I don't own anything so don't sue! This is my first decent LOD fic and updates will be slow. This takes place three years after the final battle and is a 'what if' scenario based on what might happen if an eastern tribe did attack Serdio. I looked up the map and it appears there is a country named Nissil to the east of Serdio but I could be wrong with the name since the other countries on the map are spelled slightly differently in the game. For right now I'm just going to stick with Nissil.

The sun begins to set as a group of heroes sit around a campfire in a snow-covered wilderness. The king of Serdio sighs and shakes his head as the First Sacred Sister of Mille Seseau pokes at the fire with a twig. A young copper-haired woman walks over, taking a seat next to the king, pale green eyes reflecting in the fire's glow.

"How'd did we end up here?" She asks aloud to no one in particular.

…

(A month earlier)

The roar of Siyamak, Skeletal Dragon of Demise, reverberates through the woods bordering Serdio and Nissil. Trying to ignore the terrifying battle cry of the dragon, King Albert readies his men for battle, hoping he won't have to transform into a dragoon for this. Dart stands to his right, thinking the same thing as the skeleton-like dragon flies over the mountains separating the two countries.

"Do you think it's a dragoon controlling the dragon?" Dart asks the king in a hushed voice.

"Let's hope not…but I can't think of any other reason why a dragon would ally itself with humans…unless the war is disturbing it somehow…"

An unearthly scent suddenly fills their nostrils as the beast lands, reeking of decay. The dragon seems to have pieces of black scaled flesh falling of its bony body, plants withering away if the decomposing flesh touches them. Some of the younger soldiers hunch over, spewing out the contents of their last meals on the dry yellow grass. The older more experienced ones cough slightly at the smell but avoid gagging.

"Is this thing decomposing?!" Dart exclaims, covering his nose with his left arm.

The soldiers are too distracted trying not to gag to see the large skeletal tail crashing into the front line. Jumping back from impact just in time, Dart and Albert watch as thirty of their men are thrown across the battlefield. Without saying a word, the two look to each other and nod, silver and jade lights emitting as they transform.

…

"Why aren't you out on the battlefield, Keita?!" King Errigal hollers at his only child, a frightened young woman.

"Father, Siyamak seems to be doing a good job decimating the soldiers…I don't see why I need to be out there!" Keita replies, rubbing her arm nervously.

"It could turn on us at any given minute! Are you insane? You are the only one that can control it, Keita! It is you who possesses the Onyx Death Dragoon Spirit, you dolt…though if I had a say in the way those things work I would have given it to one of my nephews!"

Flinching slightly at her father's harshness, Keita bites her lower lip while thinking up an excuse not to see the dragon. Fear courses through her body as she imagines having to transform into a dragoon. The only dragoons she ever saw were in ancient text books. Why the dragoon spirit that had been kept as a family heirloom chose her is beyond her reasoning.

"But father I never learned how to use it! The dragon won't listen to me it just fights for us because Serdio is attacking the mountains where it lives!"

"But you can control it, Keita! Do something for the kingdom of Nissil for once! Now take up your katana and get out there! Don't bother coming back unless you have that dragon tamed!" Errigal shouts, wishing his wretched inhuman wife would have given birth to a son.

Curtains of sleek copper hair fall around her face as she hangs her head down in defeat, "Yes father…"

Walking to the edge of the city nearest the mountains, Keita lets out a soft sigh whispering, "I don't want to do this."

Closing her pale-green eyes, Keita calls upon the Onyx Death Dragon for the first time and the transformation begins. A black mist slowly surrounds her as she melts into a puddle of black acid. Slowly, she emerges from the small puddle wearing dark black dragoon armor covered in bones adorned with dark black stones.

"So this is what it's like to be a dragoon…" She whispers, feeling the heavy armor weighing her down slightly and taking a moment to adjust to the wings.

"I can fly…" Keita muses as she lifts off of the ground, hovering two feet above the pavement.

She smiles softly, knowing she would never have to worry about falling off the edge of the city ever again. Spyridoam, the capitol city, is a floating city held up only by magic. In addition to the many humans living in the city, the city is also home to a few winglies, one which keeps the city afloat. Nissil is one of the few countries where humans and winglies live in harmony together but since mountains bordered it on all sides the neighboring countries tend to overlook it. Not only do winglies live there but minitos and a few gigantos also find refuge in the flourishing country as well a few other species not known to many other countries. A few demons came to the country a few years ago and ever since then her father became power-hungry, wanting to dominate every country in Endiness. Keita often wonders why the demons came to their city after the moon fell. There is only one other creature inhabiting Nissil, locked in a tower by her father.

Her name is Rhoswen, wife to the king and mother to Keita, the only remaining siren in Nissil. When her father found out he was furious that she kept it a secret, remembering how sirens once lured his grandfather to his death while out at sea. He couldn't see she wasn't like them and now Rhoswen remains confined in a tower, never even seeing her daughter. Of course Rhoswen could sing and lure a guard to let her out but she gave up singing when she realized the effect it had on men. She would never sink to the depths her murderous sisters had.

Jumping off the edge of the city momentarily scares Keita since at least one child or elderly person falls to their death once a year. She remembers the airships always rushing to try and catch them but always ending up too late but just in time to clean up the mangled bodies on the rocks below.

She flies high in the air, looking towards the mountains, the dragon already visible. The cool rush of air against her snowflake pale cheeks as she flies causes her to smile briefly. She often imagined how flying would feel but now, as she soars through the sky, Keita realizes flying is far more wonderful than just dreaming of it. An unfamiliar sight causes her to stop in midflight. Her eyes widen as she sees two flashes of silvery white and green assaulting the dragoon.

Swallowing hard, Keita hopes whatever's causing the light is not a threat. Nearing the battlefield she notices two men clad in dragoon armor and she feels her heart sink. Even if the dragon helps her she is still going up against two dragoons. High above the ground, a sudden waft of decay fills her nostrils, causing her to gag. Looking over to the dragon, she realizes that its flesh is falling of its skeletal structure. Keita does not realize that when being a new dragoon one must not stay in form for too long. Suddenly a black light surrounds her and she is back in her human form, plummeting towards the two men below her.

Albert watches as Dart completes Divine Dragon Cannon on the dragon, hoping that the creature will finally retreat. It had already killed six of his knights; six men who will never see their families again. A high pitched shriek fills the air above him and he looks up just in time to see a scared-out-of-her-wits girl hurtling towards him.

Pain, the last thing he can recall before he blacked out, turning back into his human form. Moaning weakly, Albert tries to move, his limbs sore and stiff. Opening his eyes, he suddenly realizes there is a woman on top of him. Remembering the screaming girl hurtling towards him, the king realizes what happened, wondering how she fell.

"Albert! Are you hurt? Who's that girl?" Dart asks, finally finding his fellow dragoon.

The dragon is retreating at the moment so Dart transforms back to his human form.

"I'm aching a bit…that's all and I don't know who the girl is…she just fell…from the sky…" Albert mumbles, still weakened from the impact, not noticing the woman stir.

"SOA ABOVE!" A feminine voice screams from on top of Albert, catching the two male dragoons' attention.

Pushing herself off of the king, Keita stands up quickly, pale green eyes warily flitting back and forth between the two as she slowly steps away. Her knees give out and she collapses into a kneeling position. Looking down at herself, Keita realizes she is no longer in dragoon form and curses lightly under her breath. Turning her gaze back to the men, she realizes they are from Serdio and a jolt of fear courses through her veins. Taking in her surroundings, she realizes that there are several army troops surrounding the area. Shaking her head in disbelief, Keita knows she is trapped and dreads becoming a prisoner of war. Suddenly hope courses through her as she gazes towards the mountains but it leaves as quickly as it came when she doesn't see Siyamak. Her fists clench the grass beneath her as she tears at it savagely, taking out her frustration on the grass. The young half-siren is so caught up in her anger that she does not notice the two men advancing towards her. When they get within three feet of her, Dart and Albert notice their dragoon spirits have begun to glow brightly resonating with the one hidden underneath Keita's shirt.

"You-you are?!" Dart's eyes go wide as he stares at the young woman kneeling down before him.

That's right…I have this! Keita remembers suddenly calling on the power of her dragoon spirit, transforming into the Onyx Death Dragoon. Propelling herself off the ground, Keita gives the two dragoons one last look before flying away as fast as her new wings can carry her. Dart and Albert watch her fly away, too stunned at the sudden discovery of another dragoon so soon, noticing her strange jet black armor encased in what appears to be bones, almost like a skeleton. Dart feels a soft vibration on the ground and he turns to find Albert sitting down once again, still a bit woozy from the concussion.

"Are you alright?" The king's comrade asks, kneeling down next to him.

"Yeah…I think I just need to retire for now…I trust you'll alert me should the dragon or this new dragoon return?"

"I will…" Dart replies, staring off at the spot where the other dragoon flew off to. "Do you want me to go after her? I'm pretty sure she was Nissilian…she could be a threat."

"Not yet…though she may pose a threat we must hold our defenses here. Their army is likely to emerge since the dragon has disappeared. I am under the impression that they keep their soldiers away from the dragon considering we haven't seen any of them since the dragon appeared."

"Dragon?" A female voice asks, from behind them.

"Shana?! What are you doing here?!" Dart asks, turning around to face the brunette.

"Are you forgetting that I can fight as well?" Shana sighs as she gestures to the bow and quiver strapped to her back. "You left early this morning without so much as a goodbye. When I heard you went to fight it didn't surprise me but you should have told me!"

"If I would have told you, you would have insisted on coming…I guess it you found out anyhow…Shana, this is too dangerous for you. Go back to Seles at once!"

"No Dart…I'm staying here, with you. I want to be fighting alongside of you like I use to."

One look into her pleading brown eyes and the blond caves in, sighing in frustration before running a hand through his spiky mane.

"Just stay back, ok? You can fight without having to be close to the front lines. If the dragon comes I want you to get as far away as possible."

…

Trembling as she descends and changes out of her dragoon form in front of Siyamak's cave, Keita looks around, hoping no Serdian soldiers are prowling the perimeters but she doubts they are foolish enough to do that. Even standing ten feet away from the cave entrance the stench of decay already fills her nostrils. Taking out a black bandana, she ties it around her head so that it covers her nose and mouth. After taking a moment to prepare, Keita closes the distance between herself and the cave, darkness immediately engulfing her as she progresses inside.

The sounds of the world outside of the cave grow fainter and fainter as Keita stumbles blindly onward, hoping not to stumble into the dragon's mouth. The putrid smell begins to increase. Keita can now smell it through her bandana, gagging slightly as her trembling increases, knowing the dragon is nearby. The smell becomes so intense that her eyes begin to water as she struggles not to gag or vomit. Slowly through the darkness the form of the skeleton-like dragon becomes visible, Keita's heart-rate increasing rapidly. Pulling out her Onyx Death Dragoon Spirit, she makes a black light appear before the dragon, kneeling down on one knee.

"Siyamak, Skeletal Dragon of Demise, I have come to you today to ask for your help," Keita says slowly, voice trembling.

Siyamak roars and approaches the young woman before him, eyes showing no signs of mercy.

Suddenly she hears a voice in her head. Foolish human! What makes you think I want to align myself with the likes of you? My body has been decomposing for over 1,000 years now and I want to die peacefully but your conflicts are keeping me awake! I should eat you now so that I have one less person disturbing my rest! Giving me one good reason why I should hear you out!

Siyamak roars, bringing his head within inches of the young woman, sending her into a panic. Taking a few deep breaths, Keita gathers her thoughts before answering the dragon.

"Great dragon, It was not our intention to rouse you from your rest. The Serdians are the ones making all the commotion outside of your home. My army wants to defeat them. If you join us we can wipe them out quickly and you can go back to your rest. I am a dragoon of the same element as yourself. Together, we would make a powerful team," Keita says, voice still trembling as she transforms into a dragoon once more to show Siyamak what she is.

A dragoon? Fine, dragoon, I will help you but should you be a burden to me, I will dispose of you like a bothersome gnat!

…

"Shana!" Dart cries as a Nissilian soldier breaks through the front lines, heading towards the archers.

His fears are eased when Shana shoots the soldier in the neck, between his helmet and chest plate. Unfortunately his momentary distraction gives a soldier the opportunity to sneak up behind him, Shana's eyes growing wide upon seeing this.

"Dart look out!" The former Moon Child cries, releasing an arrow from her bow that hits the soldier right in the forehead.

Not paying attention to his comrades, Albert continues fighting his way through lines of Nissilian soldiers, as he predicted, they arrived after the dragon left. Spinning his lance and thrusting it underneath another soldier, piercing his intestines, something catches the king's eyes. The Nissilian soldiers in the back lines begin to retreat, a familiar stench wafting through the air. His golden eyes glance up towards the sky, spotting Siyamak flying towards the front lines of the Serdian army and the dragoon they saw earlier flying ahead of him. Knowing too well that his troops will not be able to stand up to a dragon and a dragoon, the king calls his troops back save for himself and Dart.

"But your majesty, you can't die! Serdio needs you!" A soldier protests.

"Serdio does need me and that is why I am calling you back. Normal humans cannot withstand the attacks that a dragon and dragoon can make. Dart and I have this under control," the king says reassuringly.

Dart and Albert transform into dragoons, flying towards the place where Siyamak and Keita have landed, Shana secretly following behind them.

Keita hovers above the ground, slightly nervous as she sees the two dragoons flying towards her. Deciding not to show her fear, Keita puts on a brave face and straightens her posture.

"Foolish dragoons! Do you really think you can stand up to Siyamak and myself! You might as well retreat now and save yourself the effort!" Keita taunts, as Siyamak roars impatiently behind her.

"Your boasting isn't going to save you!" Dart hollers as the battle begins.

The two begin attacking the dragon first but notice a slight problem. Whenever the dragon grows weaker, Keita casts a healing spell on it. Deciding to change their strategy, the two dragoons rush towards Keita as she flies towards them and attempts to slash Dart in the face. Barely avoiding her attack, Dart retaliates by backing up and firing Divine Dragon Cannon at her, making a direct hit. Keita screams as she feels the burning sensation throw her back into a mountain, falling to the ground. Relentless as she is, Keita flies forward once again this time casting a magic spell on Dart and Albert. Skeletons rise from the ground and begin to attack them but they are soon obliterated once Dart fires another Divine Dragon Cannon. Albert summons the Jade Dragon to attack Siyamak and Keita, the attacking missing Siyamak but hitting Keita hard. She falls to the ground, hurt and unable to move for a few moments. Slowly she stands up, flying up into the air once more, charging at Dart, her katana raised in the air with the intent to kill. Right as she closes in a shooting pain courses through her arm, causing her to drop her sword and pause in midflight. Dart turns around to see Shana standing further away from the battle, a determined look in her normally tranquil eyes. Keita lets out a cry of pain as she rips the arrow from her arm, blood gushing out like a scarlet fountain. Picking up her katana, Keita prepares to attack again but his hit by Gaspless from Albert.

"Ugh…I'm going to withdraw from battle…Siyamak, finish them off!" Keita orders as she flies out of attacking range.

Foolish girl! I will eat you after I dispose of them! Siyamak shouts in her mind.

Dart and Albert find it much easier to attack the dragon this time, easily winning the battle when they have the dragon outnumbered. With one final Divine Dragon Cannon, Dart blasts the dragon, sending it into the mountain, a loud thud echoing through the area as it hits the ground. Keita flies to the ground as the two dragoons watch the dragon die. Suddenly black flames encircle the two Dragoons as Keita smirks, her breathing labored and ragged from taking so many attacks. Albert uses Wing Blaster to blow the flames away and towards their attacker.

"No!" Keita screams as the flames engulf her, and she falls out of the air and lands on the ground, no longer a dragoon.

Dart and Albert change back, approaching the young woman, weapons still drawn. Pale green eyes widening, Keita looks up at them in fear as she stands up, wincing in pain. Dart raises his sword to finish her off but stops when he sees her lower her katana, her voice cutting through the silence with a weak laugh.

"I should have known," She whispers, staring at the ground, "That two dragoons were no match for me. Even with a dragon…I was…still am…horribly weak. Go ahead, kill me."

She sees nothing but darkness through her closed eyelids, awaiting the blade to pierce her heart or sever her head from her neck but neither fate arrives. She opens her eyes to see them leaving, life still in her body. Shaking her head in disbelief, Keita stares after them, confused.

"Why?!"

No one answers her question as she falls to her knees, hopelessly looking after them waiting for an answer that will never come. The wind blows, softly pushing her copper hair around her motionless frame, pain coursing through her body. Slowly, she falls forward, hitting the soft grass as she passes out, alone in the wilderness.

"She didn't know what she was doing," Dart finally says after walking in silence with Shana and Albert for a while.

"We should hurry back…Undoubtedly more troops will be on their way. Our defenses need to be prepared," Albert says as they reach the border of Serdio and Nissil.

That's the end of chapter one. Nice reviews would be awesome! Helpful reviews would be appreciated! Thanks!