Mia and Nash stood outside the village of Marke. This had been the village where Alex had entered the Black Dragon Cave and acquired the Black Dragon Armor. Nash could easily remember the kindness of the citizens. How they knew of the coming of the Dragon Master and helped them.
As they walked through the streets, they saw the bodies of the slain townsmen strewn about the village. The aroma of fresh death filled the air. Mia wept silently as they passed the bodies of the people whom they had befriended seven years ago.
Nash stopped short. He looked down toward the ground at a body that lay at his feet. Mia didn't know what was so special about this one that would make him stop so suddenly. She looked over Nash's shoulder and looked at his face; it was the elder.
Mia pulled her face away from the fallen man and began to cry. The cool cascading tears poured out inexorably. That was the final straw, seeing the elder who had helped them so much on the ground; his last ounce of life taken from him by some vile being.
Nash put his arms around Mia's shoulders. He gently kissed her head and whispered in her ear. "You must be strong Mia. We cannot allow our emotions to interfere with our mission. We have to destroy whoever caused this and avenge their deaths."
"Oh, how cute," stated a very familiar and evil voice. It can't be! Nash thought. Oh please say it's not him, please! "What's the matter Nash? Don't you remember the voice of your old master?"
Nash spun around to confirm what he already knew in his heart. The Master of Evil had returned. "Ghaleon! It can't be!"
"Oh but it is young apprentice, it is. And now is time for my retribution." Nash's face turned a pale white. It suddenly felt as if all feeling had left his body. He was almost positive that he was going to die. They barely beat him seven years ago, and now the rest of the party wasn't here. Nash knew he wasn't long for this world.
"Nash, don't get so afraid. It's not really Ghaleon. Remember how Byron said that Xenobia was an impostor? Well this is definitely another one."
Of course! How could I be so ignorant!? "Your right Mia," Nash said as he spun away into a fighting stance. "C'mon, let's kill this bastard."
"Pretty strong words coming from an apprentice don't you think," Ghaleon said as his well known smirk appeared on his face. "What are you going to do without your precious Dragon Master friend to back you up huh? Face it Nash, you don't stand a chance."
"How dare you call me an apprentice! It's been seven years you incompetent dolt! We're much more stronger than we were back then. You're the one who doesn't stand a chance!"
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! You're not the only one who's been practicing. Prepare to indulge yourself with my new techniques endowed upon me by Master Terranox!" Ghaleon outstretched his hand toward the two magi. "DARK CANNON!" Four balls of dark energy shot from Ghaleon's hand, flying through the air toward Nash.
Nash crossed his arms over his chest preparing for the impact. "MAGIC SHIELD!" The balls of dark energy hit the shield that Nash created. The balls of energy hit the magic shield and were absorbed. However, the force was to great and the shield began to weaken. When the fourth ball of dark energy hit the magic shield, it shattered and flew Nash backwards.
Mia ran back towards her husband out of instinct. Before she knew it, Ghaleon had already set forth another barrage of dark energy. Mia countered with her own magic. "NULLIFY MAGIC!" The air in front of Mia was slightly tinted blue. As the balls of energy entered into the field, they began to slow down.
Once again however, the force of the magic was too strong and couldn't be stopped by Mia's spell. To avoid being blasted, she nimbly dodged out of the way. As the energy spheres struck the ground, they exploded in a wave of dark energy.
Nash got back up and staggered over to Mia. They looked face to face with the Ghaleon impostor. Impostor he was, but he was still strong nonetheless. "Did you actually thing that you could defeat me, Ghaleon, the greatest sorcerer to ever live."
Nash cocked his head in that arrogant, haughty way that Mia had grown to love and said, "There's only one flaw in your little plan there magic boy," Ghaleon was obviously enraged at this insult, for his face turned bright red. However, he wasn't able to say anything for Nash continued to speak, now adding the up and down agitation of his finger as if he was scolding him. "You see, you are not Ghaleon. You are some foul impostor trying to be like him."
Ghaleon had now caught on to what Nash was trying to accomplish. He was trying to make him feel weak, so that the wed-lock magi could get in a decisive blow. He would not let this happen however. He would call his bluff. "Maybe I'm not, but guess what apprentice. I am allot stronger than Ghaleon was. Therefore you will die. Not to mention the fact that your short three party members."
"Now there's your second flaw. Your magic ability might be stronger, but your much weaker in the head."
"By what means do you base your puny theories boy!"
"On this you dolt! Ghaleon would have known that as the premier of Vane, I would be able to create more powerful spells than the ones normally taught in the school."
"New spells eh? Like what!"
It was Mia now who answered the question to the Ghaleon impostor. "Like for example, TETRA BOMB!" As Mia chanted this spell, a gargantuan ball of flame was spewed at the sorcerer.
Ghaleon quickly raised a magic shield, deflecting most of the attack. Then the earth began to rumble as boulders began to detach from the ground and hurl themselves at Ghaleon. For the first time in their battle, Ghaleon's face showed signs of terror.
Then came the final stage of the spell. The moisture in the air began to crystallize into ice crystals. The crystals were everywhere, including inside the shield. Having nowhere to go, the shards tore apart, and lacerated Ghaleon's flesh.
Nash stood and watched the effects of the Tetra Bomb, a technique that Mia had mastered no more than five months ago. He knew what Ghaleon was thinking, what about you little apprentice? Do you have to have your wife do everything for you? He also knew that if he didn't act now, Ghaleon would escape from the spell, of that he was certain. He had no choice, he had to use the most powerful spell he knew.
Nash raised his arms and began to chant. "May all the clouds of lunar gather above my head. May all of the skies be as my conductor and use thy force to smite my enemy. OMEGA THUNDER!" As these words were said, a bolt of lightning came from the heavens and struck the evil impostor. The bolt was the largest ever seen, at least thirty feet in diameter. The ear-shattering blast enveloped Ghaleon's screams, and the blast created a bright light that enveloped the countryside.
When the light dissipated, Nash and Mia approached the crater caused by the blast. The crater was about five feet deep, and thirty feet in diameter. At the bottom, was a singed heap of yellow goop. Nash was about to enter the crater when Mia pulled him back.
Nash spun around and looked into her eyes. Even though he had been in love with her for about seven years now, he still got lost in her eyes. For the moment, he knew not of the outside world. All he could think of was Mia. He was brought back to reality when Mia spoke. "Nash, be careful." Nash nodded his head then continued into the crater.
Suddenly, the earth began to shake violently. "Terranox!" Nash yelled as the quake intensified. He spun around to return to his wife when a violent earth movement knocked him off his feet.
He rose to a squat and began to climb back up the crater as the ground continually tried to throw him off balance. "Mia hold on! I'm coming!" As Nash ran toward his wife, the land under her gave way to the Dark Earth. Mia lost her balance and slipped, holding onto the edge with her arms. "Miaaa!"
Mia's hands began to ache. The immense vibration of the earth caused her hands to begin to give way. "Nash, I can't hold on much longer." Desperation filled her face. She tried to tell herself that it would be all right, but to no avail. Finally, her hands lost their grip and she fell.
Nash's timing was uncanny. Just as she fell, Nash dove and grabbed her arm. "Don't worry Mia, I got you."
A smile rose on Mia's face. Her confidence had returned. The man whom she had given her heart to had saved her life. "Nash."
Then, the worst thing that could possibly happen did. The ground around them fell away, leaving them stranded on an island. Even in her dangling position, Mia knew what had happened. "Stay calm Mia, everything is going to be all right." Nash's words were contradicted by the fact that he was slowly losing his grip. Mia knew that he would not be able to save her, but maybe she could save him.
"Nash, defeat Terranox, and save Lunar for Lena OK?"
"Mia, what are you talking about?" Nash knew that face. Mia was going to do something desperate, and Nash knew what it was. "Mia, no! Miaaaaaaaa!" His screams were in vain, as Mia had already cast the teleport spell sending him back to Pao.