Author's Note: Portions of this story is being written with the help of my
little sister, author name BabyBlue. Read her stuff!
Disclaimer: I don't own LoD and I probably never will
Chapter 8: The Shrine of Kimberly
(Ania lay sleeping on the hospital bed with Wesley and Melvin standing around, biting their nails and generally being nervous. I, being the stoic that Rose is, causally leaned against one of the buttresses, armed crossed, while an old man paced in front of me. His posture was slouched and he wore a green dress)
Santor: Robe. It's a robe.
Wesley: So what's the prognosis?
Santor: Not good. Dragon poisoning is a very tricky ailment -- her body isn't poisoned, it's more like her spirit. It's like...she doesn't have the will to go on living...
Wesley: Well can't you just give her a pep talk or something?
Santor: It's not that easy son....plus Dragons were supposed to be extinct for thousands of years, so there's not a whole lot in the medical books about how to treat or cure Dragon poisoning.
Melvin: So is it completely hopeless?
Santor: Maybe....but, there is ONE way...
(He disappears into the back room and emerges, feverishly flipping through the pages of a thick, dusty book.)
Santor: Here it is! "Dragoni Plant: rare, medicinal plant with many strange properties, the most prominent one being it can cure any type of poisoning -- including Dragon poisoning!!"
Wesley: You serious?!
Santor: Yes, look, here's a picture of it!
All: *study picture*
Santor: But the only catch is that it's so extremely rare that no one has ever located it, let alone use it.
Me: I have traveled Endiness for a looong time and I've never seen a plant like that
Melvin: Is it just me, or does that look a little like weed?
[Whenever I play the game and they mention Dragoni Plant, a picture of weed appears in my mind. Am I the only one who does that?! I dunno, it might just be that my mind needs to think of more wholesome things...hehe...]
Wesley: Do you know of anyone who would know the location of the Dragoni Plant?
Santor: Not personally, but people from all over the continent come to Lohan so you might find someone on the streets who knows something.
Wesley: *tears out page with the Dragoni Plant on it from the book*
Santor: Hey!
Wesley: Sorry, but I'm gunna need this if we wanna find someone who knows about the Dragoni Plant. Can you do anything else for Ania while we're gone?
Santor: I'm sure I have a few remedies that'll sustain her. I AM the best doctor in Endiness!
All other doctors: Stupid quack
Santor: But they'll only keep her alive for about a week so you'd better hurry
[I slightly distorted the above scene to fit my preferences. I'm allowed to, I'm the Almighty Author!!]
(Lohan can be confusing and hard to maneuver through [BabyBlue doesn't much like this town] and we didn't have much luck finding anyone who knew of the Dragoni Plant, even with the picture. We finally came to a weird looking shop and discovered the owner standing behind the counter wearing a red shirt and purple Hammer-like pants)
Brittany: Can I help you....hey, sup!!
Me: Sup Brittany...so this is your shop....
Brittany: Yup yup this is my shop, I got antique shit over here and priceless shit over there and over there, I got a suit of armor I dunno why....
Wesley: You sell herbs?
Brittany: Well, it depends on the type of "herb" your looking for....
Wesley: You got this?! Dragoni Plant?! *Shows her the picture*
Brittany: *studys picture* That looks like some weed to me...
Melvin: See! I'm not the only one!
Me: Do you sell this, Brittany?! And I'm not talking bout your "business ventures" in the real world, I mean in the game!
Brittany: Well, I don't sell Dragoni Plant and I don't sell weed either!
Me: Riiight...
Brittany: But ya know, I heard rumors that Dragoni Plant grows in the Shrine of Kimberly, past the Dragon's Nest.
Melvin: We were just there, there was no shrine near the Dragon's Nest.
Brittany: Didn't you see a strange plant blocking a path in the Nest?
Wesley and Melvin: ...
Me: Stupid! Remember when Ania ran off to rest?! We saw a weird plant, isn't that what you're talkin bout Brittany?
Brittany: I guess. Well you hafta get past the plant to get to the Shrine.
Wesley: Do you know how to get past the plant? I mean, we don't hafta fight it, do we....?
Brittany: Why would you hafta fight a censored plant?
Wesley: I dunno, we fight almost everything else!!
All: *thinking how to get past the plant*
Melvin: The water!! In the underground cave!!
Wesley: How would that help?
Melvin: I dunno...it's all that I can think of...
Wesley: Well it's probably the best we got! We don't got much time to sit around and do nothing!
Me: Yeah, and if all else fails we can always walk around it....
All: Riiight...
All cept Brittany: *exits*
Brittany: Hey, what about shopping!?!?
~ ~ ~
(Even as we are walking out of the town, some pesky vendor hasta milk one last deal outta us. Geez.)
Street Vendor: Come buy my wares!! Hey, you, with the sword! Yes, you! You look like a man with good taste and a flare for saving! Come buy my wares!!
Wesley: I guess we hafta buy a container to hold the water, dont we?
Street Vendor: Yes, that's my good man! Now, what would you like to buy?
Wesley: A water...holder....thingy....
Street Vendor: Aha! I have just the thing! *Shows us a water container* The Water Holder Thingy 2000!! Only 10,000,000 Gs!
Wesley: You crazy?! That's waaaay too much!
Street Vendor: Hahaha, I kid, I kid. Seriously, I'll give it to you for 100 Gs
Melvin: For a cup?! I can friggin use my shoe as a container for free!! That's still too much.
Street Vendor: Fine, how bout.....50 G?
Wesley: Can't you do better than that?
Street Vendor: 20 G?
Wesley: Tina, can't you use your femine wiles to seduce him into giving us a better deal?
Melvin: Yeah Tina, flash him or something.
Me: Do I look like the kind of girl who would do that?
Wesley: Truthfully...
Me: Don't answer that.
Street Vendor: Does that mean we have a deal?
Wesley: No! Can't you give me a discount, please?! A girl is dying and she needs this...Water Holder Thingy 2000...
Street Vendor: Well now that I know that....10 G
All: *crosses arms and stare at the Vendor*
Street Vendor: Fine!! Take it, take it I'm already giving it away!!
*Acquired Water Holder Thingy 2000*
Dragoons: *run out of the town before the Vendor changes his mind*
~ ~ ~
(We went back to the Dragon's Nest and got the water from the spring in the underground cave and threw it onto the plant blocking the path. Whadda kno! It worked. The plant wilted and we were free to travel the road to the Shrine. We entered the Shrine and immediately opened the first chest we found -- but it didn't give us gold or items, it told us to "Go away!" or something rude like that. All the chests in the Shrine did the same, and it got a little annoying. We then came to a tunnel and above the tunnel was the picture of a white Dragon.)
Melvin: Oh no, we're not gunna hafta fight another Dragon are we?!
(Suddenly the Dragon picture began to glow white and our Dragoon Spirits began to glow as well)
Wesley: Maybe we hafta fight a Dragoon!
Me: It's the glow of the White Silver Dragoon, the healer.
Melvin and Wesley: ?? How do you know?!
Me: I know everything
(The glow stopped and so did the glow of the rest of our Spirits)
Wesley: You know, I feel...refreshed....
Me: That's what the White Silver Dragoon does...heal you....
Melvin: I wonder what the healer has instore for us
Me: I guess we'll find out soon enough...
(We wandered some more, opening rude chests and reading funny signs [the translation is soo worth it] and occasionally fighting a gargoyle or living statue here and there. We then came to a wheel with numbers on it.)
Melvin: It looks like an appartatus with a numerical lock.
Me: Don't choke on those big words of yours...
Wesley: There are three places for numbers with the numbers one through five. Should we try and see what it does?
Me: Whatever.
(We tried putting in random numbers but we couldn't seem to get the combination right. So we gave up and continued our search. We then came to the top of some stairs and another chest lay waiting for us to open it.)
Me: I dunno why you even bother, you know there's nothing in there.
Wesley: They're still kinda amusing. *Opens chest*
Chest: Bye bye!
Wesley: What does that....WHOA!
(The floor beneath our feet collasped and the three of us landed in a cart on a track. If you've ever seen any movies in which someone is being chased on a train track and they travel in those little carts [like in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom] then that's what we landed in. The cart slowly moved across the track and after about five seconds it started picking up speed.)
Melvin: Ow, Wesley! Get you big, stinking foot out from under my ass!
Wesley: That's not my foot....
Me and Melvin: ...!?
(We then discovered half of the track was missing, and we were approaching the dead end at high speeds!!!)
All: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!*covers eyes*
(But luckily, like in all movies that use similar tactics, we made the jump over the gap and onto the other half of the track. We all let out a collective sigh of relief)
All: Whew!
(Then we heard)
"3"
All: ??
"5"
Wesley: What is that?!
(We turned on the final curve and heard)
"2"
(Then the track ended again, but this time there was no other half of the track -- only the water below. The front wheels of the cart hit a speed bump on the track, dumping us out into the lake. The three of us plunged into the icy waters near the entrance of the Shrine)
All: !!
Me: WHOA! Now that was a ride!!
Wesley: *gets out of the water and shakes his head dry like a dog*
Melvin: WET T-SHIRT CONTEST!
Me: *getting out of the water* Stupid this is armor not cotton.
Melvin: Dammit!!
Wesley: I wonder what those numbers were for?
Me: *ringing out hair* It's obvious -- to use for the lock on the other side of the Shrine.
(By FanFic Magic, our bodies dryed in an instant and we continued back to the lock and tried the numbers. Of course they worked and a ladder, which was previously blocking the entrance to something, came down. We could now climb up it and hopefully to where the Dragoni Plant was. Instead, we came to yet another staircase which was guarded by two golden statues in the shape of eagles.)
Wesley: This has gotta be where the Dragoni Plant is. C'mon!
(He ran up the stairs, but just as he came to the last one, the stairs all folded under turning the stairs into a almost completely vertical ramp. Wesley only had one way out and that way was sliding down the ramp -- well, more like tumbling. He isn't the most graceful guy I know.)
Wesley: *lands at Melvin's and my feet, flat on his back* Ow.
Me and Melvin: *laughing so hard we're crying*
Wesley: A little help would be appreciated.
Me: *wiping tears away, still laughing* Oh, sorry Wesley...I-I think you hafta rotate the statues a certain way so that the stairs won't...won't...do THAT!!*laughter overcomes me*
Wesley: You coulda told me that before I ran up there only to hurt myself!!
Melvin: *laughing*Don't forget humiliate
Me: Well, you just looked so determined I didn't wanna ruin your fun....h- here Melvin, turn that statue so that the face is to the far right.
(And so he did, while I turned the other statue to the left)
Me: Okay Wesley, go run up and see if it works.
Wesley: Why me!?
Me: Because I'm the brains of this operation and I hafta tell Melvin, the brawn, how to turn the statues.
Wesley: You just wanna watch me fall again, dontcha?
Me: Of course not! {Hehehe...}
(Watching Wesley tumble down the ramp was still funny the second and third time, but by the fourth time it got a little old so we finally figured out the right combo -- forward and left. This time, Wesley made it to the top step without sliding down so Melvin and I followed him into the courtyard of the Shrine of Kimberly.)
~ ~ ~
Melvin: I don't see any Dragoni Plant...or weed either....
Wesley: It's gotta be in there!
(We woulda gone in to see if Wesley's hypothesis was correct, but we were stopped by a tall teenager with brown hair, wearing a wizard-like black hat, black pants and a purple vest. He wielded small, kung-fu type knives)
Pilchman the Bandit: How dare you, interlopers!!
Wesley: Who are you?
Pilchman: I am Pilchman the Bandit, guardian of this Shrine and its treasure from thieves such as yourselves!!
[Pilchman is a close friend of mine, but due to the video game setting, he doesn't know who I am. He probably wouldn't recognize me in real life either I haven't seen him since eighth grade]
Wesley: Treasure? We don't want treasure, we want the Dragoni Plant!
Melvin: Although treasure might be nice...oops, did I say that aloud?
Me: We don't have time for this! *Draws sword* Pilchman, move outta the way so we can get the Dragoni Plant.
Pilchman: Aha! So you reveal your true nature -- as plunderers!!!
Wesley: Nice going Tina
Me: And your Mr Perfect?
Pilchman: Come! If you seek the treasure you must get past me first!!
(Again, another battle. Pilchman isn't that hard to beat -- just annoying. He fires his little arrows at you, then whips out some bombs that slowly inch towards you and if you don't destroy them in three or so turns then they blow up at you. And they kinda hurt. So what I like to do is use an item that attacks all or turn Melvin into a Dragoon and use Wing Blaster or, if Wesley or I'm at Dragoon level 2, then use Explosion or Death Dimension [respectively]. Killing two birds with one stone, ya know? [Or three or four] Then after he uses the bombs twice or something, he uses a web to protect him, so you must "kill" the web before you can attack him. Then he heals himself!! See, annoying. But he only heals himself so that he's in yellow so he's still not that hard to beat. After a little frustration and cursing at Pilchman, we finally defeat him.)
(Pilchman lay on the ground, breathing heavily. Before we are about to finish him off, a flash of white light appears and then the ghost of a beautiful brunette [I know, Shirley's a redhead in the game but I'm the Almighty Author I can do what I want] clothed in a white dress and white cape, both with blue and gold stitching. Her translucent body floated above her protector.)
Kimberly: Who disturbs my peaceful rest? *Gasp* Pilchman!
Me: Kimberly, is that you?! You remember me, Tina?
[Kimberly has been my best friend since preschool but now we go to separate high schools *sniff sniff*]
(Kimberly floated around me, examining me to be sure that I told the truth)
Kimberly: Tina! It is you!! Oh, I wish I could give you a big hug, but you know I'm kinda dead....
Wesley and Melvin: DEAD!?
Me: Yeah, life's a bitch ain't it?
Kimberly: Yeah...hey, at least I'm skinny! Anyways...how have you been? I see you are still on your sad journey...
Me: Yes....but why are you still here? Shouldn't you be with the others?
Kimberly: I knew that I had unfinished business here, and your arrival proved that...why did you come to my resting place? You didn't just come to kill my bandit did you?
Me: No, no...we are looking for Dragoni Plant.
Kimberly: Oh you mean that marijuana-look-alike?
Melvin: I knew it!!!
Wesley: Yes, yes! Do you have it?! It's crucial that we have some or else our friend will die of Dragon's poisoning!!
Kimberly: Ah, Dragons....they are still clinging to life...sadly I have no Dragoni Plant because it doesn't exist.
All: !? Then what will happen to Ania!?
Kimberly: There is one way....my Dragoon Spirit, the Spirit of the White Silver Dragoon. But first you three must prove that your hearts are pure or else the girl's fate is to die....
(The screen dissolved and we stood like we would for a normal battle. *GAME TIP* Don't attack Shirley/Kimberly, or any of the people she turns into. Just guard. You can only win the battle once you answered the correct questions. I don't quite remember what the questions and responses are so I'm just going with what I feel like)
Kimberly: Wesley, reveal your heart to me...*transforms into Ania, in battle stance* Wesley, why did you leave me!?
[To pursue the Black Monster OR It's none of your business ?]
Wesley: To pursue the Black Monster.
Kimberly/Ania: The Black Monster!?
All: *Guard* [I know the temptation can be great to attack Shana/Ania, but don't. Guarding is good]
Kimberly/Ania: Wesley, once this journey is over, what are you going to do? Will you choose to to continue to search for the Black Monster, or go back to Seles with me?
[Ania OR Black Monster ?]
Wesley: Ania.
Kimberly: *turns back into herself* Wesley, you have chosen someone close to you, rather than revenge. A pure heart doesn't dwell on past vices. [Or something like that] Now Melvin, reveal your heart to me! *Transforms into Boberto, in battle stance*
All: *Guard*
Kimberly/Boberto: *in THE STANCE! [Lance pointing angrily, legs spread, hip popped]* Melvin, why aren't you back in Bale protecting the country?! Come home right away and forget about Ania!
[But Ania needs me OR Yes sir]
Melvin: {tempting...but} Ania needs me!
Kimberly/Boberto: Are you defying orders!?
All: *Guard*
Kimberly/Boberto: How can you give up the lives of thousands of Serdians for one girl!? Melvin, come back to Bale right now or else you will lose your job!!
[This isn't like you! OR Yes Your Majesty]
Melvin: This isn't like you!
Kimberly: *turns into herself* A pure heart understands that sometimes the life of one is just as important as the lives of many. Now, Wesley and Melvin: why do you fight?
[For honor and glory OR to protect those we love]
Wesley and Melvin: To protect those we love
Kimberly: Yes, a true warrior is one who fights not for himself but for others. And finally, Tina: what does life mean to you?
[Nothing but sacrifice OR I haven't really thought of it before]
Me: [don't take my word on this one I don't remember] Nothing but sacrifice
Kimberly: Tina, I foresee a happy ending to your long journey. You all have proven your worth. You may take the Dragoon Spirit.
All: *victory dance*
(No experience, no items, no gold. But you do get this)
*Aquired White Silver Dragoon Spirit*
Kimberly: I wish you three well on your journey...but before you go, could you heal Pilchman for me? He has protected me from many attempted robberies and since I don't have a body, I can't draw from the Spirit's power.
Wesley: But I'm not the White Silver Dragoon, and neither is Tina or Melvin so we can't use it either.
Kimberly: Hold it up with your Spirit over Pilchman.
(And so he did, and the combined powers resurrected Pilchman the Bandit)
Pilchman: ....? Huh? I'm alive!
Wesley: Thanks again, Kimberly
Kimberly: My pleasure...and Tina, I can't wait until our paths cross again
Me: I hope you're right.
(Kimberly then disappeared in a golden light)
Pilchman: Kimberly!? Kimberly, where did you go!?
Wesley: Yeah, where did she go?
Me: She went to where she belongs...
(The boys shrugged it off and headed back to Lohan -- not before taking advantage of Pilchman's frenzied search for Kimberly so that we could swipe the treaure: a buncha chests full of 20, 50, and 100 Gs and a weapon for me. So we left the Shrine of Kimberly a little richer and with a Dragoon Spirit, hopefully the key to Ania's survival!)
Next chapter Preview: Really long, huh? Yeah, mostly talk too but the next chapter has one of my favorite parts of the disk -- the Hero Competiton!! And a new member will join the party, we'll meet a new advesary, and someone close will be *gasp* captured!!! Stay tuned!!
Disclaimer: I don't own LoD and I probably never will
Chapter 8: The Shrine of Kimberly
(Ania lay sleeping on the hospital bed with Wesley and Melvin standing around, biting their nails and generally being nervous. I, being the stoic that Rose is, causally leaned against one of the buttresses, armed crossed, while an old man paced in front of me. His posture was slouched and he wore a green dress)
Santor: Robe. It's a robe.
Wesley: So what's the prognosis?
Santor: Not good. Dragon poisoning is a very tricky ailment -- her body isn't poisoned, it's more like her spirit. It's like...she doesn't have the will to go on living...
Wesley: Well can't you just give her a pep talk or something?
Santor: It's not that easy son....plus Dragons were supposed to be extinct for thousands of years, so there's not a whole lot in the medical books about how to treat or cure Dragon poisoning.
Melvin: So is it completely hopeless?
Santor: Maybe....but, there is ONE way...
(He disappears into the back room and emerges, feverishly flipping through the pages of a thick, dusty book.)
Santor: Here it is! "Dragoni Plant: rare, medicinal plant with many strange properties, the most prominent one being it can cure any type of poisoning -- including Dragon poisoning!!"
Wesley: You serious?!
Santor: Yes, look, here's a picture of it!
All: *study picture*
Santor: But the only catch is that it's so extremely rare that no one has ever located it, let alone use it.
Me: I have traveled Endiness for a looong time and I've never seen a plant like that
Melvin: Is it just me, or does that look a little like weed?
[Whenever I play the game and they mention Dragoni Plant, a picture of weed appears in my mind. Am I the only one who does that?! I dunno, it might just be that my mind needs to think of more wholesome things...hehe...]
Wesley: Do you know of anyone who would know the location of the Dragoni Plant?
Santor: Not personally, but people from all over the continent come to Lohan so you might find someone on the streets who knows something.
Wesley: *tears out page with the Dragoni Plant on it from the book*
Santor: Hey!
Wesley: Sorry, but I'm gunna need this if we wanna find someone who knows about the Dragoni Plant. Can you do anything else for Ania while we're gone?
Santor: I'm sure I have a few remedies that'll sustain her. I AM the best doctor in Endiness!
All other doctors: Stupid quack
Santor: But they'll only keep her alive for about a week so you'd better hurry
[I slightly distorted the above scene to fit my preferences. I'm allowed to, I'm the Almighty Author!!]
(Lohan can be confusing and hard to maneuver through [BabyBlue doesn't much like this town] and we didn't have much luck finding anyone who knew of the Dragoni Plant, even with the picture. We finally came to a weird looking shop and discovered the owner standing behind the counter wearing a red shirt and purple Hammer-like pants)
Brittany: Can I help you....hey, sup!!
Me: Sup Brittany...so this is your shop....
Brittany: Yup yup this is my shop, I got antique shit over here and priceless shit over there and over there, I got a suit of armor I dunno why....
Wesley: You sell herbs?
Brittany: Well, it depends on the type of "herb" your looking for....
Wesley: You got this?! Dragoni Plant?! *Shows her the picture*
Brittany: *studys picture* That looks like some weed to me...
Melvin: See! I'm not the only one!
Me: Do you sell this, Brittany?! And I'm not talking bout your "business ventures" in the real world, I mean in the game!
Brittany: Well, I don't sell Dragoni Plant and I don't sell weed either!
Me: Riiight...
Brittany: But ya know, I heard rumors that Dragoni Plant grows in the Shrine of Kimberly, past the Dragon's Nest.
Melvin: We were just there, there was no shrine near the Dragon's Nest.
Brittany: Didn't you see a strange plant blocking a path in the Nest?
Wesley and Melvin: ...
Me: Stupid! Remember when Ania ran off to rest?! We saw a weird plant, isn't that what you're talkin bout Brittany?
Brittany: I guess. Well you hafta get past the plant to get to the Shrine.
Wesley: Do you know how to get past the plant? I mean, we don't hafta fight it, do we....?
Brittany: Why would you hafta fight a censored plant?
Wesley: I dunno, we fight almost everything else!!
All: *thinking how to get past the plant*
Melvin: The water!! In the underground cave!!
Wesley: How would that help?
Melvin: I dunno...it's all that I can think of...
Wesley: Well it's probably the best we got! We don't got much time to sit around and do nothing!
Me: Yeah, and if all else fails we can always walk around it....
All: Riiight...
All cept Brittany: *exits*
Brittany: Hey, what about shopping!?!?
~ ~ ~
(Even as we are walking out of the town, some pesky vendor hasta milk one last deal outta us. Geez.)
Street Vendor: Come buy my wares!! Hey, you, with the sword! Yes, you! You look like a man with good taste and a flare for saving! Come buy my wares!!
Wesley: I guess we hafta buy a container to hold the water, dont we?
Street Vendor: Yes, that's my good man! Now, what would you like to buy?
Wesley: A water...holder....thingy....
Street Vendor: Aha! I have just the thing! *Shows us a water container* The Water Holder Thingy 2000!! Only 10,000,000 Gs!
Wesley: You crazy?! That's waaaay too much!
Street Vendor: Hahaha, I kid, I kid. Seriously, I'll give it to you for 100 Gs
Melvin: For a cup?! I can friggin use my shoe as a container for free!! That's still too much.
Street Vendor: Fine, how bout.....50 G?
Wesley: Can't you do better than that?
Street Vendor: 20 G?
Wesley: Tina, can't you use your femine wiles to seduce him into giving us a better deal?
Melvin: Yeah Tina, flash him or something.
Me: Do I look like the kind of girl who would do that?
Wesley: Truthfully...
Me: Don't answer that.
Street Vendor: Does that mean we have a deal?
Wesley: No! Can't you give me a discount, please?! A girl is dying and she needs this...Water Holder Thingy 2000...
Street Vendor: Well now that I know that....10 G
All: *crosses arms and stare at the Vendor*
Street Vendor: Fine!! Take it, take it I'm already giving it away!!
*Acquired Water Holder Thingy 2000*
Dragoons: *run out of the town before the Vendor changes his mind*
~ ~ ~
(We went back to the Dragon's Nest and got the water from the spring in the underground cave and threw it onto the plant blocking the path. Whadda kno! It worked. The plant wilted and we were free to travel the road to the Shrine. We entered the Shrine and immediately opened the first chest we found -- but it didn't give us gold or items, it told us to "Go away!" or something rude like that. All the chests in the Shrine did the same, and it got a little annoying. We then came to a tunnel and above the tunnel was the picture of a white Dragon.)
Melvin: Oh no, we're not gunna hafta fight another Dragon are we?!
(Suddenly the Dragon picture began to glow white and our Dragoon Spirits began to glow as well)
Wesley: Maybe we hafta fight a Dragoon!
Me: It's the glow of the White Silver Dragoon, the healer.
Melvin and Wesley: ?? How do you know?!
Me: I know everything
(The glow stopped and so did the glow of the rest of our Spirits)
Wesley: You know, I feel...refreshed....
Me: That's what the White Silver Dragoon does...heal you....
Melvin: I wonder what the healer has instore for us
Me: I guess we'll find out soon enough...
(We wandered some more, opening rude chests and reading funny signs [the translation is soo worth it] and occasionally fighting a gargoyle or living statue here and there. We then came to a wheel with numbers on it.)
Melvin: It looks like an appartatus with a numerical lock.
Me: Don't choke on those big words of yours...
Wesley: There are three places for numbers with the numbers one through five. Should we try and see what it does?
Me: Whatever.
(We tried putting in random numbers but we couldn't seem to get the combination right. So we gave up and continued our search. We then came to the top of some stairs and another chest lay waiting for us to open it.)
Me: I dunno why you even bother, you know there's nothing in there.
Wesley: They're still kinda amusing. *Opens chest*
Chest: Bye bye!
Wesley: What does that....WHOA!
(The floor beneath our feet collasped and the three of us landed in a cart on a track. If you've ever seen any movies in which someone is being chased on a train track and they travel in those little carts [like in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom] then that's what we landed in. The cart slowly moved across the track and after about five seconds it started picking up speed.)
Melvin: Ow, Wesley! Get you big, stinking foot out from under my ass!
Wesley: That's not my foot....
Me and Melvin: ...!?
(We then discovered half of the track was missing, and we were approaching the dead end at high speeds!!!)
All: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!*covers eyes*
(But luckily, like in all movies that use similar tactics, we made the jump over the gap and onto the other half of the track. We all let out a collective sigh of relief)
All: Whew!
(Then we heard)
"3"
All: ??
"5"
Wesley: What is that?!
(We turned on the final curve and heard)
"2"
(Then the track ended again, but this time there was no other half of the track -- only the water below. The front wheels of the cart hit a speed bump on the track, dumping us out into the lake. The three of us plunged into the icy waters near the entrance of the Shrine)
All: !!
Me: WHOA! Now that was a ride!!
Wesley: *gets out of the water and shakes his head dry like a dog*
Melvin: WET T-SHIRT CONTEST!
Me: *getting out of the water* Stupid this is armor not cotton.
Melvin: Dammit!!
Wesley: I wonder what those numbers were for?
Me: *ringing out hair* It's obvious -- to use for the lock on the other side of the Shrine.
(By FanFic Magic, our bodies dryed in an instant and we continued back to the lock and tried the numbers. Of course they worked and a ladder, which was previously blocking the entrance to something, came down. We could now climb up it and hopefully to where the Dragoni Plant was. Instead, we came to yet another staircase which was guarded by two golden statues in the shape of eagles.)
Wesley: This has gotta be where the Dragoni Plant is. C'mon!
(He ran up the stairs, but just as he came to the last one, the stairs all folded under turning the stairs into a almost completely vertical ramp. Wesley only had one way out and that way was sliding down the ramp -- well, more like tumbling. He isn't the most graceful guy I know.)
Wesley: *lands at Melvin's and my feet, flat on his back* Ow.
Me and Melvin: *laughing so hard we're crying*
Wesley: A little help would be appreciated.
Me: *wiping tears away, still laughing* Oh, sorry Wesley...I-I think you hafta rotate the statues a certain way so that the stairs won't...won't...do THAT!!*laughter overcomes me*
Wesley: You coulda told me that before I ran up there only to hurt myself!!
Melvin: *laughing*Don't forget humiliate
Me: Well, you just looked so determined I didn't wanna ruin your fun....h- here Melvin, turn that statue so that the face is to the far right.
(And so he did, while I turned the other statue to the left)
Me: Okay Wesley, go run up and see if it works.
Wesley: Why me!?
Me: Because I'm the brains of this operation and I hafta tell Melvin, the brawn, how to turn the statues.
Wesley: You just wanna watch me fall again, dontcha?
Me: Of course not! {Hehehe...}
(Watching Wesley tumble down the ramp was still funny the second and third time, but by the fourth time it got a little old so we finally figured out the right combo -- forward and left. This time, Wesley made it to the top step without sliding down so Melvin and I followed him into the courtyard of the Shrine of Kimberly.)
~ ~ ~
Melvin: I don't see any Dragoni Plant...or weed either....
Wesley: It's gotta be in there!
(We woulda gone in to see if Wesley's hypothesis was correct, but we were stopped by a tall teenager with brown hair, wearing a wizard-like black hat, black pants and a purple vest. He wielded small, kung-fu type knives)
Pilchman the Bandit: How dare you, interlopers!!
Wesley: Who are you?
Pilchman: I am Pilchman the Bandit, guardian of this Shrine and its treasure from thieves such as yourselves!!
[Pilchman is a close friend of mine, but due to the video game setting, he doesn't know who I am. He probably wouldn't recognize me in real life either I haven't seen him since eighth grade]
Wesley: Treasure? We don't want treasure, we want the Dragoni Plant!
Melvin: Although treasure might be nice...oops, did I say that aloud?
Me: We don't have time for this! *Draws sword* Pilchman, move outta the way so we can get the Dragoni Plant.
Pilchman: Aha! So you reveal your true nature -- as plunderers!!!
Wesley: Nice going Tina
Me: And your Mr Perfect?
Pilchman: Come! If you seek the treasure you must get past me first!!
(Again, another battle. Pilchman isn't that hard to beat -- just annoying. He fires his little arrows at you, then whips out some bombs that slowly inch towards you and if you don't destroy them in three or so turns then they blow up at you. And they kinda hurt. So what I like to do is use an item that attacks all or turn Melvin into a Dragoon and use Wing Blaster or, if Wesley or I'm at Dragoon level 2, then use Explosion or Death Dimension [respectively]. Killing two birds with one stone, ya know? [Or three or four] Then after he uses the bombs twice or something, he uses a web to protect him, so you must "kill" the web before you can attack him. Then he heals himself!! See, annoying. But he only heals himself so that he's in yellow so he's still not that hard to beat. After a little frustration and cursing at Pilchman, we finally defeat him.)
(Pilchman lay on the ground, breathing heavily. Before we are about to finish him off, a flash of white light appears and then the ghost of a beautiful brunette [I know, Shirley's a redhead in the game but I'm the Almighty Author I can do what I want] clothed in a white dress and white cape, both with blue and gold stitching. Her translucent body floated above her protector.)
Kimberly: Who disturbs my peaceful rest? *Gasp* Pilchman!
Me: Kimberly, is that you?! You remember me, Tina?
[Kimberly has been my best friend since preschool but now we go to separate high schools *sniff sniff*]
(Kimberly floated around me, examining me to be sure that I told the truth)
Kimberly: Tina! It is you!! Oh, I wish I could give you a big hug, but you know I'm kinda dead....
Wesley and Melvin: DEAD!?
Me: Yeah, life's a bitch ain't it?
Kimberly: Yeah...hey, at least I'm skinny! Anyways...how have you been? I see you are still on your sad journey...
Me: Yes....but why are you still here? Shouldn't you be with the others?
Kimberly: I knew that I had unfinished business here, and your arrival proved that...why did you come to my resting place? You didn't just come to kill my bandit did you?
Me: No, no...we are looking for Dragoni Plant.
Kimberly: Oh you mean that marijuana-look-alike?
Melvin: I knew it!!!
Wesley: Yes, yes! Do you have it?! It's crucial that we have some or else our friend will die of Dragon's poisoning!!
Kimberly: Ah, Dragons....they are still clinging to life...sadly I have no Dragoni Plant because it doesn't exist.
All: !? Then what will happen to Ania!?
Kimberly: There is one way....my Dragoon Spirit, the Spirit of the White Silver Dragoon. But first you three must prove that your hearts are pure or else the girl's fate is to die....
(The screen dissolved and we stood like we would for a normal battle. *GAME TIP* Don't attack Shirley/Kimberly, or any of the people she turns into. Just guard. You can only win the battle once you answered the correct questions. I don't quite remember what the questions and responses are so I'm just going with what I feel like)
Kimberly: Wesley, reveal your heart to me...*transforms into Ania, in battle stance* Wesley, why did you leave me!?
[To pursue the Black Monster OR It's none of your business ?]
Wesley: To pursue the Black Monster.
Kimberly/Ania: The Black Monster!?
All: *Guard* [I know the temptation can be great to attack Shana/Ania, but don't. Guarding is good]
Kimberly/Ania: Wesley, once this journey is over, what are you going to do? Will you choose to to continue to search for the Black Monster, or go back to Seles with me?
[Ania OR Black Monster ?]
Wesley: Ania.
Kimberly: *turns back into herself* Wesley, you have chosen someone close to you, rather than revenge. A pure heart doesn't dwell on past vices. [Or something like that] Now Melvin, reveal your heart to me! *Transforms into Boberto, in battle stance*
All: *Guard*
Kimberly/Boberto: *in THE STANCE! [Lance pointing angrily, legs spread, hip popped]* Melvin, why aren't you back in Bale protecting the country?! Come home right away and forget about Ania!
[But Ania needs me OR Yes sir]
Melvin: {tempting...but} Ania needs me!
Kimberly/Boberto: Are you defying orders!?
All: *Guard*
Kimberly/Boberto: How can you give up the lives of thousands of Serdians for one girl!? Melvin, come back to Bale right now or else you will lose your job!!
[This isn't like you! OR Yes Your Majesty]
Melvin: This isn't like you!
Kimberly: *turns into herself* A pure heart understands that sometimes the life of one is just as important as the lives of many. Now, Wesley and Melvin: why do you fight?
[For honor and glory OR to protect those we love]
Wesley and Melvin: To protect those we love
Kimberly: Yes, a true warrior is one who fights not for himself but for others. And finally, Tina: what does life mean to you?
[Nothing but sacrifice OR I haven't really thought of it before]
Me: [don't take my word on this one I don't remember] Nothing but sacrifice
Kimberly: Tina, I foresee a happy ending to your long journey. You all have proven your worth. You may take the Dragoon Spirit.
All: *victory dance*
(No experience, no items, no gold. But you do get this)
*Aquired White Silver Dragoon Spirit*
Kimberly: I wish you three well on your journey...but before you go, could you heal Pilchman for me? He has protected me from many attempted robberies and since I don't have a body, I can't draw from the Spirit's power.
Wesley: But I'm not the White Silver Dragoon, and neither is Tina or Melvin so we can't use it either.
Kimberly: Hold it up with your Spirit over Pilchman.
(And so he did, and the combined powers resurrected Pilchman the Bandit)
Pilchman: ....? Huh? I'm alive!
Wesley: Thanks again, Kimberly
Kimberly: My pleasure...and Tina, I can't wait until our paths cross again
Me: I hope you're right.
(Kimberly then disappeared in a golden light)
Pilchman: Kimberly!? Kimberly, where did you go!?
Wesley: Yeah, where did she go?
Me: She went to where she belongs...
(The boys shrugged it off and headed back to Lohan -- not before taking advantage of Pilchman's frenzied search for Kimberly so that we could swipe the treaure: a buncha chests full of 20, 50, and 100 Gs and a weapon for me. So we left the Shrine of Kimberly a little richer and with a Dragoon Spirit, hopefully the key to Ania's survival!)
Next chapter Preview: Really long, huh? Yeah, mostly talk too but the next chapter has one of my favorite parts of the disk -- the Hero Competiton!! And a new member will join the party, we'll meet a new advesary, and someone close will be *gasp* captured!!! Stay tuned!!