I don't own anything except the Takahari family, their Dragoon Spirits, Count Draco von Schneider, and Kenji Okamura
I stalked forward, katana pointed at Lloyd's face. "Lloyd. What are you doing here?"
"Dealing with the Divine Dragon," he replied. He shifted his gaze to Albert. "And what of you? Are you here for the Moon Gem, or because of your loyal friend Lavitz?"
"Don't you even mention that name!" Dart snarled, face twisting with fury. "Lavitz was my friend!"
Lloyd turned back to me. "And why are you here? Vengeance, for the deaths of your family? Or perhaps… something else?"
I glared at him. "I fight with my comrades. And, for all my other reasons to despise you, I don't think you had anything to do with the Sandoran attack, except perhaps for giving them the Dark Mirror." I looked at the object he held. "And why did you want that? Why would you go to that much trouble to get it?"
"As I expected, it doesn't shine in my hand. It is only a trophy."
Will that kakushigo ever give a straight answer? Not that it matters. He's within reach of my sword at last. By Arashi-Jisan, Lloyd will die. In Lavitz's memory. I reached for my Dragoon Spirit, transformed, and sprang into the air. "This is it, Lloyd! You and me!" Holding my sword at my right side, I flew towards him…
And slammed face-first into the crater wall.
"Ian!" I heard Ryan yell.
"Watakushi gozen shimeta. I just hit my head." I slowly climbed to my feet. "Forgot the kakushigo was a Wingly."
"Uh, Ian, maybe you should speak English? I mean, you, Karen, Kenji, and I are the only ones who understand Japanese. For all everybody else knows, you might have just said you'd broken your neck."
I looked up, surprised. Oops. Must be getting used to this. I only talk like that around people I've known for a while, and even then only if they're friends. Aloud, I said, "Sorry. What I said was that I'm all right. And I called Lloyd a bastard."
Albert looked intrigued. "Perhaps, when we have the time, you can teach me the language. It sounds fascinating."
"Why am I not surprised? Sure, Albert. Probably a good idea. At least then you'll know what I'm saying." I retrieved my katana from where it had fallen and returned it to its scabbard.
"C'mon," Dart said. "If we hurry, we can still catch Lloyd."
* * *
We caught up with him farther down the Mountain. Unfortunately, he was ready for us. A blast of magic sent Dart and Rose flying off a cliff, to a ledge below.
"Dart! Rose!" I ran to the edge. "Watakushi yuki dzuki satsu ki kakushigo!"
"Ian, wait!" Ryan grabbed my arm. "Meru's the only one who can reach them! What're you gonna do, grow wings?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm gonna do. I'm a Dragoon, too, remember?" I snarled.
"I thought Rose said you couldn't do it outside of a combat situation."
"While I have the utmost respect for Rose's knowledge and experience, she's wrong this time." I withdrew my Dragoon Spirit, and was immediately covered by the familiar diamond as I transformed. "Now get out of my way!"
Ryan wisely got away, no doubt remembering what I'd done to him the last time he'd barred my path. After he moved, I rose a few feet in the air, then folded my wings and dove.
Down at the ledge, I found Dart awake, Rose unconscious. "Dart. How is she?"
"Ian? I don't know. I think the fall just knocked her out. She was hallucinating when she briefly woke up."
I frowned. "Hallucinating? How so?"
Dart shook his head. "It was weird. She called me 'Zieg' and said something about the Moon Child."
I froze. Zieg? I think Rose said something about the resemblance, but it might be more than that. And she's very lucky she didn't say more. She came very close to telling the sole survivor of a village she burned that she was the Black Monster. I don't think Dart would react well to that. Would he kill her, or just tear himself apart from the conflicting emotions? If he did try it, I'd have to stop him somehow.
Dart glanced at me, looking concerned. "Ian? You okay?"
I shook myself. "Yeah. 'Zieg', huh? Can't say I've heard the name." Actually, I have, but you'd either think me crazy or try to kill Rose. Can't have that.
Meru drifted down on her wings of light. "Dart! You're alright!"
"Meru. Glad you're here," I said. "Looks we're going to have to carry them up. You take Dart; I've got Rose."
* * *
Rose awoke on the way back up. "Ian? What's going on?"
"Lloyd blasted you and Dart off the cliff. Meru and I had to go down after you." I lowered my voice. "You nearly told Dart who the Black Monster was. And you called him Zieg."
Rose sighed. "Not a good sign. He looks too much like Zieg. Did he seem curious?"
"No. What little curiosity he had, I think I deflected." I raised my voice again. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." She fell silent for a moment. "Thanks for coming after me."
"No problem." I set Rose down, then returned to human form. Why did I go rushing after them like that? I'm not normally that impulsive. I recalled Ryan's silent reaction when he saw Rose carrying Doragon-Adauchi. And why do I get the feeling that Ryan understands more about this than I do?
A hand on my shoulder interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see Ryan standing there. "What is it, Ryan?" I snapped.
He was blunt. "What's with you, Ian? You've been kinda… short with everybody since that night in Furni. Except with Rose. What's going on with you?"
I was getting tired of Ryan's probing questions. "Tojikomeru, Ryan! Omoi goshujin jika kanchi!" I walked angrily away. What's with me!? Why doesn't he worry about what's with him! Usually, he doesn't get me angry enough to tell him to shut up!
* * *
We made camp near the foot of the Mountain that night. I was well away from the rest of the group, still angry and frustrated. Ryan had again tried to question me. That time, I had lost patience and knocked him head over heels with a simple kuji technique. I was tired of his prying, and simply wanted to be left alone for a while.
Finally, I drew my sword, assumed a battle stance, and began a long and complicated kata, to soothe my nerves and relax. As I swept into the well-remembered motions of the Hinote Doragon, "Blazing Dragon", and the Shado-Dansu, "Shadow-Dance", attacks, I became lost in them, the tension and stress draining away.
I went from that to another kata, going through the motions of a sword battle, but without an opponent. I blocked and parried invisible blows, delivering devastating attacks when I had "openings". I must have been at it for an hour before a voice interrupted my rather active meditations.
"Don't you ever sleep?"
I looked up. "Hello, Rose. Yes, I do sleep, but I had to work off some frustration. What are you doing up?" Judging from the moon's position, it was well into the night.
"Thought you might need a sparring partner." Rose was carrying Doragon-Adauchi, but not her rapier.
"Wouldn't be a bad idea. Even kata can only do so much." I took off my helmet, then unbuckled the torso armor. In a sparring match, the armor would get in the way.
I raised Arashi-Jisan in a salute, then turned sideways, half-bent my legs, and held my sword above my head, blade pointed toward Rose. "Let's go."
She nodded, then took the initiative, aiming a slash at my chest. I swept my left foot around, pivoting myself out of the way, then jumped at avoid her leg strike. Rose in turn blocked my first strike, reminding me that she had eleven thousand more years of experience than I did.
We clashed swords, and a blast of flame hit my blade. Doragon-Adauchi was infused with certain elemental abilities, a fact that I'd forgotten, but Rose apparently hadn't.
It appeared that we were nearly equally matched with the katana, and our match lasted well into the night. The sun had begun to rise by the time we finished.
* * *
In the morning, we quickly got back on the trail, leaving the mountain and entering the forest. Not far in, we encountered a group of Mille Seseau knights.
"What's going on?" Miranda demanded.
"Sacred Sister, Queen Theresa has been kidnapped." The knight sounded almost frantic. I didn't blame him; Miranda was dangerous when angry.
"What!? By whom?"
"A man with platinum hair-"
"Lloyd," Dart said grimly. "Say no more; we'll take care of it."
I turned to Miranda. "Miranda, there's no more time for evasiveness. Where is the Moon Mirror?"
She sighed. "I guess you're right. It's in the Tower of Flanvel, within Kashua Glacier. You think Lloyd has taken her there?"
"Yes, I do. He already has the Moon Gem and Moon Dagger, so it's bound to be his next target. Lloyd probably kidnapped your queen in order to get it. That piece of slime will do anything to further his goal, whatever it is." I looked over at Rose. "Do you know anything about Flanvel?"
She frowned, thinking. "It was the personal fortress of the magician Faust, one of Melbu Frahma's top people. It was once airborne as well, but it was shot down by the Humans' arrow shooter."
Wingly. That's just wonderful. I just hope that Faust isn't still there.
* * *
From the forest, we went briefly to Deningrad for supplies, then moved on to Kashua Glacier. It turned out to be even colder than Alaska, and we moved quickly. The less time we spent in the cold, the fitter we'd be for the fight with Lloyd.
Near the entrance to Flanvel, we met a creature that apparently did not want to be disturbed. It attacked.
"Not again! Why is it everything we come across wants to have us for lunch!?" I complained, drawing Migi-no-te.
"Does it matter?" Kenji asked. "Let's just kill it!"
"Yes, let's!" I transformed, donning the black, nearly impenetrable diamond armor of my Dragoon form. "I've had enough!" Drawing on my Dragoon Spirit, I summoned the Diamond Dragon. It was only the second time I'd done it, but I was irritated.
After the Dragon had gone, Dart rose into the air. "Final Burst!"
"Star Children!"
"Thunder God attack!"
"Super Nova!" Karen's blast of void magic pulverized the Windigo, leaving the path into the Tower of Flanvel clear.
It didn't take long to reach the top of the tower. There we found Lloyd and the queen. Lloyd had just taken the Moon Mirror.
"Lloyd! It ends here!" Dart rushed forward.
I grabbed him. "Dart, wait! He's got the Dragon Buster, remember? We have to be a bit more careful than that. Remember Lavitz," I added in a quieter tone.
"What are you waiting for?" Lloyd asked mockingly. "The ghost of Lavitz?"
I took a deep breath. Never lose your temper. You'll become careless, and then it's over. And that's exactly what Lloyd is counting on. Too bad for him that I trained under the greatest sword masters of our time.
Now calmed, I drew Arashi-Jisan. "I'm not waiting for anything, kakushigo. Nothing except the opportunity to remove your head from your shoulders."
Lloyd laughed. "Yes, you did behead a number of Sandorans while I was manipulating Doel. Tell me, did you ever stop to wonder if they deserved to lose their heads to an upstart ninja? Did you think about whether you or they were in the right? No, you just killed them all, proving that you are the monster in need of extermination. You are the Black Monster of your world, a demon just waiting to kill any who cross who cross your path."
That… that… Mind games. He's trying to make me doubt myself. The gaichou is more devious than I thought. I know he's wrong… though being called the Black Monster was actually a compliment, even if he doesn't seem to know it.
Rose snorted. "Is that the best you can do? Trying to make someone like Ian doubt himself? You're wasting your time; he's faced down Virages without flinching, and he knows that the majority of those soldiers deserved what they got. Those that didn't were ordered there by Emperor Doel; Ian was only doing what he had to do. And if he were such a monster, he'd have killed us by now, too. So if you can't do better than that, just shut up."
My mind cleared as she spoke. Rose was right. And now it was time to put a stop to Lloyd's conspiracy. "Rose is right, Lloyd. You're gonna have to fight. Now, tell me: I know Winglies are fast, but you supersonic?"
This actually confused him. "Supersonic?"
I smiled. "That's right, you've never heard of the sound barrier. Well, let me give you an example!" I swiftly drew a Desert Eagle, and fired three quick shots.
It turned out Lloyd couldn't dodge bullets, but his Wingly armor could block it. "Any other bright ideas, Takahari? I didn't even feel that."
"Yeah, I've got a bright idea. Take this! Shado-Dansu!" I allowed my reflexes to take over after beginning the attack.
"Demon's Dance!"
"Blazing Dynamo!"
"Flower Storm!"
One by one, my comrades attack Lloyd with their own signature moves. Rose with her rapier, Dart with his broadsword, Albert with his spear, Meru with her hammer, Haschel with his fists, Kongol with his axe, Miranda with her bow. And, of course, three other katanas.
Lloyd managed to dodge a number of these attacks, and caught me in the shoulder with the Dragon Buster once.
"Ugh!" I staggered, dropping my sword. Why is this deranged Wingly singling me out? On the other hand, perhaps Winglies don't like being called a kakushigo anymore than I do. Not that I care. Clutching my shoulder with one hand, I reached for a belt pouch with the other, grabbed a Healing Potion, and drank it.
Not having time to retrieve Arashi-Jisan, I drew Migi-no-te and returned to the fight. By now, it appeared Lloyd was weakening, allowing us to get in more hits.
Finally, it appeared to be over. Dart charged Lloyd, and Lloyd flew over the strike, landing hard behind Dart. His wings faded, and Dart raised his sword, rushed at him, and began to bring his sword down…
And he hit someone else. The Third Sacred Sister of Mille Seseau, Wink, had gotten between Dart's sword and Lloyd, taking the blow on herself. "Please… forgive Lloyd."
* * *
Following Lloyd's defeat, we left Dart with Lloyd and headed down from the Moon Mirror chamber. We trusted Dart to do the right thing.
When he came down, Lloyd, Wink, and the queen were with him. "We have to go to Vellweb," Dart said. "And bring the Divine Moon objects with us. Lloyd's Emperor Diaz has taken Shana, and wants the Moon objects in return for her release."
"Ikaga aete anohito!?" The sheer audacity surprised me.
"Ian… you're doing it again." Ryan's voice sounded resigned.
"What? Oh. How dare he!?"
Dart shook his head in frustration. "I don't know, but we should hurry. I don't trust this 'Emperor'. Queen Theresa has agreed to let us take the Moon Mirror, so we can leave now."
I looked pointedly at Lloyd. "We're taking him with us?"
Dart nodded. "Yeah."
I'm not even going to bother asking why. Dart has his own peculiar reasoning, and a simple assassin like me isn't going to understand. But that, on the other hand…
Lloyd was still carrying the Dragon Buster. "Don't you think we should at least disarm him?"
"No. We're sure to encounter monsters along the way, and I don't think he's going to attack us."
I shrugged. "You're the boss, Boss. I'm just a humble killer."
Dart glanced around. "I guess we're ready. Let's go."
* * *
After leaving Kashua Glacier, we entered the Snowfields, farther to the west. Not far in, we had to shelter from a blizzard in a nearby cave.
Once inside, Lloyd told us of his meeting with "Diaz". Diaz had told him of the prophecy of the Moon Child, and explained how it could fulfilled: Lloyd needed only the three Divine Moon objects to break the signets preventing the "last god's" birth.
That had been two years before we ended the Serdian War. Since then, Lloyd had been trying to achieve his utopia, believing that the "regeneration of the world" was worth any sacrifice, no matter how many lives it might be.
At the end of the tale, Rose shook her head. "That's not true. There's no 'holy blessing'."
Lloyd looked at her. "Then why does the Black Monster kill the Moon Child? He fears it. He knows that the Moon Child's coming will mean his end."
Rose made no reply. Of course, any reply she might have made would have been dangerous.
I simply shook my head. Lloyd's story had explained things somewhat. You poor kakushigo. This fake Emperor Diaz has tricked you. You honestly don't know what will happen if you succeed. Maybe you're not quite the piece of slime I thought you were. You're just an idealist who was taken advantage of by some vermin.
The blizzard was clearly going to last all night, so I leaned against the wall, put a bandanna over my eyes, and went to sleep.
* * *
We moved on the next morning, leaving the Snowfields and heading even more to the west, to the ruin of Vellweb.
It was an impressive sight that greeted us when we entered. Seven towers, towering over everything else in the old city, looking remarkably intact for a place abandoned eleven thousand years previously.
I walked near Rose, behind the others. "What were those towers?"
"The towers…" she mused quietly. "That was the Tower of the Seven Dragoons, where we lived during the Dragon Campaign. Each tower was the private domain of a Dragoon. No one entered without the permission of the Dragoons. Not even Emperor Diaz. It was, in a way, a symbol of our status as the leading warriors of Diaz's army. We had many privileges as such. And, of course, most of the responsibility," she chuckled.
Rose? Laughing? That's… unusual. Unheard of, even. But then, for the first time in eleven thousand years she finally has people around her that she can trust. Maybe she's just starting to loosen up a bit.
Rose shook herself. "In any case, it's probably just a ruin now, like the rest of Vellweb. Nothing more than an ancient curiosity. For now, we have other things to do."
"We do at that…"
* * *
It was the base of the Tower of the Seven Dragoons that the next bizarre thing happened. There were a couple of bright flashes, and then a woman appeared, hovering the air in front of us.
From the reactions of Dart and Rose, this was Shirley, the spirit they had received the White-Silver Dragoon Spirit from in the Shrine, and the White-Silver Dragoon during the Dragon Campaign.
Rose inhaled sharply. "Shirley? I thought you had left by now."
The apparition shook her head. "Not yet. There was something else I had to take care of first." Shirley waved at the Tower. "The souls of the Dragoons who died in the Dragon Campaign are still here. There souls are being drawn to the dark gates of the Death City."
At this, Rose actually gasped. "Mayfil!? But I thought it was destroyed!"
"I don't know how, but the city is functioning again. I was able to anchor their souls here and make them inert, but that is all I can do. Please, after you have spoken to Diaz, come back and give their souls rest." Shirley faded then, leaving this world behind forever. I have never seen her since, at any rate. It was then left to us to carry out Shirley's last wish.
But first we had to confront Diaz. With this in mind, we entered the ruins at the foot of Tower of the Seven Dragoons, where once had lived seven warriors, and now held four spirits.
* * *
We found Diaz deep within, in a large throne room. He was dressed in red, carrying a red staff and wearing a mask. Shana was suspended in the air between us.
Lloyd stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I have brought the Divine Moon objects. There is nothing to stand in the way of our utopia now. Release the girl."
Diaz nodded. "As you wish." Shana floated down to Dart, who caught her. I smiled slightly; it was obvious Dart no longer thought of her as a "baby sister".
Diaz gazed at us. "Now we can release the final god, and begin the regeneration of the world."
Rose drew her rapier and pointed it at him. "If you're really Diaz, then you know what means."
Diaz nodded again. "Total destruction."
Lloyd went white with shock and anger. "What!?" he screamed. "My utopia lies in the future of this world, not its destruction! You used me!" His wings appeared, and a ball of fire began to take shape in his hands. "I won't let you do this!"
"I don't need you anymore." With a gesture, a magical aura began to surround Lloyd.
Taking a deep breath, I walked slowly forward, placing myself between Lloyd and Diaz. "I can't let you do that, Diaz. You don't need him, but we do. If you want him, you'll have to get through me first."
"No matter. You don't know what you're dealing with."
"You don't know what you're dealing with, kakushigo." I squared my shoulders, standing tall and proud. "I am Ian Takahari, last of the honorable Kyuuketsuki Ryoushi clan of the ninja! I am the Dragoon of the Diamond Dragon! I fear no one. If you want to try me, go ahead." I smiled coldly. "But I guarantee that you will not enjoy the experience."
"Fine. You get to live a little longer. You're not worth my time."
"Who are you!?" Dart demanded.
"I don't need to hide any longer." Diaz reached for his mask. "It's been a while," he said, pulling off the mask. "Rose… Dart."
Dart and Rose drew back in shock. "Father!?" Dart gasped.
"Oh, it cannot be!" Rose looked as if she'd just seen a ghost. "Zieg!"
Zieg!? Rose's fiancé, who was turned to stone in the Dragon Campaign by Melbu Frahma!? What's going on here!?
Rose stared at him. "But you died! In the Dragon Campaign, with Melbu Frahma!"
Zieg smiled. "Time, almost eternal, dissolved Melbu Frahma's spell. The time with Rose was long past, and I settled in Neet, raising my son, Dart. Until the day the Black Monster came."
"Zieg, what are you doing!? You would never have done this back then!"
"I merely want the god's plan to be realized, by letting the 108 species, the Virage Embryo, be born. Humans are merely the 106th species in the plan, Winglies the 107th. I desire the 108th evolution."
Dart looked confused. "You Dad and Rose are both heroes of the Dragon Campaign!?"
Zieg glanced at him. "Yes. But there's more. Stupid humans destroyed the Crystal Sphere containing the Soul of the God of Destruction when they destroyed Kadessa. Now, every one hundred and eight years, the Moon Child possesses a body and attempts to return to the Moon That Never Sets, which, in reality, is the flesh of the God of Destruction. But one Dragoon found out. She became the Black Monster, and destroyed the Moon Child every time, along with everyone who witnessed its passage." He laughed. "Your loyal comrade, Rose, is the Black Monster!"
Dart stared at Rose, shock and betrayal on his face. "Tell me it's not true!"
Rose looked away. "The Moon Child has to be killed, and everyone around it, otherwise they become servants of the God of Destruction."
"Neet… too!?"
"For eleven thousand years, there have been no exceptions."
Dart looked like he was going to tear apart, as I had feared he would when he learned the truth. "Why did it have to be you!?"
While Dart struggled with himself, Zieg abruptly looked at me, noting the lack of surprise. "You knew, didn't you?"
I nodded. "I did. And I believe that Rose has done the right thing. Without her, Endiness would be long gone."
"Spoken like an assassin. But I'm afraid I have other things to do." Zieg gestured, and Shana floated back over to him.
"What are going to do with Shana!?" Dart demanded.
Zieg instead looked to Rose. "You made a mistake eighteen years ago, Rose. You thought Princess Louvia, whom you killed, was the Moon Child. You were wrong. Louvia had a twin sister."
Rose stared. "No!"
"Your friend Shana is the Moon Child! What are you going to do? Can you kill her!?"
Rose drew her rapier again. "I'll kill her!" She leapt, but something knocked her back, her blade never coming close.
My eyes flamed as I grew enraged. Like I promised Rose, I must do this. I'm the only one who can. With the speed only a ninja or a Wingly can possess, I drew Arashi-Jisan and jumped, aiming to decapitate Shana. Dart, I'm sorry. But this has to be done.
But I, too, failed. The same force repelled me, and hit the ground hard. Zieg was laughing. "Nice try. But now I must leave!"
He disappeared, taking Shana with him.
Author's note: At last! The chapter is finished. This is the longest one yet. Hope it makes up for the shorter ones I've been posting lately.
It occurs to me that I should translate the bits of Japanese I've used. 'Watakushi yuki dzuki satsu ki kakushigo' roughly translates as: I'm going to kill that bastard. 'Tojikomeru' is shut up; 'Omoi goshujin jika kanchi' means mind your own business; everything else, I believe I translated within the chapter.
As usual, please read and review.
