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Now, I mean no disrespect to any redhead out there. I also have a bit of red hair so I mean absolutely NO disrespect to anyone with red hair. Okay? Okay. Now that that's over with, on with the story.

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Disclaimer: I own everything that I created. Mike, his parents and grandparents, his history, everything. I don't own Legend of Dragoon, or anything like that. I own only the stuff that I created. That's all.

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Chapter II:

November 21st, 1992

Mike, now fifteen, scrambled to get dressed. He was now thirty minutes late for school.

'Stupid alarm clock.' He finished tying his tennis shoes and looked in the mirror. His hair was a mess. He shrugged, then quickly ran out of his room. "I'M LEAVING NOW!!" He hollered to his grandparents as he ran down stairs. He grabbed his backpack and ran out of the house.

He arrived at his school just minutes later. It wasn't that long of a walk, anyway. He burst through the doors to the school. He quickly, but very quietly, made his way to his classroom. He slowly opened the classroom door and snuck in. He tiptoed to his seat. The teacher was facing the blackboard, so she didn't see him.

"It's nice of you to join us, Mike." His teacher, Mrs. Baudian, turned around and stared at him. "Do you have a good excuse for being late...again?

Mike slowly turned to face her. "Um, I-"

"Maybe he was busy washing his hair in tomato sauce." A boy suggested. The whole class began laughing.

Mike rolled his eyes. 'Such a lame insult and the class laughs.'

"Enough!" Mrs. Baudian yelled. The class calmed down. "Just sit down, Mike."

Mike obeyed and sat down in his assigned seat.

[XxXxX]

It was already an hour later, and Mike had already received the usual twenty insults that he always gets. The small notes that had the insults on it was given to him by the same three boys. Those three boys were just lucky that Mike hadn't had a chance to hit them yet. As another note came his way, he tapped his fingers against the desk in irritation.

'That's it.' He balled up a piece of paper and flung it at one of the boys.

"HEY!!" The boy, Alan, yelled.

Mrs. Baudian turned back around and stared at Mike. "Did you throw that at him?"

"No, Mrs. Baudian. I didn't." Mike lied.

She stared suspiciously at him.

"But, Mrs. Baudian! He DID throw it at me!" Alan shrieked.

Mrs. Baudian sighed. "Let's just get on with class." She went back to writing on the board and explaining things.

Mike glared evilly at Alan. Alan just glared back.

"Now, class, who would like to repeat what I just said?" Mrs. Baudian obviously noticed that none of the class was paying attention, but they were looking at Mike and Alan. "It's time for lunch, anyway."

The class immediately hurried out of the classroom and inside the cafeteria. After Mike had got what little food he wanted, he sat down at a table all by himself. He saw those exact three boys sit down at a separate table, and start talking amongst each other while looking back at him. He was sick and tired of those boys.

'It's time for payback.' He picked up his plate of spaghetti and hid it behind his back. He casually walked up to the boys. "Hi."

"Hey, tomato sauce." Alan leaned back in his chair.

Mike smiled, then put the plate of spaghetti in Alan's face. "Hey, tomato sauce." He smiled and walked off. He heard footsteps coming his direction. He twisted out of the way as Alan came flying by him. He grabbed Alan by his arm and swung him around. When he let go of his arm, Alan went flying across the floor.

"MIKE!!" Mrs. Baudian came running up to him. "Now why did you do that?!"

"Because I wanted to, Mrs. Baudian." Mike didn't even try to lie.

"Say you're sorry!" Mrs. Baudian ordered as she helped Alan stand up.

"I'm sorry that I didn't put that plate of food in your face before." Mike crossed his arms across his chest. "And I'm sorry if I didn't get a chance to punch you, but, trust me, I'll get my chance to punch you soon."

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Five minutes later, and Mike's sitting in the principal's office.

"Mike, I would have never thought that I'd see you here." The principal was seated in his chair.

"Well, I'm here now." Mike leaned back in the chair that he was sitting in.

"I heard that you put food in Alan's face and slung him across the floor." He paused for a bit. A smile grew on his face. "And I thank you. Alan has been trouble lately, and I'm glad someone did something. His parents keep getting him out of trouble, so I can't really do anything about that, so I'm glad that you did what you did. Run along now."

Mike just sat there, blinking. "So, I'm not in trouble??"

"No. Go on, now. Class should be starting back up soon."

Mike nodded and ran out of the room. 'I thought I was gonna get suspended for a couple days, but thanked?? Now that's just weird.' He walked back in the classroom.

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Mike leaned back in his chair and stared at the roof. All he heard coming out of his teacher's mouth was blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He tapped his pencil against the desk. Someone knocked on the door.

Mrs. Baudian went to open the door. "Hello, may I help you?"

A tall man stood at the door. He had brown hair and brown eyes. Mike's jaw dropped.

'He's supposed to be in jail!!!' He shrieked inside his mind.

"I'm here to pick up my kid, ma'am." The man, known as Peter, said.

"And who's your kid, sir?"

"Mike."

"Oh. I didn't think Mike had a father." Mrs. Baudian let the man in. "Mike, I thought you said you're father died?"

Mike couldn't say anything. He was in shock.

"C'mon, Mikey boy. Why would you say that you're own father died?" Peter stared at him. He didn't wait for Mike to answer. He turned to face Mrs. Baudian. "Listen, Mrs. um,"

"Mrs. Baudian."

"Mrs. Baudian, I have full permission to take my kid out of school. I'm gonna take him fishin' today." Peter informed her.

"Okay. Mike, have a good time." Mrs. Baudian watched the two leave the room.

Peter grabbed Mike by his arm roughly and dragged him out of the school. When they were in his car, and Peter had began driving, Mike turned to look at him.

"Why are you here? I thought you were in jail?"

Peter laughed. "I was put in jail for several years, but I was let out just two days ago. I've changed, Mikey."

"That's a joke." Mike muttered. "Just take me home. I just want you out of my life."

"I can't do that, Mikey."

"Why not?" Mike had a bad feeling.

Peter took his right fist and hit Mike in his cheek. Mike's head hit up against the window and knocked him out cold. "Because you're my son, Mikey, and we need some time together."

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Mike woke up a couple hours later. He rubbed his head. 'Why do I have to have an insane father?' He sat up.

He looked around and found himself in a forest, probably several, several miles away from the town.

"I see you're finally awake," came his father's voice.

Mike saw his father leaned up against a tree. He just stared coldly at Peter. "Why did you do that?" He tried to keep his voice calm. He was never really the kind of person to lose his temper quickly, and plus, if his father heard anger in his voice, then he'd be pleased and Mike didn't want his father to feel pleased. Not after everything that he had done.

"I have my reasons. Now, Mikey boy," Peter loaded up a shot-gun. "how 'bout we play a game of cat and mouse? You're the mouse and I'm the cat."

Mike watched wide-eyed as he finished loading up the shot-gun. Peter stared at the gun. Without hesitation, Mike stood up and ran. He heard his father running after him.

'How can he run so fast when I shattered his leg years ago? Maybe the doctors fixed it. No. He wouldn't be able to run if they fixed it...but how can he run?' That question repeated itself over and over in Mike's mind.

He jumped over a small rock and contined running. His heart was beating fast and his father was still running after him. He ducked a low tree branch. His sides were aching.

Bang! Pain ran through his left leg as he fell. He examined his leg, and saw red blood running down his leg. His father had shot him. He looked back and saw Peter just a couple feet away from him. Ignoring the pain, Mike stood up and limped away. He froze when he came to the edge of a cliff.

'Oh, now this is just marvelous.' He thought as he looked down. It was so far down that all he could see was...black.

"Well, looks like this game of cat and mouse has just ended." Peter said as he raised the shot-gun.

Jump, came a female's voice.

'Wha?' Mike looked around and saw only his father aiming the shot-gun at him.

Jump, the voice repeated.

He knew he must've gone crazy, but there was just something about that voice. So kind, and trustworthy. 'What am I thinking?! A voice is tellin' me to jump off a cliff to my death! Yeah, that's a really smart thing to do. Obey a voice that's tellin' ya to jump to your death. But then again, if I stay here, I'll be shot.' Mike had to think quickly.

Jump now!! the voice ordered once more.

Mike felt the wind pick up and push him off the edge of the cliff. He blacked out.

"WHEN WILL YOU EVER LEARN, YOU IGNORANT FOOL?!" The woman from before materialized in front Peter. She hovered above the ground. "YOU CANNOT KILL THIS BOY!! HE IS UNDER MY PROTECTION!!" The woman's voice was full of anger.

"Your protection, your Majesty??" Peter's eyes were completely red. "HA!! That's a joke!!"

"You will leave this man's body and stop trying to kill Mike. You know very well that I will not allow you to kill him." The woman ordered.

"ME?? Leave this man's body? I don't think so. You may be a Queen, but you do not rule over me!! NO ONE DOES!!" Peter's eyes stayed the exact same red color.

"That is where you are wrong. There is someone out there that will claim the Dragoon spirit that controls you, Dragon." The woman glared at him.

Peter stepped back a few steps. "NO ONE WILL EVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CLAIM THAT DRAGOON SPIRIT!!"

"That is where you are wrong, once more, Dragon." The woman smirked. "Someone will claim that spirit. Soa has predicted it."

"SOA??!" The Dragon that had control of Peter knew very well that if Soa said that someone would claim the Dragoon spirit that can control him, then he should be on his guard. The Dragon had been running away from the woman hovering in the air in front of him ever since he could fly, and he had finally escaped from Endiness and arrived on Earth. And now he meets her again! If he stayed here any longer, he might run into that person that was supposed to claim that Dragoon spirit.

He growled, then just......disappeared.

"Foolish Dragon." The woman began to fade away. "He can be trouble at times." She faded away completely.

Yes. A Dragon. For those of you who have read my 'The Legend of the Dragon Campaign' or 'Destiny with Dragoons', you should know what Dragon it is. But if you have read either of those two, and you don't know what Dragon it is, well, you'll just have to wait until a much later chapter. Anyone have any ideas who the strange woman is?

A/N: This chapter isn't nearly as long as the previous one, but I decided to end it there. Actually, I never even thought it would be this short, but...well...it is. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to review!!