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The Lost Dragon Saga (Part IV)

"It's so dark," Sara commented.

"This is just the annex. The actual palace is slightly more lit," Cid replied.

"'Slightly?'" Crystal asked.

"There isn't much of a point in this place being bright," Kardonyth replied.

"Why?" I asked.

"The Keepers are more concerned with operating this place than accommodating it," Kardonyth replied.

"Outside these walls is literally nothing. No air, no ground, no sky, no light. Nothing. This dimension is exclusive. It belongs to the Memory Palace alone. Some call it 'The Void,' others call it 'Oblivion,' but the proper term is the 'Zero Dimension.' The title matters not, however. It is free from time, and space. Lingering here is detrimental. This place is not to be taken lightly," Cid explained.

"Once we get Acorech's memories back, how are we going to find him?" I asked.

"We'll find a way to find him," Kardonyth answered.

* * *

"Ugh, this is new," Kardonyth held a hand up to his forehead. "A headache after the renewing process..."

"You as well?" Alakin, and Calic asked in unison.

"What?" Calic asked.

"All three of us?" Alakin asked.

"This hasn't happened since the very first time," Calic said.

"What are we doing in the main hall?" Kardonyth asked. "We were supposed to be dormant in the comfort of our own beds."

"Something's wrong," Crystal worried.

Kardonyth had somehow forgotten inviting his lover over. He wanted to her to be with him before, and after the renewing process. He turned around at the sound of her voice. "What?" He asked.

"I don't know what is wrong," Crystal answered. "I just know something is."

"Why do you say that?" Kardonyth asked.

"For starters, you all are here, and have headaches," Crystal answered.

"We are well aware," Kardonyth replied. "What else?"

"I had a headache," Crystal replied.

"What!?" Kardonyth quickly stood up. His headache became a head rush, and he started to stumble. "Everyone split up, and search the palace!"

"What's going on!?" Crystal asked.

"I thought it was a coincidence, but I was wrong. I'm not the only one having difficulty recalling what happened recently, am I? Short-term memory loss in addition to a headache means a chain of memories has been broken. We'll eventually remember most of what's happened recently, because we still have the memories themselves. However most of our memories are now incomplete. Someone close to us has had their memories removed, and that means anything connected to them in our memories has been removed as well. The only way to recall even a single detail about them is for them to get their memory back. We have to search the palace for clues of who they are!"

"Kardonyth!" Calic yelled.

"What!?" Kardonyth inquired.

"Look around! We should have noticed right away!" Calic exclaimed.

"What!?" Kardonyth asked.

"We, North, East, and West are here. No South!" Calic answered.

"Damn it! You're right! How could we be so oblivious!? This is most egregious!" Kardonyth screamed. "A Guardian Dragon has been cleared of all his memories. The worst part of it is that without his memories, he is unable to awaken from the renewing process. Until his memories are restored, he is in an indefinite slumber. Damn!"

"How are we supposed to find him when we know nothing of him?" Crystal asked.

"A name! We need a name!" Kardonyth answered. "Our best bet is the south tower, but we should search the whole palace anyway. We'll search our respective towers, and Crystal, search the south tower. A name is all we'll be able to salvage."

Everyone hastily scattered throughout the palace in search of the sole clue. In a frenzy they carried out their investigation. Everything was left a mess when they were done, and they rushed to reconvene in the main hall.

"Acorech," Crystal said. "The Guardian Dragon of the South is Acorech. That is the name of the missing member."

"Acorech..." Kardonyth repeated. "We leave at once! As long a Guardian Dragon is down, we can't afford to do anything else but search for him. Finding him, and restoring his memories is the highest priority!"

Kardonyth thrust open the main doors, and everyone departed. Before they knew what was happening, balls of energy rained down upon them. Rak appeared, and looked upon them with satisfaction.

"Rak!" Kardonyth screamed. "I should have known it was you! You took away Acorech's memories!"

"So that's his name? That's good to know," Rak replied.

"What have you done!?" Kardonyth yelled.

"I have begun my brilliant plan!" Rak answered. "After my series of failures, I finally figured out how to win! I deciphered when the links between your souls, and bodies would have to be renewed, and took one of you out at that time. Without four Guardian Dragons, you can't hope to win!

"You bastard!" Kardonyth screamed. "Where is he?"

"My plan is so brilliant, that not only did I erase the memories of one you, but part of the plan was casting him into another dimension at the same time. There is no chance, no hope for reunion, especially since you all will meet your demise!" Rak laughed.

"You'll meet yours!" Kardonyth transformed, and charged towards Rak. He breathed fire with all his might.

Rak shot a beam of energy through the fire and Kardonyth was struck in the face.

"No!" Crystal cried.

"Have you started your vague recollection of what happened before the renewing process?" Rak asked.

"Damn you!" Kardonyth screamed.

"You remember I ambushed you all then as well?" Rak inquired.

"You won't get away with this!" Kardonyth screamed.

Alakin, and Calic joined Kardonyth in the assault. They surrounded Rak, and soared towards him. Rak projected a beam of energy from each hand, and started to spin around rapidly. The Guardian Dragons were caught off guard. They began to be buffeted by the beams.

"You all, and I, we're remembering every detail of what happened- every detail except for those related to Acorech. No memories of his appearance, his voice, no memories of him whatsoever. In our memories, he is just a blank figure." Rak smiled. When he was sure that his opponents had enough, he shot them all down. "Really comprehend the sacrifice your comrade made." Rak chuckled. "He gave himself up, and took me on all alone to ensure that the rest of you would be secured." Rak laughed.

"You could have killed Acorech, but didn't. You were toying around then, and you are toying around now! Quit these games, and take us seriously!" Kardonyth screamed.

"Killing you all right away would be too easy and boring. I want the satisfaction from your pain, and humiliation. Besides, I have the perfect death for all of you in mind. I shall kill all of you with the power of the treasures you all are supposed to be protecting!" Rak laughed.

"You will fail like you always have!" Calic screamed.

"Don't you understand?" Rak asked. "Without Acorech, you can't win. Anything short of four Guardian Dragons ends in my favor!"

"We refuse to believe that!" Alakin roared.

The Guardian Dragons got up, and charged at Rak. Kardonyth breathed fire at him, and the others flanked him. Kardonyth ceased his fire, and the others started to breathe fire. Rak cast a barrier around himself and then quickly got out of the way. Alakin, and Calic were then breathing fire on each other. They ceased as quick as they could, but they still sustained damage.

"I have failed to overcome you all more times than I can count, but I trained nonstop in preparation for this plan!" Rak exclaimed.

"You trained for nothing!" Alakin yelled.

"Such a bold assertion," Rak laughed. "Just try to prove it true."

Alakin charged at Rak erratically, hoping the inconsistent movements would catch him off guard, but the villain remained poised. Calic rushed to assist, but Kardonyth was paralyzed by dilemna. He found himself uncertain of what action to take next, and remained immobilized as he watched his companions get struck down.

"Is fighting really pointless without Acorech?" Kardonyth asked himself. "No! I can't think like that! I believe that Acorech would believe in us, he would believe that we can triumph without him."

Kardonyth roared and soared toward Rak. He kept on moving as he breathed fire, and the fire did not cease as he got closer and closer. Rak maintained a barrier, and did not evade until Kardonyth was in reaching distance.

"You can't be on the offensive if you're on the defensive, Kardonyth!" Rak shouted.

"What!?" Kardonyth inquired.

Rak shot beams of energy at Crystal, and Kardonyth rushed to protect her, taking the damage instead.

"I have to get Crystal away from here!" Kardonyth exclaimed. "And I'm entrusting her with the Dragon Key while I'm at it."

"That key is going no where!" Rak shot a ball of energy at Kardonyth, but Alakin blocked it.

"Do what you have to do," Calic said. "We'll hold him off."

* * *

We entered the massive, main hall of the palace, and stumbled upon a disturbing scene. We had the misfortune of stumbling upon a massacre. Groups of corpses were everywhere. Every single Keeper was dead, and Rak had single-handedly killed them all. He was standing in the center of the room, and appeared to be in a daze.

"Give it up already!" Alakin roared.

"Not a chance!" Rak shouted back.

Cid engaged Rak in a battle of magic.

"Quick! Now's our chance!" Kardonyth exclaimed. "We need to take the lift stop down one level to the "A" tier!"

We made a mad dash, but it couldn't be helped that Rak was now privy to our action. Diverting some attention, and magic toward us, Rak shot out a fiery aura. I was the only one who made it in before it was damaged.

"Damn! That lift stop will cease to operate once it reaches its destination!" Kardonyth yelled. Rak cloned himself. "Go get those memories!" He ordered.

The clone became a cloud of black smoke, and dashed down to my location.

"Not even a single Guardian Dragon can stop me! He is as good as dead!" Rak laughed.

"You're wrong!" Cid exclaimed.

"Oh?" Rak asked.

"Keep in mind what happened to him before we came here," Cid replied. "There is no way he is going to die."

"Are you saying he is more potent, more competent than a Guardian Dragon? Shouldn't that be blasphemy?" Rak smirked.

"I'm saying that there are things beyond our control," Cid answered.

"'Control?' That is an interesting word to use," Rak said. "Soon, I will take control of Acorech's memories, then the Dragon Key!"

"Dream on!" Cid launched a wave of energy at Rak.

Rak forced the wave back at Cid who proceeded to shoot a ball of energy through the wave. They each managed to diffuse the attack headed in their respective direction. Alakin, and Calic rushed to get behind Rak, while Kardonyth, and Cid closed in on Rak from the front.

"Surrounding me? Really?" Rak inquired. "The only problem with that is if you're all here... who's back there!?" Rak shot a ball of energy at Crystal and Sara.

"Get out of the way!" Cid screamed. He dashed towards the ball of energy, and shot his own at it.

The two balls made contact and produced an explosion. While everyone was still distracted by it, Rak struck Kardonyth and Calic with beams of energy.

"Pathetic!" Rak laughed. "Your 'moral support' has turned out to be more of a detriment than a benefit."

"Enough!" Kardonyth screamed. "Your fight is with us! Do not involve them!"

"Fool!" Rak yelled. "They've been involve since the moment they decided to help!"

"That doesn't matter!" Cid exclaimed.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?" Rak asked.

"Attacking those who can't fight who back is the deed of a coward!" Cid answered.

"I am not a coward! I'm using those two against you all!" Rak replied.

"Using your magic is not enough?" Cid asked. "That makes you weak!"

"That makes me smart!" Rak exclaimed.

"On the contrary!" Kardonyth started charging at Rak, ready to swing Dragonfang.

Rak put up a barrier and proceeded to dodge, but Cid anticipated his movements and shot him down with lightning. Kardonyth continued toward Rak and swung the sword down over him. Rak rolled out of the way just in time to avoid the strike. Kardonyth proceeded to breath fire on Rak, who put up another barrier. Rak started to roll out of the way again, but Alakin, and Calic had flanked him just in time.

"It's over," Kardonyth said.

"It's not over! It's. Not. OVER!!!" Rak screamed.

"Accept defeat. Accept death," Kardonyth replied.

Rak began to laugh manically. "Killing me on the spot? Don't I get a trial? You fancy yourselves harbingers of justice, but you really are barbaric beasts! I'm more human than you'll ever be!"

"Enough! This ends here and now!" Kardonyth yelled.

"Agreed," Rak clenched his fists.

"No!" Cid yelled as he cast barriers over the Guardian Dragons.

They turned around and saw the Keepers being manipulated. They soared toward them, ready to kill.

"Focus!" Cid screamed.

By the time they realized that they failed to avoid being distracted, the Guardian Dragons were attacked by Rak. He made his way back to the center of the room.

"Telekinesis is a life saver!" Rak laughed. "The dead make such perfect puppets!"

"Rak!" Karodnyth screamed.

"I have to admit that I'm impressed," Rak smiled. "You were so close, as close as possible, but alas you still cannot end me! Despair!"

Just then, Rak, the Guardian Dragons, Cid, and Crystal all displayed a reaction. It had appeared as if they were struck by lightning.

"What just happened?" Sara inquired.

"Our memories have returned!" Crystal exclaimed.

"It can't be!" Rak screamed.

The sound of a dragon's roar was heard from down below. Seconds later, Acorech, the cerulean dragon, burst into the room.

"Is my friend okay?" Sara asked.

* * *

The lift stop came to a halt, and I stepped out into a sea of isles. I was mesmerized by the vast area all taken up by shelves upon shelves filled with egg-shaped containers inscribed with names. I began to wonder how something intangible could be contained, but then my attention was captured by a small, azure chest adorned with sapphires. It was resting on a pedestal in the heart of the tier, and the name inscribed on it was "Acorech," I went to it, but when I reached for it, I sensed a presence behind me. I turned around as fast as I could and just barely managed to block an energy ball with my sword.

"Rak!?" I became unnerved. "How!?"

"Does it really matter how? What matters is that I am here, and I finally get to end you once and for all!" he laughed.

I laughed back. "It's slightly funny, I suppose- This whole ordeal. I embarked on a journey, intent on shedding light on my memories which lingered in the dark abyss of amnesia, and I stumbled upon someone less fortunate than myself. I had a feeling that somehow addressing his crisis would lead to the answers I sought out."

"The price of your intervention is your death!" the clone interjected.

"Light casts shadow, and likewise, the answers did not come without more questions. Even questions previously conceived yet go unanswered. At the peak of the mystery behind my connection to the Guardian Dragons, you of all people were the one to restore my key memories, the ones which had refused to surface, the enigmatic ones that only add to the questions." I continued.

"I admit I find your story amusing, but I don't care whatsoever!" the clone replied.

An explosion was heard in the distance.

"I understand now. You are Rak's clone. How clever," I said. "Let me amuse you further. According to the established timeline, Acorech and I lost our memories at the same time. The memories I talked about were the ones of what happened leading up to fainting. I woke with amnesia, and my memories came back little by little, mostly from least significant to most significant, and then ultimately you, well, the actual Rak restored the ones that would not come back. I kept asking myself what had transpired. Without a discernible cause, I blacked out spontaneously, at the same time as Acorech no less. I continued to ask myself what it was about those memories that made them so elusive."

"If you have a point, make it already!" the clone yelled.

"Do forgive my rambling. The information is not easy to digest. What did happen right before I collapsed? Nothing...or so it would seem. Suddenly, I began to feel more and more tired. The more tired I got, the more I forgot. Nothing about that felt natural, it all felt forced. The fact that I am here as is, proves that Acorech is the one who can put all the pieces together! I am not going to die, and I am as sure as hell not going to die ignorant of the truth! I will not stop until I have all the answers I seek!" I asserted.

"If you receive revelations, it will be from the grave!" the clone hurled another ball of energy at me.

I attempted to slice through the energy, but it was absorbed instead. "This really is a really awesome sword!" I slashed the sword in the clone's direction, and a wave of energy shot forth.

"No way!" the clone was caught off guard, and struck by the energy. He flew back and hit a wall.

In haste I turned my back on him, toward the chest. In my eagerness, my anticipation, I became distracted. I didn't detect the next mass of energy that came at me. I was struck, and thrust into the pedestal which then fell over, and shattered. The chest flew away from me a bit, then skidded away a bit more when it hit the ground.

"I think your mysteries intrigue me after all," the clone said. "You were nothing but a nobody, then you were suddenly somebody. Still... Who do you think you are to struggle against me? You are new to having supernatural capabilities. You have no hope of defeating one such as I who has spent years mastering arcane arts."

"If intimidating power was all that was required for a definite victory, you would already have won," I laughed. After regaining composure I faced Rak, and took a deep breath. I then threw my sword at Rak and spun back around. I put as much force as I could muster into a leap. I extended my arms as far as I could and reached for the chest. I wasted no time in grabbing it. It began to glow and then in a swift motion I opened it.

* * *

"Damn it, just go!" Acorech yelled. He was straining himself to stay as a dragon. The other Guardian Dragons had already reverted back to their human form and were standing at the front gates of the palace along with Crystal.

"Don't... do... this!" Kardonyth yelled back.

"It's... the only way!" Acorech replied. "If I... don't stall him... you won't... be able to... put up the barrier!"

"Damn!" Kardonyth yelled.

"As a... Guardian Dragon... this is how I'm... going to protect... the Dragon Key!" Acorech exclaimed. "Either... I alone... go down... or... we all... go down!"

"You... can... trust that... you... won't go down... in vain!" Kardonyth exclaimed.

"I... know," Acorech replied.

Kardonyth and the others entered the palace, and then he proceeded to cast the barrier.

Acorech tried to conjure the strength to attack, but, alas, he reverted back to his human form.

"Sacrificing yourself for the sake of your friends? You are courageous, noble, honorable," Rak smirked. "You are ignorant of the role for which you have volunteered yourself,"

"What!?" Acorech asked.

"I do hereby deliver upon you due retribution for your opposition!" Rak exclaimed. He then took Acorech's memories away, opened up a portal, and cast him into it.

* * *

With the memories restored, my armor and sword vanished just as mysteriously as they had appeared.

"NO!!!" the clone agonized.

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "I am Acorech!"

"It can't be!" the clone screamed.

I proceeded to transform into a dragon, and let out a roar of both revelry, and aggravation. I spread my wings and soared high until I crashed into the room above.

* * *

"Sara, it's me," I spoke.

"Unbelievable!" Rak raged. "Of all the dimensions, Kardonyth sent Crystal to the same one I sent Acorech!"

"Had you been paying attention to where you sent me, you would've made the realization once you came looking for Crystal and Kardonyth," I replied. "You poured a great deal of effort into executing your plan carefully, but you were careless in that regard. That is an error so egregious, your failure would still have been inevitable even without your arrogance."

"There really never was a chance for Rak to succeed!" Sara cheered.

Rak disposed of his clone. "Gaia, right?" he asked. "The world which has adopted Acorech will suffer my wrath! I am going to unleash pandemonium upon it!"

"You will do no such thing!" I screamed.

Rak withdrew through a portal, and I pursued him, making it in just before it closed up.

To be continued...