Chapter 3
Betrayal
When they arrived at Fort Dragonia Paul took the time to gaze at the height of the building. Diss also seemed a bit surprise at the massive look of it also. Viper and his men moved onward into the building telling the trio of outsiders to use the elevator when they arrived. Kid and Serge walked up behind Diss.
"I'm getting bad vibes from this place." Diss said in a half scared tone.
"Knock it off, Diss," Shaun said. "I'm already having nightmares. I don't need your bad luck either." Diss chuckled softly with Shaun's comment. Paul looked at a tree and then into the surrounding forest.
"I'm going to scout around. I'll be back quick as lighting." And Paul jogged off before anyone offered to tag along.
"Somethin's not right 'bout him," Kid said concerned. "From what me mate Shaun told me, yer friend Paul doesn't blow up at anyone or walk anywhere alone." Kid continued.
"I'd say it's this world, but that doesn't seem right. Even in this world he seemed himself before we met Lynx." Diss said to himself more than to anyone else. Kid shuddered at the name and started cursing to herself silently. Diss looked at Shaun.
"Yeah I notice it to, Diss." Shaun sighed.
"Let's see, we met Lynx, took his advice to a certain extent, but I can't place exactly when it was Paul started going." Dissinger stretched out for the word he was looking for.
"Insane?" Kid muttered.
"Well, yeah, basically. Shaun, do you kno-" Shaun interrupted Diss quickly.
"The exact moment we let Paul talk to Lynx alone." Shaun quickly remained silent. Diss remembered there was a red sword. But he thought nothing else of it and decided a sword couldn't trigger it. Marcy walked up to the group and began tapping her foot.
"What is it, Marcy?" Serge asked quietly.
"So when are you, like, going to enter the Fort so we can lock it up?" Diss sighed and told everyone they would postpone the meeting for now. He asked Shaun to wait for Paul.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Now what?" Paul said to Lynx.
"You got him there already? My, my, you people are more efficient then anyone else in this world." Paul couldn't tell if Lynx was half serious, or completely sarcastic. "Now we need to lure Serge up into the room where ceremonies are preformed. I'll handle it from there. Now, I'd like to introduce you to Harle." Lynx moved to the side to let a woman dressed as a jester approach.
"Itz a pleasure to meet you Monsieur Paul." Harle definatly had a French accent to her and Paul shook her hand realizing she had more then meets the eye. He started to like Harle already.
"Hey." Paul muttered. "Now Lynx, about this sword." Lynx lifted an eyebrow. "You wanted it back right?" Lynx nodded. "Tough. I'm keeping it.for now." Paul sternly ordered looking at the sword. Lynx looked as if one of his pieces to a jig saw just became missing. "It's not like you needed it for anything, right?" Lynx tried to say something before Paul continued. "Because if you did, then that would mean you lied to me, Lynx. And at this point, that's a very bad idea. Besides, I've grown attached to it." Lynx sour face grew even fuller of disgust. Paul concluded Lynx had plans with the sword. Lynx took a minute to think out something.
"Very well. Keep it.for now. But when the time comes I will take it back." Lynx's tone sounded like a threat, and Paul didn't like it. Harle busted out a question of her own.
"What zword are you talking about?" Paul showed the red sword before Harle. Her eyes grew wide with fear as she instantly realized what it was. "Non, non, Monsieur Lynx, you didn't give ze Masamune to zis man?" Lynx nodded once. "Do not grow attached to it!" was Harle's last words before she disappeared. Lynx also faded away. Paul took another look at the sword before wrapping it up and placing it next to his Halberd on his back. He began to sprint back to Fort Dragonia realizing he wasted too much time with Lynx and Harle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Diss sighed, "When is Paul going to get back?"
Shaun merely shrugged. Diss paced back and forth impatiently as he waited. Finally after what seemed like an eternity to him Paul remerged from the forest. Shaun looked at Diss who nodded and all three of them went inside. The hallway had a man riding a small dragon patrolling, Diss merely brushed pass the man.
"Excuse me sir, but only authorized personnel are allowed into the Fort," the guard said.
"Its alright, He's with me," Came the sickeningly familiar voice.
"Sir Lynx. Why yes, my mistake," The guard stammered. Diss turned around angrily to face the now approaching Lynx.
"Don't look surprised Patrick, it was me who suggested to the General to come here looking for the flame," Lynx said openly. They walked side by side down the hallway in silence for a few moments before Diss spoke.
"Listen good, you do anything to these people and." he growled.
"Kill me, yes, yes the threat does begin to lose something when said for the twentieth time," Lynx said nonchalantly.
"Being cavalier about it wont stop me from carrying it out," Diss growled.
Shaun stepped between them putting his arms out to keep their distances, "Down boys, the last thing we need is to have a fight and have the winner explain why the loser is dead or hurt."
"My my, if I'm correct that makes Shaun the brains, Paul the skill, but what does that leave you with Patrick?" Lynx said.
"The leadership and the brawn, so watch your step pussy cat," Diss retorted. It was all Shaun could do to stop them from going at it. Lynx snarled as they entered a large room, a central pillar displayed a door, which they entered, towards the back was an elevator. As they went up it tension thickened the air around them. It was obvious a fight would break out any moment.
As they finally reached the pinnacle of the fort Diss entered the doors into a darkened chamber. Looking around he realized it had a faint lighting. Holding out his hand a small flame lept into existence illuminating the room much more. Inside he saw Viper stand proudly and at attention. Diss merely stood in front of him watching in silence.
"You two stay." Diss held Paul and Shaun back. Paul was about to explode again but he just nodded.
"Mr. Dissinger, so nice of you to join us. Sir Lynx here said he may be able to produce the flame we both desire by an ancient ritual performed in here," General Viper spoke appearing as if he had emerged from the darkness around them.
Diss looked over at Lynx, "So I see, how is this going to work with the flame, is it strong enough for two wishes?"
"The flame is strong enough for much more than two wishes," Lynx said authoritatively.
"This out of your expertise?" Diss said.
"I know more than you've forgotten in your entire lifetime. I suggest you take me for my word," Lynx snarled.
"This coming from the man who tried to kill me only a few days ago."
"Gentlemen, I would suggest we get to the task at hand and wait for the rest of our 'guests' to show up," Viper said sagely.
Diss merely rested against the wall idly, "I got no problem with waiting."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Serge and Kid finally made it inside the room where Viper and Lynx were waiting.
"It's about time you made it. I thought you had died," Lynx remarked.
"Cut the crap Lynx and get on with the show," Diss snapped as he walked out into the center of the room.
Lynx glared back at Diss for a second before returning his gaze to Serge, "Serge do you ever question who you really are? What if you aren't who you think you are?" Serge shook his head trying to think; every thought escaped his mind as the Dragon Tear began glowing.
"Serge buddy, don't ya be taken in with his fancy talk!" Kid shouted to him. Suddenly Diss saw a flash, and then Viper was crying out. Serge was glued to the spot unable to move as Diss cried out in outrage.
"Lynx you bastard!" Viper cried as he fell to the floor. A rather nasty looking knife protruded from his back.
"This place will serve as a fine tomb for the Acacia Dragoons," Lynx said as Viper passed out from the blood loss. Diss shook with barely contained rage as a flame erupted from his hand forming a staff. The staff ended in a scythe-like blade; wrapped around the staff was a silver dragon.
"You bastard, now you die," Diss growled.
Kid drew her dagger as they approached Lynx. Working in tandem Diss would strike moving Lynx right into the area Kid would strike. Quickly the small gashes added up as more and more blood spilled on the floor. Lynx kneeled next to the pedestal as Serge was forced to watch as a spectator. The Dragon Tear now glowed brighter filling the room with a blinding light. As the light cleared Serge dropped to a knee before getting back up. Kid looked over at Serge concernedly. "You alright mate?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Everything is fine now," Serge said uncharacteristically.
Lynx started backing up as Diss started walking forward.
"Now pussy cat, you die," He raised his staff high ready to bring it down.
"Wait!" Kid shouted. Diss brought down the staff and looked over at her.
"I want him, let me at him!" Kid said as she approached Lynx. Paul ran in with a mysterious Red sword drawn.
"NO! HE'S MY MEAL TICKET OUT OF HERE!" Paul said about ready to slice off Kid's head.
"That's right Kid, avenge Lucca," Serge said encouragingly not noticing Paul's outrage.
"What?" Kid turned to face Serge. Shaun ran over to Diss.
"What Kid?" Serge asked quizzically.
"What did you just say?" Kid asked rapidly.
Serge remained silent as he realized his mistake. Diss sensed something not right and joined by Kid's side. Paul ran over to Lynx helping him up.
"I never once mentioned Lucca to anyone. How do you know Lucca's name?" Kid said matter-of-factly.
Diss saw where she was going with this and lowered his staff. Serge rushed forth stabbing his swallow deeply into her. She gritted her teeth before falling forward bleeding from her stomach wound. Diss snarled as he slashed hard with the staff.
Serge easily parried the maneuver and countered. Diss jumped back before launching a fireball right at Serge. The fireball hit Serge hard knocking him back. Serge got up grinning.
"You don't know how much I've wanted to do this to you," He said gladly. Diss' danger sense went wild as he saw Serge's hand glow darkly. Paul and Shaun ran to aid Diss just in time to see Diss completely enshrouded in darkness. He grunted as the field of darkness started slowly collapsing on him and he hit the ground hard. Paul and Shaun ran over to him and were shocked to see he was completely unresponsive.
"Now to remove to underlings." Serge said as he launched two balls of darkness at Paul and Shaun. Both froze in place as the balls hit them, both felt as if they had received a huge blow, both succumbed to the darkness. Lynx slowly got up looking at Serge lifting Kid's head and pressing her dagger against her cheek.
"Time to die." Serge said. He slowly hesitated before slamming her face into the ground. "No, I have better plans for you. And as for you, Mr. Dissinger." Serge walked over to Diss. "I have great plans for you." At that moment the Four Devas ran into the room to see the carnage that just happened.
"GENERAL!" Karsh screamed. Lynx looked around him to see strange lights in his eyes. Soon he disappeared.
Betrayal
When they arrived at Fort Dragonia Paul took the time to gaze at the height of the building. Diss also seemed a bit surprise at the massive look of it also. Viper and his men moved onward into the building telling the trio of outsiders to use the elevator when they arrived. Kid and Serge walked up behind Diss.
"I'm getting bad vibes from this place." Diss said in a half scared tone.
"Knock it off, Diss," Shaun said. "I'm already having nightmares. I don't need your bad luck either." Diss chuckled softly with Shaun's comment. Paul looked at a tree and then into the surrounding forest.
"I'm going to scout around. I'll be back quick as lighting." And Paul jogged off before anyone offered to tag along.
"Somethin's not right 'bout him," Kid said concerned. "From what me mate Shaun told me, yer friend Paul doesn't blow up at anyone or walk anywhere alone." Kid continued.
"I'd say it's this world, but that doesn't seem right. Even in this world he seemed himself before we met Lynx." Diss said to himself more than to anyone else. Kid shuddered at the name and started cursing to herself silently. Diss looked at Shaun.
"Yeah I notice it to, Diss." Shaun sighed.
"Let's see, we met Lynx, took his advice to a certain extent, but I can't place exactly when it was Paul started going." Dissinger stretched out for the word he was looking for.
"Insane?" Kid muttered.
"Well, yeah, basically. Shaun, do you kno-" Shaun interrupted Diss quickly.
"The exact moment we let Paul talk to Lynx alone." Shaun quickly remained silent. Diss remembered there was a red sword. But he thought nothing else of it and decided a sword couldn't trigger it. Marcy walked up to the group and began tapping her foot.
"What is it, Marcy?" Serge asked quietly.
"So when are you, like, going to enter the Fort so we can lock it up?" Diss sighed and told everyone they would postpone the meeting for now. He asked Shaun to wait for Paul.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Now what?" Paul said to Lynx.
"You got him there already? My, my, you people are more efficient then anyone else in this world." Paul couldn't tell if Lynx was half serious, or completely sarcastic. "Now we need to lure Serge up into the room where ceremonies are preformed. I'll handle it from there. Now, I'd like to introduce you to Harle." Lynx moved to the side to let a woman dressed as a jester approach.
"Itz a pleasure to meet you Monsieur Paul." Harle definatly had a French accent to her and Paul shook her hand realizing she had more then meets the eye. He started to like Harle already.
"Hey." Paul muttered. "Now Lynx, about this sword." Lynx lifted an eyebrow. "You wanted it back right?" Lynx nodded. "Tough. I'm keeping it.for now." Paul sternly ordered looking at the sword. Lynx looked as if one of his pieces to a jig saw just became missing. "It's not like you needed it for anything, right?" Lynx tried to say something before Paul continued. "Because if you did, then that would mean you lied to me, Lynx. And at this point, that's a very bad idea. Besides, I've grown attached to it." Lynx sour face grew even fuller of disgust. Paul concluded Lynx had plans with the sword. Lynx took a minute to think out something.
"Very well. Keep it.for now. But when the time comes I will take it back." Lynx's tone sounded like a threat, and Paul didn't like it. Harle busted out a question of her own.
"What zword are you talking about?" Paul showed the red sword before Harle. Her eyes grew wide with fear as she instantly realized what it was. "Non, non, Monsieur Lynx, you didn't give ze Masamune to zis man?" Lynx nodded once. "Do not grow attached to it!" was Harle's last words before she disappeared. Lynx also faded away. Paul took another look at the sword before wrapping it up and placing it next to his Halberd on his back. He began to sprint back to Fort Dragonia realizing he wasted too much time with Lynx and Harle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Diss sighed, "When is Paul going to get back?"
Shaun merely shrugged. Diss paced back and forth impatiently as he waited. Finally after what seemed like an eternity to him Paul remerged from the forest. Shaun looked at Diss who nodded and all three of them went inside. The hallway had a man riding a small dragon patrolling, Diss merely brushed pass the man.
"Excuse me sir, but only authorized personnel are allowed into the Fort," the guard said.
"Its alright, He's with me," Came the sickeningly familiar voice.
"Sir Lynx. Why yes, my mistake," The guard stammered. Diss turned around angrily to face the now approaching Lynx.
"Don't look surprised Patrick, it was me who suggested to the General to come here looking for the flame," Lynx said openly. They walked side by side down the hallway in silence for a few moments before Diss spoke.
"Listen good, you do anything to these people and." he growled.
"Kill me, yes, yes the threat does begin to lose something when said for the twentieth time," Lynx said nonchalantly.
"Being cavalier about it wont stop me from carrying it out," Diss growled.
Shaun stepped between them putting his arms out to keep their distances, "Down boys, the last thing we need is to have a fight and have the winner explain why the loser is dead or hurt."
"My my, if I'm correct that makes Shaun the brains, Paul the skill, but what does that leave you with Patrick?" Lynx said.
"The leadership and the brawn, so watch your step pussy cat," Diss retorted. It was all Shaun could do to stop them from going at it. Lynx snarled as they entered a large room, a central pillar displayed a door, which they entered, towards the back was an elevator. As they went up it tension thickened the air around them. It was obvious a fight would break out any moment.
As they finally reached the pinnacle of the fort Diss entered the doors into a darkened chamber. Looking around he realized it had a faint lighting. Holding out his hand a small flame lept into existence illuminating the room much more. Inside he saw Viper stand proudly and at attention. Diss merely stood in front of him watching in silence.
"You two stay." Diss held Paul and Shaun back. Paul was about to explode again but he just nodded.
"Mr. Dissinger, so nice of you to join us. Sir Lynx here said he may be able to produce the flame we both desire by an ancient ritual performed in here," General Viper spoke appearing as if he had emerged from the darkness around them.
Diss looked over at Lynx, "So I see, how is this going to work with the flame, is it strong enough for two wishes?"
"The flame is strong enough for much more than two wishes," Lynx said authoritatively.
"This out of your expertise?" Diss said.
"I know more than you've forgotten in your entire lifetime. I suggest you take me for my word," Lynx snarled.
"This coming from the man who tried to kill me only a few days ago."
"Gentlemen, I would suggest we get to the task at hand and wait for the rest of our 'guests' to show up," Viper said sagely.
Diss merely rested against the wall idly, "I got no problem with waiting."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Serge and Kid finally made it inside the room where Viper and Lynx were waiting.
"It's about time you made it. I thought you had died," Lynx remarked.
"Cut the crap Lynx and get on with the show," Diss snapped as he walked out into the center of the room.
Lynx glared back at Diss for a second before returning his gaze to Serge, "Serge do you ever question who you really are? What if you aren't who you think you are?" Serge shook his head trying to think; every thought escaped his mind as the Dragon Tear began glowing.
"Serge buddy, don't ya be taken in with his fancy talk!" Kid shouted to him. Suddenly Diss saw a flash, and then Viper was crying out. Serge was glued to the spot unable to move as Diss cried out in outrage.
"Lynx you bastard!" Viper cried as he fell to the floor. A rather nasty looking knife protruded from his back.
"This place will serve as a fine tomb for the Acacia Dragoons," Lynx said as Viper passed out from the blood loss. Diss shook with barely contained rage as a flame erupted from his hand forming a staff. The staff ended in a scythe-like blade; wrapped around the staff was a silver dragon.
"You bastard, now you die," Diss growled.
Kid drew her dagger as they approached Lynx. Working in tandem Diss would strike moving Lynx right into the area Kid would strike. Quickly the small gashes added up as more and more blood spilled on the floor. Lynx kneeled next to the pedestal as Serge was forced to watch as a spectator. The Dragon Tear now glowed brighter filling the room with a blinding light. As the light cleared Serge dropped to a knee before getting back up. Kid looked over at Serge concernedly. "You alright mate?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Everything is fine now," Serge said uncharacteristically.
Lynx started backing up as Diss started walking forward.
"Now pussy cat, you die," He raised his staff high ready to bring it down.
"Wait!" Kid shouted. Diss brought down the staff and looked over at her.
"I want him, let me at him!" Kid said as she approached Lynx. Paul ran in with a mysterious Red sword drawn.
"NO! HE'S MY MEAL TICKET OUT OF HERE!" Paul said about ready to slice off Kid's head.
"That's right Kid, avenge Lucca," Serge said encouragingly not noticing Paul's outrage.
"What?" Kid turned to face Serge. Shaun ran over to Diss.
"What Kid?" Serge asked quizzically.
"What did you just say?" Kid asked rapidly.
Serge remained silent as he realized his mistake. Diss sensed something not right and joined by Kid's side. Paul ran over to Lynx helping him up.
"I never once mentioned Lucca to anyone. How do you know Lucca's name?" Kid said matter-of-factly.
Diss saw where she was going with this and lowered his staff. Serge rushed forth stabbing his swallow deeply into her. She gritted her teeth before falling forward bleeding from her stomach wound. Diss snarled as he slashed hard with the staff.
Serge easily parried the maneuver and countered. Diss jumped back before launching a fireball right at Serge. The fireball hit Serge hard knocking him back. Serge got up grinning.
"You don't know how much I've wanted to do this to you," He said gladly. Diss' danger sense went wild as he saw Serge's hand glow darkly. Paul and Shaun ran to aid Diss just in time to see Diss completely enshrouded in darkness. He grunted as the field of darkness started slowly collapsing on him and he hit the ground hard. Paul and Shaun ran over to him and were shocked to see he was completely unresponsive.
"Now to remove to underlings." Serge said as he launched two balls of darkness at Paul and Shaun. Both froze in place as the balls hit them, both felt as if they had received a huge blow, both succumbed to the darkness. Lynx slowly got up looking at Serge lifting Kid's head and pressing her dagger against her cheek.
"Time to die." Serge said. He slowly hesitated before slamming her face into the ground. "No, I have better plans for you. And as for you, Mr. Dissinger." Serge walked over to Diss. "I have great plans for you." At that moment the Four Devas ran into the room to see the carnage that just happened.
"GENERAL!" Karsh screamed. Lynx looked around him to see strange lights in his eyes. Soon he disappeared.