Once again, I have returned to bless all of you with the wonders of my writings. (Coughing is heard that sounds strangely like 'Yeah right.') O.k. Fine. Just R&R. I don't know what I was on when I wrote this. Just read the thing and please tell me if you like it. And without further ado, let the story begin!
P.S. Lavitz lives!!!!!!!!!! Mwahahahahahaha *Hacking Cough* (Although he doesn't play a big part in this chapter)
Seven united led to his fall,
Seven divided, he conquers all.
As fate was once severed by heroes brave,
Once again he shall rise to drive them to their grave.
Black as the Hell that it did create,
Strong as the light that made its fate.
Seven alone can't undo this power,
United, nine, defeat this Black Monster.
I remembered the old prophesy that once held so much meaning to each and every one of the chosen few, the Dragon Knights, the Dragoons. And as I stood over the large graves, I remembered how much that prophecy had cost us. How much it had damaged the once proud and unbeatable Dragoons.
But it also showed us the true strength we possessed. Very little compared to what kind of strength fulfilled the prophecy. It was the strongest power of all. Stronger than fire, water, wind or thunder. Stronger than any darkness or light that could be made. It was fulfilled with the love of a swordsman.
Now I stand before the grave of four fallen heroes who fought against fate and damnation, and were killed. But they died with their mission complete and I know they had no regrets.
I read the first cross that lay embedded within the earth. It read, 'Here lies Dart Feld. A man who fought with strength and fought only to protect the ones he loved. His loyalty was unmatched through everything he went through. He willingly risked his life for a friend and gave his all to his friends.'
I nodded slowly and past my grandson's grave. I moved to the next one. 'Here lies Rose ????. A woman who was misunderstood throughout her life. She fought against her will and was forced to brandish another's sins. She was forced to be called a monster wherever she traversed. She gave her life not once, but twice for this world.' (No body ever figured out her last name.)
I past the grave that belonged to my Grandson's best friend and most loved one. I looked at the next grave and felt a tear as I thought of how young the owner had been. 'Here lies Meru Jones. A young girl who showed much bravery in the face of impossible odds. She stood tall through strife and loss. She strived to prove herself to the world and did when her life was mercilessly taken while she fought for the world. Here lies a brave young wingly.' (Just made the last name up)
I looked upon the last grave in the row. I thought of the young man who occupied it. I had never truly known the man. But from the short amount of time I knew him, I could tell his bravery and strength rivaled that of Dart. He had something special about him, for he won the heart of Meru in such a short time. And he gave his life so that at least some of the seven fighters that accompanied him could live. His cross was void of everything but his name, for nothing but his name was known of him, and only his name because I contributed the information. 'Red Blaze' I am at least comforted knowing that he and Meru are together and Dart and Rose are as well.
I looked up to the heavens and thought of the four of them. If only they were here. We'd be able to push back the mist that is slowly covering the world with horrible evil. I sat for maybe two hours, looking at the graves of some of my dearest friends, before I finally left them. I would journey back to Rouge and continue to live my life.
I awoke and felt a strange warmth around me. I looked to find a young girl with her arms around me. I chuckled as I gently nestled the young girl's head against my chest. I call her young because that's what she appears to be, young. But I know that just as I am… was a half-wingly, her status or what was her status, of wingly meant she should have lived longer that a normal human. But it wasn't supposed to happen this way.
Even after a year of my eternal sleep, I couldn't get used to not having blood coursing through my body. And she didn't deserve to die. I still hadn't forgiven myself for failing the second purpose I was given.
Sure, heaven is a great place, but still. It can't make me forget the feeling I got whenever she had put her arms around me. God knows I loved the way her skin felt against my arms. I love her so much but… how can I prove my love to her in heaven. It's hard to make much in the way of physical contact when you're an angel.
I saw Dart holding Rose close to him and he seemed content, sleeping with her in his arms. But I… I longed for more. I longed to feel the softness of the wind blowing through my silvery hair. I needed to feel the tickle of a butterfly as it landed on your arm. I dreamed of the kiss Meru and I had never been able to share. It pained me when I thought of the day I had realized my love for her. It had been such a short time before I joined her here.
(Flashback)
"Meru! Please God no!" I had said as I surveyed the bloody wound where the Black Monster had jammed his blade through her.
She barely breathed as she spoke. "R, Red?" She whispered my real name, "P, please… s, s, survive… I, I… l, love you…" She closed her eyes slowly.
"God no! Meru! Don't die! I love you! I need you!" I yelled to her as her eyes opened and went wide before rolling into the back of her head.
"I will avenge you." I whispered.
(End Flashback)
Such acts of love such as a kiss was hard to perform without a body. Sure, I'm alright without a body and without pain. But I was filled with a new pain. I'm glad that I can at least hold her sweet form in my arms.
I could sense the prayers of many of our old companions. But one that wasn't of our old friends kept prodding me. I kept hearing the words, "Forgive me." I knew who it was. It was someone who I had only glimpsed a year ago. Yet his name, I had vowed never to speak.
I now knew many things I hadn't before. I knew the full power of the dragon I had become during my last living moments. I knew that my… my assailant was more than what he seemed. But what he was remained unknown to me.
But I am no more. I now am just a famed warrior who couldn't survive to become great. It's ironic that I, known by many as the Black Knight, would be swallowed by this blackness. Heaven is just too… good. I wish so bad to live once again and feel pain and joy and the sun warming your body as you travel and to have Meru beside me. That is what I want most.
Just then, the sleeping form a Meru woke up in my arms. She smiled at me and stood. Dart and Rose had awoken as well. Even though I've known them for over a year, the only one I ever opened my heart and soul to and told things about my self to was Meru. I didn't speak to any other than Meru unless I couldn't avoid it. For instance, Dart seemed to want me to meet a long gone friend of his. I would have refused, but Meru prodded me to go. So I met this man named Lavitz. He seemed shocked to find Dart dead. But enough about such meaningless things.
I remembered the time I came here. Meru and Dart seemed troubled to know they were dead. Rose and I didn't understand this. I learned of Rose's 10,000 years of killing the MoonChild. I could see why death didn't effect her. I for one didn't have a problem accepting death either. I had promised myself that when my time comes, I would embrace death. That is what I did. I had managed to comfort Meru after much time. She hadn't cried for her own life being gone. She had cried for mine. I told her that I didn't care if I was dead and she seemed to calm down significantly.
But today, I could feel something happening on the world. Something that was powerful enough to even be felt by the dead. I felt a warmth enter my body, something that was strange to me after not feeling warmth or cold for a year. It felt uplifting and depressing at the same time. I suddenly realized why. In my mind I saw each of our bodies in the earth, perfectly preserved. I saw them one by one disappear. I felt Meru's arms disappear from mine as she faded away. Dart and Rose faded away shortly after. I felt a strange sensation as I saw my fingers start to disappear. I gave one last look at the heaven I had known before I too, vanished.
I awoke slowly to a weird sensation. I stood before falling on my face. I felt… what?! I felt blood! I felt a heartbeat! I felt… alive! I stood slowly again and managed to learn how to stand again. Around me, I saw four people with me. All were unconscious. Meru, Dart, Rose, and Dart's friend Lavitz. I ran to Meru's side and shook her. She opened her eyes and they went wide with shock.
"R, Red? (Meru uses his real name) Am I… alive? Are we alive?" Meru spoke hopefully.
I nodded slowly. "I think so. But how? Who?"
My question was quickly answered as I heard a cold voice behind me. "I have brought you back, old friend. Do you not recognize me?"
I turned and saw a man in black robes like mine. I reached into my robes by an instinct I hadn't lost from a year ago. I pulled out the Diamond Star and felt a wonder flow through me as I felt the magic in my hands. "You! How did you do this?!"
"My, you seem angry with me. Is it because I brought you back to life? Or do you still hold a grudge for all those times I proved that I am your better? If you must know, I brought you back with this." He chuckled darkly to himself as a small ball with many pieces fell from his hand.
"How… how did you get all the stardust pieces?" I asked quickly.
"I found a few, bought a few, stole a few when necessary. But my only wish were to bring you back so as to defeat you myself and earn the money I was paid." He smiled as he saw my anger rise.
"You would betray me for money?! I should kill you right now! But I must ask. Why did you bring the others back as well?" I felt my anger welling ever higher.
"'Tis not of your concern dear friend. But I am sorry to say, you can't have your revenge right now." He smoothly replied.
"Why is that?" I asked furiously.
He ignored my question before saying, "I eagerly await to meet you again face to face." With that said, he and the ball of stardust became transparent before disappearing.
"He was a hologram." I muttered darkly.
"A holo-what?" Meru asked.
"He wasn't here to begin with. He was just projecting his figure." I answered her quietly.
Just then, Dart, Rose and Lavitz gained consciousness. Everyone, other than Rose, took time to learn to walk on earth again.
"Dart," Lavitz said after a while, "what's happened since I died?"
Dart explained all that had happened during the past six or seven years. It took much of the day and night fell just as Dart had finished.
"I see that a lot happened. I hope I hadn't caused you much grief after I died." Lavitz responded to Dart's story.
"It's all in the past. I don't know if it were being dead for a year, but I feel more mature and wiser than I had before. But how were we brought back to life?" Dart said quietly as we sat around the campfire.
"It was the power of the stardust. A old… friend of mine had collected the pieces. I do not know why he brought all of you back to life however." I responded.
Lavitz looked at me for a second before speaking. "Come to think of it, I don't believe I know you very well. I don't think I even got your name."
"It is for the best. The less you know about me, the better and longer you shall live. You are one of the few I shall allow to see my face. Do not ask for anymore information about me." I said as I stood and walked away from the fire and into the woods.
I sat on a small rock and looked up at the stars that so short a time ago, I had been looking down upon. I heard the soft crunching of leaves that signified someone had followed me. I made no objection, as I would recognize the soft footsteps anywhere.
"Red? Are you alright?" Meru whispered into my ears.
"No. I am troubled. Why did he bring us all back if he merely wanted to kill me. It makes no sense." I turned to look into her brilliant blue eyes.
"Who is he? I remember that he tried to kill us several times." Meru looked at me, puzzled.
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you. It will put you in more danger than you are right now with me. He wants to kill me himself and will kill anyone who stands in his way. He fights ruthlessly and will attempt to break me in anyway he can. Don't endanger yourself any further." I whispered to her.
I was surprised when I felt her lips touch mine. My surprise quickly turned to an awful feeling. I broke the kiss quickly and whispered furiously to her, "Meru! Please don't! If he knows how I feel towards you… you'll become a target. Please understand, I love you truly. But we mustn't express it until the danger has passed. Remember, from this point on, you'll be in danger as long as I am with you. Should something happen to me and I not be with you, live on for me. Please, we mustn't do anything like that until the danger has passed."
I saw her disheartened figure nod slightly in the moon's silvery rays. I brushed my hand against her cheek to show her I still loved her. I held her tight before we walked back to camp. I did kiss her forehead softly, but nothing more. She fell asleep quickly as I nestled her head in my arms softly before whispering, "Goodbye… my love."
I awoke early in the morning, remembering one of the few bad things about living. You never seemed to get enough sleep. I ignored my sleepiness immediately when I saw Red's sleeping bag was empty. I walked to it and picked up a small envelope that held my name and picked up the red rose and what must have been the only picture of my dear Red in existence.
I opened the letter slowly, eagerly waiting to see what was written to me. I let out a cry of shock as I read the letter. Tears brimmed my eyes as I finished the letter and fell to my knees.
The letter read:
My love, Meru,
It pains me remarkably to write this. I pray you will understand. I care for you so much that I am forced to leave you. If I were to stay by your side, you would be killed. By the time you read this, I shall be within the lands of Bales. I shall announce our return to life to Albert before I journey to the Death Frontier. You mustn't follow me. I wrote this as a letter to say goodbye. You may never see me again. And if you do see me, we shall probably meet as strangers, for it is my knowledge that love, even that of a family's, grow faint after time. Even after I have wrote these words of love growing faint, know this. My love for you shall never be forgotten. Someday, we will be together, once again united in either the goodness of Heaven, or the depths of Hell. I shall always remember you. Goodbye.
With Pain,
Red
For the next several days, I did nothing but cry for him. How could I live now? He had meant everything to me. He had been with me when I needed comforted. He had taken on impossible odds by himself so that our friends and I could escape. He gave his life for the world. And now… will I ever see him again?
The days and nights passed and I finally realized that he truly wasn't coming back to me. I felt my tears subside slowly but my heart still ached with the pain. I held tight to the rose and the picture that he had left me. I stood up one day much after I found the letter and I walked to the nearest town. The town of Seles. Dart and Rose had journeyed to find a place they could call home. They were lucky. They didn't have to part with each other, weren't forced to dream and wish and remember.
I felt the pain in my heart lessen as the years drug by. I matured both mentally and physically. Even though many young men who were very kind had asked me to go on a date with them, I couldn't bring myself to accept them.
It was the celebration of my birth. I was visited by many friends, but none stayed with me. They merely came to call on me, wish me a good birthday, and they would leave me alone again. I laughed in irony at the thought of how parts of Red had brushed off on me. I was much less open since he left me. I bottled up my fear and torment until I couldn't take it anymore and I would cry for hours at a time.
I heard the rain begin to patter on the roof of the home I had built, wishing I weren't alone in it. I heard the thunder roll and saw the lightning flash across the skies from my lonely abode. I had silently climbed the stairs to my bedroom that seemed so spacious and empty. I cried myself to sleep as I thought of how much I wished Red was still with me.
I awoke suddenly in the middle of the night to the thunder echoing through my house. I felt a cold breeze and felt fear as I heard a barely audible footstep within my home. I crept to my bedroom door and peered into the darkened house.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw a figure in a jet-black robe. His hood was pulled up over his face. I was about to run to him when fear flooded into me. This wasn't Red. I can feel it. I crept back to find a place to hide as the figure ascended the stairs. I backed away as he threw open the door to my room and drew a wicked curved dagger.
I backed further as he stepped toward me. I suddenly fell as I tripped over a small stool and I hit the ground. I backed up along the ground as his blade drew nearer. I felt the rush of cold air from an open window. I backed into a wall and curled up against it. I closed my eyes, knowing that if my dear Red had been killed by this man, I was coming to join him.
The wind from the window intensified as if it had opened more or broke. I suddenly felt strong hands on my shoulders. In seconds, the blade would cut through my neck. I felt a tear fall. But what was this? The feeling I felt was not one of pain and death, but one of quick movement. I opened my eyes to see the man who held the dagger holding me. He had a blade that was of bluish color. Wait… he wasn't my attacker. Could it be?
He set me down and drew his blade. He slashed at the other man and two swords connected. The other man had somehow conjured a blade of blood red color. It glowed with a light to rival Red's blade.
He slashed at Red's throat and red blocked. I felt a tear as Red cried out in pain as he received a deep blood wound. I heard a sharp sound and looked up to see the other man throw his dagger at Red. Red ducked and the dagger flew past him and hit the wall above my head. I reached up and grabbed the dagger, hoping for a chance to hit.
I slid along the ground and got behind the unknown man. I was just about to fling the dagger into his shoulder when he spun and hit the side of my head with the flat of his blade. I skidded across the ground and tried to stand but was dazed. I heard the two men fighting and several yells of pain. I heard the sickening splashes of blood every now and then. I closed my eyes and suddenly felt strong arms grasp me. I prayed it was Red.
"R, Red?" I stammered.
The figure holding me didn't seem affected by the name. He merely continued to run with me in his arms. I clung tight as he flipped over a bright blue ball of energy. It was he, wasn't it?
As we ran, I heard the other man yell loudly. "Remember Red! I was there when your parents died! It wasn't some fool after you who killed your father! 'Twas my blade that pierced his body!"
We made it out of town before the figure stopped. I could feel the anger built inside him. Red had never told me of his past. It was scary to think about what happened to Red that had turned him so far against people. He breathed heavily and it was obvious that he was wounded. Yet he didn't set me down. He closed his eyes and I felt a rush of energy and speed as we disappeared. When we reappeared, we were in a quiet house.
"Red?" I repeated myself, "Is that… you?"
The figure turned to me and slowly nodded. I felt joy flow through me. He returned at last. Yet something seemed different about him.
I looked at his figure and was startled by the amount of blood. His robes were torn in many places and blood splotched each cut. He was holding his hand firmly over his side and I could see the blood quickly covering his hand. I could sense something about him that I didn't recognize.
"Red, what's the matter? Are you all right?" I asked, wondering why he was so quiet.
He nodded again and left his hood over his face. He slowly removed his hand from his side and quickly covered his wound with a strip of cloth.
"Red… please, speak to me. I need to hear your voice." I pleaded with him.
"Meru… I'm sorry. I'm not the man you once knew. I have done something that I shall never be forgiven of." He spoke softly to me and I could feel the pain in his voice.
"What have you done? I can forgive you of anything." I whispered.
"I… I… I killed many people since we parted. Many of them were of innocent blood. I had listened to my… that man. I joined with him instead of opposed him. I endangered your life by telling how you had been with me." I felt his voice feel with anger towards himself.
"R, Red. I d, don't understand. Why?" I asked, confused.
"I don't know! God, I hate myself! If I hadn't had your memory to look back on, I would have killed myself! He tried to kill you! Because of me! How can you forgive that!?" He was infuriated with himself.
I held out my hand to his. "I won't believe that you killed those people out of your own free will. That is how I can forgive you. I never forgot you. I prayed to see you, feel you, love you. Please Red. Understand this. I still love you. You were wrong when you wrote that love always grows faint. Sometimes when you're apart, love just grows." I gently lifted his head , removed his hood, and embraced him gently.
It was awkward seeing him, of all men, cry. But I fully understood it. He had a right to cry. I sat down upon a soft bed in the corner and had him sit beside me. I attempted to comfort him. I laid his head upon my shoulder and whispered comforting words into his ears.
I kissed his forehead gently and thought of the many years we had been apart. He stared into my eyes after a while and I could see the knowledge that I did forgive him don upon him. I lay down on the bed before pulling him close to me. I whispered certain things into his ears before I pulled the sheet of the bed over our heads. (No, they didn't do what I know all of you think they're doing)
It had been a total of five years since Redblaze had left Meru at the camp. After Lavitz had gone back to bales to be with his mother, Rose and myself began living peacefully in Rouge with my grandfather, who was especially surprised to see us alive. Haschel had eventually gotten over the surprise before he began to be his usual self. I remembered one conversation we had had while Rose was out.
"Dart," He had began, "when are you going to grow up? You got to do it sometime soon."
"I know. But you can't rush these things. I'm not sure I'm ready for it. And I'm really not sure about Rose. And where am I supposed to find something like that in Rouge?" I had replied.
"Here, take this one." He handed me a ring that my grandmother had given him. "Your grandmother would want you to have it." As if because of him giving me the ring, it began to rain more or less over him. "That woman." He muttered as he walked out of the rain.
It was the next day now and, even though I had many good chances, I didn't approach Rose with the ring. I wasn't ready for it. I just tucked the ring in a pouch in my pack and decided to ignore it until I was ready.
It was that night when I heard some startling news. Seles had been burned to the ground the night before. Two figures in black had appeared and had a quick duel before one ran into a house. I thought of Meru and how she had gone to Seles. I hope she's all right.
I knew that no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to enjoy a peaceful life. It will always be full of danger. As Seles was my second hometown, I had to go.
Rose and I packed up our few belongings and waved as we left for the boat. When we arrived at it, Haschel was already sitting in it.
"You didn't think you could go without me, did you?" He laughed.
"No. I was wondering if you would come with us." I replied before helping him with the boat.
We pushed off from the shore and sailed towards the lands of Serdio. As night fell, we finally realized how small the boat was. I didn't mind Rose lying on my chest, but Haschel was curled up on my feet, effectively blocking off the circulation.
We arrived near Seles after a few days of uneventful travels. We walked quickly and as the smoke from the town loomed up to where I could see, I broke into a run. I ran until I reached the outskirts of the town. I stopped and stared in anger. Seles… gone. I clenched my fists in anger as I saw an all too familiar slash upon the throat of one young girl.
"How… How could he?!" I felt my anger rise. "How could he kill such youth?!"
Than I saw something that made me gasp. The mysterious man didn't make the wound. No… there was Astasia poison in the wound. I had only seen the poison in one place other than books. The Diamond Star that Redblaze carried.
Rose realized this as well and came to my side. "Dart… our friend changed. There's nothing we can do. He didn't change because of the Black Monster this time. We have no choice… but to kill him."
I nodded. Than something donned on me. "Meru!"
I ran through the torn streets and climbed over the remains of Meru's door. I ran up the stairs to see that there had been a fight. Furniture was overturned and strewn across the floor. I stared in shock at the large amounts of blood on the floor. Blood was everywhere, even on the walls. A knife lay on the ground and a hole where the knife could have fit was in the wall.
Then I saw the cloth. Black chunks of material lay on the ground. It was obvious a fight had broken out here, and the man wearing the robes was losing. Redblaze had definitely been here. I searched in vain for any sign of Meru. I found none. But I sensed something familiar to the north.
I walked past Rose and Haschel as they ran up the stairs. They turned to follow me and I was thankful that neither asked questions. I led them out of town and we eventually found ourselves in the exact spot where Rose and I had first met and she had saved my life from Fyerbrand.
I looked up on the mountain above and saw a thin line of smoke. Rose, Haschel and I climbed higher and higher up the mountain until we had reached the source. A small cottage rested snuggly between the jagged rocks of the hill.
I walked cautiously to the door and drew my blade. I listened at the door and heard naught but silence. I slowly pushed open the door and looked inside. A small table was in the center of the room. On top of it was a small candle. In the corner of the room was a small bed. I looked at the cabinet next to the bed. Above it was a small picture of… Meru.
I walked to the picture and examined it. This was the picture Meru had given Redblaze shortly before we fought the Black Monster. Haschel was looking at a few strange items that seemed to glow with magical energy. Rose noticed my attention on the picture and came to examine it.
"Does this mean… this is where he lives?" She asked.
I was about to answer when I saw something in the reflection of my sword. I spun around and blocked the sword that had swung down at me. I looked into the darkness that concealed the face of the man I once knew.
"Redblaze! It's me, Dart! Your friend!" I cried out, narrowly evading another slash.
The figure laughed. "Friend? I have no friends! How can you even compare me to that fool? I am infinitely more powerful then he of whom you speak. But I can see that my target is not here. Why should I waste my time with you?" He began to mumble something under his breath, just loud enough for us to hear. "When one whose heart is black and white enter here, little time shall pass before he shall sere!"
He spun his cloak around his body and disappeared. I sheathed my sword slowly and listened. I grabbed Rose and Haschel before searching for an exit other than the door, for I had heard voices coming our way. I found a small window and we jumped through it just in time as two figures stepped into the house.
We kneeled down beside the house and held our breath. We can't let him know we're spying on him. I put my hand over Rose's mouth and closed my eyes as I heard muffled speech inside the house.
"I'm going to look around. Something's not right." I heard a man's voice speak.
I heard the soft closing of a door before I nudged Rose and Haschel and pointed at a small ditch. I snuck toward the ditch and we climbed in. I held my breath as I heard the footsteps drawing nearer. For all I know, he might kill us if he is aligned with the other man.
I saw his shadow stretch across the ditch and held my breath. Finally, he walked away. I waited a few more minutes before standing. When I did stand, I stopped suddenly to feel a sharp blade against my throat.
I turned to see a figure in black robes much like the man before. But this one was Redblaze. His hood was down and his silvery hair was blowing as if in the wind as he was prepared to strike.
"What are you doing here?" He asked shortly, not easing up the pressure of the blade.
"We came here on a hunch after we saw what was left of Seles." Rose could speak normally as she did not have a blade to her throat.
"I know you were there. I know you killed people there. Why?" I asked more bravely than I felt.
He stared into my eyes for a long time before whispering, "It is none of your concern why I was there."
"Where's Meru?" Rose asked.
"She is safe with me. It is fortunate for you that you had once been travel companions of mine. If you hadn't been, I would have slain you five minutes ago. But I shall welcome you to stay if that is your wish." I felt a cold shiver as he looked at me. I know he killed that little girl.
We followed him into the small house and I breathed a sigh of relief to see Meru alive and well.
"Dart, Rose, Haschel? What are you doing here?" Meru asked.
"I caught them outside trying hopelessly to hide in a ditch." Redblaze said and I didn't particularly like the way he said it.
I couldn't place it, but something about him seemed so… different. Especially the way he spoke. He spoke in quick sentences and had a mysterious air about his words. But it seems he hadn't forgotten Meru. He spoke kindly to her. I was glad that at least she was being treated properly.
Rose and I sat at the wooden table along with Meru and Redblaze. "Did you two touch or move anything when you were in here? Something isn't right." Redblaze spoke to Rose and I.
"We didn't touch anything. But the other guy in robes was here. I had thought he was you until he told us he wasn't. But he said something strange before he left. He said something like an incantation. Something, about when a person's whose heart is black and white come here, he shall sere. Wouldn't that mean fire?"
Redblaze contemplated for a moment. "Person's heart… We have to leave! Now!" He jumped to his feet and grabbed Meru's hand before running through the door. We had just gotten out of the house when a giant tower of fire engulfed the house.
The fire consumed the entire house slowly and finally died out. "Another well thought out plan to kill me. It's lucky you told me of his little spell casting." Redblaze spoke quietly as he watched the house burn.
"Red, you seem to know a lot about the other guy. Can you tell us some things about him?" Meru asked quietly.
"I suppose I can tell you a bit. But I can't tell you everything. I have much more honor then he. His name is Blue. I am not whole without him; he is not whole without me. He is my other half. We were born at the exact same moment to two different mothers. There have been very few halflings. We are a halfling. A halflings sole purpose is in legends. A halfling is only born because of a true legend. Those people had been divided in two. A good half, and an evil half. But something is strange about us. He is complete evil. I am neither. I have much good in me, but I also have just as much evil in my veins. Halflings become nearly invincible when united. Normally, they are absolute neutral, and will fight for whatever they believe is right. But if Blue and I were to ever unite, the results would be the total destruction of the world as we know it. We are the most powerful halflings alive. Combined, there is much more evil in us than there is good. Our combined evil would kill the good in me and we would become one incredible power of evil. Do you understand what I've said?" He spoke quickly and I couldn't help but get confused at some points.
Rose seemed to understand though. "So if you and this Blue were to combine, you would become a God more or less, correct?"
Redblaze nodded. "Yes. In all aspects, we would be a god. There are two ways for a halfling to combine. Should one half die, the two will combine and the surviving half would control and the halfling would take on the shape and form of the survivor. If a battle were to take place between Blue and myself, the winner would become the dominant when we combined. Blue is much more powerful than I. If we were to fight, I would be overmatched quickly. The other way for the two to combine is if one half were to let go of his mind and transmit themselves to the other. An intense war would break out between good and evil. Normally, it will end in a draw and the two halves would unite as the mind of the halfling. But with a pair such as Blue and I, evil would conquer good and I would be completely erased from life. It would be as though I never existed. I can not control certain powers of mine unless he, the more powerful of us, is nearby. If I use those powers, I would lose control of my body and would probably kill myself and everyone around me. Someday, we must combine. When that happens… the world may very well end."
"So in other words, a duel between the two of you could determine the fate of the planet?" Haschel asked.
"Yes. Understand that if it comes down to a duel, you are to get as far away as possible." Redblaze spoke quietly.
We eventually gathered up any remains of the house and built a small shelter. As we sat inside, each of us were doing something on our own. Rose was obviously thinking hard about something. Redblaze seemed to be carving something from a large piece of wood while Meru watched him. Haschel seemed to be meditating. I was thinking just as much as Rose.
What is Redblaze? I had thought I knew everything of importance about him, but once again he has proved me wrong. And what if one of the two 'halves' were killed? Could we trust either one? Power can do incredible things to a person. The best men in the world have turned totally evil because they gained power. What would happen to Redblaze? And if Redblaze is the one to die, do we have the power to stop the thing Redblaze described?
"I have an idea." I was shook out of my thoughts as Rose spoke. "Blue has attacked us several times. What if we were to stage an attack on him? We might catch him off guard and be able to beat him."
Redblaze shook his head. "He is never off guard. But it is better than staying here."
He stood up and put whatever he had been working on in his pack. We followed him out of the small tent we made as he led us over the small mountain. As we neared the top, I could sense something was horribly wrong.
"What's on the other side of this mountain?" I asked.
"We are going to a hidden village where the halflings live. Halflings live forever unless killed, which rarely happens. We will meet close to every halfling that has ever existed." Redblaze said quickly before continuing up the mountain.
Meru, Rose, and myself followed him. I couldn't shake the feeling of intense dread that had washed over me. Redblaze seemed to have felt this as well, for he drew his sword and held it at ready.
I watched as he reached the summit of the mountain and peered over the side. A clatter echoes through the mountain as his sword fell from his hands and landed on the ground. He stood, staring in disbelief. I ran to his side and saw why he had stopped. A small village below was totally engulfed in fire.
Redblaze quickly grabbed his sword and ran down the mountain. We followed closely behind him. If these halflings were as powerful as he said, then what could have done this to their village?
I felt the uncontrollable anger build inside me. He was the only one who could do such a thing. What was he thinking, further endangering our race? But this also tells me something. He is even more powerful than I had believed. I never dreamed he could take out a village of nearly immortal beings.
I reached the village of the halflings and searched for some sign of life. I saw no one, not even a dead body within the flames. I slashed the Diamond Star towards the flames and they died quickly. I ran into the tallest house to see a few bodies of halflings. Their normally bright yellowish hair was charred black with soot.
I heard a weak and strange sounding cough. I ran to it and found the sole survivor of the attack. The village elder had somehow survived the attack.
"R, Red? Is that you?" He asked in a voice that resonated as if two had spoken.
"Yes. I'm here. Blue did this. He is attempting something." I whispered to the fallen elder.
"Red, the others are all dead. We're the only ones left. We are dying as we speak to you. Save you and Blue, the world will be completely rid of our race. But you must stop Blue. When… you become… one, you… must… rule." The elder's last word was drawn out as the gray eyes closed.
For the third tome in my life, I felt tears. My godfather was now dead. I felt my fist clench around the hilt of the Diamond Star. He's gone too far. He killed nearly all of the few people who know who I am.
I suddenly thought of something. Why had he come here? I ran into a hidden room to the side that had been blasted open. I looked at the shattered glass case and the empty pillow that had held the powerful and dangerous item known as 'The First Stone of Magic'. If it were combined with four other stones, He would have the power to kill me instantly, no matter where I was.
I ran back outside and joined Dart, Meru, Rose, and Haschel as they searched for survivors. I knew there were none. I quickly explained what I believed were his plans. I than led the group out of the village.
"The stones must be collected in a certain order." I explained as we walked toward the capitol of Serdio, Bales. "By getting the Stone of Magic, he started an evil curse that he intends to unleash at me. The next stone is the Stone of Death. It resides in a village over the entrance to Hell. I don't believe he knows where it is. The village is full of people. Hopefully they'll give it to us peacefully."
"And if they don't?" Rose asked gingerly as she followed me.
"You don't have to partake in the bloodshed." I said quickly before continuing farther ahead.
Silence fell upon our group as we walked. I could tell they had been struck that I had even mentioned killing innocent people.
"We have to get the stone by any means possible. If I am killed because he gets all the stones, he'll have remarkable power. He'll be able to kill whomever he wants. Do you understand why I am willing to give other's lives? It's to save the lives of billions."
They still remained silent as we walked, but Meru started to walk beside me. After about an hour more of walking in this silence, night had fallen.
"We should stop now. You said he didn't know the location of the stone, right? So it should be safe to sleep and prepare ourselves to get it." Dart suggested.
"I doubt it will be that easy. But yes, you four are not night travelers such as myself. We shall stop and rest." I spoke quickly.
We had set up camp quickly. I felt danger around us, so I agreed to be the first watch. Dart and Rose huddled together near the fire, showing feelings toward each other that I had barely known existed until Meru came.
Haschel curled up near the fire. He pulled a very warm blanket from his pack and wrapped himself in it to guard against the bitterness of the night. Meru had gotten some more decent clothes for the cold since I had seen her five years ago. But even with the warmer clothes and the fire, she shivered. I rubbed her arms gently to warm her and tried to ignore the quiet words of love that were coming from Dart and Rose.
After yet another hour of watching, nothing had come. I decided that they need much more sleep than I, so I stayed up for another watch. I was sure everyone was asleep as I looked at Meru, who was shivering violently. I was immune to things such as cold and heat, so I did something that I hadn't done with anyone within ten miles. I took off my jet-black cloak and placed it upon her.
She ceased her shivering instantly. I felt incredibly vulnerable without my cloak. I soon realized this to be because the Diamond Star was within the robes. I gently reached inside and took the sheath that held the Diamond Star and attached it to me waist.
I now wore a black cotton shirt and black pants like Dart's. It felt strange to allow my pendent on my necklace to be out in the air. I lightly touched the magical pendent of a snakelike dragon that writhed and twisted together to form a graceful and beautiful pattern. I don't know if I'll ever know what it is or who gave it to me. I felt the dragon spirit I carried. I haven't used it for nearly six years. I believe it is cowardice to rely on energy so great to win a fight.
I thought of what Blue had said to me as I carried Meru out of danger. I was startled when he said it. My father had been killed by men who came to kill me when they learned that I was only half human. But according to Blue, he had killed my father. He deprived me of a much better life. A life that I could lead without having to carry a blade everywhere and having to kill anyone who tries to stop me in my mission.
I looked at the sky. The moon was nearing the midnight point in the sky. I walked over to Meru and took my cloak back so I could put it on. I nudged Haschel awake and walked over to the shivering Meru. I lay down beside her and held my arms around her, drawing her close to me. I wrapped my robes around her as well and gently kissed her forehead as she nuzzled her face in my chest. I felt her soft, creamy skin in my arms and felt stronger. I would be able to avenge my parents deaths when the time came.
I kissed her head once more before closing my eyes, for the first time in my life, happy to be with someone.
I had a dream that hadn't plagued me for many years.
I ran from the cries of the men in my home. My father had told my mother to take me and run. My mother picked me up and extended her beautiful wings of energy and we flew to a safe distance from home. She set me down gently and kneeled beside me and cried. I felt her warm tears against me cheek as she held me close before standing. She gave me one last pained look before flying back home.
I ran after her, I couldn't stand idly by, not knowing what was happening. I arrived quickly and hid behind a thick tree to watch the fight that had broken out at our home. My mother and father were fighting against at least ten men.
I almost cried out as my mother fell to the ground. I watched as a bright light flew from her into the sword that my father fought with. He seemed even more determined as he fought. I felt the burning tears in my eyes and gave a small sob.
Then the dream changed ever so slightly.
I watched as the sword my father held glowed brightly. An explosion ripped from it, killing all the men around him. But instead the light clearing and me regaining my sight to see him dead, I saw a hooded figure fly though the explosion. He dodged bodies and flames and ran up to my father. He thrust his sword deep in my father and pulled it out.
I awoke in a cold sweat. I was still flooded with fear even though the dream was over. I soon recognized the feeling. I opened my eyes to see Dart waking the others quickly. Gliding silently toward us was the black mist that we had fought through six years ago.
I jumped to my feet and drew the Diamond Star. I woke Meru and lifted her to her feet. She saw the mist and readied her hammer.
"We have to get to Bales so we can acquire the assistance of Albert and your friend, Lavitz." I whispered to Dart before leading the group into the mist that blocked our way to Bales.
I cautiously moved into the mist, remembering the fearsome beasts I had seen the last time I visited such a place. I could feel evil all around me. But the evil was super intense here. I could feel that the source of the mist is not far away.
I crept along the pathways, keeping an ear out for any evil that may fall upon us. I thought I heard the wind rustling something nearby. I ran toward the sound, followed quickly by the others. I stopped when I saw what it was. A small girl, barely three years old, lay dead upon the ground. A careful slice was on her neck. This wasn't done by any beast. This was done by a human sword. And I knew who did it.
I continued down the path, seeing bodies scatter around. Some had gash marks from beasts, but most were like the child. We quickly found ourselves in a village that I recognized.
"This is where the Stone of Death is kept. I pray he hasn't gotten it yet. I don't want to know what will happen when pure evil touches a stone of evil." I whispered as I hurried to the hut that held the stone. I could tell everyone was dead, so I didn't bother search for survivors.
As I neared the hut, I heard a loud scream before a dead guard flew out the door. We ran into the building just in time to see Blue wrap his hands around the stone. He laughed loudly before disappearing in a flash of black light.
I suddenly felt the ground rumble and shake. I had no time to get out of the hut when the ground opened below us and our small group fell.
Don't you love cliff-hangers? The next chapter will have a whole lot more of Rose and Dart. I just didn't have much to say about them right now. I wonder why Dart and Haschel were talking about a ring? And yet again, I am so sorry for the remarkably long wait for this. I have a few other fics on the side. I'm working on all of them at once, and that makes stuff hard. I got a Megaman fic, a few Star Ocean fics, uh, and a lot of LOD fics. But I got this chapter out of the way. I think I'll finish fics chapter fics before I write new fics. But I don't know. Just R&R and tell me you liked it, even if you totally hated it. Oh and could you please tell me if you liked my fan character. I try to make him fit in with the group, so tell me if you think I did a good job. Thanks. I hope you're liking the fic as much as I like writing it.