Chapter Three: Confrontation and Regret

Sean opened the door to find Robert Williams standing on his doorstep. "Wow, you got here quick," he said.

"It's probably because I keep my spear in my truck bed," Rob said. Sean looked to see a pickup truck with a color of green that matched his armor, with black leather strapped over his bed, hiding his spear.

Rob put out a hand and Sean shook it. "It's been a while," Rob said. "Why haven't we been keeping up like in the old days?"

"…I don't know," Sean said, and it was right then Robert caught the strong smell of alcohol on his breath, and it was strong. Rob knew that Sean and Melissa had had a horrible fight, but was it so bad that Sean was drinking himself to sleep every night?

His first reaction was to say something, but something stopped him, maybe his own knowledge that Sean didn't talk about his problems, maybe a feeling he got from the Jade Dragon. He kept his mouth shut, certain that it would be wiser to talk with the others first.

"Uh, have a seat, if you want," Sean offered. He got out of the way and Rob walked in, looking around.

"Wow, this place is bare," Rob said, no reply came, and when he looked to Sean for at least a silent explanation, he found Sean's eyes downcast, looking sorrowful. He knew he'd said something wrong. He shut his mouth and sat on the couch.

Another knock sounded out, and Sean left to answer it. It was Ben and Christie. Ben and Sean shook hands and Christie gave Sean a hug. "How are you?"

"We're fine, so is Mark," Ben answered.

Sean smiled, and nodded. "Well, come on in, Rob's already here."

They sat in awkward silence until the next knock came, Brad and Brittany stepped in, looking happy. "Hey everyone!" Brittany said.

They said their hellos and Sean had them sit down. Brad stuck back by him for a moment.

"What got at you last night?"

"Something I've never seen before," Sean answered.

"Wow, that's bad," Brad said.

"Yeah, it is, but I'm sure we can handle it," Sean said.

Brad nodded and shook Sean's hand. "It's good to see you again."

"Same here."

Brad sat down and Sean answered another knock. There on the porch, looking unhappy to be there, was Mike. He and Sean stared at each other, each slightly surprised that he'd come, and finally, Sean broke the silence. "Come in, have a seat."

Mike stepped in. The air of the place struck him as familiar, somehow. He hadn't visited, nor talked to Sean since the fight. Melissa had been so miserable, no one knew that like he did. And it was all Sean's fault. Mike stepped by the dresser at the side of the room, and he suddenly knew the air, the smell. He saw the empty case of beer, and the trash can, half full of bottles.

This picture, this air, reminded him all too well of his father. He looked to Sean, with a look of pure fury in his eyes. "We need to talk, outside."

Sean looked slightly confused, but nodded and walked out back with Mike. They stepped out onto the deck, and as soon as the door was closed, Mike turned to face him eye to eye.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What are you talking about?" Sean asked.

"I saw the trash can, all that BETTER not have been from last night," Mike said.

"…Why should you care?" Sean said.

"Because you almost became my brother in law. Because you have been my friend for nearly ten years! Because you were, and still are the single most important part of my sister's life!" Mike spat.

Sean was shocked. "What?"

"You have no idea how miserable she is, but you, and her! I cant break her, but maybe I can help you. Look, I KNOW you remember what happened to my father when he tried to drink his pain away. HE DIED! And you will too, I'm warning you, right now, stop that," Mike said.

"…Mind your own," Sean said.

Mike leaned back, and looked at Sean as though with different eyes. "You know what?"

"What?"

"People do change, you used to be a friggin roll model for all of us. A character of such strength, integrity, and selfless to boot. But now, look at you, you look like that's all gone, nothing's here but a hollow empty shell. Maybe I was wrong in coming here, you're not the Sean we all used to know, you're something else, something much, MUCH weaker," he said, shaking his head and stepping back inside. Sean leaned back against the wall, and slid down it, until he was sitting, with his forehead in his hands.

While they were talking, outside, Rob took his chance to speak. "Okay, did anyone else notice Sean's breath?" He asked.

Everyone nodded, "But, that could just be from last night," Christie said.

Brad shook his head. "No, it takes a lot of time for it to get that bad."

"Why'd he do that?" Brittany said.

"…He asked me to call Melissa for him," Ben said.

"How could Sean be so depressed though?" Robert asked.

They stayed silent, pondering, they looked out the window together when they heard Mike yell something, but then a knock came at the door, Ben opened it to find Melissa.

"Hey," Ben said.

"Hi, what's wrong?" Melissa asked.

Ben looked to his comrades, but they shook their heads. "…Nothing, don't worry about it, how have you been?"

"I'm surviving," she said with a smile.

She walked in and Mike came inside, without Sean. Something had happened, everyone guessed, as Mike slammed the door on his way inside.

"What happened?" Melissa asked. Mike stopped for a moment to hug his sister and say hello before he answered.

"Nothing, nothing at all," he said, he steered clear of the trash can, praying that Melissa wouldn't find it. They all sat down, and remained uneasily silent until Sean finally opened the door and walked in.

"So what was with this guy?" Ben asked.

"I haven't a clue, to be honest," Sean said, in his mind, he thanked Ben, he could tell Ben knew something was up, but respected Sean well enough to let him deal with it, unlike Mike.

I think Mike's the one doing the right thing, Sean.

Sean rolled his eyes and resumed. "I have to ask, how has everyone been keeping up with their skills?"

Everyone gave their answer, they'd all been keeping up pretty well, which Sean was thankful for. However, he had slacked in the last few weeks or so, unmotivated to do anything to keep in shape, but he felt as though he would regain it all soon enough.

"This guy wants us all to come at him at once, he doesn't know what he's asking for, he could be one of the last great dark powers left in the world. We beat him, we set yet another example that the human race is unbeatable. I hope this is the last time I have to pull you all from your lives," Sean said.

"Hey, we made the decision to be what we are a long, LONG time ago," Ben said.

"Yeah," Brad said.

"We swore an oath, not to a country, but to our species, to protect it, or give our lives trying," Christie said.

Sean smiled. "And I thought it'd be hard to persuade you guys to leave the normal life again. Thanks."

Every one of them nodded their welcomes, even Mike, however reluctant.

"Okay, who's up for a long hike through difficult woods?" Sean said.

They all got up and headed outside. They walked quickly into the woods. Sean had earlier fallen in love with their training clearing, and chose a home near it. It was truly perfect for them all.

They fought their way through the wicked underbrush, and finally came back to this magnificent place, whereat they had gained so much power, and a bond of friendship that they thought couldn't be broken.

"So many memories," Melissa said, her eyes cloudy.

Sean looked to her, it was the first thing she'd said around him the entire time, he peered into those dark eyes, wondering what she was thinking, if she was remembering fun, or anything else…

"Everyone have what they need?" Sean asked. Each Dragoon held up their weapon and their spirits shined. "Okay, thirty minutes to get ready, and then we're outta here."

Brad and Brittany walked to the lake to stretch out stiff joints, Robert and Mike began lightly sparring, to awaken Rob's speed and Mike's strength. Melissa and Christie worked together in close combat, Melissa with her rapier and Christie with two hardened arrows. Ben cracked his joints, and loosened up, he wanted to ask Sean to warm up with him, but Sean walked off alone.

"Well isn't that an all to familiar sight," Ben whispered to himself. "Just like when we first met you, what's going on inside your head?"

Sean looked to the sky, feeling the old energy still running through him. The Death Frontier was to the North, and a darkness seemed to mix with the air over the distant lands. It was no trick of the day either, the sun was high in the sky. Something unloving of light had gathered ominous, dark clouds over the Death Frontier. That something was doubtlessly Darteth.

Before he knew it, thirty minutes had past, and Sean felt energized for the first time in weeks. Ben clapped his hands, snapping Sean back to reality. He looked back to his companions, his friends.

"Let's go," he said.

There was a flash of indigo, green, red, white, gold, blue, violet, and silver as the embodiments of the seven elements, darkness, wind, fire, light, earth, water, and electricity swarmed through every vein, every muscle, every pour of the eight Dragoons. They were engulfed, for the first time in months, by the power of dragons. Armor with the strength of dragon scales swarmed and covered their bodies, wings burst from their backs, and a reptilian eye opened on each chest.

Six wings appeared on Sean's back as well, though he was still on low power.

I recommend that you upgrade to full power when we arrive at the Death Frontier, this enemy worries me. The Divine Dragon advised. Sean nodded, and they took off. Eight streaks shot up above the clouds and started north.

The flight was silent, and stretched into the night, Sean had pulled ahead, with his arms crossed. Brad and Brittany held hands and flew alongside Ben and Christie, who held each other's hands as well. Mike flew below them, watching the city lights move by below. Melissa, on the other hand flew higher up, above all the clouds, watching the night sky, flying with her back facing the earth, and her eyes belonged to the stars. She still took trips up to see the night sky even in the present days. They always cheered her up, somehow. She was unaware that someone's eyes were upon her yet again.

Sean had turned his head to see her in the corner of his eye, he watched her for a while, at peace, watching the stars. She loved them so much. She truly was everything important to him. She couldn't want to be with him again, not after what was said. Not after the fight. A tear welled up in his eyes, and he wiped it from his eye as he turned away, the wind took it and threw it behind him. It landed on Melissa's hand, she looked at it, and then in front of her.

What was that? She wondered. She studied around her for a moment, and was fairly certain that it couldn't rain above the clouds, so what had happened? She shrugged it off and continued viewing the stars, thinking. She remembered one very special time she'd been up above the clouds. She'd been with Sean for the first time after they'd destroyed Melbu Frahma, and he'd stroked her face with his hand. Suddenly a sadness filled her with its emptiness, and she shook her head to remove the memory. As usual, it didn't work. She flew up a little higher, to weep silently.

Hours later, as the sun began to rise, the Dragoons touched down on the Death Frontier, a desolate wasteland that stretched as far as the eye could see, and then some.

Sean looked around, "I have a hunch he'll come to us."

"Let him," Rob said, who fell into a sit, and then lay down and looked to the sky, as the unsettled dust around him began falling back down. They all sat down or lied down and took a breather, hoping that the enemy wouldn't attack.

From a distance, undetected, Darteth stood, solitary, comfortable, he would let them rest, the best soul was a lively one. He wanted to steal their souls when they were at their peak. Oh, how he would feast! Yes, he would wait until nightfall.

The Dragoons eventually let their armor leave them and rested their true bodies, drinking water, and taking naps in turn. The sun passed over them, in its usual arc. Sean left for a while and brought back some beasts for a meal, which Ben cooked and handed out to the rest. The sun finally set, and they were fed and rested. Darteth knew it would be the ideal time to attack them.

He spread his wings and was above them in a flash. Melissa was the first to look up, sensing something moving around in her domain. "Something's here!" She said. Everyone stood and transformed, and readied their weapons.

Darteth laughed. "Ah, yes! Thank you Sean, for bringing your friends to me, to their end!"

Sean's eyes narrowed, and he called upon all of the Divine Dragon's power. The light surrounded him, and transformed him into the Divine Dragoon. Seven eyes opened in his thick torso armor, and his legs stretched out almost double their old length. Six golden wings beat as they emerged. His cannon arm swelled up immediately, and fired into the air. Darteth was illuminated, but was not engulfed by the deadly magic. The beam shot harmless into the stratosphere, and out into space. Darteth folded his wings and he fell down into the center of them. He put a hand down on the earth, as well as a knee, and arched his back. He threw his wings out, and knocked the Dragoons about him to the ground.

Sean burst forward with his sword, and locked up with Darteth's blade. They eyed each other up, yet Darteth won, with his malevolent eyes. They were all black, all but the irises, which were blood red.

He threw Sean back, and laughed. "Have I won already? How did my race fall to Humans and Winglies? Here of all places!" He threw his arms out, and looked about him. "How?"

"Sean!" Mike said. "What is he talking about?"

"I don't know! Nothing's ever lived here, and humans and Winglies never allied to demolish a species, not once," Sean answered.

"Oh, it was long ago, but let us not speak of it, it is time for vengeance, time for redemption, time to run, time to scream, time to die!" Darteth said. He leapt up and drew his blade, eyes gleaming.

Author's Note: Hey everybody! Sorry about the long wait, complications with work and such. Whatcha think? Sorry but we love cliffhangers…so the more reviews we get the quicker we'll update. Welp, got to get back to writing, so see y'all later!