Chapter 1 – A Lockdown Encounter
The war was older than anyone could remember, as old as the races themselves that fought the ongoing battle to capture territories and claim them as their own. Leone of the House of Lions had fought in many such battles and was a seasoned, proven warrior highly regarded by all. He was very tall and favored Vog Cub armor for his battles. A swordsman’s cap added a bit of a dashing look to his appearance. He was equally parts kidded and admired for his stylish appearance. His success as a Knight earned him a considerable sum of crowns, which he spent and invested wisely. Consequently, he was able to buy weapons and gear of the highest and rarest quality. The weapon-smiths employed a form of magic that enabled them to increase a weapon’s speed and effectiveness. Thus, Leone was able to buy some of the finest weapons in the kingdom. His personal favorite was his Glacius sword.
Lately Leone’s feelings about the war had changed, however. His passion for slaying Red Dragons had waned and been replaced by feelings of, what? empathy? understanding? admiration even? As Leone led his squadron into the mountainside forest, his thoughts and feelings struggled within him. He often chose to serve as party Guardian and healer these days rather as one of its main Strikers. But there was no time for that now, he thought, and firmly shoved those doubts away. It was nearing dusk and the forest was full of shadows. A day prior the Dragons had locked down this territory; Leone was charged with claiming it back.
There, in that enclave just ahead, he could see the flag of the House of Dragons planted in the center of the territory. His scout has reported a party of five dragons defending it. It would be an even fight then. Leone signal to his three strikers to take up attack positions. Just then he felt a ping on his radar. They’d been spotted by the Dragon scout. No time to organize; they had to strike while they still enjoyed some element of surprise.
His three strikers launched themselves almost simultaneously. Their familiarity with one another allowed them to work in coordination as a unit even with minimal communication. The Dragons responded quickly, but the Lions pressed their advantage mercilessly. One Dragon was already down and another was heavily damaged, but with Leone holding back from the fray, it was four against four. One Dragon, a bit shorter than the others, wheeled quickly left and right, weaving a fiery trail figure-8 from the fiery crown she wore on her head. Leone watched mesmerized by her skill until he noticed two of his Lions were down. He moved around trying to flank her. He swung at her with his Glacius, testing her more than actually trying to hurt her. She flicked his blade aside before delivering a critical hit, Ding!, against the last Lion standing, just as she was the last of the Dragons.
She spun quickly on him, and with a hissss and flick of her tail, made several rapid burning strokes at him with her powerful Combuster. He parried and retreated a step before pressing forward again. They both had swords of great power with skill to match, and the fiery and icy natures of their weapons were having a nullifying effect on one another. They broke off their dual and eyed one another from a safe distance.
Leone used the respite to look over his enemy. Her halo, armor and skill marked her as more than an ordinary Dragon. Could she be the Dragon Princess herself? If so, it was something of an honor to meet her in combat.
“Pardon milady, but might you be the Princess of the Dragons?”
“Yes, I am Mawashimono, the Dragon Princess, and I’ll be the last Dragon you ever see!” She switched weapons, leveled an Argent Peacemaker at him, and rapidly fired off several shots. Leone felt a bullet singe his ear as he dropped and rolled, coming up with his Polaris, which he fired back. His quick reaction time caught her by surprise as she barely raised her fiery dragon scale shield in time to block the shots. Still, the force of the impact of the charges drove her backwards several meters.
She realized that he was just too powerful for her to take down by herself, especially in his heavily fortified Vog Cub armor. With a burst of magic crystal energy, she transformed into her Radiant Silvermail battle armor, and equipped her head with a Heaven Iron Helm. Once again she fired off several shot from her Peacemaker, but only to give herself time to close on him with her sword.
Her plan nearly worked, not so much for the speed with which she conducted it, but rather for her glorious transformation. Her fiery crown had been replaced by an iron one of her own personal color, and the setting sun glinting through the trees and reflecting off her shiny golden armor was nearly breathtaking in its beauty. She rushed him but could not quite get past his cold steel Glacius. He changed to his Snarbolax Coat to counter her magical metamorphis.
Her forward momentum carried her into him and they collided solidly. The Dragon Princess let out a small, high-pitched grunt at the impact. It was then she realized how very tall he truly was. She looked up and felt a vertigo threatening to overwhelm her. Never had she seen such soulful, glowing eyes. Pressed up against him she could smell his beastly muskiness. Her nostrils flared and she snapped her teeth at him. He leaned back but held her fast, and a smile touched his lips.
“We seem to be at an impasse,” he chuckled.
“Unhand me, milord, and I’ll break it!” she glared. Slowly he released his grip on her but he did not raise his sword even as she raised hers. He had left himself open, and she could have struck him down had she so desired. But strangely, it was not his death she desired, but rather the warrior himself. What strange new magic was this?
Leone slowly slid his hand into his coat pocket. Mawashimono tensed, not knowing what this mysteriously handsome Lion might do next. His hand emerged from his pocket bearing a solitary fancy flower.
“For you, milady. Something to remember me by until we meet again.” The Dragon Princess twitched her wings but could not quite bring herself to extend a long-nailed hand to receive it. Since they were still quite close, Leone gently reached across and attached the flower to her helm. As he withdrew his hand, he lightly caressed her cheek. Mawashimono involuntarily closed her eyes and rubbed her jaw against his retreating hand. When she finally opened them again, Leone had departed, leaving only a dark vapory trail and a promise of future intriguing entwinement.
“My, Leone, you’ve been quite the busy Clockworks delver lately. Saving up money for another costume?“ his friend, The Bard ribbed him.
“Yep. Got a real nice one planned!” Leone smiled.
“You always do,” The Bard responded with a smirk.
The truth was he’d been making numerous forays into Clockworks in hopes of the slimmest chance of meeting up with “her”. Although the various clans and guilds fought for territory on the surface of the planet, underneath was quite a different story. In the Clockworks, knights regardless of clan fought side by side against the monsters below for the mutual benefit of gaining crystals, minerals, and other valuable treasures that lie below. By joining various random party groups, Leone was hoping he might luck into one with Mawashimono. The odds against made it a fool’s quest, but perhaps his . . . (love?) feelings for her had turned him into one.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mawashimono had lost her desire for glory in locking down control points for territory. Her heart was conflicted and troubled, and thus she made for rather poor company these days. Consequently, she spent most of her time soloing the Clockworks depths, at least trying to make herself useful until she could regain some peace in her spirit.
She had elected to enter a danger room. It cost some energy to do so and was risky to do alone, but the potential payoff made it worthwhile. She could see by the set up what lay in store for her. Devilites, rats! Shock, double rats! Perhaps this had been a rash mistake. She could still leave the room, but then that energy she spent to get in would go to waste. Oh, well, as it is said “Fools rush in . . .”
She was taking some damage but managing alright, Blast those reavers!
“Back you foul fiends! Get . . . a . . . way . . . from me.” Each word accompanied by a sword swing. Second wave done, just one more to go. Two Trojans appeared, one just out of view. She was maneuvering one into position and never saw the club coming as the second Trojan hit her. Wham! She tried to stagger away, but it was like walking through hip-high mud. Not enough room to maneuver, blast it. Wham! The first Trojan had hit her as well. As stars swam before her eyes, she could feel her life force slipping away. The last thing she saw was a vision of Leone, whose image had played over and over in her mind so often these past few weeks. She regretted not having a chance to say goodbye to him.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Leone joined yet another PUG party with very little hope in his heart of finding her, but he would not give up, he knew that now, knew that at some point he had turned a corner in his hearts and could never go back, nor was it his desire to. As he appeared in the Clockworks he was immediately greeted by a cacophony of noise. Two Trojans were snorting in delight while devilites danced around with arms upraised. In the middle of this was a bent over figure, staggering or falling, he could not tell. Leone switched out his Final Flourish and quickly dispensed a Trojan with its back turned toward him. The second became aware of this new threat and move powerfully toward him. Leone let it begin its attack, side stepped and whirled before slash-slash-slashing its vulnerable back jewel. The Devilites howled in anger at the intrusion of this new foe, and begin hurling their shock balls in his direction. Leone patiently shielded while advancing, and with the same sword that had done in the Trojans, methodically whittled down their numbers until he had skewered the last of them.
He was now able to see to the fallen fighter who had been so near to death. He sucked in his breath sharply at the sight of his beloved Dragon Princess. She had been beaten and bloodied, and hovered within lethal limits of her health expiring. Gently he raised her up.
Her breathing was very shallow. “Leone?” she whispered. “Is it . . . really you?”
“Shhh, quiet now. Yes, it’s me. And my heart is filled with sadness to find you so hurt, yet joyful that I am able to be with you again.”
“You found me,” she gasped. “How?”
“I’ve been looking for you ever since that day,” he laughed softly, “the day my life was changed forever.”
“And mine too, Leone. I’ve been hoping we could become . . . friends.” She tried to smile then winced at the pain she still felt in her mouth.
Leone tried to return her small smile with one of his own and queried “Only friends, Princess? Could we never be more?”
She looked up into his eyes with moisture along the bottom of hers, from pain or some other emotion, he knew not which, and said, “I’d like that, Leone. But my father has already promised my hand in marriage to a man in another royal family. In fact, the wedding is just two months hence.”
Leone stood to his full height. “Who is this fellow? Perhaps I could have a word with him,” and he gripped his sword meaningfully.
“No, Leone, you can’t do . . .” She stopped mid sentence. That was not quite true. There was a moment in the wedding when anyone with any objection could speak up, and if so desired, even challenge the groom for the hand of the bride. She had heard stories of this happening, but not to anyone she ever knew nor in any wedding in her city. She looked into Leone’s glowing eyes trying to decide whether or not to share this information with him. Not that it would do any good, since the cultural laws of Dragons did not apply to Beasts of any kind, naturally.
“Well,” she said, “it’s true that another dragon could challenge the groom for my hand in marriage, but for a Lion such as yourself, it would not be possible. In fact, you’d be killed for trespassing as soon as you set foot inside the city gates. But, Leone, we could be friends and fight in the clockworks together as much as we wish.”
“Very well,” he smiled, “friends then.” For now, he thought to himself.