"You're right," Relayia said with a nod, then raised her voice. "All of you, be on your guard!"

A number of affirmatives in the draconian tongue responded to her, and the Queen lifted up into the air with her wings. Two of the Bronze Dragons quickly flanked her, and they proceeded towards the Gray Mountains, where Dargor awaited.

===Elysium===

"Who is Ion?" Seril asked when Yuna and Sera departed, and they began making their way to the Shuttle Bay.

===Luxuria's Quarters, Xobelisk===

"On the ruins of the island of Aube, two of our agents have appeared, looking for a battle," Daemonus explained. "We have no intention of revealing to them their connection to us, and we need a suitably strong opponent to assault them."

Daemonus lifted up one gloved hand and made a slow gesture with it, causing several holographic screens to appear, showing a young albino man in white and black clothing, and another being with origins from the Nightmare Realm.

"It is unlikely that you will be able to slay them," he said as Luxuria followed him. "Just as it is unlikely for them to slay you. Nevertheless, you are not permitted to kill the human boy. Should you find yourself on the brink of defeat, return to Shayol Ghul with haste."

===Ruins of Aube===

--an Imp, cresting the edge of a broken hill. The tall, ten-eyed demon snarled at them and stood up to its full height, lifting up a sphere of flame that glowed brightly beneath the shadow of the Cyraeth. With a cry, the imp threw the blast forward at Michael and Zhatsuroth.

Michael, however, simply leaned back, letting the blast soar past him harmlessly, leaving it up to Zhatsuroth to deal with it.

"Poor thing, never stood a chance," Michael remarked, watching the blast go by.

"Ah, yes. Now I remember. To be fair, I was a bit preoccupied at the time," Seril said, remembering the vicious battle between herself and the corrupted Divinity Unit. Afterwards, she had needed to check on the Pillar of Dawn, and had to use her magic to find out, and in a way that wouldn't upset the Daughter of Dawn on Kattelox.

===The Gray Mountains===

After several minutes, the group had arrived at the border to the region. Upon reaching it, Relayia flew up and landed on the back of the Bronze Dragon, and began to transform.

Within moments, Relayia was human, with short brown hair flecked with strands of pink, bright yellow eyes, unusual, pointed ears going from human to draconian at their tips, and wearing red and white shorts, shirt, and coat. Her feet had sandals on them, and her hands had a couple small, ordinary-looking gold rings on them. She looked to be around seven years of age.

She looked over to the others before they could ask. "Its more respectful towards them to take a human form," she explained, and gestured to the two Bronze Dragons that were transporting them. "Asocura and Jagan will also take on human forms when we arrive there."

Edited by RisingDragon on September 25, 2009 at 2:37:58.

X nodded.

"So we just need to find the nearest port then?"

"That's right. Do you know how to operate the vessels in this world?" Aram asked, looking over at his companion. "I've been told they no longer need entire crews to man them."

"You will depart immediately," Daemonus said, gesturing with a gloved hand again. A red portal appeared in the darkened passageway, oval-shaped with a darkened core. "Go."

===Ruins of Aube===

The imp was quickly impaled upon the ice, and it screamed as its body disintegrated into ash.

"Well, that was anticlimatic," Michael said. "Buuut... I just felt a portal open up on the other side of the island."

They drove for a frantic while. Nothing happened, but the signal got closer and closer.

Then they saw it-Matt was flying back towards them with the biker in his arms, and before anyone can react, the two crashed onto the roof. The biker's legs dangled on the front window, violently twitching as he exchanged blows with the other.

"What is he DOING?!" Helena shouted.

Alasea winced and Ileyna let out another yelp when Matt and his opponent crashed on top of the car. "Trying to get himself killed, looks like!" Alasea shouted back. "Hit the brakes!"

When she made the command, she weaved another spell, this one directed to Matt. A temporary, telepathic link was opened up between the two. We're hitting the brakes so get ready to land! she cried over the link.

===Ruins of Aube===

"Well, this is interesting," Michael remarked as he backpedaled away from the fight. He lifted up another cigarette to smoke. "Looks like you got your fight, Zhatsuroth!"

Helena slammed her foot on the brakes and the car lurched, skidding down the street with a high-pitched whine. As it slowed the two up top rolled down the hood and landed on the pavement, rolling away as they wrestled.

"Get ready to attack the biker!" Alasea said as she clambered out of the vehicle and drew the Megami Tsurugi. "I'll fend off the Stand!"

With that, Alasea began to weave new wards, four of them set in a rough square around the street. As she tied them off, she knew that while she wouldn't be able to see the Stand, she should be able to get a feel of its presence. Then she could react accordingly.

As Helena fled the car and looked for the biker, she saw the biker rise up. Strangely, the image of a man bound in leather rose from his body, smacking Matt across the face with a lanky limb. It was a powerful blow, sending Matt sprawling across the road, right into a car with a monster impact.

The biker turned around and saw the girls. His face was obscured by his helmet, so they couldn't tell what expression he had. The biker ran at them, and as it did so, it removed the golden key from the lock covering its face.

Helena threw herself into the fight, throwing a punch just as the image stabbed at her forehead with its key. The two connected, and both were blown backwards by the impacts.

"There you are!" Alasea shouted, turning towards the Stand and the biker. Her sword was glowing, and a tendril of light extended out from its tip.

With a cry, she swung it hard at the two forces, causing it to lengthen in a quick second as it lashed out at both enemies.

"Yeah, should be easy enough to figure out. Where's the nearest port by the way? I'm not familiar with this world," he paused for a moment, "other than the fact that I went crazy and tried to blow up the place."

The tendril smacked the biker as he was down, and he howled in pain. He stood up, swing violently with his Stand, but it wasn't enough to protect him from Matt, who tackled him with a flying leap. He rolled over the man and landed on his feet, rising the biker up and throwing him at another car.

But the biker cushioned the impact with his Stand, smashing into the side with the Stand's hand. Now he attacked again with a muffled yell, swinging his key in a straight thrust. Matt swept under the attack and unloaded a hook right in the biker's chin, causing him to stagger.

"Ileyna, get ready to Purify him!" Alasea shouted back at the girl, who was getting out of the car. As Alasea held her sword up in front of her, blade pointed forward, Ileyna nodded and opened herself up to her power once more.

===Europe===

"There should be a city north of here," Aram said. He looked hesitant. "Then again, that was back then... I hope it survived and flourished up until now."

Edited by RisingDragon on September 21, 2009 at 19:14:15.

"Well," replied X, "there's only one real way to find out, isn't there?"

"Yes."

Idly, Aram wondered if he'd suffer another attack from the Nightmare Realm. Once already the Nightmare God had sent him a vision to remind him of his task. Would it happen again, even though he was now back on that path?

Matt leaned back, arming another punch, when the biker suddenly struck again with his key, jabbing it at Matt's face. It sent him flying back with the blow, but Helena was right there with another swing, knocking the biker into a parked car with a sickening crunch.

Alasea gestured with her free hand, weaving power. Rings of energy manifested around the biker's body and constricted around him, binding him in place. "Got him pinned!"

Seril nodded to Ion and boarded the craft, sitting down on one of the benches inside. And immediately, she froze up, back stiffening painfully, head tossed up and mouth open in a silent cry. Involuntarily, her hands slid into claws that bit into the seat, partially crushing it beneath them.

W-What is this!? her shocked mind wondered. Something happened to the Nature Elemental!? No, this is--

===The Gray Mountains===

Dozens of pained growls were loosed simultaneously by the dragons in the area, each creature freezing up as something foreign and vile assaulted their senses. Relayia froze up on Jagan's back, her own head thrown up. A slightly pained cry managed to escape her lips.

And within moments, it passed, releasing its hold on the nature-sensitive creatures. The Queen of Dragons shuddered briefly as her muscles went lax.

"What was that?" Asocura growled in a decidedly feminine voice, looking over her shoulder at Jagan. Her eyes flickered over to the three people on her back, noting their reactions to whatever had happened.

"At first I thought it was something to do with the Nature Elemental," Jagan muttered, shaking his head, careful not to dislodge the Queen. "But that--"

"It was the same as when Ziatoch arrived in this dimension," Relayia said, her mouth tightened into a thin gash on her small face. "Something alien has intruded on this dimension. This... this must be what Kuro warned us of."

===Throne of Souls, Xobelisk===

The hands of Ziatoch's shell tightened on the cold armrests of the Throne of Souls, and His gold eyes narrowed dangerously as the sensation washed over Him. Instantly, He expanded His presence through the rest of Xobelisk and Shayol Ghul.

Daemonus! Come to me.

"I am already here, my lord," came the cold voice of Ziatoch's highest general as he strode into the room. "When I felt the disturbance, I knew something was amiss."

"Good," Ziatoch said, looking down at Daemonus. He watched patiently as the armored warrior made his way to the foot of the steps leading up to Ziatoch's throne, and he knelt. "Tell me, Daemonus, is this what we knew was coming?"

"It is entirely possible, my lord," Daemonus said, nodding. "A Shard of Infinity must have been brought to this dimension."

(OOC: Its Dargor, not Dargon.)

"Jagan, Asocura," Relayia said tersely, despite not issuing a command.

"Yes, your Majesty," the two Bronze Dragons responded at once, unfurling their wings. Both dragons lunged forward and took to the air, skimming across the ground at surprisingly high speed.

Relayia frowned as they took off. It seemed propriety had to be damned now. Hopefully Lord Dargor will understand. After a moment, she looked up, unmindful of the scenery speeding past them.

Something in the sky seemed to be burning as it fell to Earth.

To the normal onlooker, the sight of a Bronze Dragon in flight was a sight to behold. Not only concerning the unusual appearance of its bronze scales, but with the physiology of the creature: Bronze Dragons were the largest in the Dragon Tribes, and the physically strongest. Despite this, they were incredibly fast and agile, capable of reaching sizes normally thought impossible for a creature so large.

It made them, though, the perfect guardians of the ruler of the Dragon Tribes, Relayia mused. The only thing that surpassed their strength and speed was their loyalty.

Jagan and Asocura left a trail of dust in their wake as they soared across the ground between the foothills, occasionally flapping their expansive wings to keep aloft. Every once in a while, their claws and talons would strike the ground, and shove off in a new direction to continue their flight. Each impact made tremors in the earth as their weight slammed into it.

Their trip did not last long, however. Within moments, they came around the hidden pathways and entered the clear, and before them lay Dargor's kingdom in the Gray Mountains.

Relayia waited patiently for the alarm to be raised, even as she and the others dismounted from Jagan and Asocura.

Lying face on the ground, Matt rolled over, lifting a haggard finger. "Be removing the Essence, please thanks," he slurred. "Okay."