Cry

The doctor is surprised to see that we have returned. "You got it?"

"No, not the Plant. But something else." Dart brushes past him and holds the pendant over Shana, who is sleeping peacefully.

The white glow fills the room, dimming the lamps.

Dart jerks back, dropping the necklace. The pendant hovers and moves to attach itself around Shana's neck.

"Was it supposed to do that? I thought it was only supposed to heal her."

It should be impossible. Unless Shana is a Dragoon too...

"What is that?" the doctor asks.

"The Dragoon Spirit of the White Silver Healing Dragon of Light." I explain, clutching at the stone on my choker, which begins to glows the dark violet. Dart and Lavitz do the same, red and green blending in with my darkness light. The room lights up.

Shana arises, looking around and then down at the white light spilling from her pendant. "Dart? What's going on?"

"You're a Dragoon now, Shana. The Dragoon of Light. Shirley gave us your Spirit. It healed you and now you're a Dragoon." Dart answers from somewhere in the light.

"I'm a Dragoon now too?"

It's too coincidental. Something's wrong...

"Yes." Dart replies. "Can you feel the power?"

"Yes. It's powerful, but at the same time, also tender."

"Um...excuse me? Can you turn that light off? It's hurting my eyes." The doctor says.

I shut off the power from the pendant, and the others do the same. The light returns to normal, and the doctor rubs his eyes. "All right. I'm rather confused, but I have a feeling that if you explain, I'll just get even more confused. So this is free of charge because I've actually seen Dragoons." He smiles. "In all my old life, I've never seen this magic before. It's been a pleasure, young ones."

He pauses. "Well, actually. You're just in time for the Hero Tournament. Daredevils from all over the world are coming to compete. You might want to give it a try, young man." he says to Dart.

He smiles his thanks, then we leave the clinic.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Dart asks frantically to Shana.

"I'm positive." Shana pirouettes to prove it. "Let's get out of here. I don't like this place."

"Neither do I." Lavitz comments, looking around.

"But I want a shot at that hero tournament." Dart decides. "I want to join, to see how high I can get."

Just like the one from my past. Always trying to find ways to challenge himself, stretch his limits.

"Hey, Dart." Lavitz speaks quietly. "Don't use your Dragoon Spirit here. We don't want to make a scene and attract attention."

"I know."

The tournament takes place in an arena on the southern side of the large town. The four of us walk in, and I pause, sniffing the air.

Dart walks back to me and after a few moments Shana and Lavitz do the same. "What is it, Rose?"

"Something is not healthy here." I warn. "Something smells like blood."

"It's a tournament, a battle. Of course there is blood." He says practically.

I shake my head. "Here. Take this Body Purifier. You'll need it if you're going to join."

Dart looks confused, but he knows that I am usually not wrong, and accepts the vial of curing water that heals regular poison.

The fighter disappears, but I do not wait for Shana and Lavitz. If Dart is not with them, why should I stay? I walk off, finding an empty seat in the first few rows.

Shana and Lavitz catch up later, getting the seats behind me. "Why... did you...leave us, Rose?" Lavitz pants. "We had to...run...to catch...up."

I shrug, not turning around. "The fight's starting."

Dart is one of the first contestant, against a burly man whom I identify by the program as Golgaga.

He breaks the rules right away, and tosses a poison spell at Dart, who stumbles and stares down at the green orbs floating around him.

"Is this poison?" he demands, sword drawn. "That's foul play!"

"I'll do anything I can to win." Golgaga replies gleefully.

Dart thinks for half a second, and pulls out the Body Purifier I gave him before the battle and drinks it.

I told you that you would need it. I smirk.

After the green orbs dissipate, Dart rushes forward and in a series of quick slashes, defeats his opponent.

What a short fight...not amusing at all.

Dart waves to the audience, and runs back to the backstage to prepare for his next battle.

The red-clad warrior breezes his way easily through the next three battles.

His fighting skill...so much like him. His smile...so much like him. His attitude even...so much like him. Has he been reborn in Dart? Why can't I figure it out? How could I possibly ask him?

The last battle is Dart against a handsome platinum-haired man named Lloyd, who holds a brilliant sword. The new man is not burly like Golgaga had been, but slender and well-toned. A jewel hangs around his throat, shifting subtlely from silver to ruby at different times. Lloyd has an air I do not like around him, a warning sense that tells even me "danger, stay away!"

I lean forward in my seat as I watch him pelt Dart with various attacks. He moves quicker than is humanly possible, his skill unmatchable so that even Dart succumbs quickly. The sword moves as if it is an extension of him, and Lloyd's hair glints in the light as he moves swifter and more fluid than a raging river.

Well...a true warrior. I had thought no one could defeat Dart so easily. Who is this new platinum haired man? I wonder how I would do in a fight against him? I would probably lose...

The three winners come out. A dark-haired man claims third place, Dart second, and Lloyd first. The silver-haired man is not smiling. He simply accepts the trophy and walks off. I like his attitude, but danger warns me. It has been a long time since I have felt the foreboding of fear for someone, and it is pleasant to have this change.

When we meet up with Dart again, the dark-haired man is with him.

Shana speaks first. "Congratulations, Dart! You got second place!"

"Lloyd was very impressive. He defeated me right away." Dart breathes his amazement. "I wonder who he actually is? I wish I could have won first place though."

"Don't worry about it. Besides, you looked so cool." Shana turns to the dark-haired man who had won third place, who is now standing next to Dart. "Hello."

Dart gestures. "This is Haschel. He's a master of Rouge arts. We met about four years ago, when I was on my quest to find the Black Monster."

Black...Monster...

Haschel is an old man. Not too old, though. About sixty, old enough to be Dart's grandfather, but still looking rather young, and by his movements, he is a fighter, and very healthy. Dark hair, a mustache, small eyes, and more than his share of nose make him look original. Almost wise, but in a humorous way.

He smiles at Shana. "Hello. You must be Dart's friend." He looks at Lavitz, and then me. "Hey, Dart, is that tootsie over there your friend too?"

"Don't 'tootsie' me." I snarl. "My name is Rose."

"Ah. I see. So which one of you is Dart's sweetheart?"

"W-what?" Dart takes a step back. "Haschel, it's not like what you think. Besides, I've told you about Shana lots of times!"

"Oh, and do you still think of her as your baby sister?"

Lavitz cuts in, saving Dart's hide. "You know what? We're not in a rush to go anywhere. Why don't we enjoy the arena for a while? There are mini-games too. Dart, why don't you go with Shana? Rose can come with me."

"What?"

The blonde young man takes my right forearm and leads me to the side.

I dig my feet into the ground and brace myself, hauling him to a stop. I use only a little bit of strength, but as I push him, he twists backwards and falls. "Why do I have to go with you?" I demand.

"Just pretend...really." Lavitz explains. "Dart, aren't you going to go with Shana? I didn't mean you, Master Haschel!" he says, as the dark-haired man took Shana's hand and started leaded leading her off.

"Oh? Well Dart seemed to have a hard time making up his mind so I decided to do it for him." The Rouge master laughs.

He must be trying to help Dart and Shana. I walk off into the shadows.

I sit on the railing of the pit that is the tournament ring, and begin to think about him.

After a while, Dart and Shana come over.

"Don't you have someplace to be?" I ask them, just the vaguest hint of annoyance buried in my tone. "I'll talk to you two later."

They walk off, but I can hear Shana murmuring something.

After a fair amount of time, I win a dagger-throwing contest and return to Lavitz and Haschel just as Dart and Shana do the same.

Lavitz leads Dart away to speak to him. Haschel turns to Shana.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes."

The master turns to me. "Did you, Rose?"

I toss the tickets at him. "It was boring."

"You don't like much of anything, do you?" Haschel asks.

"No." I am amused at his boldness; not too many people tell me that straight out.

Lavitz and Dart returns, both grinning, and we are on our way. Haschel waves good bye to us, saying he needs to resume a personal quest.

As we near the exit of the town, a soldier stumbles in.

Several shrieks and gasps sound. The civilians see the arrow sticking out of his back. The soldier crumbles to the ground.

Lavitz kneels down by the man. "You-you are a knight of Basil! What has happened?!"

The soldier looks up. "Sir...Lavitz? I'm...glad... At least I won't die in vain..."

"What's going on?!"

"Sandoras...surprised us with an attack... His Majest Albert...is in captivity..." he takes a labored breath. "The King...Hellena..." With his final breath the soldier delivers the message, and then his head drops back to the ground.

Lavitz stands. "King Albert!! I am coming now!"

"Calm down, Lavitz! Pull yourself together!" Dart stops him, grabbing his arm and jerking him to a stop.

"Let me go! I gotta go! King Albert!" Lavitz struggles like a captured jaguar.

From out of nowhere, Haschel runs up and leaps over Dart and Lavitz. Spinning around, he jabs his fist sharply into Lavitz.

"Ow...!" The blonde knight crumbles to the ground.

"Sorry about that." Haschel says, wiping his hands on his tunic. "Shouldn't you get him to the doctor?"

"Agh... Ah..." Lavitz sits up. "I am..." he leaps out of the bed in one fluid motion. "King Albert!"

Haschel speaks first. "You idiot! When knights lose their self-control, their lord cannot be saved." Haschel explains wisely. "While you were out, I went around and got a feel of the situation. Bale is under occupation, so I don't think the remaining Knights can do anything."

"What about King Albert?" Lavitz asks anxiously.

"He offered himself up as a captive so that the people in Basil could be safe."

"I've got to go help him." Lavitz rises to his feet.

"I'm coming with you all." Haschel declares.

"But what about your runaway daughter?" Dart cuts in.

The martial arts master shrugs. "I have been searching for her for twenty years. Going with you on a short journey will not make any difference."

I speak up, lazily. "If you are going to go, you better decide it now."

"I was held at Hellena Prison before. I know the way." Shana says, starting southeast. "It's this way. Come on!"

There is not much to say about the Prison. It's dull and by the beach and dark and smelling of human fear. The guards are stupid. We are able to sneak past them without being discovered, all the way up to the Captain Fruegal.

The Captain is a man/monster who has had way too many donuts. A monster dog and a monster bird stay by him, like bodyguards.

"Hee hee hee! The sun is almost up! I'm such a nice guy, aren't I? Allowing you to see the sun before you die!"

"Sir, Emperor Doel ordered that he was supposed to stay alive!" One soldier says.

"I don't care! I'm not waiting for that man in black! I want some entertainment. At dawn, this king is mine. I'll kill the King at sunup."

"That's the King Albert." Lavitz hisses, pointing at the man in front of Fruegal.

I take a close look at the ruler. He is kneeling on a pile of hay, his hands tied behind his back, useless. He is wearing baggy brown leather pants and brown boots, but no shirt, as Fruegal has removed it so it will not get in the way of the execution. I cannot see the color of his eyes from this distance, but I see that his hair is silky and brown, like Shana's, in a waving style that is rather long for a male. As I look closer, his hair is long, tied back neatly with a rubber band. But his face and features are noble and clean and wise, truthful and ready to accept anything. His expression is worried but determined. He knows that he will die, but he accepts that, and he will not cry or beg for mercy. He truly does look like a king. I feel a distant respect for him. He is not the stuck-up royalty I had thought he would be.

"Say something, King." Freugal demands. "Are you afraid? Speak up!"

"I have nothing to say to vulgar men." The King replies flatly, but still with dignity.

"It's time to get him out of here. Dawn is almost here." Dart whispers.

"All right. I got it." Shana gets up on one knee and launches an arrow from her bow. It lands next to Fruegal's foot as a warning.

"Fruegal!" It is Lavitz that moves first, leaping into the clearing. "Release the King!"

"Lavitz!" Albert yells. He has a nice voice that carries distance, part of being a king, I suppose. "Don't come any nearer! Stay away!"

"So. The Knight did come, as I expected. And the red warrior. Guftas, Rodriguez, attack!"

The fat captain and the bird and the dog teamed together against the four Dragoons and one martial artist.

The battle is easy. Fruegal does not deserve the title of captain. And his pets are even easier. I note that Dart, Shana, and Lavitz have grown much stronger. The journey strengthens them, although it is a short journey in my opinion. But then again, I have lived for a long time.

Lavitz charges in for the final blow, and destroys the captain, knocking him away with the lance.

But with Fruegal out of the way, it is not hard to see the man in black attacking King Albert.

The man wears a silver helmet over his head, shielding his face, and a long black cloak that wraps around him. He has broad shoulders, but a slim build. His right hand is thrust into the king.

Into the King, actually in his flesh. One gloved hand is gripping the king's shoulder, holding him still and immobile, while the other is digging into the flesh on the bare back, between the shoulder blades. Reaching in as if to pull something out. Albert is struggling, and crying out in pain. But there is no blood.

The black-cloaked man pulls his hand back, and in it is a glowing green jewel, more expensive than a throne. It is a perfect sphere, a bright green shimmering orb. I can sense the magic in it, Wingly magic. It is one of the Divine Moon Objects. I don't know a lot about them, but I know that they are significant.

"I knew it was here. Moon Gem." The man hisses. His oddly familiar voice makes me frown.

"Moon Gem!?" Dart echoes

"Aahhh!" Lavitz roars. Lance positioned, he charges forward, and leaps into the air as a man, but comes down as a Dragoon.

The man in black is not intimidated. Stone cold he stays until the last possible second, and then draws out a sword. First the hilt, and there is no blade. But just like that, the blade appears.

A glowing sword the color of the sun, and shaped like fire, thin and long but it seems to actually be flaming. It has a red hilt in the shape of a Dragon head and sharp fiery edges and I recognize it immediately.

"That sword!" I gasp. It is enough to shock me.

Lavitz, don't!

Lavitz thrusts his lance with his right hand, leaving his left side vulnerable. And the hooded man knows that.

The sword raises up and slides neatly right between the knight's ribs. A swift whooshing sound like the wind sighing is heard, and the Dragoon armor breaks into delicate pieces, the torso armor shatters. The man in black twists the sword once, and then tugs it out, sheathing it again. Beneath the silvery helmet, I can see thin lips pulling into a smile.

Lavitz crumbles to the ground, groaning.

Shana screams.

"Lavitz!" Dart yells.

A sudden wind, the essence from the defeated Dragoon, knocks the helmet off the black-cloaked man's head, revealing shining platinum hair.

"Lloyd!" Dart shouts. "You bastard!"

He charges forward, just as Lavitz did, sword drawn.

But Lloyd ducks off, moving with incredible speed, leaping out of the clearing and out of the prison.

No one moves after him. Not even I.

Dart kneels down by Lavitz, gathering his friend in his arms. "Lavitz?" he says quietly.

Albert gets to his feet and walks over to Lavitz, his hands still bound. A look of infinite sadness is on his face, and his eyes are wet.

Lavitz struggles to open his eyes. He is dying. I can tell that even at this distance, by the flower of blood blossoming on his chest. The redness blends with the green of his Dragoon armor, spilling from his mouth and his wound.

"Is His Majesty King Albert all right?"

"Yeah, Lavitz. He's fine." Dart whispers.

The blonde knight smiles despite his obvious pain.

Shana buries her face in my shoulder and sobs.

And as for I, even I am shocked. Another friend of mine that has died. I was never friends with him in the dictionary definition, but...we did travel together, and he tried to talk to me, and it has been a long time since that ever happened. Ever since what happened to my love all those years ago, I have stopped caring for anyone, in fear of death coming again.

I didn't really care for Lavitz' health, and yet he still died.

Is there no justice in the world?

My sorrow remains silent. I mourn for his soul in secrecy.

Lavitz speaks again, breathing hard. "I can entrust you, Dart..." he takes a deep breath. "With everything... Please...take care of...the King..." Another gulp of rugged air. "Please..."

"Of course, Lavitz. Of course." Dart is crying.

"Thank you, Dart. I trust you." Lavitz' head lolls slowly to one side, his face away from us, looking at the rising sun. "Live on, Dart, and..."

And as he does so, the green pendant representing the Jade Dragoon of the Wind leaves him, floating up and hanging around Albert's neck.

"Take care of the Dragoon Spirit, please, Your Majesty." Lavitz begs. "Rose will tell you how to use it. And please watch over my friends." He smiles. "The sun is so beautiful...I never truly appreciated it."

Again I watch as a friend of mine dies. The sun rises, with light filling the world, bringing life to the sleeping flowers and animals, but the life of Lavitz fades away. Death comes to everyone, even when it's not his or her time yet. I watched my love die, and promised that I would never care for anyone ever again. But yet I did, and he died as well.

Silently, Dart places Lavitz' body back to the ground, gently, as if there is still someone inside to feel it.

"I'm going to give him a proper burial." Dart announces quietly.

"I'll help." Haschel volunteers softly. I had forgotten about him.

"Me too." Shana is still crying; she speaks through her tears.

"Your Majesty?"

King Albert shakes his head. "I...I don't want to see..." he murmurs.

"I understand. Rose?"

I shake my head, hoping that they understand I am not being nasty. For once, I care what they think.

The three disappear into the sunlight, and I turn to Albert.

I unsheathe my sword. "Don't move." I tell him, and cut him from the bonds on his wrists.

"Thank you." he says to me. I can see that his eyes are the same color as his hair, and just as soft. He does not look like a fighter; his physical build seems too weak and slim.

I walk over to a rock where Fruegal had been sitting and pick up the clean white shirt. "Put this on." I order, tossing it at the king.

He does so, and sits down, staring at the pile of hay where he had been kneeling, waiting for his execution, his hands around the green pendant of the Wind. He examines it with a curious yet resigned look on his face. "What is this...? ...Lavitz told me that Rose would explain everything to me. Are you Rose?"

I nod.

"Will you tell me what's going on then?"

Quietly, quickly, I explain about the Dragoon Spirits and their elements and the owners, finally summarizing it with, "So now you're the master of the Jade Dragon of the Wind, the Green-Tusked Feyrbrand."

"I read about the Dragon Campaign some time ago. It's a very complicated war, and very long. I heard that it took over a century..." he sighs. "So you are the master—I'm sorry, mistress—of which Dragon?"

"You cannot actually call it master. True, we refer to it as that, but we do not rule them like slaves. We are their friends, and their tutors. They are as much our masters as we are theirs. We tell them what to do. When the gods created Dragons, they gave them strength, but not wisdom. Therefore, the Dragoons were created, uniting the strength of the Dragons with the wisdom of the Humans. My Dragon is the Black Burst Vassal Dragon of Darkness, Michael."

"But then, where are our dragons?"

I turn my face away, grimacing. "Dead."

"Pardon me?"

"I said, your Dragon is dead."

"But then...how am I a Dragoon?"

"Being a Dragoon does not require for the Dragon to be alive. You simply absorbed part of its power when it was alive. Or in your case, his first master did. Feyrbrand is dead now. Only his power remains...in your Dragoon Spirit pendant."

Albert had been listening, but now he looks at me. "You're not crying."

"So?" I know he is not speaking of the Dragons anymore.

"Was Lavitz your friend?"

"As close as I ever got to a friend, I suppose." I understand his question. "But I do not cry. You can ask any one of them. As Lavitz once said, I'm a mysterious woman. I pray that his soul crosses over peacefully, but I will not cry."

Albert nods once in acknowledgement, but does not say anything.

When the others return, we all head wordlessly to the destroyed town of Seles, to take refuge and explain everything.

Three hours later, the King speaks.

"Dart, Shana, Haschel, and Rose, Lavitz was my most loyal and trusted Knight. But at the same time, he was my most precious friend. I remember him saying he had 'finally found guys he could call friends.' I understand what he meant by now. Lavitz was a great 'guy'."

"He was out of luck." I speak up. "I didn't know Lloyd had Dragon Buster." I turn my face. "If I had known, I would have stopped Lavitz."

"Dragon Buster?" Dart echoes.

"It's was a weapon from the old world; it can kill Dragons with a single blow in the right place. Even the legendary Dragoon armor is merely a shroud in front of the Dragon Buster."

"So you're saying if Lavitz didn't transform, it wouldn't have killed him."

I shake my head. "The Dragon Buster is like any other sword, yours or mine, except that it also holds the magical power of the Winglies. It didn't matter if Lavitz transformed or not, it still would have killed him. It was used several times in the Dragon Campaign to kill Dragons and Humans alike."

"How do you know that?"

I turn my head away. "I...heard about it."

"I'm coming with you. I need to get back the Moon Gem. It has been passed down in my family for generations. It is a sacred treasure."

"Then how did Lloyd know about it?" I ask practically.

"I was foolish. I employed him as an advisor. Most likely he was working for Imperial Sandora."

"That's right. If Lloyd has the Moon Gem, he is crown heir of Serdio in name and actuality." I say.

"Albert is still here! He is not dead yet! The war is not over!" Dart says with passion.

"What is a king if he has no castle to return to, and no large force to back him up?" I reply, harshly.

"We will help him." Dart says.

Albert speaks. "This war has gone on for too long, and it needs to stop! I need to avenge Lavitz. I will come with you on your journey. I am not that good of a fighter, but I will strike down my enemies with this lance—which I learned how to use from Lavitz! I will come with you."

"Brave words for a royalty." I comment from the stairway.

"Please do not refer to me as a king from here on. I wish to be part of you, as an equal, not a superior."

Just because you're royalty, it does not make you superior. I think roughly.

"I'm coming with you too." Haschel says. "I was on a journey to find my runaway daughter, but I have been searching for twenty years to no avail. I can put that off for a while. I cannot stay here after watching someone die. I will help you."

"I will put off my quest to kill the Black Monster as well." Dart declares. "Lloyd will not get away with this!"

"I'm coming too." Shana says quietly. "Lavitz' death won't be in vain."

Something from years ago turns itself over in my mind, and I frown. Shirley said the exact same thing when Belzac...

"Rose?" Dart asks.

"I will help." I say simply. No one asks me for my reason, and I do not volunteer the information.

"We should head for the Black Castle in Kazas." Albert says.

Kazas, one of the legendary Dragoons from before. The master of the Dragon of Thunder. He used to always argue and fight with gentle Syuveil, the Dragoon of Wind. There is symbolism in there.

"My uncle, Emperor Doel is there. This is all his doing. He killed my father and started this civil war. I will find him. He will know what is going on." Albert continues. "The Black Castle is where Doel is."

"You have such a daring strategy." I say. "I like it."

"Then we'll head there tomorrow. Everyone rests tonight, and I'll buy the supplies. Tomorrow we begin."