Child of Destruction
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: December 12, 2003
Posted Chapter 04: March 4, 2004
Updated: December 22, 2005
Disclaimer: The nerve of Sony! Claiming I don't own Legend of Dragoon! Hmph, I do too – I've got it right here in front me, all 4 discs, thank-you-very-much.
Chapter Four: Battle Dance
It was a weary party that finally stopped to make camp on the edge of the Barrens near sunset. The afternoon had been long, but certainly not boring. Iris had been on tenterhooks, wary of Andres and his possible intentions – a situation that seemed to cause the curious brown-haired man much amusement. Whenever she caught his eye accidentally, the man would just smile that knowing smile, causing her to blush and look away.
Part way through the gorge, the party was attacked by a band of Scorpions and Arrow-Shooters. Andres proved himself to be a very capable warrior, fighting with a partisan alongside Iris and Claire. Geru and Darrin stood back together, defending Dalia from any creatures that might have made it through the older warriors' defenses.
Speaking of Geru, Darrin and Dalia, Iris had a small headache forming from their antics. Well, from the boys. Dalia was shy and soft-spoken, but she looked genuinely happy to be a member of the rag-tag family. A few good meals, and perhaps a heavy staff to defend herself from her admirers, and she would fit right in.
Geru and Darrin, on the other hand, liked to bicker. A lot. Iris could tell that Geru was more than a bit infatuated with their new female traveling companion, but she wasn't sure if Darrin was merely a flirt or a tease. The typical cycle for the three was as followed: Geru would fawn over Dalia, trying to alternately impress her or comfort her. Darrin would step in and make some cutting remark, causing Geru to fume. While Geru fumed, Darrin would take this opportunity to talk with Dalia himself. Geru, realizing what was going on, would start to bicker with Darrin, with Dalia finally breaking them up and trying to coax Geru back into a good mood. Wash, Rinse, Repeat, all afternoon long.
Iris sighed with relief when the party finally stopped to made camp. Darrin and Geru (giving each other suspicious and evil glares) were forced to go look for firewood, under the threat that they had both better return, together and still alive and loaded down with kindling. Iris volunteered to take Dalia to look for fresh water, wary to be left alone with the ever-smirking Andres. The two girls left him with Claire at the campsite, wandering off to try to find some oasis in this barren gorge.
"Man, I have a headache," Iris complained as they rounded a curve. Dalia looked at her sympathetically, but Iris cracked a grin. "I thought your admirers would never shut up!" Dalia blushed as Iris chuckled. "Don't be embarrassed, I think its sweet. Well, I would think it was sweeter if they'd be a little less vocal about it."
Dalia smiled at Iris shyly, then looked around the area they were walking in. "Do you think we'll find water here?" she asked dubiously.
Iris smiled wryly. "I hope so, but I'm not exactly holding my breath." The two girls walked deeper into the gorge for another ten minutes, without any sign of water.
"Shhh, what's that?" Dalia said, stopping the older woman. Iris cocked her ears, then smiled.
"I think you found it, Dalia!" she exclaimed, tugging the younger girl up the steep ledge and into a small gully. A small spring trickled out of the rocks, forming a very small, quiet pool. A lone frilled lizard scurried away at their approach.
Iris and Dalia both knelt, filling their flasks from the bubbling spring. "There," Dalia said, "This should be more than we'll need to make it to Fletz."
A cold voice chuckled behind them. Iris jumped to her feet, pushing Dalia behind her as she turned to face the newcomer.
"You again," Iris snarled at the man. The Wingly grinned, baring his teeth. He was leaning against a boulder at the side of the gully, his arms crossed as he stared at the two girls. This time he wore black leather leggings with a sleeveless black tunic, embroidered in silver. His sword hung loosely at his side.
"Yes, I have come for what you stole from me," he replied evenly.
Iris smirked. "I'm afraid that this time, it won't be so easy," she told him with a confidence she didn't fully feel. "Dalia, go back to the camp," she whispered to the other girl.
"But –"
"Just go!" Iris pushed her. The Wingly watched the girl run, not bothering to stop her.
"This is our fight," Iris told him, drawing her blade.
"True." The Wingly drew his sword of flames. "I will win them back."
"I don't think the stones want to be won back," Iris said, channeling her energy through the dark-coloured stone. Black energy crackled about her before coalescing into wings at her back and magical armor. The Wingly merely raised one eyebrow.
"So, you've been recognized by the Dark Dragoon Spirit. It makes no difference," he told her, wings of light appearing on his own shoulders. "Let's take this battle to the skies!"
The two opponents darted into the air, the Wingly swinging at her with the blade of flames. It barely missed Iris as she winged behind a rocky outcrop, avoiding him. However, the Wingly, undaunted, hurled a ball of pure energy at the rocks, causing them to explode, throwing Iris to the ground. She rose to her feet, then took to the skies again, racing with her rapier to where the Wingly hovered, waiting.
She swiped at him with her blade, but he merely dodged her attacks before sending another blast of energy towards her. She dodged it in time, and another outcrop shattered behind her. She flew towards the Wingly again, snarling, but this time he stayed still. Iris realized, too late, that it was a trap as he loosed another bolt of energy directly towards her…
A gust of strong wind pulled her out of harm's way, and Iris vaguely heard the explosion near the ground. Dazed, she looked up into green eyes, realizing belatedly that normal gusts of wind don't have arms to pull with. Then her eyes widened as she realized that Andres was flying beside her in the sky, holding her steady with one arm.
Andres glared at the Wingly, the javelin in his other hand ready to block another attack. The Wingly stared back, bemused, as the two Dragoons were joined by Claire and Geru mid-air, Geru armed with his Basher, Claire ready to throw her lightning-swift punches.
"So, the Dragoons are emerging yet again… Interesting," the Wingly sneered. "It seems that Gloriana is once again calling forth its Champions to defend itself… until we meet again, girl," he snarled, disappearing in a flash of silver light.
Claire flew over and grabbed Iris' other arm. "Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.
Andres back-winged as a bright blue streak – Geru – raced towards Iris and glomped her, almost knocking them both out of the sky. Iris laughed as she steadied herself and her 'brother'.
"I'm all right, Geru!"
"That was that guy from Deningrad, wasn't it!" the silvery-blue-haired boy exclaimed. Claire frowned.
"You were right, Iris. He did follow us for those stones…" Claire trailed off, looking towards Andres, who was staring thoughtfully into the distance. He looked towards the other Dragoons.
"We should get back to camp and check on the others," he said simply, flying over the ridge. The others followed him back to the camp, where a teary-eyed Dalia was being comforted by Darrin. The girl jumped up as the four landed in the clearing, running over to hug Iris.
"I was so worried," she sobbed, clinging to the older girl. Iris hugged her.
"I'm all right," she chuckled, lifting Dalia's face to look her in the eyes. "I'm all right," she reassured her again.
"What did the man want?" Darrin asked boldly, while Andres, who had since transformed back to normal, fiddled with his knapsack.
Iris paused. "He wanted my Dragoon Spirit," she said, truthfully.
"But how did he know about it?" Darrin continued, sensing her reluctance.
Iris opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted.
"I think we had better get moving," Andres said. "Fletz is only a few hours away – we'll be less vulnerable in the city," he said, throwing his belongings over his shoulder, walking into the growing shadows as night fell around them. Claire nodded into agreement, and the other party members grabbed their own belongings, hurrying to catch up with the quiet man.
"You went too easy on them," a cloaked figure stated, not looking up from the fire she was stoking as a tall Wingly emerged from the darkness.
"I was testing them," he stated nonchalantly, seating himself on a rock just outside the fire's glow. His eyes were like ice as he stared hard at the woman. "Besides, I didn't see you rushing to fight four Dragoons."
The woman looked up, eyes glittering under her hood. "You should've killed them, Seraph," she hissed, "It would make one less stone in our path."
"No, I could not. The Master needs them," Seraph spat out. "Or one of them, in any case."
The woman smiled cruelly. "Well, the others will make good sport for us," she said, licking her lips in anticipation. Seraph almost shivered.
End Notes: Ah, so the villain has a name now! Actually, he's had it all along, I just didn't reveal it until now… but I'll stop being technical. I hope to give Dalia a personality soon… meh. She's just still shy and a little traumatized, it is still her first afternoon of freedom after all.