The Golden Era Chonicles-Age of the Dragoons Pt.1

[Aeric Ecrai]

This is the Chronicle of the passed age of the noble dragoon race, which held one of the greatest civilizations ever known.
Although, "passed" should not be applied to the entire race, for there are two survivors..
Link, son of General Zodack, swift with his twin solar blades, and Kari, who was once known as a NyghtWyng, only now to be known as a warmage of the Lyght.
This is their story, as well as the story of the Dragoon race and its cities, citizens, and events leading up to that fateful day remembered only by the two survivors..

[Aeric Ecrai]

"I thought I'd find you here."
The voice came from across the courtyard of the Fountain Gardens, a lovely spot in the Extraxi palace made up of large marble fountains that rushed with crystal clear water and trees that could grow as tall as four story buildings providing enough shade to cover almost the entire area. The statement was loud enough to catch the attention of the youth sitting on a marble bench by one of the fountains, but not loud enough to echo across the walls and alert whoever might be hiding.
The boy on the bench whipped his head toward the source of the voice, so startled that he almost fell off the bench and into the rushing fountain it faced.
"Kari? What are you doing in the Extraxi palace, and now of all times?" the boy demanded.
Kari, the source of the first comment, was a girl about the same age as the boy, but not as tall. She was dressed in dark colors that matched her dark hair, as was the style of NyghtWyng citizens.
"Try not to be so rude, Link, I was just paying a visit." She walked over and sat beside the fiery haired boy on the bench and gave him her nicest smile, but he just sighed.
"C'mon Link, you don't seem yourself today. What's wrong?"
Link looked over to her, suspicion crossing his face.
"You know as well as I do that the Shadows are rallying for another attack on the dragoons, my clan especially. It's too dangerous to come to the capital and see me, not to mention that I'm the prince."
Kari's look turned into disappointment, but she wasn't ready to give up yet.
"More the reason for me to come and see you! I mean, we haven't been together since last month's war council, and that was so breif. Aren't you glad to see me at all?"
Link moved his hand from the bench onto hers and half-smiled.
"Of course I'm glad to see you..but it's just so dangerous with the war escalating to this height. There have been at least five assassination attempts on my life in the past two weeks and-"
Suddenly, a soldier bearing the Extraxi coat of arms rushed into the courtyard.
"Prince Link! You're needed in the war chamber!"
The soldier failed to notice the girl holding hands with him, for she had casted a temporary invisibility spell.
"Why now, soldier? Has something come up?" Link seemed concerned.
Kari, you should probably see this. Stay invisible. He said through their mental link.
Sure thing.
"Yes, but something good! One of the Vanguards is here!" The soldier exclaimed, and Link's expression changed from that of concern to excitement. The Vanguards were legends, each branching from one of the four great races of the time. They all had their share of talents and idividaully represented an element of the world. Of course, he was also excited becuase he had never personally met one, and he wanted to know what they were like.
"I'll be right there, then!"
This is great! If a Vanguard is here, we must have a new strategy! He sent to Kari
That's great, but remember, you're the military prodigy, not me. She sent back, humor in her voice.
Link rushed out of the garden, Kari invisibly in tow.

[Aeric Ecrai]

Link stumbled into the large ornate room known as the war chamber. Maps and battle forms lined the walls, and suits of armor were displayed from ever era on stands near the doors. In the center was a large round table that held the map of the entire known world, complete with enemy and ally positions, camps, forts, ships, and other factors of war. The table was big enough to seat at least ten people, and a few others could stand and observe from behind the seated. However, there were only two people in the room at the moment: General Zodack and an Aeronian clad in silver armor. Link instantly recognized Zodack, for he was his father, but the stared in awe at the Aeronian, who gave off the image of power. The Aeronian's armor was trimmed with green polymerite, an incredibly strong metal that fused with the armor it came into contact with, giving it special abilities. The abilities varied in the colors of polymerite, which came in six: green, red, blue, black, gold, and purple. Polymerite was so rare, in fact, that it hadn't been mined for a whole era. Link moved his eyes away from the polymerite to the man's weapons, two thin, curved swords that were crossed on his belt in an x-like fashion. Two large, grey wings came out of the back of his armor, and were folded into a position comfortable to Aeronians for indoor areas. This man must be the Vanguard, Link deducted.
Zodack turned to Link and beckoned him over to the table.
"It's good you could come so quickly, Link. Let me introduce you to Centis, one of the Vanguards."
Centis turned around and simply stared at the boy in front of him. Link noticed he had a small emerald on his forehead, but the gem seemed to glow with a magic power.
"Well, it's good to meet the prince. The Vanguards are spread thin, so they could only spare me to come to your aid. Trust me, however, that there are far more dangerous things happening at the moment than the war threatening your race."
Link almost gasped in shock. He knew it was not meant as an insult, but seemingly passing off the end of the dragoons as unimportant struck him as one anyways. But knowing that the Vanguards were very powerful, he decided it would be foolish to throw an intended insult back.
Centis' vision seemed to refocus behind Link, towards the "empty" space where Kari invisibly stood.
"And who is that girl, might I inquire?"
Seeing the shocked look on Link's face, Centis chuckled.
"You didn't think a simple invisibility spell could be overlooked by a Vanguard, did you?" Turning to Zodack, he assured, "Don't worry, she means you no harm. Why, you probably even know her. She's TsuKariNiMae of the NyghtWyng faction which is, of course, one of your greatest allies."
Found out, Kari turned visible and leaned back against the wall. Darn it. How'd he see me? She sent to Link
He's a Vanguard, remember? He probably saw right through it with his..um...vanguard powers.
Link's eyes widened at this display of knowlegde, then he asked "How do you know all this? I thought the dragoons were extremely good at keeping secrets!"
Centis laughed again, and moved one hand to his sword in a thoughtful position.
"That doesn't actually matter at the moment, lad. We have a war to discuss."
"Of course! My apologies."
Zodack and Centis turned towards the war table, and Link and Kari moved over to get a better look.

* * *

A few hours later, after Centis had displayed an amazing tactical edge over the enemy, and Zodack had given Kari and Link a lecture about sneaking visits to the castle, Link had retired to his ironically small room in the higher wing of the palace. Kari had been sent back to the NyghtWyng capital, and Centis was still discussing the battle plans with Zodack.
Link moved over to one of the dressers by his bed and took out his manual of fighting style, a book almost every member of the guard and elites had. It layed out the basics of every fighting form known to man and the rest known to dragoon. It even labeled a few known by Aeronians, but not many.
Link flipped to the section on Vaapad, his favorite fighting style that he was struggling to master, and started reading.

Vaapad is the sword style recently used by General Zodack himself, and is known to be the hardest to master. It requires lightning quick reflexes and wit, but if mastered, gives the user a huge advantage in battle. The form uses jabs, thrusts, and slashes that move faster than the eye can track, making it easy for the user to string together merciless combo after combo into the foe, until they fall. General Zodack was once known to have broken the sound barrier when using this style, which is incredibly hard to do. Some Aeronians us this form as well, although not many have mastered it. An even smaller few have warped it into an airborne form in which they weild two swords and dive through the air onto the foe, usually blindsiding them with speed.

Link shut the book and let his thoughts wander back to Centis and his dual sabers.
I wonder if he uses that style the book mentioned? Ah, I guess I'll never know until I see him in combat, which will probably be, never. But who knows?

[Aeric Ecrai]

The next day, Link found himself in the courtyard again, wishing for Kari's company.
It's so boring when she's not here..
Link stared vacantly into his favorite fountain, one that was composed of rock carved into statues of dragons and ancient warriors. Water rushed from the mouths of the dragons, and knights in armor lined the rim.
Brr..it's so cold all of a sudden..I guess that's normal for the mountains, though..
Link wrapped himself in his cloak, a gift given to him by Centis. It was woven of metal wire that was capable of absorbing fire, repelling water, cancelling shock, and basically standing up to any spell. It was also quite warm, despite being made of a metal, since the inside was insulated with the finest wool from some far off island - he couldn't remember the name at the moment - and was dyed blue, and gilded with a gold trim. It matched his armor, which he never wore, of course, and it also came with a hood that made it extremely hard for anyone to see his face.
That'll come in handy some day...ugh..why is it so cold all of a sudden..??
Link moved to one of the towers lining the walls of the courtyard and climbed up to the top, skipping a few stairs on the way up. He didn't know why, but he got an ominous feeling about this sudden chill that had settled on the capital.
Reaching the top of the stone tower, he walked to the wide window that had been crafted on the side, and looked out over the mountain and to the land below.
Something was..moving..towards the castle, and it seemed to be a large, dark smog or mist of some kind, but was pitch black instead of white or gray.
That can't be good..could the shadows have recuperated so soon..?
Hurrying back down the spiral staircase, Link bolted to his room and grabbed his belt, which had multiple pockets for everything you could think of.
There was a small leather loop for his rapier, a few pouches for coins, dry food, buttons, gems - anything that could fit into a small pouch, actually.
On it was also a small locket that Kari had given him when they saw each other for the second time. (The first was purely by mistake, and they had only talked a little about their hobbies and such, and were both shy around each other.)
He wasn't sure what it was for, but cherished it and made sure never to lose it.
The fog must be getting closer..I have to hurry.
Putting his belt on, he picked up his rapier and thrust it through the small loop in his belt, and dashed out of his small room towards the reception chamber, where he had seen Centis the other day.
If anyone knows what the fog is, it's Centis, he thought to himself.
Rushing down another hall, Link came to the main courtyard, where the trees seemed to be frosting over and wilting. The Vanguard stood in the very center, surrounded by a group of what Link counted to be about thrity shadow scouts, the lowest form of shadow.
Link was about to run over and help, but he noticed the emerald on Centis' forhead glint, and the polymerite started to glow with a stong light. Centis reached for the two curved blades that hung on his waist and pulled them out, lightning crackling and sparking between them.
[glow=green,2,300]I can handle this, Link. You need to find Kari and find a safe place until this passes over. If not, it will kill you both.[/glow]
Suddenly, Centis disappeared, and a bolt of lightning shot through three of the scouts, chaining from one to the other. Centis appeared on the end of the bolt, apparently generated by his sword.
Centis then stuck the two blades together, hilt to hilt, and begun spinning them. The air started to distort and sparks of electricity flew from out of nowhere onto the dual weapon.
[glow=green,2,300]Go.[/glow]
When given a direct order from a Vanguard, one does not just stand there. Link ran, and only looked back long enough to see an enormous ball of energy rise into what seemed a typhoon that had been summoned in the sky.
I have to get to the NyghtWyng capital somehow..

[Aeric Ecrai]

Bolting towards the front entrance, Link suddenly realized he was running into the mist.
Blast! How am I supposed to get out of here?!
Without warning, Link is almost plowed over by an older man in the garb of a messenger. Oddly enough, he was in black.
"Oh! Oh my, terribly sorry. Wait, you are Link, correct? Ms. Nimae's friend? Correct? Hmm?"
Link would regulary be annoyed at such a demanding attitude, but since the situation was anything but regular, he pushed himself up from off the floor and dusted himself off.
"Why, erm, yes, that's me."
"Ah good, yes yes.. Ms. Nimae wanted me to inform you not to worry. That's all she told me. I'm not sure what it means..we're miles apart.."
Link's eyebrows shot up.
"Sir, there's an unknown shadow-mist floating towards the capital. I'm pretty sure she meant something by that..but..-"
Suddenly, a solid black sword shot out of nowhere, barely missed Link and hit the messenger.
"Agh!"
Then, all hell broke loose. Shadows were rising over the walls, passing through them. Link's only option was to pull his rapier and defend himself, the shadow troops were so immense in number.
Somehow, this strikes me as a distraction. A LARGE distraction..but still..
Instead of continueing to blather on in his mind, Link prepared for the battle that was to come.

~End of part I.