"Argile," whispered Mirage. "Can you see my sword?"
"Yes," answered the Black Knight. "Unfortunatly, it is just as far away as my Axe."
"Well, it's been fun guys," said Connery.
The three Dragon Knights were just about to give up when a searing column of fire passed over their heads. The fire bore a striking resemblance to a dragon. The beast of flame exploded against the two Demon Dragons, sending them crashing to the ground. The two Demon Knights turned to see the source of the spell, and Connery instantly released a stream of ice from his Spear. Arguile and Konnery were caught off guard and struck down by the icy wave.
Mirage and Argile quickly retrieved their weapons and ran back to where Cole was dismounting from his horse. "Nice of you to join the party, boss," said Mirage.
No emotion registered on the Dragonmaster's face. "Sorry. I just lost track of the time." He slapped the horse with the flat of his blade and the creature bolted for safety. He slid the Dragon Shield onto his left arm and raised the Goddess' Sword. "Come on. If we can force those Dragons to retreat, our doubles just might go with them." The three Dragon Knights nodded and followed their leader in a charge against impossible odds.
"They've got us pinned!" shouted Ruby to Fox.
He only nodded as Arlax and Thiss circled them. Suddenly, Vasen and Scorn released roars of pain. All the combatants in the air turned just in time to see the remains of a fiery dragon disappear. Fox ceased the moment and released a barrage of fireballs at the Shadow Dragon. The attack hit Thiss hard. The beast reared back and plummeted to the ground and sent his rider flying in the process. With the path clear, Ruby soared through the air at top speed. It didn't take Arlax long to follow. Purple bolts of energy were singing the air around Fox's head as the Chaos Dragon and his Knight pursued their prey.
Fox took a brief second to look down at the grounded Thiss. The Shadow Dragon had fallen right on top of a tower, which was now protruding from his shoulder. The Red Knight could see the small form of the Shadow Knight running around the leviathan. Thiss shuddered once and disappeared in a flash of smoke. Miraje was gone also.
"Well that's two down," grumbled Ruby. "Now we only have to take out the other six and we can go back to bed." Fox only patted her back as they continued to fly above the burning city while dodging purple lightning bolts.
Scorn lunged for Cole, but the Dragonmaster easily leaped away from the Dragon's large claw. The Pestilence Dragon's talons missed the nimble warrior by several feet and found only the side of yet another building. Cole quickly countered and lashed out with his glowing red blade. With magically enhanced agility, Cole glided along side of Scorn's fore arm leaving a large gash in his wake. The Demon Dragon roared in pain as Althena's Sword easily sliced through his scales. The wyrm knocked over another building and snapped its tale at Cole, but the Dragonmaster was once again one step ahead of the Dragon. He back flipped over the tail and, in mid air, threw his Sword like a javelin. "Cutting Blade!" shouted the green eyed warrior.
Like a beam of pure light, the Sword of Althena cut into Scorn's right side. A wave of blood poured from the deep wound. Cole caught his Sword in one swift motion and was already setting up for his next attack. "Do you give up yet?" taunted the Dragonmaster. "I've faced bigger wyrms than you. But I'm wondering when was the last time you faced a Dragonmaster?"
A look of doubt was obvious on the Demon Dragon's visage. He was bleeding from several deep wounds and the left side of his body was severely burned from the Dragon Flame spell. "Another day, boy!" he roared as he disappeared in a flash of magic.
Cole wasted no time on his victory. He turned and ran back to aide the others with the Blood Dragon and the two Demon Knights. To his right Argile and Mirage were managing to hold their own against the remaining Demon Dragon. The two Knights were playing a game of hit and run with the obviously more powerful foe. Cole judged that the two men were fine and continued to search for Connery, who had taken on the two Demon Knights himself.
Arlax's last lightning bolt struck Ruby's right hind leg. The Chaos Dragon smiled to himself and increased his speed. "She's ours now," he called back to his rider.
Arlax! shouted Kole's voice mentally. Return to me at once!
But I have the Red Dragon at my mercy! returned the Demon Dragon.
I don't care! shouted the Demon Dragonmaster again. Scorn, Thiss, and Miraje have been wounded severely. Since all eight of you can't seem to kill five measly mortals, I want you all back here now before you fools mess up anymore! And he was gone.
The Chaos Dragon roared in frustration. Retreat! he called out to Vasen and the other two Knights. In a swirl of purple, black, and blue, he and his Knight vanished.
"Are they still out there?" asked Carla.
"I dunno?" whispered Connery. "Why don't you go and look?"
Carla shook her head vigorously. "Not me, pal. You look."
"No way, lady," he answered.
"I'll look," said Leeta finally. The Princess rose from behind the remains of the building the three of them had been hiding in.
She and Carla had come upon Connery running for his life from his own double and Argile's. Thanks to a few of Carla's spells, the three friends had managed to lose the two Demon Knights temporarily. "I don't see them anywhere," said Leeta quietly.
She tensed suddenly as a figure came over a rise in the distance. She was about to loose a spell, when the figure called out in an all too familiar voice.
"Connery!?" shouted Cole.
The thief poked his head up and shouted back. "Cole?"
The Dragonmaster heard the small Knight's voice and ran over. He stopped short when he saw Leeta and Carla. "What are you two doing here?" he asked sternly.
Cole's tone took Leeta by surprise so Carla was the first to answer. "We were on our way to help out Ruby with a plan she had when we came upon the small wonder here." She gestured to Connery. "He was running from two of those Demon Knights. We stopped to help and ended up having to run with him."
At the mention of the Demon Knights, Connery raised his Spear. "We shouldn't say around here. They probably heard us calling out to each other."
Cole shook his head. "I wouldn't worry about them right now. I came upon them myself. We were just about to get into it when they teleported away." He sheathed the Goddess' Sword. "Let's hurry and find the others. I have a feeling that the remaining Demon Dragons and Knights have also left."
They followed the Dragonmaster until they found the other Dragon Knights and Ruby in human form. After a heated exchange between Ruby and Carla, Mirage confirmed that the other Dragons and Knights had also disappeared. Cole's face was dark when the Blue Knight finished. "I don't like it. They still had the advantage and they ran."
"I agree," said Fox, "but maybe they were afraid we would find out a weakness of theirs if the battle continued?"
Cole shook his head. "No. This reeks of the Demon Dragonmaster." Leeta noted that he wouldn't even speak his double's name. "This had to be some sort of first strike. Carla, find the council and call a meeting. We need to evacuate the city now and move the populace deep into Stamarian territory. Right now, Stamaria is the only place that has a chance of holding these monsters back."
Everyone nodded in agreement. "So how do we get them all there?" asked Mirage. "I mean, we'll be attacked the minute we leave the city."
"We'll just have to take what's left of our forces and Meribia's and try and hold them back until the civilians are far enough away," answered the green eyed warrior. "Carla and Leeta, go and make sure those stuffed shirts on the council do things our way. The rest of you come with me and ready the troops." Everyone nodded and went about their business.
For the next several hours, Leeta and Carla went nearly hoarse from yelling at the Meribian council members. Finally, after a couple of graphic threats from Carla, the council agreed to do things Cole's way. The two women left the tent which had been serving for a meeting chamber. "We need to find Cole and tell him to go ahead with his plans."
"I'll find him," said Leeta. "I need to speak with him anyway."
Carla didn't say anything. She only nodded and gave the Princess a small smile. Leeta spent the next hour searching the ruins of Meribia for Cole. She finally found him and Mirage leading a regiment of Lucitanian troops to a nearby city gate. "Cole!" she called out.
The Dragonmaster stopped and looked back. He motioned for Mirage to move along and take the troops with him. Leeta waited until the Blue Knight had lead the soldiers away before she walked over to the waiting Cole. "What is it?" he said quickly. "I've got a lot of stuff that needs to get done before nightfall."
Leeta took a quick breath before speaking. "The council has handed over the evacuation of the city to you. They're going to do it anyway you want to."
Cole nodded but was looking past the Princess. "Crap," he grumbled. "Those stupid Meribian commanders are trying to load too much onto the supply wagons." He looked back at her. "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"
"Yes, there is," she said finally. "Cole, it's about us." His features hardened. "Cole, what's going on? Why won't you talk to me? You've been so distant lately. I know that you feel responsible for this whole situation, but you shouldn't."
His eyes shifted downwards. "You wouldn't understand."
Leeta reached out and grabbed his arms. "We won't know that until you talk to me about it. Why can't you just stop being so stubborn? If you can't talk to the person who loves you the most..."
"Just stop!" he shouted. "You can't possibly understand what it feels like to have the deaths of thousands on your head! I could have stopped all of this with one thrust!"
He started to walk away, but she grabbed his left arm with both hands. "Then share your pain with me!" she cried back at him. "I just want to help you!"
He yanked his arm away. "You can help by just going off and helping the civilians get to the Stamarian border."
The Princess put her hands on her hips and gave the Dragonmaster an angry glare. "Are you ordering me to go with them?"
"Yes," he said flatly. "It's for you own safety."
Her face grew red with anger. "Well, Mister Dragonmaster, you seem to forget that I am not one of your soldiers or Knights that you can order around. I love you, but that doesn't give you the right to control my actions. I am a Princess, and no one can give me an order with the exception of Althena." She drew herself to her full five seven height and looked him directly in the eyes. "I will be a member of the force defending the civilians whether you like it or not!" She spun about and stormed off before he could say another word.
It was mid day, but the sky was dark like it was evening. "This is unnatural," muttered Fox.
"They are not far now," warned Argile.
Cole only listened and didn't respond. Several thousand troops stood on the plains of the Katarina Zone as the last line of defense between the advancing evil and the fleeing civilians of Meribia. They had been there since early morning when the Meribians had set off for the Stamarian border. The Hades Army had not attacked yet, but the odd weather was all the warning the Dragonmaster needed of its imminent arrival.
"Send word to stand ready for the first wave," he whispered to Mirage.
The Blue Knight nodded and sent messengers off to the field commanders. Cole took his eyes off of the horizon for a moment and let his gaze drift to the left. Leeta was standing there with her hair back and garbed in full leather armor. A long sword was driven into the ground before her. There eyes locked for a second, but she turned away. Cole let his breath out in a huff and returned to watching for the first signs of the Hades Army. He didn't have to wait long.
The line of darkness appeared out of thin air. A lone figure walked forward and drew a sword. Cole didn't need to see his face to know it was the Demon Dragonmaster. The dark warrior's army stretched on forever behind him. "They've gotten some reinforcements," said Connery quietly.
"Most likely its the same divisions which invaded the Western kingdoms," said Mirage. "How long can we hold up, boss?" asked the Blue Knight.
Cole drew the Goddess' Sword before answering. "As long as we have to," was all he said.
Cole swore he could see a smile on the face of his double. The Demon Dragonmaster raised his sword and made a downward slash. The monsters all moved at once like a black wave. Cole shouted a charge and his own forces moved as one. If either side had planned to fight a strategic battle, it was soon evident that the fighting had degenerated to nothing but a brawl. The monsters threw themselves forward with mindless ferocity. The humans, however, fought with a purpose driven by the knowledge that if they failed in this duty, that their loved ones would most assuredly die.
Cole tore through an arch-fiend and made his way towards the last place he had seen the Demon Dragonmaster. He looked around and saw many humans dying at the hands of demons, but none-the-less they were holding the darkness back. An undead ogre lunged at him from the side. Cole deflected its dead claws with his Shield and cut it down with his Sword. The holy power of the blade turned the undead beast to ash on contact. Cole could hear his double's evil laughter in the distance. With the fire of vengeance feeding his movements, the Dragonmaster continued to hack and slash his way towards his enemy.
Kole, the Demon Dragonmaster, was having the time of his life. One human after the other fell to the wrath of Kasra. None of the Demon Knights or Dragons were taking part in this battle, so the dark warrior felt that he should bring his Sword to bare against his double's puny excuse for an army. Although, they were putting up some of a fight. He laughed merrily as he cut down Meribian and Lucitanian alike.
He suddenly stopped at the sight of one female fighter battling a chimera. The creature's lion and serpent heads were trying to grab her with their jaws. The nimble woman easily evaded the beast's lunges and struck back with quick whips of her sword. Finally, the chimera shot a ball of flame from its serpent's maw. The fireball shattered against the woman's magic shield. She quickly countered with a blue lightning bolt. The bolt exploded against the monster's front leaving a headless body as a result.
Two lizard men jumped to attack the woman, but Kole was there in a flash. He beheaded his own soldiers without a second thought and turned to face the woman. Leeta stared up at him with utter awe. "My love..." he whispered.
No.
His Leeta was dead.
Taken by Ziatoch's hand.
No.
This was not the woman he had loved. This was nothing but a mortal who just happened to share her visage and a version of her soul. A new chaotic rage began to swell within the Demon Dragonmaster. He had to eliminate this foul impostor. If not only to hurt his double. "Yes. The Dragonmaster must be made to feel the pain I am forced to feel every waking moment," he began to say. He raised Kasra to strike. "If I cannot have her, no one will!"
Leeta knew instantly that the man before her was not Cole. The dark aura was a sign all by itself. He started to babble and suddenly slashed at her with his black sword. Leeta found herself parrying the powerful sword blows of the Demon Dragonmaster. If not for all of those sparing sessions with her own Cole, she would have already fallen. The Princess was able to guess the dark warrior's next move before he even started it. To her advantage, Leeta had memorized most of Cole's attack patterns.
Then her opponent's movements started to change. His attacks lost all form. The eyes beneath the purple and black helmet were the eyes of a beast acting on instinct. Leeta realized all too quickly that the Demon Dragonmaster was no longer fighting with a plan but with pure instinct instead. The Princess could barely bring her sword back to parry the dark warrior's heavy slashes. Then she made one slight error in parrying, and he sent her sword flying from her hands. Kole's guantleted hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her off of the ground as if she were nothing but a doll. Leeta silently screamed for help.
Cole sliced a spider crab in half and leaped over its carcass. He was about to lunge after a pack of goblins, when a scream echoed in his mind. His vision blurred for a moment and refocused. His jaw dropped at the sight of Leeta in the hands of his double. The Demon Dragonmaster had lifted the Princess up into the air with his left hand. She was trying with all her might to break his grip, but it was not enough.
The dark warrior seemed to sense that he was being watched and looked over his shoulder. His eyes locked with Cole's and he smiled wickedly. Cole started to shake his head with disbelief. Summoning the speed of the Blue Dragon's Helmet and the power of the White Dragon's Dash, Cole began to drive towards his only love and his worst nightmare. But all the enhanced speed in the world wouldn't have made the difference. The next few moments were an eternity for the Dragonmaster.
As he plowed forward, his eyes never left the Demon Dragonmaster and Leeta. Kole continued to smile and nod as he raised his black sword. With one smooth thrust, the blade tore through Leeta's armor and into her abdomen and emerged from her back. Then the dark warrior withdrew the blade and let the limp form of Leeta drop to the ground. The Demon Dragonmaster kicked the body and walked away.
Finally, Cole made it past the last barrier of monsters and dropped to Leeta's side. He dropped the Goddess' Sword and took her in his arms. The words to a healing litany fell from his lips, but her wound wouldn't close. He tried again and again, but the wound refused to stop bleeding. He held her closer and laid his forehead on hers. It was cold to the touch.
"Leeta! Honey!" he pleaded in a tear filled voice. "Stay with me! Don't you give up on me!"
Her eyes fluttered open. They were wet with unshed tears. "Cole..." she whispered weakly.
"I'm right here, babe," he assured her. Tears were now rolling down his cheeks in small waves.
"I'm... so... cold," she said weakly.
He started to rock her back and forth in his arms. "Just hang on," he pleaded. "I'll get you to Carmen, and everything will be all right."
Tears began to fall from her own eyes. "Cole. Kiss me."
The Dragonmaster bent his head and kissed her tenderly on the lips. He lifted his head and her eyes were half closed. "Leeta!?" he cried.
Her eyes opened for a fraction of a second and she mouthed the words, "I love you," and went limp in his arms.
Grief flooded his awareness. A grief so strong that he could express it only as a long drawn out scream of anguish.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A spark of power deep within Cole's being was kindled by the strength of his grief. A power never touched or known of before began to flow throughout his body and soul. He cried out again and a globe of iridescent energy exploded out from the hunched form of the Dragonmaster.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The Demon Dragonmaster watched in awe as the raw power was released by the grieving Dragonmaster. A pure white globe grew and grew until it engulfed the fighting around the shouting Cole and the still form of Leeta. One by one, the dark warrior's monsters were vaporized while the humans were left unharmed. The globe started to near his own position when Kole realized that it would be wise to leave the battle. He grasped the Wings of Pestilence in his left hand and teleported away.
The battle was over.
The enemy had been driven off.
But at what cost?
The remains of the joint Meribian and Lucitanian force, seeing the battle as a temporary victory, had elected to move deeper into the eastern regions of Katarina. Eventually, they came to Vane. The many halls of the Magic Guild were converted to hospitals. Hours passed as wounded were escorted in, and dead were shipped back out.
Cole was standing at the grave of his Uncle Ramil when Mirage came up to him. "It's done," he said. "Carmen says that you can see her."
Cole was too weary to say anything. He allowed the Pirate Lord to lead him to the Guild Mansion. They walked through the ancient doors to the giant house and entered its stone halls. Soon they arrived at a bed room with dark green walls with two windows looking out over the forests surrounding the magic city. The room was filled with the orange light of the setting sun. In the room's center was a single bed. On the bed was the still form of the Princess Leeta.
Cole slowly walked towards the bed and stopped at its foot. Carmen, Carla, Ruby, and the other three Dragon Knights were in the room as well. Cole looked at Carmen with weary eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
"Yes. She is alive." Cole was about to reach out to the Princess, but Carmen moved forward and laid a hand on his shoulder. "But only in body."
Cole looked at her funny. "What?" he said in a hoarse whisper.
Carmen shook her head. "After many hours, we were able to heal her wounds. Unfortunatly, Carla and I could not revive her."
Cole shook his head. "I don't understand."
"She was not dead when you brought her to us," answered Carla. "So we were able to heal her wounds after a lot of work. But her soul just wasn't there anymore. It's as if it were forced away by some unknown means. The body was alive, but without a soul it can't be fully revived."
The Dragonmaster moved past the priestess and went to the right side of the bed, He dropped to his knees and reached out for Leeta's right hand. He gripped her warm yet lifeless hand and wept inwardly. Cole slowly leaned forward and kissed her lips. A tear rolled down his cheek and landed on her face. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to shut you out, my love." His grip tightened. "Know this, that we will be together again."
He carefully laid her hand back down and got to his feet. Then without a word, Cole left the room. He had gotten halfway down the hall before Mirage, Carla, and Ruby caught up to him.
"Where are you going?" asked Carla.
"You said her soul was missing," replied the Dragonmaster. "I'm going to find it."
"You can't be serious," she said.
Cole gave his cousin a determined but soft look. "I've never been more serious in my life." He stopped walking and looked at Mirage. "You're in charge of the Knights, old friend. I don't know how long I'll be gone..."
"It's okay, boss. I understand."
Cole nodded and left the three standing there. He reached the Mansion's front doors when Ruby came up to him again. "Don't try and stop me, Ruby."
Ruby shook her head. "I'm not going to try and stop you. I only wanted to give you something." She closed her eyes and waited for a moment.
Cole turned his head at the sound of small wings flapping. Vaul glided down the hall to his mother and the Dragonmaster. The baby Gold stopped and perched on Ruby's shoulder. "Yeah, mom?"
Ruby scratched his furry head. "Vaul, Cole has to go on a journey and may be gone for some time. I want you to go with him."
The dragon kid's eyes brightened at the mention of an adventure. Cole was about to protest, but Ruby stopped him with a smile. "It's been documented that a flying cat can sometimes come in handy on lengthy adventures."
Too tired to argue, Cole nodded and motioned for Vaul to perch on his shoulder. Together, the Dragonmaster and the young Gold Dragon left the Guild mansion on a journey that could possibly take them the rest of their lives.
Ruby watched Cole and her son as they vanished into the early evening. "May Althena see you safely through your journey." She turned and went back inside.