Winds of Change
Disclaimer: I am in the military I own nothing. If I did I would be making a sequel to this game.
Thanks to: Omni Dragon who encouraged me to get started on this. (Check out her parody .dragoon.)
Let the Winds Begin to Blow
The fires and screams sounded awfully loud to Claire's ears as she clutched her son tightly to her side. She paid no mind to the tears running down her face as she listened. All she knew was that Zieg was gone.
"Claire. I want you to stay here with Dart. I know exactly what is going on and how to stop it."
"What do you mean Zieg. That thing is the Black Monster no one can stop it!"
"I just know alright Claire. Promise me you will stay here with Dart."
"I promise."
About a minute later she had heard his scream of agony and lost control of herself. Only her promise to her husband kept her from going down there after him. The first good thing to come into her life after her exile from Rouge was now gone forever. Now all she had was Dart. As she looked down on him she smiled a small smile though her tears. Dart was fast asleep still clutching tightly to her.
As she watched him sleep a determination came over her as she spoke out loud:
"Zieg! Even though you may now be gone I swear on my fist and my heart as well as the love we shared that I will make sure your son grows up safe. When he comes of age I will tell him what happened here. Then I shall seek the Black Monster and destroy it or I will die at its feet to join you. For our vow will still hold true no matter how many years will pass."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next day dawned bright and clear. As Claire watched she could not believe that birds were singing after the blood, death and fire of last night. As she contemplated on the fact that birds were singing she felt a stirring at her side as her 5 yr old son started to wake up. Her mind automatically switched into mother mode as she analyzed the situation. First things first she thought. I need to find us some supplies and food. The clothes we have won't last long with the worst of winter ahead of us. Maybe some stuff from our house survived the fire. Then we must make our way somewhere else if only so the memories won't be in our face all of the time.
When Dart had fully woken up she had gathered up all of her courage and headed down to the village. All of the way there Dart held to her hand and didn't say a word. As they approached what used to be their house. Dart suddenly broke free from her grasp and dashed toward a pile of rubble. Claire concerned hurried after him. She started to call his name but the word caught on her lips as she watched him bend down and pickup an object that shone brightly in his hands. Her eyes again welled up with tears as she recognized the object as Zieg's family heirloom.
"I have been meaning to ask you something Zieg."
"Yes Claire."
"What is that object you are always playing with and how does it glow like that?"
"Oh this thing. Its been in the family ever since the Dragon Campaign. Don't know why it glows though. But now that I think about it this was the reason I became so interested in the Dragon Campaign. I am trying to find a reference to it somewhere."
"Well we all have our hobbies I suppose. But you may want to come to the table dear, dinner is ready."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When they left the ruins of Neet the two them headed for Furni. As they passed through the Evergreen forest they met someone rather unusual. They had just started walking for the day when a loud noise came from the bushes. Claire had pushed Dart behind her as she dropped into a fighting stance. To her surprise out of the bushes came a young girl with platinum colored hair hardly dressed in anything.
"Who are you?" Claire called out in challenge. The girl jumped up as if startled and looked around.
"Who are you?" Claire repeated with a slight edge in her voice.
"Me?" the girl asked in a voice that had a weird accent to it.
"Yes." Claire replied in irritation.
"My name is Meru. I am a dancer and seem to be a little lost." the girl said sheepishly.
"Are you on your way to Furni also?" Meru looked confused for a minute and then brightened.
"Uh-hu!"
"Aren't you a little cold in that outfit?"
"Huh?" Meru looked confused for a moment than seemed to realize what they were wearing and shrugged as she said "Nope. I'm used to it."
Claire's senses told her that something was off with this girl but her mind assured her that she was no threat. The girl wasn't even armed. As she relaxed Claire spoke,
"Well I suppose you could travel with us to Furni."
"Really? That would be great! Lets go!" Meru enthused as she started down the road. Claire blinked heavily,
"Uhmm... that's the wrong way Meru."
"Oh! Oops! Sorry!" she said as she came back up.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next three days were the most trying of Claire's life. Not only did she have to deal with her grief, she had deal with a girl who in her opinion, was the most cheerful, hyperactive and annoying person on the planet. The only thing that prevented her from hitting the girl was the fact that by the end of the first day she had made Dart laugh. Claire knew she could put up with anything that made her son laugh again.
When they arrived in Furni they had parted ways. Meru had left to explore the town and was acting like she had never seen such things before. Claire had left to get a room at the inn. Upon hearing that they were survivors from Neet the innkeeper had let them stay for free. Early the next morning while Dart was still asleep Claire had headed down to the port to arrange passage on a ship.
As she was approaching the only ship in the port Claire heard a most familiar sound. The sound of a baby crying. As she got closer to the ship the crying got louder. She finally saw the source of the crying was a baby girl being held awkwardly by the hands of a sailor. The sailor had a look on his face that screamed for Soa to help him. Claire took pity on the poor guy and lifted the baby out of his hands. The instant she had the girl firmly in her arms the crying stopped. The sailor looked relived.
"Thank you miss. I didn't know why she was fussing."
"She probably didn't like the way she was being held." the sailor suddenly blushed and stammered.
"Would you like to take her?"
"What do you mean!? Isn't she your child!?"
"Uh. No miss. We were coming back from Fuentes when we saw a fire way out on the water four days ago. We never found the ship." he sighed "but we did find her on a piece of wood crying her little heart out. We tried to mother her the best we could but a ship full of guys is hardly the place to find such knowledge."
"I see. Very well I will take care of her. But may I speak to the captain of your ship." the sailor blushed.
"You are talking to him." the man muttered embarrassedly. Claire smiled sadly as she rocked the baby gently.
"Very well than I don't suppose you are leaving to go back to Fuentes soon?"
"We leave in three days miss. Turn around time to switch cargo."
"How much would it cost to purchase passage across?"
"I tell you what miss. You promise to raise her like your own I will grant you free passage."
"I had planed on doing that anyways so I accept Captain. My five year old son will also accompany us."
"Fair enough miss. You come back in three days and we will be ready to go."
"Not a problem." Claire turned to go but stopped as she turned back to the Captain. "By the way Captain what is the name of your ship?" The man blushed as he said
"The Shana."
"Shana, that is a lovely name." Claire looked down at the child in her arms "Well Shana lets go back to the inn so you can meet your brother, hmm."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Authors notes: And so it begins. This chapter just established what changed early on in Dart's life. The next chapter will begin at the beginning of LOD but of course there will be some changes through out. I only hope that I am original in some of my ideas. Feel free to review or if you want complain, gripe and moan about what I am doing to the dragoons. Thank you and good night.
Disclaimer: I am in the military I own nothing. If I did I would be making a sequel to this game.
Thanks to: Omni Dragon who encouraged me to get started on this. (Check out her parody .dragoon.)
Let the Winds Begin to Blow
The fires and screams sounded awfully loud to Claire's ears as she clutched her son tightly to her side. She paid no mind to the tears running down her face as she listened. All she knew was that Zieg was gone.
"Claire. I want you to stay here with Dart. I know exactly what is going on and how to stop it."
"What do you mean Zieg. That thing is the Black Monster no one can stop it!"
"I just know alright Claire. Promise me you will stay here with Dart."
"I promise."
About a minute later she had heard his scream of agony and lost control of herself. Only her promise to her husband kept her from going down there after him. The first good thing to come into her life after her exile from Rouge was now gone forever. Now all she had was Dart. As she looked down on him she smiled a small smile though her tears. Dart was fast asleep still clutching tightly to her.
As she watched him sleep a determination came over her as she spoke out loud:
"Zieg! Even though you may now be gone I swear on my fist and my heart as well as the love we shared that I will make sure your son grows up safe. When he comes of age I will tell him what happened here. Then I shall seek the Black Monster and destroy it or I will die at its feet to join you. For our vow will still hold true no matter how many years will pass."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next day dawned bright and clear. As Claire watched she could not believe that birds were singing after the blood, death and fire of last night. As she contemplated on the fact that birds were singing she felt a stirring at her side as her 5 yr old son started to wake up. Her mind automatically switched into mother mode as she analyzed the situation. First things first she thought. I need to find us some supplies and food. The clothes we have won't last long with the worst of winter ahead of us. Maybe some stuff from our house survived the fire. Then we must make our way somewhere else if only so the memories won't be in our face all of the time.
When Dart had fully woken up she had gathered up all of her courage and headed down to the village. All of the way there Dart held to her hand and didn't say a word. As they approached what used to be their house. Dart suddenly broke free from her grasp and dashed toward a pile of rubble. Claire concerned hurried after him. She started to call his name but the word caught on her lips as she watched him bend down and pickup an object that shone brightly in his hands. Her eyes again welled up with tears as she recognized the object as Zieg's family heirloom.
"I have been meaning to ask you something Zieg."
"Yes Claire."
"What is that object you are always playing with and how does it glow like that?"
"Oh this thing. Its been in the family ever since the Dragon Campaign. Don't know why it glows though. But now that I think about it this was the reason I became so interested in the Dragon Campaign. I am trying to find a reference to it somewhere."
"Well we all have our hobbies I suppose. But you may want to come to the table dear, dinner is ready."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When they left the ruins of Neet the two them headed for Furni. As they passed through the Evergreen forest they met someone rather unusual. They had just started walking for the day when a loud noise came from the bushes. Claire had pushed Dart behind her as she dropped into a fighting stance. To her surprise out of the bushes came a young girl with platinum colored hair hardly dressed in anything.
"Who are you?" Claire called out in challenge. The girl jumped up as if startled and looked around.
"Who are you?" Claire repeated with a slight edge in her voice.
"Me?" the girl asked in a voice that had a weird accent to it.
"Yes." Claire replied in irritation.
"My name is Meru. I am a dancer and seem to be a little lost." the girl said sheepishly.
"Are you on your way to Furni also?" Meru looked confused for a minute and then brightened.
"Uh-hu!"
"Aren't you a little cold in that outfit?"
"Huh?" Meru looked confused for a moment than seemed to realize what they were wearing and shrugged as she said "Nope. I'm used to it."
Claire's senses told her that something was off with this girl but her mind assured her that she was no threat. The girl wasn't even armed. As she relaxed Claire spoke,
"Well I suppose you could travel with us to Furni."
"Really? That would be great! Lets go!" Meru enthused as she started down the road. Claire blinked heavily,
"Uhmm... that's the wrong way Meru."
"Oh! Oops! Sorry!" she said as she came back up.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next three days were the most trying of Claire's life. Not only did she have to deal with her grief, she had deal with a girl who in her opinion, was the most cheerful, hyperactive and annoying person on the planet. The only thing that prevented her from hitting the girl was the fact that by the end of the first day she had made Dart laugh. Claire knew she could put up with anything that made her son laugh again.
When they arrived in Furni they had parted ways. Meru had left to explore the town and was acting like she had never seen such things before. Claire had left to get a room at the inn. Upon hearing that they were survivors from Neet the innkeeper had let them stay for free. Early the next morning while Dart was still asleep Claire had headed down to the port to arrange passage on a ship.
As she was approaching the only ship in the port Claire heard a most familiar sound. The sound of a baby crying. As she got closer to the ship the crying got louder. She finally saw the source of the crying was a baby girl being held awkwardly by the hands of a sailor. The sailor had a look on his face that screamed for Soa to help him. Claire took pity on the poor guy and lifted the baby out of his hands. The instant she had the girl firmly in her arms the crying stopped. The sailor looked relived.
"Thank you miss. I didn't know why she was fussing."
"She probably didn't like the way she was being held." the sailor suddenly blushed and stammered.
"Would you like to take her?"
"What do you mean!? Isn't she your child!?"
"Uh. No miss. We were coming back from Fuentes when we saw a fire way out on the water four days ago. We never found the ship." he sighed "but we did find her on a piece of wood crying her little heart out. We tried to mother her the best we could but a ship full of guys is hardly the place to find such knowledge."
"I see. Very well I will take care of her. But may I speak to the captain of your ship." the sailor blushed.
"You are talking to him." the man muttered embarrassedly. Claire smiled sadly as she rocked the baby gently.
"Very well than I don't suppose you are leaving to go back to Fuentes soon?"
"We leave in three days miss. Turn around time to switch cargo."
"How much would it cost to purchase passage across?"
"I tell you what miss. You promise to raise her like your own I will grant you free passage."
"I had planed on doing that anyways so I accept Captain. My five year old son will also accompany us."
"Fair enough miss. You come back in three days and we will be ready to go."
"Not a problem." Claire turned to go but stopped as she turned back to the Captain. "By the way Captain what is the name of your ship?" The man blushed as he said
"The Shana."
"Shana, that is a lovely name." Claire looked down at the child in her arms "Well Shana lets go back to the inn so you can meet your brother, hmm."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Authors notes: And so it begins. This chapter just established what changed early on in Dart's life. The next chapter will begin at the beginning of LOD but of course there will be some changes through out. I only hope that I am original in some of my ideas. Feel free to review or if you want complain, gripe and moan about what I am doing to the dragoons. Thank you and good night.