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The Guardian Dragon Chronicles

Reckoning

"Present yourselves, you wretched fiends!" shouted a woman in front of Dragonheart Temple.

Curious about the commotion, the four obliged.

"Excuse us?" Kardonyth questioned.

"The Lord of Vengeance failed to end the false heroes, but I, the Lady of Vengeance, will fulfill the promise in his place! Fear me, for I am Kara!" she exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Acorech asked.

"_Everyone_is so infatuated with you, thinking you are the best heroes that the world has ever known. If it was not for you, there would be no need for heroes! You power-hungry, glory-seeking 'Guardian Dragons' have the power to end all evil, yet you ignore that power!" she exclaimed.

"Wait, wait, wait," Kardonyth said. "Are you talking about the Dragon Treasures?"

"That is right," Kara replied.

"We are forbidden from using them," Acorech told her.

"You have the world's greatest power, you have the power to punish anyone who dares question your authority, yet you defer to someone else? My brother was right, you all are dumb, weak, fools!" Kara shouted.

"Your brother?" Kardonyth asked.

"My brother was meant to be this world's true savior. He sought to avenge its suffering, particularly mine. I am now the avenger of suffering_and_ his death. He was the only family I ever had and you murdered him- you and that meddling mage, Cid! Death to his killers!" Kara exclaimed.

"If that means what I think it means..." Kardonyth said.

"They look alike and talk alike. She has to be talking about Rak," Acorech stated.

"Correct," Kara replied.

Shocked, the four jumped back.

"Rak has a sister!? No way!" Kardonyth groaned.

"He made sure to keep me a secret to ensure you guys would not use me as leverage against him," Kara responded.

"Your brother was a madman who left us with no choice but to kill him!" Kardonyth shouted.

"There is always a choice! You chose to ignore the Dragon Treasures, refused to create the perfect world where evil does not exist, and so Rak took it upon himself to do just that. You_turned him into the 'madman' that he was. He defied you, so you branded _him evil. Those who allow evil to exist are the true evil!" Kara shouted.

"I can see now how you two were related. You are _both_psychotic!" Kardonyth responded.

"A world should not need saving! You deny yourselves godhood! You are not omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent! Far from perfection, you will never be the heroes you think you are! Without that power, you cannot truly be 'guardians!'" Kara exclaimed.

"We have done just fine without the Dragon Treasures," Kardonyth retorted.

"Tell that to the citizens of Gaia," Kara sneered.

Kardonyth was taken aback.

"That is right! Admit you are frauds!" Kara commanded.

"How do you know about Gaia?" Acorech asked.

"I made sure to keep an eye on my brother after he lost his sanity," Kara answered. "Now, admit you are frauds, and relinquish the treasures!"

"We will not be doing any of that," Kardonyth responded.

"Without those treasures, you are nothing! You are nobodies incapable of protecting little orphan girls from being adopted by filthy men who only want them for sex! You just go about your business while they get raped over and over and over again!" Kara yelled.

"Is that what happened to you?" Acorech asked.

"Rak and I were inseparable. We only had each other. We begged him to take both of us, but he only took me. We were devastated. The separation became too much for Rak to bear. He ran away and tracked me down. He saw what was happening to me, and he tried to stop it. That monster was going to kill my brother, but Rak was miraculously somehow able to use magic. He set that thing on fire, and it burned until it died- kind of like how _my brother_died, but not so cruel. Everybody was talking about the 'Guardian Dragons,' the 'great protectors of the world,' but we found no humor in that sick joke. It was that day that we affirmed our hatred for you. That day, Rak vowed to never let anything happen to me ever again, and promised that we would appropriate your power, and create a new world- a perfect world! However, because Rak made the vow that he did, he shouldered all the responsibility, all the burden. Time and time again he came after you, only to lose each time. Each time he lost, he lost a piece of his sanity. He eventually lost sight of why he was fighting you. Eventually, he was not trying to obtain the power to create world I could appreciate, he was just trying to obtain the power for the sake of having it. He stopped caring about me, and started caring only about victory. His expressions of love became hollow and vain. Even before you took his life, you took him from me! I was devastated to witness his demise. How dare you self-righteous villains call yourselves the good guys! First I am killing you all, then I am killing Cid! I have trained relentlessly since my brother's death, and he would be proud of how powerful I have become!" Kara explained.

"He had far more training and experience than you. How can you hope to succeed where he failed?" Kardonyth asked.

"I would worry more about yourselves right now," Kara responded.

"Do not make us fight you," Kardonyth said.

"Too late!" Kara shouted as she launched energy projectiles at the Guardian Dragons.

They knew that they would be vulnerable during the transformation process, and were not sure if they should even attempt it. That dilemma rendered them inactive.

Before they were hit, another woman appeared out of nowhere and blocked the attack. Both the Guardian Dragons and Kara were shocked.

"Who are you?" Kardonyth asked.

"She is my apprentice," said a voice from behind.

The four turned around and spotted the familiar face.

"Cid!" Kardonyth shouted.

"Long time, no see," Cid said.

"Ah, it makes sense now. You are Cid's bitch," Kara said.

"His apprentice," she responded.

"I don't care. Anyone who gets in the way of my avenging Rak is just as_dead_!" Kara exclaimed.

"Did she just say 'Rak!?'" Cid questioned.

"She was apparently his sister," Kardonyth said.

The two women began an intense fight while the Guardian Dragons just stood there.

"Aren't you going to help?" Cid asked.

"We are gentlemen. We do not harm women," Acorech answered.

"Are you serious!? Tell me you are not serious, because she is trying to_kill_ you!" Cid shouted. "What would you have done if we did not show up?"

"Well, considering that she is the first female adversary that we have had, I am not really sure how to handle this situation," Acorech responded.

"I doubt words will work, but it is worth a try," Cid said. "Vengeance is not satisfying!"

"You have taken it before?" Kara asked.

"Yes," Cid replied. "What they did, especially him, was beyond unforgivable. I hate them, and I wanted them to suffer retribution, but in the end, I was no less broken."

"You just don't have the stomach for vengeance," Kara retorted.

"You don't know me," Cid responded. "Deep inside me is a persistent urge to kill. When Rak crossed the line, I wanted to kill him. When my hands were around his neck, it took everything in my power not to crush his throat. Self-control is a power greater then any magic or force. If you cannot even refrain from seeking vengeance, then... well, you are just hopelessly weak and pathetic."

"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Kara screamed. "YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO DIE!!!" She channeled her fury into a volley of spells she launched at Cid. While he had her distracted, she was unprepared for the series of attacks on her that his apprentice made. She was down for the count.

"This is not over!" Kara shouted before disappearing.

"That is for sure," Cid responded.

"So what are you doing here?" Kardonyth asked.

"I decided that it was time to introduce you to my apprentice," Cid said. " This is Sarissa."

"I thought you are always too busy," Kardonyth said. "What are you doing with an apprentice?"

"That is not relevant at this point. We cannot let things get out of hand like they did with Rak. We have to figure out where she resides before anything catastrophic happens," Cid replied.

"Agreed," said Alakin.

"If anyone can figure it out, it is Acorech. He found that Phoenix place, after all," Calic said.

"There are no maps or documents in this case! You expect me to travel the entire world!?" Acorech asked.

"We all collectively travel the entire world every day and we have not noticed anything suspicious," Kardonyth said.

"Can you guide the search, Acorech?" Calic asked.

"I don't know," Acorech answered. "Rak looked after Kara, and it stands to reason that her love for him keeps her from relocating. The problem is that we were never able to figure out where Rak was operating out of."

"We are not going to find her unless we find out where that place is," Calic said.

"Damn it! What are we missing!?" Kardonyth shouted. "We searched every town, every cave, every building, high and low, we searched every place we could think of, we searched everywhere!"

"Perhaps that is it!" Acorech exclaimed. "Perhaps they did not actually need a lair. Perhaps they were camped out somewhere, and Kara still is. We searched every place that looked like a place, but it is easy to be concealed in nature itself."

"It is our best and only lead right now, so we will take it," Cid said. "So I guess you guys can cover your usual, respective areas, and Sarissa and I will search the more central parts."

"Let us be off then," Kardonyth replied.

The Guardian Dragons flew off, and Cid and Sarissa teleported to the nearest cliff.

"I am not going to lie. That fight was actually quite exhilarating!" Sarissa chuckled.

"Oh?" Cid smirked.

"What? You can't appreciate a good adrenaline rush?" Sarissa questioned. "Besides, it was actually pretty delightful being called your... 'bitch.'"

"Is that so?" Cid smirked. He tried to look away, but his blushing betrayed him.

"Yeah, and it looks like you enjoyed it, too," Sarissa smiled.

Cid turned to look into Sarissa's eyes. They made his heart beat faster, his breathing heavier.

"You know you want me," Sarissa said.

"I-" before Cid could finished, Sarissa had locked lips with him. The moment she did, tears leaked from his eyes. Not wanting to make the kiss too short, he let it go on a bit longer than he wanted to. When he was ready, he broke the kiss. "I can't be with you,"

"Why not?" Sarissa asked.

"I can't say," Cid said.

"After everything, I think I deserve an explanation!" Sarissa exclaimed.

"I have been sworn to secrecy," Cid replied.

"Well isn't that just a convenient excuse!" Sarissa shouted.

"Sarissa-" Cid started.

"Don't!" Sarissa snapped. "Why did I fall in love with you? After all this time, I still know next to nothing about you! You haven't taken me to where you live, where you operate, and you are just as secretive as ever!"

"Please don't take it personally," Cid cried.

"I don't know how to take it," Sarissa responded. "I think I need some time alone with my thoughts."

"Don't g-" Cid begged, but it was too late. Sarissa had disappeared. He just stood there for a minute, broken, and when he could bring himself to turn around and start moving, he did.

"Wait!" shouted a voice from behind.

Cid turned around and saw Sarissa.

"Sarissa?" Cid asked as he ran to her.

"I overreacted. I could not help it. I am sorry," she said.

"I should be the one who's sorry," Cid replied.

"I can still have a hug, right?" she asked.

"Sure," Cid said as he embraced her. He was beginning to feel relief, but then started feeling pain. It took him a second to realize that he had been stabbed. He quickly let go and stepped back. He looked at the wound, then looked in front of him.

All while still holding the bloody dagger, the assailant cackled, then transformed to reveal her true identity. To Cid's horror, Kara was standing in front of him.

"You like how I was spying on you lovebirds?" Kara asked. "Once that romantic secret came to light, I knew that all I had to do was wait for the perfect opportunity!"

"What did you do to me?" Cid inquired.

"Oh, nothing special. I just stabbed you with a dagger imbued with magic. Now you are silenced, so you can't save yourself. You will live in the agony of slowly dying, just like my brother did. You are wrong. Vengeance is very satisfying!" Kara responded. She set Cid on fire and burned him until he was nothing but ash. After relishing the triumph, she departed.

After the world had been thoroughly searched, the Guardian Dragons reunited. Having failed to locate Kara, they regrouped at home. Much time had passed, but the others did not meet up with them.

"The only way to communicate with Sarissa at this point is through Cid, and he is not responding to the glyph," Kardonyth stated. "This is most troubling. Do we proceed on our own?"

"We might as well," Calic replied. "You figured out were Kara resides, Acorech?"

"I think. I think we have not been looking where we should have been. We need to consider that Kara is probably located underwater," Acorech responded.

"'Underwater' is pretty massive. How are we supposed to find the place if we want to find it today?" Kardonyth asked. "We can breath fire, but we cannot breathe underwater."

"We fight Kara as Dragons, but we find Kara as sharks. We have never undergone transformation the normal way, but if we must, then so be it," Acorech replied.

"How do you plan on transporting Dragonfang?" Kardonyth asked.

"I will hold it in my mouth?" Acorech responded.

"This all better work," Calic said.

"A little hope can go a long way," Acorech assured.

The Guardian Dragons traversed the world underwater, starting as close to their home as possible, then making their way further out until they came across what they were looking for. They entered the fortress which, through magic, water was kept out of. They proceeded to its heart where their adversary could be found.

"This ends here and now. We will subdue you before your delusions get out of hand," Kardonyth stated.

"I did not think you would actually discern my location, but you saved me the trouble of coming to you to exact revenge," Kara said. "I thought I would have more time to revel in my accomplishment."

"Accomplishment?"

"I killed Cid," Kara replied.

"You must have a death wish," Kardonyth laughed. "Just suggesting that may be a fatal mistake."

"I am not joking. I am dead serious," Kara responded. "Spare me the denial."

"Very well, then," Kardonyth said. "I will spare you the denial, but I will not spare your life!"

"Kardonyth!" Acorech snapped. "Calm down."

"Let's revise our policy. We don't harm ladies, but we hurt bitches!" Kardonyth cried.

"Enough!" Acorech shouted. "Do not be a hypocrite! We cannot turn our backs on our morals and ideals, especially after everything we preached to the Dragonslayers. Revenge perpetuates an endless cycle of violence. We do not cause violence, we bring peace. That is our purpose! We are Guardian Dragons!"

"Killing each other will not bring our loved ones back, nor will it serve to better the world. Vengeance accomplishes nothing!" Calic added. "If you would commit this subversive act, Kardonyth, then perhaps friendship with Cid was a mistake."

"It is human nature!" Kardonyth exclaimed. "It took me several centuries to understand the appeal of interacting with other people, but none of you should dare deny that you now understand it, too! We are only half dragon. We could only deny our human nature for so long. A well fed heart yet hungers for more. Family is not sufficient. That is why friendship and romance exist!"

"Can you not comprehend how inherently insulting that is to people to hear that they are not enough for you? My brother was enough for me. A hungering heart is a weak heart! You see no problem with friendship and romance, but romance is the reason that Cid is dead," Kara said.

"What?" Kardonyth questioned.

"He fell for that student of his. As a prodigy, he was foolish to become distracted by love. All I had to do was pretend to be her for him to become unsuspecting. His feelings could not have made it any easier for me to plunge a dagger right into him. His poor choices sealed his fate," Kara laughed.

"ENOUGH!!!" Kardonyth screamed. "Your choices have sealed yours! I swear upon the North, I will kill you!"

"Stop this madness, Kardonyth!" Calic responded. "Our very purpose for existing is to establish and maintain peace, not disrupt it. To endanger the utopia we are building... What you swear to do will mean that our whole lives will have been for nothing!"

"You heard what Cid said about vengeance. If he were you, he would not take it, he would not want it, so why even think of avenging him!?" Alakin questioned. "If you let your emotions cloud your judgment, then you are unfit to fight."

"Cid was one of the very few to see us as more than just heroes. He was part of the proof that we and people can coexist! He was proof that humanity can be its own hero!" Kardonyth cried.

"Abandon this childish tantrum! What would Crystal think if she saw you like this!?" Acorech asked.

"Yes, Kardonyth, what would Crystal think?" Kara asked as she transformed into Crystal. "You would not dare hurt this form, would you?"

"HOW DARE YOU LOOK LIKE HER!!!" Kardonyth screamed. "PREPARE TO DIE!!!"

"The Kardonyth I knew valued life no matter what, just like us. You were disgusted when Cid tried to kill Rak, just like us. We end evil, but we do not end life. We protect it!" Calic exclaimed.

"Justice is mine to serve. I am judge, jury, and executioner. She confessed her crime, she is found guilty, she will be punished accordingly," Kardonyth said.

"Justice requires order. Vengeance is not justice," Calic replied.

"Cid was an Agent of the Council. You owe it to him to fulfill his role. We must ultimately apprehend Kara so she can go to trial. Do not presume to serve justice. They are the judge, _they_are the jury!" Alakin exclaimed.

"Damn the Council!" Kardonyth yelled. "Forget the Dragon Treasures. Those 'gods' have the power to perpetuate peace, to prevent tragedy, but they use mortals as their puppets. They lose their right to be included when they refuse to intervene!"

"You are talking about perpetrating anarchy. We keep order, not disturb it!" Calic responded.

"Be temperate, Kardonyth!" Alakin commanded. "Remember, you would rather let Crystal die then use the Dragon Treasures to keep her living. Find your way back to the light!"

"He can't. He'll be too dead to," Kara remarked as she started attacking the heroes. "Your discord was amusing at first, but I now find it boring."

Acorech thrust himself in front of the others, shielding them with his sword. "Have you forgotten how Rak came to die?" he asked as Dragonfang absorbed the magic. "You live like Rak, you die like Rak. Cid, as skilled as he was, crafted this sword. This great big sword, imbued with great powerful magic, is so great, only a Dragon can wield it. It is almost sentient. It was bestowed to Kardonyth as an investment in his potential, but it 'chose' me. I do hope that someday his hands will again be deemed worthy. This sword is Cid's legacy! He fights with us from beyond the grave! I guess, in a sense, this is kind of like his revenge."

"I couldn't care less about your stupid weapon!" Kara spat.

"You should. You can't hurt us. Yield!" Acorech demanded

"Never!" Kara responded as she began to erratically unleash a barrage of spells.

"Pride and arrogance will be your undoing, too?" Acorech questioned.

"Shut up!" Kara yelled.

"Its potency grows," Acorech stated.

"DIE!!!" Kara screamed.

"I honestly did not think that Rak would be obliterated, but it was not surprising considering how much energy he unleashed. Neo Rak was an unfortunate mistake. If you continue to feed Dragonfang, I will have no choice but to unleash the energy, and it all will be directed at you. Rak did not have to die, neither do you," Acorech said.

"Yes she does!" Kardonyth exclaimed.

"Silence!" Acorech ordered. "Everyone feels pain, but vengeance makes the heroes no better than the villains."

"In the end, Cid was a better hero than me. He could control his urges, but I cannot control mine," Kardonyth spoke. He then took a deep breath, and exhaled, aiming his flames at Dragonfang.

"STOP!!!" Acorech screamed. "After everything we have all been through together, you would sin against us!?"

Alakin, and Calic rushed to intervene, but they were not fast enough. Dragonfang, having reached its limit, was relieved of all the energy it had stored. Acorech, compelled to act, projected all the energy at Kara, who, succumbing to despair, accepted the futility of defending and silently accepted death. The blast was powerful enough to break the magic protecting the fortress. The subsequent flooding forced the Guardian Dragons back to land. They were all upset.

"Our solidarity was unbreakable," Acorech said. "We could always count on each other. All we needed was each other. Our work, while still somewhat enjoyable, became exhausting, boring. I guess that was to be expected when crime became virtually nonexistent. That led us to take the liberty of having reprieves. Perhaps that was selfish. We eventually learned the value and joy in associating with other people. We are family, but there is indeed a certain satisfaction only friends can provide. Cid meant something to all_of us, but Calic perceived the threat of putting others before our purpose, the danger of being _too emotionally invested in a person. I am more sad than mad that what happened did happen. If Kardonyth had been more sad than mad, then maybe it would not have happened."

"You call virtually no crime 'boring!?'" Calic questioned. "Would you prefer evil to be prevalent?"

"I did not mean it that way," Acorech replied.

"So, Kardonyth, was it worth it?" Calic asked. "Are you satisfied, or is revenge as fruitless as Cid himself admitted?"

To be continued...