The palace rang with a deep, reverberating gong. Rufus knelt in front of an alter, candles burning around a bronze stone. The stone pulsed with energy. Rufus lifted the stone up by the leather cord and looped it around his neck. The Dragon Stone seemed to growl in anticipation. The Dragon Keeper got to his feet and headed out of his room. The gong rang again as Rufus walked through the halls. He looked out the windows as he made his way to the Dragon's Chamber. The sun was almost at its highest peak.
The time has finally come, Rufus thought. The boy will finally face his destiny.
He entered the Dragon's Chamber just as his four students filed in. They stood at attention near a large statue of a group of dragons. Rufus smiled down at the four children. They all looked eager to know which one of them would be named the next Dragon Keeper.
"Whatever happens today," Rufus told them. "Promise me you will all look out for each other."
The three boys and one girl nodded in confirmation. Rufus smiled and turned just in time to see six large dragons approach the chamber. One white, one black, one green, one red, one blue and one silver. As they landed, each dragon took on a more human appearance, but still kept their majestic wings. Reno gazed wide eyed at the silver dragon king. He had beautiful, long flowing silver hair and mysterious green eyes.
Reno liked the silver dragon king more than the others. The black dragon made him nervous. He tried not to squirm as the red dragon gave him a hard look. She didn't seem too impressed.
"Welcome, Your Majesties," Rufus greeted. "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come."
"It's not like we had a choice," the red dragon queen stated. "We are bound by the Dragon Stone to attend these naming ceremonies."
She must be Rosso, Reno thought.
He caught the gaze of the black dragon king. A cold shiver shot down his spine. There was a dark, loathing malice in the black dragon king's eyes. Reno lowered his gaze to the floor, heart skipping a few beats.
"So, where is our new lord?" the white dragon king asked, voice sharp and harsh.
The ground rumbled as the blue dragon king stomped up to the four friends. "Do not tell us that one of these younglings is to be our governor," he said.
"King Weiss, King Azul, please," Rufus said. "The new Keeper is well ready to lead."
"We expect a worthy Keeper, and you give us children?" the black dragon king asked in contempt. "Are you trying to insult us?"
"Of course not, King Nero," Rufus replied.
"A child has no place on the Dragon Throne," the green dragon queen put in. "If anything, a dragon should be seated there, not a mortal."
"I couldn't agree more, Shelke," Rosso stated, crossing her arms.
Reno exchanged glances with Tseng, Elena and Rude. The only one who didn't seem insulted was the silver dragon king. He just stood there, silent and stoic. Weiss looked over at him, eyes narrowing.
"You don't seem at all upset, lord Sephiroth," he commented.
Sephiroth hummed, turning his soft green eyes to the four children. "Perhaps we are not giving the humans a chance," he stated quietly.
Reno felt a warm chill run throughout his body at the sound of Sephiroth's voice. It was quiet, yet commanding. Low and deep, it only served to add to the air of mystery surrounding him. Azul scoffed, walking back to the others.
"The silver dragons have always been the puppets of the Keeper," he said, looming over Sephiroth. "You lack the spine to think for yourselves. Preferring the company of mortals than your own kind."
"Mortals can teach us a lot," Sephiroth replied.
"And what does that blonde haired male teach you that's so important?" Rosso wanted to know.
"A dragon having a love affair with a mortal," Shelke said, shuddering. "Just the thought."
"Your majesties, please," Rufus begged. "We need to get back to the topic at hand."
"I think not," Nero spoke sharply, making everyone look at him.
The chamber suddenly grew dark as the sun faded from the sky. The dragon's eyes glowed in the darkness. Rufus took a step back when a thundering roar rattled the windows.
"It is time that the rule of the Dragon Keeper be brought to an end," Nero said.
Rufus ran and threw himself in front of the children as a ball of black fire burst through the window. Glass rained down as the ball of fire struck the opposite wall. The friends scattered as Rufus spun around, hands glowing with energy. He shot out a blast of golden energy, striking the black dragon that was outside. The creature roared in pain and flew off. Rufus turned his attention to Azul as the massive blue dragon stomped towards him. A well aimed energy blast sent Azul stumbling back.
Rufus yelled out as he sent flying back. Weiss shot out another breath of white fire, crumbling the statue of the dragons. Rufus covered his head as the stone collapsed on top of him.
"Find the brats!" Weiss ordered.
The dragons spread out among the palace. A mess of red hair poked out from around a secret panel in the wall. Reno dashed out of hiding and ran over to the collapsed statue. He began pulling the stone away as he dug his teacher out. His breath caught in his throat and his heart forgot how to beat when he saw the broken form of Rufus Shinra underneath.
"Master Shinra?" Reno whispered, touching his teacher's shoulder.
Rufus' eyes flickered open, meeting his gaze. "Take it," he gasped, holding out a hand.
Reno put out his hands and Rufus placed the Dragon Stone in his palms. The Dragon Keeper closed the boy's fingers around the stone.
"It's...your responsibility now," Rufus rasped. "You're...the Keeper."
"Me?" Reno breathed in shock.
Rude, Tseng and Elena hurried up. Elena put her hands to her mouth as her eyes began welling up with tears.
"Go. Run," Rufus told them. "This fight...has been lost. Take him...be safe."
Reno began shaking his head as Rufus' body slowly fell limp. "No," he pleaded. "Master Shinra, no."
Footsteps echoed up the hallway. Rude grabbed Reno and dragged him towards the secret passage again. Sephiroth entered the chamber just in time to see the wall close. His eyes fell on the lifeless form of Rufus Shinra. A moment after, Weiss appeared.
"Hear anyone?" he asked.
Sephiroth shook his head. "No. All thought has left," he answered solemnly. He closed his eyes and bowed his head. "The Dragon Keeper is dead."
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