Disclaimer: I own none of the Legend of Dragoon characters. Even the fetus pig I dissected isn't mine. I named him and everything! :(
Author's Note: I don't have anything to say, but thanks for reading my story guys. I'm glad you enjoy it. Now on with the chapter!
"Another Legend"
By Shinshia101
Chapter 14
The Queen listened intently as the young travelers explained their situation. However, she sighed and shook her head. "I am truly sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot help you."
Miranda stood next to the throne beside the queen, looking at the men and women before her. The dragoon spirits had chosen new masters, and she found that fact rather odd. It wasn't as if the wielders before were dead, but it wasn't her choice to make. After hearing what the travelers had told her about the Wingly's attempt to steal the dragoon spirit, she knew that this was out of her hands. Only one person could help them when it came to Winglies.
"I suggest you talk to Meru. She is the Wingly Ambassador," Miranda sighed. "The problem is that she's never in one place. The only thing you can do it wait for her."
"You are welcomed to stay in the castle for the time being," the Queen proposed. "It is almost nightfall."
"We appreciate your hospitality, your Majesty, but it is necessary that we solve the mystery behind this Wingly woman as soon as possible." Vector said, bowing. He looked up and smiled. "However, it would be an honor to reside in the castle when we return."
"Of course," the Queen replied, smiling at the young man's polite behavior.
As the exited the throne room, Tristan rolled his eyes. "Who died and made you the leader here?" he asked, his green eyes looking at the Wingly.
"No one," Vector replied, walking down the stairs. "I was just merely saying what we needed to do."
"…And what is up with this 'we' business? I don't know about you, but I wanted to get some sleep. Battling those elves was rather tiring."
"We don't have time for that," Vector argued as the exited the castle.
"I don't see what the big rush is," Nayeli added. "We have to wait for this Meru person anyway. A little rest never hurt anyone."
"Thank you! I'm glad someone else sees this," Tristan said.
"Hmph," Vector turned his head, not wanting to hear anymore, even if his comrades had a point.
Riza rolled her eyes. Here we go again. She found that if she just ignored the two, she would be fine. Derrick, on the other hand, wasn't feeling the same way.
"You know, you two bicker all the time. Why don't you just give it a rest?" Derrick said, injecting himself into the conversation. He turned to Nayeli. "And you aren't making it any better."
Nayeli cocked a brow and her mouth opened, about to speak, when her husband placed his hand over it. "I think it would be best to just keep silent, don't you?" Kish said, smiling down at her. She glared at him, pouting her covered lips in annoyance.
Tristan scoffed. "Whatever, I'm going to practice with my rapier. Call me if something important is actually happening." With that he walked down the stairs to the underground training facility.
"Hey wait up! I'm coming to!" Riza hollered, running to catch up with him.
"I think I'm going to occupy myself with some shopping," Derrick said looking at his bag. "We're short on supplies."
"Let's go Nayeli," Kish chirped, putting his arm around his wife. "Why don't we look at the beauty that is Deningrad?"
"There's nothing beautiful about this place." Nayeli snapped. "It's cold, murky, and has no color!"
"Wait! If we all split up how are we supposed to find each other when the Wingly Ambassador shows up?" Vector asked.
Tristan turned his head. "That's why we are telling you where we are going," he retorted. "Why don't you go to the library or something?" A smile formed on his face; he couldn't help but add: "Smartass."
Vector sighed and rested his head on his hand. Usually books had a way of bringing him into a different world, but these books just didn't suffice him. His mind was elsewhere. He got up and glanced over the bookshelf when a certain book caught his attention. Taking it out of the rack, he sat down and began to flip through its pages. Each page was filled with elaborate and detailed illustrations. One picture showed a baby girl, dressed in white robes, holding a golden staff. She sat on a red circular throne and surrounding her was a group of winged cherubs blowing trumpets. Vector looked at the caption below:
"The gods look over us as the Moon That Never Sets. Every 108 years the moon glows red as a sign that a herald is sent to the world. The herald is known as the Moon Child, who revives the gods on earth and purifies the world."
More like: revives the Virages on earth and destroys the world, Vector thought.
He noticed another picture below the caption. A black creature was devouring the child and the cherubs were weeping.
"However a demon, the Black Monster, hates it and kills the Moon Child. This is an endless karma and the gods stay in the sky while the world is in never ending chaos."
Vector flipped to the page before it.
"Winglies are people with wings of light who employ magical power. They had their glory 11,000 years ago, and had enormous magical power that could float colossal cities. They became extinct after the war with Humans who were seeking their liberation."
He stared at the illustration of winged people and large gray beasts next to the passage. He leaned back on his chair. His mind went back to that day in Dalio. That light…what was it? Virage were creatures used by the Winglies during the Dragon Campaign when Melbu Frahma had control of the Virage Embryo. But, Riza was a human being. The Virage have no connection with them, unless…
She's the Moon Child?
No, that didn't make sense! How could Riza be the Moon Child? The Moon That Never Sets glows red when the soul of the Virage Embryo transmigrates into a human, but it glowed almost 35 years ago, and Riza was only 16! Mathematically, the answer was obvious, but he couldn't help but flirt with the possibility.
Although he had no knowledge of exactly who the last Moon Child was, he knew it was a princess of Mille Seseau. However, there was no biological heir to the Mille Seseau throne at the present moment. From what he studied and heard, the Moon Child escaped the former darkness dragoon's, or what the humans refer to as the Black Monster, wrath and the wrong child was killed. Apparently, the deceased princess had a twin who was the real Moon Child. It was understandable that the former darkness dragoon made such a mistake. Until recently, humans believed that twins were a taboo and brought bad luck, and usually the healthier of the twins were chosen to live, while the other was killed. But was it different when it came to royalty? Perhaps someone had taken one of the princesses and ran off, while the other child was left to become the next successor of Mille Seseau. It made sense, at least to him anyway. How else could the Moon Child have lived?
Vector closed his eyes and began to rub his temples. The former Moon Child lived and became a pawn for Melbu Frahma seventeen years ago, but what was the story after that? Did the Moon Child die? Did she live? And what did this have to do with Riza? That he did not know. That's what he got for leaving Ulara to go 'exploring'.
I bet Charle could fill in some…
"Hey, whacha reading?" a perky voice asked, causing him to almost fall off his leaned chair. Vector soon relaxed when he saw the familiar large chestnut eyes looking at him.
"Riza, what are you doing here?" Vector asked, regaining his composure. "I thought you were training with Tristan."
Riza leaned forward against the table. "Yeah I was, but I came to get you because..." She glanced down at a picture in the book. She looked up at Vector with ireful eyes. "What's this?"
"Just something I was looking up," he casually responded. He noticed the coldness in her words and closed the book. "You were saying?"
Riza's jaws tightened and she glared at Vector. She could help but feel betrayed by him. Ever since that day in Dalio, he had been acting differently around her. The fact that he was looking up information about the Virage should have appeased her, but for some reason it only annoyed her. Did he think of her as some sort of a freak? Inhuman, like the people in the village thought?
"Riza! Vector! That Wingly Ambassador is here. What's taking you so long?" Tristan hollered as he entered the library. He looked at each of them, sensing the tension. "Did something happen?"
Vector sighed. He got up from his seat, picked up the book from the table and put it back in the bookshelf before leaving the library. Tristan looked at Riza, who just stood there, glaring at the door that Vector had left from.
"Hey, you okay?"
"I'm fine," she snapped. She averted her eyes to the ground.
Tristan cocked his brow, but decided not to press the subject. "Alright, then let's go."
-------
"Hmm…this is a tough question." The Wingly ambassador, Meru, leaned against the wall of the throne room. She had a petite frame with long silver held in a high ponytail with a large blue bow. Despite the frigid weather, she wore very little clothing. She placed her hand on her chin, pondering the question. A blue glint caught her attention. She looked at Vector's chest and pointed at him. "Hey, I was looking for that!"
"Meru, concentrate!" Miranda snapped.
The female Wingly sighed and raised her arms in the air. "I give up. I don't know! But…" She looked at the dragoons before her. "Ancestor Blano might know something."
Once again, they were walking in the Evergreen Forest, this time with Meru leading them. Vector glanced at Riza. He could tell she was still upset and he sighed and walked to her.
"Riza, may I have a word with you?" he asked, placing his hand on her shoulder. Riza looked at him for a minute before nodding. He motioned her towards the back of the group, so they wouldn't be heard.
"About what happened in the library," the Wingly sighed. "I apologize if I offended you any way. I was only trying to find information that would help in understanding what happened that day."
Riza shook her head. "No, don't apologize. I should, for overreacting. Still…" She looked at her comrades ahead of her. "Don't tell the others about what happened. I just want to focus on this mission."
Vector nodded. "Agreed."
As the dragoons walked deeper into the forest, they noticed a rustling in the trees. They were surprised when a familiar small green haired girl fell from the tree and landed in front of them.
"Kylin?!"
The diminutive half-elf chuckled, pulling a pine branch from her hair. "Hey guys. I knew if I waited long enough you'd come." Kylin got up and stretched. "I'm hanging out with you for a while. Hope you don't mind…Ow my bum." She hissed, caressing her bottom.
"Not at all," Derrick answered, laughing a little.
"So where you guys headed now?" Kylin chirped, walking in synch with Derrick.
"To the Forest of the Winglies." He looked down at her. "Ever heard of it?"
"Hmm….it sounds familiar…" Kylin mused.
"Here we are at the entrance of the Forest of the Winglies!" Meru stated, pointing to a group of trees.
"Who's she?" the elf asked, noticing the new addition to the team.
"She is the Wingly Ambassador. I believe her name is Meru." Derrick responded.
"Where's the entrance?" Riza looked around. "There are only trees here."
Meru shook her head. "Just stand back." She closed her eyes and lifted her hands and a light began to illuminate. Then her wings protruded out of her back and a portal was opened. "There is a magical boundary that separates the humans from the Winglies. It might take some time before integration actually occurs between the two." She walked up the stairs and turned to the awed travelers. "Don't just stand there. Come on!"
Meru led them to a jade circular platform. She ushered them to step on it, and when they did, it teleported them to the center of the city. All but Vector, who was accustomed to such travel, gasped in amazement.
"This is the power of the Winglies…" Kish murmured.
They continued on, noticing the people paused to look at the newcomers. A large tree stood in the square of the Forest and levels and sublevels protruding out of it. They were once again led to another teleporter that relocated them to the top of the green infrastructure and walked inside to the room. Green and blue lights illuminated from the ceiling and tall pillars with strange markings supported it. On a throne in the rear of the room sat an elderly man with silver hair only on his beard and the sides of his head. He wore a white robe with green embroidery on his shoulders and a golden belt. He rose from his seat and smiled at them.
"Welcome. Humans, Giganto, and Elf. I am Blano the Ancestor of the Forest."
Derrick went on one knee and bowed his head. Riza and Tristan followed suit. "I am the head of the First Knighthood of Serdio, Derrick Canson. I apologize for the unannounced visit. However…" Derrick got up and looked at the Ancestor. "…this is a very urgent matter. Please, we require your assistance."
The Ancestor nodded. "I understand. I will help in any way I can."
But, before Derrick could speak, he was cut off by Tristan.
"Ancestor Blano, several years ago, a group of Winglies attacked a mountain village within the Serdian border." Tristan said with narrowed eyes. "Do you have any idea who could've done this?"
If this was the place where Winglies have hidden themselves, then perhaps they had something to do with what happened at Hautz. The old man had to know something.
Ancestor Blano shook his head. "I am ashamed that our brethren have taken it upon themselves to raid villages; but I am afraid I do not know."
Tristan cussed under his breath. Just when he thought he was closer to avenging his parents and his home…
"What about Winglies seeking refuge in the west?" Derrick asked. "Surely you know something about that."
The elderly Wingly thought for a moment. "Flanvel Tower near the Kashua Glacier lies west of here."
Vector's head snapped up.
"Oh, you mean that swirly thing?" Meru asked. "I remember that place."
The aged Wingly nodded. "Yes, Flanvel Tower was a mobile fort commanding by Magician Faust. He was a very powerful Wingly and his magical powers were like none other." He glanced at Vector, who averted his eyes to the floor. "However, Magician Faust died 11,000 years ago after Flanvel Tower was shot down during the Dragon Campaign, so he is no longer a threat, unless…"
"Unless he is still alive," Vector replied coldly, completing the Ancestor's sentence.
Tristan eyed his Wingly companion for a moment. The mention of this Faust character seemed to be agitating Vector…but why?
"That is a possibility, but I highly doubt that. What I do suspect is that it is the work of Wingly radicals who still hold onto the past after all these years." Ancestor Blano shook his head. "It is possible that you are looking for the Bardel Brothers."
"Ancestor, are you sure?" Meru responded in disbelief.
"Who are the Bardel Brothers?" Riza asked.
"Two brothers, Laius and Lenox, they used to live here," the elderly Wingly said. "Since the day their sister was killed by humans, they want nothing more than human annihilation. After Meru and her friends defeated Melbu Frahma, the brothers left with a few others outside the forest. They haven't been seen or heard from in many years…" Ancestor shook his head. "If you find them, I believe you will be much closer to what you seek."
When the group returned to the Crystal Palace, Vector immediately retreated to one of the guest rooms and shut the door, eating nothing. He needed to think, even was on an empty stomach. Vector lay on his bed, looking at the ceiling. His mind was racing, working, calculating, yet he couldn't help but feel frustrated. How could he have forgotten about Flanvel Tower? How foolish of him!
He didn't want to lose his composure, but the mere mention of that cursed name drove him almost over the edge. Faust: the great Magician during the Dragoon Campaign and the right hand man of Wingly dictator Melbu Frahma. He was feared by many; even Melbu Frahma feared his power. But Faust died all those years ago when Flanvel Tower was shot down. Vector had seen it with his own eyes, yet he began to doubt. To some degree, it made sense if Faust was the one behind everything. He had the ambitions and the power. But the pieces didn't connect. What would Faust want with the dragoon spirits? What could he possibly gain from power that he couldn't wield or harness? There had to be something else…something that was tying the loose ends together that Vector was overlooking. What was it? Then again, that was if Faust was behind it all and if he was actually still alive. Agh, nothing was making sense anymore!
Vector sighed. He needed to cool down and think rationally rather than with emotion. Emotions only clogged his brain flow. However, he couldn't help the abhor feelings when it came to Faust. Whomever said that time heals all pain was a lair. Obviously they hadn't felt any real pain to begin with. Suppressed and ignored, yes, but healed? Never! He placed his hand into his hair and outlined the long scar that ran across his cranium. The memories may have been over 11,000 years old, but the pain was never forgotten. How could it be? It was all too clear in his mind…
The cell was small, damp and frigid, but it was the only home the boy knew. He could barely see; the only light came from the torches that illuminated through the bars of the cell door. He tried not to think about it; if he did the feeling would only taunt him, yet his feeling of hunger was beginning to take its toll. He felt faint and allowed his body to fall; however he landed on something soft instead of the hard brick ground. He looked up; although he could barely see, he knew it was his mother. His large red eyes could only see the outline of her starved face. He noticed her face shift, and he knew she was smiling at him, trying to encourage him as she had always done since the day he was born.
He heard hard steady footsteps coming from the corridor and his mother cuddled him closer. A pair of menacing golden eyes peered through the barred window at the door of the cell. The boy knew what it meant when those eyes stared in. He felt his mother's grip around him tighten and he wished that she would never let go.
"Bring the boy out." The man's voice has deep and stolid. "I want to run a few more tests."
"Please…" he heard his mother plead. "Please…don't take my son…I beg you…"
The man didn't even grace her with an answer. The door opened and a guard came in to take him away. The boy tried to resist, but his efforts were in vain. The boy was too small, too weak compared to the older guard.
His mother, in desperation, clung onto the man's robes. "Take me instead, but leave my son. Faust…please!"
His golden eyes flared and he backhanded the woman across the face, causing her to topple to the ground. "Don't ever let me hear my name come out of that disgusting human tongue of yours! Your life is insignificant and pollutes the very cell you and your pathetic son reside in." He glared down at the woman who was crying on the ground before turning to the guard. "Make sure the door is locked behind you. And if she get's noisy, cast a fire based spell on her. That usually shuts her up."
"Yes, sir." The guard saluted with one hand, while holding the small boy in the other.
"Mom!!!" the boy screamed. He didn't want to go to Aglis to be experimented upon. He hated the labs. He hated lying naked on the table. He hated the needles. He hated the knives. Everything hurt. He just wanted to be with his mother. The door was shut and bolted; a loud scream could be heard from the cell.
"Vector!!!!!"
Author's Note: Wow, I wrote a whole chapter that focused on Vecty. Hmm…there is more to Vector than meets the eye. What could this mean for the team? Well, all will be answered in due time. Just R&R and I'll get the next one posted up as soon as I can. Peace! :P