Child of Destruction
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: December 12, 2003
Posted Chapter 09: March 12, 2005
Updated: December 22, 2005
Disclaimer: Umm… let me get back to you on this…
Author's Note: O.o Um, long time no see? Well, I'm back from the long hiatus, still planning to finish writing this… so here goes nuthin'!
Chapter Nine: Shirley's Temple
The group slowly walked through the outer courtyard, surveying their surroundings with both awe and caution. They were completely silent – even Geru and Darrin had stopped their normal brash antics. The group tried to remain undetected as they walked forward, their Dragoon spirits pulling them towards the stone steps near the end of the enclosure. Iris was uncertain, but she almost felt a threat looming before them. But she shook it off as the group trudged up the crumbling stairs.
The four teenagers climbed the long stairway, occasionally helping each other over the more disintegrated steps. The sides of the pathway were strewn with decaying flowers, food, and other gifts and offerings left to the healing powers of the temple. They passed two statues, one of gold and another of stone which faced opposite directions, and began to trudge up the final stairway.
The group was in sight of the main altar now, and they carefully hiked their way towards the temple proper…
"Eeek!" Dalia shrieked in surprise as her foot slipped through a step. Her ankle caught on the edges of the stones and she partially fell, catching herself with her staff before she could fully collapse to the ground.
"Are you all right?" Geru asked, helping the girl to her feet. She started to reply, but Darrin interrupted her.
"Um, I think we've got a problem, guys," was all he said before he whipped out an arrow and, drawing his bow, fired it smack into one of the (many) gargoyles that had appeared at the sound of Dalia's scream.
Iris, without further ado, swung her gladius at the nearest gargoyle and severed one of its clawed legs. She checked quickly to make sure that Dalia was on her feet. Seeing that Geru was fighting a stone golem along with the other girl, she quickly focused her attention on the two gargoyles before her. Slash here, swing there, she managed to slice the head off one of the beasts and made a shallow cut across the chest of the other. It quickly retaliated, leaping at her with its claws extended. An arrow lodged itself in the creature's side, and it was momentarily distracted, giving Iris a brief window to attack. She sliced the beast diagonally, slitting its throat, causing to tumble down the stairs.
Iris turned to witness another gargoyle was trying to sneak up on Geru and Dalia by climbing onto the stone arch above them. Iris channeled the power of her Dragoon spirit and flew at the beast, slicing it in half before it had a chance to attack. She landed in front of the others, dodging the last gargoyle as it leapt at her. An arrow found lodged itself in the creature's shoulder, and the creature shrieked before running into the temple before them.
"Is everyone all right?" Iris asked quickly. Before anyone could answer, however, a scream came from inside the temple.
"That sounded like the gar–" Dalia started, but she was quickly cut off as the ground began to shake with unknown fury.
Iris leapt into the air, her wings fanning behind her as she stared at the Temple. "Everyone get down," she managed to shout before the entire façade of the Temple exploded.
Iris coughed, realizing belatedly that Geru had also transformed into his Dragoon form, using his powers to create a wall of ice that had protected Dalia and Darrin. Geru flew up beside her, brandishing his basher as they waited for the dust to settle.
Dalia screamed as a pasty white claw emerged from the darkness of the building. An enormous creature limped slowly forward, only one of its multiple eyes glowing strangely from the center of its neckless head. It growled, it's eye glowing as it glared at the two Dragoons.
"What is that thing?" Geru whispered. Darrin fitted an arrow to his bow and shot the creature in its one remaining eye. Blinded, the monster howled, swatting its massive claw through the air towards the Dragoons. They quickly dodged, and the arm smashed into a pillar, knocking it towards the ground…
"Darrin!" Dalia screamed, running over to where the column had fallen. Iris and Geru flew above their comrades, gathering their energy.
"Freezing Ring!" Geru shouted, the strong magic of water gathering about the creature. It staggered as it was crushed within the ice. Bellowing, it was knocked off its feet, falling backwards into the temple.
"Die!" Iris shouted, her releasing her Dragoon energy into one powerful attack. She flew through the air, slicing the creature from multiple angles with all the fury of her power. The creature fell backwards, and was still.
Iris flew out of the Temple, landing near Geru, who was supporting a shaking Darrin.
"What was that thing?" Iris gasped, leaning against her gladius for support, chest heaving as she tried to regain her breath.
"A Virage," Darrin grimaced, his hand clutched to his side.
"But those are supposed to be extinct! The Dragoons wiped them out a hundred years ago!" Geru shouted, eyes wide.
"Well, they're apparently not," Darrin snapped. "I'm all right," he told Dalia, who was crouched worriedly at his side.
"You are not! You're injured," she stated, trying to pry his hand away from the patch of red now staining his clothes.
"Let's get him to the fort," Iris said, looking pointedly at Darrin. Darrin grimaced, but nodded resignedly.
"Wait!" Dalia exclaimed, eyes wide. "What about the Dragoon spirit we came here for?"
Iris started, and Geru frowned as they reached out with their energy.
"I don't… feel it anymore," Geru muttered.
"You're right – the power is gone. Maybe…" Iris looked towards the Virage. "Could it have lead us here on its own? Under the illusion of there being a Spirit?" Iris shook her head, quickly noting Darrin's paleness. "It doesn't matter. Geru, carry Darrin; Dalia, I'll carry you. We're flying out of here."
Geru picked up Darrin, who didn't so much as complain, which confirmed the seriousness of his condition for Iris. She swung Dalia into her arms as the two Dragoons launched themselves into the air, flying out of the Temple courtyard and back into the forest.
A small boy watched the Dragoons fly off, smiling as he tossed a silvery-white stone within his hand. His cold eyes glittered as he looked over the corpse of the Virage, then raised his head again to watch the Dragoons shrink into the distance.
"Soon you'll have worse enemies to deal with," he whispered, a strange smile playing about his lips as he faded back into the darkness of the temple.
End Notes: Dum dum dum… the plot thickens!...