Chapter Five

"Well, it started some time ago. I had left home to go make a name for myself, to become a legend, I suppose." Drakonnan started. "The Great Fire War was long over by this point, and I really had nothing to fear from Akriloth or…as weird as this seems, Drakonnan."

"Wait, if you're not Drakonnan, then who are you?" Atrix asked with a perplexed grimace about him. The woman sighed.

"My given name was…Natalya Despair." This name hit home perticuarly hard for Maria. Her mother - just before she died - had told Maria she had an older sister which left home but, to be fighting her this whole time! Crazy. "I came across this cave we now stand. Inside, was a whithering, dying shell of a man. He was decrepit, aging and fading fast. He told me that in life, he was the Great Drakonnan, and that his powers had died with the legend. He explained that he didn't mind dying, it was a welcome gift to him, but he didn't want his name to dissappear. He wanted Drakonnan to become a god, he wanted him never to die. He said that, if anything, he wanted me to carry on as Drakonnan. At first, I refused. I had heard horror stories of what he did to people during The Great Fire War. I didn't want to become that monster. I wanted to use my skills for Battleon, not against it.

"Nevertheless, I wanted the power he then promised. He said that all of the abilities that had made him famous were now locked away, all snuggly inside the armor that people recognize as Drakonnan. The lure was too good. I drew closer to the armor, and before I could control myself, I had it on. It was a great feeling, almost sexual. I could feel my body lift up, power up. I loved it. And hated it. Without any knowledge about what had happened, I had damned myself to follow in that man's footsteps. But I was determined to be nothing like him. If only it had worked out as well in reality as it did on paper.

"I made up my mind to start helping people as Drakonnan. My first stop would be Lolosia. I traveled there from here with nothing but humanitarian aid in mind. But when I arrived, I received a less-then-thrilled greeting. The people took up arms, anything they could find. Rebar pipes, pointed sticks. They shouted that they wouldn't go down without a fight. I pleaded with them. 'I mean you no harm!' I shouted. My cries fell on deaf ears. Not sure of my powers, and not wishing harm on anyone, I withdrew, returned here. Thoughts filled my head. Some good, some bad. Others, others I would not dwell into further. I decided to try once more. This time, I would try to help Graemor. Maybe they would be more willing to accept my aid. Dead wrong again.

"The people of Granemor proved to be more vicious then those of Lolosia. One even attacked me with a Blade of Awe! This one would have killed me…had I not defended myself. I grabbed the sword and—I don't know, instincts, I suppose, took over. I broke the sword at the guard, turned it around and thrust it into her chest. After this, I retreated, appauled with myself. I had never killed anyone in my life, and know, there I was. A murderer. I spent what felt like days pacing up and down in this cave. I was trying to think about what to do, but I couldn't. And then, I began to think, I could help people from behind the scenes. Descreatly. So I began to think, and then I came up with it! I would revive the most dangerous scourge ever known to man, then destroy it!" Her voice faultered. "Nevertheless, it didn't quite work out like that. It tried to kill me, so I had to flee. That's when I noticed someone I had not seen in years. My little sister, Maria." Even though all of those adventureres, all of the Guardians had been killed fighting Carnax, she stood firm, holding her ground. Even when that idiot MegaPrime got crushed to a bloody, pulpy mass right in front of her. And I thought, that's my little sister, unafraid."

Maria was unsure what to think. She had never know her sister before, she left when she was very young. Her mother had told her that Natalya was a strong-willed woman who never took no for an answer. But her entire veiw changed when she realized that the sister she once looked up to was nothing more then a murderer. The Guardian's eyes filled with tears. Her role model had abandoned her again. This time, there was nothing she could have done to prevent it. She turned away violently from her sister, trying to surpress her feelings. She was unsure weather she wanted to hug Natalya or kill her. Both were ever-present in her mind. She charged out of the cave, literaly throwing Leeroy and Atrix to the side.

"Should we go after her?" Grodd asked, looking after Maria as she charged out of the cave. He was genuinly worried about her. He started to move towards her, but Amani stopped him.

"I don't think you should." She said. "She needs some one to comfort her, not make it worse."

"Oh, so we should not send Leeroy, right?" Grodd joked. Amani clearly was not in the mood for jokes.

"You think this is a joke, Grodd? Some kind of sick prank for you to continually use, poke and prod at? Huh! This is Maria we're talking about here! That girl is unaffected by anything! She has sat stone faced through countless battles! She stood in the face of something we could not defeat, and slew it! That woman is as close to a goddess as anyone alive! Now look at her! In mear moments she crumbled like the base of a long-forgotten tower. You want to make it worse? Fine. Go ahead! I'm not going to be going to your funeral. Leeroy might if there's food."

"Food, I heard food! Where's food!"

"SHUT UP LEEROY!" Amani, Atrix and Galanoth all screamed simultaneously.

"Okay…" he mumbled, depressed.

Everyone filed out of the cave. Natalya in the lead, followed by Atrix and Galanoth, then by Leeroy, Amani and Grodd. Safiria remained behind. The Vampress came across Maria. She had crouched down on a rock, crying. Something that Natalya had either said or done had hit the Guardian like a pack of Dragons. Her cries permeated the silence. Safiria crouched down next to her, pulling her flowing dress up. She layed a hand on her shoulder as she had done a week ago. She spoke in a soft, motherly voice.

"Are you okay?" She asked as an opener, even though the answer was painfully obvious. Maria could not speak, all she did was shake her head violently back and forth. Her crying continued, seeming never to end. The Vampress leaned over and wrapped her arms around the X-Guardian's neck, making a soothing 'shh' noise. "It's okay. It's okay. We all make mistakes, but you can't beat yourself up about it. She's your sister. She made a poor choice, yes, but think: Did you do any REAL, irrepairable damage to her? She's physically all right. She's more to be pittied the scolded. Come on. Let's get you to Yulgar's for the night. You need some sleep. I'll walk with you." She released her embrace, yet kept her arms on her shoulders. Slowly, the broken woman stood on her feet. Her once graceful posture was ruined by stress, lies and decet. Safiria walked with Maria the whole way back to Battleon.