Author's note: I don't own Dragon Quest IV
Battle For Glory
Chapter 11: Twist Of Fate?
The group went back down the tree slowly, coming to the floor of death as the green dragon took some of the leaves. "I will revive those who follow you Lord Psaro… It's the easiest way so that we make sure an enemy isn't accidentally revived."
The silver haired elf nodded, "Be careful. We'll be ready if one falls accidentally on an enemy." His voice was condemning of the ones who had tried to kill the innocent woman, his love and her mysterious protector.
The dragon nodded as he laid out leaves among the monsters, awakening some as the leaf vanished, being absorbed into the skin or flesh of the monsters as they forced themselves up groaning. "Lord Psaro?" Another green dragon asked as he forced himself up.
Psaro nodded, "Yes, it's me. Aamon has betrayed us by trying to orchestrate Rose's death. So now I'm going to destroy him and work to make a better home for monsterkind without all of us having to die needlessly."
"Thank you…" Came a female sounding voice as a strange pink creature pushed itself up and a whirlwind immediately began to work to keep itself upright.
When the monsters were upright and healed with thanks to Kyril's multiheal, they agreed to watch over the village of El Forado properly. Psaro nodded again in his thanks before they left to go to the hot air balloon.
Alistair pulled out his map, "Where do we go now Airlia? We have to get to Zenithia and Nadiria."
She nodded, "We have to go here…" The silver eyed brunette fingered the island in the center of the world. "Surrounded by shoals entirely, the only way through is via landing on the southern tip of the isle as the rest of the land is too rocky to really land on with any accuracy."
Once inside the baloon, Torneko smiled as he helped the balloon to raise, "Just guide me Alistair."
The green haired man nodded as they guided the balloon first to the left, passing over the mountains to come towards the ocean. Psaro looked at Airlia, "I know I've somewhat heard your story… but what exactly was it that happened to you?"
She gave him a half smile before telling them everything, the abuse she suffered, how she prayed for the chance to come here… to the world she found herself loving because of how the game itself wove so deeply into her. How she helped to save the people of the village. The elf gaped, "You were the reason the village was empty? I'm impressed young woman that you were able to do all of this…"
Airlia smiled, "Well I wanted to help make things right for everyone. The only way I could do it was to help save his people… and to help save Rose. Your shadow knight and I put up a fight of a lifetime to protect her initially… Aamon took him out and then we got rendered unconscious. I when I awoke… I saw them going after her and I used my chimaera wing to take us to Estark's Crypt where we healed our injuries in the small sub room that was there before we came to try and find you all."
He grinned widely at her, "Well I'm glad you were able to help. I don't know what I would have done if I lost her."
Her smile vanished, "You would have pursued the secret of evolution and ended up dying."
Psaro's face fell as he nodded, "I have no doubt of that Airlia… I have no doubt that I would have also welcomed the death that would follow me."
Ragnar shook his head, "It doesn't matter anymore lad. You didn't kill the village, you restored Zamoksva, and now you're on our side to help kill Aamon. I'd say you've done well."
Alena nodded as she rolled up her sleeves, her fire claw on one hand, her iron claw on the other, and falcon knife earrings on her ears. "Ragnar's right. We're going to kick it's ass thoroughly my friend."
The elf smiled again, "Thank you… all of you." The ride came to an end as Torneko landed the ship just next to the village he saw on the center of the isle.
Kyril and Borya tied it off to a few nearby trees as Alistair looked about the small settlement. "What do we need to do here Airlia? I know the tower is nearby… but… it feels like there's more here."
She nodded, "Over the mountains in the desert there's a temple that has what's known as the baron's horn. It will help to guide the wagon to us when we have to leave it behind from place to place. There's also a shimmering dress in there…"
Ragnar nodded as he led the way around the short mountain range towards the desert where a temple indeed did stand, as they looked at the edge of the temple before he grabbed for his sword. Airlia stilled his hand. "There are no enemies here my friend. It's a holy place that evil cannot enter. But those who may seem different, if they are truly friends, they will be allowed entry."
The knight nodded, "Well then, let's go find these items within…"
Inside the temple, it was somehow still pristine even though the exterior had been nothing to look out, seemingly aged with wind, sand, sun and time. Airlia led them down the stairs to the far left side of the temple as the statues of the Goddess seemed to smile upon them, even Psaro who uneasily entered the temple. The green dragon who had flown with them to help protect them until they met up with his counterpart in Nadiria who would protect them eagerly was surprised to find he could enter as well. "Amazing… truly amazing…"
She led them slowly down to the second floor. "Wow, it's even more beautiful than I could ever imagine. The pristine white marble… wow." Her breath was stolen away as she reached out to touch the wall and felt the smoothness under her fingers. "It's… it's incredible."
Rose nodded as she came close and examined the marble. "What an amazing place…" She didn't dare dream to see something like this in her lifetime. Her love had tried to protect her well, but in the end it took a brave human girl with a will of steel to help him because of a wolf amongst his friends.
Psaro wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her close. He still couldn't get past the fact that he had almost lost her because of his unnecessary hatred for humans. "When we get to Zenithia, I want you to stay there… to stay safe while I hunt Aamon down my love. Please."
She looked up at him with her pale blue eyes, ruby tears forming. "Just promise me you will come back to me my sweet love."
He nodded, "Of course I will. Alistair will personally pull me back from death – I have no doubt of that if it came close to it."
Rose nodded, "I will stay there then. I don't want him to try and kill me to further hurt you." She ran her fingers along his arm lovingly.
Meena smiled, "Relax Rose, with my abilities there isn't a single rock he can hide under. We will find him and you'll be able to live happily ever after wherever you wish to."
The female elf smiled brightly with a nod. "You're right. Thank you Meena."
They rounded the corner and walked down the remainder of the hallway in silence to another set of stairs descending down to the third floor. Airlia led them around to the spot where the lift would sit normally to see steps descending into the well and further stairs leading down. "I'll get the item below, it'll only take me a few minutes."
Alistair opted to walk with her down the stairs to where a long chest laid. He looked at her as her expression grew curious. "It seems longer than normal… I wonder why that is…" She walked up to the chest and blinked as she saw an inscription there…
Child of the heavens ripped from this world… if you are here now… touch your hands to the blue gems on either side to receive the gift I can bestow you to aid you on your quest to set the world to right. You who guided the chosen and the hero who have saved those who would have died… I bequeath to you this gift…
She shook her head in wonder. "Child of the heavens ripped from this world? What? I'm from another world certainly… but I'm not from this world." Still, she put the hands on the blue gems and opened the chest to reveal a wonder of treasures. "What in the world… What the?"
In the chest was a wonder of treasures indeed… An assortment of weapons, armor and two shimmering gowns awaited her eyes. She looked at everything in wonderment. "By the goddess. Then… why? Why was I ripped from this world?" She began to try and figure out the assortment when Alistair hurried to the steps. "Come on down guys, we have some… interesting items for everyone."
Once everyone came down, they began to sort through the equipment as Airlia plucked up the two dresses, handing one to Rose. "I think these are meant for us Rose…"
She nodded as everyone slowly picked up the gear that was meant for them, putting away the others into their bags. The ladies would change once they got back to the Azimuth. With the usable equipment in place, they went back up slowly to the first floor as Airlia approached the lift. "I'll take this all the way down, drop down onto the lip of the lift, and off to the stairs. Follow the stairs and you'll find your way to the horn." The brunette walked over to the lift and operated it, her mind a blur of how it could have been that she was from their world… it shouldn't have been possible.
Ragnar saw the look on her face, but thought better of asking her what the matter was. Meena and Maya however, while the others went towards the horn, jumped down to look at the brunette. Meena frowned, "What's the matter Airlia? You're not your usual self…"
She shook her head, "I don't know Meena… Something strange happened in that chest. Something that shouldn't have. In my game… it was just a shimmering dress. But there was an inscription on this one… It seems like I might be of this world… But I don't know how it's possible."
Meena tried to peer into her crystal ball and shook her head. "I can't see anything… it's weird… like something is obscuring it from my view."
A short time later, the others joined them as she reactivated the lift to bring them back to the top before they met up with the mare who had waited for them patiently in the entrance way gave a short neigh.
The trip to the settlement only took an hour or so as they walked over to the inn. Alistair pulled out his coins, "I need to rent three rooms for the night please."
He nodded, "That'll be 120 gold pieces please."
Alistair nodded as he paid the fee before they all went upstairs to change properly into the gear that was necessary. Airlia and Rose both got into their shimmering dresses as the colors changed. Rose's became a pale pink color to offset her hair while Airlia's became a forest green, accenting her brown hair. They both put on lucia shard necklaces to help protect them a little further.
Alena and Maya both put on their leotards before putting on their necklaces and mighty armlets to help enhance the strength to use the whip with. The tsarevna still had her golden tiara while Maya wore the happy hat. Smiling, they turned to the last female who had equipment to change out. Meena took the last whip amongst the women, pairing it up with a complete set of silver gear, a lucia shard, and a mighty armlet. All that was left was for the men to change and then they could plan their ascension of the giant fifty floor tower that reached towards the heavens.