Part 5: Revelations and new friends
#5 of Through the eyes of the Midnight Blue Dragon
All paths have an ending, but whether it leads to good or evil is up to us.
Hana the Dragoness is copyright © Tim
Sir Tim is copyright © Tim
Part 5: Revelations and new friends.
I awoke a while later, with Avyn still resting on top of me. I gently woke her up and she rolled off of me.
'My, wasn't that fun? We really have to see each other more often.' She said happily.
I blushed, stood up and looked around the room.
I saw my sword and scabbard leaning against a wall and I picked them up. The Dragonblade felt different in my hands.
I gasped as a bolt of energy passed from me to the sword, making it glow a sapphire blue. I quickly strapped on the scabbard, reversed the sword and sheathed it. I walked over to Avyn, who was still sitting in the ground, watching me. I grabbed her hand and helped her up off of the floor. She quickly planted her muzzle on mine as soon as it was close enough. I sighed and stepped back as she broke the kiss.
'I am only endangering you by staying here. The Black Guardians want a fight and I do not want you to get injured like that again.' I told her.
'Do not worry too much about me, I'll be fine.' She said calmly. I had my doubts; these Guardians seemed to not care about killing anything that got in their way of me.
I walked over to the door and opened it.
'I will be in touch. I shall come back one day soon, I promise.' I said as I left.
Once back out in the city, I sighed and stretched my wings. I did not feel like walking all the way to the Kermani Mansion, so I spread my wings and took off.
The rush of wind as it passed my face was exhilarating.
This is why I love flying! I thought happily.
I landed in the street and walked up the steps to the front door. I knocked and waited for someone to open the door.
The door opened slowly and Bertain poked his head out.
'Yes, can I help... Darkstar! You are back! Come in, come in.' He quickly opened the door and stood aside so I could enter.
I grinned and walked in. Cynda and Rasani walked in from the opposite door, saw me, and they both smiled and rushed over.
I was suddenly enveloped in a huge hug from Rasani.
'Well, how'd it go? Did you find what you were after?' Cynda asked me.
'Sort of. I found out a great many things. Here is not the place to be talking about them.' I said carefully.
'Of course.' Cynda said and she led us into the library.
I finally removed Rasani's arms from around me and followed Cynda and Bertian.
I sat down and stretched in one of the luxurious chairs.
'So, what did you find out Darkstar?' Bertain asked me.
'Well, I shall begin from when I left here. I walked the entire distance to the training ground and was followed the entire way. I cannot be sure of who it was but my best bet is that it was the Black Guardians.' I told them. I then told them about how I arrived at Avyn's room, drank the potion, and collapsed on the ground in pain.
I focused my powers and recounted the memories for them. They saw the memories as I had seen them; they saw the black, evil Stormsun running through the streets of a city, getting caught by the white dragon army, sitting in a prison cell, and getting executed. They saw me getting pushed around by Shadownight. And, finally, they saw the Black Guardians attack.
I sighed, released my powers, and watched as the images faded.
Bertain, Cynda and Rasani just stood there, watching me with shocked faces.
Bertain mumbled something about needing to search for some history book, and walked off.
He returned a minute later with a book in his hands and a slight frown on his face.
He opened the book and placed it in front of me. I read the page that he was pointing to.
_The Story of the Dark Dragon, Stormsun the Evil.
The life of Stormsun the Evil was a murky one. No one knew from where he came, but he appeared in the city of Lizan in the Dragon Year Eighty Seven of Age III. He was a master of the dark powers and often performed vile, cruel tasks for the purpose of increasing his own life. He hated everyone and everything around him. Around thirteen years after he had first appeared, he was captured by the Dragon Armed Forces Commander, Kinslen. Kinslen managed to trap Stormsun while he was performing a Ritual of Necromancy. Necromancy, of course, has been banned in all the Dragon Lands but one, Akarum. Stormsun was hauled away and placed in a maximum security prison, where he awaited his sentence. Stormsun was sentenced to death. Three days before his sentence was to be carried out, Stormsun escaped the prison. No one knew how he did it, and no one else has ever succeeded in doing it. Stormsun ran from the DAF for eleven years. He had made an attempt to murder the king of Lizan and was discovered just before he plunged the knife into the king's chest. He ran from the palace and hid out in Lizan once more. He was eventually recaptured, in the Year Eleven of Age IV, by Kinslen and an army of white dragons. It took eight dragons just to hold Stormsun in place, as he had killed twelve others in his fight for freedom. Once more in prison, Stormsun had only one night to try and escape his death. He seemed to be indifferent to the fact that his execution was mere hours away, and spent his last night meditating. He was dragged to an arena at the crack of dawn and tied to a pole for all to witness his death. The executioner read out the charges; mass murder, attempted regicide and practicing the dark arts. He was sentenced to be burned alive. Stormsun started laughing at everyone. His last words were recorded as thus;_
'You seriously think that you can defeat me, the great Stormsun? Think again fools! I shall be reborn! I shall become more powerful than you could ever imagine!'
It seemed as though his soul had suddenly left his body, because as the last words left his mouth, his body slumped and became still. The fire was then lit beneath Stormsun the Evil, and he died without ever making a sound.
Stormsun the Evil died on the thirteenth day of the fourth season, Year Eleven of Age IV.
All Stormsun's remaining objects and relics lie in the Museum of Criminal History in the city of Kiralan.
I finished reading the page, started shuddering, and placed my head in my hands.
I looked up at the family staring at me.
'That was the day before I was born! This means that I could be the resurrected Stormsun! No, I won't allow it! I will not become an evil bastard!' I almost shouted.
They all stared at me with sadness in their eyes. Rasani walked forwards and placed a hand on my shoulder.
'I do not think that you are evil. You have always been kind to us and there is no way you could ever hurt us, whether Stormsun the Evil or not!' She said and I smiled slightly. She made it seem like an order.
'You are right. I should not dwell on such thoughts. I will not allow myself to become evil and if the new powers that dwell within me were once used for evil, then I shall not use them.'
Rasani lifted my face to hers and quickly kissed me. I knew that one day, soon, I would be hers and hers only.
I also knew that she had been carefully manipulating me over the past days and I did not mind one bit.
I sighed and leaned back. I knew that to really understand myself, I would need to visit this museum and take a look at all the ancient evil things that Stormsun left behind.
I jumped to my feet and looked at Bertain.
'I need to go to this Museum of Criminal History or whatever. I have to see all these relics and things that Stormsun left behind in order to gain a deeper understanding of him and his powers.' I said.
Bertain nodded his head. 'I will take you there in a few minutes.'
I knew that he was a little hesitant about exposing me to Stormsun's evil objects because it could be my undoing.
Suddenly, Aris, the small grey dragon who acted as the Kermani butler, stuck his head in the door.
'There is an official from the arena here to see Darkstar.' He said.
Bertain looked at me then turned back to Aris.
'Show him in please Aris.' He replied.
A large yellow dragon walked into the room a minute later. He glanced at the Kermani family and stood in front of me.
'You have your first opportunity to battle tomorrow afternoon, Darkstar. Are you interested in fighting tomorrow?' He asked me.
'Sure, I am willing to fight a battle. What sort is it?' I replied.
'Armed Melee. You may use one weapon of your choice. You know the rest of the rules, so I do not need to repeat them, do I?' He said.
I shook my head. The dragon grunted, bowed slightly to Bertain, and walked out of the room.
Cynda looked at me and shuddered.
'I hope you know what you are doing. Few dragons survive in an Armed Melee arena battle.' She said.
'I know that. Do not fear for me though, for I shall emerge victorious. There is no way any of the dragons have the skill or the courage to beat me.' I forced a grin to my face. I could not let them know that doubt was constantly plaguing me and that a slight fear had just joined the doubt.
Bertain, Rasani and I left the mansion shortly after that and headed towards the museum. The streets were rather empty and it seemed as if a cloud of despair hung over the city. I instinctively knew that the despair was somehow linked to the Black Guardians.
We entered the museum and walked over to the area where Stormsun's relics and things were kept. I looked at the things that Stormsun had once owned. The thing that caught my eyes the most was a pendant on a long, gold chain. There was an inscription below the pendant.
This amulet, worn by Stormsun at all times, is known as Star's Bane. The amulet was supposably the source of all Stormsun's evil and is said be the key for his rebirth. Star's Bane seems to be indestructible, as all attempts made to destroy the amulet have been met with death. The amulet's inscription is unlike any other text yet encountered. The amulet itself is over seven thousand years old and it was said that Stormsun was given it by a race of creatures known as the Aresyvin. The Aresyvin, we are told, are a race of powerful intergalactic creatures that travel the stars, looking for intelligent beings that need assistance. Stormsun was wearing the amulet on the dawn of his death.
I stared at Star's Bane and knew that if I were to touch it, then it would inevitably destroy me.
I looked at the next item in the glass cases. It was a piece of paper that was written by Stormsun while he was on the run.
_Dearest,
Do not fear for me as I know that I shall remerge from death more powerful than ever before. Before me stands a choice; there are two compatible dragons that I am able to successfully transfer my soul into. There is a dark blue dragon and a dark silver one. The dark blue one is currently destined to become a runaway prince who uses his powers for good, rather than evil.
The silver one shall grow to become a large, majestic warrior, bent on the destruction of all those who oppose him. At this stage, it looks like my best chance for domination lies with the silver dragon. My death approaches and it is inevitable. But, I shall be reborn! I shall have this land to myself! All dragons will hear my words and tremble before me. Wait for me, my love. I shall return one day soon.
Your heart and might, SS._
This was a letter from Stormsun to his mate, whose name was yet to be discovered.
I may not be him! He could be inhabiting the body of this dark silver dragon! I may be free after all! But, how do you explain the memories and the powers? I argued with myself.
I looked at a couple more items and then we left the museum and headed back towards the mansion. The despair of the city seemed to have deepened and I began to sense the taint of dark magic hanging over everything. I told Bertain and Rasani about my concerns and they nodded. Bertain quickly glanced around, as if searching for someone and tensed slightly.
'We must get back, quickly.' He whispered to Rasani and me.
We began to walk hurriedly back to the mansion. As we came around a corner near the centre of the city, we got separated in the crowds of people that were there. I knew that I was being followed, so it did not surprise me when I felt strong arms grab my shoulders and drag me through the crowd. I turned, punched the dragon in the face, and sprinted down the street. The dragon I had just punched roared and suddenly, I was surrounded by many dragons.
I knew that they were all part of the Black Guardians of the Inner Sanctum. I knew that they wanted me. I knew that there was something about me that frightened them. What I did not know was who their leaders are and why they wanted me so badly.
I shuddered and drew my Dragonblade. These dragons obviously had heard about what had happened to all the others that faced me, because they all took a step back when they saw the blade in my hands.
I grinned. This will be interesting. I know that I cannot kill them all, but how many can I take down before they capture me?
Suddenly, there was a roar and the crowd of Black Guardians turned around.
There were two dragons attacking the Guardians in an attempt to get to me. There was a large red female with alluring blue eyes. She growled and sent a Guardian flying with a quick flick of her tail. The other one was large and black. He had shining gold eyes and two ivory horns on his head. He lashed out with his claws and cut open the neck of another Guardian.
I stared at the two dragons for a minute before realizing what was happening and jumping into the fray. I slashed left and right with my sword, killing many before the Black Guardians began to realize what was happening. By the time they realized what was going on, the two new dragons and I had killed a third of their number. The rest tried to launch a counterattack but they were unprepared for the arrival of the red and black dragons. The ones that survived the onslaught ran back to the place from whence they came.
I cleaned my Dragonblade, reversed it, and shoved it back in the scabbard on my back. I then walked over to the two dragons.
'Who are you and why did you risk your lives trying to save me?' I asked them.
'My name is Sir Tim, and this is my wife, Hana. We are members of an organization devoted to the destruction of the Black Guardians. We saved you because you are wanted by the leaders of the Guardians and we want to know why.' The black one said.
'I have no idea why I am hunted by them, but I do know that they seem afraid of me.'
'Well, come with us please. Our leaders would like to speak with you. Do not worry, we are not going to force you to do anything against your will, they only wish to discuss some things with you.' Hana said. Her voice was sweet and melodious, and it reminded me a little of Avyn.
I hoped that the Guardians had not got Avyn, Bertain or Rasani. If they captured them, well, then I would have no choice but to surrender myself I return for their freedom.
I nodded. 'I will come with you. But I do expect to be allowed to leave if I choose to.'
Both Hana and Tim nodded their heads, turned, and led me through the now empty streets. I paid little attention to the route we took to get to there, but we ended up outside some tavern. Hana and Tim walked in and headed straight to the back rooms.
There was a large door on the floor of the cellar. Tim knocked three times.
'Azan kerina meazn isseat oggiea trya astoth.' Tim said, and the door slowly opened.
I quickly memorized the words Tim had said, as they were obviously some kind of password. Hana urged me in and darkness enveloped me as Tim closed the door behind us. He led the way through the underground passages with a ball of light in his hand.
For how long we walked, I have no idea. It seemed like hours when we finally arrived in a large circular room. There were many, many dragons lounging around. They all looked up and glared as I walked in behind Hana and Tim. I felt rather uncomfortable in this room and stuck close to Hana. We made our way across the room and towards a door on the other side. I could feel the stares of the dragons following me. Hana and Tim stopped at the door and faced me.
'We cannot accompany you beyond this point. They want to meet with you and you alone.' Hana said and shoved me through the door.