Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Crossover With Non-anime Series Fan Fiction ❯ Dragoon Tales: The New Legend ❯ Chapter 4: Tales of the Past ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 4 Tales from the Past



Rei, Usagi, and Makoto are running along a path on foot, the horses they were once riding mysteriously gone.

"Makoto, can you keep going?" Rei asks, concerned.

"Yeah, no problem!" came the enthusiastic reply.

The three continue onward, but as they pass a fallen log an arrow careens out of nowhere and grazes the knight's leg. They crouch behind the log quickly, knowing Hellena Wardens are in pursuit now, and that their archers have finally figured out how to use a bow and arrow accurately.

"Can you keep going?" Rei questions.

"Yeah, it's only a scratch."

"But you have to cover the wound," Usagi voices.

"It can be treated later. We gotta run first," Makoto grunts as she stands up.

"I'll help Makoto. Usagi, go first," the dark haired girl says as she takes Makoto's arm and swings it around her shoulder.

"Rei, don't treat me like a child. I will go with you guys. I can take care of myself."

"And no offense buddy, but I can walk by myself," Makoto grins as she pats Rei's armored back.

Usagi looks over the log and whispers, "Here they come!"

"Let's go!"

The three start running away once more as two wardens start running down the path after them.

A short distance down the path the trio hide behind a large tree that has tall weeds and grasses all around it; the two Hellena Wardens approach the tree slowly, where the road splits into
several different directions. Suddenly a sound is heard in the grass.

"There they are!" the leader shouts. He points to the grasses as they all raise their taser rods.

"Come out and surrender! Then we might spare those people in Basil!"

As this is said a small rodent leaps out, hopping around in front of them.

"Is this the fugitive?" one of the soldiers ask.

"Are you trying to be funny? Go look over there you idiot!"

The two guards rush off down the right path. When they are out of sight the three companions all emerge from behind a tree. They head up the left path, where they see a raging river separating them from the other side.

"I guess we'll have to find another way," Rei says as she gazes at the water. 'Looks cold.'

They leave the scene and head down a southern trail, where they spot a small wooden shack. Makoto winces as she sits on a small stool inside the shack.

"Does it still hurt?" Usagi asks, looking over at the brown-haired woman's wound.

"A little bit," the other woman replies.

"I learned first aid, I thought it might be useful. Particularly in times like these," Usagi smiles as she reaches for Makoto's leg, inspecting it before tearing a piece of cloth from Rei's bag and covering the wound.

"Usagi? Learning? That's something new!" Rei chides jokingly. Usagi glares and sticks out a pink tongue at her friend.

"A certain someone might come back injured at any moment," the blonde rebukes as she carefully wrapped the knight's leg. Rei grins slightly, 'Just like old times.' Makoto smiles at the two's antics. 'They seem like good friends. These guys can't be bad.'

"Here you go," Usagi finishes and smiles cutely. Rei had gone outside to check for the enemies. She took this time to observe the tall woman. Long brown hair, definitely Basilian. She wore fine clothes and was covered in green armor that was sure to conceal a tone, muscular body. Her dark green eyes were friendly and they sparkled as she spoke.

"Thanks. It's much better now," the knight finds herself smiling back, calmed by the bright aura of the girl. 'She's cute, weird hair, but cute. How'd she end up with such a sourball?' Makoto thought to herself. Suddenly Rei reappears. 'Speak of the devil.'

"It seems we completely lost those fools from Hellena."

"Rei. Tell me about these three years," Usagi asks, her question seemingly stemming from out of nowhere. Catching Rei's darkening expression, she abruptly changes her mind.

"It's okay, nevermind! We don't have time for this now."

"It's okay Usagi. It's just... a long story. It was a journey for revenge. It was a journey to find a guy that deprived me of something precious, and kill him. I couldn't tell you, Usagi. That's why I left by myself."

"The Black Monster?"

When Rei looks at her questioningly, she adds, "I only know the name. Nobody would tell me more about it because they said I was still too young."

"What is the Black Monster? What are you talking about?" Makoto speaks up, her curiosity peaked. Rei continues.

"I have two homes. One is Seles, where I spend time with Usagi. And the other is where I spent time with my parents, my first home which was taken from me by the monster eighteen years ago. Neet."

Flashback

REI'S HOMETOWN - 18 YEARS AGO

"It was when I was five years old. Neet was assaulted by the
Black Monster."

A dark and shadowy figure grasps a citizen of Neet and incinerates him in its clawed hand. A mother and father ushers a young Rei away from the burning village; they are atop a hill in the nearby
forest overlooking the flames.

"We were lucky. Only three of us could get out from the village. But my father returned to the village."

The father hugs the mother, bidding farewell to the young Rei before leaving down the hill, re-entering the flaming village.

"My mother followed my father into the village to help everybody, but that's where the Black Monster was waiting."

Her mother hugs Rei before rushing down after her father.

"I was left alone, shivering and waiting for dawn."

Neet's fires were put out by a sudden rain, and Rei walks around the ash and rubble, all that was left of the village

"The sun revealed a foreign landscape. It was a transformed Neet."

The young Rei picks up a shining object from the ground.

"And I found this." Rei holds out a red stone that glimmers on a gold chain around her neck.

"What I found on the ground was only this. It's a memento, the only thing my father carried around all the time."

"Rei, I'm sorry," Usagi whispered, tears spilling over her eyes.

"Oh Usagi, don't cry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"I knew you would tell me someday....b-but, it must be painful for you. You don't have say anymore," the blonde hair girl sobs. Rei walks over and Usagi wraps her arms around the raven haired girl's waist, her head leaning onto the armored stomach as she cried. Rei strokes her soft hair, finding comfort in their closeness.

"So you just came back from a journey to bring closure to the past," Makoto interrupts, eyes still fixed on Rei's darkened form.

"I'm still not there yet," Rei replied softly, her gaze turned to rest on the green armored woman.

"You said Neet. It doesn't seem to be a village in this country."

"It was located farther north from here. I guess nobody even remembers its name anymore."

Rei pauses, looking out through the open doorway.

"Makoto, tell me, what is going on in this country?"

"Currently, our Kingdom of Basil is at war with the Imperial Sandora. Before, the entire kingdom was ruled by Emperor Endymion. When he passed away unexpectedly, he left the throne to his brother, Duke Artemis of Cornell."

"Why his brother?" Usagi wonders.

"Let's just say his son Diamond wasn't such a nice guy, and his father knew that. Artemis was older, had more experience, and was a greatly loved man. Not surprisingly, Diamond was outraged when he found out, and rallied a group of nobles in a coup'de tat. It failed, but the rebels retreated to northern Serdio and formed Imperial Sandora, gaining support from various alliances with several nomadic tribes and few allies across the Fourtos Ocean. Since then, the war has spread all over Serdio."

"I heard a truce was signed two years ago. Why was it broken?" the dark haired woman asks.

"Because of the Dragon, the legendary monster added weight to Sandora and broke the balance of power. Then Emperor Diamond became more aggressive."

"Dragon?" Rei's eyes widen. The knight looks at Rei intently.

"Do you know something about it?"

"Actually, I was swooped down on by a dragon before I entered Seles. It was overwhelming. There was no way to escape from it. I was saved by a passing warrior. That's the only reason I'm still alive."

Makoto crosses her arms.

"The Dragon is advancing faster than I thought. We must do something or it'll be too late....I have to go back to Indels Castle in Bale. There are so many things I have to report to King Artemis. You know what, Rei? You guys should come along with me. Minister Mizuno might know something about the Black Monster."

"How?"

"The royal library has records dating centuries back. I'm sure there will be information on this creature you're looking for."

Rei contemplates the thought for a moment. 'This could be useful. Makoto seems to be trustworthy, otherwise I probably wouldn't be here right now. And Usagi...Usagi needs some stability in her life.' She nods, accepting the offer.

"Then its a done deal."

"Makoto, don't take chances now. You are not completely well," Usagi spoke up, the young girl recovering from her recent sobfest.

"You'll make a good wife one day, you know that?" the knight grins as she teases the cute blonde.

"Thanks," replied the girl as she blushes heavily.

"Please, don't encourage her. C'mon, let's go," Rei says, ignoring the glare directed towards her from the blonde and a short chuckle from the knight. They exit the shack and walk down the path. Rei notices a worn axe buried in the stump of a tree outside. An idea suddenly pops up. She pulls the axe from the stump. The other two glance back at her.

"We can use this to chop down that tree near the river and then cross the stream." They understood and nodded. The three companions walk back towards the stream that they encountered before. Rei hands the axe to Makoto and the tall woman swings it with all her might. It took several long chops to finally fall, but when it did, the tree aligned itself perfectly to form a bridge across the waters. Rei tosses the axe and takes Usagi's and Makoto's hand, forming a link in case one of them should fall in, and begin to cross the river.

***************************************

After a day of walking and resting, Rei, Makoto, and Usagi reach a large cave.

"This is the Limestone Caves. Be careful, the walls are slippery and there are wild monsters roaming around. We don't want anymore trouble," Makoto warns as they step into the darkness. Rei lights a torch and holds onto Usagi's hand, the younger girl blushing as she grasps the raven haired girl's arm. They walk cautiously until they reach a long brook.

"Hey look!" Usagi points out. There were small boulders rising from the water, dotting a path across to the other side. They observe it for a second; the boulders seem to be the only way across.

"Think we can do this?" Makoto looks over at Rei, who nods in confirmation. She leaps onto a large rock, then from there jumps onto the next one, stopping and waiting for Usagi to come across.

"Be careful! These things are slippery as hell," warns Rei, pointing at the stones with her torch. The blonde haired girl nods and takes a tentative jump onto the rock that Rei was previously on. The raven haired girl then turns and continues, ushering for her two companions to follow. They leap nimbly from boulder to boulder. Rei and Usagi reached the shore on the other end first and stood, waiting for Makoto. The brown-haired knight lands on the last rock, her arms flailing to keep her balance as she steps on a particularly slippery patch of moss. A gloved hand reaches out to steady the knight and pull her to safety.

"Thanks, that's the second time you saved my life already," the taller woman said as she reaches the ground. Rei nods and grins, finding Makoto's smile infectious.

"Hey Rei!" Usagi's interrupts them. She had walked further ahead only to discover a group of flying, glowing insects.

"What are these?" she asks, reaching out to touch one. Rei walks closer to inspect them as well, looking around the small cavern.

"They're rock fireflies. It's often said that rock fireflies appear to those in trouble," Makoto says. She touches the swarm and feels a white light wash over her. As the white glow fades, the knight finds herself feeling completely refreshed.

"They have healing powers..." Rei gasps as she feels the light envelop her and Usagi.

"Wow," Usagi whispers. The glow fades and the two step back, feeling their tiredness disappear.

"These guys sure some in handy," Rei speaks after a moment. 'Wonder if we can bring some with us.' Makoto looks over at her and shakes her head.

"I know what you're thinking, hell, I thought it once too, but these things won't survive for a second if they're captured," the green-armored knight. "It is rumored that these are the souls of those who once lived, and they need to complete their good deeds to be accepted to Soa's gates."

Rei nods, clapping her hands together and murmuring a short prayer. She then reaches over and pokes a still mezmerized Usagi in the gut, the girl yelping in surprise as she glares at her attacker. Rei rolls her eyes and continues walking ahead.

"REI, DON'T BE SO MEAN!!!" the blonde wails as she catches up to her friend. Makoto follows at a steadier pace, chuckling slightly at their random quips. The trio continue walking, but Rei stops abruptly, Usagi almost slamming into her as she too stops.

"What's wrong?" Usagi asks, concerned. Rei surveys the area, turning to Makoto.

"You hear it?"

"Oh yea," Makoto replies, pulling out her spear. Rei does the same with her swords, and Usagi slings the bow from her shoulder, hands reaching for an arrow from the quiver on her back. A minute passes in silence, then the large rock wall next to them suddenly explodes. Rei, sensing the danger, jumps out of the way, pulling Usagi with her as Makoto does the same. They stare in horror as a large, monstrous snake appears from behind the rubble, its green eyes glowing with contempt.

"These things always happen around you?" Makoto smirks, circling the snake.

"Seems like it, think you can stick around long enough to find out?" Rei chides back.

"Yeah, suppose so," Makoto says as she rushes in.

"THUNDER ROD!" the knight bellows as electricity crackles around her rod. She swings the spear down, slightly charring the monster's scales. Rei was on the other side, slashing away to no avail at its thick armored body.

"VOLCANO SLASH!" Rei's attacks only angered the snake even more.

"The scales are too tough, we can't get through it," Rei grits through her teeth. 'The head...there's no scales covering the head!'

"Go for the head!" Rei yells, Makoto already aiming her spear at the thing's swaying head. It barely misses as the snake and embeds itself in the rock behind it. 'Shit.'

Usagi, who had continued to fire arrows from the back, aimed three arrows at the head. The monster, seeing the oncoming attack, whips Rei aside with its tail as it heads toward the blonde. Rei could feel her ribs almost cracking with the blunt force and collapses to the ground, coughing.

"Usagi, watch out!" the dark haired girl struggles to get up and help her friend, throwing her dagger at the snake's back. It embeds itself on the back of the thing's head, causing the snake to hiss in pain and collapse, flailing its body on the ground. Usagi cautiously runs around the writhing body and hurries over to Rei and Makoto.

"Are you guys okay?" she asks, reaching for the medicinal herbs in her friend's bag. Makoto's relieved expression turns to horror as she sees a massive shadow behind the blonde girl. Usagi, following the knight's gaze, turns around to see the snake advancing on the trio.

Usagi's eyes widen in fear. Suddenly, a strange feeling grips her heart. Rei and Makoto watch as a strong, silvery light emits from her body, covering the monster. It begins to roar in pain as the light completely covers it, finally coughing up venemous green blood and collapsing on the ground.

"Usagi, USAGI!" Rei cries as the blonde haired girl collapses, clutching her head. Makoto and Rei struggle to get to their friend. The violet eyed girl tries to calm her friend as the girl clutches her head in pain.

"It's ok...shh, its ok now..." Rei whispers soothingly, stroking the blonde head.

"I-I don't know what happened Rei. It just, it just..." Usagi cried burying her head into Rei's shoulder.

"It's ok, don't worry about it. We can deal with this later," Rei comforts, looking over at Makoto, who had retrieved her spear and was now looking at Rei. 'How is she?' she questions with her eyes. The dark haired girl shrugs slightly and inclines her head towards Usagi, who was still sobbing slightly. Makoto nods in understanding.

"Yea, lets get to Bale first. There might be more of these things, and even Usagi won't be able to save us then," the brown haired woman says as she helps the two up. Rei swings Usagi onto her back and follows Makoto to the entrance. A question plagues both their minds as they walk on in silence, the only sound audible being the blonde's sound breathing as she fell asleep on Rei's shoulder.

'What the hell was that?'

===============================

Okay, here's the whole geographical analysis of the story. I'm basically using the Legend of Dragoon's world map. Here's a link if you want the image:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Continent_of_Endin ess.jpg

Anyway, the whole story takes place on the continent of Endiness. It includes four major countries: Serdio, Mille Seseau, Tiberoa, and Gloriano. There is also a large, desert-like region in the game called the Negaversal Plane, but we'll get to that later. Serdio is currently split into the Kingdom of Basil and Imperial Sandora because of the war. Basil is now ruled under Makoto's king, who will be revealed later, and Imperial Sandora is united under Emperor Diamond (The Black Moon's Prince Diamond in the original Sailor Moon series).