Episode 17- A Friend of a Friend
"My friend. She lives in the mountains. Quite a ways from here. Torgan Mountains to be precise.", says Red Dawn. Black smoke envelopes Zero, followed by dark light energy. Black dragon scale armor forms all around Zero.
Inoko gazes upon the fully armored Zero. "The moment I find out that you aren't telling the truth, I will kill you.", says Red Dawn. Zero walks up to Red Dawn until the two are inches away from each other's face."What happens when you find out I'm telling the truth?", asks Zero. Red Dawn ignores the question and continues, "I'll lead the way. Seeing as we can both teleport, this shouldn't take too long". Inoko then walks away from Zero towards the window in the room. She opens it, then jumps out, landing on her feet, despite being on the second floor.
Zero disappears and reappears next to Inoko.
A thin, fast bolt of purple lightning strikes down on Red Dawn, making her instantly vanish. A second later, another bolt strikes at a far distance, making Red Dawn reappear. Red Dawn looks back at Zero, "Keep up! Let's make this quick!", yells Red dawn.
Quick, low toned bolts of lightning flash next to puffs of darkness as the two head to Torgan Mountain.
Torgan Mountain
Thick, bushy, and tall trees cover the ground around Torgan Mountain. Red Dawn and Zero reach a dark cave within the giant mountain. The inconspicuous cave mouth is hidden by tall trees, making the cave hard to see from a distance unless you know where to look. As the two enter the cave, light purple crystals trace the walls and luminate the cave. Small crystals are seen closer to the entrance, followed by larger crystals as the two walk further in.
The two reach a circular area in the cave that is as wide as it is tall. Light purple crystals glow and fill the sides of the large area.
At the center of the room, sleeps a curled, large dragon with its head curled underneath its large tail. The dragon has leathery skin all over with dense, light purple dragon scales on the top of its head, the tip of its tail, and covering its back. Although the size is similar, the dragon looks very different from the fully armored Noir Drew. The dragon immediately wakes up as the two get closer. Red Dawn starts to run towards the dragon. "Teacher!", yells Red Dawn in excitement. The dragon tilts its large head downward as Red Dawn hugs the long snout of the dragon. The dragon then curls its tail around Red Dawn, hugging her back. "Rising sun" says the dragon. The voice of the dragon doesn't slur like Noir, but instead echoes softly after speaking, as if a melody is played.
"Rising sun to you! I've missed you my friend!", says Red Dawn. The dragon looks off in the distance towards Zero, "Have you come with friend or foe?". "It's complicated", responds Red Dawn as she reverts back to her serious nature, "This is the reason why I'm here. I need your help. This is Zentaro - my mistake, I mean Kibo. Red Dawn looks slightly irritated. Kibo, this is Rowa Test, my friend and teacher. If your claims are true, she will know.". Rowa releases Red Dawn and fully stands on all four legs while looking at Zero, understanding the situation quickly. "Kibo claims that General Teno is a man known to all the dragons as the 'Great Thief', who stole a princess egg that is of the utmost importance to all of the dragons. According to the dragon named Noir Drew, he is the human of legend that will get the egg back and apparently punish humanity", says Red Dawn with doubt in her tone. Silence takes the room as Red Dawn waits for Rowa to respond. Puzzled, Red Dawn turns around at Rowa, unsure of why she hasn't responded. Red Dawn sees that Rowa has closed her eyes and bowed her head so low that her snout is touching the hard cave floor. "Yes, it is all true. The Great Thief stole the future mother of the next generation of our kind.", says Rowa. Zero makes his helmet disappear into black smoke as he gives Red Dawn a cold stare without saying a word. Red Dawn looks back at Zero, then looks away in disbelief. Rowa continues, "The princess egg is a hatchling that will renew all dragon kind. One dragon containing all elements of every dragon. Her eggs will be just as powerful, bringing a new era to dragons across the world. Noir Drew is an odd one who speaks nothing, other than dark truths. Whether or not you like it, or accept it, his convictions hold as true and as hard as the scales that cover him. The chosen one will retrieve the egg and hold the rage of one hundred and twenty eclipses.". Zero turns around and walks toward the exit of the cave, down the long pathway lined with crystals. "Where do you think you are going!?", shouts Red Dawn. Zero ignores her and continues walking. Red Dawn walks after Zero as he continues. Red Dawn catches up to Zero outside of the cave and stops five feet behind him. "You're still a murderer!", yells Red Dawn. Zero quickly turns around angrily, "And what are you except a murderer for a false cause!? You smash pieces of steel together and call it an award for bravely slaying dragons that never wanted to fight in the first place! How many times have you shot your arrow in the name of killing a dragon!? Yet you come here and claim true friendship with another! Does Rowa Test know about your teaching of tactics and great accomplishments in Grandoria!?".
Red Dawn grits her teeth but doesn't respond as Zero continues, "At least I know why I fight! You are just a purple contradiction!", yells Zero.
Red Dawn fills with rage, "And what of the townspeople!? Where do the destroyed homes, jobs, and businesses fit into your self righteous justice!? Are they just casualties on your path of vengeance!?".
"You don't have the right to tell me to consider the feelings of a city that joined together to SPLIT MY BODY IN TWO!", screams Zero. "They watched. They cheered as if watching a sport. They chanted for my death despite knowing nothing except for the poison that came from the mouth of Teno. That city has been chanting for my death all my life, and now that I'm in a position to do something about it, you want me to consider them in my future actions?".
Red Dawn looks off in the distance as Zero calms down.
"Then what?", asks Red Dawn, "after you've achieved this almost impossible goal, what happens next?". Zero camly walks up close to Red Dawn and looks into her sparking eyes.
"You. You are what happens next.", says Zero. Red Dawn turns her back towards Zero and walks a few feet away. "I have a duty. my home is Grandoria. I train tactics to the soldiers. I'm a general in the army. You can't seriously expect me to just abandon everything I know for a man.", says Red Dawn.
Zero walk closer again. So here you are. You have the truth. Teno is a sham. Grandoria is lawless and will break any rules as long as a mob is behind it, including the death of an innocent man! It's built on a foundation of lies, and you choose to stay faithful to it.". Zero turns away from Red Dawn and walks off. "There is nothing left to say then", says Zero. His armor disappears showing the white shirt and white pants underneath as he walks off into the trees and bushes to clear his mind.