I don't own Seiken Densetsu 3.
A/N: I'm back! Bwahahaha! I wrote quite a lot on the trip, at least a chapter for both of the long plot ficies. So please be patient, as it takes time to put them on the PC after writing in my beloved notebooks ^_^
Touches of evil
Chapter 3
"He's your FATHER?!"
Duran cursed as Angela and Kevin found him. Him, along with Koren, and a helmetless Darkshine Knight.
"But, isn't father dead?"
Kevin asked, understandably confused. Koren jumped between the two groups and took a fighting stance.
"Get out of here, I'll keep those two occupied!"
He began chanting a spell, and almost instantly, Angela began chanting a counter spell. Being so familiar with the magic Koren was using, she knew how to recognize it. And block it.
Kevin and Duran glanced at each other, and called for their weapons.
"I don't want to fight you, but I will to protect my father."
"Duran, no. We have to go NOW!"
Looking from his friends back to his father, Duran bit his lip
'Who do I choose?'
Koren and Angela unleashed their Salamando and Undine spells at once, creating an explosion which sent both parties some distance backwards.
"Now's our chance! Darkshine!"
The Darkshine Knight grabbed Duran's arm and looked into his eyes.
"You're coming with us."
Before Duran could begin to protest, they disappeared.
"I'll see YOU soon, Angela."
Koren said, and followed his comrade.
Kevin stood up, while Angela remained on her knees.
"Duran… Koren… WHY?!"
It was a dark corridor. The torches seemed to be unable to light the darkness which filled the very air. Yet the two could see as if it was high noon.
The door to the throne room screeched at Koren's touched and opened, to reveal and even darker room with a distant light source. Seiken.
"I said, I did not wish to be dis… Ah, Koren! Loki! I assume you have good news for me…"
The Dragon Emperor said, a serene expression on his face.
"We do, my lord."
Koren bowed, while Loki just stood behind him, his face expressionless. To the Dragon Emperor, there was no greater show of loyalty.
"We have kidnapped the Sword Master. He is now being… persuaded to join us."
The Emperor smiled.
"Excellent. Loki, go and make sure your son truly is… convinced."
The Darkshine Knight left and Koren stood up, looking somewhat hopeful.
"Do not worry, Koren. He WILL turn. And then we will make the necessary arrangements to bring the girl."
"Thank you, my lord."
The Emperor's somewhat fatherly smile faded and he turned back to the sword.
"Have you been able to unleash the sword's energy yet, my lord?"
"Not yet. Once all three are under my command, we shall face Zable Fahr."
"'We', sir?"
"We. Now go, Koren. Your magic will prove helpful in turning the boy to our side."
"Yes, my lord."
"Oh, and Koren?"
"My lord?"
"Don't be long."
"Duran… Duran!"
Duran opened his eyes to find himself in an empty space. The only source of light was a bright brown orb floating above him. Or was it underneath? Directions seemed to meant nothing. Then Duran noticed something that made him on edge.
'Why am I wearing a Hero's Armor? That's a Paladin's…'
"Because you are pure. Too pure to be what you want."
Duran turned around, but found no one.
"Who's there?"
Still nothing. He called his sword, and droped it as soon as it materialized. It was a Death Bringer. (A/N: to those who don't know, that's the Duelist's weapon).
"What the… HEY! WHOSE IDEA OF A LAME JOKE IS THIS?!"
"This is no joke…"
"THEN FACE ME! SHOW YOURSELF!"
"As you wish…"
The shadows began to give way, and a figure appeared.
"Who're you?"
The image cleared, into what Duran recognized, as himself. A Duelist. Duran took a step backwards.
"How, how can this be?!"
"Hi."
Duelist Duran said.
"We have a lot to chat about."
"I can't believe this!"
Angela roared, back in the inn at Pedan.
"I mean, his father?! I mean, how long… Dear Goddess, Kevin, what if he was spying on us?!"
Kevin looked from hysteric Angela to his wounded hand and back. Being half a Beastman sure came in handy as the wound healed much faster.
"Calm down. Duran won't do, cares too much, about you, us, about us…"
Angela was far too worried to notice Kevin's slip-of-the-tongue and the bitterness in his voice.
"I don't know, Kevin. I mean, look at your hand… And this is his father we're talking about here! How can we hope to compare?! Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…"
Angela mentally slapped herself for bringing up the father issue. Although, to be honest, she wasn't that comfortable with the issue herself, having her father leaving her mother before she was born.
'Mother…'
"It be ok. And this more important now. So when we go again?"
Angela sighed.
"Go WHERE, Kevin? Sure, Flammie can take us. But we haven't the slightest of clue as to where to look!"
"Glass desert. Guru said Darkness stone there… Might as well look."
Angela nodded, and turned to leave.
"Where to?"
"Supplies. Now that Duran isn't here, we'll need some stuff. Mainly Claws. I'll be back soon, Kev. Don't over do it."
Angela left and as the Wind Drum was heard, Kevin found himself blushing.
"Kev?!"
"Talk about what?!"
The Duelist laughed.
"I'm here to help you. You wanted to get stronger, didn't you? Or that's all that is, past tense?"
"I AM stronger now."
"But you can be much stronger than that. Strong like I am. But you just had to go light, didn't you? Had to become a Sword Master."
Duran finally understood something.
'Is that why I'm dressed as a Paladin? Because I represent that light path of darkness? As odd as that sounds…'
"It was the best choice!"
Duran said defensively.
"A decent power attack, moon and wood sabers…"
"Which are pretty useless against most enemies. But that's not the point. You were afraid to go total dark."
"And why would I be?"
Duran said, clenching his teeth. The Duelist laughed.
"Let's see. Angela is a Grand Divina, all light. And you're afraid of what the darkness holds. Unlike Kevin."
Duran breathed in deeply, trying to remain calm. However, opening his eyes again he found himself dressed as a Lord. The sword the Duelist held changed as well.
"Now we're getting somewhere. What're the magic words? Angela and… Kevin?!"
Duran biut his lip and took hold of the Death Bringer.
'I will NOT play his game! I won't fall into his hands!'
However, the orb above turned a darker shade of brown.
"Come on, you can take that guy! All you have to do is get stronger! That's why I'm here!"
"I don't do the whole 'get stronger' act anymore!"
"Not even for your father?"
The Duelist was covered by shadows. Duran felt someone behind him, and turned to face his father. But something was off.
"Duran, how can you even think of turning your back on me?! After all these years… I've never stopped looking for you, caring for you. Duran, you are my son. We're meant to fight together."
"Father…"
Duran felt tears coming to his eyes as he instinctively went to hug his father. Only to have him covered by shadows.
"I am NOT amused!"
He cried out, as his armor turned into that of a Sword Master.
"Oh? Lost our sense of humor, have we?"
"Shut up, you male slot!"
Duran shouted as Koren casually walked out of the shadows. Duran was losing his temper.
"Spare me! I'm not here for you!"
"Oh?"
Duran raised an eyebrow. Koren smirked.
"I'm here for him."
Duran cursed at Koren's disappearance. He was tired of this game of hide and seek. He was always the seeker.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!"
He sarcastically said, and turned to where he knew the next figure would be. But he had no chance of knowing who it would be.
"Argh! But this is important!"
Angela stomped her foot and almost lashed out at the old sailor.
"Sorry, ma'am. But even if I let ye in, no merchants're here."
Angela let out a few words which made even the seamen in Bayzel blush bight red.
"Fine!"
She turned away, sighing.
"Hey, you're the one who rode Booskaboo!"
Angela looked up at the young man. She felt a headache coming
"Oh, hello, Mataro. Found anything new?"
The young 'Expert on paranormal activities' got a kind of glow in his eyes.
"Oh, it's outstanding! A huge dragon flew right above my house! He seemed to be carrying someone!"
Angela saw in her mind how she explained to Mataro yet again about Flammie when he said:
"And it wasn't your Flammie! It was a real dragon! I think it even breathed fire! And the people on his back seemed familiar… One of them looked like your friend, Duran, was it…"
Mataro shrieked as Angela grabbed his shirt collar and lifted him several inches above the ground. She was no Death Hand or even a Sword Master, but the Grand Divina was not someone you should mess with.
"Where were they headed?!"
"I'll tell you. If…"
She glared at him and Mataro gulped.
"If you'll be as kind as putting me down. Please. Ma'am."
Angela dropped Mataro on his behind.
"Where?"
"The Glass desert."
'Kev was right after all!'
"Flammie! Here girl!"
Angela summond the winged beast and jumped on her back.
"Hey! Can I come with you? HEY!"
Mataro's chase after Flammie ended with Angela sending a fireball at him.
'Jerk. Duran, I hope you're ok. And that you're not under a spell or anything, otherwise not even Kevin and I could…'
"GODDESS! I FORGOT ABOUT KEVIN! FLAMMIE, BACK! TO PEDAN, TAKE US BACK NOW!"
"KEVIN?!"
Duran gritted his teeth at the young Death Hand. Kevin smirked sadistically.
"Yes? May I help you?"
Duran found his friend's coolness annoying, to say the least.
"What are you doing here?"
'Wherever 'here' is!'
Duran thought bitterly.
"You should be with Angela!"
He mentally slapped himself for saying that phrase. Kevin's laughter made Duran feel as thought his friend was evil.
'Well, he IS a Death Hand!'
And you're a Sword Master, a little voice in his head said.
'Holding a Death Bringer.'
"But I am, Duran. Angela and I are having a blast!
"Kevin, Kevin!"
Angela ran through the trees, avoiding the occasional monster. She had finally reached the location of Pedan, only to find the city in its former state of ruins.
"Oh no, no, no, no. KEVIN!"
She rushed to the center where the inn was. Running through the inn's doors, she passed through a strange portal.
"What the heck's going on?!"
Duran held his sword up, ready to attack.
"Liar! Then where is Angela?! Huh?!"
"She's waiting in Pedan. Although I'm sure you'll see her soon. Oh well. Don't worry."
Kevin regained his evil smirk.
"I'll look after her while you're gone."
Duran raised the Death Bringer.
"If you've done as much as touch a hair on her head…"
"I didn't. Yet."
The smirk broke Duran, and he brought the Death Bringer down in a swift movement. He cried out all of his anger and frustrations at the world. He killed his friend.
The last thing he saw was the world turning dark as the orb's light died out.
His eye opened to see two known figures. One's face was decorated with a smirk.
"I'll go inform the Emperor."
And with that, Koren left. Loki just stood there, examining Duran.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, father. I'm fine, and willing to serve the Emperor with you."
Loki smiled, yet his eyes showed of the great sadness and pain he felt. He had turned his son against his friends. And he felt damn proud of it.
A/N: tada! Was it worth the wait?