FINAL FANTASY
II
NEW SOULS BORN

BY
TWILIGHT R. CRYSTALBLADE

ULTIMA AND THE BLACK DRAGONS
CHAPTER
I

Cycloneth soared to the landing platform atop Deist Castle. Her rider and his companions jumped down off the Great Queen Wyvern one by one, starting with the rider, the man, and then the man's wife. Dragoon Kain Highwind of Deist looked to the neutral-gray eyes of the wyvern in which was his birthright with green-brown eyes full of fear and worry. His long, honey-gold hair was loosely tied back away from his tan face past his pierced ears. He was clad all in the lightning-black, dragon armor of the great and proud Dragoons, shield on one arm and a simple lance in the other.

Firion Lightna removed the rider helm, revealing his ever-pale, ivory skin; deep, sapphire eyes, and silvery beard and hair tied back in the same fashion as Kain's. Unlike Kain, he was clad in the white armor of a Paladin, his sword, Excalibur, sheathed while he wore his Diamond Shield over his left arm. He took a moment, after his wife was safely on the ground, to straighten his blue and red bandanna. It pretty much the only thing he had left of his birth parents since everything else had been lost in a fire. His parents had died of illness when he was still a toddler, so his parents' friends took him in and raised him themselves. It was a decade-in-a-half later in which he lost everything that had once belonged to his birth parents.

Maria Lightna, Firion's wife, was paler then usual, almost ghostly compared to her heavenly ivory. Her sky-blue eyes were lightly glazed with sickening agony. She would soon wretch at any given time, but the raven-hair woman would not do so until she was in a bathroom. She was dressed as a white wizard with a white gown, only with puffy sleeves and detatchable, white gloves. Over the top half of her dress was a sugary blouse with a black choker around her neck, a heart-shaped crystal hanging from it and she wore simple, white boots. She was handed her quiver of Holy Arrows in which she slung over her shoulders and took hold of her Elfin Bow.

"You're ill, maybe we should simply go in and rest before you see Elaine," Firion suggested.

"A wise purposal," Kain agreed. "It would do no good if my mother was tended by an ailing white wizard."

"Just give me a glass of water; I'll be fine," Maria told them. "I had all but forgotten what it was like to ride a wyvern."

Firion chuckled and took his lovely wife in his arms and kissed her ever-so sweetly on the soft, full, lush lips that tasted of melons. Kain and Cycloneth had decency enough to avert their gaze. The wyvern queen unfolded her mighty wings and soared high to join the other wyverns, trying to catch the attentions of the male wyverns and half-dragons, all of whom she had mothered to keep her great race alive after she became the last. When Firion pulled away, Maria's cheeks were turning a burning red. Firion raised a brow, a grin spreading across his ruggedly-handsome face.

"Now I thought you had been over your giggly embarassment long ago," the Paladin chuckled.

"No...Firion..." Maria murmured. Her breathing deepened.

"Maria, are you alright?" Firion asked. He felt his wife's burning forehead, hand slipping under the bangs. "Kain, fetch some water. Maria is about to collapse." He took the quiver and bow from the White Wizard while Kain rushed off to get water. Firion grabbed Maria's arms and eased her gently to the ground where she lay for several moments until the dragoon and two maids came out to help care for the white wizard. Maria downed several cups of water offered to her and chewed on some ginger root.

As soon as Maria's stomach settled, Firion was able to carry her to a set of private guest chambers. They were decorated with beautiful paintings of flowers and jewelry. The main room broke off into two separate rooms: a bathing chambers and a bedroom. The paladin carried his white wizard wife into the bathing chamber. They freshened, Maria taking the extra time she needed to settle herself. Firion took their bags and unpacked. There were three days' worth of garments and sleeping gowns packed away for the stay. Maria walked in while Firion was setting their clothes in a dresser.

"It's so nice to get away from it all," she declared.

"You do remember we're only staying three days," Firion pointed out.

"I know...but think hard on this my darling..." Maria removed her slippers from her little feet and put them in a closet. "How often are we away from the courts? How often do we spend any time together? We got married and honeymoon and I spend nine months with a child in the womb. Then we have a night all to ourselves and then we had the twin terrors and then, between our children, the courts, and missions...we never have time for each other anymore. I feel that our work is pulling us apart."

"Maria, our love will always stay strong," Firion assured her, kissing her softly.

Maria's eyes slowly slid shut, melting into the kiss. Their lips were made for one another, fitting perfectly. His rough, dry, pale ones against her lush, sweet, bright ones. They still carried the taste of her melon lip paint that added that extra shine and gloss. Firion slid his tongue between his lips, lapping at the gloss. They embraced, her curves against his slim yet muscular figure, hands caressing and tongues dancing sweetly. Then, ever so gently did the paladin romantically dip the White Wizard. She stretched her arms out and he bent down to kiss her neck when...

There was a knock at the door and they pulled apart. Maria, because of the suddenness, was clumsy and fell to the floor. She quickly got to her feet and brushed herself off. The couple entered the main room, Kain already entering. His helm had been removed and in the crook of his left arm, spear in his right. He stared at them, his eyes stern. Maria's face was red with crimson, averting the sky-blue orbs toward a tapestry of a knight raising Excalibur to the three Black Dragoons and their Black Wyverns. It was a famous story, and Maria often thought that Firion resembled the knight in the perfectly designed and colored cloth-picture.

"My mother needs Miss Maria," Kain reported.

"Then I must change to something most proper befitting a white wizard of high standard," Maria said, returning to the bedroom.

Firion sighed.

"Is something wrong, Lord Firion?" the dragoon asked.

"Will there be any chance of Maria and I having a night to ourselves?" the paladin inquired in response.

"You do look worn out," Kain murmured. "You should rest tonight. With any luck, my mother will be well by tomorrow."

"Kain, how often has your mother been sick for?" Firion questioned, taking out a notepad and taking notes.

"It's been on and off for the past year," Kain answered. "She said she'll get better, but I have yet to see it. But this time is worse then the other times. That's why I asked Lady Maria for her help in healing my mother."

"How often in the past five years has she been ill?"

"Once a month, particularly a week before her Moon Bloods."

"Has she complained of cramping for long periods of time in more then one location?"

"Yes."

"During her Moon Blood, has she bled in other areas?"

"Her eyes did bleed once."

"Has she lost her sight on more the one occasion?"

"Y-yes..."

"Kain, I don't think even Maria can help Madam Elaine," Firion simply stated.

"She has to!" Kain exclaimed.

"Kain, your mother's illness is almost constant," Maria said. "When it's without a doubt someone will die, a white wizard cannot prevent it. Our job is to ease the pain and suffering of the one dying. I wish I could say I can save her life, but I cannot."

She had come out in fresh robes, clad in all-white except her silver bodice with white puff sleeves. She was her white skirt to just above her knees, boots just below them with white stockings and gloves. She wore her heart choker still and her tiara crown her long locks of ebony hair. Her step was light as she came to stand beside her husband. Her sky-blue eyes filled with sorrow. She brushed a loose lock behind her ear, heart drop earrings adorning each. She twiddled with the crystal heart dangling from her choker. Kain broke down, sobbing. Firion came and took his spear and helm and set them aside. He nodded for Maria to attend Elaine. The white wizard nodded in response and lightly made her way past the weeping dragoon, but stopped a moment.

"Remember, she lived for you," she told Kain, as if she were reminding him. "She lived to raise and train you in the art of the dragoons, lived to assure herself you would be able to stand and fly on your own someday. She wanted to know you would be able to carry on when she passed away. She will soon rejoin your father and the other proud dragoons and their mighty wyverns. Together, they will fly the skies of Asgard and dine in the Halls of Vahalla. She loves you and will always be with you."

And she was gone.

Kain and Firion stood on the castle wall that night, the wyverns all drawn in to rest for the night. The two men were looking out toward the north, toward the mountains where the wyvern eggs were hidden away. The moon was high in the sky and round and pale, illuminating the woods and the castle and outlining the mountains. The night was peaceful and calming, the owls singing the night away. All was well until all was silent. Everyone on duty suddenly tensed, their wyverns and half-dragons awaking from their slumbers. Hands reached for sword and spear, hands clutching the shield belts tightly.

Shadows big as dragons were outlined in distance. A screech echoed in the distance, sending a chill down everyones' spines. Firion's grip on Excalibur grew tight in his right hand, the Diamond Shield in his left. Kain prepared himself for battle as placed his dragon helm back upon his head. The other dragoons did the same, putting on the dragon helms and gathering their spears and shields. They were quite obviously not expecting whatever was soaring their way. But the shadowed outlines became clear as Black Dragons soared their way.

"Cycloneth!" Kain called out. His wyvern had already arrived.

"Allow me to accompany you," Firion said. "Dragoons and Paladins have long been friends in combat, honoring the old code. Let my sword accompany your spear."

"Thank you," Kain's deep voice said.

Both men jumped onto Cycloneth's already saddled neck and the golden wyvern soared to the three black dragons. They were all mounted by three, black-clad riders. They each carried a shield on their right arms and black spears in their left hands. Their eyes gleamed blood-red under their black dragon helms, the leader wearing a long and billowing cloak hemmed in dry blood. Their hair seemed blacker then Maria's own ebony locks, and the flesh pale and sickly. They all halted before each other, hovering and glaring darkly.

"Who are you?" Firion asked, having a sickening feeling that he already knew the answer.

"You shame us, Lumiron!" the leader shouted angrily. "You slayed us by you hand with that sword! How dare you forget us!"

"Lumiron? He was my father," Firion pointed out. "And he has been dead many years."

The black dragoons all laughed bitterly.

"Then you shall die for what your beloved father hath done to us!" a cruel, female voice to the left cackled.

"We are the Black Rider Siblings," the leader introduced. "I am Vishuss, the eldest of us. I lead our small wing and I despise thy moon and thee sun!"

"I am Orga, destroyer of the forests who hates all things living. I am the second oldest and the right-hand man."

"And I am Maya, the youngest and cruelest with lust for blood and the only woman among us."

Firion felt sick. This could not be. How could his late father have murdered these three 500 years ago and have still lived?

"Well, son of Lumiron, you shall feel our wrath and each of our spears, one by one, impaled into your chest," Vishuss laughed.

"And we shall rip them our and lick your blood off," Maya giggled.

"Only to have us impale you again and again and again!" Orga shouted.

"You'll have to face the Dragoons of Deist first, you beasts!" Kain roared.

"Good luck facing your wyverns against our mighty Black Dragons!" Vishuss laughed.

They turned and soared away.

Notes

The Black Dragoons: Three siblings you learn about in the Arcane Labyrinth.

Moon Blood: The "monthlies" were referred to this in older times. Since a month is determined my the lunar cycle and then monthlies only occured for one week during a month, the monthly was referred to Moon Bloods.