The four stood their. Sephiroth and Sefiroth watched Cloud. Cloud watched the two of them. Dragon Shadow fell asleep on Sefiroth's shoulder. Suddenly, the link between the four changed. Sephiroth looked up. "Jenova's opening the gate!"P
Dragon Shadow looked up. "Remember, there's only one way we can escape this world. We need to act like the link is still normal. Cloud, I know this is asking a lot, but it's the only way we can help your friends."P
Cloud didn't say anything, but it was clear from the look on his face that he didn't like the idea. Suddenly, a gate opened between the worlds, and Jenova entered. Sephiroth looked up at her. The others did nothing. Jenova smiled. "I see you succeeded. Excellent. With you and your brother under my control, as well as the clone, and the beast, we shall soon rule this world. Especially with the others out of the way…"P
Sephiroth watched Jenova. "What do you mean by out of the way?"P
Jenova laughed. "They are trapped in the volcanic caves. A lost tribe of dragons live their. They do not take kindly to invaders. They shall destroy the fools for me. But to be sure, I want you four to go double check." The gate opened again. "Now go!"P
Sephiroth shook his head. He knew what was expected of him. "Beast! You will carry us!"P
Dragon Shadow began to re-gain her normal size. The other three climbed on her back, then they entered the portal. Jenova laughed as she watched them leave, then exited the world, and shut the portal. Following the directions that Jenova was giving them through the link. However, as soon as the arrived at the cave…P
CENTER* * * * */CENTER
P
Sephiroth was still listing to Jenova's orders "INow, you will order your dog to shrink again, and you, the puppet, the traitor, and the beast will…"P
/IDragon Shadow interrupted her orders. I"I am no dog, nor am I going to listen to you anymore!"P
/IThe other three watched amazed, and listened, as a contest of wills began. Dragon Shadow was challenging Jenova's control. And although it was weakened, it was by no means an easy task. Her scales began to glow brightly, as more and more of her concentration went into the fight. Suddenly Dragon Shadow collapsed, as the link was broken. The echo of Jenova's final defiance of the maneuver still echoed in their minds. "INoooo….."P
/ISefiroth concentrated on the link for a moment, and used the Master Materia that Dragon Shadow had in her to shrink her once again. Cloud looked at Dragon Shadow, laying limb in Sefiroth's hands. "Maybe we should rest for a while."P
Sephiroth looked at Cloud in surprise. Cloud either didn't notice, or else he pretended not to notice. Either way, he ignored Sephiroth's look. The four moved closer to the blocked entrance of the cave. Sephiroth looked over the rubble in the way. "Brother, do you think we can move this?"P
Sefiroth looked at it. "Perhaps. Together we may be able to."P
Sefiroth went to place Dragon Shadow on the ground, but Cloud stopped him. "Let me hold her." Sefiroth nodded, and handed Dragon Shadow to Cloud. The brothers went to work, moving the piles of ruble from the entrance to the cave. Soon a way in was cleared, and the four settled down by the entrance. Soon, Cloud and Dragon Shadow were fast asleep. The two brothers took turns guarding the others. When dawn broke, the four began to journey deeper into the cave. As they turned a corner, they were met with a shocking surprise.P
Vincent was laying in the middle of the cavern, covered in blood. Cloud rushed forwards. "Vincent! You ok?" Vincent didn't answer. He was out cold. "Man! If only materia worked in this world…"P
Dragon Shadow raised her head. A night's rest had done much to restore her. "Your may not, but mine dose."P
With that, she closed her eyes, and began to glow. Then, with a flash, it was over. Vincent stood up, and looked around. Cloud was happy to see one of his friends safe. "Vincent! You ok?"P
Vincent looked at Cloud. "I am fine. However, we were ambushed by dragons. They took the others. I do not know why they passed me over…"P
Sephiroth and Sefiroth came up behind Cloud. Dragon Shadow was still on Sefiroth's shoulder. Vincent reacted by placing his hand on his gun. Cloud stopped him. "There's more going on here than their seems to be. I owe this dragon my freedom. And now, your life. Besides, I don't know if it's a good idea to attack them at the current moment. Are you alright? We should press on, and find the others…"P
Dragon Shadow looked around, as if she were seeing something. None of the others saw anything strange. "Perhaps Sefiroth and I should take the lead. Their are dragons nearby. They shall not attack you, if you stay near me."P
Sephiroth looked up at her in surprise. "How can you be so sure?"P
Dragon Shadow laughed. "It seems your spell has given me more than you first believed. I can understand how the dragons here live. How they will act, and react. It's strange, but true. They will respect the fact that you're with me. And that may allow us to save the others. If you can trust us, Cloud…"P
Cloud looked at Dragon Shadow. "It's not like I have much choice. Besides, I've been trusting you for a while, whether or not I'll admit it, or like it. Unfortunately."P
Nothing more was said as they moved deeper and deeper into the underground. It also became warmer. Soon, the five came to a large open area. Sefiroth stopped. Dragon Shadow entered the larger room, and grew to her normal size. "Get on. It's the safest way, for the moment."P
The others looked at each other, but in the end, the climbed up onto Dragon Shadow's back. She entered another corridor, when she was challenged by another dragon. "Who dares bring humans into our realm?"P
Dragon Shadow stood up at her full height. "I do. I seek some humans that were brought in earlier. They, like those with me, are my comrades. We seek to defeat an evil presents, who threatens this world."P
The other dragon looked up. Although Dragon Shadow was larger, he wasn't intimidated. "State your name."P
"I am know as Dragon Shadow."P
The dragon was apparently unprepared for this. "Wait here." The dragon turned, and left. Dragon Shadow waited, as she'd been told.P
The others were confused. Cloud wanted to know what was going on. "We waiting here for what? He may never come back."P
Dragon Shadow turned around to face the four. "He will return. I'm allowed to bring humans into this realm, if it is for a good cause. Seeking friends is one of the best reasons I could have stated. Furthermore, if I attempt to go on alone, I will be attacked. I know what I am doing. You'll just have to trust me. For your sake, as well as your friend's."P
The dragon soon returned. "You are unknown to us. Yet, you are a dragon. How may this be?"P
Dragon Shadow was alert to this. "I am a dragon. How may I be know to you? I am from afar. I am on a quest to stop the evil one. However, the humans I traveled with were ambushed, and trapped in your realm. Without their aid, I shall fail."P
The other dragon nodded. "Very well. Follow me. You shall prove your worth to the clan leader. She shall decided."P
Dragon Shadow followed the second dragon into the caves. The caves were lit by a reddish glow, that emerged from the walls. The lava flows not only heated the area, they also lit it up. They soon reached another room. There, a huge female dragon lay at one end, surrounded by males. Dragon Shadow was larger than any of them however. Sephiroth chose this moment to make a comment. "IIt seems Jenova likes to do everything large."P
"So it dose, brother"P
/IDragon Shadow ignored the comment. She advanced towards the female, until ordered to stop. Their she stood, as the others in the room looked her, and the men on her back over. Then, the leader turned to her. "Why have you come?"P
Dragon Shadow faced the leader. "I seek friends. An evil force threatens the world. I, and some humans, have been chosen to defeat it. However, the evil one trapped my companions in this cave, hoping that you would destroy them."P
The leader nodded. "I know of those whom you seek. But first, you must survive the challenge. Should you win, I shall release them. Should you loose, I take the humans you have."P
Dragon Shadow knew of the challenge. And she knew of one way to gain an edge. "I fear that may be hard. Three are mind linked with me."P
Whispers brook out in the gathered dragons at these words. The leader appeared intrigued. "Send for the elder. Of this, he must hear." A small dragon, about the height of a man, quickly left the room. Soon, he returned, with a very large dragon following. "Who summons the elder?"P
The leader of the group turned to the elder. "I do. On account of a dragon mind linking to humans. I have never heard of such a thing. I believed it best for you to be informed."P
The elder nodded. "Who is the linked one?"P
Dragon Shadow looked to the elder. "I am."P
The elder looked at Dragon Shadow. "Why have you chosen to mind link to humans? And what is your name?"P
"My name is Dragon Shadow. It was not my choice to take this link. Though it was my fault that others were joined. The link to one man was done by the evil one we hunt. However, the evil one was controlling others through a link with them. When I attempted to destroy the link, I ended up joining it to the existing one I shared."P
The elder nodded. "And why have you come here?"P
"I seek some humans brought here. They are friends, as well as allies in this war. I shall need their aid in order to defeat the evil one."P
The elder turned back to the leader. "And what says you to this?"P
"I challenged her to a battle. Should she win, I release he friends. Should she loose, the unlinked humans she has shall remain."P
The elder looked back to Dragon Shadow. "And what says you to this?"P
"Two questions. First, what of those I'm linked to, and second, what of my magic?"P
The elder turned back to the leader. The leader was lost in thought. The, she spoke. "Both shall be allowed, on the condition, I choose a champion."P
Dragon Shadow nodded. "Very well. But, I wish to see the humans first."P
The leader nodded. Soon, Chrono, Tifa, and the others were lead in. They were amazed to see Cloud on Dragon Shadow's back. Fortunately, they never saw either of the brothers. Dragon Shadow nodded when she saw them. "Very well. Name your champion."P
The leader nodded. "Very well. I choose Dark Wing."P
There was much muttering among those watching. Once again, a runner was dispatched, and soon, a large black dragon returned. He too carried a rider. "You have summoned me?"P
The leader nodded. "I have chosen you to be my champion. Do you accept?"P
Dark Wing nodded. "I do. What of Dark Knight?"P
The leader looked to Dragon Shadow. "It's only fair that he be allowed to battle."P
The elder nodded. "So be it. Let the battle begin…"
