Ulara and Rouge
No one spoke as we left Vellweb.
Well, at least they know the truth now. I had always been frightened that they would find out. Now I don't have to hide anything.
Who am I kidding? I'm screaming inside.
So the seven of us left Vellweb toward the southeast, to the Death Frontier. All of them look pale and thin-lipped, obscurely frightened.
How much they regret being nice to me, I'm sure. Offering me the green cape in the snowfields in case I was cold in my thin armor, or trying to talk to me about my mysterious ways. And Haschel, always trying to decode my secret.
Well now he knows.
I am the despised Black Monster from their legends, the demon that kills every 108 years no matter what. I am the one that Lloyd called a devil, destroying entire towns. I am the Black Monster that they feared and hated for so long, the object for revenge that Dart has been hunting for eighteen years.
None of them look composed. They all seem frightened.
Except Dart.
Dart walks as if his legs are stone, the hilt of his sword gripped tightly in his hand, partly out of its sheath. He stares straight ahead, jaws clenched tightly as if to restrain himself.
It is at the border of the Death Frontier when it happens.
Dart stops abruptly, kicking up desert sand. Unable to control my own body, I stop walking as well.
With the crash of steel scraping steel, the sword slides out of its sheath. His entire body is tense and ready for battle.
And his eyes show none of the amused curiosity that he had every time he spoke to me, or the patient lecturing when he told me not to kill someone. None of the gratitude when I told him that I had saved him from the depths of the ocean, or the warm love that he showed me as a fellow companion.
Instead the only thing there is uncloaked hatred.
The others pause too, their heads looking from the Fire Dragoon to the Darkness Dragoon.
"You guys go ahead." Dart commands through clenched teeth, every word an icicle driving into the ground.
"Dart!" Meru gasps.
"Dart, you can't do this." Haschel protests calmly.
"I agree. This is not the way." Albert says quickly and nervously.
"Go." Dart repeats, more forcefully. "Get out of here. This is something that is between the two of us."
Squirming nervously, the five of them scatter away, further into the Death Frontier.
Dart watches them until they disappear from sight, and then turns back to me. The setting sun glints off his hair, but the shining anger and disgust in his eyes is not a reflection of the light.
Dart…please don't hate me. Please don't be angry with me. I only did what needed to be done. I had no choice! Please… I plead with him, but keeping my face cold as always. I cannot afford for him to see me weak.
The steel in his eyes tells me he is not going to back down.
Shamefully, I lower my eyes.
When night falls, we return to the others, locating them by the fire in the distance.
"Dart? Rose?" Meru asks nervously, shifting from one foot to the other as we approach.
Dart ignores her as he walks past her and sits on the side.
"Rose? What happened?"
I shake my head, moving to sit next to the fire.
There are a few moments of awkward silence before Kongol clears his throat, a giant rumbling. "No need to return. The city of Winglies, Rose said, is just over there."
Ulara…the only place I can turn to if I need help. Maybe my…maybe they can help us…me.
"What was it called, Ulara?" Haschel asks. "I hope they know what we should do there."
I hope so too.
Trying to lessen the tension in the air, Meru tries to make a conversation. "It turns out that Lloyd wasn't so bad after all."
"And neither is Rose." Albert says quietly.
No one shall thank you for that. I tell him with my eyes.
"He's right." Haschel finally says. "Rose, why didn't you tell us?"
I shake my head. "I could not. It is not of your concern. But…"
"You're not evil." Albert says. "You're not the Black Monster. The Black Monster, it seems, is not the devil that everyone inferred it was."
I keep my eyes on a pile of sand in front of me.
"Rose? Why don't you tell us?" Meru says, gently. "It will help you."
I lift my eyes slightly to meet her. Her face is open, sincere, honest.
I sigh imperceptibly and begin to speak. "I found out the true meaning of the prophecy after the Dragon Campaign. I knew that the holy blessing did not mean eternal bliss, but total destruction of the world. I…I couldn't let that happen. Not after all the killing that I had seen. My friends, the original Dragoons, took the world back. And because of a prophecy, the world was going to end? No. So I…I took matters into my own hands. I had to stop the holy blessing from happening, so I had to kill the Moon Child.
"For 11,000 years I did not stop. As soon as the Moon That Never Sets glared red, I set out to find the Moon Child. I killed the baby to prevent the prophecy from coming true. The last time it was Princess Louvia of Mille Seseau…or so I thought. I had not calculated that there be a twin. I killed her for nothing then." I take a deep breath.
"And that's how it always has been. Since 11,000 years ago, I've had to stop the prophecy from coming true by killing the Moon Child every 108 years." I conclude.
"You really fought in the Dragon Campaign?" Albert questions.
"I am not lying. I remember the fighting. I remember the deaths." I gesture to my sword, shining in the night. "I remember the gleam of red against the silver of my blade."
Albert winces. He has loved studying the Dragon Campaign, and yet he never experienced the deaths in it, so he can never truly understand.
Kongol and Miranda and Dart have been keeping silent. Kongol perhaps because he does not usually talk, but as for the other two…
I rise from the fire and walk into the shadows, making an excuse that I wanted to sleep.
But I sit down in the cool sand; I tuck my knees up to my chest and put my arms around them, resting my chin on my elbows.
This goes beyond me now. All my work, the killings for the past 108 years will have been useless is Zieg succeeds in bringing Shana to the Moon That Never Sets, in combining the soul of the Virage Embryo with the body. If that happens, Virages from the Moon shall awaken and destroy the world.
This goes beyond me now. The past 11,000 years that I have spent mourning over his death will have been useless. Because Zieg is somehow back in the world of the living, and I must destroy him for the sake of the world.
This goes beyond me now. It is not my decision to make, and yet my choice will effect the outcome.
The world…or Zieg?
The team spends an entire two weeks in the Death Frontier, because the distance is so great and we are constantly getting lost.
Even though I could find the way to Ulara with my eyes closed, I do not say anything. I do not think they would want my help at this point.
And for these past two weeks, things have been different.
Meru, Albert, and Haschel look at me with a sort of respect mixed in with fear. Kongol is stoic as always. Miranda and I stay away from each other, and that is no change.
But Dart…Dart has been avoiding me, and I him. What had happened two weeks ago at the entrance to the Death Frontier…
Finally, we reach the tiny oasis that signifies we are almost to Ulara.
"Water!" Meru screeches, jumping up and down.
"It's refreshing!" Haschel comments, drinking so fast that I know his stomach will hurt later on.
"Here no monster." Kongol says. "We can rest now."
I wait until everyone has taken their share of water before I drink, deeply.
For the first time is two weeks, Miranda speaks directly to me. "What will the Winglies in Ulara know?"
I look at her in the eyes. Nothing has changed. I am still what I was. I do not need to cower because you have found out my secret.
The look in her liquid eyes tells me that she expects nothing different.
I reply evenly. "They should know the way we, or at least 'I' should take. So there is no need for you to come."
Miranda scoffs. "Are you still saying that? Don't you understand it is no longer a problem for you alone?!" She demands.
"You just found it out a couple of days ago and now you think you can judge me?" I counter angrily. "It is not as easy as pursuing one Wingly."
I have stepped over the line. Miranda crosses the space separating us in one quick stride and slaps me across the face so hard that my head snaps to the side.
Slowly I turn my head back, my eyes no different than before.
"You…you say it was easy?!" She demands, gasping, and I am surprised to see that she is frightened. "Don't be so conceited! You think it is easy chasing a Wingly that attacked your Queen?"
It is easier than what I had to go through! I snarl in my mind, and I am just about the make that comment when the King interrupts.
"Miranda! Rose! Stop it." Albert calls sharply, as if speaking to two little girls fighting over a rag doll.
Miranda steps back and I take my hand away from the dark hilt of my sword. She is still glaring at me, and I do not back down.
After all that I have had to go through, you think that I am afraid of you?
"Fighting won't get us anywhere." Albert says rationally. He turns to face me. "Rose, nobody can understand the weight of fate you have carried. But we can at least lighten the burden for you."
I look at the Serdian for a moment. Standing tall and proud with his green cape waving like a banner in the desert wind, he indeed looks a king.
"That's why," Dart says quietly. "We are going with you. If you have the strength to argue, you two, then we can go on."
When everyone else starts walking, and I stay still, Dart comes over and puts his hand on my shoulder. "There is no other way, is there?"
No. "This way." I jerk my head sharply, and start to walk.
We reach the cliff in three hours.
The sand thins out into the solid black rock of the cliffs. The drop at the end only leads to more and more desert. A stacking of rocks acts as a railing.
"Even if an adventurer is lucky enough to make it through the Death Frontier," I say idly, "Nobody can proceed from here." I pause. "Time was stopped for me 11,000 years ago with the spell of this Choker." I gesture to the dark necklace clinging to my throat. "And this is the only way to see Ulara, the Spring Breath Town."
The others move forward to the 'railing.' "But, where is it?" Albert asks, craning his neck.
"The only thing here is an endless desert." Haschel observes.
Meru sprouts her wings and lands on the railing. "No, it's not. Haschel, I sense it. I sense people's feelings, over there!"
I leap up in one motion onto a high outcropping of rocks, agile as a kitten. Tentatively unfastening the choker from my neck, I hold it up in one hand, concentrating my power.
The mirage of the desert shimmers and warps, and then a giant island floats in the sky. A beautiful island, green with plants and forests, with large fashionable buildings in the center. A circular disc supports it, a circle like a rainbow.
"Whoa!"
"That," I say, refastening the necklace. "Is Ulara. We can fly over there with this."
I jump off the outcropping and kick over a large flat rock to uncover the brilliant green teleporter underneath. "This way," I gesture. I look at Dart. "Are you afraid?"
Turning my question on me, he answers coolly, "I think you are."
"Maybe." I admit, just as cold as always.
"We are standing by you." Dart promises.
I nod. "I know."
"Let's go."
When I reform myself, I am standing in the beautiful glowing Wingly city of Ulara. The pathways are made elegantly of some sort of stone, with teleporters scattered here and there, although not enough to make a newcomer feel confused. The Wingly buildings are small and compact, but cozy and friendly. Shallow brooks glittering with crystal water runs underneath the walkways. The entire town has a refreshing feeling.
A Wingly woman is standing in front of me when the rest of the team appears.
The Wingly female smiles, stepping off the unused teleporter she had been standing on. "Welcome to Ulara, the Spring Breath Town. I am the guardian of the teleporting device, Caron." She smiles widely, showing perfect pearl-white teeth. "I'm a good friend of Rose's.
I nod at her. "Long time no see."
"Long time?" Caron echoes. "Rose, you are starting to regain a sense of time, aren't you? No, not only that." She looks around, surprised at the people with me. "You have recovered a lot of other things, too."
"Are you the person who stopped time for Rose?" Dart asks.
"No." I reply. "It was Charle Frahma. She is the person we have to meet now."
"Rose has been carrying the fate of the world all alone while shedding tears of blood." Caron says quietly. "Can you go with Rose?"
"Caron, stop it." I tell her. "I don't need to force them."
Dart steps in front of me to look at Caron. "I have already settled things with the Black Monster. The only thing left is that I have to complete this journey with my companions."
"If you understand that," Caron says gently, but happily. "I have nothing to say."
I start walking down the pathways. I know the twists and turns of Ulara well. The others follow silently.
"Rose!" A male Wingly settles down in front of me, shrinking in his wings. He looks at the others. "Wow. It's been a while since the last time I saw a human other than Rose! It's been eleven thousand and…some years!"
"Hello." I reply.
"These your friends?"
"…This is Dart, Miranda, Meru, Haschel, Albert, and Kongol." I skirt around his question. "We need to see Charle."
"Well, you know where she is. See you around, Rose." The Wingly flies off again.
Meru is gazing around her, amazed to see other Winglies living so peacefully. Albert is thrilled to find that Ulara had managed to stay hidden for 11,000 years, speaking rapidly to Haschel. Kongol looks down the walkways with a look of uneasiness on his face. Miranda seems to have respect and awe mixed in with contempt and her regular annoyance. And Dart is…just Dart.
The water flowing down below is sparkling and clean. When Meru asks, I explain that the water is made from magic.
"Magic can be used for good and bad." Meru says, nodding as if proving some point. "Like now, the magic makes this place beautiful. So why do some people have to use it for bad things?"
I shrug. In eleven thousand years, I have not understood that question.
"So Rose, you are like a hero here?" Haschel asks.
"They know about what you did?" Albert questions.
I turn my head to glare at the both of them over my shoulder before continuing to walk.
These Winglies are the ones who understand what I must do. They understand the risk of the Moon Child.
The next section has two Wingly females and one male speaking cheerfully. This is a town of contented beings. They understand the pain and hatred of the world, and yet still find some way to stay optimistic. Perhaps ignorance is bliss.
Dart is staring at the patch of beautiful red roses in the raised pavilion. "Roses. I think that Shana would be happy to see them." He says wistfully.
The Moon Child means a lot to him… This is a dangerous matter for him. He loves Shana with all his heart, and yet to save the world, he must kill her.
And just as me.
Miranda's presence moving forward penetrates my thoughts. I still hate her for slapping me. How dare she?! After all that I have been trying to do to save her world!
She moves forward and stares at the roses.
Haschel smiles at her. "It makes me relieved. I didn't know you liked flowers, Miranda. I guess there is some woman in you."
Miranda tosses her hair over her shoulder, a familiar gesture. Her voice is cool and bitter. "Don't misread me. Roses make me puke. They are just flashy. They don't have any kindness in them." She pauses carefully. "Do you know why roses have thorns? It is to bring out their own red by using the blood of the people they hurt. They'll do anything for their own happiness."
I'm thinking she's not talking about the flowers anymore.
Evidently, the others see it as well. Albert and Haschel and Meru are shooting worried glances from Miranda to me, as if anticipating an argument or another slap. Kongol crosses his arms over his chest. Dart is squirming just a bit, skittishly.
"Let's move on." Miranda speaks harshly. "I don't need to be here."
I lead the way again to a different platform. There is a small raised garden here, with five large plants grown in it. Five green plants with red face and large white teeth and snapping jaws. Piranha plants. The Winglies love them. Why, I don't understand. One of them had snapped its mouth on my hand while I was younger and I had lopped off its jaw to get myself free. The wound had infected, and I had to stay out of battle for a couple of days.
"Miata, where is Charle?" I ask the Wingly woman tending to the plants.
She smiles at me. "You are wondering because she would normally be taking care of these babies, right?"
I nod, eyes unblinking.
"Charle is preparing herself. Because, well, the things that we didn't tell you about, right? Zieg told you them, so…"
"It must be about the Moon Signet." I say. I step forward, making the shorter woman step back. "Tell me what you know."
Miata shakes her head. "The Signet is the…Signet Sphere. The Signet Sphere is a sealing device that was created to be the last barrier, just in case the Moon Child reached the Moon That Never Sets."
"Even my mistake was in your plan." I say bitterly. "You are really scary people."
"Even more scary is Zieg." Miata nods. "He is trying to destroy the Signet Sphere. Using the Divine Moon Objects."
"Wait a minute." Dart says. "You made the Signet Sphere just because you were afraid of the birth of the God of Destruction. And why did you make tools that could destroy the Signet?"
Miata looks into the distance. "Ask Charle. It was decided between the two siblings."
"I will." I promise darkly.
"Charle has been waiting for you at her home since this morning. Please go see her."
"Thank you." I reply and without waiting for the others, I walk down the pathway to the left, stepping onto the teleporter. The rest of the team follows.
I end up in the mansion of the Wingly female Charle Frahma.
"Oh Rosie, darling! I have been waiting for you!"
"Rosie?" Haschel echoes, laughing.
I grimace. I hate that nickname. She always looked at me as if I was her daughter or granddaughter.
Ignoring the laugh, I step off the teleporter and through the familiar corridor to the grand couch positioned like a wide throne on top of five steps. The entire house looks elaborate enough to be impressive but not snobby.
The woman sitting on the couch is dressed in a pink dress with a tight bodice and full sweeping skirt. Her platinum hair is coiled up and pinned to her head, and her hands are small and delicate. Her skin is soft and she looks young enough to be beautiful, but I know better. Because her eyes are the eyes of an old woman.
That is how all the Winglies in Ulara are. Young bodies, beautiful bodies, but old, old eyes. Eyes that know everything. Eyes that have seen the Dragon Campaign and the killing of the Moon Children.
"Charle."
Charle Frahma, older sister of Melbu Frahma.
"I don't need your greetings." I say coldly. "You know what I want to ask you." You always knew, Charle.
She laughs lightly, moving her hand airily in front of her face. "Oh, you are scary. But before that, can you introduce me to the son of dear Zieggy?"
I pause. "This is Dart." I say shortly.
Charle rises and observes Dart. "Doesn't he look just like our Zieggy?"
Yes, he really does.
Her eyes slide back toward me, and her face tightens with concern. "But Rosie, honey, it's complicated. You have to fight with the son of someone who used to be your significant other. And furthermore, the enemy is the significant other."
You think I don't know that?!
"Do you want me to give you a knuckle sandwich?" I snarl, tightening my fist.
Charle smiles, but without the mirth. "Sorry, honey. But I'm really concerned. So I'm intentionally making it happy and delightful so that you won't be depressed, Rosie, sweetheart."
Yeah right, as if this helps.
I shake my head. "You have never changed."
Dart steps forward. "Charle. If you know, please tell us. Where should we head to?"
Charle stares at him. "Really. You have the same eyes as Zieggy…" She pauses, shaking herself out of her thoughts. "I know. I have been waiting for you in order to tell you everything.
"Zieggy is trying to break the Signet of the Moon That Never Sets with the magic power of the Divine Moon Objects. That Signet is the Signet Sphere. I am sorry that I didn't tell you about this." She says to me.
I bow my head. "I have to apologize. I missed the Moon Child, Shana."
"But you still have time." Charle insists. "The Signet of the Moon is not broken yet."
"Where are the remaining Signets?" Dart asks.
"In the past," Charle answers, "They were placed in five cities. But there are only three left."
"That's why they needed the same number of Divine Moon Objects." Albert infers.
"What happened to the other two?" Dart asks.
"One was destroyed in the Royal Capital Kadessa during the Dragon Campaign. And the other was lost when the Divine Dragon assaulted the Crystal Palace."
"Does this mean…" I start to say. "That without the Divine Moon Objects, the Signet Sphere can be destroyed?"
Charle shakes her head. "The Divine Moon Objects are just tools that conceal vast amounts of magic power, that's all. So in order to destroy the Signet Sphere, having the same amount of magic power as the Divine Moon Objects is sufficient."
"My dad knew about this, and made Lloyd collect them." Dart informs.
"It doesn't seem like him, and it's so indirect. Plus, something is strange. I wonder how Zieggy knows about the Signet Sphere?"
"Not only that." I say sharply. "He knew that Shana is the Moon Child."
"The Moon That Never Sets is the 108th fruit that the Divine Tree dropped. It was conceived with the God of Destruction that ends the world. That's why we separated it into its soul and flesh and sealed them away. My baby brother Melbu sealed the soul that was the source of magic power in the Crystal Sphere, but um…when he fought with Zieggy, it was broken.
"Then the soul escaped from the Crystal Sphere and started to transmigrate into a human body. Since then it has been called the Moon Child. What is left in the sky is the Moon That Never Sets. When the Moon Child goes back to the Moon That Never Sets, the Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction, will be born. So we needed our Rosie to take on an important task. Please understand her…"
Dart's eyes flicker toward me for half a second, then back to Charle. "Tell me about my father."
"You are concerned, aren't you?"
"Why does he have to destroy the world?" Dart asks. He is reasonably calm about this, but then he did not know his father like I did.
"Sorry," Charle shakes her head. "But that is the one thing that I do not understand."
"But he was unmistakably Zieg." I whisper, my emotions clearly lacing my voice. The most emotions that I have ever shown, so that the others look at me strangely, as if seeing me for the first time.
Seeing their confused looks, Charle hurries to explain. She looks at me with sympathetic eyes and speaks to Dart. "Zieggy was the fiancé of Rosie. They crossed both swords and love. Just looking at them made me feel embarrassed."
Don't talk about me as if I am not here!
"Stop right there." I order Charle. "I want to talk alone with Zieg about our memories."
Charle nods gravely. "I agree."
Dart decides to turn the conversation back to what we must do. In a way, he is more efficient than I am. I wonder if he thinks as much as I do? Sometimes it is best to just do and not think. "Why make items to break the Signet?"
"That's right." I agree. "If you were not planning to allow the Virage Embryo to be born, you wouldn't need them."
"I didn't want to, but my baby brother Melbu insisted."
"That is not an explanation, Charle." I warn her.
"Oh, you are so uptight. But okay, I'll explain it to you. I told you that we sealed the soul of the Virage Embryo in the Crystal Sphere, right? It is in order to draw lots of magical power and rule over other creatures. I…wanted to make him stop being a dictator. Because even though we have different appearances or capabilities, we are the same. We should be able to live together on good terms. That's why I created the Signet Sphere, in order to weaken the magic power of the Crystal Sphere. Rose, without telling you that.
"The five Signets that protect the Moon That Never Sets restrained the magic power that flows from there. My operation was a big success! I thought."
"But Melbu found out about it and created the Divine Moon Objects." I finish for her.
"I guess he was prepared so that he could destroy the Signets anytime he wanted to."
"Hmm." I muse. "I get it."
"Where are the rest of the Signets Spheres?"
"That's right. That is the most important information for you, isn't it? Because Zieggy has the Divine Moon Objects and he can break the Signets anytime." Charle nods to herself and turns back to us. "Listen carefully. The rest of the three Signet Spheres are located in the ancient cities. The names of the cities are: the Magical City Aglis, Law City Zenebatos, and Death City Mayfil."
"Those cities are still alive?" I ask, incredulous.
"It's surprising, isn't it? Of course, they were badly damaged during the war."
"How do we get there?" Dart asks.
"Go to Rouge. Then your way will be open."
"You said Rouge?!" Haschel echoes. "That's my home town!!"
"See, it is already open, isn't it?" Charle smiles. "Well. It'll be night soon. Why don't you go look around until tomorrow morning."
I cannot stay cooped up in the house for a moment longer. I must get out.
Leaving Charle in her room, I take the teleporter out of the house and back to the piranha gardens.
Dart is standing there, looking up at the Moon That Never Sets and undoubtedly thinking of Shana. His head turns quickly when he hears my silent footsteps.
"Rose…"
I clear my throat, unaccustomed awkwardness filling me. My voice is quiet. "You really forgive…"
Dart waves his hand sharply. "Don't say anything. It's already in the past."
I remember what happened in the Death Frontier.
"This is something between the two of us."
After the five of them ran off, Dart turned back to glare at me. His next words stayed in my heart forever.
"Take your sword."
I didn't want to, but the time had come. My mind was reluctant, but my body did not hesitate any more than usual. My hands gripped the hilt of the sword and dragged it out of its sheath.
The two blades shimmered in the lava lights of the setting sun.
Two warriors began moving in a tight circle, each waiting for the other to make a mistake and for a chance to start attacking.
But I had lived longer than Dart, and I knew more patience. It was the red-clad warrior who attacked first, dashing forward and slashing downward.
My sword automatically moved up, blocking his blow and pushing it back. Dart recovered immediately, slashing from the side this time. Battle reflexes won over my thoughts and the blade blocked, struggling against it.
My leg moved back and then forward, kicking Dart in the side. He crumpled into the sand, his sword arm supporting him.
Silent as the Moon that glided through the sky, my sword moved down again.
And in that movement, he snapped to life. The sword arm swept up off the ground to block my blade, and Dart surged up, pushing me back. I took three steps to keep my balance.
Dart had been holding back the entire time. He had indeed grown stronger.
I had no idea how long the battle lasted. Every fiber and nerve and cell of me was concentrated on the intense battle, and at last it drew to an end.
Dart's sword aimed for my right leg, and I moved my sword arm to block it. The warrior's hand flew forward and I barely had time to block the punch he sent for my midsection, grabbing his wrist and immobilizing it.
But while occupying my arms, Dart's right leg snapped forward in a side kick and struck my chest, knocking the wind out of me, and making me fly backwards.
Flipping in the air, I landed on my feet and stared at him, my sword arm, my right arm, crossed over my chest to rest on my left shoulder.
Neither of us moved.
I tossed my sword away. It landed with a hollow clunk on the desert sands.
Dart stared at me, wondering what trick I was up to now.
I shook my head. "You have become strong. You can take care of yourself now."
That had been my only purpose. Aside from killing the Moon Child, my only meaning in life was to raise these new Dragoons, to protect them and guide them until they were strong enough to do so themselves. And now that I have failed so miserably in killing the last Moon Child, I have no reason to live. These new Dragoons shall take care of what must be done. And now Dart is so strong…he has grown up, and he is now the leader. He can take care of himself now.
My next words sounded strange even to my own ears.
"Kill me."
Dart's body relaxed a little, still watching for any deception I might have. He moved forward and pointed the tip of his blade in the hollow of my throat. I bowed my head, waiting for the finishing blow.
The coldness of the blade left my skin and I heard the scraping of a sword being sheathed.
I looked at him with slanted eyes.
"Why?"
Dart spoke not gently, but firmly, with his back facing me. "The Black Monster is dead now. We only have…" he chose his words carefully, his voice softening just a bit.
He turned around, and that familiar emotion of warmth that was always in his eyes was there again. "A companion who is on the same road."
We only have a companion who is on the same road.
I cannot miss the symbolism in his words. Dart had said to Kongol that a friend was someone who traveled along the same road.
After 11,000 years, I finally have people to call friends.
I sit down at the edge of the garden next to Dart.
"I miss the time when you were chased by Feyrbrand in the forest." I tell him wistfully. My voice is softer than it has been for thousands of years.
"Me too." He agrees, standing up. "And…I didn't know anything back then. The world is so frail."
I look at him with smoke-colored eyes. "The world is created so that it can perish at any time. The creator Soa can recreate one anytime. But the people living there can accept it, believing it is "Fate", or struggle against it." I stare out into the distance, getting up. I nod to reassure myself. "I struggled in order to protect this world that was taken back by friends who gave up their lives."
"I told you," Dart says gently. "You are no longer alone, Rose."
"Dart…"
He smiles. "Let's go see everybody. This is just the beginning."
Trying to smile back, and failing, I go with him.
The Wingly male and female that had been at the roses the first time are still there. They nod at me and speak to Dart in their annoying riddles with the symbolism.
"There are two magic elements sealed in Rose's choker. One is to open the Signet of this city, and the other is…immortality." The woman, Karani, says. "Rose is immortal because of the magic in the choker."
Because of what Charle did to me, to help me continue being the Black Monster.
Jaro is more poetic. "Standing in the darkness of the night, you feel almost like you've lost your sense of existence. Have you had this kind of experience?" he asks a bewildered Dart. "Darkness signifies the uneasiness, and black signifies the sorrow. They are the colors of Rose."
"That's enough." I tell the both of them, leading Dart away.
"They seem to know a lot about you." He comments.
"These Winglies have helped me a lot. They taught me about the truth of the Moon Child."
Dart stops walking and faces me. "Rose…I'm sorry for what happened. Sorry for what happened to you, and for the way I reacted to what you did."
"I destroyed your hometown." I say knowingly, apologetically.
"After all this time, I finally understand. Neet was destroyed because the Moon Child passed through. You were only doing what had to be done. I still mourn for my parents, but…my quest for the Black Monster has ended." He takes my hand, not as a love, but as a friend, and I welcome the new experience.
"You mean the loss of your mother." I correct him.
"Was Charle telling the truth? Were you really in love with my father?"
I look away for a moment before Dart's hand tightens and I look back. "I loved Zieg, Dart. He was…my world. When he died…a part of me died with him. I became cold and harsh, to do what I had to do."
"You cried when he died?"
"Yes."
"I cannot imagine you crying."
"There is not a soul in the world that has not suffered a heartbreak at least once in his or her life." I tell him. "I am still Human. I am no different. Didn't you cry when you thought your father died?"
"I was five years old. Yes, I did. And I cried when I found out that my mother died too. But…I went to Seles, and Shana's family helped me grow up." Dart winces.
"You miss Shana, don't you?" I ask him gently.
"Yes."
"You do understand that because she is the Moon Child…" I pause, choosing my words. "Things will be much more complicated."
"I'll do anything I can to save Shana." Dart vows. "And to save the world."
I shake my head slowly. Poor boy…
The king and the giant of our team in the weapon shop.
"So we are leaving in the morning." Albert asks.
"Yes, we are. What are you here?"
"We don't know what will happen in ancient city of Winglies. We need strong weapon." Kongol explains. "Kongol doesn't care about leader of creatures. Kongol goes with you to the end."
"For me too." Albert agrees. "It is no longer the mere problem of the Moon Gem."
Finally you understand.
"I cannot ignore this crisis of the world. You didn't imagine we wouldn't go with you, did you?" Albert asks, warily.
Dart turns away and smiles. "I didn't. Now let's find Meru."
Meru is speaking with Caron at the entrance. She smiles widely when she sees us, spinning around. Her optimism never wavers.
"Hey! Buddies! Caron was telling me about the teleporting device. It's not like back home. And, when are we going? We already heard lots about it from Charle, and we found out where we should go."
"You are coming too?" I ask her.
"Of course!" She giggles. "Without me, the strongest of all, you cannot save the world! Besides, I learn a lot by following Dart. Everybody's the same, Gigantos, Humans, and Winglies. And I can't stand the destruction of a world where everybody lives!"
"I think," I brood thoughtfully. "For the first time, I agree with Meru."
"Is this the first time?" Meru asks innocently.
I raise an eyebrow at her.
"Leave here tomorrow morning." Caron interrupts. "By that time, I'll be prepared so that I can send you on the way that goes to the Home of Gigantos from here."
"We can travel that far instantly?" Dart asks, surprised at the Wingly technology. "Then we might as well go directly to Rouge."
Caron shakes her head. "Our power is becoming weaker day by day. That is our maximum power."
"I understand." Dart nods.
"Take a boat to Rouge. It should have been prepared in the Twin Castle at Fletz a short while ago. I asked King Zior to have a dock made especially."
"I'm surprised that he listened to a Wingly." I comment.
"There are no Humans or Winglies when it comes to the end of the world." Caron says. "You don't need to thank us. Now, it is not too much to say that the mission of the city is to send you off."
"Yes." I agree. "And this is one way. This city has been looking after the world."
"Come on. We have to find Haschel and Miranda." Dart says.
The only place we check now is the bar.
The Wingly at the entrance greets me, and speaks. "The spell of eternity indeed creates an immortal body. But it also corrodes the heart. This is a place to heal the corroded heart from the spell of eternity. Enjoy yourself."
"That's not true." Miranda's voice comes from the second floor balcony hanging above us. She is speaking to Haschel. "The reason I hate roses is because I see my mother in roses. She never looked directly at me. It was like she was seeing something through me." Miranda gets up, gesturing. "And she beat me up."
So she is not the arrogant woman I thought she was.
"Why did your mother abandon you?" Haschel asks.
"Sorry, but I don't want to talk about that." Miranda says. "Let's not talk about my past anymore. It spoils our drinks."
"It's all right to talk about these things. The world is not always happy. Besides, listening to you reminds me of my past."
"About your runaway daughter, right?"
I can imagine Haschel wincing. "You are so sharp it hurts."
Miranda shrugs. "I hate being roundabout."
Dart and I walk up to them.
"You guys are here." He says.
"When are we leaving?" Miranda asks. "Haschel has been drinking too much since he heard we are going to Rouge."
"That's right! Drink a little more, and let's leave for Rouge at once!" I cannot tell whether or not the martial artist is drunk or not. "Of course to save the world!"
"Gimme a drink too." Dart says.
I blink. Well, might as well get it over with. "May I join? I wanted to talk to you, Miranda."
To my surprise, she only nods. "Same here."
I sit next to her at the bar, and she is the one who speaks first. "I am," She says hesitantly, pausing. "A Sacred Sister of Mille Seseau. I'm supposed to help other people, the way Luanna and Setie and Wink do. But… we don't seem to get along."
I shake my head.
"Do you like being enemies?"
I shake my head again. "No. It's tiring. I have too much on my mind to have hate for you."
"I understand that. Perhaps…I could have been a little more understanding about your secret."
I glance at her sideways, surprised. "And perhaps I could have been less harsh."
"Why is it that we never seem to get along? Is it because we are alike?" Miranda asks.
"Darkness and light naturally oppose each other."
"That's nonsense." Miranda says airily, reading my thoughts. "Light was born out of darkness, and every light has darkness."
I look at her strangely. "That's a nice way to put it."
Miranda pauses for a long time before finally speaking quietly. "You've been through a lot in your life, Rose."
I remain silent.
"Every 108 years, having to go forward and kill the Moon Child no matter what, because the future of the world depended on you murdering an infant. People called you a Black Monster, or a demon…but you were only trying to save them, weren't you?"
I toss my head defiantly. "Over 11,000 years ago, the Dragon Campaign tore me away from my friends. They sacrificed their lives so that the people today could have a future. I wasn't about to let their deaths be in vain. Not then, and not now."
"What was it like?"
"What, the Dragon Campaign or being the Black Monster?" I ask bitterly, sipping slowly at my wine.
"Either or. Both."
"Neither of them was easy." I reply coldly. "In the Dragon Campaign, I had to watch as thousands of Humans and six Dragoons die. Then later on, I had to do killing myself as the Black Monster."
It was hard killing the Moon Child, when she was just an infant cooing up at me with wide beautiful eyes. But sacrifices had to be made, and the Moon Child had to die.
"I misunderstood you, Rose." Miranda says. I guess that is her way of apologizing.
"We all misinterpreted Rose." Albert speaks up quietly. "We all saw her as a cold harsh woman, but you were always afraid to make friends because you didn't want to drag us into it, right, Rose?"
And yet you are part of it. I think. But instead of answering, I look at Miranda. "Your turn. Explain yourself."
The blonde woman's eyes hold the same defiant look that mirrors my own, but she lowers her gaze to her drink. "My mother left me and my father. I don't know why. She left with another man. I saw her leave. That's why I hated to see roses. Every time, I would see my mother in roses. Every time, on the shelf behind her, there would be roses. Maybe that's why I hated you, Rose. Because you or your name reminded me of my past."
"When two women are alike," Haschel says thoughtfully. "They are either the best of friends or the worst of enemies."
Miranda's mouth quivers in a small smile. "Then we agree? No more fighting?"
"None." I lift my glass of wine.
"Let's make a toast." Dart says suddenly. "Not only for the new friendship of Rose and Miranda, but for each other."
He pauses, and speaks almost in prophecy. "When the clash of swords echo, the journey chasing the past ends…"
"And the journey to know today begins…" Albert says next.
"One soul seeks another…" Kongol offers somberly.
"And pledges their sworn friendship to each other." Meru says calmly.
"One mystery begets the next…" Haschel replies.
Miranda states the next line. "…And the doors of fate are opened."
I pause, considering the words that rise automatically to my mind like water overflowing. "You are free," I whisper quietly, in a tone that hovers in the chilly night air. "To sever the chains of fate that bind you."
Silently, seven glasses rise in the air swiftly, and I down my wine before I even know I had lifted it to my lips.
What was that? A prophecy?
The others seem pleasantly mystified, and not worried.
That's right. Why should I be worried? Maybe it's the wine talking, but…now I know. Fate led me to these new Dragoons and here I shall stay.
Dart smiles. "Shall we go?"
"Let's go back to Charle." I suggest. "She must have prepared the bedrooms for us."
When we wake up the following morning, Charle isn't there.
In fact, the entire city seems deserted.
"Let's just go." Dart says. "I want to thank Charle too, but our priority is Rouge."
As we approach the city entrance, the sky is filled with shafts of moonlight.
Everybody is there, all the Winglies of Ulara. Caron, Charle Frahma, Miata, even some of the ones that I did not speak to. Kiara, Rurse, Relaine, Mythos…everyone is hovering in the air with their wings.
"Charle what is this?" Dart asks.
The Wingly laughs. "Oh, naïve boy. It is a sendoff for heroes."
"You shouldn't have." I say, my voice still flat as normal. I do not mean to sound like this.
Charle understands. She smiles and walks over, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Rosie, honey, you have been doing really great. Since the soul of the Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction was released, you have saved the world, let me see…at least 107 times."
"Really." Caron interjects. "After even being called a Black Monster."
"Stop it." I tell the both of them sharply, moving my hand in a sharp staccato motion. I look at Dart, speaking to him as well as to the two female Winglies. "The monster has…died."
"Zieggy is serious. And he has everything to give birth to the God of Destruction. Only Dragoons can stop him." Charle hesitates. "I wonder what Creator Soa is thinking. Like destruction or regeneration. I wonder why it wants us to go through such a painful thing."
"We will change Fate."
Charle is staring at us with different eyes, eyes that are concerned and slightly feared. "Everybody must survive, okay?"
I nod.
"Now go. Zieg won't wait for us." Caron gestures to the teleporter.
"Right." Moving in front of the others, I step onto the shimmering green circle.
"Whoa!"
"Where'd we end up? I thought Charle said that we'd be in the Home of Gigantos."
"This is the Home of Gigantos."
"Then why is it so dark?"
Lighting the path considerably with her Dragoon Spirit, Miranda says, "I think we're in a cave."
"There's a boulder blocking the way. The teleporter must have been well hidden so that wandering travelers couldn't accidentally stumble upon a path to the Wingly city of Ulara." I explain. "But we in a cave or some sort, and there's a boulder blocking the way, because you can see the edges of light filtering through."
Dart and Haschel throw themselves against the rock and it sways but doesn't roll out of the way.
"Kongol push."
The Giganto shoulders his way past the two warriors to stand in front of the giant boulder blocking our way. Placing his palms flat against its smooth surface, his muscles tense and strain as he slowly shoves the boulder out of the way.
We are standing near the path where Haschel had knocked Meru unconscious the first time we came, to fight Gehrich. Gods above, how long ago had that been? That was back in the time when they thought that everything was as simple as saving Lynn, one life out of the millions that we must save now. It is so strange how in such a short amount of time your entire world can fall apart.
Fletz is not too far. Past the Valley of Corrupted Gravity, then the Barrens, and then we reach Fletz. After everything we had gone through, this short journey with its simple monsters shall be swift and easy.
"Calculating our current level and the level of the monsters, as well as the distance we have to go and the supplies that we have, it should take us… a bit less than a fortnight at normal pace." Albert says.
"We'll go at a faster pace. We can't let my father reach the Signet Sphere first. The Queen Fury will be in Fletz. Let's go."
Rouge is a small town.
Not even a town. More like several pieces of wood pieced together to form one large apartment building. It is supported over the ocean by several wooden pillar encrusted with barnacles. The entire structure is made of wood, with no windows, only open holes. But it is good weather here; there is no need for windows that will shut out the warm or cold. But there are few people and the entire town seems poor and destitute.
The Queen Fury can't get close to Rouge, in fear of breaking one of the wooden foundations.
"Hello!" Someone is waving furiously on the roof of the entire wooden thing. "We're sending a boat!"
A few minutes later, there is a little rowboat bobbing next to us, looking ridiculously tiny compared to the Queen Fury. But the boat takes us over to Rouge and the Queen Fury backs up to a safe distance.
Haschel takes a deep breath as he steps onto Rouge, as if breathing in the scent of home. Speaking to many people along the way, he leads us up to the mayor of Rouge, an old man with soft eyes. He greets Haschel warmly, and the martial artist introduces the rest of us as his friends.
But when the mayor is questioned, he knows nothing. "What is a Wingly?" he asks.
I can see Meru and Albert stumble back in shock.
"Rouge must really be cut off from the rest of the world." Miranda mutters.
Haschel turns to look at us. "I'll explain everything to him. The rest of you go and wander the town. Stock up on supplies or rest."
Idly I walk around the town, scrutinizing the items and comparing the prices. Rouge is such a small town, and there is hardly anywhere to go. I follow a path up a cliff overlooking the ocean. Meru is already standing there.
"You sense it too, don't you, Meru?" I ask her.
She turns around quickly, as if not expecting to see me here. "Uh. Yeah. There's a lot of magic going on. I can feel it, but I don't know where it's coming from. Do you know?"
I stay silent. Meru is a Wingly. By the standards of the Dragon Campaign, she is my enemy. And yet she had never been aggressive toward me or anyone else. I shake my head. This entire racism predetermined judging thing goes way too far. How can you judge one single person by the race that they belong to?
"Oh there you are." Dart appears behind us. "Come on. Haschel finished telling the Mayor everything and the mayor says that he might know something."
Walking behind Meru and Dart, I follow them back to the mayor's house.
"It's in the middle of the sea. It's like a giant stick in the sea." The mayor is saying to the rest of the group. "But you can't get close to it by boat, because there is an awful whirlpool. But you can see it clearly from the cliff top."
"I don't remember that." Haschel says.
"Well, it suddenly came up, so you wouldn't have known about it."
The martial artist turns to Dart. "Shall we try?"
"I hope it's the one you folks wanna go to." The mayor says. "Haschel, you know where the cliff is."
It turns out that it was the spot where Meru and I had felt the magic. I stand over at the railing, glaring out at the ocean, stretching out my mind. I can feel the magic in the air, but I can't seem to see it. It seems to come from that enormous pinnacle a few hundred meters away.
"That must be what the mayor was talking about." Dart says, shielding his eyes against the sun with one hand as he gazes out at the tower.
"There was no stick twenty years ago when I was here." Haschel comments.
"It's huge and more like a tower than a stick!" Meru exclaims.
Albert, soaking up knowledge as usual, frowns. "This structure could never be made by human beings. Rose, do you know anything about it? You were there once, weren't you?"
I turn my face. I do not like being reminded of my past.
Dart turns slightly and smiles. "That's right. Rose is one of the Dragoons that liberated Humans. Don't you remember anything?"
"Charle said that the Signet Sphere remained in the Magical City Aglis, the Death City Mayfil, and the Law City Zenebatos. If I remember correctly…there was only the magical city Aglis in this region of the sea. Charle must have made us come here because she thinks Zieg will go after the Signet Sphere of Aglis first."
"Rose, a question please!" Meru says, from where she perches on the railing, unafraid of falling over. For a moment I wonder if she fell over would she allow herself to strike the water or would she unsheathe her wings and risk being persecuted by the humans?
"What the heck is Law City or whatever they call it? What do they mean?"
"I was thinking about that too." Albert admits. "The Crystal Palace was called the Birth City too."
"The Birth City Crystal Palace was a city where babies were selected to be born." I reply flatly.
"Select babies?"
"Those with weak magic power weren't allowed to be born."
"That's so cruel!" Meru gasps.
"And the Death City Mayfil was where the souls of the dead were sent to an infernal world."
"Winglies in the past had even their destination after death decided for them." Miranda says thoughtfully. How does she feel now that she knows her precious Deningrad holds this secret of being the birth city, where babies were "selected" to be born?
"The magical city Aglis was where magic was stored." I conclude.
Dart cuts in, smooth and business-like. "If it is Aglis, how can we approach it?"
"We have to hurry or Zieg will get there first." And only the gods know what he can do.
"Well, we cannot go by boat. We gotta find some other way. Let's go back to the mayor and see what he says."
I start walking down the dirt path back to Rouge when I feel it. It is not painful. It is like stepping outside on a winter day, with the cold pressing in around you. I can feel magic around me, sharp and powerful magic. The magic in the air, making up the very existence of things…something is wrong.
"What's wrong, Rose?" Dart asks.
"We were being watched by somebody." I announce flatly, drawing my sword and looking around.
"Being watched?"
There is another flash of magic, so sharp, and painful this time, that the magic-sensitive Dragoons all stumble. The threads of power in the air snap, and the ground starts to shake. I stumble several steps to keep my balance, finally gripping a tree branch.
"What's going on?" Haschel yells above the din.
The mayor runs up to us, his balance wavering. "The sea is splitting!"
Sheathing my sword, I run after him to the cliff.
He stops so suddenly that I nearly crash into him. Following his line of gaze, I can see the walls of the ocean.
He is right. The sea had split apart, pushing away the whirlpool to allow calm peaceful waters leading to the magical city of Aglis. It is no longer just a "stick" in the ocean, it is a beautiful crystal city, almost like the Crystal Palace, except in a shade of deep indigo. It glitters and shines with magic so that my Dragoon Spirit strains to be released.
"What is that?" Dart yells, even though the shaking has stopped.
"The magical city Aglis revealed itself." I reply.
"Good." Miranda says fiercely. "Now we can get there before Zieg!"
"Now that the whirlpool has disappeared, you can take the boat there, Haschel." The mayor says, dazed. It is a small wonder. Rouge had not even known what a Wingly was and now all of a sudden the mayor finds out that the magical city of Aglis, untouched for eleven thousand years is nearly resting in his backyard.
Author's Note: Sorry that was a crappy way to end the story. But I've been developing a bad case of writer's block and I can't THINK. I've got half of my next part, and I think people will like it, but I won't post it up until I can finish the other half. If anyone has any suggestions or knows a way to get past writer's block, PLEASE email me at TruthofIllusion@aol.com. Thanks