"If only R.D. was here," Matt said, rubbing his chin. "Then we could-"

His hand froze. "Hold on. I've got it. Get out of the car and stand in the middle of the street."

Alasea blinked at Matt's sudden suggestion.

"Please tell me you don't have another one of your crazy ideas," she asked faintly, as Ileyna looked at the two of them curiously.

They moved out to the middle of the street, and after Matt folded up the damaged Firebird, he stood in front of the girls. His armor manifested, and he raised both arms.

"Ride The Earthquake!" he shouted.

The road underneath lurched and rose, and it rushed down the street like a curling flat wave at great speed. The girls were forced to fall flat, gripping on the wave to make sure they didn't fall off.

"OH YEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Matt shouted, forming devil's horns with his fingers.

Alasea let out a shriek as she was forced to latch onto the ground. "MATT THIS IS YOUR DUMBEST IDEA YET!" she shouted over the noise of the asphalt wave.

Ileyna, luckily felt it better to follow behind them in the air, using her powers. The young girl decided that her decision was a sound one.

"DUMBEST IDEA, OR COOLEST IDEA?" Matt shouted. "YEEEEEEEEEE-HAW!"

"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Helena screeched. "STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!"

The wave stopped, all right. After swinging and swrving through various paths, getting closer to the signal, the wave stopped so hard and abruptly that Matt and Helena were flung from it, shouting, tumbling down the road into parked cars with a tremendous smash.

Groaning, Matt lifted a hand. "That...SUCKED."

"This was worse than that stupid slide you made on Ristar's planet," Alasea muttered.

Ileyna floated over to them at a quick pace. "Are you guys all right??" she asked, looking extremely worried.

"I'll live," Matt grumbled. He pulled himself out of the dent he made in the car and shook himself off. "Helena?"

The weredragon flipped herself up into a sitting position. Scales had spread all over her arms and face-maybe as a side effect of resisting the impact. She sighed, closed her eyes, and willed her body to return to normal. "You'd better be glad I'm trying to control myself right now," she said.

"This is obviously getting us nowhere," Alasea groaned as she sat up, then stood. Ileyna set down between them, and released her hold on her powers.

"I think you guys would be better off walking," she suggested, looking between the three of them.

"Hmph..." Dargor turned without much thought afterward, "Alright, those who can fit, come, we'd be safer inside the walls than out." Dargor then said over his shoulder and proceeded back to his city. The gates were rather large, so most could fit just fine, it was simply another crack at the dragon tribe.

"Giro, Volent, tell the people to stay within their homes, our visitors are friendly, but danger has yet to pass, keep the riders on watch, we may have more company soon and let me know immediately if we do." Dargor then instructed his two captains.

"Sir!" They responded in unison and went back to their men.

Dargor would lead those who followed down a large and wide main street. The streets were empty, with tall, cramp, and dull houses and complexes on both dies. The buildings were made of stone and coal it seemed, the street of cobblestones. The entire atmosphere was gray, as if a storm was coming. Even the sun above hardly lit the place up to a more cheerful color. It was all so dull...and so quiet.

Eventually, at the end of the street they'd come to a small castle, retaining the bland color save for a few torches that lit up around the stubby towers. Two riders stood at the iron gate entrance and clicked their spears together, the gate came open and the large doors would open to his castle.

"No one is to bother us, no one but Giro or Volent, got it?!" Dargor ordered the guards firmly, they nodded in confirmation and Dargor would lead the crew in.

Inside the castle kept the same dull gray with some black streaks along door frames and stairs. Dargor would then lead them to a large room with a number of large chairs and a fire place by one particularly decorated one. Dargor took his seat there. He then would raise one leg up and rest it on the other's knee and lean his head in his left hand. With his other hand Dargor gestured them to take a seat somewhere, anywhere.

"Ok," Dargor would then say when all were comfortable, "you want an alliance...and I may be willing to give it, but its hard for me to say. We've been fairly safe from danger so far, keeping to ourselves and letting it all swing around us. What makes you think bringing attention to us, the shadows, will do us any good?"

Relayia looked back at Jagan and Asocura, and said, "Protect the gates." The two dragons nodded in affirmation, and the rest of the group proceeded inside the city while the two Bronze Dragons stationed themselves outside of it, both of them chanting to set up their Dragon Magic.

Seril stayed close to Relayia's side, just ahead of the Ancients and the former minions of Kuro as they followed Dargor through the city and into his castle. Once inside the conference hall, they took to the seats closest to Dargor.

"As you know, we, and the other races of this world, are beginning to take back our world from the Seven Beasts and the other evils infecting it," Relayia started. "Two of the Beasts have fallen to humans, including my people's ancestral enemy. We have also learned of the fallacies between the Seven Beasts and their current leader, and how it may rend their alliance apart."

The Queen of Dragons shifted on her chair, idly wondering how to best phrase this next part of the explanation. "Ultimately, though, none of our forces can survive when we are divided," she started. "Derek's army was slaughtered in Antarctica, and many of my people fell to Sheena. We can only survive if we're united, Lord Dargor, and we have reason to believe that your people will be targeted next, by Gouki's forces. You did, after all, drew his attention by rescuing Bryant and Brandon Hartnett."

"It's gonna take us forever if we walk," Matt said. "Don't you have a magical way to take us there or something?"

"R.D.'s the one who knows Chaos Control, not me," Alasea said, shaking her head. "He's the one who teleports you guys everywhere."

Didn't help that she'd personally never felt the effects of Chaos Control. R.D. said it wasn't too pleasant for first-timers.

"We better hurry as fast as we can," Alasea said. "We're wasting time as it is, and you know how R.D. tends to fight."

Meaning if things got drawn out, he tended to go all over the place trying to kill his opponent.

===Joestar Residence===

The day seemed to be peaceful at the Joestar family's home, since the others had departed to hunt for the Stand users. While Alasea had set wards, she didn't really think she and the others would have to worry about them being set off before they got back.

Unfortunately for the displaced Daughter of Dawn, with her power weakened and the distance between her and the wards she set up, she was never alerted when they were quickly tripped, one by one, causing a quiet but urgent-sounding warning to go off in the house, one that only Joseph and Holly could hear.

Joseph, who was very busy half-reading a newspaper, tipped up his head. "Holly!" he shouted, leaping up.

"Papa!" came Holly's voice, and she scurried into the living room. Immediately she leapt into his arms, to his surprise. "What's happening? Who broke in? Do you know?"

Joseph grasped her shoulders. "Calm down and stay close to me," he said quietly. "We're going to find a safe place to hide, all right?"

Dargor thought as the dragon queen made her statement. Though Dargor kept himself convinced that these armies wouldn't hold a candle to his Knightriders. Then again, as mighty as they were, if the remaining five beasts were to combine their forces and attack Dargor...well then things may go bad...very bad. His eyes trailed down to the cobble stone floor and studied the random patterns made by the packed together stone.

Perhaps it was time he put his pride aside. After all, he had his people to think about, and while strong, not all were fighters. He sighed and sat up straight, both feet planted on the ground.

"Well, Relayia...you make a strong arguement and I have my people to think about as well." Dargor stood, "We will fight with you, but don't think this as anything long term. Once we defeat the beasts and things return to normal, I don't expect to see you or your kind around my mountains again." Dargor said firmly, but then reluctantly held out a hand to the queen. "For now however, you have our loyalty and strength."

Something thumped heavily on the roof, as if some gigantic bird had landed atop it. Another thump followed shortly after, sounding metallic this time. It originated in roughly the same spot as the original thump.

A moment passed, and then more sounds were made, like something was walking along the top of the house. More of the wards were set off, and then suddenly they were cut off as something messed with the flows of power that created them.

===The Grey Mountains===

Relayia smiled, despite being slightly surprised at how easily he agreed to the alliance. "Have no fear, Lord Dargor," she said. "No one here has any intention to take over your domain, and our peoples were never enemies. When this war is over, we will part ways and return to our respective homes."

Edited by RisingDragon on September 29, 2009 at 18:41:23.

Joseph looked up, grasping Holly tighter. "Come with me," he whispered, and began guiding her towards the back of the house with careful, silent steps.

There was a weird, tingling sensation felt by the two Joestars as they began to retreat, like a low-level electric current running through them in a pulse. And something spoke to them, a slight, almost non-existent yet eerie reverberation in its inflection.

"And suddenly there came a tapping..."

It was too creepy as to how the voice sounded like the intruder was already in the house. It seemed to come from the far end of the house.

"Like something gently rapping..."

And that one sounded closer than before, but seeming from a direction that contradicted the beginning voice's location... in fact, thevoice seemed to be right in the room they were trying to get into.

"Rapping on my chamber door."

The roof exploded violently, dust and smoke and sawdust clouding the air while shrapnel of wood rained down to the floor, bouncing to the floor ahead of Joseph and Holly. The house rumbled as the shockwave passed through it.

And from the edge of the gaping new hole in the ceiling, something white-skinned and terrible knelt, lanky arms dangling a heavy, double-ended sword of dark metal below it through the hole. A red joker's grin split its face before opening to speak, revealing a peculiar set of teeth and a mottled gray tongue.

"You did hear me rapping, right?"

As the newcomer appeared, Jagan and Asocura began to snarl as they felt the disturbance radiating off of the newcomer. They fell into ready stances as the blade was drawn.

The blade clashed against interwoven barriers that flashed around the Bronze Dragon's neck, and Jagan attacked instinctively--even as the warrior was landing on his back, Jagan's tail flashed out, its tail blades locked into place as it swept at the enemy's chest.

"Lord Dargor!" It was one of the nameless Knighriders, barging in suddenly, his dark armor prevented Dargor from seeing how pale the man got upon seeing the swordsman.

"We have an intruder, he's currently fighting the dragons left guard outside." Dargor stiffened a bit the man sounded in desperate fear and Dargor was not at ease of this. He turned to his new comrades.

"I don't think it would be wise if we fought," Dargor said and walked to the fireplace, "Tell the citizens an enemy has come and to hide, make sure everyone is hiding. Send some riders for backup of the dragons, some to tend to the people and the rest here. Volent and Giro are to come here." Dargor said tot he knight as he reached in the flames.

"Yes, Sire!" The Knightrider of Doom responded and was off. Dargor's arm was left in the blaze for only a moment longer before then the fireplace opened up.

"I don't know who he is, but we can't risk anyone, I suggest we leave...now especially if this is the force we felt earlier. I doubt I was the only one who did." He gestured into the cavern of the fireplace, "This will lead us under then out of my realm, its quite a ways and as soo-"

"Your Majesty!" The two captains appeared with some men behind them. Dargor took a moment to consider them again, and thought twice about bringing so many men. Then again, if this feeling was as dreadful as he feared...maybe he could wipe out everything of the realm.

"Giro, Volent, with us, the rest of you...guard the people and the city with your lives. I know you won't dissapoint me." They saluted, their hands to their chests, Dargor responded with his own and they went off.

"Anyway, once I close it it won't open unless someone hits the switch at the other end, so that should slow him down at least. So unless we wish to risk our lives I suggest we go." Dargor gestured them in once more, time to leave.

"Then let's go," Relayia said, sending off a telepathic message to her two guardians outside. With that accomplished, she and Seril proceeded into the tunnel that Dargor had revealed.

Luckily for Jagan, the blade did little in the way of piercing the hide of his neck, and even as the dragon pushed off from the ground, taking to the air, Asocura attacked, unleashing a torrent of flame from her mouth at the assailant.

Meanwhile, Jotaro's group had followed the signal to a large park surrounded by buildings. It was very nearby, so Jotaro parked. "Stay alert," he said.

"Got it," R.D. said, hiking up the Bone Jack onto his shoulder.

As his allies continued into the tunnel, Dargor couldn't help but feel he was abandoning his people and to leave now would be cowardly, and simply not right. He had to think of them...and his allies. But what good was he to his allies if he were dead? But then what good was he if his army was destroyed without his guidance. The choice was impossible. His people or the world. Dargor bit his lower lip in frustration. He should've known this wouldn't be so easy.

"My Lord...are you coming?" Giro asked Dargor, seeing his hesitation. He approached Dargor slowly, his eyes on his Lord. Suddenly in a flash, Dargor shoved Giro back in while taking his sword. Dargor then threw the blade into the stone switch, pushing it in and shutting the cavern door suddenly.

"I'll catch up with you, guard the others!" Dargor commanded through the door as he drew his black blade.

"Sire! Have you gone mad?!" Volent yelled, pounding on the door.

"I cannot simply abandon my realm, no matter the threat. If we are victorious perhaps I can catch a ride on one of Relayia's dragons and catch up, if not a steed will do fine." Dargor responded, "Good luck, Queen Relayia." Dargor then yelled and finally went off. Volent was pounding on the door still.

"Sire, please!" Giro pulled him away from the door.

"Volent, we have to go, Lord Dargor has made his decision, we must follow his last order!" Giro pulled Volent to a wall and pushed him hard, to keep him off.

"But we're his sword protectors!" Volent argued.

"And he is the sword protector of our land." Giro responded gravely, Volent went silent. Giro then turned to the rest of the group, almost apologetically he said: "Follow me, I know the way fine enough."

Above Dargor left the safety of his small castle and stood before the gates. Dargor wondered if this was a good idea, but what was done was done. He wasn't going to leave his people. Some soldiers ran to him, the ones rallying the citizens.

"Sire! We thought you were escaping!" One soldier exclaimed.

"Change of plans, I'm not leaving my people. I want you all to gather the citizens. Gather the steeds, all but one if you can, gather the carriages. We're evacuating." Dargor began to explain.

"But sire, we've already hidden most of the citizens, surely you don't plan to have them abandon their hiding spots now?" Another solider pipped up.

"We'd be leaving them to die if we do. Gouki will be on us soon, and with this powerful intruder at our doorstep we can't stay here. I want you all and the citizens to escape here. Go to the exit of the escape tunnel. There you will meet up with our new allies and your captains. Listen to Reyalia, she will appear as a girl but she is queen of the dragons. She will know what to do." Dargor continued to brief.

"And what of you, M'Lord?" The front-most solider asked. Dargor gave a rather nervous smile.

"If all goes well I'll meet you there later, hopefully ride with a dragon...if not...well...at least you'll be able to help with the army. Now...go!" Dargor ordered. The riders were hesitant, not even saluting, just looking amongst themselves.

"Riders! Do you dare disobey me now?!" Dargor suddenly roared.

"No, Lord Dargor!" They responded in unison.

"Good. Off with you!" They left. Dargor felt much better knowing that he hadn't simply left his people. The riders scrambled to homes yelling for the people and others to the stables for transport. The steeds were swift, hopefully this could work. Dargor made his way to the gates, where the Swordsman fought.

Edited by Blazen on September 30, 2009 at 20:25:15.

Suddenly the signal began to move, rushing about the various alleyways and corridors. The strange lantern jostled and swayed towards the activity. "That way!" Jotaro said.

In one of the alleyways, the pillars appeared again, bursting out from all sides at the team.

"Ah, shit!"

A cyclone of wind surrounded R.D.'s free hand as the pillars began to attack them. It spun around his wrist rapidly, and with a growl, R.D. thrust his fist forward, launching a concussive force of wind from his fist.

"Revolver Cannon!"

The pillars blocking their path broke under the onslaught as the shockwave passed through them, causing a hail of debris in the alleyway.