell you is of the utmost importance. Melbu Frahma… has returned."
"What? That is impossible!" Albert argued. "We destroyed him four years ago! Rose and Zieg sacrificed themselves so that we could finally bring peace to this troubled world and avert the destruction of all life as we know it! We saw them die!"
"Yes." Shirley replied smoothly. You saw them all die as you say. And it is true they no longer exist in this realm. However, Frahma was a master strategist. He was able to use the power of the Soa tree. Even then at the last minute he used his power to avert him to another land, another realm that is closely tied with your own."
"I don't understand." Albert replied, confused. "What other land? We've been through all of Endiness. There is no other land."
"Not in this realm no." Shirley answered shaking her head. "But believe me, there is another realm much like this one. There is a moon far off. A moon that was behind the moon that never sets. This moon harbors life on it. Rich life that Melbu discovered only at the end when he merged with the Divine moon that never sets. It was then that he finally decided at the last minute that that was where he would go."
"So why are you telling us this?" Dart asked. "It's got nothing to do with us. We've banned Frahma from this world. He no longer holds us in thrall. We've done our part. Why can't we now just rest in peace. Leave his destruction to the people on the other world."
Shirley shook her head sadly. "You know just as well as I do that you cannot do that. First of all you are Dragoons. As Dragoons you are given a special responsibility to protect all life from threats such as that of Melbu Frahma. Secondly, the reason why I called you is that, if Frahma becomes too powerful he will grow into a force unconquerable and then he will once more reign down on this world. And then there will be nothing any of you can do to stop him. He will have become so powerful that not even the power of the divine dragoon could stop him."
"So in other words." Albert began. "You want us to go to this other world where this Frahma is from and beat him there while he's weak before he can win and then come here and destroy us all."
"That is correct." Shirley replied, nodding emphatically.
"I've just got one more question." Dart replied. "Why are you alive? And Lavitz too. What are you people? Clones of the heros of this world?"
"Clones?" Shirley laughed lightly at this. "No, no Dart. We are quite real I assure you. We were called back from the city of Mayfil by the tree as a failsafe when Frahma corrupted its powers. The tree called upon the spirits of all Dragoons, those how had passed and gave us bodies of flesh. Though we could not harness the full power of our dragoons as we've been forced to give them up, we've been given these dragon shells as they are called. They allow us to move at half the potential of a true dragoon. All the rebels have them. However we are stronger since we used to be real dragoons, we can also wield a small fraction of our previous dragoon powers."
Both Dart and Albert looked at her with astonished expressions. "This is unbelievable." Albert breathed.
"Oh it is quite believable King Albert. As you all have been living your lives down here, many many years have passed on the other world. So far, we have all been fighting for 40 years. Yet because of the time shift of that world, we ourselves do not grow old. Because we are dragoons, or to be more exact, have the spirit of dragoons in our blood, we are immune to age."
"40 years." Dart breathed silently. "I'm surprised you held out that long if you were really struggling as much as you say."
"Shirley looked at him sadly. "We had initially hoped that we could guard you, the real Dragoons, from this new threat. You had all fought so bravely in the first battle we didn't want to endanger your lives. However now things have changed. Frahma has created a new death squad. Things are becoming more tense. We need the help of the true carriers of the Dragoon spirits. We need your help."
"How are we to know 'you' aren't working for Frahma as well?" Dart seethed angrily. "You all seemed pretty intent on killing us before."
"I apologize for that." Shirley admonished. "That was my idea, I admit. I had given the order to Lavitz to test your strength. I'm afraid you are far far less skilled in your powers as we had initially thought. But that is no matter, we can train you well once you arrive to our world."
"'IF' we arrive to your world." Dart replied.
"Dart please look beyond your selfish desires and see the truth of our plight." Shirley pleaded. "I do not wish to use force."
Dart narrowed his eyes. "So you're saying we didn't have a choice to begin with? Would you 'force' us to go with you Shirley?"
Albert saw the tension fill the room. Immediately, he coughed lightly to clear his throat. "Shirley. Before you said that this mission entailed 'all' the Dragoons. By that, do you mean that you have summoned everyone who wore the armor of a Dragoon?"
"Yes." Shirley replied, silently thanking the King of Serdio for preventing them from falling into a fight with Dart's unspoken challenge.
Albert nodded heavily. He turned sad eyes onto Dart. "I suspected as much."
Dart looked back at him, casting his friend a confused look. "What is it? Albert what do you mean by that?"
"I can explain." Shirley began. "These four won't be the only dragoons following you into the next world."
Dart narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What do you mean. There were no oth-" Suddenly his eyes widened in shock. "No… No you can't mean-"
Before he could finish, a light shone on a fifth figure. Shana, lying unconscious next to his other comrades.
"YOU SON OF A BI#$%!" Dart yelled angrily. "How could you!?!"
Shirley looked on at them with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sorry Dart. There was no other way. Believe me. This needs to be done."
"You should believe her Dart."
Dart swiftly turned around to see Lavitz walking up to the two companions.
"Look into your heart old friend." Lavitz began. "You know in your soul that you must do this. You must let go of this incessant denial."
"YOU!" Dart hissed. "How could you do this to us Lavitz? How could you do this to your friends?!? I'm really disappointed in you."
"Believe me Dart. I would not be here supporting them, had I believed otherwise. That is how grievous the situation has become. I am still your friend. As strange and fake as that may sound, you must believe me when I say this. The world is in danger and only you Dragoons can save it."
Dart angrily turned his face away from the form of the man he once called friend. Albert looked at Dart with sorrowful eyes. "They do speak the truth Dart. Besides, there is really not much we can do against this."
"I didn't want this!" Dart began. "I never asked to become a Dragoon. All I wanted to do was live a normal happy life before the dark monster came down to destroy my village. After the events with Rose and all that, I just wanted to start back over. I wanted to raise a family and be happy."
"Nothing in life is free." Albert consoled silently. "We must fight for all we want."
"And have I not fought enough?" Dart demanded angrily. "Have I not been stripped of more then my share by the cruelties of violence. I could not bear to lose any more dear to me! I cannot!"
Albert sighed solemnly. "If that is truly so my friend, then fight. Fight to finally rid this world of Frahma. Fulfill your destiny as a Dragoon. We cannot do it without you."
Dart closed his eyes. He knew what his answer would be just as he was sure Lavitz and Shirley knew. He hated them for that knowledge. Hated them for ruining his happy quiet life. Dart finally raised his head, eyeing Shirley dead on. "Fine. I accept your request. I accept this mission you have set out for us."
"Very well." Shirley smiled approvingly. "I am please with your answer Dart." She quickly waved her hand. Energy seemed to emanate from it. The whole room began to glow. Dart let out a scream yet he could not even hear his own voice. And with that, everything went blurry before Darts eyes then the rest was silent darkness.
::::::::::To Be Continued::::::::::
Author's note:
Thanks for reading. I'm so glad you all enjoyed my first four chapters of Return of the Dragoons. At first I wasn't sure if I'd continue it but after receiving all the requests I decided against that. Well it's started again and I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for all your wonderful reviews! ^_^