Chapter 14-Into the Dominion of the Beasts
{Dartz -narrator}
"Lord Dartz, we are in need of your help with the portal," a voice calls out.
The voice of one of the spellcasters rings out to me and I walk over to see what is wrong. Three days have passed since I met the spellcasters and the portal is just about finished.
"Allow me to complete it," I say.
"Oh no, Lord Dartz! Our master said that we could not allow you to help. We will handle it," Rica answers.
"Fine, have it your way." I growl as I walk off.
I was finally given something other than my cage to sleep in. After the Great Beast saw how good we were working to complete the portal, he allowed me to stay in one of the bedrooms on the middle floor of the palace. The next morning the portal is ready to go. The Leviathan and I enter first, followed by the spellcasters. The portal was done very good, I will give the spellcasters that pleasure.
The Great Beast growls as we step out into the Dominion of the Beasts. I think for a minute then realize that his remaining eye is being burned by sunlight. Summoning my skills in magic, I create a shield for the poor serpent. I would like to see him burn but I may as well be kind to him for now at least.
We ssshall ressst here for the night, then in the morning we ssshall ssstorm the cassstle and take what ssshould rightfully be oursss, the Leviathan snarls.
I am given a tent to myself and while everyone else is asleep, I sneak out of camp. As I run along a dark forest I realize that this is the first time that I have been to the Dominion of the Beasts. By the time morning has come, I'm just about at the castle where the legendary dragons are. My limbs are shaking but at least I got here before the Leviathan did. Suddenly I spot a dark figure swooping out of the clouds.
Could that be? Suddenly I am grabbed from behind by two pairs of talon-like feet.
"Let me go," I yell, pounding on the claws nearest my shoulders.
The creature only tightened its grip as it flew through a tunnel into some kind of temple. It dropped me on the floor of the temple and landed, where it then folded up its wings. The room was covered in mist, which made it difficult to see anything beyond two feet in front of you.
"What are you?" I ask.
A friend to you Dartz, the creature replies.
How does this thing know my name? I think.
I am somewhat related to the serpent that you came with, the creature says.
The beast stepped out of the shadows. I took a step back. This was a blue dragoness and it was huge!
My name is Ameria and you were going to mess with the Dragons of Atlantis weren't you? The female asks.
"I wasn't," I respond.
Ameria snorts and her yellow eyes begin to stare at me.
You are lying Dartz, Ameria says.
How does she know? I think.
Simple, I can read minds, Ameria answers.
"Will you stop that!" I cry.
Sorry about that, it just I tend to be hostile around others until I get to know them better, Ameria says.
Suddenly a piercing bellow fills the air. Ameria snarls and twists around to see a huge black dragon growling not at her but at me.
Ameria this human is the one that destroyed paradise and he has sided with the Great Beast, the dragon snarls.
No he is not! His soul is pure. I sensed no darkness within, Ameria growls.
The black dragon roars again and black flames shoot out of the walls of the chamber. I begin to reach for my deck but then I remember that Narssia had used it earlier, when we dueled. Although that thought fills my head, I draw a card from my deck and summon it.
"Go Fireblaze Dragon!" I yell as a long serpent-like dragon rises up behind me.
I told you that he is evil. Only people that have dark hearts can summon that beast! The black dragon screams.
Cryill that does not mean that he is evil! Ameria snarls.
Cryill simply snorts and turns to face me.
I will find out why you are here and once I do, I will be back with the truth, Cryill snarls.
Cryill flies away.
"Okay that was interesting," I say.
Don't worry about it you'll get used to it sooner or later, Ameria says.
I smile and call back Fireblaze Dragon to my deck.
Alright so far Ameria thinks I'm not evil, that's good, and Cryill said that he would come back with the truth once he found it, I think.
You have friends here don't you? Ameria asks.
"Yes I do," I reply.
Good I shall take you to them, Ameria says.
Whoa hold on! My friends? They are not my friends, well not any more at least, I think.
I climb onto Ameria' back and she takes to the air. As I clutch the spines running along Ameria' back, the tragedy of Narssia' passing hits me full force. It takes all my willpower to keep myself from crying.
Narssia trusted me with her life and I let her down. She was the only dragon that I could have truly called my Guardian, I think.
Ameria lands and I side off her back. Ameria growls and turns to walk off.
"Wait do not go we wish to thank you first," a voice says.
I look up and I see Sarina, Tronay, Uria, Sundar, and Aurora. Ameria growls sharply and then walks off.
'Dartz, we heard about Narssia and we are grieving as well. Her life was short but it was well used to help others,' Tronay says.
"Thank you Tronay. By the way where's Finca?" I ask.
She left this morning in a rush to get somewhere. Although I do not know where, Aurora explains.
"I see," I answer.
"I have heard that the three Legendary Dragons of Atlantis are here. Sealed away in ice, they wait for the chosen ones to awaken them from their slumber," Sarina says.
"Yes the three dragons battled to save paradise and in the end they got what they deserved," I snarl.
'Perhaps, but they at least allowed a few hours to see paradise before it sank to the bottom of the sea,' Tronay says.
Once we arrive, we see Ameria being pinned down by Finca.
You saw him didn't you? You saw my master! Finca screams.
I didn't honestly, Ameria says.
Liar! You did see him! Finca screams.
Please believe me I didn't, Ameria snorts.
Finca snarls with such a distaste that I get chills up and down my spine.
I know that he is here. Because I sensed his energy. He is alive! Finca bellows.
"What is she talking about?" I ask.
She believes that her master is alive, Uria answers.
"Who is her master?" I ask.
I believe that it's Tamli Nekita but I'm not sure, Aurora answers.
Finca pauses in her rage and looks up at the sky.
He is alive I just know it! She thinks to herself.
Suddenly I sense something familiar calling out to me . . .
The voice calls out to me, begging me to come and seek it.
'Dartz . . . I will never leave your side . . . we are friends . . . you must stop . . . final battle . . . two sides . . . one winner . . . ' the voice calls.
Then it fades and I simply stand there wondering what it could be. Suddenly an idea comes to mind. Narssia . . . my Guardian that had passed on, but it couldn't be her. Deciding that I must try and reach the voice, I began to search within my own mind. A breeze begins to blow and I lift my head.
Narssia show yourself to me, I think.
Finca growls as if she can sense that Narssia has come. I turn around and to my surprise Narssia stands before me. I reach out to touch her but my hand slips through her body.
Dartz . . . Narssia begins.
I know, the Great Leviathan tricked me into believing that you were dead, I say.
Yes he did and he did it to protect me. I am his granddaughter you see, Narssia says.
Granddaughter? But how? I ask.
All families have relatives that they pass on certain characteristics to. I am one such dragon and the Leviathan gave me the use of fire, Narssia replies.
His original ability, I mutter.
Yes, the gift he began with but abandoned once he gained the power of the Orichalcos, Narssia says.
I see . . . Is there any way to bring you back? I ask.
Not that I know of, yet, Narssia says.
What do you mean by yet? I ask.
Narssia simply stares off. Her eyes void of any feeling.
What's wrong? I ask as I walk in front of her.
It's nothing, Narssia replies.
Come on Narssia I know you. Now tell me what is wrong! I cry.
With saddened eyes, Narssia turns away from me.
Dartz, if I were to tell you than it would like telling you who was truly the reason for my death, Narssia says.
Then go ahead and tell me, I say.
Alright. It wasn't the Leviathan it was Tamli, Tamli Nekita who lead to my death and now I work for him, Narssia says.
I see . . . I begin.
So the Leviathan was right about carrying me off after I collapsed after all, I think.
Now it seems that Tamli wants me to get something for him. Some type of card or something, Narssia says.
The three Legendary Dragons of Atlantis perhaps? I ask.
Yes that would be it but how did you know? Narssia asks.
I simply laugh and then close my eyes and sigh.
Young one there are many things that I know about, many of which I have never told anyone about, I respond.
Like your past? Narssia asks.
No, Tronay knows about that, or she used to anyway before her memory was erased, I reply.
Somewhere deep in the ocean, a human sits watching Narssia tell Dartz about who it was that lead to her death.
"Narssia will pay for that later but for now my plan is just begun. The battle shall soon start and I will make the greatest comeback known to mankind," the human snickers.
Master is the process ready to begin yet? A giant serpent asks.
"Yes it is my dear friend. Soon my host will have the pleasure of rejoining us. But however I feel it would be best to cast a memory spell on him, just in case," the human replies.
Yes it would be right to use the spell but aren't you in need of the three Legendary Dragons before you can begin the process? The serpent asks.
"True yes I do need the Legendary Dragons but until Narssia delivers them to me, then I shall use my own strength to fuel the spell," the human says.
I wish that for once you wouldn't be so headstrong and that you would think things through but I guess not, the serpent snarls.
The human stands up and grabs the orb that he was watching from.
"I enjoyed the chance to see your master again Leviathan," the human chuckles softly as he hands the shining green orb back to the serpent.
The Leviathan hisses as he slithers away, farther into the rubble of the underwater palace that is now home to the two.
"Soon darkness shall regain its power once again and I shall lead them to battle for the first time in a millennia. Once I revive my former master, I shall transfer my weaker side into his body, giving him his dual personality once again. No one can stop the power of the light!" The human cries as white light covers him and streams upward into the sky. "Let the light be reborn!"