The Price of Revenge: A Bloodstained History {closed temp}

[Shadow Dragon]

"I think some training would do us some good, too," said Vincet.

"Training for what?" I questioned him, "We don't exactly know what we'll be up against."

"Hence the need,"

"If all the enemy wants is revenge, then training or not, I think we'll be fine," Zali told me, "I've dealt with foes like that before, and not only are they predictable, but the end result is never in their favor."

"I hope you're right," Zelos told him.

"Well at the very least, train to help Athena here," Haku turns to her, "there has to be something we can do to help you regain your draconic powers, right?"

[ganondorf2]

"Uh, guys?" I start seeing Nova had feinted from something.

"Did he hear a voice?" Athena asked

"No clue."

[Shadow Dragon]

I turn to see that Nova had fainted, prompting me to rush toward him, "Not again! Ganondorf?"

"Does this happen to him a lot?" Zali asked me, but I didn't reply to him.

"Voice?" asked Haku to Athena, "What do you mean?"

[ganondorf2]

"Something about a full moon and stars shining bright. I don't get it, the moon hasn't done anything that causes me to get stronger," she said, "There was a second part, but I couldn't catch it...because I pass out."

"Just like big guy did!" I said to this before hearing from Ganondorf, "A machine..."

"What?"

The clone sat up and said, "A machine of great power."

[Shadow Dragon]

"That doesn't ring any bells for me," I told him.

[ganondorf2]

"Something tells me it's not that anyone would know. The name, Great Wyvern GX went in my head. I'd show you through my thoughts...but got a headache just from the info I got," Ganondorf said.

"GX?" I asked.

"Don't ask. It came too fast"

[Shadow Dragon]

"Then no sense in straining yourself any further," said Haku to Ganondorf.

"Full moon...machines..." pondered Zelos, then he shook his head, "Nope. Sorry, I got nothing."

"At least we have some clues to go by," Zali then sighed, "though not much, I'm afraid."

"It's not Ganondorf's fault!" I told him.

"Who the hell said I'm blaming anyone? I'm just trying to think how we can use what we know!"

"Well we're not going to get anywhere by fighting about it," Brandon sternly stepped in.

[ganondorf2]

"Though I wonder. I got the plans in my head too. I'll take a crack at it," he said and walked off.

"Great, I'm not going to see him much," I laughed a little.

"Can he do it?" Athena asked.

"Is iq is pretty high, let's just say."

"Isn't that the truth," Andrew said with a smile.

[Shadow Dragon]

"I believe it," said Zali with a smile, "after everything I've seen from him."


{Good night. I'll see you when I see you.}

[ganondorf2]

"I'm glad you have," Athena said.

"You might get a chance in the future," said, walking ahead, "Come on. We have a place for training you should like."

{later shadow}

[Shadow Dragon]

"Thank you," Brandon said as he walked forward.

I start to follow, then turn to Melee, "I'd train with you, especially, to see how strong you've gotten, but before I agree to it, you have to promise to control that anger of yours! Understand?"

"Yes," Brandon said sternly, stopping in his tracks and turning to Melee Master, "we don't need another incident like last time. We can't afford it for this type of danger."

"Huh?" Zali questioned.

"Did something happen between you and her before?" Haku asked, unable to remember if he had seen Melee's anger during the 'legendary battle' or not.

[ganondorf2]

"It's been a while, so I'm not sure how she is on that front," I said walking ahead, "I might need a warm-up too from what's been happening of late."

[The Melee Master]

"My anger?" she questions Shadow, then smirks, "Hm, you've forgotten that only applies to my Kenshin-hybrid form," she flicks a strand of silver hair behind her right shoulder, as a reminder that she was in her secondary form, "and I don't plan on returning to it anytime soon, so you have nothing to worry about." She takes out her sword and swings it at Shadow, the tip barely touching his throat, and smirks, "Doesn't mean you can take me lightly despite..." she sheaths her blade, "Remember that."

She then turns back around and follows the group.

[Shadow Dragon]

I stop and stood still as I felt the tip of Melee's sword touch my neck, before relaxing after seeing her put it away. I sigh, rubbing my throat. Luckily, no blood was drawn, "Point well taken, but I'll still keep an eye on you on that front, just in case."

"Good to hear," Brandon nods to Melee, "we don't need anymore trouble like last time, especially since we're dealing with a foe we barely know anything about. The clan is one thing on my end, but their leader...he's one I'll be watching for sure."

"Yes," Haku nods, even though he had no idea what Melee and I were talking about.

[ganondorf2]

"I wouldn't be surprised if Nova pops this question to you Brandon," I said, opening a door to the training room, "That is, if it comes to it."

[Shadow Dragon]

"Question?" Brandon asked as he watches Ganondorf2 open the door, the rest of us watching.

[ganondorf2]

"Remember what he did to help Tikal with those beasts...so he survives?" I asked before getting surprised to see one of our clones, Link, jumping back from the door and saying, "Sorry, did I get you?"

"Almost," he said.

"I told you that you were too close to the door," another voice was heard to see a large spike-shelled turtle nearby, arms crossed and shaking its head.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Beasts?" asked Zelos, "Oh, you mean from what the thief told us? Of Archion's ties with...whatever those beasts were? You've met them before, right? What were they like?"

"As I implied when we were at the ruins," I told him, "living embodiments of hell."

"That doesn't really help," said Zali, "but I'll take your word for it."

"And Tikal helped you?!" Zelos questioned, "That's a surprise coming from a dragon as prideful as him!"

"Yes he did," said Brandon, "let's just say he has a long history with those beasts."

That made Haku stop in his tracks and turn to Brandon, then he shook his head and tries to change the subject, "The time for talk is over. For now, let's focus on what's in front of us."

We approach the door and see two of the clones, making me say, "Um, hi."

[ganondorf2]

Link moves out of the way and asked, "Here to train?"

"Yes, we all are," I said.

"Where's Nova?"

"Working a machine that came to him. Don't ask. I have no idea what it is yet."

"A machine? Is Adam not enough?"

"Not in this case."

[Shadow Dragon]

"No, I don't believe so," said Brandon, "but it's a long story."

"I think we have time to explain things," said Zali.

[ganondorf2]

"It might be a while to explain everything," I said, "But I'll keep it simple. There's a new threat, but Nova heard someone tell him about a machine to turn the tide."

"Really? Bowser, didn't Gangrel tell you of something of that nature?"

The turtle thought about it and said, "Yeah. Something about a powerful dragon that rules the galaxies or something like that."

[The Melee Master]

That caught Melee Master's attention, "You think that dragon would be enough to defeat the clan? Or is it another enemy?"

[ganondorf2]

"Not sure," Bowser said, before walking off, "I'll go get him."

"Thanks," I said, then to the others, "Now, take your pick on what you want to work on, training-wise."

[Shadow Dragon]

"We're going to need all the help we can get at this rate," said Zelos.

"I hate to involve anyone who has no business getting involved in the first place," said Brandon, "this...this is more my fight, really. I'm the one the clan is after!"

"And if you're killed, they'll come after us next since we're aware of what's going on," Zali chimed in, "so no matter what, we're all involved in this. Don't single yourself out, your highness!"

"I hate to say it, but I have to agree with Zali," said Haku, giving Brandon a hard look.

"Of course," Brandon sighed, not having in him to argue, "I just...if something happens to you all, I don't think I'll forgive myself for it."

"Then stop making excuses and just go for it," said Zali, "if you really want to protect your friends and country from that clan, you'll start taking responsibility as a prince of your kingdom! Show the clan you're not to be pushed around, you got it?!"

[ganondorf2]

"Like what my friend did over the years, always adapt to what's thrown at you as well it's not how hard you hit but how hard you can take a hit and get back up again. A good rule in life," I said.

[Shadow Dragon]

"I'm not making excuses for anything," said Brandon to Zali.

"Show me rather than tell me, then," Zali firmly stated.

"I agree with Ganondorf2," I said, "living half my life in the streets, those are words I've lived by and since carried with me. I'd be lying if I said it didn't work."

"I can vouch for that myself,"

Brandon sighed, "All right...all right."

[ganondorf2]

"Besides, you have a backup in a significant way," I said, "I know he told us about an army of his, but he better makes things interesting for us before we get even close to being nervous."

"She's not lying there," Maxwell said, "Every time I turn around there's something they get caught in."

[Shadow Dragon]

"So now what? Look for whatever base they have and storm it?" asked Zali.

"That would be foolish, and deadly," said Haku, "providing they have one."

Zali then mocked, "Well then do you have any ideas, 'oh great river spirit'? We don't even know what we're training for, do we? We don't know the size of the enemy army, what kinds of members there are, and how powerful they are, and that's all without their leaders and their big gun: Archion, Zagan, and Tikal!"

"We have powerhouses, too, you know," Zelos told him, "I don't think we have anything to worry about. Besides, you're a dragon too, Zali, so why are you scared of the clan?"

"Who the hell says I'm scared? I just don't like going in unprepared is all."


{Think I've caught up enough for tonight. I'll see you later.}

[ganondorf2]

{I was going to head out myself, later}

"They don't know our numbers either," I hint, "At least not here."

"What do you mean by that?" Athena asked before she sees me place a finger close to my lips.

Bowser comes back with Gangrel a moment later and I gave him a wave.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Hopefully it'll be enough to rival the clan's army," I sighed, "and anything else that might attack us out of the blue."

---

A red and black dragon was flying around the skies above an ocean near a beach, catching seagulls in it's jaws and eating them one by one. All while being watched by Tikal, who laid curled up on the cliffside.

"Is that all she plans to do?" he thought to himself, "Chase and eat birds all day? Isn't she suppose to be with the rest of the clan planning their next move?"

A seagull starts to peck at her face, making the dragon shoot green fire at it, burning it to a crisp before falling into the ocean.

"Ah, now I see," he said, "incapable of rational thought, along with the inability to disguise herself. Just a mindless dragon going on instinct." He lets out a yawn of boredom, flickering his black tongue before regaining composure, "How unfortunate to have a daughter like that, eh Archion? But maybe something we can take advantage of, when that time comes. Although-" he turns to the shoreline, "-my plan was to get as much info out of them as possible to use against them, but why do I have the feeling they're not telling me as much as I hoped? Have I not gained their trust yet?"

"Aurora!" a voice called out.

Tikal turns his head to see a woman flying in with a pair of draconic wings. The black dragon flies toward the woman as they both land on the ground, the dragon nuzzling the woman's face.

"Easy girl," she told the dragon, then turns and looks up at Tikal, "Aurora didn't give you trouble, did she?"

"Amalyth, you said your name was?" Tikal hissed, "I will not be demoted to babysitter! If this is the role you give to me-"

"Relax," the woman told him, "we're not that mean. Besides, Aurora can take care of herself, but she refuses to leave our sights."

"I notice her mind is more of an instinctual beast. Not rare to see that in dragons, but a far cry from most dragons I've encountered."

"You're one to talk," she quipped, "yes; out of seven hatchlings, she's one who was born with a pure draconic instinct," Amalyth watches as Aurora back away and sit on her hunches, "no human form or common sense."

"I suspected as much,"

"But instead of criticizing the clansmen, let alone my daughter, how about you come with me to make final preparations?" she walks away, "Archion and my uncle Zagan are waiting."

A growl erupted from Tikal's throat as he slowly follows the half draconess.