Another Road

Stephanie Wyrm: We have returned!

The Origins of Dracula

Soma sat on a rock as he looked over the landscape before him. He was on a high cliff over the city of Denerim. (From Dragon Age: Origins) He impatiently dug into the dirt with his Kunitsuna. "Why do we need to wait for Alistair anyway? We're Night Hunters. Alistair's a level C Rebuker, we can do his job."

Genya Arikado sat on his black horse by the path. "Alistair and the queen have drunken the blood of the dragon and are allies of the cult. We could have asked for queen Lesia to come instead, she would have been here by now, but she's sick right now. With Alistair as our guide, we'll be able to peacefully speak with the cult. It's not that I want to make more allies, but I'd rather not make more enemies."

Soma put down his sword and sighed in thought. "Arikado, I had another dream about Dracula."

"Again? Isn't that the fourth dream you've had?"

"Yeah. I've been having one every week. I know the story of Dracula, his origins, his final defeat, and everything in between because I've been taught about it, but these dreams make me see extremely detailed visions. Could it have something to do with my dark powers?"

"I'm uncertain. What dream did you have?" Arikado asked.

Soma looked back on the dreams. "My first dream was the first battle between Dracula and Simon. My second dream was the fight between Juste Belmont and Maxim. My third dream... was Dracula's past as Mathias. I dreamed about his grief over Elizabetha's death, the illness he faked, the death of Sara, Rinaldo's descent into madness, and the fight between Leon Belmont and the previous Dark Master Walter. Last night's dream was the conclusion of the fight between Walter and Leon.

Walter hunched over and held his side after his defeat. He glared at Leon and shouted in a fury. "I'll just come back to life, you fool! I may not have gotten the Crimson Stone, but once I find it... I will rise and strike you down!"

Leon raised his whip in preparation for the final blow, only to hear a loud screech behind him. "What?"

Leon and Walter both looked up and saw Death standing over them. "No!" Walter shouted. "You betray me?"

"I shall have your soul!" a red light emanated from Death and engulfed Walter.

"Nooooo!" Walter screamed in hatred as he felt his life force drain out of him. He suddenly vanished before Leon's eyes as Death claimed him.

"You turned on your master?" Leon asked.

"I give my master's soul to the king of the Crimson Stone!" The red light left Death and went to a dark corner of the throne room. The light shone for a split second and dispersed.

Leon could see a dark figure wearing a glowing red necklace. The figure stepped into the light to reveal himself as Mathias Cronqvist. Mathias took in a breath of relief. "Excellent. I've never spent a better night."

Leon gasped at the sight of his best friend. "Mathias?"

"You didn't disappoint me, Leon. I knew without a doubt you would accomplish this."

"What us the meaning of this?"

"I needed a powerful vampire's soul, that is all."

"Are you saying you used me?"

Mathias chuckled and slowly walked circles around Leon. "Not just you, your betrothed Sara, Rinaldo, and Walter. I never thought that it would go so well thoug."

Leon pointed at the red amulet Mathias was wearing. "Is that, that stone... the Crimson Stone?"

"Ah, you know it? I'm impressed. I made Walter's soul mine with the power of this stone."

Leon looked at his Vampire Killer whip. "I sensed a rage from this whip. Mathias! You abandoned humanity!"

Mathias shouted in anger. "That's right, by becoming a vampire, I obtained eternal life. That was my goal. It was my revenge against God!"

"Revenge against God?"

"We have risked our lives and fought for the sake of God... But God mercilessly stole away the one I loved most. When all I ever wanted was for Elizabetha's safety! If limited life is God's decree then I shall defy it! And within that eternity I shall curse Him forever more!"

Leon sadly sighed. "Mathias..."

"Leon, after what you've been through, you should know..."

Leon wiped a small tear away as he remembered Sara. "Yes, you're right. I do understand how you fell... I too..."

Mathias held out his hand invitingly. "Then come with me. I will give you eternity too..."

Leon scowled in anger. "You wretched fool."

Mathias stepped back. "What?"

"Is this what the woman you loved would have wanted? The Mathias I know would not have loved such a woman."

Mathias only paced around in anger. "Elizabetha was a kind, honorable woman. She was concerned only for me to the very end... That is why I hate Him! Am I wrong? Did you not defeat Walter with hatred in your heart too?"

"Yes. I'd be lying if I claimed otherwise. But defeating him... No, preventing others from the same cursed fate... That was Sara's dying wish." Leon heard his former friend gasp. "Granting my beloved's wish. That's all I can do to prove my love for Sara. Eternity without her would be nothing but emptiness."

Mathias scowled at Leon. "Leon... I thought you would understand..." Mathias turned and began walking away. "Dawn is breaking... Farewell, Leon." He looked up at Death, who was still hovering above them. "Death, he's all yours." The new Dark Master transformed into a bat and flew away, beginning his reign as Dracula.

"Stop!" Leon commanded. Death raised his staff and they were teleported to a demonic realm. "No!"

Death prepared himself for battle. "By my master's orders, YOU'LL BE DESTROYED HERE AND NOW!"

After an intense battle that Soma couldn't fully remember, Death fell in defeat. "To think that I would be..."

Leon proudly stood over Death. "I have the power to destroy all related to the vampires. Though you have devine powers, you are no exception."

Death chuckled. "Unfortunately for you, as long as my master survives, I will rise from the dead."

"Really? Give him this message: You have become a cursed being and I will never forgive you. This whip and my kinsmen will destroy you someday. From this day on, THE BELMONT CLAN WILL HUNT THE NIGHT!"

"And that's all I remember," Soma said. "Why do I keep having these dreams though?"

"I don't know, but look alive," said Arikado. "He's here."

They both looked toward the road to find King Alistair walking up the path to them. Alistair was wearing the traditional golden royal armor, with Duncan's Shield and the Green Blade sheathed behind his back. He had short blond hair that he never bothered to fix up. He carried a small black canteen. Soma could tell that Alistair was exhausted. "I'm sorry I'm late," he said in attempt o catch his breath. "I thought I saw a bunch of Genlocks, but it was just a party of drunken dwarves."

"Rebuker Alistair, are you ready for your assignment?" Genya Arikado asked.

"Of course, Night Hunter Arikado, where is the letter?" Alistair asked.

"There isn't any letter," said Soma. "This is a request from the Watchers themselves for us."

"Alistair, you are to escort Soma and myself to the Cult of Andraste," Arikado said. "They know you and would not dare attack us if they knew we were with you."

"What do you need with them? I'm still angry at my wife for defiling the ashes," Alistair said.

"Because they have a purple dragon. Nine years ago, a dragon in the Drake realm laid two purple eggs, the fire guardian hid one in his own realm, but the mother hid the other egg in this realm. She placed it among the eggs of the High Dragon so it would be protected. It's in a special spot that only the High Dragon herself knows of, so the cult won't find it. We must find this other purple dragon so we may reunite it with its brother."

Elora found herself on Wumpa Island. She looked around in awe at the bright colors of the beach. "My God, this place is so beautiful!" Numerous exotic animals surrounded her. She took in a deep breath of fresh air. "It's so heavenly." Behind her, the door back to the temple faintly glowed on a rock. "I'd better not let anyone find this door." The clever faun brush sand and leaves over the door. She stepped back to make sure it looked natural. "There, now to find the Bandicoots." She fixed her dress and walked into the forest behind the beach.

Dr. Neo Cortex popped up from a rock he was hiding behind. "What was that woman hiding?" He scuttled over to the pile and brushed away the sand and leaves. "Huh?" Before Cortex was… nothing. There was no glowing door. What Elora did not know was that doors to the Omni-Temple can only be seen by those who have been inside before. The door was there, but Cortex could not see it.

Stephanie Wyrm: Wow, Spyro has a brother or sister? Yikes! I wonder why Soma is having these dreams?