I am too Lazy to sit down and type . . . oh dear. I must try to update and gain my "title" back! I'll try to update more frequently.

Disclaimer: I own nothing at all!

Chapter 5:

Damia slowly crept about the room trying carefully not to wake anyone up. She went toward the small box that Lenus had brought to this home the night before. Inside there was an assortment of candy. Of course, her being a small child and there being candy means to Damia "steal the candy and get high on sugar.'

Of course, she didn't know I was awake. I was trying to give her a false hope that she could actually get the candy, it was fun to toy with this hyper child.

Just as she almost had her chubby hands around the precious box, I decided to make my presence known. "Good morning Damia."

Damia immediately leapt away from the box and tried to look innocent. Key word being tried. One thing that she would have to be taught is how to keep a straight face around me. She was growing too attached. There could be a chance that I won't be here for her, although, it is rather hard to kill me. After all, I am such a great fighter . . . I am starting to sound like Lenus.

"Daddy Zeiggy!"

Twitch Twitch. "Um . . . yeah!"

Damia giggled and started bouncing up an down. "Daddy Zeiggy! Daddy Zeiggy! Daddy Zeiggy."

I clamped my hand over her mouth "Shh . . . Damia! Someone is going to hear you!"

She merely shoved the hand away! "I love you Daddy!"

I groaned, trying to show her that I was getting tired of her antics, but my smile gave me away. Damia squealed in delight and bounded onto my lap. It took her a few moments to get herself properly situated so that she could snuggle against me. According to her, I was comfy without my armor on, and she demanded that I leave my armor off when I sleep. I don't really mind, she really is like my daughter, even though I've only know her for . . . probably three days.

I couldn't help but sigh at that thought. Three days. It has been three days since Lenus, Lloyd, Damia and myself had escaped that place. I can still remember that Wingly's eyes . . .

For the third time that night, Lloyd snored, immediately waking me. Something was grating on my nerves, but I couldn't tell what. Something inside of me told me that I should keep on my guard, although tonight was the last night we would stay in Rouge. When morning came we would leave immediately. Maybe that is why I am so . . . unrestful? Darn it! I forgot the word again! That's right! I'm restless.

Lloyd continued snoring, and then something hit me. Lloyd doesn't snore. He usually sleeps silently and carefully, just in case an enemy comes by. Snoring was a taboo for Lloyd, so what was Lloyd doing snoring? Then I noticed that he was snoring in careful intervals. Wait a second . . . he was snoring morse code!

He was saying: Wake –stop- up –stop- Lenus –stop- Then –stop- come –stop- back –stop- Someone –stop – is –stop- coming.

I just stood there for a moment, trying to figure out how Lloyd managed to learn how to snore morse code, but my mind finally processed what he was snoring. I jumped up and ran to Lenus' room, she was in deep silent sleep.

"What do you want Zeig." Lenus hissed angrily, "I'm trying to catch some beauty sleep if you haven't noticed."

So much for being in a deep sleep . . . "I know you really need that beauty sleep, but Lloyd snored . . . says that someone is coming." I said, imitating her hissing whisper.

Lenus glared at me for a moment before shoving Damia into my arms. Slowly, she stretched and rose from the bed, snatching Damia back before I could say a word. She looked as though she got a jolt of energy and rushed hurriedly out of the room.

I blinked in mild confusion before I carefully followed her. Something in my gut told me that I need to be careful right now. As though something was watching me. I don't know. My gut can get me into some trouble sometimes. I remember once when-

My thoughts were cut off as I enter the room Lloyd and Lenus are in. Lenus is holding Damia while smirking at the face of someone. His back was to me. Lloyd wasn't smirking, but rather attempting to keep a look of disgust off of his face.

"Oh yes! This child is ours! In fact, she's the reason we got married." Lenus was saying, that smirk, I could now tell, was a mask to keep disgust off of her face. "The wedding was wonderful! And for a wedding present we got a marvelous warrior slave! Oh, there it is now. Come, slave."

I entered the room, making sure to keep my head down but still have a mysterious aura about me. I knew that slaves were supposed to be reverent around their superiors.

"Look up." A snake like voice cooed.

I did as told, and was immediately assaulted by the urge to throw up. This man was a wingly, for sure, but an old one. Possibly older than Savan. His skin was not an ethereal silver like other elder winglies I had seen. His skin was a harsh gray. His facial features were quite angular, and as he looked at em his eyes glowed a brilliant blue. The eyes looked at me with superiority, and bloodlust. He was aching to see me writhing on the ground in pain, I could tell. On his forehead was a strange mark, like a glowing crown, but I didn't show that I noticed.

The wingly clicked his tongue and took a sharp intake of air, as though he were getting excited. "I'm sure I will meet all of you again soon. Have a lovely trip." He abruptly left the room.

I shuddered, not caring what Lloyd would think. Those eyes were so merciless.

Lloyd snorted. "That git was Melbu Frahma. Let's not see him again soon."

Damia's slap brought me back to reality. She laughed at my facial expression, apparently my face was funny.

"Zeig Feld! How dare you wake me up! Fear my wrath! I demanded beauty sleep and you did not heed my order."

"Put a sock in it Lenus!"

"Shut-up Lloyd! I wasn't talking to you!"

"Who cares!"

"I do!"

"I don't"

"Who got us this house!"

"Just shut-up!"

I had to fight the urge to keep from laughing. Lenus's crush for Lloyd was turning off and on. I gently placed Damia on the ground and began putting on my armor. We would be leaving this house today, rumors of a dragon being near the volcano up ahead had made Lenus curious. Not only that, but I felt something pulling me there as well. Ever since we came to this place . . . I don't know where we are . . . my dreams of fire have been getting more frequent. I wanted to go to this volcano.

Damia sat and watched me put my armor on the whole time. She liked to see me put my armor on because it made "squeaky creaky noises." I slung my sword around my waist. Then I took it off and wound it around my back. Maybe if we got into a fight I could punch somebody while reaching for my sword! I swear, I am such a genius sometimes.

Lloyd entered my room with a scowl on his face, but Damia would have none of that. She ran up to him and gave him a big hug, causing him to break into a grin and hug her back. Lloyd had also taken a liking to Damia. In fact . . . nevermind. Maybe I'm not such a genius.

Lenus slunk in beside Lloyd and clung to his arm, causing him to scowl again. Damia frowned and then smiled.

"I want Uncle Lloyd to carry me." Damia said holding her arms in the air expectantly.

Lloyd laughed and detached himself from Lenus and picked Damia up. He turned to me, "Let's go."

&&&&&&&

We were inside the volcano, but I couldn't help but feel at home here, as though I truly belonged. I was following Lloyd through the tunnel we were walking through. This place was like a confusing maze.

Come to me . . .

I heard it. I don't know why. I always wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't listened to that voice. I stopped, cocking my head to listen to the voice. Lenus crashed into my back. She looked as if she were about to yell at me, but then she looked surprised.

"Lloyd."

Lloyd stopped and looked back at her, but I couldn't see. I could only hear.

"Lloyd, there are flames in his eyes."

Strange, my world was black right now, yet they could see flames. What were those flames? My soul? My desires? I don't know.

Come to me . . . Let me kill you and end your destiny.

I began to walk. That walk turned into a run. I wasn't in control of my body. I could hear Lenus and Lloyd following me. It was good to know that I had such great friends.

NO HUMAN WILL EVER CONTROL ME! YOU WILL NOT DOMINATE ME! COME FASTER! LET ME KILL YOU!

I stopped and smirked. I had my vision back. The voice was still tugging at me, so I simply followed it. My companions were still behind me. As I turned the final corner, my breath caught into my throat.

In front of me . . . there was a dragon. A beautiful one. Its red scales sparkled and gleamed and its eyes showed the wisdom of living for many years. Flames danced about this mighty beasts cavern.

I was so entranced by this creature that I didn't notice a flame wall had appeared behind me, the flames so hot that my sword melted, burning my back. My cry filled the entire cavern.

Now you will die.

"Zeig! Catch!" I heard Lloyd call from the other side of the flames. I was surprised that my hand automatically clasped around something heading my way. "I came from mother's pendant!"

It was a sword I was holding. It was an elaborately carved blade, and it seemed to swirl in the color of flames. I faced the dragon.

The dragon buster . . . I wondered what the dragon was talking about . . . just kill me now . . .

I shrugged and and simply thrust the blade into the dragon's neck. It stiffened and abruptly tossed me away.

I didn't mean literally!

I cocked my eyebrow. This dragon didn't understand the concept of 'do not change your mind at the last second.' I charged at the dragon again. If this dragon wanted to kill me, I was going to kill it first.

The dragon swiped its mighty claws at me but I dodged, delivering a blow on his leg. I put all of my strength into that blow, causing the dragon buster to slice the dragon's foot off. The dragon let out a roar of indignation and tried to get at me again. I dodged and landed another blow. Then, the dragon stood up. It was glaring at me.

I suppose I must take you seriously now.

I can't explain what happened next, for the battle went by too fast. I can tell you, however, that I somehow came out the victor. (A/N: Somebody give me lessons on how to write fighting scenes!) I looked at the rotting corpse and a gleam caught my eye. There was a shining stone inside the dragons eye. In a moment of inspiration I grabbed the stone.

Flames engulfed me and I felt more energy coursing through my veins. My armor became thicker and I felt additional armor adding on. After a moment I realized that I was floating into the air.

You have laid claim on me. I have no choice but to serve you.

I felt a sting of guilt and I knew why. This dragon thought that I had killed it for self gratification. But I didn't. I killed it for self-preservation. I felt invincible right now, and I was so hot. I landed on the ground and walked through the wall of fire. Somehow I knew I could.

"What happened." Lloyd asked me, his eyes wide. "You look so."

"Thank you for the blade." I blinked. My voice seemed to echo.

Lloyd nodded his head. "You're . . . a Dragoon."

"I'm a what?"

"You are a warrior that fights alongside dragons. You are the master of the dragon now." I noticed that Damia was asleep in Lloyd's arms. Lloyd shifted her slightly, "Let's head back to the house, you look tired."

I nodded and willed myself back to normal. Wow! I'm a natural at this!

(At the House)

Lloyd sat on a chair, Damia still in his arms. Her arms were wrapped around his chest in a death grip. Lenus seemed to be in a trance in a corner. I was getting worried. She had been that way for over thirteen minutes. To my relief, she snapped out of it.

Lenus cracked her neck and looked at us, her eyes full of tears. Suddenly, she pulled us into a hug. "I'm going to miss you."

I was confused again. "Where are you going?"

Lenus clung to me and Lloyd like were her lifeline, "Savan has contacted me. I have something I need to do, it's a personal mission. No . . . it concerns Damia."

"Damia?" Lloyd shifted his gaze down to the sleeping girl.

Lenus nodded and then let us go. "Someday, I'll see you three again. I'll meet you in Vellweb."

I nodded, it was good to know where exactly we were going. Lloyd nodded as well. Then, Lenus vanished. I would have said a better good-bye if I know this was the last time I would see her for 10,000 years.