WAR FOR VALORIA

WAR FOR VALORIA

CHAPTER 2

New world

Dart woke to the smell of autumn lilacs carried upon gentle stands of wind. His eyes stirred slightly. His mind was in a jumble. He couldn't remember anything for a moment. Where was he? Why was he here? Nothing made sense. The smell of lilacs invaded his senses again. Something new now… spring water, fresh from a nearby waterfall. The cooling moisture seemed to freshen the air around him, reducing the heat that seemed to burn down on him from some place afar.

Slowly, tentatively Dart opened his eyes. Immediately he was assaulted with a wave of blinding orange yellow light. He quickly closed his eyes to protect him from the blinding rays of the sun. Letting out a soft stream of low curses, he slowly sat himself upright, rubbing at a sharp cramp in his neck. His armor seemed to buckle and strain from his movement almost as if it too were straining from prolonged inactivity. Dart chanced his sight once more, daring his eyes open. Much to his chagrin, a multitude of orange red dots inebriated his vision, yet he could see clear enough. The small flashes of red were just the after effect of one who dared turn their gaze to the sun. He knew the discomfort would leave him soon.

Finally Dart scanned the area. He almost had to do a double take. The sight before his eyes was breath taking. For as long and far as he could see, tall grass rimmed the horizons and lead into dense forested areas. Yet the forests were not unwarranted. As a matter of fact they were splendidly beautiful. The dense trees let off an aroma of protection housing a beautiful collage of flowers of all shapes and sizes. Tuning his gaze to the back, he realized that he was close to the rim of a small river bank waterfall, gushing water from its higher limits. Dart smiled to himself and rose up to his feet. The movement sent his mind through yet another spiral of confused thoughts.

He walked on unsteady feet as he finally made his way to the edge of the small creak. The grass had been somewhat hindering yet it was not uncalled for. It was almost as if he'd reached paradise. Dart anxiously removed the sword belt strapped around his waist so that the cumbersome material no longer chafed his movements. Thus relieved of the unwanted weight, Dart sank to his knees and plunged his face into the water. He lavished the cool wet feeling of the water as it enshrouded his face. He whipped his head back, bringing his right hand to rake the wet moist liquid through his long blond strands. A contented smile molded his face as he continued to drain water down his throat, sating his gullet.

Finally he felt relaxed enough to think back to what was going on. He remembered getting a missive from his friend Albert requesting his presence. He remembered leaving home on a mission. He remembered fighting. Soon, his expression darkened. Thoughts of the battle had suddenly spoiled any blissful moments he might have had by the stream. The water no longer tasted fresh, growing flat and thick in his mouth. The beautiful scents of lilacs now invaded his senses like a plague, choking him with its cloying aroma. He anxiously clutched his head. He needed to know more. Needed to remember who he was. Finally his mind began to sort itself. He had been hostage. He had been interrogated by Lavitz and Shirley. The memories came flooding back now, as if they were a dam finally breaking free of weak barriers. He began to remember he and his friends traveling to another world. Him and… Shana… SHANA!

Dart immediately rose to his feet. "SHANA!" He hollered into the empty plains. She had to be somewhere. He just knew she had to be around. Where was everybody? What had gone wrong? "SHANA!?!" He cried out again, this time panic gripping his heart.

He absently fumbled around, reaching for his sheathed sword. He gripped the scabbard with a death-like hold, hurriedly strapping the leather material around his waist. He quickly stood back up and went plunging through the huge waves of tall grass strands. He wasn't deterred as whip-like cords of greenery slapped him left and right. Dart tore through them all with a possessed rage. He was intent on one thing only, finding his wife.

"SHANA!!!!" He cried out once more, this time at the top of his lungs. So intent was he on hearing a response, he fumbled, his reflexes failed him and thus he went plunging down into the moist brown dirt under the tall grass leaves. It seemed as if the leaves engulfed him as he sank under their water-like depths. Dart tried to get up but his breathing came out in harsh gasps. His body would no longer obey him until it was replenished with sufficient oxygen.

Dart balled up his firsts angrily while burying his face in the soft soil. He cursed his weakness, cursed his fate, cursed Shirley for bringing them here and cursed Lavitz for siding with the enemy. Dart angrily beat his first upon the dirt helplessly, still calling upon the name of the woman he loved.

"Daaaart…"

Dart immediately froze. He recognized that voice yet it was so far away. Could he have just been imagining it? He wouldn't forfeit the possibility that he had heard right. Dart immediately sprang back up to his feet. His legs strained under the unwanted weight as fatigue embraced him once more in their merciless jaws. Dart shoved it away however, forcing it to the back of his mind. "SHANA!" He called out once more.

He perked his ears, hoping, praying that he would receive an answer.

"Daaart…"

There it was again! Louder this time. He was right! Shana was here! Elation filled Dart's heart and he plunged once more through the thick rooted grass leaves. "SHANA! WHERE ARE YOU?!?" He called out, his heart catching in his throat with happiness and anxiety.

His eyes strained out over the horizon yet finally he caught sight of something. A far off figure running towards him. It seemed as if the very world itself parted for her as she immediately appeared through the leaves. It was her! It was his Shana!

"Shana!" Dart cried happily. He ran faster now. "Hold on, I'm coming!"

"Dart!" He could hear the laughter and relief in her voice. It surged him on and gave him strength. He sped up even faster, found that his own throat emitted a wave of chuckles.

He could see her clearly now. He grinned widely as he saw her slim figure chasing towards him. Her hair, cried back by the gentle breeze flew free behind her, dark lashes bouncing back and forth. He could see her smiling face, the watery tears coming down her eyes. It softened his heart and moistened his own eyes. Dart ran even faster now. He could feel his breath rattling in his throat; knew that any minute his strength would fail him. He didn't care. This was his wife, his Shana.

The two immediately embraced, wrapping themselves in each other's arms. Dart kissed his wife vigorously and passionately on the lips. He relished the feel of her lips pressed to his. As if on cue, he felt the adrenaline leave him. He couldn't help himself as his body sank to the ground. Apparently Shana was no better as she sank along with him, still wrapped up in his strong protective arms, as he in turned was engulfed in her loving supporting ones. Dart hugged her anxiously, breathing heavily to catch his breath. Shana too was panting from the long run.

The two simply sat there for a while, each catching their breath and waiting until at least some measure of composure returned to them.

"Dart… I was so worried." Shana pulled away to look deeply into his sea blue eyes. "When Shirley first came to me two days after you had left, I didn't know what to think. After all, she gave me the dragoon spirit to save my life so I had some sort of bond with her. She told me you were in danger so I readily went with her but after I saw what those dragoons did to you and the others…" Shana couldn't finish. She felt as if a lump were stuck in her throat. All she could do was look at him with watery eyes, tears running free down her smooth cheeks. Dart immediately embraced her in his arms once more.

"It's all right now Shana. We're together now and that's all that matters…"

Shana's eyes widened as if she suddenly remembered something. "Wait! Dart your wrong. We aren't 'all' together. Where is everybody else?"

Dart pulled away now, staring at her with a baffled expression. "I thought they were with you?"

Shana shook her head smoothly. "When I awoke I was lying in a beautiful field of flowers. I couldn't remember who I was or anything. All I knew was that I was in a land of beauty. I was trying to remember what had happened while I was looking at the flowers. Then I heard you calling me and everything came back to me in an instant."

Dart nodded slowly, a frown creasing his brow now. "Yes, that's almost the same thing that happened with me. It was like for a brief period of time I had amnesia or something."

Shana's breath caught in her throat. "Dart! Could the same thing have happened to everyone else? Could they also be wandering around aimlessly?"

Dart shook his head. "I don't know, but I intend to find out." Slowly and with some reluctance, he stood back up on his feet pulling Shana with him. "Come on, we've gotta go look for them. They may need our help."

Shana nodded briskly. "I agree. But which way do we start looking?"

Dart turned his head right and left. His brows furrowed together in thought for a moment. "I guess the best place to look would be in that forest over there. If they were along these plain's I'm sure they would have heard us by now."

"Ok." Shana replied. "Well we better get going. We don't want to keep them waiting."

****

About a good few miles away, a loud moan escaped the lips of Haschel. He slowly opened his eyes and frowned at the familiar feeling of strain old age can put on one's body. Especially when you submit it to the same rigorous training as you had been doing for the last 60 years of life. Haschel sat up in a sitting position then thought vaguely. How did he know he had been training for sixty years? Who was he?

Haschel shook his head, trying to clear it of what felt like cobwebs claming up his senses. He looked around and realized he was sitting in the shade of tall grass. The large grass leaves engulfed him. The field was much similar to the one Dart himself had woken up to yet this one was much more closely surrounded by the dense fog of forests and there were no streams around for him to wet his dry throat. Haschel rubbed at his old bones and stood up wearily. Looking around he surveyed his surroundings.

"There you are." Said a voice suddenly and he felt a hand coming down on his shoulder. Haschel immediately fell into a defensive stance. He whipped around and shot out a kick directly to the intruder's face. The figure stumbled back a few feet clutching his face. Haschel vaguely recognized the dark onyx armor the man was wearing yet he didn't relax his pose. He wanted to get to the bottom of this right now.

"Who are you?" Haschel demanded.

The armored man stood up straight, giving his head a vigorous shake, clearing his senses of the unexpected attack. The armored man reached up to the sides of his helmet, popped the seals on both sides of his helm then released the material away from his face. Long shoulder length strands of blond hair fell about a strong well chiseled face that wore an expression of indifference. "You know me Haschel." The man said evenly, holding the helmet to his side. "I am Lavitz. Try and remember who you were."

Haschel blinked a few times at the man. It was all making a vague amount of sense. The name sounded familiar but it certainly didn't fit the expression or composure on the man before him. Haschel gave his head another shake, trying desperately to remember.

Lavitz noticed this and goaded him on even further. "That's it Haschel. Fight the shroud. You know me. Remember!"

"Lavitz, what is going on?" This time it was a feminine voice. Haschel turned his head towards the source of the new voice and noticed a red haired woman walking up to the blond man. This woman he was sure he didn't know. Though he vaguely remembered seeing her before, there was definitely no solid story behind the face. She too was wearing onyx black armor, yet her color scheme was slightly different from his, having a few trimmings of sliver mingling in with the mostly dark armor. Also her armor gave her a more feminine look, slightly flattering her features.

Lavitz seemed to know the woman however. "I've just recently found Haschel." He explained, pointing towards the slightly hunched form of the elder man, who was still trying to recollect his thoughts.

"He attacked me at first but now it seems like he's beginning to remember. Is there anything you can do to speed his progress?"

Shirley frowned slightly. "I don't have the same powers as the true silver dragoon anymore but I do have a fair amount. I can try to restore him."

Lavitz nodded curtly, standing at attention with a passive face of indifference. "That would be most helpful and appreciated." He replied flatly.

Shirley walked up to Haschel. The old man took a tentative step back. Shirley noticed his discomfort and smiled warmly. "Don't worry friend. I do not intend to harm you."

For some reason, her words seemed soothing to Haschel. He dropped his eyes low as if he were in a dream. Shirley grinned at his compliance and gently placed her palm over his head. Slowly a soft white light began to emanate from her hand over his face. To Haschel, nothing seemed to happen at all. He blinked violently, seemingly as if he were waking up from a drowsy slumber.

"Shirley?" He said roughly, clearing his throat. "Did we make it to that other world already?"

Shirley smiled at her success. She looked back proudly at Lavitz but the young knight's expression had not changed. He merely nodded curtly towards her. "Good work. I thank you for your assistance."

Shirley sighed good-naturedly. "Always the knight are you not Lavitz?"

Lavitz gave her a slightly perplexed look. "That is my mission and my duty Shirley. Am I to act differently in this dire time of war?"

Shirley sighed, realizing that she was wasting her time. She was merely talking into thin air. "Never mind Lavitz. Thanks for finding Haschel."

"Where are the others?" The knight asked, paying no heed to her comment.

"They should be right behind me. I left them a few paces back while I scouted the front."

"Excuse me. Am I just a fifth wheel in this now? I know I'm short but the least you two can do is pay attention to me? I am your elder you know."

Shirley turned her gaze back to Haschel, smiling at him warmly. "I apologize Haschel. It is just so much has happened in such a short time. We are all a bit flustered."

Haschel nodded his head sagely. "It felt as if I were under a spell. When you cleared my mind it felt like I was waking from a dream."

Lavitz looked sharply at his companion. "This could be the work of Frahma or his minions."

Shirly shook her head. "But how could he have known about this? We had kept it a closely knit secret. He should not have even been aware."

The knight only shrugged, albeit carefully so as not to impale his neck upon the sharp spikes on his shoulders. "Who knows the ways of the dark emperor? No one better then the dark emperor himself I suppose."

Shirley would have replied to that but Lavitz immediately walked off, heading towards one side of the far rim of the plains they were currently standing in. "I will provide lookout." He called over his shoulder.

Shirley had to stifle an angry curse. "Fine." She replied stiffly. She could not stand this man and his insufferable nonchalance to anything and everything. When she had known him in the past he had been quite a different man. Mayfil must really have sapped him of his endearing qualities. All that remained of him when he finally came to this new world was an indifferent mask of solitude and rigid duty.

"Quite a change that young man has gone through." Haschel mused silently, watching the departing knight leave. "It is a shame really. That man held great promise for a world so devoid of faith. It would seem that he himself has fallen victim to the very same enemy."

"He spent a good amount of time in Mayfil." Shirley explained. "That's enough to change any man."

Haschel nodded solemnly. "A terrible shame…"

"Haschel! Thank goodness you're alright!"

Haschel grinned widely as he turned around. Albert was walking purposefully towards him. Meru, Miranda, Kongol and the three other Dark dragoons were in tow behind them.

"You big dumb jerk!" Meru grumbled, punching him lightly in the arm. "What do you think you were doing scaring us like that?"

Haschel chuckled lightly. "Well it's not like I had much choice in the matter little lady."

"Hmph, I'll let you off the hook this time but next time you're toast buster. Now where's Dart so I can whap him one too."

Haschel looked at her in a perplexed expression. "What? I thought he was with you all!"

Meru's eyes widened as well. "No. We found no trace of him or Shana."

"This is not good." Albert mused, rubbing his jaw line. "Why were we split up in the first place?" This time he turned towards Shirley. "What went wrong?"

Shirley bowed her head low in thought. "I don't know. Lavitz suspects there was foul play."

Albert visibly grimaced at the mention of Lavitz name. The man who held that name now did not remind Albert of his long time child hood friend. The man he saw was nothing like Lavitz at all.

"What sort of foul play exactly?" Miranda asked, frowning. "Are you saying we've got enemies on our tail already?"

"No." Shirley shook her head readily. "Don't jump to conclusions. Nothing's solid yet. That was just Lavitz observation mind you. I'm sure there are no enemies after us. For the moment we are safe."

"Not anymore."

All faced quickly turned towards the dark Dragoon making his way towards them. Lavitz mask was once again enshrouding his face. "What is it?" Shirley asked, growing slightly tense.

"Shirley, get them out of here and to base camp at once!"

"What? What are you talking about Lavitz? What's going on?"

"No time to explain." The knight said in a rush, walking straight towards the three Dark Dragoons behind Kongol, Meru and Albert. "You three, come with me. We've got four hybrids about seven clicks away from out position. We've got to hold them off long enough to buy everyone else time to escape."

The three dark dragoons seemed slightly hesitant, visibly shaken after hearing what they were up against but they complied nonetheless.

Shirley on the other hand was livid. "WHAT?!?! Did you just say Hybrids? How did they get here?"

"I'm assuming they flew." Lavitz grumbled, shoving past her.

"Wait a minute!" Albert gasped in anxiety. "What is going on here? What are Hybrids?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know, your majesty." Lavitz answered, not stopping a second as he walked further down the clearing. "Shirley, get them out of here."

"Dragoons do not abandon their own!" Shirley called back. "Lavitz what you are planning is suicide."

"No, what I am planning is to buy you time so that you can get these other Dragoons safely to base camp."

"We're not leaving without Dart and Shana!" Meru challenged defiantly.

"I'll find them." Lavitz explained. "Don't worry kid. Frahma obviously knew about our mission somehow and disrupted our transportation. That's why we were split up and that's why you all were suffering from temporal amnesia. It was all to buy time so that he could get his forces on us before we could escape his grasps."

"Wait we can fight with you!" Albert suggested.

"This is not a battle you can win Albert." Shirley replied in a quiet tone. "As disagreeable as that man is, Lavitz has a point. Right now he's the only one who's able to buy us time before we are mutilated by the Hybrids. Lavitz, just remember that every man is important. I'm expecting all four of you back at base camp within nightfall."

Lavitz seemed to scoff from beneath his helmet. "We shall see Shirley. Now go! We haven't much time now!"

"Wait!" Albert called out. "We still need to find Dart and Shana. And quite frankly, I'm not sure I trust you well enough to entrust you to that task alone."

At that Lavitz paused in his step then turned crisply around to face the king of Serdio. He was standing at such a rigid pose of attention Albert almost faltered. That was the way he had always remembered Lavitz standing in the past when he would accept a mission he knew he could fulfil.

"I promise to you, on my honor as a knight that I will find Dart, your majesty. Now go! Before they are upon us!"

Albert was completely shocked. So shocked he almost fell over. A rough supportive hand grasped his shoulder. "Come on lad. There's nothing more we can do for them." Haschel said solemnly, tugging Albert away by the shoulder.

"Hurry." Shirley yelled, quickly running down the other side of the densely forested field. The other dragoons, though reluctant, quickly followed her lead. Soon, they had all but disappeared into the thick-forested undergrowth.

Lavitz grinned in satisfaction behind his helmet. "And now, we fight!"

****

An ear splitting roar cut through the air, stopping Dart and Shana in their tracks. The sound was inhuman, gutteral. It sounded much like an amphibious dinosaur or something of the sort. The idea of some huge beast charging in to feast on them did not bode well in Dart's mind.

"What was that?" Shana asked nervously.

Dart looked around from corner to corner in his surroundings. The two of them were currently deeply in the growth of branches and trees. Yet the inhuman roar destroyed the once peaceful tranquility of this forest now, turning it into a heart wrenching war zone.

"Stay close to me." Dart hissed. He wrapped his fingers tightly about the hilt of his sword, drawing the glistening blade forth. The sunlight reflected beautifully off the polished metal, making it look brand new even though it had been used well over six years now.

Dart felt the prickling sensation of sweat running down the edge of his temple. That sound had definitely shocked him, filling his senses with fear and unease.

"Dart… we should go." Shana insisted.

Dart turned towards her, grasping her hand with his free one. He nodded emphatically. "You're right! Let's go!" With that, the two of them took off into a mad dash. The loud sounds of feet hammering into the earth, resounded all throughout the forest. Whatever the thing was, it couldn't be human. Dart began to speed up. It was all Shana could do to try and keep her feet pumping so as to keep up with her swift husband.

The roaring sound resounded again. Dart felt the blood drain from his face. The thing sounded as if it were right in front of him.

Suddenly a huge burst of energy fire exploded right in front of him. He and Shana both flew back from the impact.

Shana slammed solidly into one of the fallen logs and she immediately blacked out. Dart himself hammered into another log, his armor slamming into one out the outstretched limbs. So furious was his fall, that the limb tore straight through his armor as if it were butter, and sliced easily through the flesh of his shoulder coming out on the other end. Dart screamed out in pain as he felt his life's blood pumping out of his arm. There was a huge shroud of smoke and debris in front of him making it hard to see anything visible on the other side. Yet the air slowly calmed and the dust settled. However what met him on the other side was monstrous.

Dart's heart felt as if it would leap into his throat. Standing there before him was what seemed to be a gigantic 20 foot tall lizard man. His face was that of a T-rex. Scales ran all down his back and arms and especially about his tail, which was lined with sharp spikes. His legs were well muscled and shaped like a kangaroo. However his body was more or less human in appearance. The sharp teeth glistened hungrily before Dart. A crimson tongue snaked out from between razor sharp choppers, sliding along its lips while dripping huge disgusting puddles of saliva onto the densely forested earth. It's eyes were blood red with what seemed like pleasure. Its human-like torso twitched right and left as it carried itself from side to side in a predatorily manner. Its huge webbed, claw hands twitched eagerly for an easy kill. The dark brown greenish scaly skin pulsated especially around its neck.

It had them, dead to rights. Dart could do nothing. He tried once more to move but the pain in his shoulder once more engulfed his whole being. He reached out with his good arm towards his sword but it was a good distance away from him now.

Dart turned his anxious, fear riddled eyes back towards the beast now. The monster lowered its head and that's when Dart realized it was preparing to eat him. He was going to die.

::::::::::To Be Continued::::::::::

Author's note: Thanks for reading. I hope you all are enjoying the story. Things are going to really heat up hopefully. Please stay tuned for the next chapter! I'm on a role! Whoo Hoo!