Disclaimer: I do NOT own Legend of Dragoon. Somebody else does, NOT me. They get much respect for an excellent video game. I repeat, LOD is NOT mine. Got it? Good. To the story! Right now! Why are you still here? Down lines with you! Late.
Chapter 1
Kerbris, a nearly black-eyed man of average height and slim build with shoulder length raven hair, stood alone at the ruins of the Divine Tree. He walked down into the blast crater and thought, It has been 312 years and this place didn't change much at all from the maps of the area. Near the center, something glittered. What is that? he thought. In the dirt and rubble appeared to be a ruby and a dark purple gem. Suddenly, a rumbling shook the entire crater. A creature actually seemed to be rising from the center of the blast crater. Impossible, Kerbris thought. However, because the ground under his feet was proving unsteady, he scooped up the gems and ran up the blast crater. He almost didn't make it. He got to the top just as the crater collapsed in on itself and the creature finished rising from the center. The dark purple gem in Kerbris's hand began to glow brightly. He heard a female voice in his head say Go on, use it. But I don't know how he replied. The voice said Yes, you do. With that, magical energy poured out of the stone, enveloping Kerbris. The energy coalesced into armor and wings. Kerbris drew his saber and flew at the creature. Drawing closer, he saw the creature clearly for the first time. It was of a vaguely human shape, but with the left arm elongated and swollen until it touched the ground. The other arm was shriveled, emaciated and seemingly useless. The legs were not visible. Then Kerbris looked at the creature's face and saw the face of a Wingly who didn't just leave a mark on history; he beat it nearly to death. The face belonged to the infamous Melbu Frama, scourge of ancient humanity and the direct cause of the Dragoon Campaigns. Then Kerbris knew exactly what it was. It was the Virage Embryo that ended the second Dragoon Campaign when it was defeated and thought killed. Then it spoke in a creaking way, like that of a rusty hinge, "You cannot hope to defeat a god." Yelled Kerbris, "Why can't you just be silent and die!" . He slashed the Virage Embryo repeatedly from top to bottom, seemingly having no effect. He tried it again, to no avail. After dodging a blast of dark gray-colored energy that was close enough to singe his hair, he became aware of someone speaking in his mind. Use a spell, the voice inside his head said as he dodged another swipe from the Embryo. Oh, right, he replied. A sphere of dark energy grew on the point of his saber. It grew quickly to the size of a house. He threw the ball of energy at the Virage Embryo. It hit causing the Virage Embryo to be knocked back. "Dark Shot!" Kerbris called out. He drew his fingers from the handle to the point of his saber. When he reached the point, the dark energy sphere detonated. When the smoke cleared, the Virage Embryo was a tattered hulk hanging on by one hand to the edge of the yawning pit from where it emerged. Kerbris swooped down and cut off the hand, sending another Dark Shot as a going-away present. The resulting explosion laid waste to the area and destroyed what was left of the World Tree. Kerbris collapsed exhausted on the edge of the new blast crater, his Dragoon powers spent.
Kerbris awoke in a place he had never seen before. He sat up and looked around. He saw a woman seated nearby. "Excuse me miss, but where am I?" he asked. She answered "Why, Ulara of course. Where else would you be after passing out in the Barrens? Aside from the afterlife, of course." Kerbris thanked her for her care by saying "I appreciate your care but I must be going." "Oh," she responded "but Charle wants to see you." "Ah, all right then. But I will leave after I see her." Kerbris went to Charle Frama's house and looked around. "Miss Frama? You wanted to see me?" he asked. Charle replied "Oh, dahling how good it is to meet Rosie's heir." "My mother's name is not Rosie. Neither is it my father's. So who are you talking about?" "I wasn't talking about your parents, dear child. I was talking about Rose, the only other Dark Dragoon in history." "How did you know about that?" Charle only smiled mysteriously. "I have my ways." "So you mean, this gem was hers?" "Of course dahling. Who else could it have belonged to?" "This means…I am now the Dark Dragoon?" "You finally begin to understand, dahling." "Okay, I know that I am a Dragoon now. What is that?" "You do know the story of the first Dragoon Campaign, don't you?" "Yes, only children younger than toddlers don't know." "But do you know how those 7 humans gained the power of dragons?" "No." "Let me tell you then. The human leader, Emperor Diaz, had a conversation with the dragons. Now, in those days dragons were everywhere. You couldn't get from one end of the continent to the other without tripping over at least seven on the way. But anyway, Diaz held his conversation and the dragons agreed that we Winglies needed to be dethroned. It was then that the dragons told him of their secret. You see, when a dragon is killed-not dies, is killed-a small gem is produced. It is the dragon's soul and the heart of the Dragoon powers. What actually happens when a warrior transforms into a Dragoon is that warrior and dragon become somewhat one. It is not permanent, as you have discovered, but only a person selected by the dragon's soul-now called a Dragoon Spirit-may use its power." "So this ruby is…" "Yes the Red-Eye Dragoon Spirit." "Whoa…" "You were planning to go now weren't you?" "Uh, yeah." Kerbris left Ulara.
Kerbris entered Deningrad, the capital of the region. Fanoc should be around here somewhere, he thought. Kerbris found Fanoc, a long black haired, Japanese-eyed man of slightly below average height and muscled build in the Great Library after looking in the inn first. He walked up behind him. "Still researching your homeland Fanoc?" he asked. "Not this time" he replied. "Dragoons again?" "Just Virages." "Oh. Virages and Dragoons?" "No, just Virages. A Wingly recently wrote this book on the topic." "See you later then." "Indeed." Kerbris left the library. He felt the Dark Dragoon Spirit warm against his skin. He took it out and it shone with a dark light. He took out the Red-Eye Spirit and it shone with a fiery red light. What is this? He thought, bewildered. Then the ground began to rumble.
Kyra, a long brown haired, brown-eyed woman of average height and average build looked at the two shining gems in her hand, one white, and one blue. Why are the Dragoon Spirits shining now?, she thought, sitting next to her window in the Crystal Palace. A flash of something outside caught her attention. Something was smashing through the house two houses behind the house on the opposite side of the Great Library. As it climbed out of the hole in the ground that it had created, she saw that it was a Virage.
Kerbris blinked and rubbed his eyes to make sure what he was seeing was real. That can't be a Virage, just can't be. It's impossible. But he knew that if it was real-and it was-he, a Dragoon, would have to fight it. He began to transform.
Kyra spotted the unmistakable Dragoon transformation effect as she went through the Palace doorway. Now that's impossible. She knew that there still were Virages buried underneath Deningrad. How many was unknown. But to see a Dragoon that wasn't Jack transforming to attack it? That was impossible. But it didn't matter. What mattered was the Virage. She started to transform. A brilliant white energy wreathed her body. It coalesced into the armor and wings of the White Silver Dragoon. Drawing her twin swords, she charged into combat.
Kerbris dodged another swipe from the Virage and slashed again. This isn't working, he thought. He hit it with a Dark Shot. The Virage staggered and attacked again. A thought occurred to him. Thanks, Rose. He darted forward and plunged his saber into the Virage. The Dragoon powers kicked in and the saber started drawing life force from the Virage. When the saber was fully charged, he pulled it out, leaving no visible damage. He then slashed out the charged life force diagonally, from upper right to lower left, calling "Astral Slash!" The explosion widened the hole in the ground to the house opposite the library's back doorstep.
Kyra was going to plunge in swords first, but thought better of it and started a spell. She linked her swords at their bases and began to twirl them above her head. As she reached top spinning speed, a tornado of white energy sprang into existence around her and went all the way down into the hole. Suddenly she broke the connection between swords and pointed them at the Virage and called "Holy Tornado!" The white tornado headed straight for the Virage.
As the white tornado enveloped the Virage, Kerbris flew up very high and tossed a Dark Shot down the tornado towards the Virage. The resulting explosion lit up the daytime sky like a second sun and shattered the library's windows. When the smoke cleared, there was no sign of the Virage. It's not over, Kerbris thought. He was right. Another rose up through the floor of the library, Fanoc on its back, still reading. "Hmmm…" said Fanoc, looking down. "I will assume this book is on permanent loan then." He put the book in the sack on his back and drew his katana. He then ran down the body of this second Virage. Kyra linked her swords for another Holy Tornado and felt a cool sensation in her palm. She looked down and discovered that it was the Sea Dragoon Spirit. It shone with a characteristic brightness. That can only mean that the next Sea Dragoon is around here, she thought. She looked around and saw that Fanoc was the only non-Dragoon in the area. Kyra threw the Spirit at him and when it was close enough, called "Sea Dragon! Awaken your powers now!"
Fanoc looked up at the sound and snatched the aquamarine stone that was flying at his face. The aqua-colored energy of the Sea Dragoon transformation surrounded him. He understood instantly what it was and relaxed himself further. The energy coalesced in to the armor and wings of a different Sea Dragoon than history had ever recorded. The armor was heavier, more like the armor of a samurai than the armor of Meru, the Wingly Sea Dragoon history remembered. Fanoc smiled. This will be entertaining, he thought, and flew into the fray.
Kerbris gladly flew off to the side as Fanoc went to attack. He landed near the entrance to Deningrad and transformed back to normal. It was not because he wanted to but he took the chance to sit on the steps to the cathedral pathway and rest. Man, he thought, breathing hard, being a Dragoon is hard work. His whole body was sore and tired. His back was especially sore and tired at the corresponding place on his skin where the wings were attached to the armor. He heard the sound of an explosion so he looked at where it came from. It was from, no surprise to Kerbris, the location of the fight.
The explosion was the result of another of Kyra's spells, Lunar Storm. She had landed, planted her swords in the ground, and raised her hands to the sky. Brilliant white energy shot from her fingertips up to the sky were the moon was, suddenly darkening it to night. As the energy touched the moon, it lost all upward motion and fell on the second Virage. Then the sky lightened back to day as Kyra picked up her swords and flew back up. The spell nearly ended the fight. What finished the second Virage was Fanoc's powerful stroke through its head. He called it Tenken (pronounced tenk-ken).
Kyra took the lead in introducing Kerbris and Fanoc to Selena, her Queen the next day. "Queen Selena?" "Yes?" "These are the two warriors who aided me in stopping those two Virages who emerged from the depths." "Ah. I humbly thank you for aiding Kyra in that matter. But the people thank you for saving them. Had it not been for you, Kyra would have been defeated and my people left to the nonexistent mercies of those Virages." Fanoc, who had been in the presence of royalty before, spoke. "You are most welcome Your Majesty. It was our pleasure." Kerbris, who had not, managed to mumble a "No problem, ma'am". The Queen favored them all with a dazzling smile as they went out.
They sat in the temporary housing allotted to the innkeeper in the Palace until he could have a new inn built. Kerbris spoke first. "So, what do we do now?" "I am afraid I do not know" replied Fanoc. Kyra suddenly spoke up. "I just remembered. There is another Dragoon in this day and age." Kerbris was interested. "Who is it?" he asked eagerly. "Jacob, King of Serdio." Fanoc raised his eyebrows. "Fascinating. Is it the direct descendant of Albert?" "Why, yes. How did you know?" "Part of my research. I have come across Albert's name many times in the course of tracking my ancestry. Fanoc saw the astonishment creeping onto their faces and said "No, no. I am not royalty. It is just that my family history is tied with Serdio's." Their faces showed interest. "That is a story for another day, however. Miss Kyra, do tell us about King Jacob." "Ah, yes, of course. He is… a good friend of mine although I'll deny it to my last breath. He is the Jade Dragoon but not because he was strolling around someday and found it. He inherited it from his father as his father before him. That Dragoon Spirit has been passed down for generations ever since Albert had it take the place of the Moon Gem that was stolen by Lloyd. He is charming and noble, but…he is just so aggravating! Always so confident, as if nothing could hurt him. Ugh!" She threw her hands up in disgust. Kerbris smirked. "Sounds like love to me. Right, Fanoc?" "Indeed." Kyra shot them both looks of death and stormed out, muttering something about seeing them there. The two friends shared a moment of laughter-Kerbris hysterical, Fanoc chuckling-and then followed.
"Kyra, how good it is to see you!" cried Jacob, King of Serdio. Jacob was tall, six and a quarter feet at least and blue-eyed and short blonde-haired. His well-developed muscles were clearly visible through his shirtsleeves. Kyra ignored his enthusiasm. "I'm here on the behalf of the two behind me. Their names are Kerbris and Fanoc. Kerbris is the taller idiot one." "You mean you came all this way just to introduce me to new people? That is one of the flimsiest excuses I have ever heard." "They are Dragoons, Jack." That one word stopped Jacob cold. His face grew serious. "Dragoons? So, the time has come then. Very well let's go then." Kyra was thrown off her stride. "W, what?" "Ah, I forgot. You don't know about my ancestor Albert's orders to the rest of his line. They were, and I quote, 'if the Dragoons come to you seeking the Jade Spirit, give it to them immediately.' Well I think he wanted the Dragoons who would come to have the Spirit so they could have the Jade Dragoon. But since I am the Jade Dragoon, I will go with you." Kerbris and Kyra stood there, stunned. Fanoc spoke up. "I will assume that you are an experienced Dragoon?" "Yes, I am more experienced than Kyra, actually." Kyra flushed at that. "Good. Now we can go." "One more thing," said Jacob. "Call me Jack."