With the desperate Rangers on his back, Sabre-fang raced through the forest with amazing speed. Soon they were out of the forest and racing through a desert.
"How can all of this be within one person's mind and to top it off, it's all real" Mistress Kira said in astonishment.
"This is the desert of Dragonhaӓrt's sorrow but if this shocks you…then you haven't seen anything yet!" Sabre-fang said as he built up speed.
The others had to shut their eyes because the wind blew strongly against their faces. After a while, Sabre-fang slowed down.
"You can open your eyes now and see for yourself. BEHOLD THE RYUGAEIA OF DRAGONHAӒRT'S HOPE!" Sabre-fang announced.
The Rangers struggled to open their eyes. Their eyes were watering due to the wind and their vision was blurred. They wiped their faces with the back of their hands and looked around. When they could see their surroundings, they opened their eyes wide in amazement and awe. They were on top of a high mountain and from that height, the view was amazing, They beheld a lush, green land, well-watered by four great rivers that flowed into a large ocean.
"WOW! Is this really Reis' heart?!" Erasa questioned in amazement.
"And that's not all…" Sabre-fang said as sudden loud roars sounded from above them.
"What's that noise?" Shin asked as he raised his eyes to the skies.
What they saw was so amazing that it brought tears to their eyes. Millions of dragons filled the skies. They seemed so free and happy and they had one another.
"THERE'S EHUM!" Kyla exclaimed as she pointed towards a dragon that was leading a legion of other dragons that looked similar to it in colour and appearance.
"AND THERE'S DRACO!" Shin exclaimed.
"AND INFERNO!" Mistress Kira exclaimed joyfully.
"TERRA'S HERE TOO!" Erasa exclaimed.
"Hey! What the heck is Dragnarӧk doing in Reis' mind?!" Darak yelled angrily.
"Marina's here too. It almost makes me want to cry" Aurora said regretfully.
"Huh?" everyone stared at her in surprise.
"I've only been thinking of myself and making Reis suffer because of my pain…but Reis has all of Ryugaiea in his heart…the true meaning of Ryugaeia" Aurora said with a sad smile.
Shin laughed.
"What the heck are you laughing for you thickheaded jerk!" Kyla said aiming a blow to the back of Shin's head but Shin evaded.
"There's no need for you to feel sad anymore Aurora. Fate has given you the opportunity to make things right" Shin consoled.
Aurora smiled.
"I'm glad" she said.
"Now that you've sorted out your feelings, let's go to see the Light" Sabre-fang said.
They mounted Sabre-fang's back and sped through the land and finally arrived at the edge of a huge crevice. The crevice was wide and impossible to cross. There was a huge monolith that reached from the depths of the crevice into the skies.
"Don't tell me the Light is…?!" Kyla exclaimed in fear.
"Yes, he is above the monolith. We must get to the top of the monolith" Sabre fang said as he took a few steps back and crouched slightly.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Kyla warned.
"Hmmph! I was never any good at listening to humans!" Sabre-fang said with a smile and in the next instant he was racing towards the edge of the crevice.
He leapt over the crevice!
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!" the teenage rangers screamed and in the next instant they began to fall into the crevice.
"DAMN! I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT!" Sabre-fang exclaimed.
"WHAAAAAT?!" everyone screamed.
"Heh! Just kidding! Hang on tight!" Sabre-fang called as widespread wings materialized at his sides.
He began to ascend while circling the monolith.
"DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT DAMN IT!" Kyla yelled angrily.
"I really enjoy seeing humans so scared. It brings a tear to my eyes" Sabre-fang laughed.
"Careful, Darak, you've got competition" Shin teased.
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Darak shouted.
"It means your levels of evil are at par with each other" Shin teased some more.
"Well I guess I can accept a challenge" Darak said in a relaxed tone.
"You're so annoying, you know that?" Shin said.
"Whatever" Darak ignored him.
Soon, they were above the clouds but something was strange, the top of that thin monolith was as large as a town. They descended trying to make meaning of this.
"Wow, I didn't think my rival was retarded enough to have such an illogical thing in his mind" Darak concluded.
Shin frowned slightly.
They looked around and noticed that the floor was tiled. There was nothing on top of the monolith except for a huge Temple.
"Go in. I'll wait for you here…and remember, the Light is very ancient and there is wisdom behind its every utterance, though you may not understand some of its utterances now" Sabre-fang advised.
They walked towards the Temple and entered it. The interior of the Temple was glowing a dazzling gold. They walked till they stood in the holiest part of the Temple. That part of the Temple was so bright they had to shield their eyes.
"What do you seek brave humans?" a deep voice questioned them.
They looked around trying to find the source of the voice. As they looked around, a bright golden figure descended to the ground. It was cloaked in so much light that it was hard to discern what manner of creature it was. The figure spread its wings and that was when the Rangers were able to see it. It was a huge golden dragon with a bright golden gem embedded in its forehead. It had golden horns and its head and eyes glowed bright gold. Even its body glowed with a bright golden colour.
"IT CAN'T BE…!!!" Mistress Kira exclaimed in shock as she dropped to her knees in fear and respect.
"Who is he?" Aurora asked.
"I AM ALPHA! SOVEREIGN RULER OF ALL DRAGONS!" the figure declared.
The others stared in shock.
"Do not fear. You came to me for a purpose, now let that purpose be revealed" Alpha said solemnly.
"Great Alpha, we came into the mind of a boy named…" Mistress Kira was saying when Alpha interrupted,
"REIS DRAGONHAӒRT!" he said.
"Yes, this is his mind and he is being controlled by…" Mistress Kira was saying when Alpha interrupted again,
"ARMAGEDDON!" he said.
"We believe that Armageddon is trying to kill Reis' spirit so we intend to…" Mistress Kira was saying when Alpha interrupted yet again,
"SAVE HIM!" he said.
"Exactly, you seem to know our intentions already, my lord" Mistress Kira said respectfully.
"If that is your intention…then you will not like what I must say and I only tell the truth" Alpha said.
"We will listen to whatever you have to say, my lord" Mistress Kira said.
Alpha sighed.
"Light is one, Darkness is one, the heart embodies both and only the heart can decide which should rule" Alpha said solemnly.
Mistress Kira opened her eyes in shock.
"Are you trying to say…?!" Mistress Kira exclaimed.
"I'm not trying to say anything. I'm saying what I mean. It is useless for you to try to defeat the darkness in Reis' heart" Alpha said solemnly.
"You can't be serious!" Aurora exclaimed in denial.
"I am. The heart is a mirror of its owner's desires. Light is but a reflection of darkness and darkness, a reflection of Light" Alpha said.
"That doesn't make sense! It's like saying that you are a reflection of Armageddon!" Aurora yelled.
"Such things are beyond your understanding but I will try to explain it to you. The heart is a mirror of Light and darkness however one of the two is false, one is true. One truly exists and the other preys on the corners of reality yet they are both given life through the heart" Alpha explained.
The Rangers looked confused but strangely enough, Shin seemed to understand.
"I get it! What you mean is that all outward actions begin within the heart and every living being with a heart must choose to belong either to Light or to darkness!" Shin explained.
"I see" Mistress Kira agreed.
"Then you must understand this also, a person must conquer the darkness within his heart of his own volition. Others can assist but only the wielder of the heart can make that choice to conquer himself. Another cannot do this for him" Alpha said.
"There is wisdom in that" Mistress Kira agreed.
"But is there something we can do to help Reis?" Aurora asked desperately.
"Reis Dragonhaӓrt cannot be saved by you. Give up. Drive yourselves out of Reis' mind. Fighting means nothing in here!" Alpha said a string of sentences as though he intended to break the Rangers' spirits.
"We won't give up on Reis! Even if we can't defeat Armageddon, we'll never abandon Reis!" Aurora yelled angrily.
"Your understanding is so narrow" Alpha said.
"Alpha! Please answer this. Is Reis really the Dragonheart?!" Shin asked.
"HUH?!" everyone but Kyla stared at him in shock.
"ARE YOU AN IDIOT OR SOMETHING?! REIS CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO MEASURE UP TO THE STRENGTH OF THE DRAGONHEART!" Darak yelled angrily.
"True, the Dragonhaӓrt has been born…however, it is barely conscious and the time has not yet come for it to be revealed, but when that time comes, I can assure you that dragons will be reborn!" Alpha said in a nostalgic tone.
The other rangers were happy to hear this however they were saddened by the fact that they could not do anything to help Reis.
"How can you ask us to quit?" Aurora said sadly.
"The answer lies in the beginning" Alpha said.
"The answer…lies in the beginning? Is this supposed to be some sort of code?" Shin wondered as he thought of Alpha's words deeply.
He smiled.
"Thanks Alpha! I get it!" Shin laughed.
"You seem to be the wisest ranger present. I leave the rest to you. Farewell!" Alpha said as he disappeared.
"Come on, let's get out of here" Shin said as he left the Temple.
The others followed, still looking confused. They met Sabre-fang outside.
"So how did it go?" Sabre-fang asked.
"He told us to quit" Aurora said sadly.
"Can you tell it to me in exactly his words?" Sabre-fang asked.
Aurora repeated Alpha's depressing words.
"He also said 'the answer lies in the beginning'" Erasa added.
Sabre-fang thought for a while.
"It's amazing! I did not think he would give you such a straightforward answer" Sabre-fang said.
"But what kind of an answer is that? It doesn't help in any way" Aurora said.
"You're quite lucky he did not ask you to burn the ocean or water the desert" Sabre-fang sighed.
"Alpha actually requests such things?!" Erasa gasped in surprise.
"Well he's not the King of the Dragons for nothing" Sabre-fang said.
"But how could he ask us to quit? I always pictured Alpha as the figure of truth and courage, not to talk of selflessness" Aurora said in disappointment.
"He is all that. Come on, haven't you guys figured it out yet?" Shin said.
"Figured what out?" Erasa asked.
"Alpha is not asking us to quit! He's asking us to help Reis!" Shin exclaimed.
"But he said…" Aurora was about to say when Shin interrupted her.
"He only coded his words because he as the Light of Reis' heart shares a link with Armageddon who is the darkness of Reis' heart. If he told us clearly to fight, Armageddon would have detected it" Shin explained.
"I don't understand. Exactly what in his message is telling us to fight?" Aurora asked.
"Alpha signifies beginnings…so if you eliminate all the other words in the string of depressing sentences he uttered and leave only the initial words, you have the words Reis, Give, Drive, Fighting. This can be interpreted as Reis must be given the drive to fight. That is the real meaning of his message and the key to freeing Reis from Armageddon's dominion" Shin explained.
"I see! So that was his true message. Shin Ayenhayze, you truly are brilliant!" Mistress Kira complimented Shin.
"Hey I'm a psychic ranger, comes with the territory" Shin said proudly.
"Sabre-fang, can you please take us to Reis?" Mistress Kira asked politely.
"Of course, leave the rest to me" Sabre-fang said as he allowed the others to mount him.
"I see, so Alpha wants to help Reis. We cannot lose this battle!" Aurora thought as Sabre-fang leapt off the monolith and glided through the skies.
After a while, they found themselves in the forest from Reis' dreams.
"Can we get through this forest?" Mistress Kira asked.
"Yes we can" Sabre-fang said as a loud scream filled the air.
"It's Reis! We've got to hurry!" Kyla exclaimed and in the next instant, they were racing through the forest at high speeds.
Even at that tremendous speed, the forest seemed endless.
"Will we make it in time?!" Aurora exclaimed worriedly.
"While we're on our way, I think it's imperative we come up with a plan of attack" Shin suggested.
"Have you got anything in mind?" Darak questioned.
"Well…just a little charade I'd like to call melodrama" Shin said in an annoyingly casual way.
"Care to explain?" Mistress Kira asked.
Shin explained in such a way that only the six of them could hear.
"WHAAAT?! THAT'S YOUR FOOLPROOF PLAN?! YOU'RE INSANE!!!" the others yelled at Shin.
"Come on guys, think about it. We don't have the power to defeat Armageddon. Only Reis can do that so I think going a little too extreme is alright" Shin tried to calm the others.
"YOU'RE MAD! WHAT IF YOUR POWER ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH AND AURORA DIES?!" Erasa yelled.
"Not you too" Shin said in dismay.
"It doesn't matter as long as we can save Reis. I'd do anything, even give my life to save Reis" Aurora declared.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
"I wish Reis could hear that. It's enough to boost his morale" Kyla said with a smile.
Erasa looked away jealously and Shin felt hurt though he didn't understand why.
Soon, they were out of the forest and floating in darkness.
"We're close!" Sabre-fang said as he increased his speed.
"H-Honestly Sabre-fang, what is the limit to your speed?" Shin asked.
"Are you asking to see the true limits of my speed?" Sabre-fang asked.
"N-No, I wouldn't…" Shin was saying when Darak cut him off.
"Yes, show us your true speed" Darak said with a wicked smile.
Sabre-fang smiled.
"Don't fall off…is what I'd like to say but in this case…don't be ripped to shreds by the wind…and don't blame me…EVEN IF YOU DIE!!!" Sabre-fang roared as he crouched and suddenly boosted himself forward.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" the others screamed as they raced through a blur of light.
Meanwhile, a little further off, Armageddon was torturing Reis with black flames.
"ACCURSED DRAGONHAӒRT! ALWAYS MEDDLING IN MY PLANS!!!" Armageddon roared as he increased the intensity of the flames.
Reis screamed in pain and dropped on his knees.
"I won't let you…hurt Aurora" Reis said weakly.
"Hurt her? I think you misunderstand me. I don't want to hurt Aurora…I want to kill her!" Armageddon roared.
Reis stared at the huge black dragon in disgust.
"Even bound in chains, you are still despicable!" Reis yelled.
"These shackles shall be broken by your death!" Armageddon roared as he consumed Reis with more dark flames.
"LET HIM GO!" a sudden voice yelled.
"Ah, speaking of the devil, Aurora has arrived Reis. She has come to accept her death…by my hands!" Armageddon laughed.
Aurora dismounted Sabre-fang and unsheathed the Twin Saggeesian Sabres. The others unsheathed their weapons as well.
"Oh, so a ragtag band of rangers believe they can stand up to my power? How stupidly naïve!" Armageddon said as a huge aura suddenly burst from his body.
The other rangers collapsed to the ground from the force of this sudden release.
"Everyone! Summon your dragons!" Mistress Kira ordered.
The rangers raised their rings but nothing happened.
"I'm afraid you will find it rather impossible to summon your dragons in here" Armageddon mocked.
The rangers stared at their rings in shock.
"So…let me commence the spirit killing ceremony now that you're all present" Armageddon laughed as he increased the size and intensity of the flames around Reis to infernal levels.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!" Reis screamed as he struggled with the pain.
"NO! REIS!" Aurora screamed as she ran towards Reis and initiated a water technique with the intention of drowning the flames but the water she created was simply evaporated the moment it came into contact with the flames.
"Even water has no effect! Reis! Hang on!" Aurora screamed as she ran towards Reis.
"N-NO! AURORA! Stay away. These flames will kill you!" Reis struggled to warn Aurora.
Aurora froze in her tracks.
"I'm afraid he's right. Reis has only survived for this long because he is a strong spirit. However if you…who came here in the flesh were to come into contact with my flames…you would immediately disintegrate into nothingness" Armageddon mocked.
"Armageddon. Please release Reis. Let him go. I beg of you!" Aurora pleaded at the point of tears.
"Begging me on your feet means nothing. It would be a much more appealing sight to see the Princess of Saggeese begging on her knees" Armageddon mocked.
Aurora bowed her head.
Reis couldn't hear clearly due to the pain but he knew that Armageddon was asking Aurora to demean herself.
"Fine, if that is what it will take for you to free Reis, then I will do it" Aurora said in a trembling voice as she dropped on her knees and lowered her head till her forehead touched the ground.
"Please…lord Armageddon. I implore you to release Reis Dragonhaӓrt" Aurora pleaded.
"Aurora…no, you don't have to do this!" Reis yelled.
"I admire your courage Aurora…but I cannot allow Reis to live!" Armageddon roared as he once again engulfed Reis with the dark inferno.
"DAMN YOU!!!" Aurora yelled as she suddenly combined the Twin Saggeesian Blades to form the Heart Sabre and charged to attack Armageddon.
"TH-THAT'S THE HEART SABRE!" Mistress Kira exclaimed in shock.
"Nice try Aurora…but now that you've been able to create a Heart Sabre, I cannot allow you to live. RECONCILE WITH REIS IN THE NETHERWORLD!!!" Armageddon roared as he shot a huge ball of fire from his mouth.
"NOW'S THE TIME!" Shin exclaimed as he suddenly shut his eyes.
The ball of fire hit Aurora with full force and blasted her into the air. She screamed in pain as she collapsed to the ground. She struggled for a while and grew still.
"AURORA!" the others called and rushed to her side.
"Finally, that irritating thorn has been removed from my flesh" Armageddon said happily.
Reis stared in shock.
"AU…RO…RA!" he struggled to speak from the shock.
He forced himself to endure the pain inflicted by the flames and struggled to move towards where Aurora lay. He reached her and dropped on his knees in dismay.
"Yes Dragonhaӓrt! I have taken your most precious treasure from you. Feel the pain! Give in to hatred!" Armageddon urged Reis on.
"Aurora…hey. Wake up" Reis called gently as tears began to stream down his face.
Armageddon temporarily released Reis from the flames to revel in the tragic scene he had created.
Reis lifted Aurora's head into his arms. She had serious wounds on her arms and feet as a result of the flames.
Aurora didn't respond.
"AURORA! YOU CAN'T BE DEAD! OPEN YOUR EYES!" Reis screamed but Aurora remained still.
"You can't be…you just can't be…NOOOO!!!" Reis screamed as a bright golden light engulfed him. "Armageddon…I promise you that…YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!!" Reis roared as a huge release of energy gushed out from his body.
"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT IS THIS POWER?! WHAT IS THIS LIGHT?!" Armageddon exclaimed in shock and fear.
By that time, Reis was completely concealed by the light. He stood up and a strange force lifted him into the air. Lightning flashed around him and orange flames surrounded him.
"What is that?!" Darak pointed towards the light.
Two huge wings had spread apart as a bright flash of light revealed the new form. It was a great warrior, clothed in golden armour. He wore a golden crown on his head and a pair of golden boots on his feet. The warrior wore a great golden belt around his waist and held a great sword that took the form of a golden cross.
"I know that form! It's you isn't it. You're a Drakengaӓrd!" Armageddon roared in anger.
The rangers stared in awe.
"I've been holding back long enough! It's about time I got serious!" Armageddon roared as he shattered the shackles binding him.
"I AM THE GOLDEN DRAKENGAӒRD! THE HAND OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION!!!" the figure introduced himself.
"WHAT?! REIS IS ACTUALLY THE GOLDEN DRAKENGAӒRD?!" Darak and Mistress Kira exclaimed in shock.
"I knew it! He really is a Guardian Angel!" Erasa exclaimed joyfully.
"I LOATHE YOU GOLDEN DRAKENGAӒRD! YOU WERE THE ONE THAT CAST ME FROM THE STARS OF HEAVEN!!!" Armageddon roared.
"And now you seek to rule Ryugaeia! You have become the embodiment of evil and must be punished!" Reis said as though in a divine trance.
"We shall see!" Armageddon roared as he flew to attack Reis.
"YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR ME!" Armageddon roared angrily.
"Perhaps you have forgotten that the Powers of Light are limitless. Fine then…LET ME REMIND YOU!!!" Reis roared as he suddenly appeared in front of Armageddon and struck Armageddon on the head with the Cross-shaped sword.
Armageddon collapsed to the ground severely weakened by the attack.
"HOW IS THIS… THIS POSSIBLE?! HOW CAN SUCH A SMALL SWORD WEAKEN ME ALMOST FATALLY?!" Armageddon roared.
"You've grown strong enough to break my initial seal. Fine then, I shall reseal you!" Reis said as he made the Sign Of The Cross.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Armageddon screamed in fear.
"I'll seal you with the very seal of the God Of The Heart! TAKE THIS! SEAL OF THE CROSS!!!" Reis roared as he threw the sword.
It pierced Armageddon and entered his body. Almost immediately, huge crosses began to grow from Armageddon's body staking him tightly to the ground. Heavier shackles appeared on Armageddon's feet.
Armageddon laughed.
"You are only prolonging the inevitable. The very thing you are fighting to protect is that which gives me life. Know this Dragonhaӓrt! I will have you…and when I do, ALL OF RYUGAEIA…IS DOOMED!" Armageddon laughed as he faded into the depths of Reis' heart.
Reis transformed back into himself and collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Shin ran to Aurora's side and checked her aura. It was faint but it was still circulating through her body.
"Phew! Aurora's alive!" Shin sighed happily.
"Shin, let's get out of here!" Mistress Kira ordered.
The present threat is over but Armageddon wasn't making an empty threat. Will Aurora regain consciousness and will everyone accept Reis now that it is clear that Armageddon dwells within his heart?