Dark Flare Knight…?

Lloyd and his friends had arrived in Ozette after a long journey that had taken them all the way from Meltokio to Sybak, through the dreaded Gaoraccia Forest, to Mizuho, back through the forest and finally they had arrived at their destination, Ozette.

After an encounter with a mysterious half-elf at Presea's house, they went to Altessa's to try to get Presea's Key Crest fixed so that she could once again, begin to truly live. But it became clear that Altessa was unwilling to help, and they had to fix the Key Crest themselves. The night was coming, and it would be advantageous to leave for the Toize Valley mine in the morning rather than at night. So they checked in at the Inn at Ozette.

It was then when they heard something rather odd. "So this Dark Flare Knight… he can't be good news… especially if he can defeat an entire troop of Papal Knights. Even scarier was that they were led by Kyle Pittman. " A man who was sitting in the corner of the inn said.

"Yeah. No doubt he's up to no good. I hear he's just like that Thunder dude. You know, the one with the dragon. The one who thinks he can circumvent the caste system. But the Dark Flare Knight is also a mercenary . It's said he'll do almost anything if you pay him enough gald." Another man who was sitting across from the first one said.

The two men continued talking about the Dark Flare Knight for awhile , telling more and more outlandish tales of devilish deeds and innocents being slain. But as it went on, it became clear that this Dark Flare Knight was almost exactly like Reiko.

Reiko, who was listening to the conversation then asked one of the two men about where he could learn more about the Dark Flare Knight.

"There's information on him on the wanted poster outside. There's also a person who likes to stand there… he's rumored to know quite a bit about him."

"Thanks." Reiko then left and he went to the wanted poster outside the inn. Sure enough, Reiko saw that there was a wanted notice for a Dark Flare Knight. "Wanted: Dead or Alive. DARK FLARE KNIGHT. Feanor Indignir. Reward if captured: 170,000 gald" There was a picture of the knight after the words, but the name of the Dark Flare Knight surprised Reiko. "Impossible. All of the other Indignirs are dead. I'm the only one left after Aerifdall." He muttered.

"Do you really think that you are the only one left kid?" A mysterious voice called out to Reiko.

"Who said that!"

"You aren't the only Indignir who survived the massacre… Your grandfather, and… your brother are still alive. It's just up until now; you were the only one in Tethe'alla. Until Feanor fell into that Otherworldly Gate…" A man in thick leather armor said, as he stepped out of the shadows.

"What do you mean?"

"I am your brother's assistant, the one who got him out of the Iselia Region, the one who helped him get away from Forcystus."

"Huh… what?" "I will take you to your brother if you wish."

"Take me please."

"As you wish."

"But my friends are going too. I won't relinquish that."

"Fine."

Reiko then walked into the inn and awoke everyone. After explaining the situation, the left and went to meet with the man in leather armor. After a quick chat, they headed into the forest, eventually coming to a cave with a door; it was surrounded by trees and other shrubbery, and thus it was well hidden. The cave must've been almost impossible to find, therefore only people who it's inhabitants deemed trustworthy may be able to find it.

"Shadow… you have an important guest." The leather-clad man said. A slot on the door opened, and the Shadow looked out through it.

"There's more than… IS THAT—So… you've betrayed me have you? You let Lloyd Irving find me ." The Shadow shouted. "Lloyd will kill me after what happened to Iselia."

"I don't think your brother will let that happen."

"What, my brother?"

"Brother is it really you? Are you really alive?"

"Reiko…" The door then opened; revealing a man, who looked almost exactly like Reiko, save for a couple distinct differences. Rieko had gray eyes, whilst the Dark Flare Knight had red. Other then that odd difference, the only other was the armor. Reiko's was blue and trimmed with silver, while the Dark Flare Knight's was black and trimmed with red. They also wielded similar swords. Both had Zweihanders, but Feanor's Flamberge was a long jagged sword with a huge golden cross, that had an Exsphere in it, in the center of the hilt.

"Brother! It is true! You are still alive." Reiko shouted.

Suddenly Colette heard something. "Someone's coming!" she cried.

"Oh no…" Lloyd said. Suddenly a Papal Knight grabbed Colette, and then held a dagger to her throat, and he retreated into the forest, and before anyone could stop his retreat, more Papal Knights got in between Lloyd's group and the first Papal Knight.

"AHHH! HELP ME!" Colette shrieked as she was dragged off. "Colette!" Lloyd shouted. "

Hehe. Looks like your insurrection is over, travelers from Sylvarant. We've captured Colette."

"Don't assume anything." Feanor said. He had gotten behind one of the knights. "WITCH HUNT!" A blast of darkness encircled the knight as Feanor stabbed him. The blade went clean through the knight, and the knight's blood spilled all over the ground. The knight fell forward, and then Feanor lifted his blade out of the knight's body. Suddenly an eerie specter appeared above the knight's body, and then it screamed and vanished into darkness. "Hehe… Drained his soul."

"Incredible, Feanor." Lloyd said.

"Call me Shadow. Until this sickening system that Lord Yggdrasill has in place is no more, I am not Feanor Indignir. I am the Shadow."

"Right. But we have to save Colette!"

"Heh… gotcha!" Shadow said, as he approached the next knight. That knight was terrified out of his mind by what just happened to his ally. He shrieked in cold terror as Shadow approached him. But instead of attempting to drain the knight's soul, Shadow hit with another attack. "Earth Divide!" Shadow's Flamberge began to glow, and then he swung it with incredible force, bashing the knight into the ground.

"Now to finish this… Cycle Beam!" Shadow's sword began to glow again, but this time a ball of fire mana appeared in front of him, and it suddenly unleashed a huge beam of fire. At that same time Reiko unleashed his Raiden attack. The two hit the knight at the same time. The knight was reduced to ashes instantly.

They didn't have much time left so they raced off into the forest in hopes of catching the knight who has Colette.