"Out of my way!!!" Lloyd shouted at the top of his lungs. He waved his arm in front of him, blowing the six Dragoons away from the one they tried to protect.
"Everyone!" Anthony cried worriedly.
Lloyd slowly floated towards Anthony with a grin on his face.
Anthony stepped back in fright.
"You have something I want boy," Lloyd said, "Now, give it to me!" He put out his palm; showing him to give the Dragoon Spirit to him.
"I know what will happen if I do!" Anthony replied, "I won't let you summon the God of Destruction!"
"It seems they've taught you quite a bit, haven't they…" Lloyd pondered, "If you won't give it to me willingly, I'll take it by force!!" Lloyd pointed his arm towards Anthony's chest as a violet-colored, pulsating energy ball began to form within his palm. He immediately fired it soon after.
"Ahh!!!" Anthony screamed as he covered his face.
Kongol leaped in front of Anthony, with his back facing the energy ball, in order to shield him. He grabbed Anthony in his large arms as they both were flung off across the floor. Kongol turned around, while in the air, and landed on his back. He grimaced in pain.
"Kongol!!" Anthony shouted worriedly, "Are you all right?!"
Kongol tried to give Anthony a smile while in pain, "KONGOL FINE. ANTHONY ALL RIGHT?"
Anthony nodded as he also smiled, "Uhn. I am thanks to you."
The rest of the group returned and stepped in front of Anthony and their injured friend.
"Kongol, can you still fight?" Haschel asked.
Anthony, even though he was so much smaller, tried to help Kongol back up onto his feet.
"KONGOL CAN," he stated, "ANTHONY, STAND BACK."
Anthony stepped around behind the Giganto.
"I already told you to step away!!" Lloyd yelled as he reappeared in front of them.
"Dragoons…!" Rose began to yell as she stepped forward, "…Transform!"
Their Dragoon Spirits emerged and placed themselves upon the chests of each of the six warriors. They radiated a bright and magical colored light, initiating their transformation.
The light from Kongol's Golden Dragoon Spirit began to cover his entire body. He banged his large Giganto fist into the ground. Right after, the ground itself surrounded his entire body, while inside the rock shell he was changing. Soon enough, the rock covering burst open. This revealed Kongol, the Golden Dragoon.
Out of Haschel's Violet Thunder Dragoon Spirit, a ring of purple lightning appeared above his entire body. Slowly the ring descended upon his body. And as it did, his Dragoon armor materialized little by little until his form was completed. Haschel was now the Violet Thunder Dragoon.
Meru twirled around once and spread out her arms, as her Sea Wave Dragoon Spirit emitted the strong blue light. The light created a world of ice around her. She lifted up her hammer and struck down upon the ice. The ice crashed which exposed Meru as the Sea Wave Dragoon.
The Jade Dragoon Spirit glowed brilliant rays of light. Its magic created massive hurricane winds enveloping Albert's body. Green leaves swirled around him, changing him. Soon enough, Albert was the Jade Dragoon.
A mighty, dark light emanated from Rose's Darkness Dragoon Spirit. It surrounded her entire body as a sphere of dark magic. Inside the sphere, her silhouette could be seen transforming itself. She burst out of the sphere as the Darkness Dragoon.
Massive fire was released from Dart's Red-Eye Dragoon Spirit. He spread out his arms as fire encircled every single part of his body, creating the red armor. Wings of fire struck through his back and transformed themselves into his Dragoon wings. He took his sword and was now the Red-Eye Dragoon.
Anthony pushed his way through the panicking crowd as he headed onward towards the exit to the mall. The people around him ran frantically towards any direction they could. It was difficult to get through.
He stopped for a moment and turned around to face where he had come from. A man bumped into him as he did. He couldn't help but be worried for his new friends who were battling and risking their lives to protect him. He couldn't believe they would do that, for him.
"I hope they're all right…" he thought to himself, with a remorseful look upon his face.
The six Dragoons stood before the evil Wingly with their own respected weapons in hand, ready for battle. They knew they had to not only defend Anthony, but at the same time protect the innocent people of this world.
"Once again, you stand before me." Lloyd stated, "Don't you think this is getting a bit old?" His voice was full of sarcasm.
"We shall always oppose you Lloyd!" Albert shouted back.
"But, what a heavy task you have all taken…" Lloyd began to say. He turned his hand so that palm of it was facing the sky. His fingers were bent, almost as if he were clenching a large object. Another energy sphere emerged above his fingers. "Not only must you protect that boy…you must battle me and at the same time, protect the innocents around you. Which one shall you choose?" Lloyd continued on. He was always very snide and spiteful in what he said.
The Dragoon didn't know what to expect. They had no idea what Lloyd was about to do next.
Lloyd turned over to his side and saw the many people running away from the battle that was about to occur.
Meru noticed and figured out what he was going to do. Her eyes widened as she gasped.
Lloyd pulled his arm back and then threw the orb of magic in that direction.
"No!!" Meru cried. She swiftly spread out her wings and headed towards the magic attack. She managed to get ahead of it and flew in front of it. She was hit in the chest and then blown into a wall, creating a massive crater upon. She was knocked unconscious for the moment, but still managed to protect the innocent people.
"MERU!!!" Kongol shouted worriedly.
"Lloyd, you will pay for what you've done!" Rose yelled, pointing her blade at Lloyd.
Lloyd took his [Dragon Buster] and then also stood ready to fight. "Very well then…" he began, "I'll finish you all first, and then take care of the boy!"
"You won't harm him!!" Haschel screamed as he spread out his Dragoon wings and jetted out towards Lloyd with intense speed. His eyes were filled with anger and fury as he approached Lloyd.
Lloyd didn't seem too worried, however. He simply stood there awaiting the arrival of the Violet Thunder Dragoon.
"Haagh!!!" Haschel cried. He stopped flying, and while still in the air, began to deal lightning quick martial arts attacks to the Wingly. He tried to swipe him in the face with his right fist and then spun around while attempting to hit him with a left back punch.
Lloyd had only smirk on his face as all he had to do was use his supreme agility to dodge every single physical attack.
Still in floating in the air, Haschel turned and tried to perform a spinning kick to Lloyd's head.
Lloyd ducked, dodging the attack. Nevertheless, in that split second, Lloyd took the offensive. While still in a ducking position, he clenched his fist and struck upward in the form of an uppercut, hitting Haschel in the chin.
"Gugh!!" Haschel grunted in pain as he was hit. The uppercut gave Lloyd another opportunity to attack.
Lloyd spun around did his own spinning kick, hitting Haschel in the chest and blowing him all the way across the area.
Haschel flew across the room and crashed into the window display of a clothing store.
"Haschel!!" Dart shouted.
"That's two down…" Lloyd grinned.
"Dart, we have to do something…" Rose said softly.
"We can't let him keep doing this," Albert agreed.
"PHYSICAL ATTACKS NOT WORK. TRY MAGIC," Kongol suggested.
"I believe Kongol is correct," Albert nodded in agreement.
"Then, I shall go first." Rose volunteered, stepping forward.
"Here comes the third," Lloyd said.
Rose raised her weapon into the air while calling out the spell, "Death Dimension!" A white line traced itself around Lloyd in the shape of a large rectangle. The rectangle lifted up into the air and spun once around. It revealed that now Lloyd was trapped inside what seemed to be like a flat window of sorts.
"You think this would hurt me?" Lloyd asked egotistically, "This is pathetic, even for you Rose." He used his Dragon Buster and struck it through the spell, creating a large crack as if it were glass. Soon enough, the entire window cracked and crashed open, releasing Lloyd.
"No!" Rose gasped.
"DART. KONGOL AND HUMAN KING DISTRACT LLOYD. YOU ATTACK," Kongol explained a plan to Dart, as simply as he possibly could.
Dart agreed to the plan, "Good idea. Be careful you two."
"We shall Dart," Albert replied. He took his staff and faced towards Lloyd's direction. "Come Kongol," he said.
"YES," Kongol said.
The two of them spread out their respective Dragoon wings and set off towards Lloyd.
"More?" Lloyd asked very nonchalantly.
Kongol lifted up his enormous axe and struck down upon the Wingly.
Lloyd dodged the blow by teleporting in that split second and then reappearing once more just a foot away from Kongol.
Kongol tried again, "WAGH!!!" This time he swiped sideways and then tried to strike him upwards, and then finally finishing by attempting to strike down on him.
The Wingly was too swift for the bulky Dragoon. He simply moved his body, only slightly, to evade each and every blow that Kongol threw at him.
Albert surprised Lloyd from behind and was able to catch him off guard. Using his staff, he struck Lloyd right in the chest pushing him pretty far. Albert took this opportunity to strike again. He twirled his mighty staff above his head and then swiped Lloyd across the face with the point of his weapon.
Lloyd was completely defenseless for the Jade Dragoon was attacking him like the gustiest winds.
Albert stopped, only for a second and put his staff away. He closed his eyes as something extraordinary occurred. The winds in the entire mall picked up to speeds even more powerful than those of a tornado or hurricane. Out of thin air, glistening cherry blossom petals flew around in the colossal gusts of wind. In a matter of seconds, Albert reopened his eyes as he called out the spell, "Rose Storm!!!"
The vast winds conjoined together, along with the petals of flowers, and attacked at once heading towards Lloyd. Lloyd did his best to try and defend himself from the magic attack. He tried using an invisible-type barrier to fend off the wind. However, because he had been weakened prior to this with Albert's physical attacks, his barrier could not last. Soon enough, the winds overtook him and threw him straight into the cement wall. A big blast was heard as smoke came out of where he hit.
"Excellent," Albert smiled happily. It was good to see his team winning for a change. He slowly approached the smoke that came from where Lloyd had hit. Slowly the smoke lifted to reveal that Lloyd wasn't even there. "What?!" Albert gasped.
Lloyd teleported behind him instantaneously. "Looking for me?" he said smugly. He grabbed Albert by his arm, spun around and then threw him towards the Giganto.
Both Albert and Kongol were both blown over into another of the mall's businesses.
Lloyd's clothes were a bit ripped and his skin slightly scratched. He spit out some blood from his mouth, "Insubordinate…"
"I hope you didn't forget about me!" a voice yelled from behind him.
It was Dart.
He had already begun one of his Dragoon Magic Attacks. His wings had now been transformed into multi-colored flames. He had his red steel sword pointed towards Lloyd as a sphere of fire blazed in front of him. "Final Burst!!!" he cried as he rocketed towards Lloyd.
Lloyd could not do anything against this blazing assault. As soon as Dart reached him, an immense explosion of fire and heat blew up over Lloyd. Once the flames lifted, Lloyd fell down to the floor and onto his knee. He held one arm and grimaced in pain.
A blade struck down and then stopped right before his face.
Lloyd looked up to see Rose, the Darkness Dragoon with a smirk of her own on her face, "Who's pathetic now?"
Lloyd gritted his teeth in frustration. It seemed that his enemies were overthrowing him. Nevertheless, Lloyd had a trump card up his sleeve and was not going to give up so easily. He stood up and stepped back from Rose's blade. When he turned around, the Sea Wave Dragoon stood in his way.
That's when the remaining Dragoons returned and surrounded Lloyd.
"This seems all too familiar, doesn't it?" Dart said haughtily.
"I am through playing around with you!!" Lloyd yelled angrily, "I don't have time for any of you!! I have come here for one thing…one person!! And I will have it!!"
"We won't let you near him!" Meru shouted from behind him as she held up her graceful hammer.
Lloyd was silent for that moment. He began to mumble something very softly as his body glowed the most eerie, dark luminescence.
"What's he doing?!" Haschel asked.
"Fiends of Darkness! Fulfill my bidding!!!" Lloyd then finally shouted. Many dark circles emerged around him.
Clawed fingers and green, scaly skin pulled out of the black holes. Before they knew it, demonic creatures leaped out and faced the Dragoons. They were like the demonic souls of warriors killed in battle. They had the armor, the shields, and the swords just like an ancient army. But, now, they're teeth were as sharp knives and their eyes filled with thirst, for blood.
"I'll have them deal with you accordingly," Lloyd stated. He vanished thereafter.
One of the demons approached Meru. She leaped away from him and then used her hammer to strike him across the head. "He's going after Anthony!!" she cried.
"Someone has to protect him!" Haschel added. A demon tried to attack him as well. However, using a purple sphere of electricity, he fended the demon off.
Dart pushed a demon back with his sword, "I'll go!"
"I'll go with you!" Rose stepped forward, "My magic won't work against these fiends!"
"DART AND ROSE MUST HURRY!" Kongol urged them as he bashed the head of a demon.
Using his wind elemental power, Albert blew a couple of demons away from his position. He looked over to Dart and Rose, "Keep him safe!"
Dart and Rose nodded in agreement. They soon spread out their wings and flew off in a hurry. They had to reach Anthony before it was too late.
Anthony passed around a corner as he continued to run away that was slowly approaching him. At that moment, he couldn't think about anything except running away.
Running away. It was something Anthony had done before. It was something that he vowed never to do again. He couldn't help but reminisce on a time when running away was all he knew how to do.
It was years ago. Anthony was just a few years younger than he was now. Around 13 or so.
His mom's car pulled up next to a one floor middle school. He gave his mother a kiss goodbye and then nervously stepped out of the car. He closed the door behind him as his mother drove off. He looked over at the landscape of the entire school while watching all of the different people talking with one another. The feeling that ran across his mind was…
"I wanna run away."
He tried to put that thought outside of his mind and took a deep, deep breath; then exhaling. He gathered all of his courage and steadily walked towards the entrance of the school. As he did, all of the other students glanced and stared over at him. Anthony tried not to look back at them. He didn't want them to notice that he noticed them watching him.
He continued to walk as he then heard the mumbles of chatter coming from those students staring at him.
"Who's this guy?"
"A new kid?"
"What's up with him?"
He tried and tried to ignore what they said, no matter what it was. Just before he reached the building he was supposed to enter, he stopped.
He couldn't take it. He wanted to be strong, but he didn't know how to be. He had gone through this his entire life. But, now, it was taking its toll on him. It was really starting to affect him.
Anthony quickly turned around and ran off in the opposite direction. He never looked back. Not even a glance. He just…
Ran away.
Anthony stopped running and tried to snap out of it. His eyes were slightly watery, ready to release tears of sorrow. He shook his head, "Stop it Anthony! That part of your life is closed now!" He turned around to face the direction he was coming in. "I ran away that day…I promised myself I would never run away from anything again," he told himself, "I'm going to help them in any way I can." He picked up his feet and started to run off, back to his new friends.
Lloyd appeared in that moment right in front of Anthony, stopping him in his tracks.
Anthony was startled and leaped back, away from Lloyd.
"And where do you think you're going?" Lloyd asked him.
Anthony didn't say a word.
"I'm glad I bumped into you actually," Lloyd said in a very mocking-type manner, "You have something I want."
Anthony stepped back, putting his hand in his pocket, "Stay away from me!!"
"Ah…I see. It's in that pocket," Lloyd grinned, "This shouldn't take long."
"Stay away!!" Anthony yelled as he ran away from him.
"Stop!!" Lloyd shouted. He shot out another energy ball in front of Anthony, causing a small explosion.
Anthony stopped running when he was about a yard away from Lloyd. He turned around to face him. He was shivering within himself. He didn't know what he could do. He had no kind of power to stop him.
Meanwhile, Dart and Rose flew across the mall's passageways as fast as their wings would take them.
"I hope he's all right," Dart said.
Rose was quiet for a moment.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"I sense…I believe Lloyd has already reached him," Rose said ominously and worriedly.
"Oh no…" Dart gasped, "Let's push on!"
Rose nodded in agreement.
"Give me the White Silver Dragoon Spirit!!" Lloyd demanded, "Now!!"
Anthony didn't know what to do. If he gave Lloyd what he wanted, it could mean the end of the world. But, if he didn't, it could mean the end for him. He was completely and utterly defenseless. Nonetheless, he had to make a decision.
"Well, what are you waiting for?!" Lloyd yelled loudly, "Come here and give it to me!!!"
Anthony had made his decision, "No!!!"
"Then, you shall die for it!!!" Lloyd screamed. He raised both of his arms into the air. Out of nowhere, bolts of dark lightning pulsated through his fingertips and assembled together above his palms. The dark magic created a massive orb that was filled with violent energy. It had grown twice Lloyd's size. He flew up behind it and pointed it towards Anthony.
"Ah!" Anthony gasped. He was frozen in fear and had no way out of this.
Dart and Rose arrived at that very moment. They both gasped in shock when they saw what was about to transpire.
"Haahh!!!!" Lloyd cried as he punched the gigantic sphere, sending it towards Anthony.
"Anthony!!!" Dart and Rose yelled. They both stopped when a blinding light emerged.
Anthony's entire body began to glow a holy, and gentle white. A shimmering golden symbol appeared upon his forehead and began to radiate beams of spiraling light:
月
Anthony's eyes transformed themselves in color from a dark brown to a platinum silver color.
Lloyd's attack was just about to hit Anthony's body when the soft light touched it, causing it disintegrate into nothingness.
Lloyd covered his eyes, but still managed to sneak a peak of the luminous young boy. "This light…I have seen this light before!" he thought to himself.
"Rose, what's going on?!" Dart asked, also blocking his eyes.
"We have both seen this power before Dart," Rose told him, "A very long time ago, we both saw this light." Rose didn't cover her eyes at all. She simply stood there, watching.
The light and the symbol disappeared soon after. But, then suddenly, Anthony's body began to levitate from the ground. The White Silver Dragoon Spirit floated up from his pocket and stopped in front of the center of his chest.
Dart uncovered his eyes to see the next event.
"And now, he accepts his destiny," Rose stated.
Anthony spread out his arms, his White Silver Dragoon Spirit radiating on the center of his chest. A beam of white light shined down from the skies above him. The clothes he wore upon his body vanished and dematerialized, revealing a white colored silhouette of his naked body. He floated within the beam of light as white angel feathers swirled around him. They all came together as one on his body, transforming him. He was now the mighty White Silver Dragoon, wings spread and determined.
Anthony faced the evil Wingly with the most resolute eyes.
Lloyd could only laugh and snicker, "Ha ha ha!!! This is better than I thought!! The White Silver Dragoon is actually the…! Ha ha ha!!!"
Rose and Dart also turned to face Lloyd.
"For now, this battle you may have won. But, now, this war is easier than I could have hoped!" Lloyd said, "Goodbye Dragoons! Until we meet again!" He then teleported away into the shadows of the night.
Anthony paused for a moment, but then smiled emphatically, "We did it!!"
Dart and Rose smiled along with him.
"I can't believe…" Anthony began to say as he began to feel weak and lightheaded. His armor began to glow and then radiate white light. When the light ceased, he returned to his normal form and then fell to the floor unconscious.
"Anthony!!" Dart cried. He and Rose flew to his aid.
Rose knelt down and held Anthony in her arms.
"Rose, is he all right?" Dart asked fearfully.
Rose looked up to him and reassured him, "Don't worry. He's fine. He's just asleep."
"Dart!!" Albert shouted from afar.
"Rose!!" Haschel joined in.
"Anthony!!" Meru added.
The other four Dragoons landed next to their friends.
"Oh my god! What happened?!" Meru cried as she sat down next to Anthony.
"IS ANTHONY ALL RIGHT?" Kongol asked.
"What happened here?" Albert wondered.
"I'll explain later. Right now, we have to get Anthony back home," Rose replied.
The events that had gone on that night was what changed Anthony's life forever. It was the turning point of his story. It meant a new life for him. These events are what will lead to the end of his story, and the end of this new life.
