Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.

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AN: Well, hello! Nothing much to note here other than this is part one of the storming of Dragnier.

Enjoy the chapter!

Nina groaned. Consciousness was not something that wanted to come to her at that particular moment. She struggled to remember what happened. They were at Angel Tower and there was some intruder and…

Nina’s eyes widened. Did she just get kidnapped? Nina sighed in irritation. She had hoped that being kidnapped once was enough in her life as a princess and damsel in distress. Granted, that was a role she didn’t enjoy playing, but what kind of self-respected princess would she be if she didn’t get kidnapped at least once in her life?

And to make matters worse, the man that kidnapped her was the same man that killed her father. Irony sucked big time.

She mumbled something to herself and struggled to sit up. Apparently, her kidnapper had not taken the time to tie her up or anything. She sat up in the bed she was lying in and glanced around the room. The room was very pink. The bed she was lying on had a pink comforter on it, as well as pink pillows. There was a white and pink dresser against the wall, as well as a vanity mirror on the other wall.

Nina crinkled her nose. She didn’t like pink. Granted, the dress she was in was white, red, and pink, but that was only because Yuki had picked it out. She preferred blue and green. Yes, the colors of the wind and sky.

Nina stood up and padded down her pockets. In her left one was the Sky Key. So, Transell had not searched her when he caught her. That was one good thing in her favor. Now, hopefully Ladon was watching over her still.

Nina pulled her boots back on and paced around the room for a moment. She had no idea where she was. The only window in the room appeared to be boarded shut. She let loose a shriek of frustration. How could she have allowed herself to be kidnapped?

For the first time since she woke up, Nina felt an odd presence in the room. The aura almost felt like Ryu’s, but it was slightly different. She glanced around and nearly slapped her head in irritation. How did she miss that?

Behind her was a pale, young teenaged girl, who seemed smaller that she was, dressed in a long sleeved white shirt and green jumper. She had long brown wavy hair and green eyes. She was also in a wheel chair. The pink room was starting to make a little sense after all. Besides she doubted that Transell had a pink fetish… at least she hoped.

Nina turned and stared at that the small young woman. The girl smiled slightly.

“Um… hi?” Nina said. She held up her hand halfheartedly. The girl only nodded. Great. It was going to be one of those conversations. “Where am I?”

The girl looked at Nina and placed her hands in her lap. She looked over at the window. “Dragnier,” the girl finally said. She seemed to have a sad look in her eyes.

“Dragnier?” Nina repeated. “How did I get here… wait. Don’t answer that,” Nina sighed. She knew how she got there. Transell. He must really be working for Gideon after all. Nina paced the room a little and turned her attention back to the girl. “I have a better question: who are you?”

The girl pointed to herself. “Me?” she asked in a quiet voice. Nina realized the girl sounded a little like Sari when she first met her. “I am Nunnally Laurante.”

“Nunnally Laurante…?” Nina questioned. Wasn’t that the name of the girl that Yuki mentioned? Wait…

Nina spun around on her heel. She gave Nunnally a hard look. “Did you say Laurante?” Nunnally nodded. “You…” Nina muttered almost to herself. She staggered back and sat down on the very pink bed. “You’re related to Gideon… right?”

Nunnally nodded slightly. “Yes,” the girl said. “I am his daughter.”

Nina stared hard at the girl. So, that was who Nunnally was. Nina frowned. “If you are a princess, then why aren’t you the heir to the throne? How come I have never heard of you?”

Nunnally shook her head. “I do not know. As to why you have never heard of me, I am very sick. My birth was mostly kept a secret. I don’t know why, though. But… Father has changed since that man, Legence, came here. He doesn’t even seem to remember me anymore.”

Nina nodded slightly. “I think that Legence is controlling him some how… wait. Did you say that you were sick? Do you have Cysmosion?”

The girl shook her head. “No. My mother and brother had it and both died as a result of it. I was born sick.”

Nina nodded. So, this was what Demus was hiding. Yuki said that Demus seemed to be hiding something, but she never did say what. It did make some sense. If what Nunnally said was true, then she was basically saying that she was Ryu’s younger sister. She was starting to wonder what Yuki and Demus said in their conversation.

Nina plopped back down on the bed. There was no point in stressing about what was going to happen next. She figured she was being used a bait to get Ryu to Dragnier. She figured that he would come and save her eventually. Nina sighed and placed her head in her hands. She might as well make the most of her role as damsel in distress.

Nina glanced up at Nunnally. “So, do you like beans, green eggs, and ham?”

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Rekks looked over the ravine and onto the great city of Dragnier. He didn’t know why he had come back there. He was a traitor, after all. He failed to kill the Destined Child and his companions.

He knew, however, that in his heart he had to come back to Dragnier. Even if it came at the cost of his own life. He wanted to protect Harmony. But, how could he protect the priestess of Namanda if Dragnier wiped out Rosethrone with one strike.

This, he thought, was what the Goddess Myria feared. She had feared that the dragons would become drunk on their own massive powers and destroy the world if the world didn’t bow to them.

He did know that that’s why Ryu was there. He knew that Ryu was going to stop Gideon once and for all. He was the Destined Child, after all.

And if Rekk’s own life could help with Gideon’s downfall, then so be it. Rekks would give his life to save Harmony. If his life was lost in trying to defeat Gideon, then that was he was mean to do with his life.

Now was the time to act. He had stood against the Destined in the caves of Namanda. He would stand with them as they railed against Dragnier.

Funny how fate and destiny could be sometimes.

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The seven warriors were standing on the outskirts of the city of Dragnier. Ryu’s party wasted no time in assembling and stocking up on supplies. Jin and Manna were able to teleport everyone to the site. Apparently, Jin, Manna, and Troy had been there before.

The plan was simple. They were to get Nina and get the hell out. They were to show no mercy, something that Ryu wasn’t exactly sure if he could stomach or not. Despite it all, they were still his people and he didn’t want to take a life if he didn’t have to. Jin suggested that they only disable any opponents they come across.

Ryu liked that idea better. At least that way, he didn’t have to kill anyone. Now, if only getting to Nina would be easy. Ryu, though, still wanted answers as to why Gideon was attacking them and why he was helping Legence.

Yuki and Jin looked at each other. Jin nodded and cleared his throat. Ryu had a point. They had to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

“I suggest that we split up into two teams,” Jin said. “One team will go get Nina and the other team will confront Gideon.”

Yuki nodded. “I will be on one team and Jin will be on the other. That way, we can both sense where we need to go and we can keep in contact with each other.”

Ryu nodded. “Okay, who’s on what team?”

Sari frowned. “I will go with Ryu’s team.”

Yuki nodded in agreement. “I’ll go too.”

Wyatt grinned. “Okay, so I will go with Ryu. I want to kick Gideon’s ass for what he’s done.”

Yuki frowned and was about to say something, but Ryu cut her off. “Okay, I guess that’s one team. Troy, Manna, and Jin will go find Nina.”

Yuki scowled. She shook her head and sighed. Hopefully, she would be able to change the vision she received. She noticed Sari shooting her a warning look. Apparently the fairy hybrid was thinking about the same thing.

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Jin frowned slightly. He didn’t have the bond with Nina that Yuki did, but he was able to track her easily just the same. What he was concerned with, however, was that the palace seemed to be lacking any guards.

Troy and Manna seemed to voice similar opinions. Manna pointed out it was possibly a trap. Troy grinned and only pointed out it was just like old times.

“So, you’re still taking on the role of blood hound, eh?” Troy joked.

Jin shot the silver haired man an irate look. Manna grinned slightly. “Oh, come on now,” Manna said. “It’s a lot better than some of the other nicknames he’s called you.”

Jin sighed and stopped outside of what appeared to be a bedroom. Jin touched the door and smiled slightly.

“I think we found Nina,” Jin said. He tried to turn the knob, but found that the door was locked. Jin smirked and picked the lock. He opened the door and the three walked in. Inside the room was Nina sitting on a bed and a girl in a wheelchair. Nina jumped up when she saw the three and ran over to them.

“Are you guys all right?” Nina asked. Jin nodded. Jin was about to walk over to her when a white-hot pain shot through his head. He staggered a little before turning around. He screamed when a sword was suddenly shoved through his mid-torso.

Jin choked and saw Yui holding the hilt of the blade, staring at him with dead eyes. Behind her was Transell. He smiled at the occupants of the room.

“So, we meet again,” Transell said. “That girly did a really neat magic trick by breaking the spell on Yui. Fortunately, Legence was able to reapply the spell with little to no effort. Only this time, the spell is unbreakable.”

Troy lunged forward when Yui withdrew her blade. Jin staggered and started to fall backwards, but Troy caught the doctor. Yui made a move towards Jin and Troy, but Manna jumped in the way.

“Yui, snap out of it!” Manna shouted.

Yui merely glanced at them with dead eyes. Jin staggered out of Troy’s hold and drew his katana. He gave Yui a grim look as the woman readied her sword once more. She lunged at Jin again, but Jin parried her strike. He dodged around her attacks, as they became more and more deadly by the second.

Troy drew his sword and helped a wounded Jin hold a controlled Yui back. Transell grinned slightly and made a move towards the distracted Jin and Troy. Manna suddenly jumped in front of him.

Manna growled and whipped out her staff, the gem on the end of the staff flashing blue.

Transell frowned slightly. “You wish to fight me?” He asked as he drew his sword.

Manna gave Transell a feral smile. “Oh, hell yeah!” Manna said as she assumed a battle stance.

Transell gave a battle cry and lunged at Manna. Manna smiled and with a few lightning quick movements hit Transell in the head, gut, and somehow the back. Transell staggered and resumed his stance.

“You’re pretty good lady,” Transell said. “Too bad I’m gonna have to kill you.”

“…” Manna gave Transell a look. She made a motion with her pointer and middle fingers and gestured at him. “If you think that you can take me, then come. Be prepared for a good old fashion fly by beat down!”

And with that, the two lunged at each other.

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Ryu kept sending glances over at Sari and Yuki every once in a while. He knew something was up by the looks that the girls kept giving each other. It was beginning to give him the creeps.

He knew that Yuki still didn’t like dragons. He figured that was the case when every guard they came across, Yuki attacked with extreme discrimination. But the odd thing was that she only knocked them out; she never did take the life of one Dragon Clanner.

Ryu was glad for that. It still hurt to have to fight his own people. He knew that Yuki was trying to get to the throne room.

What they would find there was only anyone’s guess.

Yuki turned her attention to Sari. The smaller woman frowned slightly when she caught the look in Yuki’s eyes.

“You know, don’t you,” Sari said.

Yuki nodded. “‘They shall reap destruction upon the world in which they clash.’ I have seen that vision play in my head over and over again until I am sick of it. I don’t want anyone to die… but…”

Sari nodded. “What will be, will be. We will try to stop it from happening at all costs, but…”

Yuki nodded. She looked at Sari. “It’s about to happen,” Yuki said. “I… have a favor to ask you.”

Sari gave Yuki a confused look. She shook her head and gave Yuki a confident look. “What is it that you would like me to do?”

“When it’s all said and done,” Yuki looked down at the floor as the two walked. “I want you to use what I am about to give you and use it to get everyone the hell out of here. I am afraid that Jin will not be able to fight in his condition and Manna will be too distracted in a fight that she is currently in to move fast enough.

“You said it yourself that you almost have the cure ready, right? The moment I give it to you, you get everyone still standing out of the room. I don’t care what happens to me, you have to live at all costs. Got it?”

Sari shook her head. “What are you saying that you will give to me?” Sari frowned as realization began to dawn on her. She shook her head. “No! I cannot accept that! I cannot take your powers!”

Yuki frowned. “You have to. Wyatt can’t take them… he’s… an android. They’re not compatible with him. Ryu can’t because… well, you know what’s about to happen. You’re the only one who can do it. If you weren’t here, then all would be lost. But, you’re here and you can now make a difference. Please, I am begging you! You have to take control of this!”

Sari frowned. “…Fine. I will do what you ask. But! If I can stop it from happening, make no mistake. I will stop it.”

Yuki nodded and smiled as the foursome came to the entrance to the throne room. Wyatt grinned slightly as he opened the double doors. When the four walked in, the spotted Gideon on his throne and Legence standing on the right side of the king of Dragnier.

“You have finally come,” Gideon said in a low voice. “Come here, my son. I have not seen you in such a long time.” The king rose and gestured his hand out to Ryu.

Ryu growled and drew his sword. He took a step forward, but a white-hot pain in his legs caused him from going any further. Ryu howled in pain as Yuki and Sari ran over to him and supported him on either side.

Wyatt growled and whipped out his guns. He rushed forward but was stopped right in his tracks when Legence vanished from where he was standing and appeared right in front of Wyatt.

“Hello Fate,” Legence said. Ryu glanced up at Wyatt in confusion.

Wyatt growled and pointed a gun at Legence. “My name is Wyatt Godwin! Not Fate!”

Legence merely smiled. “It matters very little to me what you are called. What matters is in there,” Legence said as he pointed to Wyatt’s chest. “You have something that I want.”

Wyatt tried to move back, but Legence was just too fast for him. In one movement Legence’s hand went right through Wyatt’s chest. Legence quickly withdrew his hand, holding a bright green glowing orb the size of his fist. Wyatt staggered back and clutched his chest, crying out in pain.

Gideon smiled slightly. “Finally, the core unit. The host matters very little to me now. Dispose of it.”

Legence smiled and a dark light powered up in his hands. He let the power fly loose right at Wyatt. Yuki held her hand out and gritted her teeth. She muttered something under her breath that sounded oddly like an apology. She took a deep breath.

“BLACK BOX COMPONENT!” Yuki screamed.

Wyatt’s eyes went blank as a small black box the size of a glasses case appeared in her hand in a plume of white and blue light. Yuki quickly tossed the thing to Sari, who pocketed the strange object.

The black light hit Wyatt a second later. The light erupted into fire and burned the boy alive. The dark fire engulfed the body and vaporized it a few seconds later. Sari and Yuki stared sadly at where Wyatt stood only seconds before. Ryu screamed in rage and pain and got free from the girls’ hold.

“YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT!!!” Ryu screamed.

Ryu lunged at Legence.

 

To be continued…