Across the Great Water, King Paline sat in his luxurious dining room in front of a huge feast fit for a king. It was no secret throughout his land that he was an outrageous pig when it came to his eating, and his physical stature did nothing to hide it. His fat fingers reached for a chicken leg and ripped it from the roasted bird. He mumbled as he took a big bite, drool running down his mouth. Suddenly, a hand grabs the back of his neck and pulls him backwards and sends him hurdling to the floor.
“You really shouldn’t eat alone”, a female voice chuckles, “You never know who might drop in for a visit”.
The strange, yet beautiful woman stood over him. She was dressed in skin-tight clothes that were violet in color, matching her eyes. She smiled down at the trembling king.
“Who the hell are you? My guards are right outside.
Guards!”
“My name is Sash. Actually, they’re not. You see,
I really wanted this to just be between the two of us, so I had to kill
them”, the woman replied wickedly.
“You bitch. What the hell do you want? Money?”
“Money? Please, I have more money and power than even you
could imagine Paline. But, there is one thing you have that I want,
and I’m willing to cut a deal with you”, she said.
“What is it?”
“Tell me Paline, have you ever heard of the Dragons”, she asked.
“The Dragons? You mean the old legends? Sure I have.
Every child is told that story. What does that have to do with this?”
“You see, the Dragons are real, and they’re back. In fact,
I’m one of them. Believe me when I tell you this Paline, for the
other Dragons want to rule again, which would be bad for you and your kingdom
wouldn’t you think”, she smiled.
“If you are telling me the truth, then what do you want?
If you are a dragon, why don’t you just take my kingdom?”
“Oh, I could, but where’s the fun in that? Besides, I have
bigger things to take care of than running a kingdom”.
“Then, what do you propose?”
“I could keep the other Dragons off your back, therefore, you’d
keep your kingdom, and your position as king. The only thing I want
from you, is that you follow my orders when I give them”.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, the people answer to you, and you answer to me.
When I give you an order, you follow it. But don’t worry, I wont
give them often, just when I need something done”, she explained, “So,
do we have a deal?”
“I don’t know”.
“Come on Paline. It’s a no-brainer. You can lose
your kingdom to one of the dragons, or you can keep it”.
“Alright, you got a deal”.
“Good”, the woman smiled.
~ ~ ~ ~
Ryo rode along the dirt path. Looking ahead, he could see smoke rising from the distance. He knew that it was coming from the village, and ordered his horse to go faster. He began to wonder why he was so worried about people he barley knew. Only the child, the young boy he saved. As he got closer to the village’s location, Ryo could see flames bursting from the houses. He rode through the scorching village and stopped in the middle of the blaze. Raising his arms in each direction, He absorbed all of the flames, leaving only the scorched remains of the village. Frantically, he searched for any signs of life, but could find none. All he could find were bodies. The flames charred some, others were just plain mutilated. The entire village had been slaughtered, but why? Ryo walked through the ruins. Suddenly he came to the house where he remembered the boy, Cody, lived. He could make out one body, a grown man, but no others. He turned, and shock swept over him, as there before him, written in blood on the ground, were the words: You know who I am, and you know where to find me. Come now if you want to see the kid and the girl again. Ryo gritted his teeth, for he did recognize the massacre, and knows exactly who’s responsible. Rage began to build within him as he returned to his horse and took off to face the enemy.
~ ~ ~ ~
Lara raised her head, the dizziness was starting to leave, but the throbbing pain in her head was still there. She shook her head to clear her vision. She saw Cody chained up beside her.
“Cody. Are…are you alright?”
Cody looked up at her. She could see that he was straight-faced, and showed little fear despite the situation.
“I’m okay Lara. That guy looks really mean”, he said as he looked ahead.
Lara looked to where Cody was staring and saw an armored figure standing, looking over a cliff. The rain that was falling, combined with the occasional lightning flash, gave the figure a sinister look.
“Who are you? What do you want with us”, she yelled.
The figure turned to face her, his eyes glowed a crimson red, and a face plate prevented any other type of recognition. The man approached, the chains that wrapped around his arms were flowing in the wind. He stopped right in front of Lara.
“I want nothing from you girl. You’re my bait, nothing more.
Your lives mean nothing to me. So keep your damn mouth shut, or I’ll
end them right now”, he growled.
“Does this have anything to do with that guy who saved us”, Cody asked.
“If that is what he did, then yes. I am after Ryo, the fire Dragon.
You see, me and him are old…very old friends”, He chuckled.
“Dragon? What do you mean Dragon. The Dragons are imprisoned.
You can’t be one of them”, Lara said confusingly.
“Let’s just say, we broke out, and now we’re back. It sure sucks
to be you”.
“Then, your Gargon aren’t you”, Lara asked.
“That would be me, yes. Oops, enough talk. I do believe
our guest has arrived”, Gargon smiled.
Ryo slowed his horse to a trot as he reached the cliff.
“Hey Ryo! Look out, it’s a trap”, Cody yelled from behind.
Ryo spun around in time to see a chain soar at his face, nailing him in the jaw. Ryo is thrown from his horse and slams into the muddy ground. He looks up to see his long time nemesis, Gargon.
“Gargon you bastard. Why? If you wanted me, then you should
have come after me! You didn’t have to slaughter those people”, Ryo
snarled as he got to his feet.
“Yeah, but this way it’s more fun. Now come on Ryo. Let’s
see if the rust is gone from your bones yet”, Gargon roared as he launched
into the air.
Ryo looked up as Gargon released his chains at him. He dodged them easily by launching into the air himself, drawing his sword at the same time.
“What? You haven’t recovered your swords yet? You can’t beat me without your swords. Your nowhere near full power without them”, Gargon complained.
Ryo swung at Gargon, who ducked and redoubled his chains. Ryo winces as he is struck in the back twice. Falling through the air, he is suddenly halted by Gargon’s chain wrapping around him. Gargon slams him into the side of the mountain, then drives him into the ground. Ryo staggers to his feet, but is hit in the face once again by one of Gargon’s chains. Ryo falls defeated to his knees.
“How pitiful you’ve become Ryo. Once, you were the greatest, the most ruthless of us all. Now, compassion, and love fill your heart. That has weakened you. You care to much for these normal humans, that you’ve lost your ambition”, Gargon sighs as he throws a chain at Lara and pulls her off the mountain, “I guess if I want you to put up a fight, I have to raise the stakes a little”.
Gargon drags Lara and lifts her into the air. Ryo looks up as Gargon dangles her over the edge of the cliff.
“Remember this Ryo”, Gargon laughs as he swings Lara back and forth, “This is exactly how it happened before isn’t it? What was her name? Oh yeah, Emma”.
Ryo struggles to his feet, and grabs his sword.
“How can I forget. You murdered my wife”, he yells.
“No, actually, she wasn’t your wife yet. I killed her before
that minor detail could come to. Funny thing though, she screamed
more than this one does”, Gargon laughed.
“Damn you”, Ryo roars as he launches himself at Gargon.
Ryo flies at Gargon, holding his sword above his head. Gargon lets go of Lara, dropping her over the cliff. Ryo drives his foot into Gargon’s stomach. Gargon tries to counter with a punch, but Ryo catches his fist, and backhands him away. Gargon resets himself, only to be nailed in the face by Ryo’s foot, as he repeatedly performs kick after kick, throwing the evil warrior into a daze. Gargon staggers back and tries to face Ryo, who stands in front of him filled with rage.
“It would be so easy to kill you right now Gargon. That’s something I’ve been wanting to do for two hundred years, and, someday, I will”, Ryo explains as he lifts his sword above his head, “You killed the most important thing in my life, and for that, I will kill you!”
Ryo drives his sword deep into Gargon’s chest. Gargon roars in pain. Blood pouring out of his chest and back. Ryo removes his sword and kicks Gargon over the cliff.
“Someday, after you’ve climbed back up this cliff. And when you do you bastard, I’ll be right here to knock you back down again”, Ryo glares.
Ryo turns to see Cody still chained to the rocks, with tears in his eyes.
“Can somebody help me please?!”
Ryo turns around as the female voice screams from over the cliff. He walks to the edge and sees Lara hanging from a chain that is caught up on a hanging branch. Ryo smiles as he reaches down and pulls her up.
“Are you alright”, he asks her.
“Sure I am. I was chained to a rock, then thrown over a
cliff. Of course I’m alright”, she says sarcastically.
Ryo ignores her complaining and frees the young Cody from the chains that held him.
“Wow! That was cool Ryo. So you’re a Dragon!
That’s so cool”, the young boy says excitedly.
“Yes. Are you unhurt little one?”
“Yeah, I’m fine”, he says confidently.
Ryo turns to face the young woman, who was almost at tears.
“Our…our village”, she said sadly.
Ryo lowers his head, unable to tell her that everyone was slaughtered.
Looking at his reaction, Lara knew what he would say. Her village
was no more. Her friends and family were dead. And she and
her brother were without homes.
“What are we supposed to do now”, she cried as she sat down on a large rock.
Cody walks over to her and hugs her. Ryo watches, impressed at the young child’s bravery.
“Come with me”, Ryo suggests.
“What”, Lara asks.
“If it wasn’t for me, your village would not have been massacred,
and your lives would never have been in danger”, Ryo sighs.
“Wait a minute. If it wasn’t for you, me and Cody might
not even be here remember”, she declares.
“Maybe so. Where is the nearest village?”
“Um, I’m not sure. We’ve never gone anywhere outside our
village. Never needed to”, she replies.
“Then we’ll head west. We’re bound to run into something on the
way. When we do, I will leave you to continue your lives without
the trouble that follows me”.
“Okay. Can we at least get out of this rain first”, Cody
complains.
“Yes. Follow me. I know a cave nearby where we can
stay”.
Lara and Cody follow Ryo to his horse. Ryo picks Cody up and places him on the horse, and motions for Lara to get up as well. She does, and Ryo removes a part of his robe and wraps it around them.
“Thank you”, Lara smiles.
Ryo nods and leads the horse to shelter.