Argile stood there waiting until Connery finally unlocked the door to his lab. The Black Knight, still in his armor, walked into the little thief's private sanctuary. "Argile! Good you came." Connery had returned his armor to the White Crest and was now dressed in dirty coveralls and a bandanna.
"Yeah," answered Argile. "You said that you wanted to show me something." he followed the thief around the piles of junk scattered everywhere in the lab.
Connery had a huge grin on his face. He finally stopped at a table covered in machine parts, tools, and a mettle box. "You're gonna love this, big guy." He reached under the table and pulled out a strange looking device. Its lower half was half of a sphere on its flat side. On top of that was a mass of wires connected to a fist sized crystal in the center. Rising up from the crystal was a pair of vertical clamps.
The thief placed this device next to the metal box, and connected the two with a strange looking cable. Next, he connected the device to another contraption with a yellow crystal sticking out of its cone shaped body. Connery turned to Argile. "Did you bring your Axe like I asked?"
Argile nodded and just handed the weapon to the thief. Connery began to speak as he placed the Axe in the clamps of the device. "I've been working on this ever since we got back a few hours ago. It took almost all of my resources, but it's just about done."
Argile was a little confused. "What is?"
Connery secured the Axe and just smiled. "You'll see."
He flipped a switch on the cone shaped invention with the yellow crystal. Electricity started to flow from one machine to the other. "You see," continued Connery, "the yellow crystal is filled with lightning magic, and it provides the power for the other machine which is a special magic transferor I just built." The electricity started to surround the Black Dragon's Axe, which sent power into the crystal, who released some form of energy into the mettle box. "You see, I'm transferring power from the Axe into what I have inside the box over here."
Argile shook his head. "But what's inside the box?"
There was a sudden "ding" and the transfer was complete. Connery opened up the box and retrieved an object that Argile couldn't quite make out. The thief brought his hands into the light, and what Argile saw made his large heart stop. Glistening in the dim light of the lab was a black, steel arm. "Ta da!" said Connery. "I told you I'd make you a new arm."
"B... but how?" stammered the large man.
"Well," started Connery. "I found some ancient notes of another scientist from a long time ago named Might. He had found a way to create an artificial human. Basically he copied human physiology and then gave it life. Unfortunately, there was no record on how he gave life to the machine. So I had to come up with a power source of my own. Then it hit me. Science alone wouldn't be enough to do what I wanted. I would need some magic. But not just any magic, the power of Althena."
He lifted the metal arm so that Argile could get a better look at it. Argile peered into it and saw hundreds of wires and other such things. Connery was still speaking. "I built the arm just like a real one except that wires and tubes take the place of veins and arteries. But where was I going to get the power I needed to make this thing run? Then I remembered when I hooked up Cole's Dragon Wings to the Destiny's engines and we flew with the speed of a dragon. So, I figured I should use something along the lines of the Wings."
Argile finally raised his hand to stop the thief's endless speech. "Just get to the point, Connery. All this mechanical talk is making me drowsy."
Connery looked a little disappointed that he couldn't keep talking about the schematics of the arm. "Basically, I made an arm out of steel. Built a transferring device of sorts inside it. Then I infused it with the power of the Black Dragon's Axe. It was turned black by the magic, and now you are going to attach it where your left forearm used to be."
Argile took the steel arm with his right hand and stared at it for a moment. "It might hurt for a moment when you attach it. After all, I'm hoping that the magic is the key to this whole thing and that it will cause the arm to fuse with the rest of you."
"You 'think'!?" rumbled Argile in shock.
Connery patted him on the side. "Don't worry. I'm 95% sure that this will work."
The Black Knight scowled down at his little friend. "If this thing blows up, you'll be sorry, Connery," said Argile through clenched teeth.
Without any further hesitation, Argile thrust the steel arm onto the stump of his left arm. There was a brief flash of pain as the steel, the wires, and the tubes bonded with his arm. Then it was over. Argile opened his eyes and looked at his left arm. It was amazing! He flexed his ebony limb. There was no sound of steel grating against steel. It was as if it were flesh. He touched its palm with his right hand, but instead of cold mettle, he felt a magical warmth. And he could feel his right hand with the steel palm! "I can feel with it!" he gasped.
"You're damn skippy," said Connery with that huge smile still on his face. "Now grab your Axe and let's go get some pancakes."
Argile grabbed his Axe with his left hand and put his right arm around Connery. "Thank you, my friend. You have once again shown me what true friendship is."
"You'd have tried to do the same if I needed it, big guy." The two friends started for the lab exit, when Mirage burst in.
The Blue Knight was in his armor and out of breath. "What is it?" asked Argile.
"Trouble!" he said quickly. "Really big trouble!"
It was late afternoon. At least that's what Cole thought it was. He'd been standing in the same spot for Goddess knew how long. The Dragon Helmet and Shield lay in a pile near his horse. In his right hand he held the broken Dragon Wings, while his left hand rested on the dragon head pommel of the Goddess' Sword. Suddenly, the wind stopped, and Cole's mind was brought back from wherever it had escaped to. A presence, almost like a shadow, revealed itself for just a second.
Thrusting the Dragon Wings back in its slot behind his cape, Cole drew the Goddess' Sword in one swift motion. He spun around to see who was watching him. "Who's there?" he shouted to the various bushes and trees that dotted the landscape.
"You must return to the city at once," answered a definite male voice from somewhere in front of him. "You do not have time to dwell on your misery. The city is in danger."
"How can I trust someone who doesn't even show themself to me?" challenged Cole. "What if this is a trap?"
The voice chuckled. "If you think I'm trying to trap you, look to your south in the direction of the city."
Cole hesitantly looked to the south. He almost dropped his Sword at what he saw. In moments, his Helmet was on his head, his Shield was strapped to his side, and he was galloping at full speed back towards Meribia, and the four Demon Dragons that were attacking her.
Mirage, Argile, and Connery burst from the doors of a Ramus' Item Shop just as the Demon Dragons attacked. All at once, each of the beasts released its breath weapon upon the city. A wave of blood red acid spewed from Vasen's maw, black fire blew from Thiss', poisonous gas poured from Scorn's, and purple lightning bolts shot from Arlax's. Buildings exploded, people died, but it didn't end there. Mirage's eyes went wide when he saw that each Demon Dragon had a rider.
The Demon Knights launched their attacks next. With a silent command, the Shadow Knight Miraje willed all the shadows in the city to kill. Foxx the Chaos Knight rained bolts of purple, blue, and black lightning down on the city and its populace. Streams of liquid spears shot from the living armor of the Blood Knight Arguile. Finally, the Pestilence Knight Konnery released deadly clouds of gas from the blade of his scythe.
"How do we fight all eight of them?" asked Argile.
Mirage shook his head. " I don't have a clue." He raised the Blue Dragon Scimitar and started forward. "But I do know that I'll die before I let them kill anymore innocents."
"I got an idea!" shouted Connery suddenly. The White Knight ran back towards his lab. "Keep 'em busy till I get back!" he called over his shoulder.
"Easier said than done," muttered Mirage.
Argile tapped the Blue Knight's shoulder and pointed to the south. "Maybe not."
Soaring towards the Demon Dragons and their riders was Ruby with Fox on her back. Mirage cursed, grabbed Argil's arm, and started running at the nearest Demon Dragon. "Unfortunately, those two are greatly outnumbered. So let's give those eight bastards something else to shoot at."
The four Demon Dragons were now hovering above the city, waiting for Ruby and Fox to attack. To their surprise, the first counter attack came from below. "Ebony Discus!" shouted Argile as released the Black Dragon's Axe. The weapon spun end over end until it was a discus of energy. The Axe seared the undersides of each Demon Dragon, and the four monsters roared in pain. "Scorn! Vasen! Take care of them!" bellowed Arlax.
The Blood and Pestilence Dragons obeyed and dropped to the ground with a crash. Their riders dismounted and started to try and trap the two Dragon Knights between themselves and the two Demon Dragons. Mirage leaned close to Argile and whispered, "First we take out the Demon Knights, then we try and tackle the Dragons." Argile nodded, and they both darted for the nearest alley.
Above the burning city of Meribia, Ruby and Fox were playing a deadly game of chance with the remaining two Demon Dragons and their riders. The Red Dragon skillfully dodged the attackers while Fox either shielded them or counter attacked. "How much longer is that midget going to take!?" growled Ruby to the Red Knight.
Fox succeeded in scoring a hit on the Shadow Dragon's side, forcing the beast to veer away from its attack dive. "Don't worry," he assured her. "Carla would not abandon us in this situation."
"She better not," answered the Dragon as she ducked under the claws of Arlax, and then barrel rolled away from the lightning bolts of the Chaos Knight's bow.
"Wait for it," whispered Mirage. "Wait for it." Two shadows flickered in front of them. "Now!" shouted the Blue Knight.
Mirage and Argile burst from their hiding places and charged the two Demon Knights. But there was no one there. The tell tale sound of a blade slashing through air is the only thing that saved the two friends. Mirage executed a forward flip, and Argile rolled to safety. Both regained their footing and stared down the Blood and Pestilence Knights. Agile's jaw dropped as he stared at his double. "Remarkable," he uttered.
"Trust me," the Blood Knight answered in the same voice, "death will be ever so much more."
Razor sharp tendrils shot from his armor at the two Dragon Knights. Mirage darted forward and easily deflected each one. As he moved to face the Blood Knight, Argile took several steps back as Konnery moved in to attack. "Are you feeling any better?" taunted the little Demon Knight. "Last time we met, you seemed terribly ill." He chuckled evilly.
Argile clenched his new left fist reflexively. "Why don't you come and find out."
The Pestilence Knight obliged and charged the Black Knight. His speed was amazing, but Argile's veteran sight was able to track his friend's double easily. The deadly scythe lashed out. Argile purposefully threw out his left forearm to block it. There was a loud shriek followed by a shower of sparks as the scythe struck. As the smoke cleared, Argile's new hand was holding the evil weapon's blade in a tight fist. "Not this time," was all he said as he kicked Konnery in the gut.
The other Knight doubled over and lost his grip on the scythe. Argile tossed the weapon away and prepared to end the Pestilence Knight's existence. Suddenly, something crashed in to him and propelled his massive form towards a nearby building. Argile hit the wall and the breath was knocked from his lungs. He forced his eyes open and saw Mirage laying on top of him. Mirage's eyes opened. "He was too strong for me," he said weakly.
As the two Dragon Knights tried to rise, the Blood Knight's laughter could be heard. Argile looked to see his double and his cohort, who had regained his weapon, moving in for the kill. "You'd think these fools would have put up a better fight this time," said Arguile.
"Guess not," answered Konnery who was visibly rubbing his side.
Argile's hands tightened into fists. His Axe was a few feet away, and he would die before he could even reach it. Mirage's Scimitar was on the other side of the street. He began to claw at the ground in frustration. That's when he felt it. Or rather, he heard it. For a heart beat, Argile could feel and hear the earth around him. Trusting his warrior's instinct, he drove his steel hand deeper into the ground. Suddenly, the earth itself was his to command. With a thought, he willed the ground beneath his foes to crumble.
The two Demon Knight cried out as they disappeared into a hole which had suddenly appeared beneath them. Mirage looked at Argile with wide eyes. "Did you do that?"
Argile raised his left arm and stared at it. "I guess that's one bonus Connery didn't count on."
Mirage didn't have a chance to respond. Both he and Argile cried out in pain as a giant scaled claw grabbed each of them. Vasen raised the two Knights to his snout and laughed. "Seems you forgot something, little man," he said to Argile. The Black Knight's stomach turned as he got a whiff of the Blood Dragon's rotten breath.
"Scorn!" he called. "I've got th..."
The Demon Dragon ended his sentence with a cry of pain. An immense bolt of white energy seared his side forcing him to release the two Dragon Knights from his grasp. Argile and Mirage fell for a brief moment before they landed hard on the deck of the Destiny. "You sure cut that a little close, Connery," snapped Mirage.
"What? No thank you?" replied Connery with an innocent smile.
"Be careful, Connery. The Pestilence Dragon is still out there," warned Argile.
No sooner had that left his lips did Scorn rise up before the Destiny. Taken completely be surprise, Connery could only try and avoid crashing into the beast. The White Knight successfully veered away from a collision, but he wasn't quick enough to escape the Demon Dragon completely. Scorn grabbed the ship between his mighty claws and started to squeeze. Steel and wood buckled beneath the monster's strength.
Taking control of the situation, Connery snatched up his Spear and ran for the crumbling rail of the ship. He pointed the Spear down and a wave of ice spewed from its frosty tip. An ice bridge was quickly formed, and the three Dragon Knights wasted no time in riding it to temporary safety. They all landed on the street where Argile and Mirage had been just as the Destiny exploded.
Scorn was laughing as he dropped the remains of the ship to the ground. Vasen was now standing beside him, and the two Demon Dragons shifted their gazes to the three Dragon Knights. A cry from Connery caused Argile to turn and look behind them. Having climbed out from their hole, Arguile and Konnery were advancing towards the Dragon Knights from the rear. Mirage groaned. "We have one weapon between the three of us, we're out numbered, and we're surrounded." He looked at both his friends. "We are definitely in trouble."