I do not own Legend of Dragoon or any of the characters.
Identity
Cade stared at the massive structure in silence. It looked like it might have been a massive tower at one time that fell over, except that all that remained of it was a pair of pillars that looked like stone extending alongside each other, then five stone rings connecting them. Cade could see magic distorting reality around it, and couldn't help but wonder what it was.
"It's a Magical Arrow Shooter," Rose said, stepping up onto the small raised platform beside him. "It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. We used it to shoot down the Tower of Flanvel and the rest of the Wingly Circle after it."
Cade nodded, slipping his hand into hers, giving it a light squeeze. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Rose nodded. "It'll be fine. We'll find out who he is, stop him, and then we'll take a few decades off to relax."
Cade smiled, nodding. "Sounds like a plan."
Rose smiled, kissing him, then pulled away and walked back down the steps, Cade following her as they caught up to the others. They walked through the ruin in silence, but after a few more minutes, they reached a fork in the path, one heading to the entrance to the seven towers where the former Dragoons once lived, and the other heading down under them to where Lloyd claimed Emperor Diaz waited. However, just as they reached the fork, Cade sensed something, a magic power forming in front of them.
"Something's here," he warned, drawing his sword, everyone else besides Lloyd likewise readying themselves, only for Shirley to appear before them. "Shirley?"
"I have been waiting for you," Shirley said, looking to Rose.
"Why?" Rose asked, frowning. "Why are you here? You ascended to heaven, I thought."
Shirley shook her head. "I couldn't go yet. I still had something I needed to take care of here in Vellweb." She looked toward the towers, and Cade's gut dropped. "I couldn't leave their souls trapped alone in this world."
"Are you talking about..." Rose trailed off as Shirley nodded.
"The four Dragoons who lost their lives during the Dragon Campaign," Shirley confirmed. "Their souls were drawn to Mayfil. The gate of the inferno from which you can never return, is summoning the souls of the Dragoons."
"The Death City Mayfil!?" Rose gasped. "I thought it was destroyed!"
Shirley again shook her head. "I don't know how, but the gate of the inferno is open." Shirley began to shimmer and fade. "Rose, I made their souls inert and anchored them in this place, but there is a limit to my power. After you meet Diaz, please visit this place again and lead their souls to Heaven."
Rose's fists clenched and Cade felt his chest compress in sympathy. To stop the Dragoons, her friends, from going to the gate of the inferno in Mayfil and enduring eternal suffering, they would have to kill them again. Rose would have to kill her friends. Shirley shone and faded and Cade stepped up beside Rose, setting a hand on her shoulder and seeing the confliction and pain in her eyes.
"The souls of the Dragoons are wandering somewhere in those towers," Rose said.
"We'll come back for them," Cade promised. "And when we do, I can do it."
Rose's eyes widened as she turned her gaze to him.
"I'll send them to Heaven," Cade volunteered. "You don't have to do it."
Rose's eyes softened and she shook her head. "You can't beat them alone. They all specialize in killing Winglies. We'll guide them together."
Cade nodded. "But first, Diaz."
Rose nodded. "Right. One problem at a time."
Cade nodded, looking to the others, and nodded. Dart returned the gesture and they all headed down the stairs to the left of the fork. They made their way down a long spiraling staircase before heading outside and down a short set of stairs to a lower level, then through a door. Inside, there was a short walkway ending in a round platform, all of which extended out over a massive chasm. A pair of torches burned to either side of the door, and lying on the floor in the center of the round platform, which had an intricate spiraling design taking up most of it, was Shana. Dart sprinted forward instantly.
"Shana!" Dart called out as Cade stared at the empty throne before them.
"Be ready," Rose whispered. "This will probably end up being a fight."
Cade nodded, left hand gripping his sword's scabbard tightly. Just as Dart reached Shana, she suddenly floated up into the air and a green light flashed from the throne before Diaz appeared in it. In his right hand was a red, stone staff with the top carved into a dragon's head, and he wore a white robe with a red dragon design down the front, red metal shoulders, a red cape, and a massive, red, metal mask or helmet. It was flat on top and stuck out almost to a point in the front.
"Diaz," Lloyd said, stepping forward. "Here are all three Divine Moon Objects." He looked to Dart, who nodded, pulling them out and releasing them, allowing them to float in a line before them. "There are no more obstacles to hinder our utopia. Please, release the girl."
Diaz held his arms out and the Divine Moon Objects floated over to him before shining, the light sinking into his chest. Cade narrowed his eyes. That was Wingly Magic.
"Fine," Diaz nodded, his voice distorted by his helmet.
Shana floated down into Dart's arms, and he checked her for injuries for a moment before gently setting her against the low wall beside him, then turned back to Diaz.
"Diaz!" Albert called out, stepping forward. "What are you going to do with the Divine Moon Objects?"
"Didn't you hear it from Lloyd?" Diaz asked. "My only desire is the advent of the last species."
"If you are the true Diaz, you should know what that implies," Rose said, stepping forward as Cade's right hand closed around his sword's grip.
Diaz nodded. "Total destruction."
"Wha...What do you mean!?" Lloyd asked.
"The last species is actually the Virage Embryo, or in another name, the God of Destruction," Cade said, drawing his sword.
"Very good, little abomination," Diaz nodded. "That's correct. Lloyd, well done bringing me the Moon Gem, Moon Dagger, and Moon Mirror. Now we can let the Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction, the last species we desire, the true Virage, arise. I will create the utopia you wanted, after the Virage Embryo purges the world."
"Everything so far was an overture to that," Rose said, glancing at Cade. "That's the shadow you've been feeling."
Cade nodded. "I agree. However, Diaz, what makes you think we're going to let you free the Virage Embryo?"
"I don't understand," Lloyd said.
"He showed you a false utopia from the beginning," Rose said. "It was all a lie."
Lloyd grit his teeth, seeming to struggle to accept it for a moment before nodding. "You deceived me. My utopia exists in the future of this world." He summoned the Dragon Buster. "What I desire is the creation of the future, not the destruction of this world!"
"I don't need you anymore," Diaz said, extending his right arm and tilting his staff toward Lloyd.
Lloyd looked around as spheres of green light began to form and then condense around him, but Cade shot forward before Diaz could cast his spell. However, before he could reach Diaz, Diaz swung his free hand as though backhanding Cade and a flash of red magic power blasted into Cade, sending him crashing into the floor behind the others, fracturing it.
"Cade!" Rose gasped, kneeling beside him as Diaz's other spell formed a sphere of flames around Lloyd, lifting him into the air.
Lloyd shouted in pain as the magic burned him, only to be sent exploding through the floor and plummeting down into the ruins thousands of feet below.
"Dammit," Cade groaned, pushing himself up. "There goes my Wingly Power Armor."
"Are you alright?" Rose asked.
"I'll be fine," Cade said.
"I don't need to hide anymore," Diaz said, Cade and Rose turning their attention back to him as he stood.
Off to the side, Shana groaned as she stirred, looking around. Cade and Rose stepped forward, both readying their blades, as did Dart.
"It's been a while..." Diaz said, reaching up and pulling his helmet off, "Rose, Dart."
He had blonde hair combed back with a few of his bangs falling forward to frame his face, and his skin was starting to wrinkle with age, but the family resemblance was definitely there. He was Dart's father. However, when Cade looked over at Rose, and saw the shock and turmoil there, he realized who this was.
"Father?" Dart asked.
"It can't be," Rose said.
"Is that Zieg?" Cade asked, Rose nodding. "I see."
"Is it really you, father?" Dart asked.
"You died!" Rose said, eyes watering. "You and Melbu Frahma died on each other's swords!"
"Rose, what are you talking about?" Dart asked.
"Now, I can tell you everything," Zieg said. "The beginning of the world was an absolute nothingness. Darkness. The creator Soa sowed a seed to the earth. This is the plan of Soa that created all species. The birth of the Divine Tree. Eventually, the fruit of the Divine Tree ripened and fell to the ground to fill the world with life. Gigantos from the ninety seventh fruit. Minitos from the ninety ninth fruit. Dragons from the one hundred fifth fruit. Humans from the one hundred sixth fruit. Winglies with magic power from the one hundred seventh fruit. And at the end, the Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction, was to be born from the one hundred eighth fruit. Soa desired the destruction and regeneration of the world by the Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction. However, eleven thousand years ago, Winglies found out the tragedy waiting for them and sealed the one hundred eighth fruit by separated the flesh and soul. The flesh of the god, the flesh of the Virage Embryo, was taken away from the Winglies as the Moon That Never Sets that glows in the sky. And the soul was captured in the Crystal Sphere and Melbu Frahma kept it. Yes, to draw unlimited magic power from that, and to conquer the other creatures. However, even with unlimited magic power, the domination was not eternal. Humans arose with Dragoons in front. Nothing was their match because they obtained the power of the Dragons. And finally they drove Melbu Frahma into a corner. I felt certain of Humanity...my victory. And it was in the next moment, the spell of petrification cast by Melbu Frahma captured me. I have waited for eleven thousand years. Time, almost eternal, dissolved the spell, and I was released from captivity. Days spent with Rose became the eternal past, and I lived as the father of Dart in this age. Until the tragic day in Neet."
Cade could see Rose and Dart both struggling with what he was saying. Rose was struggling with the guilt of not only having left him trapped in stone for eleven thousand years, but also upon realizing that she had tried to kill him. Dart, on the other hand, was struggling to grasp that his father was one of the original Dragoons.
"I cannot believe it," Rose said finally.
"I am here," Zieg said. "That should prove my words."
"Then, both my dad and Rose...are heroes from the Dragon Campaign?" Dart asked.
"Yes, but that's not all," Zieg said.
Cade formed his wings instantly, but Rose caught him by the shoulder, face an emotionless mask as she watched Zieg.
"The Humans made a mistake," Zieg said. "Silly Humans destroyed the Crystal Sphere, which was the container of the god's soul, along with the Royal Capital Kadessa. The Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction, was exultant. It could now be born. The free soul, released from the Crystal Sphere, started to wander. In order to go back to its body, the Moon That Never Sets, to be born as the last god, and to destroy the world, the soul without a body possesses a Human's body instead and heads for the Moon That Never Sets by completing the transmigration every one hundred and eight years. So now you know. The soul of the God of Destruction is the Moon Child. The truth of the Moon Child in the legend. 'Count one hundred eight years, and when the Moon That Never Sets glares red, the Moon Child descends to the Earth and shall give a holy blessing to the world.' The 'Holy Blessing' is destruction. The Destruction is Soa's will. This is...the fate that rules the future of this world." He turned back toward his throne. "But, there was one Dragoon who found out about it."
Rose's gaze turned distant instantly.
"In order to deter the birth of the God of Destruction, she has to kill the Moon Child," Zieg said. "By stopping her own time. She was even called a demon." He turned, pointing her staff at Rose. "That is the true self of Rose! The Black Monster!"
Cade gripped his sword tightly and dropped his gaze to the ground, setting his jaw, as Dart turned to Rose.
"Rose is...the Black...Monster?" Dart asked.
Rose looked away.
"Tell me it's not true!" Dart snapped.
"The Moon Child has to be killed," Rose said. "And the people around it, too, before they become the servants of the God of Destruction."
"Neet too!?" Dart demanded, then looked to Cade. "Did you know!?"
"Yes, I knew," Cade said.
"For eleven thousand years, there have been no exceptions," Rose said.
"GOD! ! !" Dart shouted, restraining the urge to attack them both. "Why you!? Why do you have to be the Black Monster!?"
"That's it," Zieg said, raising his arms and beginning to levitate Shana, only for Cade to swipe his hand, through the air three times, his extended index and middle fingers glowing red, and an magic barrier appeared around Shana, allowing her to drop the couple inches back to the floor, once again in a sleep from Zieg's magic. "You little pest."
"Where did you get Wingly Magic if you're a Human?" Cade asked.
"When I awoke from my petrification, I had magic," Zieg said. "Now begone."
He swung a hand and a solid blast of magic crashed into into him like an invisible explosion, sending him crashing into the wall over the door before he fell back to the floor.
"Cade!" Rose gasped as Zieg floated Shana over to him, this time his spell going unhindered as Cade was still struggling to stand.
"What are you going to do!?" Dart demanded.
"Let me tell you one more truth," Zieg said. "Rose, you thought Princess Louvia, who you killed eighteen years ago, was the Moon Child, but that's not true."
Rose's eyes widened as Cade managed to regain his feet.
"Louvia had a twin sister," Zieg said.
"N-No!" Rose gasped, eyes widening.
"That's right," Zieg nodded. "Shana is the Moon Child! Shana is the soul of the Virage Embryo, the God of Destruction! I'll dissolve the signet of the Moon That Never Sets and go to it with the Moon Child. Now, I have everything in my hands."
"Release Shana!" Dart ordered.
"And are you going to kill her?" Zieg asked. "To save the world?"
"I will!" Cade shouted, exploding forward, only for Zieg's face to contort in annoyance.
The blast that hit him this time was far, far stronger and shattered his ribs as it sent him exploding down through the floor, only for Rose to catch his hand. He groaned, pulling himself back up, with help from Meru, and collapsed beside his sword, which had, thankfully, landed on the walkway again.
"You are rather persistent, abomination," Zieg said. "But you are too late to stop me."
"Zieg, why!?" Rose demanded.
"All is the will of the creator, Soa," Zieg said. "My hands start the world, and my hands end the world." He raised his arms and shone for a moment before the light faded, leaving him in form-fitting red armor and hovering beside Shana. "Yes, fate desires it!" He began to shine with green light, preparing to teleport himself
"Dad!" Dart shouted. "Wait!"
Then, the green light flashed and both Zieg and Shana were gone.
"Shana!" Dart shouted. "Dammit!"
He kicked a low wall, hard, and it broke free and fell. Cade groaned, pushing himself up as his left palm shone white against his side, healing his ribs. For a moment, no one spoke, no one moved, no one did anything, except for Dart. Finally, Dart calmed himself and they all left Vellweb without a work.
"Now what do we do?" Albert asked. "Where do we go?"
Everyone looked around in silence for a long few seconds.
"Ulara," Cade finally said. "We have to go to Ulara."
"Agreed," Rose nodded.
"Ulara?" Albert asked.
"It's another Wingly city," Cade said. "It's the only one beside the Forest of Winglies where they still live. The only problem is..."
"It's in the Death Frontier," Rose said. "Reaching it won't be easy."
"Why do we have to go there?" Miranda asked.
"There's someone there that might be able to help," Rose said."
"Who's that?" Dart asked.
"A friend," Rose said.
"Great," Dart growled. "One more secret for you and Cade to keep."
"I'm not going to apologize for not telling you," Cade said flatly. "It wasn't my secret to tell, and I have no reason to apologize. If you don't want to travel with us anymore, that's fine. But we're going to Ulara. We still have to stop the Virage Embryo from being born. If there's a way to save Shana in the process, we'll try, but we will stop the Virage Embryo."
"Even if that means killing Shana?" Dart asked.
"If that's what it takes to save this world from destruction, then yes," Cade said.
"Enough," Albert sighed finally. "If it's in the Death Frontier, it's a long ways away. We should get moving."
Cade nodded to Albert, then looked to Rose. She looked up at him for a moment before dropping her gaze back to the ground and walking away, everyone else following, including Dart, though only after several moments of internal debate with himself.
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