A cloaked figure glanced over the Darklands from above as he stood in an open archway from the safety of his gothic tower. He looks up to the purple sky that is littered with black clouds and flying creatures.
“Just as beautiful as I remember”, he smiles.
His enjoyment is interrupted by two figures who enter the chamber. He turns to face them as they approach. One of them is a robed man who has a black mark across the left side of his face. The other is much larger and is armored from head to toe. Spikes protruded from his shoulder pads, and chains were wrapped around each arm.
“Areaus, Gargon. I’ve been expecting you”, the cloaked man said.
Suddenly, a chain shoots from the armored one and wraps around the cloaked figures body. The man is pushed back and thrown over the edge of the window and dangled over the edge by the armored Gargon.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t let go and enjoy your guts splattering across those rocks”, he yelled.
“You…you know the rules Gargon. If…If you kill me…you’ll lose your dragonhood”, the man said desperately.
“So what! I’m getting a little tired of this pajama party anyway. I mean, after a few thousand years you kinda get tired of the same old routine everyday”, Gargon laughed.
“No! Wait! If you lose your dragonhood, you won’t be able to get revenge against Ryo”, the man replied.
“Ya gotta point there frosty”, Gargon sighed.
Gargon flung his captive back into the tower and slammed him up against the wall before retracting his chains. The man staggered to his feet and removed his cloak, revealing a pale-skinned man with long black hair and a scar over his left eye.
“Alright Korak, you have a little longer to live, but don’t think that your off the hook, because as soon as I’ve taken care of the snot-nosed brat, you’re next”, The armored warrior growled as he walked out of the chamber.
Areaus strode over to the angered Korak.
“I appreciate the assistance Areaus”, Korak snarled.
“Oh please Korak, do you really think I’d attempt to fight Gargan?”
“No, I guess not. Gargon will be a problem later, but for
now, come”, Korak said as he motioned towards Areaus.
The two men left the chamber and entered a neighboring room. In the center of the chamber, was a blue crystal that illuminated the room with its eerie glow. Korak approached the ball and touched his hand to the surface.
“Look at this world Areaus”, he smiled, “It has changed so much
over the two hundred years we were away”.
“Yes, I saw a lot during my travel here. So much knowledge
has been uncovered. All of the technology and weaponry that has been
created during our absence has far surpassed anything present before.
This world is a truly wondrous place”, Areaus replied.
“We must quickly regain control of this world my friend.
If we do, no one will ever be able to stand up to the great dragons again.
Not even one of our own”, Korak grinned.
“But what of Gargan and Ryo?”
“Let them kill each other. Even if Gargon does defeat Ryo
and kill him, which I highly doubt, he will lose all his power. Do
not concern yourself with those two just yet”.
Lara stirred from her slumber and sat up.
“Oh my god! Cody! Cody where are you”, she cried out.
“I’m right here sis. Calm down will ya”, the young boy
replied as he entered the room.
Lara jumped out of bed and lifted her brother into her arms.
“What are you doing Lara? Put me down!”
“I’m so glad you’re okay! What happened?”
“It was cool! This guy fell from the sky, and he killed
those guys and saved us”, the child said excitedly.
“What? Who did? Where is he?”
“Ryo, but he’s gone now. He promised he’d come back.
He said he had an old friend to visit or something”.
“I think you’ve been playing to many games Cody. Well,
whatever happened, we’re okay now. Let’s go see papa”.
Later that night, Ryo rode on his newfound horse until he reached a small mountainside. He dismounted and surveyed the scene. Moss and other shrubs had crept their way up the rocky hill, but other than that, everything was as he left it so many years ago. He led the animal to a nearby tree and tied it up to prevent its escape.
“Wait here my friend. I won’t be long”, he said to it.
He walked up to the side of the small mountain and stood in front of an irregular boulder that seemed out of place from the rest of the area. He raised his hand and it started to glow. Suddenly, the boulder shifted and lifted out of the way, revealing a passageway within the hill. Ryo entered the cave, the boulder reset itself behind him. He walked down the long dark passage, a light was shining ahead. He soon entered into a huge chamber. There was a pool of water within the cavern and the light from above reflected onto it, illuminating the entire cave. In the center stood a large gravestone, that was topped with a large cross. The cross was decorated with jewels and diamonds, and wrapped around it was a small locket. Ryo approached the gravestone, stopping just in front of it, and fell to his knees. His head hung in sadness as he remembered his love for the woman who rested there.
A young and beautiful woman sat next to Ryo on a cliff overlooking a vast valley. The sun was just about ready to set, something that Emma always loved to watch.
“It is so beautiful Ryo”, she smiled, “I wish this moment would
last forever. The sun setting across the land, and you here with
me to enjoy it. I know that wont happen. But that’s what dreams
are for. What are your dreams Ryo?”
“I dream of you, and our love, and how I wish it to never end”.
“But it will end. You’re a dragon. While you’ll stay
young and handsome, I will eventually grow old, and soon I will pass, what
then my love?’
“Even after that time comes, my love for you will last for all
eternity. For I will not live forever, some day, we will be together again”.
“Why don’t you just find a female dragon, that way you’ll never
have to go through the pain of losing one you love”.
“I will never leave you, no matter how long or how short moments
like this last. You are, and always will be, my greatest love”.
“Promise?”
“I promise”.
Ryo lifted his head, tears streaming down his cheeks as he got to his feet. He reaches over and lifts the locket off of the cross and opens it. Within is the picture of a beautiful woman with dark hair and an incredible smile. Ryo closes the rocket and grasps it in his hand. Gathering himself, he puts the locket around his neck, and places it under his shirt.
“Goodbye Emma”, he said softly.
Ryo turned around and exited the cavern. Meeting up with his steed, he headed off.
“Come on boy, I got a promise to keep”.