QUICK NOTES: To Jay: You like action, huh? I think you'll like this chapter then.

To DivineElementalDragoon: Well...just wait til the end. And Elemental Dragoon? That's...kinda everything.

Chapter Ten: Mayfil

"Sean…Sean, wake up."

He did so. His father was shaking him.

"Sun's up." He said. "Walk with me."

Sean got up and dressed in his own clothing. The others were still asleep and Sean made sure not to wake them. They went down the teleporter and Sean got a glance of Melissa, still sleeping with the other girls. He stopped and leaned against the wall for a minute, just watching her sleep. Hank waited for a minute. He counted down on his fingers, 3, 2, 1. Sure enough, Sean walked over and kissed her cheek. She stirred a little, but didn't wake. Sean walked outside with his father.

"Nice move." Hank said.

"Thanks." Sean replied.

"Most kids would be scared to death to show emotion for a girl in front of their parents."

"Well, you know I'm not like most kids."

"No, you're not." Hank agreed. "I see you still got that resilient spirit."

"Like Robert said. You can't take the jungle out of the tiger." They chuckled.

"Yet you can crack a joke now." Hank grinned. "You've softened a little."

"Yeah. Women can do that."

"I know. Anna was like that. I was only dating for your benefit, but when I saw her, I just melted."

"I remember."

Hank let out a little chuckle from the memories. "Seeing you and Melissa reminded me of myself and Anna. I used to just lie there every morning, just watching her sleep. She was beautiful. It was like she had a certain radiance to her. Well, I guess she did. She was a wingly."

"Yeah, how did you take to that?"

"I was stunned, but the more I thought, the less it mattered to me. I loved her all the same. I didn't know what she was, but I knew who she was. And that's all that matters."

"Indeed." Sean agreed. "I always knew Melissa wanted to help me, but I was too afraid to let her."

"So what convinced you?"

"My heart."

"You?"

"I was attracted to her. I wanted to be closer to her, and the only way of letting that happen was to allow her to help me."

"So how do you feel?"

Sean thought. "I believe the correct word for it would be 'relieved'. It's like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders."

"I think it was just split amongst eight more people."

"Eight?"

"I'm here too, you know. And now that I know, I can probably help sometimes, psychologically, you know."

"I know. And thanks."

"Anytime, kid…as long as you don't get yourself killed today."

Sean smiled. "I don't think I will." He looked back at the Dragoon home. "I have too much to come back to."

Hank nodded. "You remember that, because if you come back dead, you're grounded."

Sean laughed. "First off, try and stop me! Second, I'm coming back."

"And I'll be waiting."

There was an awkward silence for a while, then they hugged for the first time in years.

"Now," Hank said. "Go save the world."


"He always was a heavy sleeper." Sean said. He, Hank, Robert, Brad, and Mike were standing around Ben's bed, trying to think of some way to awaken him.

"Can I hit him?" Robert pleaded.

"No." Sean said.

"What about cold water?" Hank suggested.

"You don't know Ben." Brad said.

"I have an idea." Mike said. "Hey, Christie! What's up?"

Ben jolted up. "Bmbafligle-what?" He said. The guys laughed. "What's going on?"

"You know how impossible you are to wake up?"

Ben was still loopy. "Mm, shut up and let me sleep." They laughed again.

"Forget it." Rob chuckled. "We couldn't wake him up if we said there was an army of naked girls walking by." The guys laughed.

"What?" Melissa exclaimed, appearing in the teleporter just then.

"Nothing." Brad shook his head. "We were just talking about you."


"So," Sean asked them outside the teleporter. "You're sure you're all ready?"

They all nodded.

"Good, because if you aren't that's just too bad! This is no doubt the biggest thing we've ever gone up against. If you aren't ready, you're going to get killed! Once we go to Mayfil, there is no turning back until the enemy is dead or you are. Understood?"

They said their yeses.

"Alright, then. Let's go." The eight of them all stepped into the center of the large teleporter.

"Everyone ready?" Charle asked again.

"We are." Sean said.

"Y'all be careful." Hank ordered.

"We will." He looked at Charle. "Let's go!"

Charle nodded and gave the signal. Several winglies around all fired a small beam of light at the teleporter, powering it up. The four curved spires began sending their power to the top, creating a ball of yellow light. Soon, the ball shot down amongst them, then expanded to surround them. The ball lifted them off their feet and carried them away from Ulara in a flash.


With the second yellow flash, the glowing yellow ball sphere surrounding them vanished. The contrast in winglies was instantly revealed to them. Ulara was a beautiful city, filled with buildings of chief craftsmanship with babbling brooks rushing underneath to feed the luscious green trees reaching up to the clear sky.

Mayfil was an ugly city, dark and dingy with old, crumbling buildings. The only thing running below the city was a thick dark bluish-gray fog which contained who-knew-what. There was no sign of vegetation ever being there or ever having a chance for existing in this city. The sky was black with sickening dark clouds which projected very little light. The only lights were from the city. Several buildings were lined with lights from old wingly power. But the lighting was dim and the colors were dark. Most of the city was black, blue, or somewhere in between.

The Dragoons stepped out of the building and watched the city working. Little blue fireballs were floating all around.

"What are those things?" Christie asked.

"Souls." Sean said.

"Souls?"

Sean pointed to a tower with a blue light coming from the top of it. "That's the tower where winglies would suck souls from earth and send them to the Infernal World, should they be displeasing to them.

"How is that possible?" Melissa asked.

"Dark powers, alliances with demons, and a whole group of satanic, sadistic winglies. Dark times."

"We should destroy that tower then." Ben said.

"No point. Whoever is here will just rebuild it in a heartbeat. Once we destroy the enemy, the tower will crumble and the city will sleep again."

"How do you know?"

"Because it's happened before. Come on." Sean stepped forward, going across the deteriorated bridges. In some spots, there weren't any bridges period. However, when something came forward, a bridge of magic would appear to support them.

They kept moving from building to building until they finally reached solid ground, elevated high. This was where the few winglies who lived here actually lived. The architecture was the same, everything looking ready to crumble and yet somehow remained erect.

"We should check the main tower." Sean said. "Chances are whomever we have to kill is inside."

"Inside?" Brittany trembled. "You sure?"

"Afraid?" Sean pried.

"Hey, I'm not afraid to admit it. This place gives me the creeps." She pointed to the tower with her mallet. "And that place gives me more goose bumps than anywhere else."

"Ancient darkness." Sean said. "I can understand it. Alright. We'll search elsewhere first."

(Running away?)

All heads spun around, but were met by no one.

(Cowardice is not suitable for an army, however small.)

Sean re-gathered his wits. "Cowardice? You're the one who refuses to show yourself."

(I hide nothing.) The voice assured. A brilliant, eerie blue light suddenly shot up from the ground in front of them. The Dragoons took several steps back. Surges of power flew from the ground and swirled around the light. A dark figure took shape. It was humanoid, but who really knew what it could've been?

All the light and power suddenly wrapped around this creature to finish the appearance. The power faded and the light died out to reveal what looked like a ball human in fancy garments with a cold grin and a cool green color in his irises which produced a dim glow.

"The dragons have softened." The figure spoke with a chill to his voice. "This may be easier than I originally anticipated."

The Dragoons Spirits suddenly glowed with an intense fury.

"I think he ticked 'em off." Robert said.

"No." Sean said. "They recognize him."

"But who is it?" Bras asked.

The Dragons all got their answer at the same time, but Sean was the only one to say the name.

"Melbu Frahma!"

"The same!" The wingly emperor chuckled. "Those dragons and I have quite a few memories."

"Yeah." Sean said. "They killed you…twice, I might add."

"That's a pretty bad record." Robert spoke up.

Melbu scoffed. "Statistics, statistics. I've much improved since then."

"Uh huh." Sean said, unconvinced. "So tell me, how did you survive?"

"Honestly, I didn't." Melbu admitted. "I was destroyed by the last Dragoon army." Melbu grinned. "But I have friends in high places."

Sean caught the drift. "Zachwell."

"Exactly. As you very well know, he rules over death, so he revived me. This was a long, long time ago, but I didn't want to attack just yet. I began to improve my skills and increase my power. My abilities now extend far beyond anything you can imagine." He chuckled. "After all…the Virage Embryo is still a part of me."

The Dragoons grew uneasy, but refused to show any signs of it.

"You must've done very well." Sean said. "The dragons didn't detect you until a few months ago."

"I know. I made it that way. But, you know, when you have too much power, some of it is bound to seep through. The dragons caught my scent…and I caught theirs."

"That's why you sent the virage." Sean guessed.

"I sensed a great power had come to your town." Melbu's grin grew more sinister. "I wasn't all that surprised to find that it was you, Sean."

Sean's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I knew your powers had grown, but I wasn't aware you had moved. A short time after Anna's death, I stopped watching you."

Sean stiffened. "What?"

"Ten years ago, I felt a power that I have not felt in ages…a Dragoon's power. But I was very close to finishing my preparation and did not want to interrupt myself…so I asked Zachwell to look into it."

The boy didn't move. "You sent him?" Sean seethed.

"I did. I hadn't counted on another wingly, though, especially one that powerful. She used all her energy to protect you and seal off Zachwell, but she couldn't save herself, could she?"

Sean's jaw was clenched tightly. "That's how he knew…"

"Did I pinch a nerve?" Melbu toyed. "After she left, you isolated yourself. I knew you could never succeed in defeating me, so I stopped paying attention to you. But I am surprised you found all seven other dragoons, and it seems you've changed a bit."

Sean's hand twitched and his sword trembled. "It was all because of you…you sent Zachwell and he killed Anna…because of YOU!"

Melbu nodded. "All because of me."

Sean's eyes burned and his dragoon spirit shone with rage. "You have only guaranteed your demise!"

"Have I?"

A green symbol glowed on Melbu's forehead and his body glowed brightly. Power surged throughout his body and his appearance was lost in the light. An ominous feeling swept over the Dragoons as the shape shifted and grew.

"Sean…?" Ben asked.

"He's using the power of the Virage Embryo." Sean explained. He shook his head. "And he's had a lot of time to power up for this moment." Sean then drew his blade and looked at it. "But I've got a score to settle with him." He turned to his companions. "This is what we've been training for! Remember everything I've taught you! Ready?"

They all drew their weapons as a response.

"Right." Sean turned back to Melbu. "C'mon!" Eight Dragoon Spirits shone. Sean kept himself on low power once again, waiting to see just what this foe had.

Melbu finally stopped glowing and amazed them all. His upper body seemed normal, but his waist and arms merged down into a monstrous, hulking, brown body with two muscular arms and legs on its thick torso. Melbu's eyes glowed with evil delight.

"Come then!" He beckoned. "Show me what you've got!"

"You got it." Sean floated in the air and held his hands together, then fired a white blast from them. The Dragoons all joined in with magical strikes of their own. Flashes of color filled the atmosphere as the Dragoons threw in everything they had at this fiend. Sean finally gave the signal to stop and the firing ceased.

Melbu Frahma still stood, hand outstretched. "You didn't honestly think it would be that easy, did you?"

"Not really," Sean admitted, "but it was worth a shot."

"So why didn't that work?" Ben asked.

"He must have some sort of magical protection."

"I get the hint." Robert flew first, spear outstretched. Melbu smacked the spear away and gave a great punch. Robert flew back into the remains of a building and found it hard to get back up. "What was that!"

"I've done this twice before." Melbu said. "I have experience!"

"Ben." Sean said. "Dual strike."

Ben surrounded himself in fire and they both flew. When they were close, Ben launched a fireball and Sean shot an energy blast a second after it. Melbu took both hits without even flinching or blocking. He focused his arms on the Dragoons. Sean spun sideways and sliced at the hand and was able to escape, but Ben was caught in his grasp, even though he was surrounded in fire. Melbu's hand glowed and a blast engulfed Ben. Melbu tossed him up and punched him away.

Sean flew over to him. "You okay?"

"No!" Ben forced himself onto a knee. "That attack…it went right through my armor!"

"Christie." Sean said. She flew over and began healing him with a light from her hand. But the light was dim and the effects were slow. "Hurry it up!" Sean commanded.

"I'm giving it all I got, but nothing's happening." Christie was confused.

"HEAD'S UP!" Mike shouted. Sean turned and saw Melbu fire. Everyone scattered, but Sean held up his hands to block the attack. His arms burned even with the dragon armor upon him.

"NNGGHH!" Sean grunted, but had to protect Ben. At the end of the attack, Sean was tossed back in the air and landed on his back. He rubbed his arms furiously. He'd never felt pain like that.

"What was that!" He hissed. "It went right through!"

It isn't my fault! The Divine Dragon assured. I'm trying my best. You may have to go…go to, uh…

"Yes…?"

I, um…ah…

"You alright?"

Honestly, no. I'm having trouble concentrating. I feel…weaker than usual.

"This would've been handy info to know beforehand!"

It didn't happen until a moment ago!

"Sean!" Mike ran to him. "The Golden Dragon says something's up. It's like he's sick or something."

"Same with Red-Eyes." Ben noted. It turned out that all the dragons were feeling something, but they had no time to discuss it.

"SCATTER!" Sean commanded and they jumped away. Ben had used a Healing Fog to cure himself, so he was feeling better, but he still had the sting.

They were powerless, it seemed. Their armor had no resistance to Melbu's abilities, physical or not, and no attack could harm him, and the dragons showed no signs of improving. In fact, it seemed to get worse.

Finally, Brad avoided yet anther blast. They'd all just been flying and dodging for now, and trying to get a few hits. But now, as Melbu turned to institute another attack, Brad saw something imbedded in the back of the lower body. It was a small, glowing, green gem.

That! The Violet Dragon spoke up. It's coming from that! That gem is radiating some sort of energy that is weakening us!

Brad told Sean, who investigated the matter.

The Dragon Block Staff! The Divine Dragon roared. I'd recognize that accursed gem anywhere!

"Shoot." Sean hissed. He gathered everyone around and explained the situation. "It's just like the staff Melbu used to have years ago. We have to destroy it somehow."

"DIE!" Melbu roared, firing a great blast. Brittany and Brad were the only ones fast enough to dodge it. The others had to take the full force. They were driven to their knees. Brad and Brittney distracted Melbu while they recovered.

"Everyone alright?" Sean asked.

"I'm fine." Melissa informed.

"I'm good." Rob assured.

"I'll be good." Christie grumbled.

No further replies.

"Ben? Mike?" Sean turned and saw their bodies on the ground. After a quick inspection he concluded they were unconscious.

"Why just them?" Melissa asked. "We were hit too."

"Yeah, but Ben's already taken a bad hit and Mike is weak against magic. Alright, everyone, change back to human form. The dragons can't help us here." They all changed back. Melbu saw them.

"Well, what's this?" he smiled. "You wouldn't be surrendering, would you?"

"Fat chance!" Sean scoffed.

"Too bad. It would be a real help to you."

"We've already figured out your little trick. You're using the Dragon Block Staff to weaken our dragons. Somehow, I expected you to use real power instead of hiding behind cheap little tricks!"

Melbu laughed as Brittney and Brad changed back. "Oh, but the Dragon Block Staff is but a demonstration of my power! Just wait until you experience the real thing!"

"Christie." Sean said, "Stay with Ben and Mike; keep them safe and try to awaken them."

"Roger."

"Any bright ideas?" Robert asked him.

"Yep: destroy the Dragon Block Staff."

"Any idea just how to do it?"

"None whatsoever."

"Beautiful."

"Eat this!" Melbu fired a green ball at them. They dodged it and began attacking.

Sean planted the first strike with his blade, and then jumped over Melbu's swinging arm to strike again as Robert stabbed on his other side. Neither move made much of a mark. Melbu swung his arms and they ducked away. Sean ran by and slid with his sword outstretched to slice through Melbu's side. When Melbu swung down at him, Brittany ran up his arm and smacked his head a few times with her mallet before jumping off so he couldn't grab her. Brad took out an item Sean had given him, pressed the button on the small, spherical object, and threw it at Melbu. And electrical current rushed throughout Melbu's body. He just laughed.

"This is pathetic!" He fired a small wave at Brad, knocking him back, then grabbed Brittany and threw her at Robert, then backhanded Sean, sending him flying.

Sean hit the ground and propped himself on a knee, clutching his stomach. Hopefully no internal bleeding. Sean thought. He looked up at Melbu and saw that he was headed for Ben, Mike, and Christie. Their status hadn't changed and Christie wouldn't be able to handle Melbu on her own. They'll be slaughtered! Thinking fast, Sean reached into the small item sack at his side and pulled out a small, spherical object with a button on it, similar to the one he'd given Brad, but with a lot more power. He pushed the button and held it as the numbers on a small display screen increased.

"C'mon, c'mon!" The digits increased rapidly until they hit 250, then the orb began glowing with power. "Alright! Melbu! Catch!" He threw it at him. It hit Melbu in the chest and exploded in flashes of colored light."

"AAAGGHH!" He roared, stumbling back.

"And that's why you don't mess with humans."

"Sean!" Christie called. "The guys are awake! I think the explosion woke them up. What was that, anyway?"

"Psychedelic Bomb," Sean said, hobbling over to them. "Or better known as the Psyche Bomb X."

"Got any more?"

"I'm afraid not. It's one of a kind."

"Why's that?"

Sean picked up the smoking orb. "Ooh! Hot! Ah! See? It's still intact! It's the world's only reusable bomb!"

"Well, that's handy." Mike said, rising weakly. "Where did you get it?"

"Anna gave it to me."

"Ah. Keep using that thing!"

"Unfortunately, I can't use it again for another hour. I had to save it for a special occasion."

"Bummer." Ben muttered. They were briefed and de-transformed.

"Sean," Christie said, "I think I know a way to get rid of the Dragon Block Staff!"

His brows perked. "Oh?"

"Yeah, just get Melbu to turn away from me."

"One distraction coming up." Sean turned and ran at Melbu as he was gathering more power. He slid, slicing his knees, causing him to stumble and shoot the beam into the air, harming no one. Sean sliced his chest and Melbu swung, missing. "C'mon, Melbu." He taunted. "You want a piece of me?"

"Indeed I do!" A flame appeared in Melbu's hand. "Extra Crispy!" But before he could fire, an arrow struck into his back. He turned and saw Christie. Sean saw the arrow and ducked down. "What was-"

Kaboom!

The arrow exploded in Melbu's back.

"AAGGHH!" He roared. When the flames died, Melbu looked at Christie. "What was that!"

"Detonating Arrow. The explosion is small, but enough to fulfill its purpose."

"What purpose!"

"Turn and see."

He turned and saw all the other dragoons powered up and waiting.

"FIRE!" Sean commanded and they released their fury. Surprisingly enough, it knocked Melbu onto his back. He pulled himself up. "Impossible! The Dragon Block Staff-"

"Is destroyed." Sean completed. "Thanks to Christie's arrow."

Melbu glared at her. She just shrugged and transformed, healing everyone.

"What does it matter?" Melbu scoffed. "Your powers cannot overcome my own."

Sean's eyes burned. "You haven't seen real power!" With that, his Dragoon Spirit glowed ultimately bright. His body glowed and swarmed with incredible power. His body shifted as he unleashed his true Dragoon form.

Sean was new being. His chest and torso armor was thick and merged with the armor around his waist and onto his legs. The armor on Sean's legs was much different from the others' it was like a new set of legs. They were grey with a seemingly built-in armor to them with sharp knees and fairly large feet that came to a point, with a design similar to a dragon's claw. Sean's right arm had a large shoulder guard and a long armored glove, like the other dragoons. There was a small space on his upper right arm that was not armored, but it didn't matter much. Sean's sword had been shifted completely to become longer, broader, and sharper. His left arm was completely changed. The shoulder guard seemed to have a panel on it of some sort, but no one knew what it concealed. The shoulder guard merged in with Sean's new arm, which was actually a cannon now. Six grey wings had sprouted from his back, enough to carry the immense form. Sean had seven dragon eyes in the front of his chest armor, not just one. To top things off, Sean's head was fashioned with a sort of headset wrapping around his forehead with supports going down his jaw line and a green visor over his left eye.

"Whoa." Mike marveled.

"Cooool." Brad smiled.

"Dang!" Ben blinked.

Melbu scoffed. "Big deal! I've seen this power before!"

"And it wiped you out."

"Not this time!" Melbu's hands glowed. Virages popped out of the ground at rapid rates.

"Hiding behind your drones?" Sean smiled. "Alright, we can play your game. Divine Dragon! Come!"

As it came from a void in the sky, the Dragoons could see this dragon was built for damage. It had a thick body with strong legs and a series of panels on its chest. The dragon's neck was very long and the head atop it had seven eyes, six surrounding the main eye, which was larger than the rest. It had seven wings, six very large ones on its back and another at the base of its tail, which was as long as the neck, so this was a very massive beast. On its back was a cannon built into the dragon's very flesh. The beast landed and let out a deafening roar that would scare any normal person from the battle.

But Sean wasn't done. "Divine Dragon! Release your companions!"

The dragon roared again and its eyes each glowed a different dragoon color. Seven more voids opened and seven more dragons came, each ready for battle.

"They will deal with the virages." Sean informed. "Melbu, you cannot escape our wrath!"

"Humph!" Melbu snorted. "Bring it on!"

Both sides went all out in this ferocious battle.


Mike relied mostly on his physical strength to carry him through. Otherwise, he could shift the earth below them.

Brittany could use her icy powers to stop Melbu in his tracks for a short time.

Brad found it easy to strike down Melbu from anywhere with his lightning magic.

Christie mainly focused on healing the rest of the group.

Robert attacked fairly frequently, but also did his best to protect the group with his Rose Storm ability.

Melissa struck fast and hard with her rapier.

Ben used all the magic he could to roast the beast before him.

Sean let his anger out in both professional swordsmanship and deadly magic.

The Dragons found few problems with their virage opponents and wiped them out easily, then came to aid the dragoons.

Even though he was being struck left and right, Melbu kept fighting; he showed no signs of giving up any time soon.

Several minutes into the fight, Melbu Frahma was clearly winning. He had taken quite a beating, but it did not show. The Dragoons, however, we beat up pretty bad. Mike's strength was waning away with every stroke of his axe. Brittany had been relying on her speed, but she was slowing as she weakened. Brad's mind was being scrambled with his constant use of electricity. Christie was healing everyone else, but she'd taken quite a few beatings herself, so she was weaker. Robert had all but given up on Rose Storm as Melbu was just blasting right through it now. Melissa's magic was also failing her as Melbu grew more accustomed to her attacks. Ben was strained from continuous assaults. Sean was bushed, but still fought on, for he did the most damage. Even the dragons were weary.

Ben flew to Sean. "Okay, Sean…what…what do we do now? I'm wiped out, but…this guy just won't quit!"

"Yeah…" Sean panted. "I…never thought he'd be able to…to go on this long!"

Melissa joined in. "We have to…think of something new…something that will…leave him...as wiped out…as we are!"

"We gotta hit him hard." Brad flew to them. "So that…we won't know what hit him!"

"Like what?" Brittany joined. "Our strongest attacks…barely faze him!"

They all began pondering over a new strategy, while trying to stay alive, which interferes with a person's thought process. Finally, Sean got an idea. The word spread around to all the dragoons and dragons and they all waited for Sean's signal.

"NOW!" He shouted. They all got together and lined up in single file in the order they were told: Mike, Robert, Christie, Melissa, Brittany, Ben, Brad, Sean, Golden Dragon, Jade Dragon, White-Silver Dragon, Dark Dragon, Blue-Sea Dragon, Red-Eye Dragon, Violet Dragon, and the Divine Dragon took up the tail. They charged.

Melbu crossed his arms over himself, but it helped him little. He took every attack. Axe, spear, arrow, rapier, mallet, katana, fist, claymore, and the various dragon attacks.

Melbu's upper body was torn apart, as was most of his lower body.

"So that's your game?" Melbu hissed darkly. "It won't work!"

"We'll see." Sean said. "Again!" They swarmed towards him again.

Melbu grinned. "Check this out!" A giant mouth suddenly opened in the middle of Melbu's lower body, big enough to fit a sumo wrestler.

"WHAA!" Mike shouted, as he was in the front of the line. He tried to stop himself, but the others couldn't stop fast enough and pushed him closer. He stopped inches above the mouth and realized it was sucking him in! The Dragoons grabbed him and tried pulling themselves out. Suddenly, the mouth closed and Melbu blasted them all back.

"I dare you to try that again." Melbu taunted.

"How about this!" Sean fired a blast from his cannon.

"You underestimate me." The mouth reopened and sucked in the attack. Melbu's hands each fired a white blast as the cannon fire was returned. Sean did his best to defend, but he was knocked to the ground. Melbu began recharging.

"Any more brilliant ideas?" Brad asked.

"Shut up!"

"I was serious! We need a new plan."

"Well, I'm fresh out!"

"Magical attacks he fires right back." Ben observed. "And if we attack physically, he'll suck us in."

A light when on in Sean's head. "That sounds familiar…" He began planning. His eyes grew wider and a smile spread across his face. "I'VE GOT IT!"

"What!" Everyone wanted to know.

"It's risky, it's difficult and it might not work, but if it does, it will rid us of Melbu Frahma."

"Then I'm all for it." Robert said. "What did you have in mind?"

He told them his plan.

"Head's up!" Mike said as Melbu fired again.

"Come, Dragoons!" Melbu taunted. "Fight me, you cowards!"

"Melissa." Sean said. "You ready?"

"Yeah, sure." Sean saw the nervousness in her eyes.

"Alright, go."

"Okay."

"One more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry. You'll be fine."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I wouldn't send you in if I wasn't. Besides, if all else fails, I'll get you, alright?"

That comforted her. "Alright. Dark Dragon! Come with me!"

Melissa flew over him and Melbu opened his secondary jaws, sucking her in. She couldn't fight it, but she wouldn't much have to.

"Melbu!" Melbu turned to see the other dragons firing at him. He quickly turned and absorbed their attacks, just as they'd planned. Melissa used the direct strength of her dragon to help her open up a massive Demon's Gate. Demon's Gate is a special move in which a void opens up in the sky into a world of oblivion. Anything cast into it will surely be decimated in under a minute. The trick would be getting Melbu into it. Once he was in, there was no coming out.

Melbu hadn't seen the gate being made, so he almost lost his balance as the vortex tried pulling him in. He quickly regained his balance. Melbu looked at her.

"You thought combining your powers with your dragon's would be strong enough to pull me in? Ha! Guess again!"

The other dragoons powered themselves up and fired once more. Melbu's mouth waited as powers of fire, wind, water, electricity, light, and divine energy shot at him.

Melbu didn't notice that one element had not been used. Without warning, the earth suddenly exploded under him. Melbu stumbled as the ground shifted and did not absorb the attacks coming at him. The combined force of the blasts, the earth shifting against him, and the pull of the vortex caused Melbu to stumble back into the pit.

"AH! NOO!" Melbu roared, trying to regain his balance and strength. It was too late. He fell into the pit.

Melissa, from behind, watched the pit close with Melbu's painful cries and let out a sigh of relief.

"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!" Robert suddenly exploded. Melissa flew over and thought the same thing.

Melbu's hands were on the edges of the gate, attempting to pry it open.

"CLOSE IT!" Sean shouted. "CLOSE THE GATE!"

Melissa and the dragon gave it their all. Her spirit glowed dark blue with severe intensity. She strained heavily against Melbu's grasp.

"Nnngghh!" She grunted. "He's…too…strong!"

With unrealistic strength, Melbu forced himself through the gate and closed it behind him, which imploded upon closing. Melissa collapsed in a heap.

Melbu was a sickening sight to see. He'd taken some damage in there. His skin was nearly gone, just leaving a bloody, mutated figure. He breathed heavily.

A wingly symbol glowed on his forehead. He hissed. A white light outlined the dragoons and they were frozen in place.

"What is this!" Sean demanded.

"A temporary paralysis spell. Feel my pain!" He ran up to them and crushed each dragoon and dragon into the ground, one by one. Then, he jumped back and lifted up his arms. The ground blasted up beneath the Dragoons in a brilliant white light, which launched them all sky-high. Finally, Melbu's entire body glowed. All his power concentrated in his hands and gaping mouth.

"DIE! DIE! DDDIIIIIIIIEEEEE!" Melbu bellowed, firing his ultimate attack. The dragons were eliminated and the dragoons nearly followed. They all crash-landed far from Melbu, who stood laughing in victory.

Thum-Thump...Thum-Thump...

Sean's heartbeat thudded loudly in Sean's ears as feeling began to return to his body. It was a horrible struggle for Sean just to get on one knee. He inhaled too quickly for his weakened body and coughed up blood. He tried again, slowly and painfully. There wasn't a single part of his body that didn't ache. His vision was blurred. He turned his head and beheld a sight that would haunt him forever.

His friends were using all their strength just to stand. Robert pushed himself up on his spear and used it as a crutch as he went over to help Christie get up. Melissa pulled herself up by a ledge and helped her brother to stand. Brittany was forcing what little strength she had to assist Brad up.

So close to death and they strain themselves to help one another? Sean observed. Of course. They were all friends. They cared deeply for one another. They all looked out for one another. Such a bond kept them alive. They wouldn't allow themselves to die, not while they could help their friends.

What have I been missing? Sean wondered.

He propped himself on a knee and tried pushing himself up, but fell. Suddenly, his arm was flung around someone's body. Ben put his arm around Sean's torso and began pulling him up.

"C'mon, man. Get up!"

Sean forced himself to stand.

It was much easier with his friend's help…

He looked at his crew. They were checking each other over, making sure they were alright. They would keep going…until the end.

A tear slid down Sean's cheek, mixed with blood and sweat. It pained him to see them all like this…

You are just like them. The Divine Dragon said. You, too, would not give up until victorious or dead. They understand what is important.

Sean knew it. Never had he seen such a sight.

Then, he turned to see Melbu walking towards them, a grin on his face. He would obliterate them all. What could possibly stop this monster? Sean saw no other option.

Resorting to your last plan?

What other choice have I?

I know, I know. The Dragon hesitated. You've done well…Anna would be proud.

Sean nodded. He used a healing breeze on everyone, the last on he had. They would last another minute…maybe.

"What do we do?" Melissa asked him.

Sean was pained. He really didn't want to do this…not now. "Retreat." Sean muttered. "We leave now."

They all heard him and knew how little he wanted to accept defeat.

"Go." Sean said. "Run for your life." They began flying away, with Sean bringing up the rear. Melbu laughed as they flew.

"Go on! Fly away, you cowards!"

Suddenly, Sean looped around and flew back, unbeknownst to the other Dragoons. He charged at Melbu.

"Yes." Melbu hissed. "Come to me." His jaws were gaping.

Sean powered up his cannon to its full potential.

"Go ahead and fire." Melbu chuckled. "Go ahead so I can finish you off."

But that wasn't Sean's plan at all. He was going in. He got closer and closer, still fooling Melbu with his powered-up cannon, which he could use at any moment. The jaws pulled him in faster.

Melbu's eyes glowed with evil delight.

"Here we go…" Sean whispered.

Fwoom!

A large fireball shot right past Sean's face and curved right into Melbu's gaping mouth, unexpected.

BOOM!

The ball exploded inside Melbu's gut before he could use it against them. Sean reacted quickly. He put all his physical strength into his legs, stopping himself on a dime. His upper body was practically inside Melbu's mouth.

"DIVINE DRAGON CANNON!" Sean fired upon Melbu's insides, blasting him from the inside out.

Melbu roared in unbelievable pain as he was ripped apart. His magic mixed in with the attack and exploded all the greater. Melbu's body glowed, ready to blow. Sean jumped back quickly and turned. Ben was rushing down at him. He tackled Sean and pinned him to the ground.

"ARE YOU FREAKIN' CRAZY!" He demanded. "WHAT WERE YOU DOING!"

"Exactly what it looked like." Sean chuckled. "But, uh, thanks for helping me out."

Ben was too grateful to be angry.

Melbu's body glowed all the brighter, then suddenly let out a great wave of light. The Dragoons were blinded. When they could see again, they couldn't believe their eyes.

A lone figure pushed himself up with an effort.

Melbu Frahma.

But he wasn't the all-powerful beast he had been. He was reduced to his wingly form. Melbu got up and looked himself over.

"No…" he whispered. He looked up at Sean and Ben as they stood. The other dragoons were just landing around them. His eyes burned with fury, but he knew he would quickly be shredded.

Melbu activated his wings of light and flew away.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: That's it for now. Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger. The eleventh and final chapter will be posted soon enough. Please tell me what you thought of this one.