Chapter 4: Red sky at morning "Albert? Albert are you alright?" Slowly the king got up his eyes in a blur. He looked around him for a second before clearing his eyes with the back of his hand. "Is that you Dart?" asked Albert "you wouldn't mind telling me what the heck is going on would you" "I think that can wait a little while can't it Albert?" replied Dart folding his arms "you did just get attacked by a whole army of giant snakes and Virage and winglies at the same time. You may be a little light headed" "Remind me to bring a map next time I go wandering off in the lime stone caves" moaned Albert stroking his forehead. Loyd landed quickly touching the ground, his black sinister wings folding around him. They dissapered in a flash as he threw a dead dear on the ground. "I found some lunch" he said ", I hope you realise your majesty that this is very inconvenient for us" Albert looked up into the face of Loyd. Quickly he jumped back, swung his spear in a circle and took out his dragoon spirit. "Quick! Dart, I'll use a rose storm and you final burst him. Then I'll put in the occasional gaspless spell in!" Dart pushed Albert's weapon aside. "Loyd's a good guy now Albert, we don't have to fight him" Albert looked from side to side as if he was still not sure. Loyd sighed. "Just put the weapon down before I kill you" "Loyd that wasn't helpful!" complained Dart holding Albert back who was now thinking about cutting Loyd into several pieces. "You killed Lavitz you Bastard!" shouted Albert trying to run forward. Dart wrenched the spear away from him and threw it aside. It landed with a clang on a rock. The dragoon spirit began to flash but Dart seeing what was happening snatched it away. It felt like a fresh breeze in his hand. Each dragoon spirit Dart had held felt different. The red dragoon spirit now buried beneath the earth, felt like a warm sunset, while the divine dragoon spirit was like a burden which needed to be used, and felt all the better when it was. This was like a fresh breeze against the palm of the hand. Loyd turned and walked a few steps away. "I know you can never forgive me for what I did. But I did it with a false knowledge, If you want to kill me, then kill me now" "You bet I will!" shouted Albert suddenly wrenching away from Dart's grip. Dart leapt forward and did a rugby tackle and held onto the king's legs. Albert crawled forward a few paces taking Dart behind him before Dart managed to sit on him enough to make the king give up. "Look, Albert, this isn't accomplishing anything. Why don't we just have this wonderful lunch that Loyd brought us (Albert snarled) and then we can talk!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- "Meru" said Guhara in the hotel room "now that we've travelled the world, and that you've won the heroes competition. You don't think that we could, possibly, you know, settle down some place" Meru pondered on the idea for a few seconds. "I guess, but it's so fun travelling around everywhere. We still haven't been absolutely everywhere" "Meru" sighed Guhara "where haven't we been" Meru paused and put her finger to her lip. She thought quickly for a place they hadn't been. "The moon!" she exclaimed. And we can go there! It's a great place, we can visit the divine tree, or whats left of it!" Guhara sighed again "Meru, I'm serious, I want to settle down. You've been jogging around like a yo yo for however many decades now, I just want to live somewhere, and not have to trec around again. It's nothing big, please, you can't say I haven't tried your way, and frankly I don't want to do that for the rest of my life" Meru looked sad. Her face paled and looked away to the window. Guhara got up off the bed and walked over to her. "I'm sorry, just forget it" he murmured ", you can trec around if you want" "No," said Meru softly "your right, I guess we should stop all this. It's just it seems so short a time to just stop, and give up" Guhara tried to speak but Meru stopped him "listen, I know. We'll take one last trip to see Albert at his castle in Bale. Then, you choose the destination from then on. Then we'll stay wherever you like" Guhara smiled. "Thanks" he murmured. There was a long pause and Guhara put his hand on Meru's shoulder. It felt soft as it always did. He was about to say something when she suddenly jumped up. "Let's go then!" she exclaimed, and ran over grabbing her things together. ". what? Now?" asked Guhara "Why not?" she replied as if the conversation hadn't happened "now is as good as any time!" Guhara mumbled curses inside his head and slowly with great strain started to get his things together. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Emile walked over the ruins of the castle. She pulled rocks of where she could, Haschal tried to persuade her not to but she wanted to get any survivors out of there. The remaining soldiers from the town had come over and were taking the rubble away. It had completely blocked the rivers from flowing, and it was over flowing onto the stone. Kongal lifted heavy rocks and threw them aside. Every now and again he felt strong enough and transformed to a dragoon. Then he would move the rocks a lot faster. Haschal did the same, although he couldn't do the job as fast as Kongal could. There was a swarm of people attacking the mound, every now and again they'd find a wounded soldier, drag him out and take him to the local clinic. Many many died. The wounds to the soldiers were terrible. Most of the time it was the armour which hut them more than anything, the metal twisted inwards and had to be carefully removed. "I just can't believe it" murmured Haschal ",why?" "Kongal, not know why. Kongal only see suffering, must help people" replied Kongal chucking rocks aside faster. Both at this moment were not dragoons. Emile after awhile began to get tired. Even so she continued. Gradually she slowed down and listened to the people around her. "I heard, it was a plot by the two big men" said one "Dam them, I'll get them I swear" replied the other "they're probably winglies as well. Well I'll show them. They deserve to be cut up and killed just like all the rest of that horrible species! I hate them! I hate them all!" Emile walked quietly away and over to Kongal and Haschal. "What is it your majesty?" asked Kongal bowing before her. Kongal listened in and stopped working. He wiped his forehead and leaned on his huge battle-axe. "You two better get out of here" whispered Emile. The tears still shone a little in her eyes "the people are in no mood for you. They're blaming you for all this" Haschal sighed. "I don't blame them, it was kinda are fault in the first place the castle fell" "As much as I need your help" said Emile sadly "I also don't need your help, you will only make everyone grouchy, I'm afraid I'm going to ask you two to leave. I hope you won't take it against me" "Of course not your majesty" said Hashcal as honestly and compassionately as he could truthfully sound. "Kongal scout out and find what's going on" smiled Kongal but the smile was only for show. It felt uneasy and soon left the giant's face. "I would prefer it if you didn't fly until you are way out of town if that's ok. Don't remind the people" mourned Emile looking at the floor ",if you see Albert" she continued "tell him that when he returns he's going to have to cut my head off" "What?" stammered Haschal with a look of surprise "Because I failed him, I failed this country while I was in charge. It's all my fault that everyone died" Suddenly she burst into tears and fell down to the ground crying. She cothered her eyes and sobbed, gasping for breath as if it hurt her very lungs. "I can't take to see his face when he returns. He'll be so angry, and sad that I failed him. I don't know what to do, the castle fell, I don't know what to do anymore, help me Hashcal" And the rest was lost into tears. She cried and Haschal found it hard to speak. "Emile" whispered Haschal not using the formal title "you have done a brilliant job. If anyone alive is to blame it's the dragoons and the winglies, it was not your fault. This battle has been going back for tens of thousands of years! If Albert sais one word of you failing him I'll skin him alive! But I know he won't because he's a decent man. Speaking of which where the hell is he? I'm going to have a long talk with him" "I don't know" sobbed Emile "he went after Dart, "he was saying something about that this battle was a problem only dragoons could sought out" Haschal's face went pale. "Your majesty" said Haschal his face going pale ",I think when you are feeling better you'd better explain to us what all of this is about. Albert wouldn't just take off without a good reason" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Far away across the hills, past the lime stone caves, and a battlefield full of corpses, with giant snakes feasting on the remains, far further still to a hill, with a small fire on top, Dart sat down. The day was getting late and a nasty atmosphere was emanating from the fire. The situation was rather comical, in the feeling of the occasion. There was Loyd sat his back hunched and looking the other way, opposite him was Albert his back hunched and looking the other way, and Dart in between them stairing his head in his hands watching the fire. "You could at least attempt to talk to each other" complained dart pensively. There was a long silence in which nobody said anything. Somewhere a owl hooted, the grass hoppers were clicking away, and the fire burned softly to itself. "I don't think he wants to talk" muttered Loyd "I don't think I want to talk" continued Albert still looking the other way "there maybe spies around" he said giving Loyd a suspicious glance A wolf howled. Recently wolf howling had become something of a little guess work, they were rather disappointed each night to find the moon seemed to be hidden behind clouds every night. "I'm sorry you feel that way" said Loyd softly "Well I've got good reason to!" complained Albert "Oh get over it!" rasped Loyd "it's not that big a deal, people die in wars" "Wrong Loyd" replied Albert "people get killed in wars, don't make it easy on your self" "Please!" shouted Dart ", just shake hands or something. This is not good timing. I don't care if you two want to rip each others ears out, I never really took that many grudges myself so." "You seemed pretty convinced when you were chasing me" pointed out Loyd "Shut up! Look, all I'm interested in at the moment, is finding and rescuing Shana" "Shana went missing?" asked Albert surprised "Yes" replied Dart "that is why they destroyed Seles again. You know, sometimes I feel wherever Shana goes some town's going to get burned down. Perhaps we should have lived in Aglis, that can't really burn very easily, anyway I'm diverging. Albert, we forgot one thing we needed to investigate after we defeated Melbu, the reason for that is mainly because we didn't have Rose with us who would have told us what to do. We destroyed the body of the moon child but we cannot destroy the soul, the soul is immortal. Though it is no danger now without the body, it can still be used for infinite magical power, and be refined by the winglies themselves. When they get Shana, they're going to kill her, and retrieve the second soul within her. We've got to stop them! Now. can you two at least see sense in working together, to make sure Shana survives and the whole of the world isn't enslaved again by winglies?" "I guess" murmured Albert. He looked at Loyd suspiciously again. "I suppose we could" murmured Loyd feeling guilty "Right then! That's settled!" said Dart happily "Not yet!" interrupted Albert "you may be a flashy swords man Loyd, but when we're finished, you and me are going to fight this out. Dragoon against dragoon, Lavitz's death will be avenged, do you accept the challenge?" "Albert!" complained Dart after he had just got things working out. "Fine" said Loyd "I've settled things this way plenty of times in the past. If that's how you want it, then be my guest" "Settled!" smiled Albert. It didn't seem like Albert at all. But then again Dart had never tried killing one of Albert's friends to find out for sure what he would be like. Still, Lavitz had been just as much of a friend to Dart, perhaps even more so. "So what next?" asked Dart looking at the others. He knew exactly what was happening next, he just wanted to make sure the others weren't going to kill each other in the middle of the night. Straight away in the morning they were going to head as fast as they could towards Mayfil and hopefully not get disturbed on the way. "We sleep and then we travel" murmured Loyd turning around and trying to get some sleep. Albert mumbled something about Loyd being too casual and then rolled over himself. "It's a bit early isn't it?" asked Dart "Sod it" mumbled Loyd "I'm fed up with killing Virage" "And being attacked by giant snakes" added Albert But even as Dart spoke the light began to fade. It was just plainly the fact that he didn't feel like sleeping. He knew those two would be arguing all morning. He waited and pretended to try and sleep. After awhile he gave up and watched the stars begin to come out. Albert was the first to snore and then a long time after Loyd fell asleep. Dart watched them both and listened. The fire was beginning to burn low. Quietly he got up and walked away. "I've got to rescue Shana" he murmured ",I can feel she's in danger. If I wait until tomorrow, there is no chance" Dart looked down quietly at the dragon buster. Suddenly it flared up yellow, happy at its new use. Dart carefully took out the divine dragoon spirit and held it up to the dark sky. There was a flash of white light and Dart took off leaving a stream of light behind him. He flew high into the sky and circled carefully around the companions, careful not to leave a cold shadow over them. Then, at full speed he zoomed towards Mayfil. Little did Dart know the dangers ahead, while softly the wingly and the king slept. The dragon buster began to hum to itself. Dart felt the worry and tension and anger start to grow back inside him like it had done that night when Seles was destroyed for good. He zoomed across the sky in fury, ready to go into hell itself to retrieve his loved one. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- "Virage invaded?" gaped Haschal. Emile had recovered her self now. They were in the house of Lavit's mother. She was a sad old women, who people thought was on the verge of madness. "Yes" continued Emile sadly ", and Albert just took off to go after them. Then a few days later this wingly turns up with Dart's dragoon spirit. "Oh no" sighed Haschal ", I hope Dart's ok. Still it used to be his spirit, but no longer, if anything happened to him I don't know what I'd do. Emile I'm sorry, this has to happen, but we're going to have to go and find out what is going on. "Couldn't we wait till sun, rise?" asked Kongal leaving an embarrassing gap between the sun - rise. It was dark outside, but it was still possible to here the faint digging amongst the rubble of the castle. A new home would have to be placed there one day. "It'd be better to fly now. Even though I feel tired, I think I can still fell the boat rocking if I close my eyes. I think we better hurry Kongal. This is starting to sound more serious than the average war" "I wish you luck Haschal and Kongal, please find Albert and tell him what has happened here" she said half heartedly "When I find that husband of yours I'll bash his brains in if that's what it takes to bring him to his senses. Don't you worry Emile we'll find him and what's going on. We dragoons have taken down Virage and super Virage before, we can deal with it" "Better we go now Haschal?" said Kongal putting his hand on the man's shoulder. That was getting annoying for Haschal, Kongal often did that and it was like and padded anvil being lowered carefully down. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- "Be it snow hale, storm or hurricane I shall fly through it for you Shana" muttered Dart zooming across the sky. The dragon buster started to hum incredibly loudly and was in a whirl of flame. The divine dragoon armour shone brighter than normal. The multi wings stretched back in a bright yellow aura casting a shadow of darkness and bright light on the ground below. Dart left a white lighted trail behind him which soon dissapered and faded as he past. He was moving faster than ever before. He had known all along he would have had to chased Shana alone. It was there at the back of his mind. He just hadn't wanted to do it. Likely when Albert and Loyd woke up their first instinct would be to follow after him. That's why he made good speed. He had soon left Serdio behind and zoomed past the twin castle in Fletz like a meteor in the sky. It was noted by astronomers, but only two people new it's true significance. The land rolled underneath, trees forests land. He could reach Shana by dawn, he new he could. He would have to, if he was to save her. The impulse drove wild in his mind, they had been too slack the past few days, and cothered almost no ground. Now he had to make up for it. He had improved with the divine dragoon spirit, Loyd had toughened him up. The dragon buster hummed louder as Dart's thoughts strayed to killing Hatu for what he did to Seles. The wingly had disturbed the newly formed peace over the world, for greed and ambition. He would have to be stopped, he couldn't be aloud to get away with this. Hours cut into the night and seemed to pass away like minutes, blown away as the leaves on a windy autumn day. Dart's eyes stayed focused on the steering of his direction. He looked down to the west and saw the valley of corrupted gravity, stones floated through the night. He was far away enough not to be affected. "Dart help me" echoed Shana's voice in Dart's head. He could no longer tell if it was a true voice or a imitation, created by the mind. He knew only that one thing, to get to her before they killed her. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- "Albert!... Albert! Wake up!" shouted Loyd Albert's tired eyes slowly opened from a peaceful sleep. He had dreamed of a peaceful return to his home with Emile. "What is it?" he yawned ", oh it's you!" "Listen!" hurried Loyd ",it's Dart, he's gone missing!" "What?" asked Albert getting up. It was still dark, though the hints of the approach of morning were appearing in the sky. Albert quickly stood up and looked around him. He saw a spec in the night sky. "Loyd! He's over there you idiot?" pointed Albert at the stream of light in the sky. "Well what's he doing at this time of night if that's him? Hey! I think I can see someone else, Albert if it's winglies prepare to fight. We had a battle with a wingly on the way, that turned out to be my hated sister. I don't know where she is now, just be prepared" "What should we do" said Albert not meaning it to be a question to Loyd "I'm going to fly up there, if I get in trouble you can dragoon transform and help me out" replied Loyd quickly enough so that Albert didn't have time to refuse. All that the king managed to say was "wait!" Loyd pierced the air with his wingly wings. They glowed brightly with the power of magic. He flew up into the night sky and stopped. The specs came closer and closer, and eventually he could see their shape in more detail and their faces. They were both dragoons. A big one and a small one, their hair was black, which meant that they were both mere humans. Haschal and Kongal approached and slowed. Suddenly Haschal caught Loyd's face in the weak light. "Kongal! Stop, oh my god it's Loyd. How'd he get here?" "Stop!" called Loyd ahead of them in his deep firm voice. He put his hand forward in a polite gesture "I'm not here to fight, we decided on that long ago" "So you're the one behind this!" roared Haschal his eyes sparkling with lightning. He withdrew a thunderbolt of electricity and perched it on his hand ready to fire. "Look! I don't want to hurt you!" pleaded Loyd "Kongal not believe wingly" said Kongal in a quiet but deadly voice. He readied his axe ready to strike the wingly down. Down below, Albert saw the glint of a blade under the star light. Sensing Loyd was in trouble he quickly took out his jade spirit and transformed. He flew fast and charged towards Kongal. Their blades met and Kongal caught off guard was thrown backwards in a wild retreat not quite knowing what was going on. Haschal dived at Loyd, thinking the battle had started. Loyd caught off guard was winded and smacked in the stomach. Haschal brought his thigh up in one smooth motion so that his foot towered over Loyd's head, and then brought it down with a crash. Loyd dropped in height and tried through giddy eyes to defend himself. "Albert!?" asked Kongal suddenly stopping ", What's going on" "Stop this!" shouted Loyd holding on to his head. It throbbed madly. Carefully he took out a potion and drank the contents, with a small gasp "Look, I'm not trying to kill you, Albert will back me up!" "What's Loyd trying to do this time Albert?" asked Haschal turning around "or is it you who have betrayed us all?" Albert sighed regrettingly and deeply. "Loyd, is on are side now. Look, come down by what's left of are burned out fire and I'll try to explain this as quickly as possible" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Mirandir looked throughout the library. She had a pile of books on her desk. Each one showed the histories of the dragon campaign. She had no idea what to do with the spirit once she was too old to use it. Just let it rest would be the best thing. She quietly read a book about the divine dragon. How in times of old it had flown freely across the skies. The tale was in an old wingly translated version by Diaz himself. It told of how once the divine dragon had flown one morning throughout the skies and crashed into a wingly military city. It had thrashed about wildly and destroyed all the Virage, which came to seek it out. It destroyed super Virage with one shot of its cannon and then in a mad rage circled round and devastated the whole fortress inch by inch. Dragons seemed to be attracted to Virage. "In the dawn of time when Soa blessed the species, he gave the winglies the most benefits. They were the master race to live and to build great things of magical power. The humans were to live peacefully and live along side of nature while the winglies improved it. This wisdom was given to the two species. However Soa blessed each race in its own turn. However one other species was given power even greater than the winglies. Because of their small numbers each was given immense power. They were the dragons, and they were the ones who eventually lead us to victory. Dragons have an intelligence no other species had. It wasn't how many numbers they can keep in their head at one time, it was a deep understanding of all things. And they respected Soa for the benefits he gave them. That is why the dragons were attracted to Virage, they didn't like them. They were created by winglies, and therefore against the will of the creator. And that is exactly why they helped us, they disagreed with the separation of the final species, between it's body and its soul. I must admit that I didn't understand much of it myself, but I think I got the basic idea. Tomorrow the dragoons will attack Kadessa lead by Zieg, we will destroy the signet sphere and release the blessing to the world for all. I have no idea why the winglies fear it. Tomorrow the final battle begins, and I look forward with happiness to the marriage of two great dragoons. Long live the human race! This is are greatest time" Mirandir sighed. "its such a shame Melbu had to ruin everything. If he hadn't cast that devastating spell, the dragons would still be among us now" There was a flash of light and a aura filled the room. "Huh?" gasped Mirandir looking around her. She felt into her pokets and retrieved the white silver spirit. It was glowing. Quickly she climbed down from the top floor and ,made her way to the bottom of that great library. Past the crystal palace which had scaffolding all around it a tiny light appeared in the distance. It was moving horizontally across the sky. "Dart?" asked Mirandir. Some of the people pointed in fear and started running in doors. Some people still feared the return of the divine dragon. "I hope this still works" murmured Mirandir looking at her spirit stone. She transformed in a flash and took off into the sky. She wasn't as strong as she had been, she had spent too much time in doors reading "I think I'll just follow him for now" However she found she had to really try to keep up. Dart was moving very very fast indeed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- "How long has he been gone?" asked Haschal angrily to Albert as the four dragoons flew along side each other. "Since sometime in the night" replied Albert telling the truth. There was silence for a while. Haschal dropped back to Kongal. "What should I say to him?" whispered Haschal in the giant's ear Kongal looked over at Albert with pity. The morning air was blowing against them in a torrent almost as if the sun's light were getting trapped inside. They passed over a lake and the water dazzled everyone's eyes with the reflection. "If I were him, it wouldn't be good for I to know all, yet" replied Kongal cautiously. "We're never going to catch up with Dart at this rate!" complained Loyd flying backwards ", can't you dragoons go any faster? It's no surprise Melbu beat you to every single sphere if you were going at this sought of speed!" Haschal grumbled and flew a little faster. His strength was ebbing and soon he knew he would have to rest, and show Loyd his weaknesses. "They and I are going as fast as we can" returned Albert, out of patience ", if that's not fast enough for you, then we can go no faster" "Your lying" returned Loyd "if you people had spent more time harnessing your power you might be able to fly as well as me. I may be a wingly, but that doesn't mean I have a advantage in the effort I put in! The more determined you are with these spirits the faster you improve!" "Are you saying you can do this any better than us?" asked Haschal out of temper "I can" returned Loyd doing a loop the loop right in front of them "and if we don't hurry up Dart's going to do something silly! He's a wild card, let loose with love to feed him, and the dragon buster, who knows what he could do. He may accidentally kill Shana in haste. I tell you, if your not careful with the divine dragoon spirit it can take you over. I felt it trying to control me, I guess that's why I got so good at controlling it. Still, I don't blame him, at the pace you slowed us down to Albert, I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd rather have walked it" "How dare you!" shouted Albert raising his spear "You can try and kill me now if you like" returned Loyd "but it will only waist your time and mine. and Shana's! I don't think we want another death in the family, especially if it's two" "Your disgusting!" rasped Haschal looking down at the ground "Depends on what you thinks disgusting" returned Loyd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Across the horizon the dead city of Mayfil came in sight. Sunlight was pouring down on to the soft grass below, like liquid lemon juice. "Shana I'm coming" murmured Dart madly. The divine dragoon spirit flickered with mad glee. He sped on across the land, and dived downwards into one of the many vents of the city of the dead. The coldness surrounded him. He lowered down to a grey platform and with a flash transformed back to his normal state. He sat gasping and coughing for a few moments on the cold flaw. The extent of his journey in such a short time and the cold air entering his saw lungs were a pain for no man to bare. His throat itched as he got the coughing fit under control. He looked at the spirit of the dragon. It hummed softly, as if at ease with itself, unlike Dart who was worried sick. The stone glowed a faint light and then slowly went out. The light seemed to be sucked away into the air, feeding the endless dead spirits there. The whole city was a glow of darkness and a rich blue. The spirits of the dead moaned quietly on the wind every now and again. In ages old the winglies ruled this city and many others. They were gone now, only the silence, only forgotten secrets in the darkness. Dart made his way slowly down the passage ways, heading down where ever he could. He was in a different part of Mayfil than he had originally been in. There were less teleporters here to get confused about. When Dart had last come to Mayfil he was in a hurry and didn't have much time to look around. They had to get to the signet sphere before Melbu got there. They had battled the souls of three dragons, and then the spirit of Lavitz, who had been possessed by a great evil. The only they could get to the sphere was to use the countless teleporters in the city. The wingly teleporting devices were amazingly good and accurate. They would teleport you as a green ball to many a destination. However it seemed the area Dart was heading to was older, and more primitive. It was as if the winglies had yet to update this arcane area of the city. There was less light. Dart felt fin and frail, his skin held lightly to his body. He was weak and defenceless in his normal form except for the dragon buster and his store of spells. At the moment the sword was not glowing at all, the flames had gone out, probably to do with the power flux of the city. There was only a silver blade, which glittered softly and caught the light as Dart moved it around. He swished it through the air, and it parted it easily. "I've got to find you Shana" he murmured stairing at the sword. Was there a blood stain on it? He could see the blood and could not see it, there should be, yet was there. It looked like there was blood. Dart shook his head quickly and took a step forward, the ground gave way beneath him and he fell. The stones had to have been lose as he saw the darkness roaring up towards him. He took out the dragoon spirit but it wouldn't work. There was nothing in him at that moment to make it work. As he fell he felt the cold wind surround him faster and faster, and more cold. Despair and darkness surrounded him and the faces of dead spirits roared up on the soul wind. Colours of cold blue and dead winglies and humans from the dragon campaign their souls not at rest. He would fall to his death and then, when his body shattered his soul would be sucked away into oblivion and trapped in the city until it past into the other world. There was no return from the city of Mayfil as such as there is no return from death. No species ever cheated the Ultimate rule. The winglies word for life, was only the word death with a negative added on. Suddenly the cold concentrated on his shoulders and feet like a roaring pain. Gradually he started to slow down and struggled to get the roaring pain out of his shoulders. Looking down him he saw a ghostly spirit in front of him. "Dart, listen to me" said the spirit. Handsome light blue hair from the ghost wavered like the air in the heat of a foreign sun. It was Zieg holding his feet. "Dart, you mustn't rescue Shana" "Father?" asked Dart desperately and unsure, "but why! I love her!" "She is doomed Dart" said a feminine voice from behind him. He looked up to see the faint aura of red in the spirits hair. Rose looked down at Dart. "You cannot save her anymore, but you can save your self! And the world! This has been what we dragoons have always battled for!" The darkness started to descend away again and the walls instead moved downwards or seemed to. "You must let her die, then take the signet sphere and brake it here! In this powerful place the soul will be sucked away for ever! You cannot stop her death, it is too late, but if you interfere before, the time comes, the god of destruction will find a new way into the world, and it shall destroy you and all in it's path" "How do you know all this?" questioned Dart looking at Zieg. Zieg's face took on a serious expression and wavered in the wind. "It was Soa himself who spoke to us. He said he was sorry, when he first created the world he wanted to make it perfect. But he failed, this was his first attempt, he tried to destroy it with the last species from his tree and remake it again but we stopped him. He has decided now that all things are precious that he has made, and now the bridge of time shall continue for us as long as he wishes. He tells us, that the worst mistake he made was to try and destroy the world, and it all went wrong because we interfered. He sais that Shana must not speak to you again before she dies, or the worst things could happen" "Why should I listen to Soa? He may be the creator but he tried to destroy us!" said Dart angered "you tried to stop him!" "Dart" said Rose after Zieg had finished "you must let her die. Her soul will flow free and the moon child's also. Then the final species will die for good, and so must Shana, but she will live on in the afterlife. If you try to interfere, the fate of the world could be in danger and everything we have protected for 10000 years and more to come! This is the hardest thing you will ever have to do, but it is the right thing!" "What are they going to do to her?" exclaimed Dart up set, tears started to stream down his eyes helped by the cold wind "how will they kill her! I must know!" The walls stopped moving. Gently Dart descended onto a platform. It was a green teleporter. The pain eased and Rose and Zieg hovered back as dart got up. It was Rose who spoke next. "They shall hold her in the very core of Mayfil, where all spirits in the world feel their soul being pulled. Then shall kill her with the Satavesti soul blade, it will only just take away her life. Her soul will then fly easily free, but the god of destruction shall hang on for all it's worth. Then shall seal it away in a new crystal sphere, half made by the magician Faust a long time ago as a spare. He never finished it, the wingly mage Tamai finished it in this century and gave it to Melbu's descendant Hatu Frahma. Then they shall seal the soul in the crystal. That is when Soa has foreseen that you will be able to interfere, you must fly forward as the divine dragoon and destroy the crystal. With no body to hang onto the soul will plummet to the other world, the same as Shana" "I can't kill Shana!" shouted Dart back suddenly ",I love her more than anything else in the world!" The divine dragoon spirit flashed white, and the dragon buster burst into a blue flame, which was sucked slowly in a spiral away across the wind. "You will have to Dart" replied Rose sadly ", Lavitz said: do it for the world, that is his message to you. You don't understand, we don't know how, but if she doesn't die at the correct time as the winglies wish! A force so powerful could be created, that it's power could destroy the world, or rip a whole in reality. She must die Dart, you must not interfere!" Slowly the spirits faded slightly. And were then caught and sucked away like a spiral of water on the wind. They flew away towards the light. "Father!" shouted Dart ", How can you expect me to watch her die!... Shana!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- By QQQ