Author's Note: OK, I realize the last few chapters have been pretty bad.
The reason is that they are mostly transition chapters. We're getting to a
very large plot event really soon, and the purpose of the last several
chapters was to move the story along to this specific point. Therefore,
they were not very detailed and ended up being pretty crappy. But this is
the last of the crap chaps. You have to put up with this last transition
chapter, and then it will get better, I promise.
(I lied in the last chapter. There will be no platypus. Sorry.)
Chapter 22
The Crystal Palace of Deningrad loomed before Shade in all its glittering majesty. In a way, it reminded Shade of the glaciers he had just left. They both looked fragile, but were in reality far from it. The Palace had been standing for over a thousand years, ever since its rebuilding after it was annihilated by the Divine Dragon during the Second Dragoon Campaign, and after centuries, not one of the magically reinforced crystals had so much as chipped. Shade leaned against a wall, musing, when the Wingly appeared next to him. He did not look at her, nor make any sign that he had noticed her at all.
Normally, one would think that the general populace would be slightly alarmed to see a Wingly appear out of midair, but in Deningrad, this was not the case. Winglies often came to Deningrad, usually political representatives sent to speak with the government of Millie Seaseu, but there were some that came for other reasons, so it didn't bother them. A man dressed in a black ninja outfit didn't seem to bother them. Ceremonial fighting was an honored tradition, paying homage the Dragoons, saviors of the world. In some circles it was considered a sport. Besides, any city was bound to have its oddballs, and a populous city like Deningrad was no exception.
"I have two of your comrades. Surrender yourself and your spirit and no harm will come to any of you."
"Since when have any of my so-called 'comrades' meant anything to me?"
The Wingly looked sincerely taken aback by this statement.
"Don't get me wrong, it was nice travelling with decent human beings for once, but they passed into my life, and now it appears they have passed out of it."
"You feel no loyalty at all to them?"
"Bah, I never fit in with them. They never knew quite what to make of me, Shade the monster, Shade the beast. Besides, I look out for myself. Endiness is a harsh place, and not for the weak. Survival of the fittest, as they say."
Kyra was quite at a loss now. She had not counted on him acting this way. However, Shade seemed to have an idea that solved her problem.
"Why don't I join you?"
"Me?"
"Sure. You must have someone in charge. People wouldn't do something like collecting Dragoon Spirits unless told to."
"You are correct. I do work for someone else. But why would you want to join us?"
"Simple. I want to be on the winning side. Once the Red-Eye learns that you have his friends, he'll come along quietly. There will be no one left to fight you. Besides, couldn't you use a Dragoon in your ranks?"
"Very well. I shall take you back to my superior. We'll see what he makes of you."
Kyra traced a magic symbol in the air and they teleported out of the city of Deningrad, which continued on without them, unaware of the events that had just transpired.
A few hours later, Shade stood before the master of the plot to hoard the Dragoon Spirits. He didn't look special to Shade. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged Human, perhaps a little more well built than most, but nothing remarkable. But Shade had learned not to take appearances for granted.
"So, you are interested in joining my little group?"
"Yes. I have the Dark Dragoon Spirit you're looking for."
"Ah, yes, Kyra mentioned that to me. I assure you that we will return it to you as soon as it has served our purpose."
"Would you be willing to tell me what that purpose is, precisely?"
"I'm afraid not. After my second-in-command's untimely death, I am the only one with the knowledge of such information. You see, I can't risk revealing it to anyone. You never know who could be a double-agent."
Shade nodded. This man was much more intelligent than he appeared. Shade kept his eyes on the strange mastermind; therefore not realizing he was being watched as well.
John Emerson stood among the files of troops, standing near the front due to his high rank. At first, he had not been quite sure, but now he knew for certain. There was no mistaking those eyes, or that vest and that sash. He had worn that vest and sash for ten years.
"It's been a long time."
No one heard him, of course. He was speaking more to himself than to the black-clad Dark Dragoon.
After the interview, Shade walked into the personal quarters designated to him. He had barely sat down before there was a knock at the door. Probably Kyra, Shade thought. He had learned the Wingly's name during the interview.
"Come in."
However, the person who strolled in was most certainly not Kyra. Shade's eyes widened in surprise.
"John?"
John Emerson flashed a smirk. He was acting, as usual, as if he owned the world and everything in it. He hadn't changed after all this time.
"How have you been, Ken? I haven't seen you since I killed your brother to get you thrown out of town, and that's been what... ten years now?"
"I always suspected it was you. No one else had a motive for getting rid of me."
"You should know by now that I hate being upstaged. You got in my way. I merely took advantage of the general distrust everyone felt towards you. But you chose to forsake your old noble ways and walk the dark path everyone accused you of taking. They jumped the gun a bit, but it was true in the end. Now we're both cold-blooded killers, and now we're working together! Funny how these things work out."
Shade wasn't laughing.
Rayen stopped the motorcycle where instructed by the note, near a large warehouse on the outskirts of town. He unstrapped his helmet and walked briskly towards the single figure outlined in the lamps on the walls of the storeroom. Sean took of his helmet and followed at Rayen's heels.
"OK, Shade. I'm here. How the hell did you find me, and what's with the late night meeting?"
"I'm afraid you have me mistaken for somebody else."
The enigmatic figure removed the heavy coat, the scarf, and the hat. Rayen now registered the figure as a man in his late twenties, so large he could have played football. Now Rayen understood.
"OK, I get it. You're that Sea Dragoon that robbed the bank, right?"
"Yes."
"Your spirit told you I was a Dragoon, and you thought I was here to hunt you down and take you out."
"Correct."
"So you decided to get rid of me first in one of those midnight one-on-one duels."
"Yep."
Rayen sighed and massaged his temples. He didn't want to deal with this, not now. But it didn't look like he had a choice.
"Sean, go back to the bike. You'll want to stay out of the way while I do this."
Author's Note: Whoo! Shade's gone turncoat, and he's working with the guy that framed him for murder and forced him into disgrace! Fun, fun, and more fun! OK, this chapter was pretty long, and next one will be too, because it contains the longest and most descriptive battle seen yet. It might take me a while to update (by my standards), but I'll go as fast as I can.
(I lied in the last chapter. There will be no platypus. Sorry.)
Chapter 22
The Crystal Palace of Deningrad loomed before Shade in all its glittering majesty. In a way, it reminded Shade of the glaciers he had just left. They both looked fragile, but were in reality far from it. The Palace had been standing for over a thousand years, ever since its rebuilding after it was annihilated by the Divine Dragon during the Second Dragoon Campaign, and after centuries, not one of the magically reinforced crystals had so much as chipped. Shade leaned against a wall, musing, when the Wingly appeared next to him. He did not look at her, nor make any sign that he had noticed her at all.
Normally, one would think that the general populace would be slightly alarmed to see a Wingly appear out of midair, but in Deningrad, this was not the case. Winglies often came to Deningrad, usually political representatives sent to speak with the government of Millie Seaseu, but there were some that came for other reasons, so it didn't bother them. A man dressed in a black ninja outfit didn't seem to bother them. Ceremonial fighting was an honored tradition, paying homage the Dragoons, saviors of the world. In some circles it was considered a sport. Besides, any city was bound to have its oddballs, and a populous city like Deningrad was no exception.
"I have two of your comrades. Surrender yourself and your spirit and no harm will come to any of you."
"Since when have any of my so-called 'comrades' meant anything to me?"
The Wingly looked sincerely taken aback by this statement.
"Don't get me wrong, it was nice travelling with decent human beings for once, but they passed into my life, and now it appears they have passed out of it."
"You feel no loyalty at all to them?"
"Bah, I never fit in with them. They never knew quite what to make of me, Shade the monster, Shade the beast. Besides, I look out for myself. Endiness is a harsh place, and not for the weak. Survival of the fittest, as they say."
Kyra was quite at a loss now. She had not counted on him acting this way. However, Shade seemed to have an idea that solved her problem.
"Why don't I join you?"
"Me?"
"Sure. You must have someone in charge. People wouldn't do something like collecting Dragoon Spirits unless told to."
"You are correct. I do work for someone else. But why would you want to join us?"
"Simple. I want to be on the winning side. Once the Red-Eye learns that you have his friends, he'll come along quietly. There will be no one left to fight you. Besides, couldn't you use a Dragoon in your ranks?"
"Very well. I shall take you back to my superior. We'll see what he makes of you."
Kyra traced a magic symbol in the air and they teleported out of the city of Deningrad, which continued on without them, unaware of the events that had just transpired.
A few hours later, Shade stood before the master of the plot to hoard the Dragoon Spirits. He didn't look special to Shade. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged Human, perhaps a little more well built than most, but nothing remarkable. But Shade had learned not to take appearances for granted.
"So, you are interested in joining my little group?"
"Yes. I have the Dark Dragoon Spirit you're looking for."
"Ah, yes, Kyra mentioned that to me. I assure you that we will return it to you as soon as it has served our purpose."
"Would you be willing to tell me what that purpose is, precisely?"
"I'm afraid not. After my second-in-command's untimely death, I am the only one with the knowledge of such information. You see, I can't risk revealing it to anyone. You never know who could be a double-agent."
Shade nodded. This man was much more intelligent than he appeared. Shade kept his eyes on the strange mastermind; therefore not realizing he was being watched as well.
John Emerson stood among the files of troops, standing near the front due to his high rank. At first, he had not been quite sure, but now he knew for certain. There was no mistaking those eyes, or that vest and that sash. He had worn that vest and sash for ten years.
"It's been a long time."
No one heard him, of course. He was speaking more to himself than to the black-clad Dark Dragoon.
After the interview, Shade walked into the personal quarters designated to him. He had barely sat down before there was a knock at the door. Probably Kyra, Shade thought. He had learned the Wingly's name during the interview.
"Come in."
However, the person who strolled in was most certainly not Kyra. Shade's eyes widened in surprise.
"John?"
John Emerson flashed a smirk. He was acting, as usual, as if he owned the world and everything in it. He hadn't changed after all this time.
"How have you been, Ken? I haven't seen you since I killed your brother to get you thrown out of town, and that's been what... ten years now?"
"I always suspected it was you. No one else had a motive for getting rid of me."
"You should know by now that I hate being upstaged. You got in my way. I merely took advantage of the general distrust everyone felt towards you. But you chose to forsake your old noble ways and walk the dark path everyone accused you of taking. They jumped the gun a bit, but it was true in the end. Now we're both cold-blooded killers, and now we're working together! Funny how these things work out."
Shade wasn't laughing.
Rayen stopped the motorcycle where instructed by the note, near a large warehouse on the outskirts of town. He unstrapped his helmet and walked briskly towards the single figure outlined in the lamps on the walls of the storeroom. Sean took of his helmet and followed at Rayen's heels.
"OK, Shade. I'm here. How the hell did you find me, and what's with the late night meeting?"
"I'm afraid you have me mistaken for somebody else."
The enigmatic figure removed the heavy coat, the scarf, and the hat. Rayen now registered the figure as a man in his late twenties, so large he could have played football. Now Rayen understood.
"OK, I get it. You're that Sea Dragoon that robbed the bank, right?"
"Yes."
"Your spirit told you I was a Dragoon, and you thought I was here to hunt you down and take you out."
"Correct."
"So you decided to get rid of me first in one of those midnight one-on-one duels."
"Yep."
Rayen sighed and massaged his temples. He didn't want to deal with this, not now. But it didn't look like he had a choice.
"Sean, go back to the bike. You'll want to stay out of the way while I do this."
Author's Note: Whoo! Shade's gone turncoat, and he's working with the guy that framed him for murder and forced him into disgrace! Fun, fun, and more fun! OK, this chapter was pretty long, and next one will be too, because it contains the longest and most descriptive battle seen yet. It might take me a while to update (by my standards), but I'll go as fast as I can.