Shirley

"I couldn't believe it until I saw it. It's dragon poison." The dark-skinned doctor explains.

Lohan is a very busy place with too many people. The stores and houses are stacked on top of one another, creating a sort of a maze. We need to ask for directions before we can find the doctor.

"How can we help her? Is there any cure?" Dart asks worriedly.

"Well...um..." The doctor frowns. "Not any that actually exist."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've heard stories that Dragoni Plants can cure those that have been harmed by dragon poison. But...those Plants are only myths. I don't think they actually exist." He pauses. "You could give it a try though. Go talk to Dabas, the merchant here. He should know something about it, like where it's located."

Asking for directions again, we find Dabas' shop. He is very pleased to see us, the ones that saved his life. Actually, I didn't help, but I don't say that.

"A Dragoni Plant?" Dabas repeats, after we tell him our current situation. "Let me check." He hurries off to a back room.

"Rose, do you know anything about this?" Dart asks me.

I shake my head, sending ebony hair flying every which direction.

Dart looks crestfallen. Dabas comes back holding a torn piece of paper. "Here! Here is says that a Dragoni Plant has been observe near the Shirley Shrine!"

"The Shirley Shrine?" Dart echoes.

"There's a path leading to it in the forest. But…" I pause. "There is a large plant blocking it. There is no way past it, except to kill the plant with healing water."

"Healing water?" Lavitz puts one hand to his head in deep thought. "Maybe the water in the Nest of the Dragon?"

Dabas selects a large crystal bottle for us to carry the water in. "Because you saved my life, I am happy to help. Hurry and heal the girl. She was very nice."

"Thank you, Dabas." Dart nods. "Lavitz? Rose? Come on, let's go."

Even they know the path to the Forest now, and I do not need to lead the way. The journey is silent, or at least for Dart. He does not speak. His eyes are on the road in front of him.

Lavitz and I trail behind him.

"He seems upset." The blonde Knight comments.

"His girlfriend is fatally sick. Would not you be upset?" I retort.

"Well, actually, I still don't know about this whole business between the two of them. He looked at her as a baby sister, but now I'm not sure. Sometimes it's either way." Lavitz reports.

I shrug. It does not concern me...

Dart alone jumps down into the Nest to fill up the water. He refused our help when Lavitz offered, saying that it would only take a few minutes. So I sit on a branch in the tree, and Lavitz studies the cobwebs.

"Did you ever love anyone, Rose?" Lavitz asks.

I am slightly surprised by his question; I do not answer.

"Rose?"

"Yeah, I'm listening. It's really none of your business."

"So that means that you did. So what happened?"

I jump off the tree, dusting my gloved hands. "Maybe I did, and maybe I didn't." I reply easily. Over the years I have learned to conceal everything with expert ease.

"You're a very mysterious woman, Rose. You never seem to speak to us. Like you look at us, but don't see us. And your answers are always in deep-sea riddles." Lavitz stands as well, peering into the edge of the Nest.

"A good defense is a good offense." I quote. "What's taking Dart so long?"

"Couldn't find the water?" Lavitz suggests. "I think you'd like King Albert, Rose."

"I don't like anyone too much. But why do you say so?"

"Well, he's wise too. And he knows a lot about everything, including the Dragon Campaign. He's a good fighter, and he's handsome." Lavitz grins.

I arch my eyebrows. "I do not get romantically involved with anyone, especially not some stuck-up royalty king. He is still a human, and unable to beat me in a fight." I shrug. "But perhaps I will meet him sometime."

A scuffling of sound announces Dart's presence, and he climbs up with a full water bottle in his hand.

"Got it. Now let's go. Where did you see the plant, Rose?"

I lead the way again, silently, answering only by moving.

I wonder what he would think if he saw me like this? Would he be horrified? Pleased? And after all these years, why do I still care? I still love him as if he were right here with me.

The plant is towering, over seven feet tall, like a giant black mushroom. Dart brings his right arm back and then forward, tossing the water at the plant, bottle and all.

The plant pauses in its swaying, and seems to absorb the water. Then, slowly, it fades into the ground, leaving nothing but a dark scar.

"The Shirley Shrine." I announce, pointing to the light I see in the distance. "Weak monsters live there and I hear that there is a protector."

"Strong or weak?"

I shrug, as if I do not know. "Shall we go?"

The Shirley Shrine is decorated along the ancient Mayan lines, very pretty and ancient. But the main temple where the Shirley resides is shaped like a Wingly fort. My eyes narrow as I see it.

As we enter, all three of our Dragoon spirits begin to glow, one dark violet, one fire red, and the other wind green.

"They're resonating." I explain.

"Does that mean there's another Dragoon here?" Lavitz inquires.

I shrug. "See it with your own eyes."

Oh, that's right. Of course there would be.

The journey there is too dull to describe. We went in, and quickly defeated the guardian, a bandit named Drake. After he fell, Dart rushed past him into Shirley's Shrine. He begged her for the Dragoni Plant, and she was a kind ghost-woman.

She floated out of her Shrine and looked at the downed Drake. She studied us for a moment. "People with Dragoon Spirits. Why are you disturbing my quiet moment?"

"What are you?!" Lavitz steps back, seeing that her shimmering feet do not touch the ground.

"We are not here for that! We are here to save our friend's life!" Dart says passionately.

"Life of your friend?" She echoes.

I decide it is time to intervene. I step forward. "Do you remember me?"

The ghost floats around me, tipping her head to one side. "You are... Rose, aren't you…?"

I nod.

Shirley. Beautiful Shirley with her copper-ruby hair in a floating metallic cloud around her pale smooth-skinned face and shoulders. Wide gleaming bright eyes the color of amber sap. Shirley with the kind yet fiery attitude, and the expert at the bow and arrow. Shirley who always listened to everyone else's problems, who always comforted me when I cried, the one who could always tell what was on everyone's mind and soul, the one whom everyone loved and admired. The same Shirley from my past. She hadn't changed a bit.

But then again, she couldn't change even if she wanted to.

But her beauty wasn't just physical. Anyone could be beautiful from her features, such as Shana or I. But Shirley was beautiful because her soul was shown on her face. Because her expression was as if she had seen all the evil and agony in the world, and accepted it, embracing it as her own.

Which is not far from the truth.

"Oh…I understand." She says sympathetically. "You have been on your sad journey since then..."

Shirley is one of the few people who know what happened before. Her mind powers allow her to see into my thoughts and heart. Besides, she had been there.

"You too, Shirley." I reply.

Dart steps forward, arms at his sides. "Won't you spare me some Dragoni Plant? Shana is suffering from Dragon's poison!"

Shirley turns to Dart, observing him. "Dragon? Oh, they are still clinging to life… Unfortunately, I don't have any Dragoni Plant."

"Then what about Shana?" Dart's voice is strained, maybe on the verge of tears.

"There is one way to save her."

"I'll try anything! Just tell me!"

Instead of speaking, Shirley holds out her hand, and resting on her palm is a white orb.

"Dragoon Spirit?!"

"A Dragon's poison can be removed with the Dragoon Spirit of a White Silver Dragon which is filled with healing magic." Shirley holds out a white pendant strung on the necklace. "But first you must prove you can earn it."

She looks at Dart. Waving her hand once in front of her face, her image shimmers with a golden-silver light and Shana appears. "Dart, I have been waiting. Why did you leave without saying a word?"

Dart hesitates, no doubt bewildered by the image that looks so much like Shana. "To pursue the Black Monster."

Shana/Shirley gasps. "The Black Monster?! Dart, what are you going to do after you find the Black Monster?"

"Get revenge." Dart says, and I frown at this exchange.

Shana/Shirley shakes her head slightly. "Dart, please, forget about revenge and be with me. The Black Monster or me, Dart?"

"Shana." Dart says firmly, making his decision. "Revenge is not important."

The Shana image smiles and returns to the floating Shirley hovering there. "Lavitz, show me what you believe." The golden light moves down her body and then up, and then King Albert stands there.

"Lavitz! What are you doing here! Forget Shana and go back." He orders.

"That's not like you!" Lavitz replies. "You're not King Albert."

"Are you disobeying my order? Choosing one over many?" Albert snarls, pointing a beautiful lance at the knight. Lavitz really does love his king; I could tell when he spoke of him. How this must hurt him, even if it is only an image.

"Shana needs me, Your Majesty." Lavitz says gently.

"Lavitz, well said. That's the renown Knight of Serdio. Life is precious, whether it is one or many." The lance returns to his side. "Help out with Shana." The light comes again and then Shirley reappears.

"Dart, advancing will bring truth as well as terrible ordeals. And you still want to go?"

"No matter what, I will go on." Dart answers.

"Brave young people. What you'll see is all the truth. Never gaze away. Only total acceptance brings you to the way." She looks at me with those strange eyes. "Lastly, Rose, what does life mean to you?"

Nothing but sacrifice. I think at first. But I know… "I've never thought about it."

"Rose," She says my name gently. "I see the end to your agonizing journey. The young man there will awaken the old you, and lead you to the future. Now, illuminate the dark road with my White Silver Dragoon Spirit. The new Dragoons, I give you my blessings."

She pauses once, and then holds out the glittering pearly orb. Dart takes it gratefully. "Sometimes the truth can hurt, but it is always best to go forward and face it." She sighs wistfully, looking at Drake. "Please. Can you heal him? He has been a loyal guardian. He has protected me countless times from bandits and thieves. Please use the Dragoon to heal him. I no longer have an entity, so I can't draw upon the power."

Reawaken the old me? I think. That would not be possible. The old me died a long time ago.

Dart looks at the white pendant. "I don't know how to. I can't feel the power between us."

Shirley looks at me, as if expecting me to explain. I wave my hand at Dart. "Hold it out with your own Dragoon Spirit."

The warrior does so, holding out the white pendant in one hand and the red pendant in the other. Both begin to glow, like twin suns.

"This is..."

"Your Dragoon Spirit is calling on the power in the White Silver Dragon." I explain.

Drake groans as the breath is returned to him, and sits up. "Ah... Ahh.... Am I alive?"

Shirley speaks up, quickly. "Drake will not stop you. Leave now, quickly."

And with that, she herself begins to fade. "Rose, I see the end of your tiring journey. Use my Dragoon Spirit to illuminate your road of darkness. Help these new Dragoons find their way." Shirley smiles her enchanting smile and transforms into a burst of white light. Her voice speaks one more sentence. "And Dart? Although the truth may hurt, it is always best to go forward and face it."

The burst of white light glimmers once as if smiling, and floats upward until it blends in with the soft whiteness of the clouds.

"Shirley? What happened to her?" Lavitz asks.

"She's in the place she is supposed to be in." I answer. Shirley stayed here to see if she could help the others, who must have also been trapped.

I turn away, and start walking toward Dart. In a low voice so that he cannot hear, I murmur, half to myself, "We had some good times, Shirley."