Chapter 5: The Knight, the Dragon Emperor and the Cowardly Golem Prince

The party were walking down the same prairie with Lili.

"So…" Lili began as she folded her arms. "I was sent here mysterious with my memories intact in the middle of a war in this country and now you're going to the Kingdom of Basil to see this King Albert about this 'Black Monster' that destroyed Dart's village of Neet and killed his parents? Ask me again why Dart wants to kill this Black Monster?"

"The Black Monster is gonna pay for killing my parents and destroying my village…" Dart tighten his fists angrily. "I'll find him no matter what. I don't care how strong he is, he's going down…"

Suddenly, Dart and the gang noticed a family discussing what to do. Lavitz walked up to them and asked "You look like civilians. What is the matter?" He asked in concern.

The father glared at Lavitz and shouted angrily "What do you mean "What's the matter?!" It's your knights' fault!" "Hold on. I am a Knight of Basil. We should be allies." Lavitz reasoned. "I'm your enemy! We escaped from Sandora!" The father growled at him.

"You're from Sandora?!" Zoey gasped in shock. "Honey! Don't say that or we're gonna get arrested!" The father's wife begged. "B-But these knights destroyed our lives…" The father stammered.

The mother walked up to the party and gave a sad smile. She said "We couldn't stand living in Kazas and ran away from there. Please excuse us."

Lavitz gave a assuring smile and told them "You don't need to excuse yourself. King Albert always lends a helping hand to sufferers, even those from an enemy country." "What?" The father gasped in shock.

Lavitz walked up to the son, lends down and asked him "So, are you hungry?" 'Y-Yes…" The son nodded hungrily. Lavitz searched through his backpack and found a apple. He gave it to the child. "Then have this." He smiled at the son.

"Th-Thank you." The son smiled softly as he ate the apple. "You…." The father was amazed by Lavitz's kindness. Lavitz pointed to the path that leads to Bale. "If you go through, you'll find Bale. You can go there if you like." Lavitz stated.

"B-But we don't know anybody." The father stammered again. Lavitz smiled at the father and said "Why don't you go to my house. It's too big for my mother and myself anyway." Lavitz told them.

"You are?" The father asked, feeling glad that this knight is helping them out. Lavitz grinned as he saluted and said "My name is Lavitz Slambert. I am a knight in the service of King Albert." "Th-Thank you very much!" The mother bowed gratefully. "How kind of you, Sir Lavitz!" The father smiled as he shook Lavitz's hand.

"A true knight…" Asbel smiled as a tiny bit of his memory returned. He wanted to be a knight to protect those dear to him and seeing Lavitz acting kindly towards those of a enemy country has made a bit of his memory come back.

The party were almost near the cavern called the Limestone Cave. Suddenly, they noticed someone. He was maybe 19 years old, has blond short hair, and wore silver knight armor with blue stripes on the center and he has a strange looking sword.

"Wait! Stop! Don't go into this cave. There are rumors of a giant guardian that prevents travelers into the kingdom called Bale." The man warned. "And who might you be?" Dart asked, folding his arms.

The man smiled and said "I am Flynn Scifo, a knight." "Of what country?" Lavitz asked. Flynn hesitated, then he looked down, sighed sadly and replied "I don't remember… I remember waking up near this cave and after hearing the dangers about the cave, I tried to warn passing travelers about it, but they entered it anyway, never heard from again…"

Zoey, Lloyd and Asbel gasped in shock. "Are you like us? Brought to this strange place and lost your memories as well?!" Zoey asked Flynn. "You too? I guess I'm not the only one who has no recollection of where I'm from…" Flynn stated, now knowing he is not alone in this strange world.

"Well, how about you come with us to Bale? Maybe Minister Noish can shed some light on where you're from." Lavitz offered. "If that is the only way to get my memories back, then I accept your offer." Flynn smiled. With their new friend, the party entered the Limestone Cave.

The party was at the entrance, which has a coast like theme to it, but it was mostly cave style. They entered the second area of the cave. They noticed water in curves and turns like a waterside.

Dart noticed a sword stuck in the ground, somebody must have left it there before they died. "Hold on." Dart stopped his companions. The party watched Dart looking at the water. Dart smiled as he got on it and slides down to where the sword is.

"Dart? What are you doing?" Flynn called from above. Dart pulled the sword from the ground and inspected it. It was a bastard sword, and it still looks new. He figured its original owner died two days ago. Dart discards his broadsword and sheathed the bastard sword. He slides down a path in the water and was at the bottom of the second area. The party managed to catch up to him.

"I see, you went to pick up that sword. How is it by the way?" Lavitz asked Dart as he looked at Dart's new sword. "Still pretty new…. The past owner of that sword must have left it there two days ago before he died. Let's move on." Dart stated. The party continued.

The party arrived in the third area where there are stepping stones in the water. "Stepping stones…" Dart stated. He turned to Shana and told her "Shana, be careful not to slip." Shana nodded.

The party jumped on the stepping stones and made it to the other side, Lavitz was about to be last till he lost his footing and held to the last stone for life.

"Lavitz!" The party gasped as Dart got to the stone and grabbed Lavtiz's arms. "Dart! Lavitz!" Zoey and Shana shouted in worry. Dart gritted his teeth as he managed to pull Lavitz up and both of them got to their friends on the other side.

Lavitz panted, Dart panted as well. Lavitz catches his breath and smiled at Dart and told him "This is the second time you saved my life." Dart panted but smiled and replied "I was just around." Dart managed to catch his breath as he sat down on a pillar.

"Even though that was the case, I was lucky you were around, Dart." Lavitz walked up to Dart with a smile. "It'll be a long relationship we will have." Lavitz grinned. Dart stood up and grinned back at him. "Yup. That's right."

Dart and Lavitz patted each other on the shoulder to show they are now best buds. Dart and Lavitz walked into the fourth area. "Hey! Don't leave us here!" Alice fumed as the party followed them.

Dart and his companions were in a area that has a foggy abyss that one slip can end your life. "Dart, wasn't it?" Flynn asked the red swordsman. "Yes, Flynn? What's up?" Dart asked him.

"What you did was amazing, but reckless. Both of you could have gotten killed." Flynn stated sternly. "Hehe… Sorry about that." Dart rubbed the back of his head nervously and smiled nervously.

"But it was still brave, never the less. Dart… You remind me of someone I know. I don't know his name, but you were a bit like him." Flynn smiled. "Well, I hope your memories come back soon. I want to know more about your friend who I reminded you of." Dart smiled.

"Thanks. I'm sure we'll get along fine." Flynn smiled back. Maron noticed some glowing type of fireflies. "Huh? What are those?" Maron pointed to the flies. The party walked up to them. Dart inspected them and after 60 seconds, he simply said "They are called Rock Fireflies."

"Those are fireflies?" Lili inspected one in awe. "They're nothing like the ones found in my world…" She watched the Rock Firefly fly back to its companions. Shana looked at Dart in surprise. "Oh, you know a lot." She stated in surprise.

Dart turned to his companions with a smile and said "I used to be saved by these a lot." "Me too. In particular, the ones close to a battlefield were helpful." Lavitz nodded

"Well don't leave us out! What do they do?" Lloyd asked, wanting to know what these bugs can do. Dart grinned as he touched one of the Rock Fireflies, they responded by flying above the party and used the bulbs in their bodies to make a soothing light that fell on the party.

Asbel noticed his wounds from his battle with Fruegel are gone. "H-Hey… My wounds from that battle in Hellena… They're healed!"

"Oh boy!" Shana claps her hands excitedly. "I get it! The Rock Fireflies are like healing magic!" Lloyd figured it out. Dart nodded. "The light from a Rock Firefly has a healing power." Lavitz explained.

"Well, Shana and the others learned at least one thing." Dart chuckled. Shana smirked and stated playfully "Well, well… I know something you don't know too, Dart."

"Huh?! What is it?" Dart blinked. "It's an S.E.C.R.E.T!" Shana winked. Dart sighed. Lavitz laughed a little then said "Well, you have been away from each other for five years. It's natural to not know the other's secret."

Dart nodded with a smile. Jean sighed. 'I wanted to learn your secret, Shana…' He thought sadly. "Wait, my mom and I aren't like that. Every time I go back to Bale, she welcomes me with the same smile." Lavitz stated. Most of the party members stared at Lavitz oddly.

"Wh-What? Did I say something wrong?" Lavitz smiled nervously and sweat dropped. The male members of the party laughed a bit. "Let's get going. Your mother is waiting for you in Bale, right?" Dart smiled. "Yeah!" Lavitz nodded with a smile. The party pressed on.

The party walked into the fifth area, suddenly, Dart stopped and got his hand on his sword. "What's up?" Alice asked him. They then saw a 18 year old man with white hair, wore some sort of white samurai style suit with a katana sheathed and a brown golem with a axe on his back and has a gold crown on his head.

"M-Mister Fang, there are some people here!" The golem stammered as he hid behind the one called Fang. "Do you think I didn't see that?!" Fang growled at him.

Dart and the gang walked up to Fang and his companion. "What's a human doing with a monster?" Flynn asked, gripping his sword.

"M-Monster? Me? Oh goodness, no. I'm a friendly golem prince named Hector." The golem known as Hector stammered. "I have never heard of a friendly golem prince…" Lavitz folded his arms, his eyebrows arched in awe and humor.

"So, who are you?" Asbel asked them. "Me? Afraid, huh? The name's Fang, the Dragon Emperor." Fang smirked darkly. "A Dragon Emperor? Do Dragons have emperors?" Shana cocked her head in confusion.

"Not that I heard of…" Dart told her. Fang eyed Dart. 'This human… He has a odd power coming out of him… I want to test his power.' Without warning, Fang got out his katana and pointed it at Dart.

"M-Mister Fang?! What are you doing?" Hector panicked. "You, human… Fight me! I doubt you will win though." Fang grinned, showing his fangs. "If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!" Dart unsheathed his sword and got ready for battle.

Dragon Emperor: Fang

"Heat Blade!" Fang's katana was blazing as he lashed at Dart, Dart dodged it and he watched in utter shock as the attack hit a pillar, incinerating it.

'He's good… He's no ordinary human. And he calls himself a Dragon Emperor… What does he mean by that?' Dart glared at Fang and rushed at him and shouted "Volcano!" Dart slashed Fang three times with his sword.

"Damn!" Fang spat angrily as he held his wound on his chest, it was bleeding a little. "Damn upstart punk… Take this!" Fang got up in front of Dart and slashed him.

"Crap!" Dart growled as he slashed Fang two times. "Why you little!" Fang gritted his teeth angrily as he tried to slash Dart, but Dart blocked his sword with his sword.

It was a power struggle that didn't last for awhile, Dart ended this contest by pushing Fang's blade away and slashed Fang three times with his sword.

Fang growled as he held his arm, it recovered quickly as he and Dart clashed swords again.

Dart and Fang were at a stand off glaring at the other. Fang was about to slash Dart, but Dart shouted "Double Slash!" Dart rushed in and slashed Fang two times before he kicked him… in the crotch.

"Awwwwwww shiiiiitttttttt!" Fang held his special sport and kneeled down in pain. Dart smiled. "Way to go Dart!" Shana cheered.

"Yeah! You kicked him right where it hurts!" Lloyd grinned as he gave Dart a thumbs up. "D-Damn it! If only I have my true powers, I would have crushed you in a instant!" Fang growled angrily at Dart.

"Excuse me?" Dart asked him, raising an eyebrow. "It's that damn Goddess Clumea's thought! She's the reason I'm like this!" Fang spat. "Hmm…" Flynn puts his hand on his chin in thought. "Tell us more."

And so, Fang and Hector told our heroes about the goddess of their world and why Fang is a half-human, half-dragon because of the same goddess.

"So Hector ran away from his homeland because he doesn't want to marry the females of his clan and wished to be a child again so he can regain his courage and Fang on the other hand…" Lavitz began.

"…is hell-bent on revenge." Dart frowned. "You got that right. That little wretch is gonna pay for this… But for some strange reason, she is here in this strange world… I can feel it…" Fang looked away, probably he doesn't want to make eye contact with everyone.

"Well how about this? How about you come with us to Bale, maybe Minister Noish can shed some light on all of our strangely dressed friends appearing in the Continent of Endiness." Lavitz offered. In his thoughts… 'Could their appearance and why some of them have lost their memories be related to the Legend of the Shooting Stars?'

"Mr. Fang, it would be rude to turn down their offer. Plus they seem nice." Hector said a little bit of cheerful and cowardliness. "Fine, whatever…" Fang sighed as he stood up and glared at the party. "But know this! You're joining me! If any of you start slowing me down, I'm not gonna wait for any of you to catch up."

"No one gets left behind, that is what my dad always say…. You can't leave people who need help or are traveling with us." Dart frowned at Fang's arrogantness. "Whatever…" Fang said sarcastically.

"Besides, we need to find out more about ourselves and the Black Monster…" Asbel stated. That caught Fang's interest. "Black Monster…?" Fang raised an eyebrow. "The Black Monster is the one who killed Dart's parents and destroyed his hometown 18 years ago…" Maron told him.

"O-O-Oh dear! A Black Monster? What does he look like?!" Hector gulped. "No one knows… All I know is I'm gonna kill him for what he has done…" Dart gritted his teeth angrily as he walked into the next area.

"The Black Monster, huh… He could be the strongest guy I'm looking for." Fang smirked as the party with their newest members went into the next area.

After walking into the next area

"Look! I can see the way out of this cave!" Zoey exclaimed happily as the party were half-way through this cave. Suddenly, Dart, Alice and Fang tensed as they got out their weapons.

"Something's here…" Dart said dangerously. "It might be the guardian I told you about…" Flynn frowned as he too got out his sword, Zoey transformed while the rest got ready for battle.

Suddenly, a giant snake popped out of nowhere and hissed at the party. Zoey screamed at the top of her lungs. "Snakes! I hate snakes!" Zoey panicked.

"Zoey, calm down. If you lose your head, it's over." Dart calmed her down. "M-Mister Dart! That thing is huge!" Hector whimpered as he shakily holds his axe. "Well, looks like a challenge!" Fang boasted as he unsheathed his katana. "Alright, snakey. Let us have it!" The giant snake monster known as Urobolus charged at the party.

Guardian of the Cave: Urobolus

Urobolus spat out venom which the party dodged and they watched as the venom ruined a rocky piece. "Everyone! Stay away from the venom or you'll be poisoned!" Flynn shouted as his sword charged with energy. "He yelled "Demon Fang!" Flynn lashed his sword at Urobolus, hitting it for medium damage.

"So I'm not the only one who knows Demon Fang…" Lloyd said out loud in awe as he snapped back to the battle and shouted "Demon Fang!" He launched his own Demon Fang at Urobolus and it hit him for medium damage.

Urobolus lashed its tail at Hector who panicked at first, but blocked it with his axe, it was a power struggle for about 50 seconds till Hector pushed it off him and swipe it with his axe.

"Mr. Hector! Here! Let me help you!" Maron deatached her claws and they went through Urobolus, giving it some big hefty amounts of damage. Asbel charged at the monster, but it whacked him away with its tail and smack Asbel into a pillar.

"D-Damn it…" Asbel gritted his teeth and picked himself up and charged at Urobolus and slashed it three times with his katana. "Spinning Cane!" Lavitz charged at Urobolus and jabbed it three times with his spear.

Shana fired arrows at Urobolus, giving it medium damage, growling, Urobolus swiped Lavitz away, he landed near his friends. Urobolus went into a hole and was above the party, sticking his head out.

"Damn! Our swords can't reach him!" Dart growled. "Heh! Watch this. Heat Blade!" Fang launched his attack at Urobolus, giving it some big damage. 'Wait… I got it!' Dart has an idea. He got out a fire rock, 3 of them actually and flung them at Urobolus, they exploded and grow into a powerful flame pillar which Dart was chanting an incantation which increases its power. The flame pillar finished and gave Urobolus large amounts of damage.

Shana fired more arrows at Urobolus which gave it some more damage. Hissing, Urobolus slithered back to the ground and tried to bite Jean. Jean panicked but Zoey quickly shouted "Rose Bell, Full Power!" Zoey launched her attack which gave Urobolus a insane amount of damage.

"Dart! Now!" Zoey shouted out to him. Dart nodded and with a battle cry, he leaped into the air and slashed Urobolus in the head, Urobolus hissed weakly before he fell to the ground, supposedly dead.

"Is that it? Man, what a weakling…" Fang frowned as he sheathed his sword. "Now travelers can safely travel through this cave to Bale." Flynn smiled as he sheathed his sword as well. "Right. Let us make posthaste to Indeis Castle where His Majesty, King Albert awaits." Lavitz nodded. Dart turned to Shana.

"Shana, let's go." He smiled at her. "Right…" Shana nodded. Almost all the party were leaving but Shana was about to leave last, but Urobolus rose up from the ground and hissed at Shana and lunged at her.

"That thing's still alive?!" Jean's eyes turned white dotted at the sight of Urobolus. "Shannnaaaaaaaa!" Dart screamed as he rushed towards her. Just as Shana was about to see her end, something strange happened.

A mysterious white aura emitted from Shana which stopped Urobolus in its tracks. Urobolus hissed in agony as it began to desintigated, its body gone from the world. "W-Wh-What the hell was that…?" Asbel's eyes widen in shock.

"Wh-What was…?" Shana stammered as she stared at her hands. Fang was silent as he saw Shana do that.

To be continued…

Next episode:

Dart: We finally made it to Bale with new friends, one of which attacked us under a spell. Then we learned about the Dragon Campaign and the Legend of the Shooting Stars… But war has started with the Dragon advancing at a alarming rate… I can't let things stay the way it is now… I made up my mind… Next time on The Legend of Dragoon: Awakened Heroes: Legends and Decisions. See you there.

A/N: Sorry, it took me awhile to finish this chapter, I got a lot of things like Yom Kidpur coming up next week and I have to spend the weekend with my family with my sister, brother-in-law and nephews coming to visit, so yeah, I won't be active sometimes. Anyway, see you next time!