The Legend of Dragoon: The Next Generation

Shadow Dragoon

By Spike and Archangel

Chapter One: Surprise!

Robert Williams knew his basketball team was only a few wins away from being regional champions. Perhaps that was why he felt the need to cheat.

The score was tied in the last quarter, but Rob wouldn't have it. He was not going into overtime for anybody; they were going to win and they were going to win right now.

Last jump of the game with only a few seconds left. Robert faced off with his opponent, one of the few people as tall as he was. It was anybody's game now. The ref tossed the ball and both men jumped.

Rob's hand got it first! His teammate snatched it and evaded a blocker perfectly and began dribbling the ball. Rob was already running down the court. The player with the ball found himself stuck in a spot and quickly threw the ball to Rob. He had already stolen a glance at the clock and saw there was almost no time left. Rob jumped up and shot the ball.

Time froze for a bit.

Rob had a feeling the ball wouldn't make the hoop, so he decided to help it. With everybody's eyes on the ball, he could make his move. Discretely, Robert flicked his wrist. To anyone else, it would seem that the ball bounced off the rim and miraculously made it into the net. But in truth, with that flick of his wrist, Robert created a gust of wind so centered to be powerful enough to knock the ball into the net.

Just as the ball went in, the buzzer went off and the crowd went wild. Robert shot his hands up in triumph. He just won them the game and nobody would know.

Then, Rob saw him in the stands.

Well…he might know…

Sean McMann did know. He had come to the game that night, which was a surprise to Robert. Upon that last shot, the spherical gray necklace with a red reptilian pupil around his neck began to shimmer. A dragon's presence, or the presence of its power was evident.

Robert had used his powers to help him win a basketball game. Sean shook his head.

"I didn't even think Rob could stoop so low."

"What?" His girlfriend, Melissa, asked over the cheering. "Why aren't you cheering?"

"You'll understand in a bit." Sean replied.

He got a chance to talk to Rob after he got out of the locker room.

"Hey, Sean!" Rob said.

"Impressive." Sean said. "Nobody will even guess."

"What are you talking about?" Melissa asked.

"Why don't you tell her, Rob?"

He wasn't so happy about that, but if he didn't say it, Sean would.

"I, uh…I used my Dragoon powers to push the ball into the net."

Melissa's eyes shot open. "You what!"

Robert threw his arms in the air. "We are this close to being the champs!"

"If you can't do it yourself, it isn't worth doing." Sean told him. "I don't want to see that again, alright?"

Robert sighed. "Alright, alright. No more powers. I'll fight fair."

"Good."

At that point, another player came up from the locker room. He was also fairly tall with thin, dark brown hair and medium frame.

"Good game, Rob." He said. Then, he stopped at the sighed of her. "Hey, Melissa."

"Hi, Adam." Melissa said.

"Don't think I've met you." Sean said.

"Oh," He shook his hand. "Adam Young."

"He's my lab partner-and he's pretty smart." Melissa complimented him. "Adam, this is Sean McMann, my boyfriend."

"Oh?" Adam said. "Nice, uh…nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Sean said.

"Well, um, I gotta go, so…see ya later." He headed out the door.

"We should probably get going too." Melissa encouraged.

"Alright." Sean agreed. "See you tomorrow, Rob. One o'clock sharp."

"As always." Rob rolled his eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some cheerleaders to attend to."

He walked over to them.

"Hello, ladies."

"Hey, Rob!" Several of them cooed. It was evident that several of them wanted this basketball star.

"That was a great last shot!" One of the girls complimented.

"Yeah!" Another girl took his arm. "You're so strong…"

Robert just smiled, basking in the glory.

The many girls walked out with him, each giving their fair share of compliments. While being lavished with attention, Robert did not notice someone else watching him. She wasn't a cheerleader; she was just another fan in the stands. For a while, she had been watching Robert from afar, never daring to actually go up to him.

Probably for the better, she figured. A guy of that popularity would never talk to her anyway…

"Gotta get some things through that head of his." Sean muttered as he and Melissa headed out.

"His head is as thick as a rock." Melissa said. "Look at the bright side. He's a good fighter and he knows when to be serious, right?"

"To an extent." Sean pointed out. "Ah, whatever. I'll just make his training all the harder." He had to grin.

Melissa laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and they walked off together.

You might have already guessed that there is an abnormality or two about a few of these characters, and in truth, there are. Sean, Melissa, and Robert weren't normal teens. They had been given a very special gift: the powers of dragons. They were the legendary warriors known as Dragoons.

A Dragoon gets it power from a dragon that has deceased. Its spirit remains alive in the form of a small orb resembling a dragon's eye. Each one was from a different dragon, so each of them had different powers. Whatever the powers, however, the dragoons work in the same way. Upon request, they can transform themselves into incredible warriors lined with armor from the dragons' flesh and with the dragons' skills at their command.

Dragons choose the human to give their powers to; they have a consciousness. Over time, each of them had obtained their own spirit in a number of ways, but most of them had only learned of their powers about two years past.

It began with Sean. His powers were given to him by a wingly woman named Anna who later became his stepmother. She tried to teach him, but was killed by a powerful demon named Zackwell, whom Anna trapped in a world a light to make him suffer forever. Sean distanced himself from the world for a while. Years later, he moved to a different town and met the other Dragoons and taught them everything. With Melissa's help, he came out of his shell.

Sean was an incredible warrior; he had many years of experience and training under his belt. He fought with a Claymore, a long, powerful steel sword form from the scales of his dragon companion, the Divine Dragon. Such a Dragoon has no element and needs none; its powers far exceed those of any other dragoon. Sean naturally became the leader of the dragoons due to his experience, skill, and power. He led them to destroy any evil that might threaten the human race. Sean was a bit tall for his age with fairly long blonde hair covering his head.

Robert was the Jade Dragoon, Dragoon of wind. Those were the powers he used to win the game. Robert was an impressive fighter as well. He used a spear, which gave him endless possibilities in combat. His elemental powers were also very useful. His power made flying easier by changing the wind current. It was also used to repel attacks and crush an enemy by increasing the air pressure around them. Robert was good, but sometimes, he let it get to his head. Even so, he was a valuable asset to the team.

Melissa O'Riley was the Dark Dragoon, using the powers of the night to dominate in battle. This included draining her opponents' energy or even pulling them into a parallel dimension of pain. Melissa fought with a rapier, a long, thin sword used mostly for stabbing. She learned to be light on her feet in fighting to be able to plant several deadly slashes in a small amount of time. Melissa was a stunning figure. She was a tad taller than most girls, had long, black hair, and kept herself in top physical condition. Many guys adored her, but she stayed loyal to Sean. Melissa had always been the typical tough girl. She didn't let anybody mess with her and if they tried, she beat them up. She head earlier learned simple combat from her brother, who was also a Dragoon.

Mike Edwards was the Golden Dragoon, Dragoon of earth. His powers mostly lie in his physical strength. The Golden Dragoon is the physically strongest of them all. Because of this, Mike's weapon was a giant axe as big as he was. In human form, he could still carry the axe, but it was a burden sometimes because he was slower. In Dragoon form, he was a bit faster, but still the slowest of the Dragoons. And even though he packed a heck of a punch, his magical powers were not all that strong. He could still control the earth, but it was a chore making it do enough damage sometimes. Mike was often called a soft giant. He was very strong and his body showed it, yet he was very kindhearted under it all. Most of his strength came from his natural instinct to protect his twin sister.

Melissa and Mike had been split up after a divorce when they were ten, but still managed to see each other. When their father died, Mike was forced to live with his mother, with whom he did not see eye-to-eye. Things hadn't gotten much better between them over the years.

Mike and Melissa were both running at full speed now. Melissa knew she had to get there fast or he'd catch up to her. That was the thing about Mike. He couldn't accelerate very fast at all, but if he actually got going, he really got going. He was like a train, and he was picking up speed.

She poured all her strength into her legs and ran faster, her heart pounding at a million beats a second. Almost there! She slid to a stop and touched the first tree amongst the woods.

However, as you may know, trains do not stop too fast. Mike saw he was losing and tried stopping early, but to no avail he skidded and hopped and ran right into the trees and fell onto his back.

Melissa loomed over him. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Mike's eyes rolled around in his head. "Which one of you wants to know?"

"That'll work." She pulled him onto his feet and he stumbled around.

"We can't race anymore I don't think." Mike said.

"That's the third time you've said that."

"I'm sticking to it this time."

"That's what you said last time."

"Yeah, yeah." They pressed on into the woods. It was very thick and a bit difficult to manage for an inexperienced person. However, the Dragoons came her many days and they were used to it. Not too deep into the woods, there was a vast, green clearing. This was perfect for training and it was complete with a small lake towards one end.

Ben and Brittany were already sparring when Mike and Melissa arrived.

Ben Freeman was Sean's best friend and right-hand man. He was of average height with a slightly large frame and black hair. His Dragoon seemed to excel amongst the elemental Dragoons. They concluded that his dragon was simply more powerful than the others'. Ben was the Red-Eye Dragoon, Dragoon of fire. This element, of course, is naturally powerful and when under his command, Ben could create a great flame or an explosive of sorts, thus giving him a cutting edge in magic using. However, Ben was also very talented with a blade. He used a katana so he was both fast and strong. He was a great warrior overall, but on the inside, Ben was completely different. He was a total goof, and a romantic to boot. Every transition from human to warrior was amazing.

Ben's opponent, Brittany Frost, was the Blue-Sea Dragoon, Dragoon of water. A young woman with an enormous spirit. It was often questioned how so much energy could be wrapped in such a small package. Brittany often complained about that statement; she wasn't all that short, really, but she had a small frame and a thin body. Her hair was a light brown tone and she always kept it in a ponytail as not to hinder her in fighting. Brittany fought with an odd weapon: a mallet with a long handle. As unique as it was, it was surprisingly powerful. It easily knocked out several enemies if used right. However, Brittany's strength wasn't so hot due to her small frame, but what she lacked in that area, she made up for in speed and magical talent. She was the fastest Dragoon and her powers over water and ice were nearly unmatched. Brittany was a cheerful girl and her wild attitude always left you with a smile.

Brittany swung twice with her mallet and Ben jumped back to avoid it. Ben swung a sideways swipe. Brittany bent back to go under it, then swung her mallet over her head. Ben pulled back and leaned further back and blocked the attack, then kicked her mallet away from him and thrust his sword at her. Brittany spun to the side to avoid the attack and swung her mallet with it. She got him behind his knee, toppling him.

To her surprise, Ben was able to catch himself on a hand and block the next strike, then flip his other foot into the air, catching her side and knocking her over. Ben rolled and put the tip of his blade to her throat.

"You're dead." Ben declared.

Brittany flopped onto the ground and sighed. "I thought I had you there."

Ben stood up and extended his hand to help her up. She kicked the hand away and got up on her own. She walked over to her boyfriend, Brad, faced him, and rested her head on his chest. Brad laughed and wrapped his arms around her.

Brad Sparks was the Violet Dragoon, Dragoon of Thunder. He was the all-around guy. He was of average height, weight, strength, and magical power. He used his fists and feet in battle, so he could fight in any circumstance. His fighting was a unique style that was a lot like a dance. His elemental power proved extraordinarily useful. He could strike a foe down with a lightning bolt or even create an electrical or magnetic field with the blink of an eye. However, Brad couldn't use his powers too frequently because every zap shot a current through his brain. Too much power would fry it. However, his body was adapting to be able to use more power. Brad had been a bit of a misfit as no one really knew him until he joined the Dragoons. He was very happy with his new life, as it made him feel like he was actually doing something worthwhile.

"Couldn't you have been a gentleman and let her win?" Brad taunted.

"Shut up and get a haircut." Ben replied without missing a beat.

Brad felt his wild, light brown hair that hung nearly over his eyes. "I like my hair."

"As do I." Brittany grabbed two fistfuls of it.

"That's enough." Sean quickly said. "Brad and Mike. You guys are up. Nice of you two to join us by the way."

"Sorry." Mike said as he stepped up to fight.

Ben stepped back and Christie came up to his side. "Did she hurt you?" She teased.

Ben laughed. "Just a little."

She patted his head. "Poor thing, getting beat upon by a girl."

"Hey, what's that mean!"

Christie just laughed.

Christie Seedly was the White-Silver Dragoon, Dragoon of light. Her powers weren't made for attacking much other than dark foes. It was mostly for healing purposes. The purity of the dragoon spirit seemed to match Christie perfectly. He was a pure-hearted soul, the kind of girl who could solve any problem without taking any sides. Ben had long since loved her and they were together now and going strong. Christie had the same build as Brittany did and was just as physically strong, but she was quick and accurate with her bow and arrows.

"So everybody here?" Sean double-checked. "Good."

Their bonds were unbreakable and their combined powers proved to be unstoppable. The Dragoon force was legendary and not to be taken lightly. It had been called upon before in times of need; this was the third Dragoon Calling.

Thus far, the Dragoons' greatest achievement was defeating the supreme wingly Melbu Frahma, dictator of old and a power mad tyrant.

This was nearly two years ago. They were all seniors now and looking toward the future. Still, they had a divine responsibility. That's why they came here often to keep themselves in shape and in tune for whatever lay next.

Still, when evil shows its face, it is often a surprise.

They trained until dusk as usual and Sean let them leave.

"That's enough for today." He said.

"Good." Robert said. "I gotta go embarrass somebody at the arcade…Mike, come."

Mike rolled his eyes and went with him.

"I got a book report I gotta finish…okay, I have a book report I gotta start." Brad admitted. "I'll see you guys later."

"I'm going home then." Brittany said.

"We have a previous engagement." Christie said, referring to Ben and herself. They walked off together.

Melissa slid her arm around Sean. "What about you? Anything you doing?"

"Yes, actually." Sean replied. "I have a date with this really hot fighter chick."

"Mm." Melissa nodded. "She sounds sexy."

"Indeed she is."

"Nice…okay, you two have fun." She turned away.

"Whoa, wait!" He called after her. Melissa laughed and turned back around. Sean took her in his arms and kissed her.

Later in the night, they finally left. Sean walked Melissa home and then headed to his own house. He was unaware of the shadow that followed him. It crept along near him with every step, blending in with the darkness so that Sean would never see it.

Sean reached his house. His father, Hank, was the one human who knew about the Dragoons. The world couldn't know about what they did because they were not ready for such a thing. It was better for humans to go on with their lives without fretting over the evils in the world. Hank had discovered by accident and soon learned the whole story.

"Late again." Hank said.

"I was busy."

"Doing what?"

"Training." Sean lied.

"Your men or your tongue?"

Sean stared at him. "That's wrong, Dad."

Hank changed the subject. "That wood ain't gonna chop itself, you know."

Sean rolled his eyes. "I do my part to save the world and I still gotta do chores?"

"The world will still be here when you get back, I'll make sure of it." Hank smiled.

Sean chuckled and headed out back. It was awful dark, out. Sean turned and flipped on the back porch light.

A figure was exposed.

Before Sean could blink, it leapt at him. With a swift stroke, it cut the small chain around Sean's neck, removing the Dragoon spirit. The figure kicked it away. Now it could attack.

It slid around the shadows and attacked him from behind, then turned to a new location and struck him twice more. With a jump, Sean was knocked into the wall. The creature gave a mighty blow to Sean's head, knocking it back into the wall, dazing him. It flipped him away from the house and into the air. The creature moved with inhuman swiftness through the darkness, striking him a good number of times in the air, and then it tossed him up again and fired a dark blast. When it was over, Sean fell onto the lawn, motionless.

The creature landed near him with a vicious smile.

"All too easy."

BLAM!

"AGH!" The creature roared in pain and hunched over. It turned around and Hank fired another bullet from his shotgun, striking the creature in the chest.

"I suggest you run while you can!" He fired again, this time hitting it in the head. The creature let out a wail and took to the skies, flying away as fast as it could.

Hank ran out to his son and knelt beside him.

"Sean!" He called. "Sean, wake up!"

No response.

Hand looked around at the darkness surrounding him and decided to pull Sean into the house. He turned on all the lights and locked every door and window. To finish things off, he reloaded his gun. Then, he examined his son.

Sean was still breathing. His heart was even beating rapidly, but steadily slowing. But no matter how many times Hank tried, Sean wouldn't awaken.

Hank didn't know what had attacked him out there, but he was certain of two things.

It was neither human nor animal.

And whatever it was, it didn't like Dragoons.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: What's this? The almighty Sean cast aside in under a minute? What creature wields such power? Suspensful enough for you all? Heh. Yeah, we're back. This is an all-new story for you. Spike is working on the original sequel, now part 3 in the story. When I'm done here, he should have that done...he'd better. This story will be a bit shorter, but I hope you all will enjoy it. How was the first chaper?