Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny ❯ To a new journey ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1

To a new journey

Duncan

I am standing before a door surrounded by white brick walls. The light was almost blinding but none penetrated the black hole of the doorway. I knew I had to go across, and that on the other side was something I feared, something so hideous, so horrible, it hadn't any right to exist... I walked trough. I was bleeding heavily. In front of me, my worst enemy, a bloodied dagger in his hands, I was dying, and it was painful. He grinned.

I looked at her, both of us were standing at the edge of a cliff. 'You have to do it.' I nodded, blinking back tears, I pushed her over the edge and she fell into darkness.

Rocha fell on his face beside me, a hole the size of a basket ball in his back, dead. The blond girl was holding her belly, blood going down her arm, she was holding her organs in. I knew it was my entire fault.

The surrounding were distorted by my anger, or so I thought.

"WHAT IS IT WITH THIS PLACE?" I ASKED. "WHY AM I SEEING THESE THINGS OF NIGHTMARE, WHY ARE THEY SO REAL!"

I knew what it was now, since the year I had quit the service of the Porre leaders, I had been plagued by such dreams. Sometime they differed, but each time I wasn't answered.

"We are thee guide." came a voice from all around me. "Thou have the potential to make a difference for the better or for the worst.

"What . . . what are these dreams, guides?" I asked. "They are not dreams, they are visions of thy future. Thou must change things from happening, or thee will perished, and hope with thou."

"How . . . How can I make a difference?" I implored them. "Later thou and thee shall talk, now thou must return in the waking world. Thou are needed there to begin the fulfillment of thy purpose."

Wet with perspiration, I woke up in a shelter of some kind. It took moments for my eyes to adjust to the surrounding darkness. Then a shape shrouded in black stood over me. It was HIM, he was there to kill me. I reached for my dagger and tried to stab him but an iron grip stopped my hand. "Is that how people of this world thank their rescuer? Should I have left you to die in the wild?" the stranger said in a disdainful voice. I knew at once that it wasn't HIM. "I beg you pardon good sir, I was disoriented and mistook you for somebody else, somebody who deserved that four inches in his black heart." I couldn't see him, but I saw him relax somewhat. "Now, I would hate to see someone I rescue die. It would be very irritating. At least if they choose to follow my advice, if they ignore it of course, I would not feel any sense of waste of time, well not as much, at their death, only one more confirmation as to how pathetic humans are." he said with disgust. "And what would you advice me to do sir?" "I am looking to save the world, my advice is to follow me, but decide quickly, I hate to lose what time I have waiting for someone's answer." he said arrogantly. "I will come, but, if it would be of no bother to you, I think I need new clothes . . . and a good bathing as well." I said. He sniffed with disgust. "Indeed, I won't mind losing some of the time that is so precious rather then travel with such a stink." I shrugged weakly and got on my feet. I then walk out into the village.

* * *

Kid.

I was looking at Arni Village from far away, the man I had loved lived there. But he was now married and I had moved on with my feelings. But I still cared for him, he had been a friend, even though he kept no memories of it. I was the only one who knew what had happened, and I got my revenge on Lynx, saving the frozen flame from his reach, and made sure my own mistakes weren't repeated. Now my life was filled with a void, filled temporarily with self-satisfaction when I helped someone out of troubles. I heard someone behind me and I turned around quickly, dagger in hand. "Who goes there?" the person asked, "you're trespassing, stay out of the village bounds for the night, or stay in for the night, but don't stay around and spook us village folks out." he finished. " Hold yer sea horses, ye think I'm here to make trouble? If I was, ye village folks wouldn' be there in the mornin' to wonder what happen." I replied before walking away. Some people had serious issues, thinking I was there to cause trouble. Ridicule they should know better, well actually they couldn't but it was still I pain in my arse. When I was out of sight of the town, I stopped without knowing why, then from the village, something pulled me at the very core. Like my heart knew someone I loved was in danger. But it couldn't be Serge and Leena, the only two people I really cared for in Arni, were on their honeymoon on the SS. Zelbess.

I felt myself being compelled back to the small town. When I reached the light and stopped. I stared at Marge's house. I walked there, as if my free will had been denied from me, someone controlling my body. I walked in and almost ran in the dirtiest man I ever saw. He stared at me, and then spoke with the gentlest voice I ever heard.

" Pardon me fair maiden, I had not seen you. I know it might seem unbelievable since your very beauty illuminates the night." I blushed.

No one had ever spoken to me like that before. It felt weird, but in a good kind of way. I knew then that it was him that had pulled me back, and quite honestly, I was grateful. I smiled.

" Don't worry about it mate, people run into me all the time, at least ye have the decency to apologies, no hard feeling." I replied.

He smiled and I smiled back.

"Pardon me but I must leave, I have not had a good bathing in a while, if you would excuse me, I will be back shortly, I know it might sound offending, but me and a err, a friend are going to be traveling as soon as I come back. Would you please accompany me, I would love to discuss with you, the simple sound of your voice is enough to err . . . make me sure you have no ill intentions. Would you consider?" he said before he left. " I don' even know yer name!" I called after him. He turned and said. " You can call me Duncan, maiden, for my real name is to dangerous to know." And he vanished onto the docks.

* * *

Duncan

I felt a lot better. It was an amazing thing how a simple washing and fresh clothing could do to a man. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My black hair fell down in my back, and I was unshaven. My skin looked pale and of course a little dried, after a few days in the seawater, it was unbelievable that I was not a lot worse. I grabbed one of my daggers, one I kept for only this purpose, and proceeded to remove my facial hair. Then I found a leather string in the package I had bought for the . . . adventure I suppose I could call it, and tied my hair in a ponytail. Nothing elegant, simply to put them out of my face. Then with all of this done, my thought slowly drifted to the young woman who I had ran into, in my hurry to get cleaner. She was, in my opinion at least, stunning. Not in the simple way of her look, but with a wild air surrounding her. Her smile was dazzling, never had I see someone smile without reason, just because they were happy. On the occasion I had seen people smile, it had been forced by extreme conditions, or a cold cruel one. Hers was warm and gentle. I shook my head of those thought, but I couldn't help but hope that she would accept my offer and join us on this adventure.

* * *

Kid

I looked deeper into the house to see who was Duncan's friend. Whom I saw was the last person I had expected to see. "LYNX" I snarled. He was dead, I had killed him, plunged my dagger into his heart and did it again to be sure I hadn't miss the first time. But he was standing there, his scythe resting on the doorframe. He looked different but I knew it was him. A simple change of clothing wouldn't be enough to fool me. He wore normal pants and shirt, with a black coat and white cape. I charged him slashing with my blade but he moved out of the way. I slashed again and this time he grabbed my wrist and twisted it until he was holding me by the arm, with just enough pressure to make certain I wouldn't attack again. "Now, think this trough. I know that you want to kill Lynx, but it is not I. You do not come from this world, as I am not from yours. You and I are what is known or unknown as Fatebound, in other words, you and I are different from the rest of humanity and half-humanity. One for the two races. Remember what I said, or what the Lynx you hate said. Everything has two face, hope and despair, love and hate. The same is true of us. Good and evil. You see, in this world, you are the one who cost me loved ones, and I ended up killing you. Here, Kid was evil, the same as in your world I was evil. Trust me, I do not seek to destroy this world but to save it. We are not foes, but, as much as I hate to admit, allies." he told me. I don't know why, but I trusted what he said. He let go of my arm and I put my weapon back in its sheath. "I'll believe what yer saying fleabag, for now, but give me one reason to doubt that yer the Lynx who killed Lucca, and yer dog food hear?" I told him. "Fair enough, I hope you will come to trust me." He replied. "So what are ye after now?" I asked. He seemed to think about telling me or not, but he told me. " I seek to destroy the Frozen Flamme and the Chrono Cross." It took a few seconds for me to register his words, then, " WHAT! ARE YOU ON CATNIP OR SOME THIN'!?!?!?!?!!!" I was about to say more when Duncan walked him and I lost all I was gonna say, never before had it happened to me, especially in presence of a man, no matter how good looking he was.

* * *

Lynx

Kid looked as if she had swallowed her tongue, which was fortunate enough for me, since it seemed that in both worlds, she could stripped a dragon of his hide. It was hard for me not to reach for my scythe and kill her on the spot. I knew she wasn't the Kid who had killed my wife and child, but to look in her face, to see her breathing the same air then I, it was enough to raise a hatred that no living creature should have the right to have, which sadly wasn't the case. Thankfully, I was well aware of what she and I were. Both offspring of the first and last union of FATE and the Dragon Gods. We were siblings, she Fatebound, and I Dragonborn. But she was to young to know yet, even though we should have been the same age, I had been brought in this world sooner the she. Then I wondered why she would stop in the middle of a tongue-lashing and turned to see Illiac, or rather Duncan, equally silent and speechless. I knew his real identity. I had been breed, so to speak, to help him in his destiny, one he would fail without me, Kid and Glenn from this Kid timeline. She and I had more power then she knew, and I knew that soon hers would star manifesting, and that I'd have to help her trough the painful process. Duncan had power of his own, that only he could learn. Glenn's purpose was hidden from me, but I knew that for Duncan to succeed, the Dragoon would have to come along. What I also knew was that to save this world we would have to face against a formidable foe. Both FATE and the Dragon Gods were trying to undo everything they had done together and send their champions and lackey to make it happened, even if it ended up in the destruction of this world. Which meant, that sooner or later, Serge and his friends would come after us. FATE had erased all their memories of what had happened for that very purpose. No matter what they had said. I 'cough' and smiled at their startled expression. "We'll be leaving soon . . . if you have anything to do before we leave . . . do it now." I told them. Kid shrugged and Duncan shook his head. Duncan turned to the alternate version of my nemesis and said. "Pardon me fair maiden for I was rather . . . harsh when I ran into you. I forgot to ask you your name. May I asked now what it is?" I almost rolled my eyes, but they would probably have seen me. "Ye can call me Kid mate." She answered. Then she turned to me and asked in, what was a considerable effort of her part, a polite tone of voice. "Well were we going first?" I smiled. "There's one more person I need to come with us, then we're off." I said. " May I inquire about the identity of this other companion?" Duncan said. " Well certainly, his name is Glenn, he's an Acadicia Dragoon." I replied. My smile broadened a little when I heard Kid gasp with recognition of the name. "Ye don't mean as in Dario's lil' bro Glenn do you?" she said.

"Why yes, even tough he suffers from the same affliction as our other friends, he retained at least one thing that will be of great use to us." I replied. "Come on, yer kidding right, if ye wan' serious fire power, get Serge, or Guile, or Rya, they're all good, but Glenn . . . he's to good for his own good, well what I mean is . . . ye know . . . when you say he retains something of what he had, do ye mean the Einl . . ." I cut her short. " No, the sword, not yet, he retain one particulars thing that everyone lost, I young girl being stabbed while he stood there without being able to help her, and. of course, even though five years have passed, it still haunt him at night." She looked thoughtful for a few seconds. "As long as he doesn' try to keep me away from a dangerous situation . . . '' she said. " He won't, it is amazing what a few years can do to a man, soften his edges, or sharpen them, we'll see." I said. Finally Duncan spoke. "I take it you two know each other?" Kid and I nod at the same time. Then Kid asked one more thing. " So if he's dead here, along with all the other dragoons, it means we're going to . . . oh bloody stinkin' hell, I hate that!"

* * *

Duncan

The young lady named Kid was in a gloomy mood all the way to what they called Opassa beach. I didn't know the reason of such a mood and when I asked the half-human named Lynx, he smiled and said 'You'll see". I wasn't prepared for what happened. We stood in the center of the beach and Kid was fumbling for something. "Don't worry Kid, we won't need it, I have other ways now." As he said that his eyes glowed like polished amber. I felt my mid-section being pulled upward and my skin twisted on itself. Then all was back to normal. I felt very sick, I was sure that if I had eaten earlier, it would be decorating the sand. The beautiful Kid seemed sick as well. "Good Heavens, this is . . . rather uncomfortable." I said. "Uncomfortable? This 's a understatement mate, it's as close to hell as we can get, and trust me, I know what I am talking about." Kid replied to my statement. "We must hurry, FATE and the Dragon Gods know we are here and we must reach Glenn before they do." And we started the uneventful journey to Viper's Manor.

* * *

Kid

Viper's Manor, I hadn't been there in over five years, since Luccia had given me that letter from Lucca. It evoked good memories of old times, times that existed only in my memory, but I had still lived them. Duncan was waiting at my side while Lynx tried to talk them into letting us see Glenn. " You do not understand, I must see him, now, do I make myself clear?" he said in a menacing tone. He was very convincing and sure of himself. Of course, I would be as well if our role were reversed, there was no doubt in my mind as to who would win in a confrontation. They would last at the best a few minutes and that only if Lynx decided not to kill them but to put them out of commission for a few hours. "May I ask whom you wish to see sir?" came a voice behind us. I turned to see Glenn. At first I didn't recognize him, he had grown into the man the boy had been meant to be. He was a few inches taller then I remembered, and he was more muscular. The white band around his head had been changed for a bandana, much like the one Serge had, but dark blue instead of red and white. His face was harder, and he wore the sword at his side as if he had been born with it there, instead of like someone who had learned. I had no doubt that on a one-on-one between him and me, if I emerged victorious, it would be with great efforts. I swallowed back the sarcastic comment I had been about to throw at him, for even his voice was deeper, more commanding in fact. Lynx turned and his face remained expressionless. "How fortunate I am, I was looking for you sir Glenn, could you come with us to the bar so we can talk away from unwanted attention?" he said. Glenn nodded. "Very well, I will hear you out, but be warned that even tough I might looked an easy-to-overcome adversary, I am not, so do not try anything you might regret." I swear that I saw Lynx took a paler shade under his fur at the threat. "It would be very unwise of me I agree." And with that we headed to Termina.

* * *

Glenn

"So what you are saying is that my dreams are memories?" I said surprised. Only the man who had introduced him as Lynx was with me at the moment. From what I could tell, Duncan didn't know anything about what had happened, and Kid was keeping him busy, showing him around the city. I realized that a frown had settled over my face. I banished it and looked at the half-human. He had told me an incredible tale, which I had a hard time believing what he told me. Specially the part where he was a Dragonborn and Kid a Fatebound. I found myself frowning again. He told me everything Kid knew, because he said I deserved to know the truth, for if I went with them under false pretense, the world would be doomed. Finally, I spoke again. " I shall come on one condition, if you refuse, I will

not come." He nodded and motioned me to go on. " I want my fiancée with us, she comes, or I don't." He considered for moment and finally he answered. "Very well, but I must warn you, it will be dangerous, any of us will risk death at every moment. She will be at a great risk, and I will tell you this, I will not go out of my way to save her shall she be in danger of death, understand?" I consider and finally accepted. "Very well" I echoed him. We parted way after making arrangement to meet here in the morning. I did not fear Rya would refuse, she said she was bored living at the manor. I smiled at the memory of the day she had come there for the first time. She'd been badly injured, a wound just under her ribs. The soldier let her in right away and she gave word of the Porre army trying to invade Guldove and risked to be overwhelmed. They asked for assistance and I was sent with a dozen soldiers to harass them until more force could come. For two weeks we kept them off-balance until they launch their new weapon at us. Grobyc. I remember the fight, and still shivered at night. I had a scar to show for it. But after I beat him in a one-on-one combat, he joined forces with us and turned the tide on our side, by the third week, we had pushed them back. I had come back and introduce Grobyc to the General. After, I went to the infirmary to meet with the messenger. I kept her company every day, from sunrise to sunset, until she was ready to leave. I had fallen in love with her over these two months and begged her to stay. She also fell in love with me and moved into my living quarters. Now she was part of the new Dragoons Elite. The Winged Dragoons. She was one of four. So was I. The other two were Grobyc and a half-human woman. I was in our room and felt emptiness in my heart when I saw she wasn't there. I left her note asking her to get some traveling gear for us. Then I left for my brother's grave. I reached the tomb and kneel on one knee, my left hand on my sword hilt and my right on my heart. I spoke. " Dario, this might be the last time I speak to you in this world and place, for I might die to save the world. I hope that you understand y thirst to be the greatest swordsman, to walk in your footsteps, but I feared that I will never be able to be as great as you were. This might be my chance to prove my worth to myself, even if I die doing so. One day I hope to be worthy of the Einl . . ." I was interrupted by a soft humming sound. I recognized it as the lullaby my brother used to sing to me to chase my fears away when I was a young child. The Einlanzer start glowing gently and started to rise from my brother's resting-place. "Do not fear my brother, you are worthy of the blade and much more. Never had I thought I could be so proud of you. Now go with my blessing and the Einlanzer at your side. Do not fear for I shall remain at your side until your last day on this planet comes. Now take the sword, and fulfill your quest to find your true identity. I will give you a gift, your memory, of when you where wielding the Einlanzers of both worlds and slain the TimeDevourer. Go my brother, and be at peace with yourself." I stared at hilt, mesmerized. I hadn't exactly heard these words, but more remembered them, as if it was something my brother had told me long ago. I realized he must have talked to me from beyond the grave. I smiled with sadness, my heart swelling with emotions. The magic blade vanished to materialize in front of me, hilt down. I wrapped my hand around it and it shone with a blinding light. Everything came back to me and I knew Lynx had been speaking the truth, and that by insinuating that we might have to defeat FATE's champions, he had meant Serge and his other companion who had lost their memory, except for Rya, for which I was grateful. I walked back to the manor, the sun setting, the twilight wrapping me in a coat of burning light.

* * *

Duncan

Kid was lovely, like a wingless angel having lost her way to the heavens. I was somewhat of a poet at heart, and I even traveled with a small book in which I wrote some. But all of them were of despair and guilt made to help ease the pain in my heart. I had no intention of giving anyone the chance to read them. But of late, I had been tempted to write about Kid. I knew now, after a few weeks in her company that I loved her deeply. We hadn't yet left for this unknown continent for Lynx and Kid wanted to make it as hard as possible to follow us. Finally, Lynx had judged that we had covered our real destination well enough to leave us a few weeks of advance on our adversaries, whoever they were. I studied each of my companions, as I did each night. Rya, she said she used to be a maid before joining the Winged Dragoons. I had some trouble believing her on that point, since she fights so well. I wondered who had taught her, whoever he or she was had done a good job. She was talking with enthusiasm to Kid, and to my surprise, my wingless angel blushed. She was a kind spirit person, ready to defend her people and loved one with her life. I could understand how Glenn had come to fall in love with her. Glenn, a very remarkable young man, a few years older then me, two or three at the most. He had an inner strength that I did not think was possible to posses among humankind. I envied him. He was strong noble and he had not a past to be ashamed of. Strangely, he seemed to like my company as a friend. I found it very easy to confide myself to him. He knew I had come from Porre and had been employed for my special skills. He knew why and one night he asked me why I called myself Duncan instead of my birth name. I told him the two reasons. One was that it was dangerous for me to use my birth name, the other was because the person I had been then was dead. Then there was Kid, who, needless to say, occupied my every thought. The exotic way she spoke, her inner softness hidden to most by her crude manners, and quicksilver tongue. The way she smiled, the grace of her every movement. Then my eyes shifted to Lynx. What an odd leader for our group. Of him a knew next to nothing, but Kid assured me we could trust him, with a great apparent effort on her part, for there was not even the smallest positive energy between them. He was an enigma. I heard noise on my left and turned to see Glenn coming back from a small town, to small to be on a map, with provisions. He packed them on the dragoons back and came toward me. "I have thought of something that could prove to be a great advantage to you in the future." he told me. " And what could that be?" I asked puzzled. "You use both hand in a fight do you not?" I nod. "Well I have seen you fight with these daggers of yours, you are quite dangerous with them, but there is one thing that works to your disadvantage," he said. " And what would that be?" I asked surprised. " I will show you, let's go to the clearing, and do not hold back, because I will not." he answered. I followed him and he stripped of his armor and of the Einlanzer. He took two normal swords and positioned himself in a guard stance. I drew two of my daggers out of my belt and put myself in such a position as well. "The one to draw the first blood is the winner, no sense in hurting each other to see who is the best." I nodded and he saluted me. I lunged forward slashing with my left hand. He blocked, or rather pushed away, the attack with humiliating ease. Again I attacked, and again was pushed back. For now he was defending, but I knew that it wouldn't last long. I kept attacking, trying to see an opening and the shadow of the disadvantage he had spoken of started to form in my mind. He lunged and it was all I could do to keep him from cutting me. Even more humiliating, I couldn't counterattack for he moved to fast. In one movement, he almost drew first blood and disarmed me of my weapons. I reached for two of the other daggers I kept hidden on my person but his second blade came to a rest at my throat. I stopped and he used his second weapon, the one, which had disarmed me, to, me arm and cut the back of my hand, just enough for a single drop of blood to show. " I won," he said without satisfaction. "Do you see what the problem is?" he asked. I shook my head. " First thing, you never fought with someone who knew how to use a sword properly. Second, your weapons have far to small of range to be of any use in a one-on-one confrontation. In the middle of a battle it would be useful I agree, for the weakness would become a strength, but otherwise, you couldn't reach me." I understand what he meant. " Lucky for me it was you who taught me that lesson or else I'd be dead." He smiled. " And what will you do about it?" he asked. "I'll learn how to use a longer blade for opponent such as you." I said. " I will teach you the real use of a sword. Not only the art of fighting, but the dirtiest tricks and how to make one." I smiled and nod my agreement. Then his face became serious. "There is another reason why I wanted to show you here instead of back there," he said. Totally unaware of what was coming I asked. "And the other reason would be?" I saw the hint of a smile curl his lips. "Kid" he said. "What are you going to do about her?" I almost choked. How could he know? It was impossible. " What are you talking about?" I asked in a perfectly neutral tone. " It easy for me to see that you are in love, and as she would say, 'Ye better do somethin' 'bout it mate, before yer chance slips between yer finger'." I thought about it for a second and let myself fall down in a sitting position. "I really do not know what to do, I never felt that way about anyone before, it is more then mere attraction, I think . . . well I can not spend a waking moment without her haunting my tought.1 go to sleep and she lives in my dreams. It is very hard for me to think about anything else. As if she had wormed her way in my head and I took control." I explained. This time he smiled, not a mocking smile and I realized that he must have been trough the same thing only a few years earlier, or something similar. We had more in common then I had known. " I do not think it is in your head that she wormed her way but in your heart, friend." he told me. I looked at the stars in the sky and took the leather-bound book I always cover with me. I start doing what I should have done weeks ago.

* * *

Kid

"Kid, are you listening to me?" Rya asked me. I turned my head toward hers. "Sorry mate, haven' been myself lately ye know." I answered. She had a knowing smile on her face. "You were thinking about him weren't you?" I never understood why we had always got along so well, as if . . . as if we were bound by something more powerful then FATE, or the Dragon Gods. Therefor, she knew I loved him and was too much of a chicken to say anything. " Yes I am, I can' seem to think 'bout anythin' else mate, it's . . . a wonderful feelin' at time, but right now, it's more the 'I-am-a-chicken-and-a-feel-miserable-'bout-it' feeling." She shook her head without saying a word. I tried to put on a smile, but it was a false one. "Oh for the Dragon Gods sake, go tell him and get it over with Kid." she told me. I intended to, but not right now. I needed a clear head before I spoke to him. Again she shook her head. I shrugged and went to my bedroll, dreams were pleasant at least, well dreams of him anyway.

* * *

Glenn

On the shore of Arni Village, Lynx was standing in front of us. "We'll be there shortly, there is no turning back now, understand?" I saw the other nod and found myself mimicking them. I asked "But where is the boat?" He smiled a rare occurrence. "Who said anything about a boat?" he replied. I raised an eyebrow and Rya was just as confuse as I was. Then Kid muttered a 'bloody hell' under her breath and Duncan lowered his head in resignation. Then everything change around me, the environment became black and white, and faded. Then I saw myself on the shore of a jungle. Then everything was back to normal. Kid, Duncan and Rya looked sick, ready to throw up everything they had eaten earlier in the morning. We were there.

Yeah, so that's the first chapter, hope you're enjoying it and that you'll review it!

Peace, Kid_lackey.