Leaving the school behind, me and Ghidorah headed for the hideout. "Hey, Dusk?" "Yeah Kevin?" "You seem more worn out than usual and..." "And?" "The nightmare that you had was worse than usual wasn't it?" "It was." "What exactly was it about?" "The destructive potential of the Shadow Dragon and..." "A meeting with one of the past Shadow Dragons other than Varjo, correct?" "Correct Ichi. After waking up, Varjo identified him to me as my predecessor." "As in the same one that Leila had previously encountered?" Ni asked. "Possibly. The only one I think who could say for sure would be Leila herself and I'd rather not have her know." "Agreed. No need to feed her further reason to distrust you." "Just keep this between us, okay guys?" "Of course." Ichi replied. "Our lips are sealed." Kevin replied. The rest of the walk was uneventful and before long we had arrived at the hideout with everyone else. We all headed to our own separate corners to train, with me sitting down in a dark and shady corner to mediate and calm the torrent of thoughts in my head. I could feel the energy of everyone else's spellcasting in the room and oddly enough, it was fairly reassuring and comforting. "Hari, are you sure about this? You can still leave here and live a proper life of peace." "Fraid not Varjo. I don't plan on leaving. You're stuck with me until the bitter end." "Hari, you seriously don't need to stay." My eyes snapped open as I looked around the room, wondering what it was that I just heard. "What was that?" I quietly muttered. "It was a memory of the past." 'Why did I see it, Varjo?' "I'm not certain. However, I recalled something that may be of use to you and the others." 'What would that be?' "Special charms meant to aid in the control of magic, as well as amplify it." 'Where can I find them?' "The temple that I once called home, the same one that became my base of operations after my fall to despair." 'How exactly will I convince the others to come without telling them about you?' "There isn't one that would satisfy them. No, the only one that should go with you should be your cousins. You have trusted them with my existence and they in turn trust you. For now that may be sufficient enough." 'Alright. I'll talk with them later and then I'll have you point the location out on a map. Then it'll be a matter of planning the trip there.' "Sounds good." 'Tell me more about these charms.' "Each one is aligned with a different element and as I mentioned before, they help maintain control and boost power." 'How many of them are there?' "Six. Two of which are unique, shadow and atom. The other four are fire, wind, electricity and earth." 'Only six?' "Well, yes and no. Yes in that it was only those six elements, but no in that many of my magic wielding allies wore one. It's just that we only had the majority of fire and wind. One of my allies possessed earth and only one possessed electricity." 'Ah, I see. Will probably want to hold onto that earth charm even if none of us can use it. Just in case.' "Agreed. Never know when another magic wielder will turn up and join us." 'Not likely to happen but I suppose you never know.' The next several minutes passed by in relative silence until Leila came over to me. "I need to talk to you Dusk." 'Here we go.' "What about?" "How quickly your abilities awoke. Even the strongest, most gifted mages of my time did not learn as fast as you did, nor have the ability to teleport as soon as you." "So?" "Is there something that you're not telling us?" I noticed that the others were looking our way, curiosity present in all of them except for Ghidorah. They knew the truth of the matter, something that they had promised to keep quiet for the time being. "Who knows? Maybe as a dragon I just have an easier time at doing so." "He very well could have a point there, Leila." Ichi remarked. "You yourself even mentioned previously that we were showing a great deal of ease in learning spellcasting." "But you guys ain't a dragon." Rodan replied. "Rodan, they're/we're a dragon hydra." I remarked in unison with Ni. "That may be true, but..." "Don't worry too much about it Leila." Ichi stated. "In truth it'll ensure that the others won't have to over rely on youself or us." "Look, there is something seriously strange about this and I want to know what it is." "Come on Leila. I'm curious also, but it's probably better to not worry about it." Mothra interjected. "*Sigh* Alright Mothra." As she walked away with the others returning to their corners as well, I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Ghidorah: "Letting you know that there's something we need to talk about later." I set my phone in my lap and readjusted myself to be comfortable. A minute later my phone vibrated, prompting me to pick it up and see it was a reply. "Assume it's something important?" "Yes." "Okay. Can talk about it in your room after we're done here." "Thanks guys." I watched as three different messages followed, no doubt the three of them wanting to give a personal reply. "Sure thing." "You're welcome" ":)" I smiled and felt thankful for their support.
About a half hour later, we finished up and headed home. Though my talk with Ghidorah would have to wait as Aunt Sera ended up finishing dinner as we arrived. A good meal was of course just the thing we needed after our training earlier. Once done I headed for my room and changed out of my jeans and into some shorts to sleep in later. There was soon a knock on the door and I was pretty certain who it was. "Come in." Sure enough, it was my hydra cousin. "You mentioned earlier that you had something you wanted to talk with us about?" Ni inquired. "That's right. Varjo told me about something that could help us." "What might that be?" Ichi asked. "Some enchanted charms that would help make our spells stronger, more stable and help us contain our magic." "Oh, can definitely see how something like that would be helpful." Kevin remarked. "I agree. Though you guys were the only ones I felt I could convince reliably without getting asked too many questions." "True. It'd be difficult convincing the others without saying how exactly you learned of it." "Yeah. Even if I learned of the location, there'd be no other way of knowing that the charms are there." "So where are we going?" I walked over to my desk, unfolded a map of the island and grabbed a pen. 'Okay Varjo, go ahead and mark where it is.' "Of course Dusk." I took a moment to relax and let Varjo take control, a sensation that was still immensely strange to me. After a few moments of studying the map, Varjo drew a circle at a spot out in a forested area that was around fifteen miles away from town. With that done, Varjo relinquished control back to me which prompted me to pick the map up and show it to Ghidorah. "Hmm." "What are you thinking Ichi?" Ni asked. "It isn't likely we'll be able to make it there, look around and make it back home before it gets late." "You think we should wait for the weekend and camp out nearby and head home in the morning?" I asked. "It's our best option available besides cutting school or taking the risk of hurrying through our search in order to get back before it gets late." "True. Though what do we do about the others?" Ni had a point after all. They were sure to want to tag along and of course there was still the matter of telling them about Varjo living within me which would come as a result of them wondering about how we knew to find the ruins. Sure it would be possible to give an excuse as to how but I had a feeling that at the least, Leila would be the most suspicious. "I don't know Ni. All I can think of is to simply tell them we have plans for the weekend but if possible, not elaborate." "You realize that only Rodan is likely to accept it without question." "I know but I don't really see any other way to do so." After a few more minutes spent ironing out additional details for the trip, they left to head to their room for the night. I sat down on my bed and let out a sigh, I didn't want to have to keep lying and deceiving the others about stuff like this but at the same time, would Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan still trust me after learning that I had two of the previous Shadow Dragons in me? There was no telling if they would. Sure they still trusted me even though I was the Shadow Dragon but… "Dusk, you're overthinking things." 'How can I not? It's only a matter of time until I can't hide your existence from the others and when that does happen, will they still trust me as they do now?' "I believe they will. The real challenge would be in convincing Leila." I knew that of course and it was probably the part that worried me the most.
By the time Friday rolled around me and Ghidorah were prepared for the trip out to the ruins. The others had been informed ahead of time and they had insisted on tagging along or at least knowing where we were going, as we predicted. Thankfully they relented and didn't push the issue of it being something for just me and Ghidorah, something to do to reconnect separate from the others. Despite the reason for us going out was with an actual mission in mind, I still felt that this was something to do as I did want to reconnect with the hydra. Sure it had been about a month since I arrived here but I still wouldn't mind getting time alone with them. Not wasting anymore time we both set off with our bags loaded with our things and Ni keeping an eye on the GPS. The hike was easy going for a while before turning a bit rough, though we kept at it regardless. The trees thankfully kept most of the sun off of us and the hike as a whole was filled with idle conversation, though it was still welcome as we managed to stay off the topic of our shadow war with the Luku. For the most part we talked about when we last saw each other eight years ago and what happened in that time, though I could tell that they were having some trouble asking me questions about things that happened in that time, but I endured the pain that still felt so raw and talked with them about it. "So Dusk, has there ever been someone else in your life? Anyone as more than a friend that is." "Not really Ichi. Amber definitely did have a couple of boyfriends but I never had anyone like that." "Anyone now that catches your attention you'd want to be with?" Ni asked. "Not really." "I don't believe that at all. There is someone, isn't there?" I could feel all six eyes on me, clearly assessing me in an attempt to figure out the truth from me. "I thought you had a thing for Godzilla?" Kevin asked. I could feel my face starting to heat up even as I gave my reply. "No, I didn't." "Dusk, I said it before and I'll say it again. You do not need to worry about judgement toward the gender of those you fall for." "It's not that Ichi , it's just that…" I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts and then replied. "Now isn't really the time to worry about it when we're dealing with Amber and the Luku. I also don't know if he feels the same way." "It is rather hard to tell what he might be feeling or thinking. But you shouldn't let that hold you back from telling him." Ni replied. "Maybe, but it might have to wait until after things are resolved with the Luku." "I suppose so but at the same time you should try and let him know. After all, we don't know how long this will go on. Besides, the last thing we'd want to see is you end up heartbroken because you waited too long and he found someone before you could tell him." Silence crept in and remained there for a time. I knew that Ichi had a point but at the same time, in the event he didn't feel the same and it disrupted our friendship, then that kind of awkwardness wasn't what we needed while we fought our shadow war.
An hour and a half later, we found the decaying temple that had been Varjo's base. "This the place?" "Has to be. From the mark on the map, this is where the GPS led us." 'This it Varjo?' "It is." Kevin turned to look at me before asking me if it was indeed the place. "It is guys." We both spent a few moments staring up at the once majestic ruin before Ichi spoke up. "Before we head inside we should find somewhere to set up camp." "Good idea." We headed a couple feet away from the ruin and soon found a decent enough clearing to set the tent up at which was soon followed by us preparing lunch, which was nothing more than some store bought subs and bottles of pop, though it was simple and filling for us either way. With lunch finished and our trash packed away to take home with us, we headed back to the ruins and started to carefully find a way in. I was very particular about where I was walking, remembering the last time I found a way into ruins. "Dusk! We think we've found a way in!" I followed in the direction that Ni's shout had come from, soon finding them and the hole in the ground seeming to lead inside. I pulled a flashlight out from my back pocket and shined it inside, revealing carved stone walls and cracked stone floor. There were several roots growing out of the walls, floor and ceiling and from what I could tell this was at one point a passageway, though it was clear whatever ladder or steps were long gone. I looked up at Ghidorah. "What do you guys think?" "This may be the best one we'll find." Ichi replied. "We did find a few other ways in but they were either collapsed or looked very unstable." Kevin remarked. "Well, down we go then." I hopped down in the tunnel, finding it to about a five foot drop. Stepping into the tunnel, Ghidorah dropped down behind me and followed behind as we headed further in. It soon opened up into a large, open room and I waited for Ghidorah to get another flashlight out of my backpack and switch it on. As we walked further in with our lights shining around the room, I froze as mine came to rest on a cobweb covered skeleton. "Holy crap." I muttered. "There's remains over here too." Ni remarked. I shined my light around the room and saw several more skeletons and felt my blood run cold. This was the last stand made by Varjo and his followers, they had fought to the bitter end and this was all that was left of them and their cause. We both continued walking, being careful not to disturb any of the bones of long dead fighters at least until I froze in my tracks as my light fell on the bones of a hydra. "What is it Dusk?" I didn't answer, instead making my way over to the skeleton and kneeling down in front of it. Unlike my three headed cousin, this one had five heads and the other thing that caught my attention was the collar-like band fitted with a dull yellow gem around the base of the third head which I thought would also be their middle head. I heard a shocked gasp from behind me, singling that Ghidorah had come over to see what had caught my attention. "A five headed hydra." "Varjo, is that collar of theirs what we're looking for?" "It is." Something seemed different about how Varjo replied to me and looking at Ghidorah seemed to confirm it, as if they had heard him too. I ended up seeing something coming toward us out of the corner of my eye and as I stood and shined my light on it, and was surprised to see it was a familiar dark blue, purple and black striped dragon with mismatched eyes of gold and dark purple. "Varjo?! How are you-?!" "There is some deep magic residing within the stones here. In combination with that is my connection with you is a lot deeper than those of your predecessors." Regardless of our surprise, he walked over to kneel in front of the hydra skeleton with me and Ghidorah soon following suit. "Galantus. They were a dear friend of mine and Valo's, known them nearly all my life." "And they were more than willing to join you after learning what you intended?" Ichi asked. "That's right. Galantus actually approached me early on, mentioning that they had a good idea of what I intended to do and offered their assistance toward it." Something in the air seemed to change and from somewhere came several voices. "Varjo, we know what you're going to do." "You intend to bring Valo back from the grave." "We don't intend to stop you." "Let us help you." "Valo was as much of a brother to us as he was to you. The least we can do is assist you in this matter." "Was that-?" Ni started to ask. "Yes. A remnant from the day they pledged their aid to me. In any case go ahead and lay claim to his charm." I reached forward and carefully unlatched it from the middle head's neck before standing and facing Ghidorah. "Ready Ichi?" "I am." I wrapped it around the base of his neck and latched it, the gem on it soon lighting up to give a faint but vibrant yellow glow. "How's it feel?" "Like it was meant for us." With that done I picked my flashlight off the floor before facing Varjo. "Where to next?" "I'm not certain, though I'll know it when we're near them. I created the charms used by me and those closest to me so I'll be able to recognize their magic." With that we continued deeper in, soon finding progressively more and more remains though there were some piles of ash where I guess that some were incinerated. Not long after that thought came to me, Varjo motioned for us to stop. "There's one nearby. It's the charm of fire." As the three of us set about looking around, I soon ended up noticing something partially reflecting my light. I walked over toward it and found an ash pile with a scorched bracelet sticking partially out of it and as I picked it out of the ashes I felt my stomach churn. "I think I found it." Varjo soon came over to me to verify my find. "This is it." I watched as the red gem on it started to glow and the ash on it seemed to disappear completely from it and my fingers while also radiating a warm heat. "Look, Varjo. I don't care that many won't agree with this. That many would misinterpret this as something more sinister. You're my friend and there is no way in hell that I'm abandoning you so like or not, you're stuck with me." "Who was that?" Ni asked. "Vulus. He was strong and dependable but also very stubborn. A year and a half after Valo's death he came to me to join and was very insistent on it even though doing so would mean going against his wife and sisters." I pulled a pouch out of my backpack and put the bracelet inside of it before storing it back. With that we continued on our way through the complex, wondering just how much more carnage there was.
We ended up finding one last room where a bulk of fighting had taken place and it was there we found the remaining charms. The wind charm once belonged to a female named Silvina and the earth charm to a male named Aidris. I found myself wandering the room while Ghidorah spoke with Varjo. "So how many more charms are there?" Ichi asked. "Two more. One of shadow that I originally used and one of atom that was used by my dear friend Hari." I climbed a nearby staircase that was littered with remains and at the top was a shrine of sorts and besides the few skeletons scattered around the room were two nearest to the shrine. One of which was a dragon and therefore Varjo which was followed by me taking notice of the silver amulet with a purple gem that hung around his neck and on the other skeleton was a black bracelet with a dull blue gem in it and as I reached for the bracelet, I felt a chill shoot through me. "Dusk, are you okay?" I barely heard Kevin's question as everything seemed to fade away and get drowned out. "A shadow of benevolent intent has come and with it, hope to undo the persecution of the light." My mind was going blank, vision dark and body going numb. "...usk? H…. you …ky?!" "Don't be afraid. From now on, we will be with you." Suddenly I could see five figures standing before me and watched as four of them approached me. "Greetings Dusk, it is good to finally meet with one like you." 'One like me?' "Yes. Those touched by shadow. You however are the only one to carry a soul akin to Varjo himself." 'Then, are all of you…?' "Yes we are the ones who fought alongside him in the past." 'Why are one of you hanging back?' "You have yet to meet someone with a similar soul to them, but perhaps you will in time though." 'What will you guys do now?' "Our souls were bound to this place through the charms we carried. When Varjo crafted them for us, he bound each one to us." 'If that's the case then how can we use them?' "I mentioned earlier that you carry a soul like that of Varjo's. It's much the same for those with you as they also carry souls much akin to the rest of us." "He mentioned the nightmare he had involving his predecessor, is that what's happening?" "No. This is something else entirely." It was Ichi and Varjo, it felt odd at the moment that I could hear them. "I suppose we'll have to cut this short. Take care Dusk and remember that you, your cousin and your friends are not alone as we will be with you all throughout this ordeal." As the scene faded away, my body started to regain feeling and I managed to open my eyes to see three pairs of red staring at me with concern. "Dusk! Are you okay?! It seemed like something was up, but when you collapsed and didn't respond when we tried to wake you up, I-I thought you ended up…" Kevin was on the verge of tears and it hurt to see him so worried. "What exactly happened?" Ichi asked, sounding calmer than Kevin but it was obvious that he was just as scared and concerned. "I'm not entirely sure but I ended up seeing them." "Them? Them who?" Ni asked. "Those that fought alongside Varjo. The same ones whose charms we're taking." "Really? Why did they-?" "They simply wanted to pass on their support." "Really?" How were they able to do so?" Varjo asked as he approached us. "Their souls are still tethered here through the charms you made them and it's through them that they'll support us." Varjo seemed rather thoughtful for a moment, no doubt thinking about how he had inadvertently played a role in condemning their souls to these ruins. "Varjo, they told me about how you made the charms for them and how it is that they'll work for us." "Because your souls resemble theirs." "Right, but the whole reason I even got to talk to them was because of the resemblance my soul had with yours. Mentioning that I was the first." "It is true. Even if it was some strange twist that reversed the roles of yourself and Amber, you still proved that the past history of your role did not solely dictate your path." "It might be a bit too early to say that Varjo. I still have Murdock to deal with." "He won't get you Dusk. No matter how hard he tries, he won't succeed." "We can only hope." Ni remarked.
With all six charms in our possession, we headed outside and back to camp. I was still musing over my surprise meeting with Hari and the others and I had a feeling Ghidorah noticed that as well and for the most part gave me the space to do so. I briefly found myself wondering how I ended up as a conduit for the dead to speak to/through. Yet maybe it was because of my status as the Shadow Dragon and near death experience. Regardless I put it aside and joined Ghidorah for dinner but my mind was still distracted and I didn't end up eating much. "Dusk? You okay?" I heard Kevin ask. "I'm not sure, to be honest. Just a lot to take in, you know?" "It is." Ichi replied. "Just don't dwell too much on some of it." "That's right, we're in this together and we'll be able to get this resolved without any more heartbreak." Kevin proclaimed. "Thanks guys, I appreciate it."