LOOSE ENDS
by Gregg Landsman
E-Mail address: mlandsma@optonline.net

Breath of Fire and all associated characters are property of Capcom. All original characters are mine, but you're welcome to use them in other stories as you wish. My take on the Rangers is property of J. Michael Straczynski. At least, partly. I'm taking a bit of a new look on the planet BoF takes place on. I'll explain later.

A year after the events of BoF3, our heroes are forced to deal with a threat from another era, one that is awakening very soon. This(hopefully) will lead into a crossover I'm planning with another one of Capcom's franchises.

Chapter 1

Rebirth

_____________________

The statue stood there, silent and unmoving.

A noble gargoyle. Cast in stone, its form unmoving in the silent ruins of Eden.

A spear rests in its right hand, its eyes peered towards the heavens.

All life has been torn from its breast.

The spear flickers to life.

Wakey, wakey, Garr.

He stirrs. He can sense the other spirit with him. One that he thought was dead.

"Gaist?"

It's me, Garr. I've been trying to get your attention.

"How....are you here? Have I passed to the other world? Am I to be reborn so soon?"

That's one way of putting it. Actually, I'm leaving. You are staying. You want the long version or the short version?

His vision is cloudy. His mind is racing.

"As clear as possible, please."

It takes a full year for a Guardian to leave his body when he enters the Stone Sleep. I'm ready to depart your body, so you can reinhabit it.

"How? You died before me."

My spear.

"Yes. I used it in my battles against Myria."

Remember that you kept feeling weaker and weaker when you used it?

"Yes. Yes I do. Why?"

I've been transferring your life to the spear, and mine to your body. By the time you faced Myria, I had taken three quarters of your body. I made the push for the rest when you started the Sleep. When I leave, you'll take your body back.

"But Myria is dead. The Guardians must die with her."

Geez, you're thicker than ever. Myria isn't dead, but she's left this world. And she didn't take her toys with her. There's some loose ends from her past schemes here, which need to be taken care of. Before I go, I'm going to tell you everything I know. Everything that drove me from the Guardians in the first place. I leave this in your hands, Garr. Make me proud.

Knowledge washes over him, realization of everything, answers to all his questions. Everything that Gaist knew, he knows....and the ramifications therein.

The eyes light up in a glow of blue.

His fists clasp, shattering the stone covering underneath, his wings folding out, cracking their covering.

Renewed breath flows from his nostrils, the stone shell cracking as the spear crumbles to dust.

His body folds around itself, his wings folding around him, as he takes a deep, ragged breath.

Throwing back his arms and extending his wings, his stone shell shattering fully, he lets out a mighty roar.

He falls to a single knee, weak from his efforts.

"Alive," he whispers, his voice scratchy and pained, "I'm alive......."

He hears a single voice.

And to help you, I'm giving you a little boost.

The remains of Myria station burst into flame.

From the wreckage, trailing the nourishing fire behind him, Garr, last of the Guardians, rises into the dawn sky.

Chapter 2

Engagement

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Two nights earlier.

Ryu Asmadi opens his eyes, slowly focusing his vision in the inky darkness.

He feels the familiar weight across his chest, hears the light snoring on his left shoulder.

He slowly reaches over, and pinches her arm.

She mutters something, slowly opening her eyes.

"Just making sure you're still here.", he whispers.

Nina Wyndia says nothing, cuddling up even closer to him.

"Keep this up and we'll never get any sleep.", she mutters, "I have to get back to the castle early tomorrow. Please, just let me sleep."

She closes her eyes, again, her light wings wrapping around them both.

"It's your fault.", he says.

She opens her eyes again.

"What is?", she asks, lying on her side and facing him.

"That I'm keeping you up.", he responds.

She twists her lips into a slight smirk.

"And how, praytell, is that?"

"If you didn't start coming here every night you could, you wouldn't have to go to sleep to get back to Windia, as you would already be in Windia.", he responds, "So, as these trysts were, to start, your idea, you have only yourself to blame for any problems that arise therein."

She says absolutely nothing, for a moment.

"That actually made perfect sense.", she says, "You have been taking your Ranger training very seriously, haven't you?"

"Very seriously. It's my first honest job.", he responds, "Aside from world savior and dragon prince, of course."

"Of course."

She rolls onto her back, sighing.

"Your parents can not be happy with this idea.", he says.

"Why not? I've told them what my feelings towards you are.", she responds, smiling slightly.

"I'm number one with a bullet, and my only saving grace is that I'm the only feasible suitor for you."

"My mother will always hate you unless you can use that fantastic power of yours to change into a full-blooded windian prince."

"Give me time."

"I'll consider it. For right now, stay just as you are. And please, do so quietly. I really need to get some sleep.", she responds, closing her eyes, and rolling onto her left side, leaving him to his thoughts as she drifts off into sleep.

It all started two months ago.

He had opted for training in the Rangers, a group of soldier/bounty hunters who were founded by the Valerians, the sect of people who inhabit the Eastern lands.

The Rangers were soldiers trained in saving lives, and took bounties that would only lead to a criminal being brought to justice, or bettering the life of an innocent. Sounded good to him.

In any case, he was progressing nicely in his training, receiving occasional visits by Rei, Momo(who was travelling around the lands lecturing on the origins of technology), and even got a letter from Nina, telling him about the latest situation in Windia. Seems that she's opted him to be considered as her fiance. Unfortunately, he couldn't make the time to go all the way to Windia, Warp Portals or no.

So, one night, when he was reviewing what he was taught that day, he heard a knock on his door.

Nina was there, having gone from Windia to see him.

She told him she planned on making their engagement as official as possible, without her parents' consent.

When she took off her overcoat, she wasn't wearing anything underneath it.

He had always had feelings for her. They were in love for a long time, up to and including the time she nearly strangled him for disappearing for twelve years.

That night, they made love for the first time.

It was the most incredible, and most terrifying experience of his life.

He never heard Nina scream like that, before. He was sure she could've woken up the entire dorm.

He was sure she could've woken the dead.

They've done things like that since.

He knows this is a usual part of Windian courtship, but he's still a bit unnerved. His two-week leave is coming up, and he's using at least part of it to go to Windia, to see what he can do.

Unnerved? To say the least. How do you confront two of the most powerful people in the known world, who have the full knowledge that you've deflowered their daughter?

When in doubt, change into a dragon.

He has to find a new set of strategies.

Windia, three days later.

Ryu can feel the gaze of the Queen Cyra of Windia boring into him.

He can feel a gaze of ambiguous admiration from King Nolan of Windia.

He can see Nina standing nervously by her seated father.

He's standing on one knee before the rulers, with the full knowledge that the Queen is ready to right up a new law to have him taken out and castrated for what he's done.

His Brood powers give him massive regenerative abilities....but he's not so sure about this one.

"I understand," the King states, "That you were once a thief."

Ryu can feel the heat from everyone's gaze on him.

"I was, I make no lie of that.", he responds, "But that was thirteen years ago. I have grown out of that. I'm currently training to be a Ranger, and plan on making an honest living off of that. I make no plans to live off the royal family of Windia if you accept my engagement to your daughter."

Thankfully, Dragnier had someone who used to teach political philosophy.

Thank Ladon for small favors.

"Oh, I already have accepted my daughter's decision.", the King states, "But I wished to clear up that detail. Have your people accepted your decision, Prince Asmadi?"

"They have, your Highness.", Ryu responds, standing up, "In fact, with our previous problem gone, more Brood have appeared, some who hid themselves underground after the war. They are all backing me on thi-"

Suddenly, the ceiling caves in behind him.

An amber-hued object crashes through, taking with it most of the east wall, the ceiling, and smashing into the floor, the stench of smoke and brimstone coming off it.

Ryu turns, grabbing the fighting pike from his belt and extending it to it's full length.

A person rises from the flames and debris.

He is nine feet tall, his body rippling with muscles and power, two massive wings stretching from above his head to the floor.

His eyes glow deep blue.

Ryu and Nina instantly recognize him....as they should of from his spectacular entrance.

He folds his pike, clipping it onto his belt, slowly walking to the gargoyle.

"Garr!", he exclaims, both mystified and ecstatic, the massive gargoyle smiling slightly, "Garr, how are you-"

"It is a long story, Ryu.", the gargoyle responds, turning to the king, "I apologize for my entrance, but I must speak with the Prince and your daughter alone, Your Majesty."

The King sighs, shaking his head.

"Be my guest.", he moans, standing, and motioning his guards as he and the incensed Queen walk out.

The small town of Gate, in the southern part of the inhabitted lands.

In the northern part of the town, a massive mountain sits, in which is embedded a ghost town.

A large rock falls from the lower part of the mountain.

A single man, dressed in black, his eyes red and green, walks out.

He looks around at his surroundings.

"So," he says, his voice shifting about like the wind, "This is what has changed in 500 years, hm?"

He then begins his trek to civilization.

"I wish there was an easy way to explain this to you.", Garr begins pacing around the smoldering throne room, "But I cannot find one. Our quest has not yet ended. We still have much to do. Myria has departed this world, but her servants and her mistakes are still here, as is her heir."

"Her heir?", Nina asks, "Myria had a child?"

"Not any child. The Seed of Evil.", Garr responds, "When the first Destined Child, the one you saw on the mural in Dragnier, when he first drove Myria from this world, she left behind a monster. A monster more terrifying and more powerful than any that was ever seen. The monster saw itself as God, and set up a church to worship it. It took the life and full power of a Brood to keep it at bay until the second Destined Child could seek out the evil, and do battle with it. The evil was defeated, but not destroyed. It would sleep, until it came time to awaken again. With Myria's departure, she unintentionally awoke it."

Ryu paces, running his hand through his hair.

"This is crazy.", he mutters, and turns to his massive companion, "Garr, I've read something about this at Dragnier. Isn't it still imprisoned?"

"It is buried under a mountain, yes.", the Guardian responds, "But when it awakens, it will tear itself from the ground. It thinks of itself as God, and it has a good reason. Even Myria fears its power. And as the Destined Child, it is your duty to face him."

Chapter 3

Realization

____________________

Nightfall at Windia castle.

Garr perches atop the highest tower, wrapped in thought, contemplating what he knows.

He hears the flapping of wings, and turns, just in time to see Ryu revert from dragon to human.

Garr says nothing, looking out to the stars.

"There's something else, Garr.", Ryu says, "Isn't there?"

"It was nothing I could have said in front of others.", Garr responds, "But before Gaist left for the next world....he told me everything he knows. What he knows is why he abandoned the Guardians. Why he left for someplace far away from the Urkan Plateau. It's about this world."

"What about it?"

"Everything.", Garr responds, "Why we're here. What Myria is. What all of this means. It all makes sense, when you look at it."

"Garr, you're not making sense.", Ryu says, sitting down next to him, "What did he tell you?"

Garr stands, and gestures outwards, towards the world around them.

"This," he says, "All of this....is a massive colony! All of it! The Windians, the Worens, the Dog-Men, the Cat-People, all of it! None of us are native to this world! None of us...."

"Garr....this makes no sense."

Garr chuckles, for a moment, his wings folding about him like a cape.

"It makes perfect sense!", he announces, "Have you ever wondered how races so different could evolve on a world that was, until three hundred years ago, perfectly pristine? How a race such as the Brood could develop on a world with such little natural hardship? The answer is simple: They didn't!"

He stands atop the very apex of the tower, wings outfolding fully.

"All of this was colonized, thousands of years ago, and then lost by their parent races. Civilization fell, and was rebuilt by all the races working together. They forgot about their origins, and built what we see today.", he continues, "All in all, it turned out quite different from what they planned. When he went to Caer Xan, Gaist found records of the original colonies. Found out the truth about them. The realization was a shock, I can tell you. He abandonded the Guardians, abandoned his faith in his false God, and left to come to terms with it all."

He looks down to Ryu.

"Do you understand, all of this?"

Ryu scratches his head, still trying to take this all in.

Silently, he changes to a dragon, and flies away.

And Garr sits there, alone, with his thoughts.

Deep beneath the ground, the lost city of Dogandy.

An old man sits in the temple, silently. Waiting.

He opens his eyes, his gaze focusing on the mirror appearing before him.

The mirror showing the very confused, very disturbed Ryu.

"Yes, my son.", he whispers, his voice throaty and with a thick accent, "Your journey begins now. To Gate you must go. There, everything will be answered...."

And he nods off into sleep.

Far, far underneath him, something stirrs.

The next morning.

The weaponsmith in Windia comes alive as a massive amber fist slams into the metal rod, unaffected by the metal's exposure to the fire, bending it and packing the metal in.

The workers in the smith's stand back, as Garr single-handedly bends and sculpts the metal into the shape of a massive, single-edged spear.

He takes several jewels from his pouch, placing them on the shaft, the grip, and the blade itself, in places almost predetermined in his mind.

He places the spear on the anvil, falling down to his knees, his hands clasped in prayer.

The spear is consumed in fire, the heat and light causing the other workers to shield their eyes.

The fire dies down, the spear sitting on the anvil, intact....and cooled.

Garr picks up the spear, and walks out, tossing a bag of gold onto the counter as he leaves.

Ryu watches from one of the towers as Garr marches back into the castle, his wings folded about him like a cloak.

Ryu simply taps his fingers, going over in his head everything Garr told him.

Wrapped up in thought, he doesn't hear the slight footsteps behind him, or the delicate hand on his.

"Ryu, what is it?", Nina simply asks.

He doesn't know how to explain it to her. Either it was true, and everything he knew was a lie....or his friend, his protector, his comrade....has gone completely insane.

"I....I just don't know."

Several hours later.

The sentry at the Eastern Checkpoint silently stands guard at the gate, his eyes slowly becoming heavier and heavier.

As a shadow blots out the sun above him, he begins to wonder why night has fallen so early....

Someone clears his throat. Someone big.

He looks up, to see the nine-foot tall gargoyle standing over him.

He squeaks out a shocked yell, when he notices the woman next to the monster.

"Y-your highness!", he stutters, falling to one knee, "Princess Nina, how can I serve you?"

Nina gives a slightly annoyed look to Garr, and turns back to the guard.

"We need you to open the gates, by order of my father.", she responds.

The guard sees Ryu right next to her, Garr relaxing his wings about his shoulders.

The guard quickly nods, pulling open the gates, and the trio walking through.

"What now?", Ryu asks, the three of them walking across the wooden bridge, Garr in the lead.

"First, we find whoever we can to aid us. The second Destined Child did not face the Seed alone.", Garr responds, "He had allies. And the Seed is more powerful than ever, now. More powerful than we could possibly imagine...."

"You're not exactly inspiring confidence.", Nina replies, her hair blowing in the faint wind around them, as they reach the end of the bridge and the cliffs of Rhapala, "Who can we find to help us? Peco is somewhere in the Desert of Death, so we can't call on him. Not yet, at least."

"He will have his role to play.", Garr responds, stopping for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought as he turns to them, "What about Rei?"

"Walkabout.", Ryu responds, curtly, "He's gone on a Walkabout to understand his powers. Maybe find some more of the Worens."

"I...see.", Garr responds, nodding solemnly, "You must forgive me. I have been.... out of touch for the past year. What about Momo? Is she in Caer Xhan?"

"No. She's travelling throughout the universities.", Nina responds, "She lectures on technologies from Caer Xhan."

Garr nods, beginning to pace about.

He notices the compressed weapon hanging from Ryu's belt.

"Of course....", he mutters, "The Rangers."

He turns to Ryu.

"The second Destined Child was a Ranger, as well. He recorded everything. If we are to find the help we need to defeat our enemy, it will most likely rest with the Rangers. And the Valerians."

"Very well.", Nina responds, "Valeria it is. I think I should know the way."

Garr notices Ryu blushing, slightly, as Nina walks away.

He's about to ask something, when Ryu starts after her.

Garr sighs, deeply, folding his wings in back of him.....when something strikes into the back of his mind.

A power he is all too familiar with.

"The Kari...", he mutters, "But...who?"

He sees the images.

The Guardian who mentored him, finding a child with a dead woman and a slain dragon..........

.......The last Guardian.

Garr's eyes flash gold.

A single word escapes his lips.

"Kaiser."

Chapter 4

Ways of the Rangers

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A small hutt occupies the patch of land outside the city of Torungaad, in the island of Valeria.

A burst of light comes from the basement, followed by Ryu climbing out of the hole in the floor.

He pulls himself up off the ladder, turning to help Nina up, both of them followed by Garr.

"It's a house outside the training city.", Ryu explains to the Guardian, "No one lives here anymore, but there is a Portal housed here. Nina and I use it...frequently."

It's Nina's turn to blush.

Garr is about to ask something, when the two walk out from the hutt, leading Garr to the city.

A bulky, large craft hovers over the ground as it moves along the dirt roads of the Rhapala countryside.

Momo sits at the countrols, guiding her new amalgam along, her android companion, Honey, guiding the navigationa array towards Windia.

The droid begins beeping.

"What is it, Honey?", she asks, pushing a lock of red hair from her eyes, "What do you see?"

A readout appears on the screen in front of her.

A man is standing there.

Dressed completely in black, his eyes glowing alternately red and green.

She stops the craft, climbing out of her seat, and walks out of the craft.

The man notices the red-haired woman walking from the ship in his path.

He can see the aura about her.

The aura of one associated with the damned one.

"Can I help you?", she asks, masking her fear with curiosity.

"You.", the man states, "You are an ally of the Destined Child."

"I'm....I'm sorry?", she asks, "What do you mean?"

The eyes glow even brighter.

An invisible force grabs Momo's throat, lifting her high into the air, her hands gripping her collar as she begins to choke.

"You are one of the damned. Those who would go against our God. Our God returns shortly. He will punish those who move against Him. His power is greater than even those of the Kaiser."

He releases the grip, Momo falling to the ground.

"Who....who are you?", she demands, her damaged voice barely a whisper.

The man smiles.

A smile filled with sadism, power, and pure, undiluted evil.

"I am the ghost that haunts your dream house. The bane of the Brood who walk this earth. I am the right hand of our God's vengeance.", he states, "I have many names. You may use my favorite."

The ground begins to shake.

"I am Barubary.", he states, his eyes beginning to glow like twin suns.

With a bright light, he reveals his true form.

All Momo can do is scream.

Dragnier, the ruined home of the Brood.

A shadow begins to creep over the once-great city, the flapping of wings splitting the air.

One by one, the inhabitants begin to look up.

Something has eclipsed the sun.

Something they have expected.

Something wonderful.

With a whisper, a pair of taloned feet set down in the middle of the city.

All the inhabitants who are outside gaze up at the arrival. One who they have prayed to return, for centuries. Ever since the Purge.

Standing forty feet tall, covered in royal purple and deep blue scales, his wings stretching from above his head to right above his feet.

His tail coils on the ground, serrated and ending in three distinct spikes.

The horns on his head seem to form a crown, his snout pronounced and regal. Every inch displays power, might...and royalty. Royalty most of the Brood in the city have only witnessed in the Dragon Prince.

One of the Brood begins running to the hut where their leader lives, yelling all the way:

"He's returned! He's returned! Bahamut has returned!!!"

Torungaad.

Garr follows his two companions into the central building of the training compound.

He is still disturbed by his vision.

He has heard rumors of a human Guardian....but those could only be rumors. The Goddess would never allow a Guardian to serve without Her protection...

But the events of the past years have proven that his Goddess is not infallible...

He snaps to attention as they enter the main hall of the building.

Several Rangers, garbed in deep black-brown cloaks, their faces hidden in hoods, line the walls.

A middle aged human is standing there, slowly walking to Ryu.

"Ranger Asmadi.", he says, "I was told you would be arriving. How can I help you?"

Ryu makes a half-bow, his hands folded into a triangle.

"My companions and I have recently begun a journey which we will need aid to complete.", he says, sounding as if he has rehearsed this speech, "We need access to the Library. We need to know everything there is to know about the Rangers and Gate, from five hundred years ago."

The leader's face pales.

"I...I see.", he says, slowly, "That was a dark time, Ranger Asmadi. What you ask is not easy."

"I'm very much aware.", Ryu responds, "I'm not very comfortable with this, either. But it is something that we have to do."

The elder makes a gesture.

From the Rangers lining the wall, one steps forward.

"One of the Rangers stationed here knows everything you need. He will accompany you.", he says, "He will be able to help you. He is one of my finest students, and he will continue your training while you are away."

The ranger pulls back the hood, revealing a face bereft of any hair, his skin paler than normal....and bearing a boneplate covering the back of his head, jutting to three points.

A Valerian.

"I am Kaylenn, formerly of the WindSongs, now of the Anla'shok.", he states, his voice filled with wide-eyed curiosity and the horror of what Ryu intends, "I am at your service to aid your quest. I know what you must do, and I will take these matters with the utmost priority. I live for the One. I die for the One. Entil'zah Veni."

Garr folds his wings about him like a cape, gazing at the young Valerian with respect and admiration.

So young, and yet so ready to throw himself at a mad god.....

"Very well.", the elder says, "We will provide you with a flyer to reach your destination. It will be ready by morning. Until then, you are welcome to stay here for the night.

He turns to Ryu, his hands forming into the same triangle.

"I know what you must do.", he solemnly states, "May the Gods of Feintel watch over you and your companions."

Ryu makes a half-bow, his hands taking the same position.

"Entil'zah Veni.", he states.

Barubary, once again in his human form, walks through the battered debris of the hovercraft.

Before him is the battered, bruised, bloodied, and utterly terrified Momo.

"Poor, poor blasphemer.", he says, "Not as noble when the Kaiser is nowhere to be seen.....I can wait. He will come. The noble spirit will be his undoing, yet."

Chapter 5

The Devil you Know

_________________________

Before him is a man, his hair and beard unkempt, his eyes afire with pure hell-borne power.

The source of the demonic voice.

He knows him....he knows him from somewhere....somewhere in his nightmares.

A face appears before him.

That of a beautiful woman, her eyes alight with pure energy......

Myria.....

Her face is one of desperation.

You must stop him, Ryu Asmadi. You are the only one who can.

He wakes up with a startled scream, covered in perspiration, his nightclothes sticking to his body.

He jumps when he feels a hand on his forearm, but relaxes when he realizes it's just Nina.

"Ryu...", she says, more startled than he was, "Ryu...what happened?"

"A....a dream.", he says, shaking his head, "Just a dream."

"It was a nightmare.", she corrects, "And you usually don't have those."

He slowly nods.

He buries his face in his hands, going over the dream, again and again.

"Myria.", Nina says.

He quickly turns to her.

"I've been talking in my sleep, again.", he mutters, "Yeah. I saw her in it."

"What did she say?", she asks, folding her butterly-esque wings about him.

"She was desperate. She's afraid of that....thing we're after.", he responds, "I think...she was contacting me. I think it was Myria."

"How? She's dead."

"We didn't see her die.", he responds, "This is a bonafide deity we're talking about. Maybe she is immortal, maybe she isn't. All I know is, she's gone. But I think it was her, speaking directly into my mind."

Nina seems visibly shaken by this.

If Myria could so easily reach into his mind, then......she shudders at the thought.

"She wasn't evil.", Nina says, more to reassure herself than him.

"She committed genocide.", he responds, "She had to leave this world. Had to face up to her crime."

"She wasn't evil, though.", Nina says, "She was misguided. She wanted to do the right thing, but she found herself becoming more and more desperate, more willing to do anything to save her world....even if it meant murdering an entire race."

His mind begins to wander.

If what Garr said was true....what if the Brood here weren't the only Brood? What if other Brood existed, on other worlds? Did Myria kill them, too......or is an entire race waiting for him, out amongst the stars?

"It's some consolation.", he responds, his eyelids heavy, "Not much. For my people. For my family."

She lays him down onto his back. He feels the warmth of her lips brushing against his own, feels her arm wrapping around him, her familiar weight easing him to sleep.

He sees one more image.

An older man, his hair already grey and bearded, his eyes sparkling green-blue. The aura of the Brood is about him. Of royalty.

"Father....", Ryu whispers, and sleep overtakes him.

The next day.

A blue/white hued valerian flyer, four engine nacelles glowing brightly, lifts off from a launch pad, it's almost organic skin shimmering in the dawn's light.

Kaylenn effortlessly manipulates the controls, touching levers and sliding his hands over the crystals as the engines ignite, propelling the craft forward.

"What shall I set our destination as?", he says, not turning from the viewport.

"Set it...", Ryu responds, "ah.....Southern Windia. The Yggdrasil might know something about this."

Kaylenn gives an affirmative, pushing a button.

The craft blurrs as it speeds to it's destination, a small shockwave emitted as it accelerates past Mach 1.

Nina walks around the cabin of the craft, the smooth, light-hued walls reflecting the light around them, illuminating the interior of the ship.

"Momo would love to get her hands on this.", she says.

"Who?", Kaylenn responds, not turning from the controls.

"Momo. A friend of ours.", Ryu responds, "She studies ancient and advanced technologies. Right now, she's touring the universities in a contraption she built using materials from Caer Xhan."

"A hovercraft?"

Nina slowly nods, walking over to Kaylenn's station.

"Yes. Why?"

Part of the wall melts away, a map flowing down and solidifying.

"I'm reading the signature of a hovercraft roughly 3.5 kilometers from our position.", Kaylenn responds, "Shall I investigate?"

Ryu, Nina, and Garr exchange a look.

"Yeah. Why not? We could use her help.", Ryu responds, "Take us there, Kaylenn."

The ship tilts, slightly, the landscape from the viewport blurring as it accelerates towards it's new destination......

When they see the smoke coming from the forest.

Kaylenn waves his hand over a set of crystals on his right.

The viewport blurrs, reappearing with a magnified view of the hovercraft.

What's left of it, anyway.

Metal and parts are strewn throughout the landscape.

Fires still burn where the generator was.

Shards of metal are still glowing from the energy that was used to destroy the behemoth vehicle.

"Holy....", Ryu whispers, the first to break the silence, "Kaylenn....are there any life readings?"

Kaylenn slowly shakes his head.

"No life signs. No organic components anywhere in the wreckage. If she survived, she's not here."

"Then take us down.", Ryu says, turning to walk to the hatch.

"I'm sorry-"

"She carries a small robot on her at all times. If Honey's still there....maybe she can tell us what happened."

Garr is the first one there, using his massive strength to displace entire sections of the wreckage, the heat and flames only amplifying his power.

Before long, the wreckage is spread out, dispersed to the point where nothing is left to the imagination.

To their regret.

Nina walks to the section that was, at one point, the 'bridge' of the craft.

Falling to one knee, she picks up the bruised and battered, and barely functioning android, reaching behind it's head to flip the activation switch.

It's eyes light up, before emitting a moan.

"It's alright, Honey.", Nina reassures the android, "It's me. Nina. What happened?"

In it's own binary gibberish, Honey begins her story.

The flyer rises into the air an hour later, engines ignitting as it shoots off in a new direction.

Kaylenn sits at the controls, entering in the course Honey related to them.

It seems too convenient. Why would.....whoever did this, leave such a clear destination?

A small town on the northern continent. A small fishing village called Hometown.

What signifigance could it possibly have?

Chapter 6:

The Devil

_____________________

As they approach the town at Mach 5, Garr has an epiphany.

"Of course.", he whispers, to himself, "It must be him....."

He can sense the power.

A power that Myria created the Guardians to oppose.....

He summons his spear in a burst of flame, opening the hatch behind him, and leaps out.

Ryu turns, seeing Garr leaping out of the craft, folding out his wings and flying towards the town.

"What the....", he starts, turning to the others, "Kaylenn, slow down. Garr's up to something."

The entire town seems abandoned, Garr notices, as he sets down in the center of the village, his wings folding around him like a cape.

"They've gone on an expedition.", the voice says, behind him.

He turns.

The black-garbed man is standing there.

"It's a big event. A massive concentration of sealife, their's for the taking. They take everyone from the village, lock it up, and go fishing.", he continues, "I have been expecting you, Garr, last of the Guardians."

Garr studies his opponent. He doesn't seem like much, but he is not one to underestimate.

"I know who you are.", he states.

The dark man raises an eyebrow.

"Oh? And what am I?"

"The darkness the Guardians were created to protect the world against."

"A pity. I thought Myria would show a more favorable light to her successor."

"He is not her successor. Merely her bastard.", Garr spats.

The man's eyes glow brightly. He hit a nerve.

"Do not talk in blasphemy, Guardian.", he growls, his voice becoming lower, demonic, "You will not insult our God."

"You are nothing to us. Myria herself could not stand against the Kaiser. What makes you think you or your false god can?", Garr responds, goading him.

"You insult us.", the man growls, his voice a low rumble, "I am the Right Hand of Vengeance for our God. You will not leave unpunished."

His eyes glow in a blinding light.

"I am Barubary.", he roars, "Behold my true form, and DESPAIR!!!!"

The light seems to consume the entire village, temporarily blinding Kaylenn and the others as they approach Hometown in the flyer.

As the light clears, one thing is clearly different. One thing most apparent.

Kaylenn is the first to speak.

"In Valen's name.", he whispers.

Standing before Garr, in all his horrifying glory, is the Demon.

Thirty feet tall.

Covered in scales so dark, they absorb the light.

A thrashing tall hangs behind him, covered in jagged, poisonous spikes.

Each three fingered hand ends in massive, sirrated talons.

The head is covered in curved, sharp spikes, three curved, slanted eyes defined on the face, as well as a mouth filled with four rows of razor-sharp teeth.

"Where are your words, now, Guardian?", Barubary demands, every inch shaking with rage.

Garr smiles, bringing his spear back.

"I will let this speak for me.", he simply states, and strikes, plunging his spear into the demon's heart.

The spear barely breaks the surface shell, cracking the armor, but not penetrating.

Barubary growls, swinging the back of his fist into Garr, sending him flying into and through the nearby Inn.

"He doesn't stand a chance, alone.", Ryu states, "He needs my help."

He shrugs off his overcoat, unbuckling his sword and compressed pike, as he walks to the hatch.

Nina runs up to him.

They say nothing, both understanding what has to be done.

"I've done this before.", he states.

"I know. Doesn't mean I like it.", she responds, "Be careful."

He gives off a crooked smile.

"You know me."

"Yes, I do. So be careful."

He pulls her over into a short, intense kiss.

"See you soon.", he says, and jumps out the hatch.

Kaylenn isn't sure which is more unbelievable, the fact that Ryu has just leaped out of the flyer, or the fact that Nina didn't think it was out of the ordinary.

"Is he insane?", Kaylenn asks.

"No.", she responds, "He's Brood. Although, I'm starting to wonder if there's a difference."

Something beeps on the sensor array.

"Sensors are picking up a life sign. Not very strong, though."

Nina looks over to the map. The woods right to the east of the town.

"It could be her. Take us there.", she orders.

Ryu dives right towards the town, towards the demon, concentrating as he summons his powers.

He has heard rumors of this being.

Horrible stories.

The bane of the Destined Child.....but why has Barubary never appeared in his dreams?

Thu-thump.

He can hear his heartbeat.

His eyes have become cat's-eyes.

Thu-thump.

He feels his power as Brood coursing through his veins.

The demon is horribly powerful.

Thu-thump.

Myria has good reason to fear beings like that. Only one power is appropriate.

Kaiser.

With a flash of light, it begins.

A pair of massive, feathered wings tear out from his shoulders, his teeth gritting with the familiar pain.

His entire body stretches to four times it's normal height and width, covering itself in gold and silver scales.

His fingers extend into talons.

His toes extend into claws.

His face stretches out into a defined snout, his mouth opening as he lets out a cry of pain.....which translates into an earth-shaking roar of Ascension.

Barubary looks up, just as the massive dragon slams right into him, sending him back, yellow blood streaming from his mouth.

"The Destined Child.", he growls, his eyes glowing brightly, "Our God will reward me greatly........."

He leaps at Ryu, teeth bared.

".......When I bring him your head on a pike!"

The flier lands on the outskirts of the forest, Nina running out on the ramp, Honey on her shoulder, Kaylenn quickly following.

"Princess, wait for me!", the young valerians insists, "We don't know what else is here-"

He stops, as does Nina, when they see her.

Crucified, hanging from the first tree.

Shards of iron stabbed through her wrists, her head hanging limply.

Kaylenn takes a device from his belt, pressing a button, two bolts of yellow light firing out, evaporating the wood behind Momo and letting her fall to the forest floor.

Nina is there immediately after, rolling her onto her back, taking a flask to Momo's lips as Honey goes into a panicked, binary chatter.

She turns to Kaylenn, a question in her mind.

He walks over, examining her now-scabbed wrists.

"Iron.", he says, "So we couldn't free her through magical means. But valerian weapons are hardly magic."

Nina gives off a brief chuckle.

"She's going to love you.", she states, as Momo begins to stir.

Ryu rears his head back, sucking in air, the stench of brimstone and sulfur coming from his mouth, and roars.

Barubary, caught in mid-leap, can only scream as the jet of pure, undiluted, unmerciful flame lances out.

It hits like the blast-wave of a thermonuclear bomb.

The ground in front and behind of Barubary is smoothed down to glass.

Entires swaths of his shell catch fire, the weaponsmith behind him blowing away like dirt in a gale storm.

The flame begins to recede, with a glow of green light.

The flame is repelled from Barubary, his eyes glowing green and red, a beam of green force coming from his mouth, battling with the Kaiser's flame, every inch of his body tense with rage and power.

Ryu's face turns to one of shock, shock of the level of power this being possesses.

Realization of why Barubary is so feared.

The two gales of power fade away, Barubary swiftly charging and slashing Ryu across the face, sending the Kaiser dragon to the ground, the demon's tale impaling one of his wings.

Ryu roars in pain, slamming his fist into Barubary's torso as he stands, pulling the tail from his wing, his nostrils alight with flame.

Anothing blast of green energy slams into Ryu, sending him once more to the ground, and through one of the apartment buildings.

Barubary snorts, the fires on his body reduced to unnoticable dark spots.

An amber fist strikes him in the head.

He turns, seeing Garr, aloft on his wings, spear in hand.

"You did not think you would be rid of me so easily, did you, Barubary?", Garr demands.

Before Barubary can react, the spear plunges right through his shoulder, making him bellow in pain, lashing out with a blast that sends Garr to the ground.

Blood pours from his wound, Barubary's eyes glowing brightly.

"I...have had.....enough!"

A golden fist slams into his face, cracking his armor and sending a tooth flying out.

He turns, just in time to see Ryu's fist bash right in between all three eyes, shattering the armor.

Blood pours out of his nostrils, as he collapses to the ground with such force that the earth rumbles.

He scrambles to his feet, as Kaylenn and Nina enter the town.

Barubary looks towards the sky.

"Aid me, my God!", he bellows, "Aid your servant in his hour of need!"

A pillar of light consumes Barubary, a light so bright that they all have to shield their eyes.....and he is gone.

With the lowest rumbles, and a slight sparkling light, the Kaiser dragon changes back into Ryu.

Garr plants his spear into the ground, pulling himself up with a groan, and sees the two newcomers.

"Well?", he asks.

"We found Momo.", Nina states, "She was....badly injured, but she's resting on the flyer. What happened here?"

"We haven't seen the last of Barubary.", Garr states, limping over to Ryu, "Not nearly. And I think he was going easy on you."

"Great.", Ryu groans, "Now what? I've read....some things about this, but not nearly enough. I don't know what to do."

Garr smiles, ever so slightly.

"But the Brood do."

Straightening himself up, billowing out his wings, he starts towards the flyer.

"Everyone to the ship!", he announces, "We're going to Dragnier!"

Chapter 7

The Dragon King

______________________________

Deep beneath the earth, it stirrs.

The darkness of a soul that has lost its way.

The death of hope.

The death of dreams.

As Barubary appears before it, it begins to take shape.

"Great Lord," Barubary says, "I have failed you, and ask only for your forgiv-"

An invisible hand latches onto the demon's throat.

"The death of the Kaiser is too delicate for your hands alone, servant.", the voice, both demonic and godlike, omnipresent and conveying infinite wisdom and madness, scolds, "There will be other opportunities. Not now."

The force releases the demon, who scurries away.

And Evarai begins to take shape.

The flyer speeds to Dragnier at Mach 2, leaving a barely visible trail of blue dust in it's wake.

With a barely audiable groan, Momo slowly opens her eyes.

She sees the shimmering blue-green ceiling.

The first thing she notices is the slow, rhythmic humming coming from all around her.

"A....gravity engine?", she asks, quickly climbing out of the cot she was put in....and instantly regretting it.

She nearly collapses to the floor, grabbing onto the bed for support, as she looks around her.

"A gravity engine. Mach 10 maximum speed, full gravity and inertial controls.", she says to herself, "I'd have to say...-"

"Valerian.", Nina says, from the doorway.

Momo turns to her, having barely heard her, wrapped up in her analysis of the flyer.

"It's a valerian ship?", she asks, "You mean, the valerian you were with-"

"Is the pilot, yes.", Nina responds, "Momo, you shouldn't be up."

"I'm fine, Nina. Really. Whatever happened, I'm fully recove-"

"Momo, you were crucified!", Nina interrupts, exhasperated. It's a wonder she didn't take the liberty and tie her down. Or at least convince Kaylenn to travel in a more low-tech way.

"Healing magic or not, you are not in the condition to be walking around.", she continues, "Now, I want you to-"

Suddenly, the intercom crackles.

"NINA! GET UP TO THE BRIDGE, NOW!", Ryu's voice, alarmed, yells.

A few minutes earlier.

Garr sits, stonefaced, watching the landscape blurr by as the ship speeds to Dragnier.

"Should I send a message to the residents to tell them we are coming?", Kaylenn asks, breaking the silence.

Ryu and Garr exchange a look.

"No. Not exactly. Well, if you have to, don't tell them Garr's with us. He won't exactly get a warm reception.", Ryu responds, walking over to the young valerian, "How much longer?"

"City walls will be coming into view in three point one five minutes."

"Good.", Garr rumbles, "They will appreciate anything we can tell them. The return of Barubary to the mortal world is no doubt an omen."

Ryu turns to the Guardian.

Garr stands, stretching out his wings.

"Barubary has a firm place in Brood mythos.", he says, "Long ago, before the Brood war, there was a peace between Myria and the Dragon-clan. I studied their culture. My knowledge of the Brood was one of the reasons my father, brother, and I were chosen as Guardians."

Something begins peaking over the landscape.

"Establishing preliminary contact.", Kaylenn announces.....when a spire peaks over the horizon.

Ryu's eyes go wide.

Garr's face turns to one of shock.

"Great Goddess....", he whispers.

A massive palace appears, towering over Dragnier. Stainless marble towers, magnificient jeweled spires. A castle more magnificient than any they have ever seen.

"What...what is that?", Ryu whispers.

"The Palace of the Dragon King....", Garr responds, "I saw one, before it was destroyed....only a Brood who fully commands his power could build such a thing....."

Ryu, not taking his eyes off the majestic sight before him, hits the intercom.

"Nina!", he yells, "Get up to the bridge, NOW!"

The flyer lands on the outskirts of Dragnier, the five of them cautiously walking out.

The moment Ryu walks through the restored gates, a resounding cry of, "ALL HAIL PRINCE RYU!!" bellows from the assembled residents.

Garr keeps a pace behind them, averting his gaze from all but the palace that towers over them all.

The elder dragon walks up to Ryu, bowing deeply.

"My Prince, welcome back to Dragnier.", he says, "As you can see, we have made progress since the Goddess's departure."

"What happened, here?", Ryu demands.

"I happened.", a deep voice answers.

They turn to the source. An aged man, balding but with a full white beard, walking towards them, the residents of the town parting like a sea.

"Your majesty!", the elder says, bowing to him, "He is here."

"I know.", the aged man says, turning to Ryu, "I have been expecting you for some time, Ryu. There is much of your mother in you."

Ryu knows this person....from somewhere. Distant memories...

"Who are you?", he asks.

"I," the man responds, "Am Bahamut Asmadi. Ruler of the Brood."

Garr recognizes the name.

Nina turns to Ryu.

"Asmadi...?", she asks, recognizing Ryu's own last name.

"That means...", Ryu starts.

"Yes, Ryu," Bahamut responds, nodding, "I am your Father."

The stars hanging high above the planet.

A bright yellow light fades in, shining down on the world.

She knows this place well. Cared for it as its God. And as God, she still has her responsibilities.

The light begins its descent, towards the only being she knows who can aid her.

Her sister.

Chapter 8

Gods and Monsters

______________________

Kaylenn silently walks along the halls of the Palace of the Dragon King. He was the first one to leave the dining hall. Not that he didn't appreciate the gesture Lord Bahamut had made.

If anything, the Dragon King was a gracious host. Kaylenn was just never used to these massive, formal dinners.

Rangers were trained to disavow materials as their primary desire.

'I live for the One, I die for the One.'

That is your only goal.

He mulls over these thoughs as he enters the garage of the palace, where his flyer is being kept during their stay.......

And he hears a noise.

One of the engines has its outer skin peeled off, parts strewn about the floor.

With a swift motion, he fully extends his pike, rushing in towards the first person he sees with a sharp battlecry........

The temple at the base of Mount Zublo.

The inigo sorceress Deis automatically looks up as she senses the power approaching.

"I...thought you would be coming back.", she says, as the bright yellow light appears, "You're many things, sister, but irresponsible is not one of them."

She senses the urgency in the energy.

"You're not going to assume a physical form?"

She senses the negative reply.

"I...I see. I thought it would be awakening soon.", Deis responds, "Ryu and his companions are after it. They're at Dragnier, now. But, before you go, I think you should know something."

The energy stops, a question in its thoughts.

"Bahamut's returned.", Deis responds, looking down, "So, I wouldn't suggest barging into the dragon city just yet. Gate. Gate's where the damned thing is buried. So, I'd suggest-"

She looks up.

The energy, her sister, is gone.

She sighs, to herself.

"I'm too old for this, Myria.", she says, to herself, "I can't help you....I hope you know just what you're doing."

With a sigh, she turns back to the shadows.

Most everyone has left, leaving only Bahamut, Ryu, and Nina in the extravigant, crystal adorned dining hall.

Ryu paces, obviously and justifyingly troubled, his mind bursting with questions.

"I know there are questions.", Bahamut says, "There is much you want to know."

"Yes. There is.", Ryu responds, "I...I thought meeting Myria would answer them."

"Did it?"

"Some. Not many of them, but some.", Ryu responds, "There's just so much I still don't know."

"I have been around a long time, son. You could ask me."

"How long?", Nina interjects.

"Give or take a decade, four hundred and thirty years.", Bahamut responds, standing, "The Brood are among the longest lived of all the species in existence. Certain ranks of Brood live longer than others."

"'Ranks'?", Nina asks.

"A Brood, during it's lifetime, will develop new abilities as it trains itself. Some are born at certain ranks, but all of them have the capacity to learn and grow.", the aged monarch responds, "Bronze, Copper, Iron, Green, Blue, Yellow, Silver, Gold, Black, White, and Platinum. I have ascended to the rank of Platinum, which is why I have stayed alive for so long. I was also able to hide from Myria and the Guardians. Only the strongest Brood could settle the waters of their powers in such a way."

"Then.....what am I?", Ryu asks.

"You, my son," Bahamut responds, "Are Kaiser."

"What does that mean?", Ryu asks, pacing around a bit more, "I've been told that for a long time, but I just don't know what that means!"

"It means," the elder brood responds, "That you are quite close to Omnipotent. The Kaiser rank is not a rank you can achieve through any way but birth. And only three Kaiser dragons are born every five hundred years. And they are all related, and all are mixed."

"Mixed?", Nina asks, obviously confused.

"Yes. Ryu's mother was not Brood."

Ryu turns to his father, his expression one of clear shock.

Swallowing his dry throat, he sits down in a nearby chair.

"Then....then what was she?"

"Your mother........was of the same clan as Myria."

A complete and utter silence blankets the room.

Bahamut sits down, waiting for his son or his future daughter in law to speak.

"The common misperception," he continues, "Was that Myria was unique. She is not. She, like us, belongs to a clan. That clan was on an equal footing with the Brood in the level of power they weild, but were far fewer in number. What happened to most of them is beyond me, but Myria was obviously a sort of leader to them. You've met others. Deis was her sister. And you've also met your mother, Ryu."

"Where?", Ryu demands, "I would have recognized her....."

"She called you a true dragon before departing this world.", Bahamut states, "She watched over you in the place where you were born."

Ryu sits back in the chair, remembering.....when he awoke after twelve years.....

"The Dauna mines.", he says, "That was her...is she dead?"

Bahamut shrugs.

"I don't know. I doubt it, though. Myria's people are hard to kill. You unleashed the full power of the Kaiser on Myria, and she's still alive and ticking. I can only guess that she left this world."

"For where?", Nina asks.

Ryu looks over to his father.

The elder dragon king nods, slowly.

"You should tell her.", he says, softly.

"Tell me what?", Nina demands.

Ryu clasps his hands together. He remembers what Garr told him....

"It....It's what Garr knows. What Gaist knew, why he left the Guardians to begin with.", he says, "This entire world is a colony. Set up thousands of years ago, by alien races, and then lost. We're the descendants of that colony....."

Garr sits alone in the palace's immense library, perched upon a stool, wings folded like a cape, reading through the one of the various tomes present, dozens of which are already read and lying at his feet.

The Brood who inhabit this place have generally kept their distance.

He doesn't blame them.

Despite what others reassure him of, there is a good deal of bad blood between the Brood and the Guardians.

But still, he does feel at home in this library.

In the years since the Brood war, he has found himself straying more and more back to his roots, to that of a scholar. He has become a fighter of a second-to-none level, but he has always made time to learn what he could.

In this sense, he is glad he did not destroy the last of the Brood. Otherwise, this library would not be standing.

He closes the book, sliding it back into it's place on the shelf, pulling out yet another volume...out of which drops a small crystal.

Curiously, he picks it up, examining it.

Momo once told him about this device.

A....'holocrystal.' A device from the late Techno Age, designed to record visual and audio data and to project it.

The crystal lights up, projecting a beam, which forms into the image of a middle-aged woman with wings, similar to his own, jutting out of her back.

The woman he saw in the Dauna mines..

"To all who activate this crystal," she says, "I leave this message for my sons, Ryu...and Teepo.....so that they may know why all that has happened to them was meant to happen. And why the destiny they must face has been set in stone for over fifteen hundred years......."

Chapter 9

Destined Children

_______________________

Ten minutes earlier:

Kaylenn launches himself with a scream, pike ready to bash in the head of the intruder who has defiled his flyer.

The intruder turns, her red hair waving about, her expression one of shock.

She ducks out of the way, Kaylenn flying over her, his pike slamming into the floor and crushing the stone into powder.

He turns, recognizing the intruder.

"Momo!", he yells, "What do you think you are doing?!"

"What do you think you're doing?", she demands, "You could have hurt me!"

"And you've just taken apart one of my engines! You have no right!"

"I don't see your name written on it.", she responds, ducking back down below the flyer, "This is what I do."

"This is my property and that of the Rangers.", he firmly states, "I want you to repair the engine and leave the ship alone.

She slides out from under the ship long enough to give him a piercing stare.

"It will be repaired by morning. Now, if you don't mind, I need to study this. Honey?"

The small android walks out from the flyer, walking over to Kaylenn.

"If you don't mine, Kaylenn, leave."

"I will do no such-EE-YOW!"

He leaps forward, an electric shock going through his right leg.

He turns around, seeing Honey, her chest converted into a taser, slowly walking towards him.

He quickly backs out, muttering valerian curses under his breath.

Ryu walks into the library, the next morning, his eyes sagged with a lack of sleep.

Garr is sitting, silently, on the stool, as stonefaced as his cousins who hang from castle spires.

"Come here.", he says.

Ryu knows better than to ignore his old ally.

"What is it?", he asks, walking over to Garr.

"Get Bahamut, Nina, anyone else who needs to know. I have the answers we seek."

Garr waits until Ryu, Bahamut, Nina, Kaylenn, and Momo are assembled in the library.

He can sense the aninimity between the valerian and the scholar, but he has more important things to think of.....

Silently, he takes the holocrystal, and holds it outwards.

The same image appears.

Bahamut lowers his head, shaking it.

"To all who activate this crystal," the woman says says, "I leave this message for my sons, Ryu...and Teepo.....so that they may know why all that has happened to them was meant to happen. And why the destiny they must face has been set in stone for over fifteen hundred years......"

Ryu quickly turns to Garr, about to speak, when the gargoyle holds up his hand.

"Listen.", he orders.

"Long ago," the woman continues, "During the days of the First Fall, Ladon himself appeared in a vision, to the first leaders of the Clans. He said:

I leave this message, so that my children will know of this prophecy. So that they will know why the Brood had to die. Why they must seek out the Third, and prevent these dark words from ringing true. I will see you again, in the place where death would have no meeting. I will wait for you there. Farewell."

The image fades away.

Garr slowly turns to them.

"What....was that?", Nina asks.

"The reason for the Brood War.", Garr responds, clutching the crystal with a closed fist, eyes glowing pale violet.

"Long ago," Bahamut says, "Myria was told of this prophecy. A child of the Brood and the God-clan would inadvertantly release Evarai. Myria has always taken that....thing.....as her responsibility. She would not see it destroy the world."

"So, in order to prevent a child from being conceived between those two clans," Momo says, "One had to die....."

Garr nods.

"Myria painted the Brood as evil.", he continues, "In a way, she was right. The Brood did have the power to destroy the world. They could have with just one child."

"And her clan was as well evil.", Bahamut continues, "Because they were the other half of the prophecy."

Ryu, his legs shaky, sits down.

"Teepo.....Teepo was my brother?", he asks, his voice barely a whisper.

Bahamut slowly nods.

"Your half-brother.", he responds, "The child of your mother and a second brood. You were both hidden underground right after you were born, so Myria would not find you. He hatched first."

"His powers awoke before mine.", Ryu says, "Is that why Myria took him?"

Bahamut nods, slowly.

"He was the child of a God and a Brood. Myria thought he was the destined child, and convinced him to forsake his power.", Bahamut responds.

"Then why didn't she kill him?", Kaylenn asks.

Bahamut turns to the young valerian.

"Myria is many things. She is not a murderer. She does not kill if she doesn't have to.", he responds, "Whatever the case, what is done is done. Evarai will awaken with Myria gone. We must now find a way to stop it."

"How can we?", Garr demands, "The power of the second Destined Child could not destroy the Evans. And we could barely banish Myria."

"The second destined child never fully harnessed his abilities.", Kaylenn responds, "At least, not at the time he faced the Seed."

The others turn to the valerian.

"I have made it a point to read what was written down of the second Destined Child.", he responds, "Ryu is the Destined Child. And a Kaiser dragon. There is a pattern, however. Whenever the Destined Child appeared, he was one of three Kaiser dragons."

"Yes, I know that.", Ryu responds, slightly impatient, "What does that mean, though? I'm Kaiser, Teepo was a Kaiser, so now what do we do?"

"It means," Bahamut responds, "You have to find the third Kaiser Dragon of this generation."

Bahamut turns to Garr.

"You know where she is, don't you?"

The others turn to the Guardian.

He slowly nods.

"There is a rumor, that I have heard," he says, "That twenty years ago, a pack of demons attacked a convoy. One that was believed to have had a Brood as one of its members. When the Guardian Grau'tix....my mentor....arrived, everyone was slaughtered. Human, Brood, all of them.....except a child. A young girl. Grau'tix took the girl under his wing. Trained her as a Guardian. She guards the Urkan Tapa to this day.....but that is only a rumor."

"A rumor with a ring of truth, I think.", Bahamut states, "What better way to ensure that a Brood does not threaten Myria than to train her as one of the Goddess's soldiers?"

Garr nods, his brow furrowed in thought.

"It has merit. It may be worth investigating."

He turns to the others.

"I think it is time we should return to the Tapa. The Patriarch may have the answers we seek."

He turns, walking out.

The others follow, leaving Ryu and Bahamut alone in the library.

The dragon king sighs, sitting down next to his son.

"This must be a shock.", he says, "Finding all this out."

"I don't think 'a shock' begins to cover it.", Ryu responds, running his hands through his hair.

"It was what you wanted to know. Why the Brood war happened. What happened to the rest of the dragon-clan. What Myria was. I have been to Caer Xhan. I know about the origin of the Clans.", Bahamut says, "It was good leverage to use when the War finally ended."

Ryu turns to him.

"What do you mean?"

"I told Myria what I knew.", Bahamut responds, smiling slightly, "In return for not announcing to everyone just what I did know, she agreed to end the war. On my terms."

He waits, for a second, looking down.

"Deep below the earth is the ancient city of Dologandy. There, your grandfather, the elder of all the Dragons, is waiting. Many, many Brood wait there, guarding and keeping watch on Evarai. I will return there, soon. That is where I have been, for two centuries."

"How long was I in the Dauna mines?", Ryu asks.

"About half a century. Your mother wouldn't give up either your or Teepo to the Goddess. She hid you amongst the chrysm, so you wouldn't be found until you had hatched and matured. When you were awoken early, I took you from the Angel Tower, and nurtured you until you are as you are now."

"It was you!", Ryu responds, realizing something, "You were the one who snatched me!"

"It was. You still couldn't control your powers. Not entirely. You were a danger to yourself and your loved ones. I took you in, Myria took Teepo in."

Ryu shakes his head.

"Why couldn't it have been me...."

"You would have suffered the same fate."

"Was he brainwashed?"

Bahamut shakes his head.

"I know Myria. I know her well. She would do no such thing.", he responds, standing up, "He led a good life, a misguided one, but a good one nonetheless. But that is the past. I am sorry, but this must take precedence. We will have time in the future, but if Evarai emerges from the Infinity, we will have no time at all."

"I understand.", Ryu says, standing up, shaking his head, slightly, "I'll see you in Dologandy."

"That you will, my son.", Bahamut says, putting a hand on Ryu's shoulder, "Now go. They're waiting for you."

Ryu walks out, quickly.

Bahamut looks around the library, and then looks towards the sky.

"He's a good boy, Sarah.", he says, to no one in particular, "He'll do it. He'll be the One, just yet."

With that, he slowly walks out.

Chapter 10

Alien Languages

______________________

Nina simply watches Ryu, sitting at the tactical console, stonefaced, as the flyer speeds towards the Urkan region.

He hasn't said anything for the entire trip. She knows he has a good reason. Is she had learned she had killed her own sibling, in self defense......

She walks over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He reaches over with his hand, squeezing it, barely cracking a smile.

With heavy footsteps, Garr walks over.

"We're almost there.", he states, "I don't know what condition the Tapa will be in. Maybe they will be affected by Myria's departure, maybe they won't. We will simply have to be prepared."

The Patriarch of the Urkan Tapa looks up from his meditation, as a faint glow enters his sanctuary.

A young, beautiful, blonde haired woman, her eyes alight with power, he form glowing with faint gold energy, is floating in the air in front of him.

He instantly realizes who she is.

"Great Goddess," he whispers, "You have come-"

"My time on this world grows short, Patriarch.", Myria says, her voice echoing through the room, "I must leave soon. You have served me with the utmost distinction through the years, and so, I have chosen to tell you of my departure. But before I leave, you must give the Guardian Garr this gift......And tell him to meet with me again, at Gate."

A small gemstone appears in the hand of the Goddess, which she places on the Patriach's palm.

With barely a whisper, the Goddess Myria fades into a ball of energy, and flies away, towards the south.

Garr, and Ryu climb the steps to the Patriarch's sanctuary.

"They apparently do not know. Not yet.", Garr says, "I wonder what they would think when they learn we have driven away God."

"Remind me not to come back here too often.", Ryu dryly responds.

Garr walks to the boulder sealing the Patriarch off from the rest of the world. With an effortless push, he slides it out of the way.

The Patriarch sits, holding a gemstone in his hand.

"Guardian Garr," he says, "I have been expecting you."

He looks over to the gargoyle's companion.

"Prince Asmadi, as well. Come in.", he says, slowly walking to the Guardian.

He places the gem in Garr's hand, and then looks up to the surprised warrior.

"She has appeared. She says her time on this world is short, and that you must meet with Her at Gate.", he says, walking back to his perch, "Garr, something troubles you. Tell me what it is."

"I must know," Garr says, shaking off the tremor of nervousness he feels, "Are the rumors true? Of the Last Guardian?"

A long silence ensues.

"Yes."

Garr looks up to the Patriarch.

"I must meet with her. Only she can help me avert a catastrophe of the greatest magnitude."

"Then she is Brood. Like the Prince."

Ryu looks up.

"I knew the day you first came here with Garr.", the old man says, "Myria herself would not have you harmed. You are the One she spoke of. As are you, Garr, and as is the Platinum Dragon. Now, go. I will tell her where you are."

The Guardian and his companion walk out, the light dimming as the boulder slides back into place.

Fifteen minutes pass.

He can sense the secret entrance in the side of the room opening, small footsteps entering, followed by the familiar sound of a Guardian's spear laying against the ground.

"It is time, child.", he says, "I will tell you what to do....."

Kaylenn swings his pike at the air, effortlessly moving through one of his weapon katas, Momo watching from the entrance ramp of the flyer.

From the nearly-serene expression on the valerian's face, the intricate moves seem effortless, if not for the straining muscles showing through his tunic and overcoat.

With a single motion, seemingly part of the kata, he closes the pike, attaching it to his belt.

She claps.

He turns, hand straying to the belt, spotting Momo.

"I do not appreciate being spied on.", he states, obviously not pleased.

"Sorry. Didn't want to disturb your exercises.", she responds.

"Of course. What do you need?"

"I wanted to apologize, for Dragnier.", she says.

He turns to her.

"For stripping apart apart one of my engines, and then ordering your pet robot to attack me?"

"To put it bluntly, yes.", she responds, folding her arms, "I was wrong, and I shouldn't have done that."

A moment of silence passes.

"Yes.", Kaylenn finally says, "You were."

He extends his pike, again, and starts a different kata.

She tries to retort, but he is, quite evidently, not listening.

She mutters, something under her breath, storming back into the flyer.

She passes right by Nina, who's sitting at the navigational console and trying to decipher the controls.

"What happened?", Nina asks.

Momo turns to her, fuming.

"That.....that.......", she growls, "That little....ah! I don't know where he gets off, acting like that!"

"What did he say? You did apologize, didn't you?"

"'Yes. You were.'", Momo recites, "That's what he said!"

Nina waits, for a moment, watching Momo pace.

"He's right, you know.", Nina finally observes.

"Don't take his side!"

"I'm not!", Nina defends, "But he was. You were wrong. At least he doesn't hold a grudge against you."

Momo sighs, slumping down into a chair across from Nina.

"He is the single most infuriating man I've ever met.", she says.

"More than Rei?"

"Far more than Rei.", Momo responds.

Nina taps the panel, for a few seconds, thinking.

"You like him.", she observes.

Momo gives her a withering look.

"How?"

"He's so much different from you, treats these wonderful machines like they were a part of his everyday life, and he's so alien, he's a complete mystery. He's the perfect man for you.", Nina responds, "Want to see him dumbfounded? March out there, tell him what you think. I guarantee he will not have a comeback."

Momo gets up, pacing, coming to the exact same conclusion as Nina.

She's about to ask a question, when Nina puts a finger up.

"I'm a princess. I've been trained to know."

Momo turns, and marches out.

A figure watches from the shadows, as the young valerian completes his third kata.

A red haired woman storms out of the flyer, over to the valerian.

With a low, gutteral growl, the figure moves away.

Kaylenn groans under his breath, turning to Momo.

"What do you want, now?", he asks, trying his best to keep serene.

Momo taps her foot, trying to find the words.

"I know why we're not getting along.", she states.

"Why?"

"I'm attracted to you.", she responds.

He wonders why he hasn't taken his pike, and.......

"Is that it?", he asks.

"What do you mean?"

"I expected something a little more technical.", he states.

He turns his back to her, reaching for his pike to begin another kata.

She grabs his shoulder, turning him around.

With a quick motion of his arm, he bats her hand away, grabbing it.

He holds a finger up towards her face, his face one of quiet anger.

"Do not touch me.", he says, barely a whisper, "We may look like you. We may sometimes sound like you. But we are not you. Never forget that."

"You are a creep.", she says.

"I am a Ranger, and an'la'shok.", he says, "I gave up my family, my clan, and my caste, so I could serve the greater good. I gave up my entire identity, my entire life so I could do something that could change the world. If I had even known this was a part of it, I would have lived my life out as a priest!"

"Don't talk to me like that.", she responds, her anger barely contained, "Have you every hijacked the Black Ship? Have you ever faced down a dragon twice as tall as your flyer? Have you ever stood up against God? Don't ever talk to me about changing the world. I have. It's not easy, and it's not as glorious as you'd think, so until you do that, don't talk to me like that."

She pulls back her hand, turning back to the ship.

"I'm sorry.", he says.

She turns to him.

"I didn't mean to insult you.", he says, "I understand what you must have gone through. I apologize for my rashness."

She actually cracks a smile.

"You do?"

He nods.

Suddenly, she grabs him by the shoulders, pulling him in and kissing him.

The shadowy figure watches.

He growls, lowly, and speeds away.

Kaylenn pushes away, his face aghast.

"What's wrong?", she demands.

"This....this is not right.", he says, backing away.

"What's not right?"

He stumbles in his step, backing away from her.

"Please.....I need to be alone.", he says, waving her away as he walks away.

Sighing to herself, she walks back to the flyer....and, not minding her step, bumps right into a gaping, bewildered Ryu.

"Ryu, what did you......", she says, her face sagging when she realizes he saw everything.

"Um....hello, Momo.", he responds, "Say, did you see something pass by?"

"Um....no."

"Funny. I thought I saw a tiger, or something.", he says, and clears his throat, "If you don't mind, could you get Nina? I'll get Kaylenn. Garr's waiting for us, and....every- thing's ready."

"The....collegue?"

"Yup.", he says, turning to the direction his Ranger comrade went, "Yeah. See you in a bit."

She nods, shakily, and walks back into the flyer.

Ryu lets off a relieved breath.

"Stranger every day...", he mutters, and begins walking.

Chapter 11:

The Last Guardian

______________________

The fire sparks back to life as Garr tosses some more kindling onto it.

He sits in front of the fire, in an open field, the corners of the area marked with stone statues.

Ryu walks out from the tent, sitting down across from the Guardian.

"Are you sure this is the place?", he asks.

"It is the training ground of the Guardians. All guardians learn all they will need to know to combat the darkness from this place. If she is trained as I am, she will know to meet me here."

He tosses another handful of branches onto the fire, when his eyes glow blue.

He looks around, quickly rising to his feet as the sun breaks the horizon to the East.

A blurr catches Ryu's feet, sending him sprawling onto his back with a surprised cry.

Garr turns to Ryu, as the others quickly exit the tent.

He silently twirls his spear, carefully assessing his surroundings.

Another blurr slashes him across the arm, drawing no blood, but cutting deeply.

He recognizes the technique, one passed down the ages.

One his father and mentor taught him.

He clears his mind, both hands gripping the spear.

With a gutteral growl, letting his instincts guide him, he swings......the spear locking with the spear of the attacker, a young, blonde-haired girl in the garb of a Guardian.

The two lock eyes for a moment, before she rears back and swings again, Garr effortlessly blocking but impressed at her skill.

With a twirl of the spear, he bats her's away, stepping back and holding his at ready, as does she.

"Greetings.", Garr says.

"You've been expecting me, Guardian Garr.", she responds, "I wanted to make sure you were who you say you are."

"I am Grau'tix's son and student, yes. Only the ones he would train would know of the Jie'do'quan. I never knew a human could master it so easily."

"It takes practice, Garr.", she says, and bows, "I am Mari Hershing, Grau'tix's last student and Guardian of the Urkan Tapa."

"And I am Garr, Last of the Dragon Slayers, and one who is need of your aid."

".......So, you say the Death Evans is to awaken soon.", Mari says, the group gathered around the ashes of the fire, "What can I do to help you?"

"We have been sent by one of the only survivors of the Great War to find you.", Garr responds, "Your powers are essential to stopping this threat."

"But since you are more experienced as a Guardian, wouldn't you be the better choice?", she asks, obviously perplexed.

Garr says nothing, confused.

Ryu taps him on the shoulder, pulling him away, out of her hearing range.

"This makes no sense.", Garr whispers, "Why doesn't she know she's Kaiser?"

"Maybe she hasn't been awakened, yet.", Ryu responds.

"How were you awakened?"

"Either Balio or Sunder stabbed me in the back. I'm guessing my powers kicked in as a self-defense mechanism.", Ryu responds, pacing, "And, since she's pretty well trained...."

"She hasn't yet suffered a mortal wound.", Garr responds, "What do you suggest we do?"

"Leave it to me.", Ryu responds, drawing his sword and holding it by his side as he walks over to Mari.

"Hello," he says, "I'm Ryu Asmadi, Prince of the Brood, and I banished the Goddess Myria."

Ryu swears, loudly, just dodging the spear aimed right at his head.

Mari's officially shifted into 'Bloodlust' mode, one Ryu is familiar with from the time he's spent with Garr.

She gives off a cry as she brings her spear down onto his sword, forcing him down onto the ground and about to impale him.

He's guessing the ascension/resurrection trick only works once.

He jams his foot into her gut, flipping her over him and onto her back as he scurries to his feet, Mari effortlessly flipping back up and landing her heel in his face.

The butt of her spear sweeps him off of his feet, still holding onto his sword, as she flips her spear in her hand, bringing it down to impale him.

Seeing the split second he needs, he thrusts upwards, the sword effortlessly passing through cloth, flesh, and bone, right through her heart and out her back.

He pulls it out, the wide-eyed and astonished Mari collapsing to the ground, the sand staining red.

Garr helps him back to his feet, as a deathly silence fills the area.

"Did we do it correctly?", the Guardian asks.

"I hope so.", Ryu responds, limping back to the others, noting that she hit his leg harder than he thought, "We'll have to explain this."

"If it works."

"Yeah, yeah, I know-"

Thu-thump.

Ryu and Garr turn to the prone Mari, who's starting to twitch.

"It worked.", Garr says.

Ryu nods, grinning slightly.

Thu-THUMP.

"It's louder than it should be.", Ryu says.

THU-THUMP.

"I agree.", Garr states, "Ryu, how old we you when you ascended?"

THU-THUMP.

"Five. Maybe six, physically."

THU-THUMP.

"She's at least eighteen years old, physically.", Garr says, the two coming to a sudden realization.

THU-THUMP.

"She's ascending directly as a Kaiser!", Ryu announces.

"EVERYONE, GET BEHIND ME!!", Garr bellows.

THU-

It could be seen from orbit.

A bright, brilliant flash of light at the center of the Urkan plains, home of the Guardians.

A shockwave that panned out, shattering the walls of the cliffs surrounding the training grounds of the Guardians.

Throughout of the world, everyone heard it.

A cry of pain, of sheer, indescribable agony.......that would turn into an earth-shaking roar of Ascension.

Garr turns back to where Mari was, his wings blackened from flame and soot thrown up by the shockwave, the others unharmed.

He shakes out his wings with a shrug of his shoulder, his mouth opened in awe, Ryu the first one stepping out from behind him.

Before them is a twenty foot tall, blue and silver scaled dragon, her massive feathered wings folded behind her, hunched over her clawed feet, looking down from her green and violet eyes down onto her taloned hands.

She rears her head back, and roars.

A heart-wrenching roar, the same he gave off when he first discovered what he was.

His arms open, his sword on the ground, he walks to her, slowly.

"I'm the same as you.", he says, "I'm Brood, as well. A dragon. This is my natural form, the form you're usually in is your natural form, as well. What you are now is simply a manifestation of your abilities. The abilities Garr mentioned."

Her mouth is contorted in anger.

"Let me show you.", he says, closing his eyes.

Thu-thump.

With a blinding flash of light and a roar of pure power, he changes into a red-and-gold scaled Kaiser dragon.

A moment of silence passes, the Dragon-Ryu extending his hand to the Dragon-Mari.

With a weak cry, her wings fold back into her shoulders, her talons and claws reverting to nails, her entire form shrinking until she's once again her human self...and she promptly collapses to the ground.

With the same motions, Ryu returns to his human form, kneeling down beside her and checking her pulse.

"The first transformation into a Brood is not an easy one.", he explains, "In time, you get used to it."

He picks up her unconscious form in his arms, heading back towards the Tapa.

"Let's bring her to the flyer.", he says, "We're going to need some time to sort this all out."

Chapter 12:

Walkabout

Kaylenn sits alone, in the still-charred plains of the Training Field, cross legged, meditating.

He hasn't spoken with Momo all day, hasn't told her why.

Valerians look down upon mating with one from another Clan. Such a taboo would prevent any relationship between them from working....no matter how much they would want it to.

And, Valen help him, he thinks he might just want it to.

He shakes his head, trying to clear his mind.

Such thoughts are not of consequence to a Ranger. Only serving the greater good.

'I live for the One, I die for the One-'

He hears a slow, gutteral growl.

He feels the hot breath of the animal near him.

He slowly opens his eyes, locking with those of the cat.

Standing before him is a seven foot tall Weretiger.

Leaping up, thrusting his foot into the beast's jaw, he extends his fighting pike, falling back into ready stance.

The tiger spits out blood, swearing.

"You can talk?", Kaylenn demands.

"I can do more than that, Bonehead.", the tiger growls, "Hope you got yer medical insurance handy. I'm about to tear you a new piehole."

Nina looks up from the navigation panel as the door to the cockpit opens, Ryu walking through.

"How is she?", she asks.

"Still confused. Wishing it was all a fever dream.", Ryu responds, sitting down, "Garr's still with her, and he's a lot better at this than me."

He sits down in the chair next to her, sighing.

"Where's Momo?", he asks.

"She went for a walk. She wanted some fresh air."

"That isn't the Momo I know."

Nina sighs, tapping her fingers.

"Nina....."

"She's in love with Kaylenn.", she finally confesses.

Ryu sits there, for a moment.

"I know. I watched them."

Nina turns to him, slowly.

"What?"

"They kissed, then he went off by himself.", Ryu responds, "I went to get him, when Momo came to get you to wait with me and Garr for Mari. You see, valerians have a slight problem about interclan relationships."

"What is it?"

"There aren't any."

A moment of silence passes between them.

"Oooohhhh dear.", she says, pressing the palm of her hand against her forehead, "I don't believe I let that happen."

"Nothing we can do now, anyways.", he says, leaning against the bulkhead.

She turns to him.

"So, what's wrong?"

He looks up.

"What do you mean?"

"Something's wrong. I can tell."

He grins, slightly.

"When'd you become telepathic?", he asks.

"When we became engaged. Talk."

He sighs, deeply, trying to phrase his thoughts.

"It's Mari.", he says, "It's her eyes. She's Asmadi, just like me."

"How?", Nina asks, "Is she your sister?"

"I don't know. She could be my sister, my cousin, my aunt....Who knows? Those are the same eyes I saw on myself, and on my father. All I know is, she's from the same gene pool as me."

He leans back, rubbing his eyes from the fatigue.

"That tops my day.", she says, with a small chuckle.

Kaylenn dodges the beast as it lunges at him, the tiger's speed belaying his massive form.

He swings his pike into his gut, cracking bone and bruising the monster, sweeping out his legs from behind and sending him sprawling to the floor.

"So, ya like playing with toys?", the monster growls, "I've got a few of my own!"

With a haze of light, the beast transforms.

When he again stands, he's Kaylenn's height, a tiger-man dressed in leather slacks and vest, with a knife in each hand.

"Who are you?", Kaylenn demands, pike at ready.

"Name's Rei of the Woren Clan.", he responds, holding his knives near his face, "You want to make this easy, or should I make sure my knives are extra dull when I cut yer balls off?"

"What is your complaint with me?", Kaylenn demands.

"No one," Rei growls, twirling the dagger in his right hand, "And I mean, no one, treats her like that, and doesn't pay for it, and pay big time. Hope you're not too attached to your hand. Which one was it you grabbed her wrist with? The right or left?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Kaylenn says, "But if you insist upon this, I will have no choice but to defend myself."

"Good. That makes this interesting!"

He leaps at the valerian, daggers positioned to impale.

Kaylenn thrusts out his pike as the Woren is in mid-leap, the pike jamming against his abdomen, Kaylenn swinging it back as he tosses Rei across the field.

Rei rolls as he hits the ground, leaping back up and turning to Kaylenn.

"You're good.", he snarls.

"I am a Ranger.", Kaylenn, exasperated, responds, "I stand between the darkness and the light. Between the candle and the star. I walk in the dark places no others may enter! I stand on the bridge that no one may pass! I live for the One! I die for the One!"

And with that, the two warriors charge each other.

The spectre watches as Deis hefts up her staff, the gem on top of it glowing brightly.

She tightens the belt on her armor/dress, surprisingly in her human form, and not that of a naga.

"Are you positive this is what must be done?", the spectre asks.

She nods.

"I faced down Evarai with Kale Sabbaeth. I'll do the same with Ryu Asmadi.", she responds, "They'll need my experience."

"Should you not be as a naga? You have said you do not have your powers as a human. Should you not assume your true form?"

"Three things:", she responds, with a slight smirk, "First, I'll blend in like this. Second, I lied. Third, this is my true form. That of a God-Clan."

She begins to glow, brightly.

"I'll see you, again, sometime. Until then.......fare well....."

Two guildsman soldiers stand outside the entrance to the Mt. Zublo temple.

A spark of light flashes from inside.

They turn to the entrance, peaking in.............

......When a burst of energy flails out, forming into a ball, which then flies away.

The two soldiers look at each other, then back to the sky, and then to each other again.

One of them takes out a flask, tossing it away.

"I quit!", he declares, and gets back to guard duty.

Momo paces on a cliff near the flyer.

She said she needed some fresh air, but the air here is anything but, considering the area's just gone through the equivalent of a sandblasting.

She, for one of the first time in her life, has absolutely no idea what to do.

She can't deny the fact that she is attracted to a man who is completely alien, mysterious, an exact opposite to her in every way that there is no possible reason they should ever have a working relationship.

Then again, they said the same thing about a former thief and dragon warrior with the princess of one of the largest nations known.

She sighs, sitting down, adjusting a small scope she found at Caer Xhan.

She looks through it, panning around the area......and sees Rei slashing at Kaylenn.

The knife slices right across his cheek, drawing blood from the valerian.

He says nothing, as Rei backs away.

"First blood.", Kaylenn states.

"Got that right.", Rei growls, slicing upwards.

Kaylenn brings down his staff, knocking the knife out of the woren's hand and cracking bone, making him scream in pain as he thrusts the staff up to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and making him double over.

He brings the staff around to the woren's head, resting it an inch above his face.

"Stand down.", Kaylenn demands.

Rei brings his remaining dagger across Kaylenn's hand, making him drop the staff, Rei scrambling up and slicing upwards.

Kaylenn blocks the blow with his hand, swiftly and effortlessly locking his hands around Rei's and flipping him onto his back, Rei holding onto the arms and tossing Kaylenn to the ground.

They both climb to their feet, staring across from each other.

"You are insane.", Kaylenn states.

"Old man Bunyan said I had a lot of repressed anger.", Rei responds, grinning.

"And now?"

"I'm not repressed anymore."

With a yell, he leaps at Kaylenn, sending them both to the ground.

Chapter 13:

Cat's Eye

______________________

Momo runs into the flyer, her footfalls catching the attention of Ryu and Nina.

They quickly hurry over to the scholar, who's more anxious than they've ever seen her.

"Quickly!", she pants, catching her breath, "We've got a problem!"

"What is it?", Nina asks, helping her to a chair.

"Rei....", Momo responds, slowing her breathing, "Rei's here."

Ryu looks from Momo to Nina, and back to Momo.

"Rei? Where? When? Why's he here?"

Momo takes a deep breath, steadying herself.

"He...", she starts, "He's attacking Kaylenn."

Ryu stands there, for a moment, dumbfounded.

"Where?"

"Right by where we met Mari. They've been fighting for a while now. I don't know why, but Rei's angry at Kaylenn. Very angry.", Momo responds.

Ryu turns to Nina. She gives him a knowing look.

"You mean..."

"It's true.", Nina responds.

Momo looks between the two.

Ryu sighs, shrugging off his overcoat as he walks down the ramp.

"Let me.", he says.

Nina sighs, sitting down next to Momo.

"What is he-", Momo starts, when the ground shakes.

Thu-thump.

"Oh.", she responds.

Rei and Kaylenn leap at each other, rage and bloodlust in their eyes, ready to kill the other with his bare hands........

..When a pair of scaled hands grab them, pinning them to the ground and away from each other.

A fifteen foot dragon is the owner of the hands, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and exasperation.

"That's ENOUGH, you two!", he bellows.

The dragon changes back to Ryu, holding out his sword between them, a sign that the fighting is over.

The two combatants slowly climb to their feet, Kaylenn covered in lacerations and bruises, Rei's hand broken and some dents around his ribs apparent.

"What the hell is going on?", Ryu demands, planting the sword into the ground.

Neither one looks like he's about to talk, Ryu sighing to himself as he sheathes the sword.

He turns back to the flyer.

"Follow me. We'll get you two patched up, and work things out from there.", he says, as the two limp behind him.

The door to the cockpit opens, Garr walking out, his wings folded around him like a cloak, his face heavy and tired.

He ignores the astonished look from Rei, walking over to Ryu.

"She will be ready to travel tomorrow.", he says, "Until then, we will need to rest. I will be outside if you need me."

He silently walks out of the flyer, billowing out his wings and taking off.

Rei turns to Ryu, still holding his broken hand.

"Isn't....isn't he supposed to be dead?", he asks.

"Yeah. We get that alot.", Ryu responds, pressing an indentation on the wall and opening up the first-aid cabinet.

Kaylenn looks between the two, using his pike as a cane.

"I will tend to myself, and retire to my quarters to meditate.", he says, matter of factly, taking a small box from the cabinet, "I would appreciate it if we could have some answers from your erstwhile friend before we leave. Good day."

He limps out, the sounds of his pike scraping against the floor echoing as the door closes.

Ryu turns back to Rei, running a device over his hand.

"What's the problem with the bonehead?", Rei asks, as Ryu takes a roll of gauze wrap and a small, humming device.

"I don't know, Rei.", Ryu responds, "Maybe someone trying to kill him pissed him off."

He runs the device over Rei's hand, wrapping it in the gauze, Rei taking his hand back and flexing it, impressed.

"What were you doing, Rei?", Ryu demands, sitting down in the pilot's seat.

"When'd you start giving out orders, buddy?", Rei responds, harshly, "It was personal. I don't need to explain it to you."

"Considering you never met Kaylenn....hell, I never met Kaylenn until a few days ago, you know I can't accept 'It's personal.' Now, talk."

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't," Ryu responds, "I'm turning you over to Kaylenn for pike practice. Now, he's normally a peaceful guy, but I wouldn't take any chances, if I were you."

A moment of silence passes between them.

"I just finished my walkabout.", Rei says, "It was weird, I can tell you that much."

"What did you learn?"

"I don't go beserk when I become the Weretiger, anymore. I can control myself as that just as easily as I am now.", he says, and smiles, toothily, "It's.....exhilirating. I think I know what it must be like to be a dragon."

"It's more than that, Rei. I have this power, and I also have the responsibility.", Ryu responds, the words from his mother still fresh in his mind, "....You're still in love with Momo, aren't you?"

Rei snaps back to attention.

"I'm not that dense, Rei. I know what you thought about her, during the end. You knew it would never work out, didn't you?"

Rei sighs, sitting back.

"Yeah. Yeah, I did.", he responds, "It wasn't easy, I'll tell ya that."

"Never is."

"And...well, I've been travelin', and arrived at the Urka right around when you did.", Rei responds, "When I saw Momo and Kaylenn, well......"

Ryu nods, slowly.

"I always figured you as overprotective.", he says, "Now what do we do?"

"Where're you going from here?"

"Ask Garr. I don't have a clue.", Ryu responds.

Rei taps his fingers on the chair's arm.

"What are you doing around here, anyway? What's happened?"

Ryu sighs, clasping his hands together.

"Where to begin...", he starts, "Well, I've met my father, saw Dragnier rebuilt, learned Teepo was my brother, learned my mother was from the same clan as Myria, found out there's a demon with a god-complex and the power to back it, and learned my life's been cast in stone for thousands of years."

He looks up, at the stone-faced Rei.

"Want the long version?"

A small island on the other side of the world.

Two dark-dragon clansmen, massive, ornate spears in hands, stand guard in front of an elaborate temple.

A dark figure approaches them.

Ebon hair, dressed in black cloaks and clothing, one eye green, the other red.

The two clansmen point their spears at the arrival.

"Halt!", one of them yells, "Who are you?"

The man smiles, sadistically.

"You should know.", he says, "I'm the one you guard against."

"What gibberish are you speaking?", the other guard growls.

"Me?", the man asks, "I'm that little eventuality. The one who always tries, and sometimes succeeds, in killing your Destined Child. Call me what you will....Jade's hand, the Prophet of the Evarai, the God Mikba prayed to, the creator of the Horsemen....."

The very air around him crackles with energy, a pillar of blinding light surrounding the man.

When the light clears, the Demon stands in his place.

"I prefer Barubary.", it growls.

The two dragon-clansmen throw out their arms, their bodies twisting and stretching as they change into twenty foot tall , horned and hook-beaked Black Dragons.

Barubary laughs.

"Black Dragons? So, this place is important to them. Go ahead. Take your best shots."

The dragons roar, projecting bursts of blue flame at Barubary.

The demon simply laughs off their onslaught, effortlessly striving forward against the efforts of the two stalewarts.

With a swipe of his claws, the ebon being impales one of the dragons, the warrior reduced to ash as he dies.

Barubary laughs, his eyes glowing as he roars, letting loose a jet of green flame, burning the second dark dragon to a crisp.

He chuckles, breaking into an all out laugh, most obviously pleased with himself.

"This is what they send to guard this place? I expected better from the Brood!"

With a motion of his claws, he tears open the gate to the temple, walking in.

The dying screams of dragons fill the air, followed by the laughter of the Demon.

With a flash of light, Deis appears in a forest outside of Gate.

"Myria?", she asks, "Myria, it's me. Your sister. Deis. You said you wanted to meet Garr, here, and I want to know why."

"Myria has not yet arrived, Goddes Deis.", a voice whispers, all around her.

She turns around, extending her senses, homing in on the source....and finds that the source is all around her.

The source is the forest itself.

"Who is it?", she demands, "Who are you? What are you?"

"Something wonderful."

Vines begin moving from the trees, grass growing and meshing together with various plants. The vines wrap around the new form, giving it stability in its humanoid shape.

The shape becomes a plant-man, a pair of diamond eyes and a mouth forming on its face. One that Deis has seen, if only briefly, before.

"Peco?"

Chapter 14:

Avatars

______________________

Kaylenn sits, cross legged, in the middle of the small room he has set aside as his quarters.

The smell of incense fills the room, as he clears his mind, to meditate.

Which is why he swears, loudly, when someone knocks on the door.

He sighs, opening his eyes.

"You may enter.", he says.

The door opens, Momo walking in.

He glances towards her, and then back towards the corner he was staring at.

"We need to talk.", Momo states.

"No, we do not.", he responds, "Have they explained why this has no chance of working?"

"Nina did. If you ask me, the entire taboo is the most idiotic thing I've ever heard of.", she responds.

He stands, shrugging off his cloak as he puts out the incense candles.

"It is the only way.", he responds, turning to her, "For the past millenia, the population of valerians has been slowly declining. When we began our practice of not mating out other clans, our numbers stabilized, and have begun to rise. It is the only way our clan can survive."

"By cutting yourselves off from the world?", she asks, "Doesn't sound like much of a life to me."

"It is the one we know. Our culture has thrived for thousands of years, and will continue to do so.", he says, and folds his arms, "Have you not noticed that my people are far more advanced than those that interact freely with the other clans?"

"It could be other factors. Social sciences aren't my specialty, though. Technology is.", she responds.

"Then I could hypothesis you are simply using me to gain access to my ship?", he asks, raising an eyebrow specutively.

She laughs, something she hasn't done in a while.

"You could have a point.", she responds, sitting down, "You could."

He sits down across from her.

"But seriously," he starts, "What do you propose......."

Ryu climbs up the cliff, taking a moment to catch his breath.

It would have been easier to simply fly here....but he doesn't want to become too reliant on his powers. Everything has a price, and he doesn't want to think about what the price for his near-omnipotence is.

"Garr?", he yells.

It's been two hours since Garr left. He never leaves the group. Not for this long.

He sees a light nearby, running towards it....and stops.

It's a campfire. Garr is standing in it.

The gargoyle spots him, stepping out of the fire, still glowing red.

"What...what was that?", Ryu asks, dumbfounded.

"Myria empowered the Guardians to fight the Brood on their own terms.", Garr responds, "As such, she gave us the ability to use your power against you."

"So you absorb heat, and use it as strength.", Ryu finishes.

Garr nods, picking up the spear he left by the fire.

"Something's wrong, Garr.", Ryu says, "You never leave. Not for this long."

"No, I do not. I needed time to think.", Garr replies, absently rolling the small gemstone in his fingers.

He spreads out his wings, slightly, sliding the gem into his belt pouch.

"About what?", Ryu asks.

"Our destinies. I know where we must go."

"Where?"

Garr slowly points towards the south.

"A small, uninhabited town.", he responds, "A relic of the second destined cycle. Gate."

"What's there?", Ryu asks.

Garr spreads out his wings fully.

"Evarai.", he responds, flies away.

In Infinity, the residents are celebrating.

The Dark Mass has emerged from its shapeless prison.

The demons are praying towards the creature, as it begins to contract, taking form, the event they have prayed for for five hundred years happening right before their eyes.

The creature becomes solid, becoming a dome that takes up the entirety of the lowest level of Infinity.

With a pulse of dark light, the dome shatters.

A being rises from its remains.

He is a Man.

But a Man unlike any that has ever walked the planet.

His eyes burn with Hell-Fire.

His hair is disheveled, His beard wild and ragged.

His every word echoes through the very fibre of the cosmos itself.

The Goddess-Child itself.

He opens His arms, as the demons cheer.

He hears his name shouted by His servants.

Evarai.

And He smiles.

The blood of the Dark Dragons has made the floor of the temple slick, as Barubary, his human form covered in the vital fluids of the warriors, slowly walks up the last stairs.

Three people barr his way.

Two soldiers, already half-changed into a humanoid dragon, spears at ready, and a woman in the robes of a Ladonian Priestess.

"Damned One," she says, "This is a holy site. Your kind are not welcome here."

"I never asked for your permission, your Emminence.", Barubary responds, smiling sadistically.

With a collective roar, the two warriors transform into White Dragons.

The priestess closes her eyes, not even given out the slightest cry as a pair of metallic wings tear themselves from her back, her body stretching, her bones breaking into new joints.

Silently, serenely, her skin covers itself with platinum and silver scales, her face stratching to a snout, and horns piercing the back of her head.

She stares down at Barubary, who is less than a fifth her size.

"Leave Now.", she orders.

"A Platinum Dragon? This must be the place.", Barubary intones, "Nice trick, lady. How about mine?"

He throws out his arms, laughing, and with a flash of light, is the Demon.

"Our God gives me a bonus if I kill one of your rank.", he growls.

The white dragons charge him, Barubary laughing as he lashes out with green fire, the blast slicing their heads clean off.

"You're trying to soften me up with these amateurs? I expected better from a dragon priestess.", he mocks, his third eye still fuming.

The dragon growls, lunging at Barubary and knocking him back with a thundering blow.

"Murderer!", she cries, "This place shall not be desecrated by the likes of you!"

Barubary grins, backfisting the dragon, sending her reeling back, his claws extending, revealing sirrated edges with dried blood coating them.

With a motion of his wrist, he impales the dragon, making it roar, weakly.

With a faint light, they both revert to human, Barubary's hand where the claws had impaled her.

"Nice trick.", he says, that his prey is not even wounded, "Normally, I'd want the gained respect I'd get for killing a Brood of your power, but for now...."

He then tosses her down the stairs, hearing her hit the bottom with a sickening thud.

He ascends the steps, seeing the raised dais at the center of the platform.

"This is the place.", he says, "The omen of the return of the Gods....of our God."

He walks to the dais, seeing the arranged crystals and switches, the monitors and hologram projectors.

The control panel of a starship.

"Yes...", he whispers, waving his hand over the crystals, feeling the ground rumble as the engines roar, "Yes....this is.....The Obelisk!"

The ocean around the island recedes, out of anticipation and fear, as the shockwave from the engines ripples out.

The soil that has collected over the ages begins to shatter, as the island rises into the sky, finally falling off and descending into the sea.

Barubary smiles, widely, arms open to embrace the power at his command.

His goal is complete, he muses, as the Obelisk ends its ascent into the blue sky, He has become the Harbringer, the teller of his God's return.

He waves his hands over crystals, sliding his hands over the lighted displays, as his new chariot moves.

Towards Gate.

Towards his God.

And at the base of the stairs, bruised, battered, and broken, the priestess begins to stirr.

Chapter 15:

Movements of Light and Dark

______________________________

Ryu slowly opens his eyes, accustoming them to the darkness.

He looks over, seeing Nina lying next to him, asleep, her arm loosely draped across his chest.

It may sound corny, but he's always told her he could, 'See his unborn children in her eyes.'

She's always claimed she could see everything she's ever wanted in his.

He sighs, lying back.

Slowly, gently, he pries off her hand from his arm, silently sliding her arm off of him, slowly sitting up and putting a robe on, and tip-toes out of the quarters Kaylenn had set aside for them.

He walks into the bridge, about to step off the ramp for some air.

He sees someone sitting in the pilot's chair.

Mari, eyes bloodshot, hair disheveled, still shaking.

Partly out of terror, partly out of rage.

She slowly turns to him, her eyes locking with his.

"You should be resting.", he says.

She says nothing, turning away from him.

"Look, I don't like this any more than you do.", he says, "But there's nothing we can do about it. Nothing I can do about it...I know what you're going through."

Before he can even blink, he's up against the wall, the blade of her spear at his throat, her eyes red with rage.

"No, you don't!", she yells, "Don't even dare say that!"

He can feel the honed edge of the spear pressing against his skin.

Feels the rage that she's weilding.

"I do.", he says, calmly, "I've had to live with this since I was six years old. I gained this power when a horseman stabbed me in the back. I couldn't control my power until I was taken in by the other Brood."

"Impossible. The other Brood are dead....", she responds, looking away, confused.

He uses the moment to snatch away the spear, tossing it away.

"They've been hiding.", he responds, grabbing her arms and forcing her to face him, "Now that Myria's left, they've started to come out, again. I've met depowered Brood in Dragnier, saw Brood who were taken in by Myria so they couldn't threaten the world, and Ladon knows how many are in Dologandy. But I know they can teach you how to control your power, just like they did with me."

"I don't want this power.", she responds, "I am a Guardian. I am not Brood."

"Then act it!", he growls, "Garr mentored me in your ways. I know you're supposed to defend this world against any threats. You have the power, now use it like a Guardian would. This entire world is threatened, so if you have the power of the Brood on your side, you use it! Do you understand me?"

"I...I do.", she responds, looking down.

He smiles, ever so slightly.

"There's someone I'll introduce you to.", he says, "Someone who can teach you about the Brood."

"Who?"

"His name is Bahamut. Bahamut Asmadi.", Ryu responds, "He's the leader of the Brood. My father.....and maybe yours, to."

The next morning.

Garr waits in the cockpit, as Kaylenn walks through the door.

"Guardian.", he says, "Are we ready to leave?"

"At your convience, Ranger.", Garr responds, "You know where we must go?"

"Ryu has told me."

Ryu and Nina walk into the cockpit, as Kaylenn takes the pilot's seat.

"We will be departing shortly.", Garr says, "Are you ready?"

"As we'll ever be.", Nina states, firmly gripping Ryu's hand.

The room is filled with a distant humm as the generator comes to full power, the floor shaking slightly as the engines begin to ignite.

Mari walks through the door, spear in hand, and walks to Garr.

The lock eyes for a moment, Garr smiling ever so slightly.

"Are you ready, Guardian Mari?"

"I am, Guardian Garr.", she responds, grinning, "This is the moment we were born for."

Garr turns to Kaylenn, as the flyer begins to lift off.

"Ranger Kaylenn," he says, "Set a course for Gate."

With a roar of its engines, the flyer comes about, pointing towards the south.

The engines flash, brightly, leaving behind a shockwave as it accelerates past Mach 1.

Dologandy.

Arcadies Valerith, a young, red haired Brood, walks out of his quarters, and freezes.

He looks to his side, seeing the other Brood in the city, with similar expressions of shock.

The only one who is not is Lord Bahamut.

Demons are flying past the city, streaking up from Infinity, towards the surface world.

Arcadies and the other Brood gather around Bahamut, who has already picked up a sword laying by one of the statues of Ladon.

"Lord Bahamut," Arcadies says, "Can....can the demons escape?"

The dragon king hesitates for only a second, and nods.

"Yes. Yes, they can."

"But the seal-"

"The seal is only to stop Evarai. The other demons, it was believed, would never stray from their master. We were wrong.", Bahamut responds.

"What does this mean?", a young Brood asks.

"It means that Barubary has accomplished what we feared. He has revived the Obelisk. He will tear open doorways for the demons, and set them loose upon the world.", Bahamut responds, "Unless the One can stop them."

He walks to the exit to the surface world.

"Watch over Evarai.", he commands, "Inform me when he makes his move. And protect the Elder, at all costs."

"Where are you going, Lord Bahamut?", Arcadies asks.

Bahamut smiles, slightly, armor appearing on him out of thin air.

"I am going to help my son.", he responds, and walks through the door.

Ragnarok. Armaggedon. End of everything....

The words echo in the mind of the priestess as she slowly stirrs. Her body aches with the wounds Barubary inflicted upon her, her mind spinning as she comes back to consciousness.

She sees Barubary standing at the controls of the Obelisk, high above at the top of the stairs.

She can feel the ground beneath her shaking as the massive ship moves towards its destination.

She begins to slowly, silently, crawl up the stairs, concentrating on her task, and summoning her power.......

The flyer speeds over the ocean towards Gate, the peninsula coming into view.

Momo watches from the viewscreen, Honey giving off a awed chirp.

"ETA is seven minutes.", Kaylenn states, snapping Momo back to attention.

He effortlessly glides his hands over the throbbing crys