The moon that once radiated high above in the distant space was now unusually floating above the downtown area of the city. Its color changed dramatically to the blood-red color that could only mean one thing. Like [The Moon That Never Sets] in the world of Endiness, the moon of Earth was prepared to give birth to the God of Destruction: The Virage Embryo.
The entire sky was filled with dark, ominous clouds. But even with the opaqueness of these thick clouds, the once blue sky was now just as red as the moon itself, reflecting its evil and malice.
However, throughout the darkness that filled the city, there was a small white light standing upon a building rooftop that faced the crimson moon. It was Anthony, transformed into the White Silver Dragoon. His face had no emotion. He simply faced the scarlet moon as the wind blew all around him. He took one step forward, and then another until he leaped onward towards the moon.
The scene quickly shifted into pitch black as the worried cries of friends echoed throughout.
"Anthony!"
"Anthony!"
"ANTHONY!"
"Anthony!"
"Anthony!"
"Anthony!"
"Hah!" Anthony gasped as he lifted quickly from his bed. He looked around to find himself back in his room. It was a new day, for the sun was shining brightly through the window. He felt uneasy and a little frightened. The screams of those who called his name in his dream haunted him even after the conclusion of the dream.
"Another dream…Could it mean something?" he thought to himself. He looked over to his side to see a clock that said the date and the day upon it. The part he focused upon was the day. The clock read: "SAT". It was Saturday.
"Oh, what a relief…" Anthony sighed happily.
Anthony was already dressed for the day and made his way through the hallway and into the kitchen. All of the blinds were now open and the rays of bright sunshine poured through. It all seemed like a normal day to him so far.
"Sleeping in?" his mother asked, who was at the stove preparing some breakfast. She looked very much like her son in physical characteristics. She was, of course, shorter and had short brown hair.
"Yeah, kinda…" Anthony sighed as he scratched his head.
"You're not usually the type to sleep-in. Didn't you sleep well?" his mother inquired.
That's when it hit him. He remembered the events that occurred the night before. His first meeting with his enemy, Lloyd, was the first thing that came to mind; their face-off at the mall. The images just flashed throughout his mind:
"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.
Anthony just paused for that moment. He thought about it all.
"That's right…Lloyd attacked me and then I…" he thought. He reached into his pocket and glanced at the White Silver Dragoon Spirit that lied there. "I transformed into the White Silver Dragoon…" he continued.
"Anthony?" his mother asked as she put his plate upon the kitchen table, "Are you all right?"
Anthony shook his head, snapping out of his thoughtful mood, "Oh…Yeah, I'm fine. It's like you said. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
"Well, today's Saturday so you should take today to rest up," his mother told him.
Anthony nodded, "Yeah, you're right." He wanted to take the day to relax after all that had happened. But, he knew there were certain people that he needed to visit first.
The Dragoons were at their secret hideaway that Anthony had given them. They all were scattered around the area. Meru sat upon the grass, simply in thought. Kongol, Haschel, and Albert spoke to one another off to the side as Rose and Dart did the same.
"What happened yesterday…" Rose began to say, "Only supported what I already believed was true."
"That light…It was the same light that Shana released the first time she became a Dragoon," Dart remembered, "So what you said is true. History does truly repeat itself."
"The light, the symbol on his forehead…It all means one thing," Rose stated.
The rest of the team gathered around to hear this monumental realization.
"Anthony is the [Moon Child]." she finished.
"No…" Meru whispered, "It can't be…"
"Now, you all see…" Rose turned to speak to all of her comrades, "…why it is we must protect him."
"We cannot change his fate, can we?" Albert sighed sadly.
"The only thing we can do for him now…is protect him from his fate," Haschel added.
Kongol nodded in agreement.
"No. There is something else we can do for him," Meru told them, "We can be his friend."
Dart smiled, "Meru's right."
"We must vow to protect him," Rose said, "And he must never know."
That's when Anthony popped through the bushes, "Hey everyone!"
"Anthony!!" Meru cried happily. She tried to change the mood so that Anthony couldn't tell what was going on.
"Good morning everyone," he said cheerfully. He had a plastic bag in each hand. "I've brought you all some food to eat. I hope it's enough," he said.
"PLENTY," Kongol smiled.
Anthony walked over to the center and began to pull out the food. "I hope everyone slept well. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you any pillows or blankets," Anthony said.
"Don't worry about us," Haschel told him.
"The question is, did you sleep well?" Albert asked.
"Oh, me?" Anthony asked. He tried to keep up his cheery disposition as not to worry the rest of the group. "I feel great," he continued to smile, "Well rested and everything. Now, everyone, eat up! I'm sure you're all very hungry after last night."
Everyone sat down around the food Anthony had brought them and began to dig in.
"Thank you Anthony," Dart said.
"Yes," Rose nodded.
Anthony stood up and still smiled, "It's no problem. Oh and also…" He lowered his head shyly and timidly.
"What is it Anthony?" Meru wondered.
"T-Thank you…for protecting me yesterday," Anthony replied.
"We would've done it anyway," Albert smiled warmly.
"Eh?" Anthony wondered in his oblivious manner.
"YES, THAT'S RIGHT," Kongol agreed.
"You are our friend after all," Dart said to him.
Anthony's face lit up with so much joy and happiness when he said that. His eyes began to even tear up slightly. "Really?" he asked, almost in disbelief.
Meru nodded, "Of course!"
Rose nodded, as did Haschel.
"Yes! We're all friends now, aren't we." Anthony thought aloud, as it all sank in.
"Now, come join us!" Meru shouted.
Anthony nodded and then sat down next to his new friends. It was a joyous and life-changing moment for him. He didn't want the moment to end. He looked around at every single one of them. He wanted to make sure he didn't forget that moment, for if it never came again.
Lloyd stood upon the rooftop of a corporate building in the downtown area. His platinum-colored hair and his opaque clothing swerved with the gusts of wind. He had his Dragon Buster struck into the cement as it stood vertically next to him. He stared off into the horizon.
"That light…" he said to himself. He could still see the bright, holy light that radiated from the young boy. He grinned delightfully, "Who would've thought that he was the key? This could be easier than I had hoped for."
He looked all across the city landscape, watching every single tall skyscraper stand tall and planes fly throughout the sky.
"Soon…this city will turn into the nesting ground for the moon and for the creation of the God of Destruction…The Virage Embryo. And those Dragoons will relive the horror, but this time…they will not escape it."
"Ah!" Haschel yawned as he rubbed his stomach, "That was delicious! Thank you Anthony."
"I'm glad you liked it," he smiled.
"What are your plans for the day Anthony?" Rose asked him. She tried to bring up normal topics as not to mention their mission. She didn't want Anthony to worry about any of that for now.
Anthony realized it quickly, "Rose…it's okay."
"Eh?" Rose wondered.
"We're all in this together now," he told her, "It is something that we need to talk about, isn't it? Especially after last night."
Rose could see the maturity in the young boy's eyes and nodded in agreement, "All right."
"What is next?" he asked her.
"Well…as you already know, Lloyd's purpose here is to set [The Moon That Never Sets] in motion," Dart began.
"Right," Anthony nodded.
"In order to do that, he needs the three Divine Moon Objects." Albert added.
"Oh, yeah. You mentioned that before," Anthony remembered, "So this means he's going to search for them. Right?"
"Exactly," Meru said.
"Something worries me though…" Rose pondered.
"ROSE?" Kongol asked.
"Uhh…no, nothing." she brushed it off. She didn't want to mention her suspicion in front of Anthony.
"What about that [Moon Child]?" Anthony wondered, "Doesn't Lloyd need this person too?"
Everyone paused. They already knew who the [Moon Child] was. They were going to keep it a secret, for now.
"Uhh…right…He'll…probably search for that too…" Haschel broke the silence.
"But, for now, we don't have anything to worry about…" Rose stated, seeming a little uneasy.
Dart quickly noticed.
"You should take this day for fun and to relax a little Anthony," she told him.
"Are you sure…?" Anthony asked, unsure that he should do that, "Maybe I should…"
"No, no…" Dart interrupted, "Rose is right. You should go."
"O-Okay…if you say so," Anthony replied, "I guess I will." He began to walk away and over to the bushes, "I'll see you all later."
"Hey, wait!" Meru shouted to him.
Anthony stopped to see her.
"Could…Could I come with you?!" she asked him.
"Huh…? Umm…" Anthony stuttered. He thought about it for a moment and realized how much he really enjoyed spending time with Meru. He didn't mind her coming along. "Sure!" he smiled.
"Yes!" Meru exclaimed, "Let's go!"
"Be careful you two!" Albert shouted.
"Keep an eye on him…" Rose said to her softly.
"Yeah, yeah." she replied, "We'll be fine."
"See you later!" Anthony said as he and Meru ran off.
Rose looked away, sadly and nervously.
"Rose, what is it?" Dart asked her.
"SOMETHING WRONG," Kongol said bluntly.
"You said something was worrying you?" Albert wondered.
"I think…" she began, "I think Lloyd might be able to find the Divine Moon Objects quicker than we think."
"Why do you say that?" Haschel inquired.
"During our quest in Endiness, Lloyd didn't find out about Shana being the [Moon Child] before it was too late…and then she…" Rose explained to them, "Anyway, that's why he had to go searching for the artifacts all across the land. But, after last night, I'm sure he know about Anthony."
"I see what you're saying," Albert realized.
"I don't. What are you guys talking about?" Dart asked worriedly.
"If Lloyd…were to get his hands on Anthony, he could use the power within him to draw the Divine Moon Objects out of their hiding places and summon them to him." Rose answered.
"Because Anthony, as the [Moon Child], is connected to those three artifacts," Albert added.
Dart understood, "Is it really possible?"
Rose looked away sadly, "I'm afraid it is."
"ANTHONY…" Kongol sighed.
"All of this could come crashing down on us if we're not careful," Haschel stated.
"For now, I think we'll be all right," Rose reassured them.
"As long as we keep an eye on him," Dart agreed.
"MERU WITH ANTHONY. SHOULD BE FINE," Kongol told his friends.
"Yes…" Rose tried to smile, but under her breath said, "…I hope so."
Anthony and the flamboyantly dressed Meru walked along the sidewalks in his neighborhood. The neighbors who were outside either mowing their lawns, getting their newspapers, or walking their dogs stared at the odd couple.
Meru didn't seem to care. As for Anthony…
"I told you the way you were dressed would be considered…" he began to tell her.
"Oh, whatever!" Meru replied, "I look beautiful!"
"Heheh…right," Anthony scratched his head in embarrassment as a sweat drop fell on his head.
"Anthony!" someone called from behind.
Anthony and Meru turned around to see a young girl, Anthony's age, jogging up to them dressed in athletic attire. She had dark skin and dark hair.
"Oh, Julie. Hi," Anthony smiled.
"This my very good friend, Julie Rhoden," Anthony narrated once more, "She lives nearby. We've known each other for quite some time now. She's a great friend."
"Hey! Oh…who's this?" Julie asked, looking at Meru's clothes.
"Oh, this? This is…" Anthony began.
Meru stepped in front of him and put her hand out to Julie, "I'm Meru!" She continued to be in her usual cheerful disposition.
"Hi…Meru," Julie smiled, "I'm Julie. It's nice to meet you. So, you're a friend of Anthony's?"
"Well…" Meru began to say as she turned to smile at Anthony, "Yes, I am."
"Well, I'm glad I caught up with you Anthony. I wanted to ask you something," Julie said.
"What is it?" he asked.
"There's an anime convention tomorrow at the convention center. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me," Julie explained to him.
"Well…sure, I'd love to!" Anthony shouted happily.
"You're welcome to come too Meru," Julie said politely and generously.
"Uh…okay," Meru said as she then mumbled, "If I only knew what a-ni-me was."
"Okay. Sounds good. I'll call you later then!" Julie waved goodbye as she continued on her morning run.
"What is a-ni-me anyway…?" Meru asked as she then looked at Anthony saddened face, "What's wrong Anthony?"
He turned and started to walk slowly, "It's just…I know I'm going to be able to go…"
"Why not?" Meru wondered, "I'll go with you!"
Images of Anthony's nightmare, that he had earlier that morning, flashed throughout his mind; plaguing him. He grimaced at the thought, "I just…have a feeling…that's all." He shook his head to snap out of it. "Besides, I have a sacred duty now. Remember?" he said.
"But, even still…" Meru began as she followed him along the sidewalk.
Anthony and Meru had spent the entire day together. The evening was beginning to approach as the sun was beginning to set. Anthony would never forget the day he spent with Meru. Not only because of the laughs and the great times they shared, but for what was to come, sooner than later.
The both of them were laughing as they walked along the sidewalk. They were heading back to the park to rejoin their friends.
"…and then, Kongol, he slipped and he fell right on top of the captain of the ship!" Meru laughed hysterically as she told Anthony a story.
Anthony laughed along with her, "That's too…funny!"
"Heheh…Yeah…! It was…" Meru calmed down a bit, as she remembered something important, "The one thing I remember most about that was seeing Shana's smile…Heheh…"
Anthony was silent and didn't know what to tell her. He had never experienced anything like that before. He wouldn't know what to say.
"I think…the reason you and I connected is because…you're so much like her," Meru began to say.
"Yeah?" Anthony asked.
The two of them stopped walking and went to the curb to sit down.
Meru looked up towards the sky, watching the moon begin to fade in as the light from the sun set in the distance. "Shana…smiled a lot." she continued, smiling to herself a bit, "But, then…as our quest continued and she realized she was the [Moon Child]…that smile changed. It wasn't like how it used to be."
"What do you mean?" Anthony wondered, asking in a gentle tone.
"Before, her smile was so carefree…without worries, you know?" Meru replied, "But, afterwards…when she found out about her destiny…she would only smile to please others, so that we wouldn't worry. And then, when she died…that smile disappeared…"
Anthony could see the sadness and grief on his good friend Meru's face. He wished he could ease her pain.
"She and I became best friends too…" Meru began, turning to Anthony, "…Kind of like you and me."
Anthony smiled, "Thank you."
"We'll always be friends…right?" Meru asked him.
Anthony nodded, "Always."
The night then arrived, as the stars gleamed and shined above them.
Anthony gazed into them as she spoke, "After what you've told me…Shana and I…really are alike. In the way that we try to make others happy…even if we're not."
"Aren't you happy?" Meru looked at him.
"S-Sometimes…" he replied.
"You said before…that you used to do a lot of things, but then you stopped…" she said, "Why is that? Didn't those things make you happy?"
"Well…the one thing that I used to do a lot…was writing," Anthony told her, "I used to write a lot. About all kinds of stories and adventures…I created characters that would go on these marvelous journeys and live extraordinary lives and I'd live vicariously through them, since I could never do any of those things. For me…it was an escape…"
"What…were you escaping from?" Meru inquired, "Or, maybe it's none of my…!"
"No. It's fine…" Anthony interrupted her, tears in his eyes, "I've never talked about this with anyone. Maybe it's time I did."
He closed his eyes and began to run through his memories, sort them out so that he could tell his story to Meru. His story…what made him who he was.
Moving vans in front of all different kinds of houses were what filled his mind, illustrating what he wanted to say.
"You see…My father was in the military, ever since I was born. I was born into a lifestyle that would change my life…forever." he said.
Different aged boys stood in front of the moving vans. One about four, the other maybe seven, the other ten, and the last, fifteen years old; each of them with tears running down their cheeks.
"See, here in this world, when someone is in the military…that means that you move around a lot…from place to place. You get stationed in different locations, every couple years…" Anthony explained, "You never…get to keep the friends that you have…It affected me."
The scene changed, to a day when his mom's car pulled up next to a one floor middle school.
Anthony 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.
"Going from school to school…was very hard. Every time…I was considered the 'new kid'. Everywhere I went, I was labeled as such," he continued, "I always wanted to…run away."
Young Anthony 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.
The rain started to fall and Anthony wouldn't stop running. He continued up along the streets, his clothes soaked and his hair dripping with water. He just wouldn't stop.
Anthony opened his eyes as a tear fell down his cheek, "So…at times…I, myself, felt unimportant and so…what I did was unimportant. That's why I stopped writing. Even though I loved it…because it wasn't important to anyone else…I just…stopped."
"Oh, Anthony…" Meru sighed as she embraced him.
Anthony wiped his tears as they broke their hug.
"I guess…this is really why we're so close…" Meru said to herself.
"W-What do you mean?" Anthony asked, sniffling a bit.
"You and I relate to each other on so many different levels," Meru smiled, "We're so similar." She wanted to explain to him, her own story. "I have a pastime of my own that I used to love, and still do love actually." she began.
"You did?" Anthony asked, surprised.
"You see, I'm the daughter of very important Winglies," Meru told him.
"Meru…?! You're a Wingly?" Anthony gasped.
She nodded and then returned to her tale, "Just like you loved writing…I loved dancing. I was a dancer. But, because my parents wanted me to become an aristocrat like they were…they never came to see me dance. They never even cared…"
"It…wasn't important them…?" Anthony stated, realizing their situation were extremely similar.
"Yeah, exactly." Meru said, "That's when I decided to leave home and pursue that. I became a dancer, and people liked me. I was very sad that my family wasn't supporting me…but, I continued on because it made me happy, and no one else. That's why people do the things that they love most."
Anthony gazed at her, realizing how good a friend she really was.
"…Because it makes them happy. And if I hadn't continued with dancing, I would've never met Dart and Shana and everyone. Dancing changed my life…maybe writing will change yours…" Meru finished.
Anthony smiled, tears in his eyes, "Thank you Meru!" He leaped into her arms and held it her tight. She helped him find what he had lost, even if it was right in front of him all along.
Meru hugged him back, as tears formed in her eyes. She was so happy to be around him. "How about you and I make a deal?" she asked him.
"What?" Anthony asked, breaking their hug.
"If you promise me that you'll get back to writing…I promise I'll get back to dancing, because it's what we love," Meru told him.
Anthony thought about it for a moment, but knew what his heart was telling him, "Deal!"
"Good," Meru smiled.
"Ah!" Anthony grimaced as he held his head.
"Anthony?!" Meru gasped, "Oh my god! What's wrong?!"
Anthony then realized this feeling that he had. It was all too familiar to him. He knew what it was, "He's here…!"
"He?" she asked.
"What a touching scene you've both displayed…" a familiar male voice spoke, in a sarcastic and sadistic manner. His voice echoed throughout the air as he then appeared through the darkness.
It was Lloyd.
Anthony and Meru both got to their feet.
Meru stepped in front of Anthony, putting her arm in front of him, in order to protect him. "Lloyd!" she shouted defensively.
Anthony stepped back slightly, in fear. He knew that Lloyd meant serious business. He could see it in his vicious eyes that stared into his own.
"Time to claim what was rightfully mine to begin with…" Lloyd grinned maliciously staring at Anthony, "Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!"
