Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
The city of Bale was more crowded than I expected. Aside from the rather tense populace, you'd never know they were in the middle of a civil war. There were plenty of shops, an inn, and even a library. Given the war, the arrival of four armed travelers wasn't unusual, though my sword drew some curious glances.
"Okay, Lavitz, where's this Indels Castle?" I asked.
The knight pointed to the north. "That way. Don't worry about your weapons, I'll vouch for you."
The four of us climbed several sets of stairs, eventually coming to the throne room. Three men awaited us; the blond man in green was obviously King Albert, to his right was an older man whom I took to be Minister Noish, and to Albert's left was a mysterious fellow in a black cloak.
We knelt, and Lavitz spoke. "I am the head of the First Knighthood, Lavitz Slambert. I am back from the field."
Albert rose. "Oh, Lavitz! Welcome back! I was worried because I heard you were missing. Oh, make yourselves comfortable, everyone!"
"Your Majesty, it is more than I deserve," Lavitz said as we straightened.
Noish laughed. "It's true. King Albert was so worried that he couldn't handle his affairs of state."
The king glanced at his minister. "Oh, Noish, don't tease me! Lavitz is a friend from my childhood as well as a master of martial arts."
So Lavitz is a friend of the King. Interesting. I focused on the man in black. There's something about him I don't quite trust. Maybe it's just an Immortal's survival instincts, but this guy will bear watching. I shifted my attention back to Noish, who was about to tell of the Dragon Campaign. I wonder how much they know.
Noish cleared his throat. "As if they were gods, Winglies ruled over all living creatures, and used them as slaves. The enslaved suffered a terrible domination and injustice. Their anger turned to a flame of fury, and then, a gust of wind blew throughout the land, spreading the flame to a blazing fire. The wind was Emperor Diaz. Seven incarnations of Dragons served the Emperor. Their bravery inspired people to take up arms. Thus began the Dragon Campaign. It was a harsh war; both people and Winglies suffered countless injuries and fatalities. After a long period of suffering, it was the humans who acquired the future. The age of humans had begun."
"The Black Monster appeared after the Dragon Campaign," Dart mused.
You bet she did, I thought. And without her, Endiness would have been destroyed long ago. I departed, passing one of Albert's aides. Standing on a nearby balcony, I considered my options. Mac would probably deal himself in on the side of Basil, champion of justice that he is. Richie would follow Mac's lead, and Methos…you can never tell with Methos. Mac's cousin Connor would tell me to keep my mind on the Game, but I don't believe in the Game. I shook my head in frustration. I've whacked two Immortals since I got here. This isn't the world we know. What do they want?
"Ray, you coming?"
I turned around, seeing Dart and friends. "Sure. Where to?"
"We're going to defend the town of Hoax, southwest of here," Lavitz said. "We were wondering what you're going to do."
"I'm in," I said. "My world has had more than enough people like Doel in its history. I know all to well what such people are capable of. Whenever you're ready."
The trip to Hoax took little more than a day, and most of that time was spent disposing of the local vermin. I hung back for the most part, wanting to get a feeling for my companions' fighting styles. Shana, though weak at close range, was an excellent archer, picking off some annoying bats before they could become a hazard. Lavitz gracefully twirled his spear, killing everything in his path. It was Dart, however, who impressed me most. He wielded his sword with a practiced ease, his attacks reminding me of Methos to a certain extent.
I grinned, slicing an orc in half. "Talk about luck. The first people I meet in this crazy world turn out to be highly skilled fighters."
"Not as surprising as you might think," Lavitz said. "Remember, there's a war on."
"How could I forget? And here we are."
Hoax was more like a fortress than a town. The civilian population was outnumbered at least two-to-one by the soldiers, though that wasn't saying much. "Is this really a town?" Shana asked in disbelief.
Lavitz shrugged. "It used to be, but the war changed it. Now we have to focus on our defense." He gestured to the main building. "We'd better go talk to Kaiser. He should be expecting us."
Kaiser was a somewhat older man, with the look of a grizzled veteran. "Lavitz! Welcome! I heard what happened to your knighthood…"
"I know, it was my fault," Lavitz said. "But I won't let their deaths be in vain. I brought some strong help. These are Dart and Shana, from Seles, and Ray Belmont, a wandering swordsman."
I smiled. "Glad to meet you. I hope I can be of help."
"If what Lavitz says is true, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, then you and Dart will be a great asset," Kaiser replied. "I would like you to stand a tour of guard duty. Having Shana too is not a good idea." He looked at her. "Can you prepare food for the troops?"
Shana nodded. "Sure, you'll love it."
I chuckled. "If you'll excuse me, I have some things to take care of."
In fact, I had caught a glimpse of Rose just as we entered Hoax, and I was anxious to speak with her. Glancing around cautiously to ensure that I wasn't being watched, I climbed a hill towards the rear of the town, keeping my sword sheathed. "Rose? Are you here?"
"Yes." Rose stepped out of shadows. "What brings you here?"
"I think that's my line." I grinned wryly. "But if you must know, I've decided to throw in my lot with the Kingdom of Basil. Doel sounds like the sort of scum who keep wreaking havoc back home. Besides which, I wouldn't put it past him to enlist the aid of evil Immortals, thus making my presence a necessity. Now, what brings you here?"
She nodded at Dart. "Your friend, though he does not know it, carries a Dragoon Spirit. I intend to test if he can become a Dragoon."
I frowned. "Better be careful. The Sandorans have a Dragon, so we could be in deep trouble." Lavitz waved for me. "I need to get going."
"Good luck."
I rejoined Dart and Lavitz at the gate. "Now we wait."
Dart looked off toward the forest. "If the Sandorans attack, it will be a night raid. We should relax while we can."
Four hours passed without incident. I couldn't fault Kaiser's vigilance, but I was skeptical. Hoax was too small, and the knights too few, to successfully resist a determined attack. Even without the Dragon, the Imperial Knighthood would roll right over our defenses…normally. What no one else on either side knew was that Basil had at least one, possibly two, of the legendary Dragoons on their side. Rose may be cold-blooded, but I can tell she has no love for Sandora.
"The enemy is coming! The enemy is coming!"
I spun around, drawing my sword. Sandoran soldiers were pouring in nearly overwhelming the Eighth Knighthood. I jumped to the ground, slashing two enemy soldiers before they knew I was there. "You're not going to win that easily!" Another Sandoran fell to my blade, then I felt an arrow jab into my side. I fell.
A soldier stood over me, grinning evilly. "Dog of Basil, now you die." He raised his sword for the killing blow, then jerked, the weapon falling from his hand. Protruding from his chest was the tip of Lavitz's spear.
Lavitz gave me a hand up. "You alright, Ray? That must have hurt."
I winced. "You have a gift for understatement, Lavitz." Another Sandoran charged; I spun and bisected him. "How are we doing?"
"We're holding, but barely." The knight grimaced. "If the Dragon shows up, we're sunk."
Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, we heard a terrified shout. "It's Gi, Giganto!"
I was about to ask what a Giganto was, then I saw for myself. The Giganto was half again my height, and at least three times my mass, possibly four. In his right hand was a giant axe, more than enough to behead even me. "As if things weren't bad enough. Let's take him!"
Despite being faced by three fighters (Dart, Lavitz, and myself), Kongol was unimpressed. We changed his attitude quickly enough; a broadsword, a katana, and a spear will make anyone think twice. Dart and I attacked Kongol on either side, with Lavitz thrusting between. Even three-on-one, it was a difficult fight, more so than either of my Immortal encounters thus far. I learned not to underestimate him just because he was slow; I overextended a thrust and paid for it by being knocked across the street.
That was apparently enough to send Dart into a rage. He charged the Giganto, sword at the ready, and was promptly knocked flying. He hit the ground with a resounding crash. Kongol was on him at once, the giant axe held high…
He never had a chance to bring it down. A streak of dark blue came diving out of the sky, clashing once against the axe: Rose, Dragoon of the Black Burst Dragon. The scene, my first view of the legendary Dragoon, was breathtaking. Her armor was like nothing I'd seen before, dark blue, with a tinge of violet. Even her sword had changed, the hilt becoming almost claw-like. Extending from her shoulders were a pair of Dragon wings.
Rose leveled her sword at Dart. "Wake up! Dragoon of the Red-Eye Dragon!"
The effect was immediate and spectacular. The gem hanging from Dart's neck began glowing bright red, almost blinding us. Dart slowly rose to his feet, a look of disbelief on his face. Suddenly, he was engulfed in flame, and he shot into the air. At the same time, a fireball lanced out, striking Kongol in the chest and knocking him flying.
Dart floated gently to the ground, clad in the armor of the Dragoon. His armor was similar to Rose's, except that it was flame-red, and lacked the skirt-like portion. He stared at himself in complete astonishment. "What on earth is…?"
Only one Sandoran soldier remained. "Th…these are not humans!!" He scurried off.
Lavitz gazed at Dart in wonder. "Dart…you…what happened to you!?"
Dart flapped his wings once. "I don't know! I don't know what happened to me!?"
Rose landed and shed her armor. "The Knight of the Dragon, the Dragoon was born." A groan sounded from the downed Giganto. "I am surprised you didn't die."
Kongol glared at us. "Giganto don't die! Giganto will pay you back!" He stomped away.
Shana burst out of a nearby building. "Dart!"
Dart looked at her. "Shana." There was a flash of light, and Dart stood in his normal outfit, gasping. "Seeing Shana, makes me feel relieved." He collapsed, unconscious.
I went to his side. "Quite an entrance, Rose. I take it your test was successful?"
Rose nodded. "Very. Now, we'd better get him inside."
"What are you to Dart!? Who are you!?" Shana demanded.
"Calm down, Shana," I said. "Rose might be cold-blooded, but she's on our side. What you have just witnessed is the birth of a Dragoon, a warrior of legend."
Lavitz's eyes widened. "You mean Dart has the power that saved humans from Winglies!?"
"That's exactly what I mean. Remember what Noish said. 'Seven incarnations of Dragons'. Our friend is the Dragoon of Fire." I froze. Dragoon of Fire…Rose said the first Dragoon of Fire was Zieg Feld. Dart's last name is Feld. Could he be related to Zieg? Is it mere coincidence that he is a Dragoon?
Just then, Dart groaned and sat up. "You…you are…"
Rose shook his hand. "Rose. Nice to see you again."
Shana looked surprised. "You know Dart?"
"She is the one who saved me from the Dragon and alerted me to the attack on Seles," Dart said. "I never got to thank you."
The Dragoon shrugged. "I don't need thanks. I wanted to do it."
"Why did you come here?"
She held up her Dragoon Spirit. "I was curious about this artifact you own, the Dragoon Spirit of the Red-Eye Dragon."
Dart held up his as well, resulting in a brilliant light. "This…this light is!?"
"You 'deserve' to rule Dragons. This light shows the true evidence. From the time the Dragoon Spirit begins to shine, you have to accept your fate as a Dragoon, just like me."
"I had no idea there was such power concealed in my father's memento!" Dart gasped.
"Is that why you saved Dart? Because he has a Dragoon Spirit?" Lavitz asked.
Rose shook her head. "Honestly, I was surprised myself, but now I know why." Her eyes lost focus. "You guys look like my dear old friends. They lived in a turbulent time, but were strong enough to grasp there own destinies."
"Can I ask you something?" Shana asked. Rose nodded. "Where are they now?"
Rose sighed. "Everyone's gone. It's all in the past."
There's an understatement.
"I'm sorry. It looks like I was wrong about you, Rose," Shana said contritely.
The other woman shrugged. "It's okay. I'm used to being hated."
There's another understatement.
"Is the head of the Eighth Knighthood, Sir Kaiser, here!?"
The five of us charged outside, almost running headlong into a messenger. "What's going on!?" Lavitz gasped.
"The Seventh Fort in the Marshland is under heavy attack by the Dragon! The Tenth and Thirteenth Knighthoods are almost overwhelmed! Survivors are still responding!"
Lavitz swore. "Gather the remaining Knights! We must assault the Dragon's Nest directly!"
Rose snorted. "The Knights are strong fighters, but they are only human. Humans cannot defeat a Dragon."
"We still have to do something!" Lavitz shot back.
"Do you think a wasted death is honorable or something?" Rose asked pointedly. She ignored Lavitz's reaction. "But Dragoons can defeat him. Dart, you should understand this. We have a different existence. We are beyond humans."
Lavitz perked up. "That's right, Dragoons! Dragoons, who were said to have governed the Dragons, can fight against him!"
For a long moment, Dart was silent. "Maybe I can do it now," he said at last. "I felt…the power of the Dragon within me." He looked at Kaiser. "I'll fight for you!"
"I'll go, too," Rose said. "It doesn't seem right if it's just Dart and the others."
Kaiser nodded, looking relieved. "Shana…you should stay."
Wrong thing to say. "No, I'm going too!"
"I agree," I put in. "Shana is vulnerable close up, but I know a natural shot when I see one, and Shana is exactly that."
A roar sounded in the distance. "The Green Tusked Dragon, Feyrbrand," Rose murmured.
"It brings back the fear I felt before," Dart said softly.
Rose shook her head. "The real fear has not even begun."
Two hours later, we were on our way. Rose had given Dart some quick training in the art of Dragoon warfare, and the results were beyond impressive. Dart handled his newfound powers as though born with them, which was fortunate, since the Marshland was populated by a large number of water-based monsters.
"Amazing, isn't it?" I commented when the others were out of earshot.
For once, Rose actually looked troubled. "It is uncanny. Dart is so much like Zieg. He flies like Zieg, fights like Zieg, he even looks like Zieg."
"There may be a very simple reason for that." I paused dramatically. "Dart's last name is Feld."
The Dark Dragoon was visibly shocked. "Are you certain!?"
I nodded. "He told me himself. Wanna bet they're related?"
"It is possible, though I don't think Zieg had any siblings." Rose quickly regained her composure. "But that is an academic question at present. We have other things to worry about."
"So we do."
By this time we had entered the Seventh Fort. There were still knights of Basil battling the Sandorans, but they were outnumbered. Our arrival changed things dramatically; a knight, an archer, two Dragoons, and an Immortal were more than enough to even the odds.
"These Sandorans just don't know when to give up!" Lavitz grunted, jabbing his spear through his enemy's heart.
"Of course not," I replied, casually beheading an officer. "They haven't heard about Hoax." I glanced at the Dragoons through the corner of my eye. "There go Dart and Rose."
Dart lifted into the air, then brought his sword down to strike the ground. "Explosion!" Three Sandorans died in the searing flames.
Rose raised one hand, opening some sort of vortex. "Demon's Gate." Another trio bit the dust.
"And that, I believe, is that," I remarked, sheathing my blade.
Lavitz nodded. "I'm going to go check for survivors."
Author's note: Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I wasn't sure where to cut it off. Now, is anyone actually going to review this? Suggestions would be appreciated. D.S.
