Author's note: I do not own Dragon Quest IV

Battle For Glory

Chapter 7: Old Enemies

Airlia took a moment to absorb what Alistair had said before she looked up at him. "Don't make promises you can't keep. We're fighting some sort of evil… I'm bound to get hurt now and again."

He gave her a small smile. "I know, but I, myself, will never hurt you ever again." Alistair leaned over to kiss her forehead.

The pair heard a groan as she turned her head towards the former Marquis de Leon whom was now human again as his golden hair shifted with his movements. "Are you better now your highness?" The seer questioned as he shook his head.

"Not particularly. I killed my father… I let Balzack kill an innocent man who was just trying to further our learning." The man said as he brushed off his royal blue robes.

Airlia shook her head, "Don't think about it any more Majesty. You weren't in control of yourself and can't be blamed for it. Just recover from the horror and tend to your people once more and they will in time forgive you and understand what happened."

He groaned but nodded, "I will do my best to help my people."

She nodded, "Start first by removing everyone from the town of Mamon. The mine's are poisonous and are killing the people there. When they break through the wall, they'll find the castle where the former ruler of evil, Esturk, lived. By that point, I will be away from Alistair protecting a young woman who is in terrible danger. Her death will trigger a series of events that will cause Psaro to turn fully to the side of evil. He merely wants to make the world safe for her."

Alistair looked at her, "How certain are you?"

Her silver eyes closed in pain. "As sure as I am about Balzack being at Zamoksva right now… Stronger than ever and desecrating the throne with his vile presence. That's our next stop actually. On the way, I will give you the locations of the Zenethian Armor that you can get before going after Estark. I don't know when they come to grab her, but I want to keep her safe… Please understand."

He nodded, "Then let's go get this stuff and make sure that she remains safe."

He led the way back out of the castle as the human approached Ragnar with a wide smile. "I'm happy goo are alive! Please, be safe Ragnar my friend!"

Ragnar smiled as he clasped the outstretched hand, "Thank you my friend. You are always welcomed in my home of Burland. Take care Healie."

The group proceeded to the ship as Airlia went to the map immediately and took a special marking tool and denoted with X's where the armor was. Alistair came over and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, caressing there softly. "What are these?"

She smiled at him. "This is where the armor is, you'll need the ship to reach it. This is where the shield is, you'll need the magma staff from Zamoksva to reach there. This is where the helmet is, you'll need Tom O'Foolery from Laissez Fayre to get it. The king wants to cheer up his people, but really he needs a talking to from a comedian to make him realize the only time the people will be happy is if the threat of death goes away. Obtain these before you go after Estark Alistair. They will help protect you. This is the location of the Zenethian Sword. You will need the gas tank guarded by a spirit in Estark's home to reach it by going down here…" She circled a village. "They made a hot air balloon but it has no means of lifting off the ground. This will give you the wings you need. By then, I will be with you again with the woman I need to protect."

He looked at her, "Are you sure Airlia?"

She nodded, "I am deeply sure. Getting the armor will help you, then go to the crypt south of Endor. Get the staff of transmutation. It will be the key to getting you in and out of a place called Diabolic Hall to the south and east of Riverton directly south of Endor. Please Alistair, be safe. I promise, I'll be okay." She didn't want to tell him of her feelings… of how hurt she was when he would look at her with his death glares.

Once they were on the ship, she told them everything, about where she was really from, and how apparently she had gotten to their world. When it was done, she sighed heavily, "That's all there is to my story. I never wanted to intentionally hurt anyone really. But I knew how hard it would be to believe it."

Alistair looked at Airlia with a small comforting smile. "Thank you for entrusting us with your story, I know it was hard to do…"

She walked away from the group and looked at the edge of the ship as it headed towards the empty Zamoksva. It had hurt her when he looked at her with such hate, but to find out now that he was free of it… there was a different look in his eyes, one that she wasn't ready to examine. Airlia froze as she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning him to face her. "Alistair? What?"

He gently pressed his lips to her in an experimental kiss. "Airlia…" The green haired man was breathing heavily.

She blushed as her gaze met his. "Alistair… I… I…" Her words were failing her.

He pulled her tightly to him, "I want you to be careful. If that attack comes and you can't defend the lady… take this and come find us." He gave her a chimaera wing.

She nodded, "Thank you Alistair. I promise I will." She placed the wing in her bag as a blush rose to her cheeks, unbidden. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but wasn't sure if it was proper…

Borya came up with a small smile on his face. "Airlia, I placed a special charm on that wing that he gave you. Wherever we are, it will take you to us. Don't be afraid to use it."

She nodded, "Thank you Borya. Thank you Alistair. I promise, I'll be safe." Once they approached the castle, her expression darkened. "Let's go kick this guy's ass out of the castle and into Nadiria, shall we?"

Alena nodded with an emphatic cracking of her knuckles. "Think they'll take over my home do they? Nyet! I will kill him personally!"

Meena chuckled, "We'll all go and put an end to this Alena." The ship docked at the coast as they went inside to find a yet empty castle and a flame at the back guarding the other door.

Airlia shook her head, "Beyond there is two items of extreme importance. Now let's go deal with the moron who pretends to be a king." They went directly up the stairs to the throne room where a giant creature covered in scales sat on the throne, He no longer looked like the one that Meena and Maya had fought.

"Is that really him Airlia? He looks so different." Meena asked as the brunette only nodded. "Then let's go kill him for good!"

They approached the throne as the creature let out a throaty chuckle. "My my… if it isn't the Mahabala sisters. And you brought friends this time, how adorable! My great lord Psaro has bestowed on me the gift of life once more and another chance to defeat you all with the secret of evolution! I am now Baalzack!"

Airlia growled darkly, "You're still the same prat that they beat you know. You are just wrapped in a different package with a big flashy bow!" She took a swipe at him, catching his hand before he could cast a spell. "Try again you moron!"

Meena lunged with her sword trying to slay him. "I'll kill you damn it!"

He laughed as he blocked the slice with his tail, cutting deeply into it as he hissed. "Stupid woman!" He threw her back as Airlia ran to her.

She glared at him as words came unbidden to her mind. Shaking her head, she glared at him and whispered, "Sizz!" Fire danced from her hands burning the creature.

He growled, "You impudent bitch!" He thrusted his hands towards her as the sheer force of wind came at her, sending her sprawling backwards.

Alistair scowled darkly as he raised a hand to the skies, "Zap!" Lightning came down and struck the monster, ending his life immediately. Airlia struggled to stand up, her body aching with movements.

Meena stood once the brunette was up and leaned against her for support as Alistair and Kyril quickly began to heal them of their injuries. "Thanks guys." The purple haired woman said as a demon came forward looking at the fallen body of Baalzack.

"So he failth us then! I'll take this." He spoke grabbing the armlet.

Airlia's eyes widened. "No!" She ran at the demon who vanished just before she could reach him. "Damn it!" She swore looking at where he had been.

Alena looked at the woman from another world, "What's the matter Airlia?"

The brunette looked at the princess, "It was brought into play by you initially back when the fake princess had been kidnapped… it's what Psaro is going to use to try and destroy the world and later if we're able to save Rose it will fall into the hands of the one of his supposedly right hand men. Nothing but greed…"

The princess growled as she punched the air angrily. "Damn these monsters! Not all may be bad but damn the ones trying to cause more trouble."

They walked downstairs and to the back of the castle where the the locked door was no longer guarded by the flame creature. Taking the magic key, Airlia walked up to the door and unlocked it. "Where I came from, there was a special enchantment on the floor to harm any who were not meant to be in here. Maya do you know something like Safe Passage?"

The dancer nodded, "Aye I do." She casted the spell as Airlia went inside and obtained the flute, the staff and a seed of strength.

"Borya, here is a staff to help you. It will protect you well and if used in battle, it can cast a spell." She held onto the flute as she looked around to see whom to give the seed to.

Alistair shook his head, "No, you keep it Airlia. You're gonna need all of the help you can get." Smiling, she popped the seed into her mouth and swallowed it.

They returned to the ship, as she studied the flute. She pulled the flute to her lips and began to play, to figure out the notes that she had known better than anything. Once she mastered it, she sighed softly. "We'll make it happen… I'll make sure you survive. No matter what." She walked to Taloon whom was sailing the ship. "Here is where we have to go Torneko… The easiest path is this way." She pointed it out to him as he grinned. "Wow, we're really going to see the world then?! I'm excited!"

Airlia smiled as she walked over to Alistair, "I'm going to teach you the notes because once I'm up there with her, I'm going to hand you the flute. Please understand…" He nodded but said nothing as she taught him the notes.

Once she was sure that he knew the song, she put the flute away as he loomed closer, and the girl from another world couldn't help but feel her chest tightening as he lowered his head to gently kiss her. She was sure that her heart was frozen in her chest. When they parted, she gasped and looked up at him unsurely. "What… Alistair…"

He smiled, "I've been wondering what it would feel like to have the love of someone so passionate about helping all that she could no matter what came to her path."

She blushed lightly, "What? You're wondering about love Alistair? But…" How could she say that she's had always had a crush on him, that it had changed after she met him but then there was the times of coldness that had hurt her. "Are you sure though?"

He nodded and as if sensing her thoughts, "I'm so sorry about before. I don't know what got into me Airlia… I'm so sorry." He kissed her softly again as her chest tightened.

She gently returned the kiss as tears leaped to her eyes. She had always dreamed what love would be like… Yet she had never experienced it for herself until now. "What matters right now Alistair is that we're together. I love you."

He wrapped his arms around her. "You had better survive Airlia. I couldn't picture my life without you in it… always caring for others and not thinking of your own safety… I think… I think I love you my little seer." He kissed her forehead again.