Games

The black city of Kazas is very much like the Dragoon it is named after.

Kazas, actually Kanzas, had been the master of the Dragon of Thunder, and he had a passion for battle. Bloodlust filled him every time, and he would slaughter any enemy that dared come within his reach. He did not fight nobly like my love did, but full of burning fury that rose in him when he heard the screams of battle and the cries of the dying.

The city of Kazas is dark and dreary, flooded with Sandoran soldiers, with the black castle overlooking the entire town like a predatory hawk about to dive down to its prey. The people are afraid to go outside, and the children are silent and gloomy.

Usually, I would like this town, but recently Lavitz has died, and besides, this lowers the pride and honor in the name of Kazas. I am personally insulted with this blow to my friend.

The item shop owner is very kind. He recognizes King Albert even though the royalty has told us not to bring it up.

"Go to the far side of the city, into the slums. Find a young boy there named Popo. He'll get you into the castle by a secret path. Good luck, my King." The old man whispers so that the customer standing by the counter cannot hear.

As we leave, the customer stops us, grabbing Haschel's arm to halt us. "Wait. Listen to this."

I continue to walk, unimpressed, and unamused before Dart calls me to stop. I do so, hands on my hips, raising a disdainful eyebrow.

The man looks smug as he reaches into his pocket, releasing Haschel. "Look at this. Have you ever heard of the Dragon Feyrbrand?" he pulls out a green silky-looking feather, the color of jade. "I defeated it! See? I took this feather from its right front paw to prove it! Aren't I great?" he smiles proudly.

I scoff loudly. What an idiot. "Dragons don't have feathers on their legs. Feathers are only on the tips of their wings. The legs are made of bone and scales." I inform him coldly.

The man blinks.

"Rose..." Dart murmurs.

I back off, scowling without showing it.

Two Sandoran soldiers come in, weapons drawn. Dart and the others step back a bit, hands resting on their weapons but not taking them out.

"We heard there was someone here who defeated the Jade Dragon Feyrbrand. Who is it?"

The man gulps.

"Is it you? Come with me!" The two guards grab his arms and drag him off. The man struggles, the smug look disappearing from his face.

"No, wait! It wasn't me! I made a mistake! I was just trying to impress the soft-eyed girl! Wait, no!"

Haschel and Shana begin to laugh in hysterics, and Dart and Albert smile widely.

"Rose...aren't you happy? You seemed angry with the man." the king says to me.

"He was a fool." I say icily, turning to the door and leaving. "Let's go."

I can hear Albert speaking. "Is she always like that? She never laughs?"

"She doesn't even smile. I think her face got frozen that way." Shana giggles. "Come on."

I haven't laughed since years ago. What is laughing? I can't even remember anymore.

Popo is a young boy of about nine years of age, living in a messy room in the slums, standing in front of a long flight of stairs. He greets us kindly when he sees us, bowing.

"Unless I am mistaken, you're the ruler of Serdio, King Albert." He says quietly to our newest member of the team.

"Yes. But please don't tell anyone."

"I will not." He pauses. "Your Majesty, if I may ask a question? Who do you wish to win the war? Basil or Sandora?"

Albert answers without missing a step. "As long as the war is over."

Popo nods in satisfaction. "That is correct. The important thing is for the war to be over. It is hard on us civilians. Please help us. I will show you the secret passageway that will lead you into the castle. Not even the Sandorans know about it!"

He disappears up the stairs, and we follow him. It is almost sad that a child of such young age must understand.

"Okay. For this to work, I heard that there's a security lock on Doel's chamber. We need to find the three stones to unlock it. Three stones: Red, Yellow, and Blue." Albert explains. "They're scattered all over the castle."

I nod once, slightly, and drift away from everyone, down a different corridor, ignoring Dart and Albert's hissed calls for me to come back.

This mission is not as easy as you think. It is not just to simply avenge Lavitz' death. This goes way beyond that...

"Hey you! Stop!"

I turn swiftly to see a brown-clad soldier running up to me. I stand still until he reaches me, and then slice my sword sideways, neatly killing him, and disposing the body into the trash compartment.

I pause as I stare at the dumpsters. Several bags of garbage land on a wide platform several meters long, and after ten seconds the platform tilts to one side drastically, knocking all the bags into the trash compartment below.

I stare past the platform, to an old man with the controls. A red stone glimmers beside him.

I crouch down at the edge of the platform, observing its pattern. I stay there like a prowling wildcat, waiting for the exact right moment.

And…now!

I push my feet off the floor, leaping impossibly into the air, landing on the platform on top of one of the garbage bags. Gathering my leg muscles again, I repeat the process and land on the opposite side.

I walk into the control room silently. The old man is surprised to see me, but not shocked.

"Are you here for the Red Stone?" he asks.

I nod.

"Take it. I'll halt the platform for you. Good luck getting Doel." He says, taking the Red Stone out of the alcove and handing it to me.

I nod as I take it, placing it in a leather pouch I carry on my waist. It is heavy and smooth and red, almost like a Dragoon Spirit.

For a moment, I consider killing him, to make sure he doesn't alert the soldiers. I have done that before, killing others to shut them up, and I do it without remorse.

But I can hear Dart's voice in my mind. Telling me not to kill him, that he is only an old man and cannot hurt me. Traveling with him these past few weeks has brought birth to a buried conscience somewhere deep within me.

All right. I could use some excitement anyway. I spare the old man's life, taking the stone and leaving, leaping all the way across the platform even though the man had offered to halt it for me.

I meet up with the rest of the party quickly. I can discern their walking pattern. Several of them, walking lightly and swiftly, not at all like the heavy slow thumping of the patrolling soldiers.

The blade comes out of nowhere, slashing downward. It pauses an inch away from my nose. I do not flinch.

"Rose!" They are surprised as I suddenly appear in front of them.

Dart lowers his sword, sheathing it again. "Rose, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Unfazed, I hold out the Red Stone. "I got it. Did you get the other two?"

Dart takes the red one, combining it with the yellow one he has. "Only one of them. A commander gave it to us."

"I'm guessing that Doel isn't really liked around here." I say.

The red-clad warrior shakes his head. "Actually, the captain cared a lot for the emperor. He told us that Doel hadn't always been like this, that he's being controlled. The captain begged us bring Doel's madness to an end. He didn't care whether Sandora won or not. Just that peace would come after more than twenty years. I guess we'll find out what happened when we meet the emperor."

"But we need to find the blue stone first." Haschel reminds us.

"There's one corridor we haven't searched yet. It should be in there?" Shana suggests, pointing.

The hallway leads to several flights of stairs, downward. At the end is a large laboratory with one man inside. He is short and pudgy, with goggles perched on the top of his wild dark hair and a vial of something putrid in his hand. He flinches when he sees us.

"I see... You are here to steal my work!" he accuses. "Did those scientists upstairs send you? Did they here of the wonderful Mr. Magi's breakthroughs and wanted to claim it for their own? I'll stop you!"

I raise my eyebrow, amused.

"Steel Shearing Vacuum Blade!!" he flings his hands forward, eyebrows drawn together.

Dart and the others take their weapons and aim it at him.

"Wait a minute." I say smoothly. "Let him."

They look at me strangely, but lower the weapons and brace themselves for whatever is coming.

Nothing happens. An owl hoots somewhere.

"What? Why isn't it shearing them?" Mr. Magi demands.

I scoff.

"What! I'll teach you to laugh at me! Rock Crushing Lightningbolt!"

Again the others move to protect themselves.

Crickets chirp.

"Why isn't it working?" Mr. Magi wails. "All right! Finally, I'll show you! I've mastered the art of transformation! Cerberus of the Dead!" He throws down the vial and smoke arises.

"It seems real this time!" Dart yells.

When the smoke clears, a dog stands in Mr. Magi's place. A puppy, a schnauzer or terrier or something, wagging its tail and barking.

Shana laughs as she bends down and pets its head. "I wonder...is this dog Mr. Magi?"

"Well, at least he amused us in the end." I comment, arms crossed.

Dart moves to take the Blue Stone out of the box in the corner. "Come on. Let's go."

"What about Mr. Magi?" Shana asks.

"I guess the transformation will wear off when the time's up." Dart shrugs. "He's not our worry. Come on, let's go."

"The altar to place the stones in is on the upper level." Albert explains. "We'll need to take the elevators, but the guards will sound the alarm."

I unsheathe my sword. "Then we will need to silence them."

Shana turns her face away, making a face.

Weakling... I think. Shirley before you was not like this. She knew what had to be done. How could you have gotten her Dragoon Spirit?

The elevators are lavender in color, and I watch the numbers of the floors whiz by until the doors slide open with a soft dinging sound.

A man is inside, kneeling by a giant statue of a goddess. The statue has a large headpiece that surrounds her head like the rising sun. Her hands are clasped in front of her, her face serene. I recognize her as the goddess of goodness and virtue, Miraroshi, otherwise known as Miranda.

The man looks up and climbs to his feet, nodding at us politely. "I have been expecting you. Are you here to confront Emperor Doel?" he asks us.

Dart nods.

"The altar is up there." the man pauses. "Doel had this statue built in memory of his wife when she died. It represents the goddess watching over us. He's actually not quite as evil as everyone thinks."

He then turns to Shana. "You are here. The girl from Seles."

The brunette nods her head, puzzled.

"Why are the Sandorans after her?" Dart asks, just a bit roughly.

The man shakes his head. "I am not quite sure. I know that they pursue her very diligently, but I am not sure why. You must ask Doel yourself."

What is it with Shana? Why do they want to capture her? Does she hold some secret inside her?

Dart nods again, politely, and moves onto the altar. He takes the red, yellow, and blue stones from the pouch he carries, and places them in the indicated indentations on the altar, matching the stones with the colors.

There is a humming sound, and one of the goddess's arms open, revealing an elevator.

Dart frowns at the cramped lift, and gestures to the rest of us. "Come on. Doel's up there. Let's go."

I duck between Shana and the wall, shrinking myself so that everyone fits, but just barely. There is a humming and a click, and then the lift starts to rise.

When the doors open, Kongol stands there.

I waste no time. Pushing Albert and Haschel to the side, I get two steps of running before I leap into the air, striking the Giganto with the heel of my foot.

He stumbles back a meter of so, clutching at his shoulder, rumbling.

"Giganto don't lose twice! Giganto make you pay for Hoax. For Emperor Doel." the giant declares. He is clad in lion fur, with pieces of bronze armor. A giant axe is in his hand.

"I guess we have to fight him." Dart says almost forlornly. "The hallway's too narrow. Haschel, Shana, you guys sit this one out. Save your energy for the next battle. Albert, Rose, and I can take care of him."

I draw first blood, rushing forward and slashing at the Giganto's midsection. "Whip Smack!"

"Harpoon!" King Albert thrusts, twirls gracefully for a male of his status, and brings the lance onto the giant's head before returning to his battle spot beside us.

"Double Slash!" Dart creates an X with his sword.

"Kongol attack! Pursuit!"

With all six hundred pounds, he slams into me, knocking me back into the wall. His right hand moves into his pouch and pulls out five throwing knives.

Shana rises to her feet, one hand at her mouth. "Rose!"

I wriggle away before the knives bury themselves in my flesh, and narrow my eyes. "Die! More and More!"

"Spinning Cane!"

"Volcano!"

Having the odds against you are never good, especially if you are outnumbered, as Kongol is right now. It is three against one, and although he has more brute strength, we have strategy and skill. In perhaps the others' eyes, such as Shana or Albert or even Haschel's, this would be a tough battle.

When Kongol finally falls, he drops to his knees, creating a tremor along the hallway. Haschel and Shana lose their footing, and the latter nearly falls off the balcony.

The Giganto speaks. "Gigantos with strongest armor...lost. Me, brother of hero...has pride. Cannot live in disgrace. Kill me."

I step forward, drawing my sword to his neck. "As you wish."

"Rose!" Shana sounds horrified, pulling on my arm.

"Rose!" Dart yells. "That's enough! The game is over."

Game? This is no game, Dart. This is a matter of victory and defeat, or life and death. I think, but I obey, sheathing my bloodstained sword.

"Don't kill him. He's defeated." Shana says gently. "He can't hurt anyone now."

"I hope your sweetness doesn't kill you." I say flatly.

Shana's face changes, but Dart steps in before she can retort. "All right. Let's get ready to face Doel. Those who can turn into Dragoons, make sure your Spirits are charged. Albert, are you sure you're ready for this?"

The King nods. "I may be new at this, but Rose taught me most of what I need to know. Besides, I'll have to face Doel sometime. He killed my father and divided my land into civil war. The Serdian War must end, and now is the time to end it."

Dart nods. "Well said. Then let's go."

Kongol speaks. "You defeated me. Why you nice to me?"

Dart simply nods again and walks forward.

Albert and Haschel run to catch up to me. "You almost ended his life." The Rouge martial arts master says to me.

I shrug. "He said to kill him." I explain nonchalantly.

"You are a harsh woman, Rose." Haschel continues.

"Sometimes I wonder what you are hiding. What you are afraid of." Albert muses.

I stop walking to face them directly, smoke eyes flashing. "I am not hiding anything. I am not afraid of anything. If anything, you are, Your Majesty."

Pushing past the both of them, I follow Dart and Shana into the throne room.

Doel is a tall man with a rugged-looking appearance, dressed in dark armor with a scarlet cape swirling about him. His firm mouth is outlined and shadowed by the thick black curls of his mustache and beard, the exact same as his tightly curling hair. His eyes are a stern piercing blue that seem to stare past everything. He commands respect.

"I wonder how you got all the way here. Albert." Emperor Doel nods. "You remind me of Carlo, 20 years ago. A bloodstained corpse in front of me..."

"Why did you kill him?" Albert demands. "Why did you have to divide Serdio by killing my father?"

"To save Serdio from an incapable leader named Carlo. And now my hands are about to give birth to a new Serdio!"

"Birth? What you are doing is only destructive! You have given birth to sorrow, pain, agony, and our anger!"

Dart jumps in. "Tell me! Why did you have Shana taken away?"

"Oh you are talking about Lloyd's conspiracy. 'Find the girl by the time the Moon That Never Sets waxes...' All is ordered by the reborn Emperor Diaz. Lloyd is a mere pawn. Along with the Dragoons..."

Diaz?! Emperor Diaz was the leader of the humans and Dragoons during the Dragon Campaign. But he died 11,000 years ago. Diaz commanded the Human troops. He told the Dragoons where to go. I remember him talking to me and my love before that fatal battle...Diaz was a harsh cruel ruler, very strict.

"Silly. Emperor Diaz died in the Dragon Campaign." I inform him scornfully. "As a human...here."

"I don't care whether you believe it or not. It won't make any difference to the reality! You thought you wouldn defeat me with greater numbers, right?! Come! I send you to your father's place!"

The lance twirls, and Doel jumps off the throne, standing to face us.

"Rod Typhoon!" Albert lunges forward, thrusting.

Doel laughs and waves his hands in front of his face.

"Volcano!" Dart slashes with his sword.

A yellow shield, like a satin veil, shimmers in front of Doel and disappears when the attack is over. Dart's sword did not harm the emperor of Sandora.

"What is that?" Shana asks.

"It's a physical attack shield. It was a spell used in the Dragon Campaign to block bodily harm. There's nothing you can do against it but wait it out." I inform them. I should know; I used them. "But...usually, only Dragoons can cast them... He shouldn't be able to, unless..."

Doel laughs again. "You're right, young lady."

He waves his hands again, and a violet pendant lifts up from underneath his armor. "Behold, the Violet Dragon!"

Kanzas's Dragoon. I think. How did he get it?

"What Dragoon is that, Rose?" Haschel asks.

"It's the Dragon of Thunder, a very powerful one." I answer. "Everyone better morph now."

Dart throws me a strange glance. He is not used to being ordered. He has seemingly appointed himself as the leader of our group. But he obeys anyway.

I hold the pendant from my magical Choker in both hands. Dragon of Darkness, I call upon your power!

The pain between the two forms is powerful but challenging. I watch as darkness engulfs me in an orb of unconsciousness, and I float up, the armor beginning to sprout on me. The power floods in, stronger than ever, and I cry out at its sheer strength.

When the darkness leaves, I stand in Dragoon form.

"Use your magic!" Dart orders.

Fire swirls around him, burning him without hurting him. His wings shrink against his sides, and he groans at the power. His wings flare out, and the green jewel on his chest glows. The fire hovers in front of the green jewel, until it becomes a solid fireball. "Flame Shot!" Dart shoves the fireball until it collides with Doel.

"Wing Blaster!" Albert sounds slightly shaky, but it is his first magic. I had messed up the first time I tried.

The wind power from around him gathers into a tornado, swirling around the room so that the hovering Dragoons must beat their wings to stay still. The tornado spins faster, and with his mind, Albert guides it to attack Doel.

"Astral Drain!" I position my right arm, and toss my sword forward.

The blade buries itself in Doel's chest, and I fly above the team, glaring at Doel. My sword glows with an amber/red light as it absorbs Doel's energy, and then tugs itself out, flying toward me.

I catch it hilt first, and accept the energy, crying out again. The energy spreads from me to everyone else, harming Doel and healing the others.

Doel grimaces. "Atomic Mind!"

A blast of violet energy comes from the palm of his hand and surrounds the party. He is more powerful than I had believed.

And this goes on for a long time, casting spells, and using healing items until Doel drops. It was not a quick fight.

Finally, the wings drooped, and Doel landed on his feet, spinning his sword.

Dart and Albert tense, weapons clenched even tighter.

But Doel simply laid down his weapon, and spoke.

His voice is strained; he is dying.

"Albert, you have grown...strong. But what you should know it not the past, but the future. Pursue Lloyd. He is in the western continent of Tiberoa. He knows everything. Go and find out about the world, about...everything."

Albert kneels by the dying form.

Doel's Dragoon Spirit lifts itself off his neck, and flies off into the shadows on the roof. It will search for a new master now.

Albert sits there silently and watches while Doel dies. When the emperor does so, the King of all Serdio closes his uncle's eyes, and stands to face us. There are no tears on his face, but there is steely wistfulness in his eyes.

"My uncle's, er, Emperor Doel's ambitions are over. It places an end to this ceaseless long war that divided Serido into two. This is the end of our journey, everyone..."

"Not yet." Dart says, walking up to him. "It's not over yet... This journey began when Shana was taken away! Then Lavitz was killed, and the Moon Gem was stolen! Then Lloyd left for Tiberoa, leaving the mystery about Shana behind. I am pursuing Lloyd! I'll make him explain everything!"

Shana climbs to her feet. "I'll go with you... I still don't know anything about Virage or what Emperor Diaz said. My journey cannot end like this...I'll go with you, Dart!"

"My journey 'cannot end' either..." Albert whispers. "Whatever conspiracy the man is forming, the Moon Gem is one of the keys. Hollowed object concealing the magic power of the ancient Winglies. We have to stop it before it ignites a catastrophe in Tiberoa. I'll go with you to Tiberoa. I'll give up my status as king for a while, and live as a Dragoon instead. Lavitz would have completely agreed."

"Rose, how about about you?" Haschel asks.

I push myself off the wall. "I told you. I'm interested in you guys."

"So..." Dart presses.

"Besides, you feel naked without me, don't you?"

"If Rose is going, that's the end of my role." Haschel says.

I raise my eyebrows.

"She can fight better than I can. She can take my place. I have to resume my quest for my runaway daughter." He explains quietly. "I must leave now."

Hands shoved into his pockets, the old black-to-gray haired man begins to exit the throne room.

A rumbling commences, and we all turn to see the violet pendant descend from the dark roof and attach itself to Haschel's neck, tightly. He tugs at it, frowning, but the pendant does not come off, clinging even tighter.

"What is this?" he asks.

"Too big a coincidence...that the Violet Dragon selected Haschel to be its new master." It is Dart that murmurs this.

"'When Dragoons meet, blood will flow. And as they leave, Time does slow.'" I quote, pointing at all of us, then at the dead Doel on the carpet. "It's your choice to leave your fate behind."

"The question is answered." Haschel says, turning around and holding the violet pendant.

"Dragoon Spirits are leading us! Let's go to Tiberoa."