The final piece of an exceptional mission.

As you can probably tell by your scroll bar, you've got a lot of reading while everything plays out. The fighting not only continues, but is upshifted a gear or six, as I bring in ultimate challenges for the heroes!

Subtitled "The Ultimate enemies, and resolution," it delivers in spades. On an even brighter note, the next a mere two days after this one! It'll have a hard time matching the quality of Mission #2, though. (Note as before, the dash formation above a part indicates it was written by me, Dash. The stars are something Catrina did, and the mix of dashes and stars means it was co written by us both.

***

Michelle hurried along, the sounds of the forest now even more ominous to her. She jumped as she heard the roars start in the clearing, knowing her friend the catperson was now in a battle for her life. Again, she felt a deep desire to turn back, to help her friend, but she reminded herself that the goal.. the pressing need, was to get to the Dragon.

Although now that she was alone she began to have doubts about the plan. After two attacks on her friends, what was to say that the Dragon didn't have something dreadful planned for her as well! She didn't think there was anybody in her past that wanted to hurt her.. but she wasn't sure. She went forward carefully, staring at every darkened copse and underbrush, daring something to attack her.

She did see a couple lizards, out sunning themselves on rocks. One gave her a growl before drifting off into a nap; the second looked at her, shrugged his shoulders and said "Eh, Why bother?"

A small corner of her thoughts was insulted. This was it? This was the great enemy pulled from her memories- a couple of apathetic lizards? But this feeling was quickly and utterly overwhelmed by her true nature. She shared some of her berries with the lizards, getting an apathetic smile and nod of thanks out of each of them, and headed off down the path, feeling happier at making two new friends.

As she left the lizards behind, the path began to rise, climbing up onto a small hill up ahead. Soon she was picking her way up higher- or rather, a way was in her mind, picked out by someone else. It was in this manner that Michelle found herself on top of a small, plateau like outcropping, panting and huffing at the exertion. She looked up, after catching her breath, and nearly jumped out of her skin as she saw the Dragon sitting there!

He was tall, even seated Michelle could see that, as his head was about three times higher than her own. His large muscular body was covered with silvery scales, with large leathery wings folded neatly across his back. In fact, Michelle couldn't help but think he looked kinda-

She heard a chuckling in her head, followed by a voice. "Pretty? My, it has been eons since anyone has thought of me like that!" The Dragon turned, and Michelle saw that, beneath the fearsome visage that one normally associated with a dragon, lurked eyes that were softer, gentler, almost serene. The voice came again, this time apologetic. "I'm sorry for reading your thoughts thus. I know it is quite rude, but the curse makes it almost a second nature for me- reading the minds of my enemies and pulling their worst fears to fight them. Sometimes I can't help but read. In retribution, let me introduce myself although you would find my name.. cumbersome. Ah, I know! They call me the Chrono Dragon.. you can call me Chronos!"

Michelle smiled, somehow endeared to this creature, even though she had been told what a terror he was. What a killer he had been. She began to wonder now, what she had to do to help him, to break his curse.

Chronos frowned, and again his voice sounded in her head. "Alas, child, the time for ending this curse is not yet at hand. There are still a few players left to have their time on this stage, before we can end things- one way or the other. Speaking of, I'm sure you'll be happy to learn your friends will be joining us shortly- battered, but alive. For the moment, I need to see to a few matters, but I invite you to look around. You might see a few things of interest." He then turned to whatever was happening down below.

Michelle was about to begin looking around when she heard someone approaching. She watched the trail she had just arrived on, but the smile that came to her face as she first saw Rebecca and Catrina arrive was instantly wiped away as she saw their condition. She gave both fruit she knew to help speed healing, and hugged each despite the protests from the obviously sore women. The sound of battle could now be heard in the vale below, and the two fighters went over to investigate that while Michelle looked around a bit more.

She found little that she thought interesting, until she saw a raised platform of rock. Climbing up to it she saw a bowl like depression in the rock, and in the middle of that, some pretty speckled rocks. No, they weren't rocks, Michelle corrected herself, they were.... Michelle smiled and went off to tell the others.

She found them watching over what was going on below. Well the girls were watching.The Dragon seemed to be concentrating on it more forcefully. She forgot what she had found for the moment, and went to see what the others were looking at.

--------

Things were rapidly getting confusing, as Raw Hide moved his way closer to the main battles.

If that wasn't enough, there was a decidedly gray overcast coming along with the morning sun.

As if having exhausted memories to throw at them, the dragon seemed to be relegated to throwing grey blobs at them. Humanoid, nearly formless bodies seemed to assemble from the smoke like goo around them. Nightmarish creatures that seemed like equal portions malice and mud, with a distinctly minty aftertaste.

Although there were still plenty of enemies from earlier to be disposed, as well.

"Captain CAAAAVECHAAAD!" TheChad yelled out again, as he grabbed his trusty wooden club and smashed through enemy after enemy. A Woodenknuckle got a square shot to Chad's jaw as Chad slowed down. Chad didn't cry, but did get visibly upset.

Instead, he ran forward, lifting a boot as he got near the Woodenkunckle, and effectively nearly took his head off with a mafia kick. As TheChad sang to himself, Dash ducked under a wild sword attack in the background. A yellow and black garbed assassin with claws and a silver helmet over his face (no eye holes even) advanced on Dash, who avoided the claws expertly.

"I've fought those before, when I went up against Contessa Gray," Dash noted, "But I've got no idea what they are."

"PALADIN Protectors," Konall noted, coming to Dash's aid. "They're sent out after seal clubbers further up north, and collect late fees on late PALADINS, or so I'm told."

Dash parried a claw attack directed at Konall, forcing it to the side and allowing Konall to ram the butt end of the haxxor into the Protector, taking him off his feet and out of the battle.

"Chad-a-lakka!" Chad yelled as he grabbed a rock and slam dunked it on random enemies' heads. Wow. Didn't even know they had basketball on the moon. He took down about four enemies before turning to do a super pose. "Now THAT'S how ya do it!"

One of the tougher Woodenknuckles, a Redwooden Knuckles to be precise, stood up behind Chad, shaking off the effects of the rock dunk. He staggered up behind Chad, unnoticed. Although Konall and Dash were busy handling their own menaces from the past, the deadly intent didn't go unnoticed by all.

"No!" Raw Hide's voice cried out from behind, startling Chad. "THAT'S how you do it!"

Raw Hide sliced through the Redwooden Knuckles from behind, setting it afire and sending frozen shards flying everywhere with his icy hot katana. He hadn't really cared about Chad's life, but the opportunity to show off and ones up the eight foot freak was just too good to pass up on.

Besides, he wouldn't want to chance letting Chad die. Would he have, he'd be forced to kill the other two if they'd seen his inactions, which could prove distracting if he ended up needing them to kill the dragon.

"Good, looks like we're all here!" Konall screamed, parrying off an attack from an Ancient Troll. Who knows how HE got seeded in the enemies? "Got a few tidbit's on the dragon. Like his weakness and . . . " Konall pulled the newly acquired Mafia Kneecapping stick from somewhere, and quickly used it to take out a few nearby black smoke gooey images that resembled Knob Elite guards.. without form.

"Weird," Konall noted. "Anyway, I think the tail might be it's weakness. If we can set up our strongest attacks from behind. Urgh! Back off!" A flurry of attacks kept the enemies away from Dash as he sliced through yet another Amber Moblino.

"Alright!" Dash spoke over the roar of the raging battle. It looked at long last like the four of them, united, had gained the ability to cut through the numerous, unending mobs to make some progress. "Means we send Raw Hide and Chad up to distract the dragon. Konall, you and I can flank it from the back and"

"MY NAME ISN'T TheChad, it's. . . . Captain Caaaaa"

Raw Hide turned from the Bzoo Storm mages to jab Chad in the side. "Shut UP! And who the HELL said I'd be taking orders from YOU, Dash?!"

Chad pouted, then went to attack Raw Hide. Konall had to break from his battle to keep Chad in line.

Dash continued slicing, striking at his enemies with attacks too fast for the eye to follow, even as Dash parried and dodged incoming attacks. "Other than proving your not afraid of it?"

"I'm not falling for that!" Raw Hide roared. His fighting was getting more ferocious. More animal like. That wasn't surprising. Konall was getting rather savage himself. That struck Dash as a bit perplexing.

"Yeah, well," Konall answered for Dash. "Unless you got a better idea, I'd advise you go with it. If you want to end this dragon before he takes us out- or before his army here does the job for him."

Raw Hide grunted. Dash and Konall took that to be as close to an agreement as they'd ever get. Dash sighed, finally getting a few seconds to rest between attacks. "Do we even know where the dragon is?"

"I do!" Chad pointed to the distance.

"No, MORON!" Raw Hide yelled at him. He pointed to a spot not far from where Chad was pointing. "THERE!"

"Close," Konall dispensed a Tzoo Summoner, and pointed to a third direction. "See the plateau of rocks?"

"I see it!" Spaz had appeared out of nowhere, to perch on Konall's shoulders, putting his impy little hand over his eyes to see better. "I never saw a rock like that in Hey Deze! I did see this one weird grumpy neighbor, though. He said, 'Keep off my lawn!' Why don't people in Seaside Town ever mow their lawns? They should have the tinkerer tinker some kinda motor to help them! I like to help Konall pick stuff up, but here it's mostly bones and - "

"AHHHHHHHH!" Raw Hide screamed in annoyance. He and TheChad had engaged in a contest to see who could take out the most Blocktorocks, Hellionheads, and Dyspepsi Generals, even as the skies above them grew darker and darker.

Dash glanced up after taking out another nameless enemy to see clouds had gathered. The skies had seemed gray since drawn, true, but this sudden gathering of clouds was almost instantaneous.

Instantaneous, and accompanied by the most ominous, unnatural thunder and lightning Dash had ever heard. Things got darker and darker. Dash looked to the dragon, seeing it glowing with an odd energy.

Not good.

Raw Hide, Chad, and even the enemies seemed gripped by an unnatural stillness.

There was a time after the lights dipped down into an unreal blackness, and vision returned to everyone that time seemed to stop, lose all meaning, fall apart and be restored. In this space between seconds, the relationship between what's real and what isn't died and was born a thousand times over.

Quite frankly, it was headache inducing.

Then, the span of years passed in the blink of an eye, the vision was restored.

All around the fighters, the landscape glowed with ghostly images of battles long forgotten. Though it was hard to discern, a close eye might have revealed the nature of the images- a dragon being hunt down as she rest, and killed viciously Yet, KOKOL's forces found their attentions drawn elsewhere..

The enemies Dash, Chad, Raw Hide and Konall had previously seen rescinded into the background, as if ordered back by a greater force.

Swirling murky mists of black swirled around! Forming into several exclamation points, then finally into hazy forms. It was like Distant Galaxy 555-FILM coming to life.

Two corpses, Him and Lars Townsend. Dash noticed, repulsed, that the cat like figure was missing his throat. He must have run into an even more vicious monster summoned, although Dash didn't relish in the idea of facing such a beast. Dash looked down the feline corpse, and became quite ill when he'd realized whatever damage the beast had done to it . . . . down there.

Though Konall didn't know his name, he could tell from looking at the corpse, Lars was an evil human being who'd died of a well deserved snapped neck. The bruises on the already decaying body were those of a much smaller fighter, in a fight that had taken place not long ago. Konall couldn't imagine who'd done it.

Those were only the first two forms to come into view. Raw Hide noticed the corpse of Shara's father, laid with Fred's dead body on top, and smiled an evil, inhumane smile. As far as he was concerned, this might have well been the dragon's signal of submission.

Another explosion of soundless thunder and black as night lightning.

Standing before Konall . . . his eyes watered over with confusion and hatred. "You!"

Standing before the ragged, scarred, beast Raw Hide, dressed in the pristine, perfect PALADIN outfit . . . he looked years younger, and was quite clean shaven. Quite handsome.

Raw Hide stood face to face with Calador the Selfless, who stood over the glowing white corpse of Fredico Botelnekka.

"I'll never become you," Calador cried out to his future self.

"DESTROOOOY!" Raw Hide rushed forward in a mindless attack.

"Chad, honey, you've been on Earth long enough!" TheChad heard the distorted voice of his mother cry out. "Time to come home and be locked in the basement, honey!"

Chad looked around frantically, not sure where the voice was coming from, then took off running like a madman.

Dash looked at the two oddities, and wondered if he and Konall would have their own demons to deal with.

He soon found out. Dash didn't recognize the shadow figure in the hockey mask from Konall's dreams, and Konall was clueless when he saw Dash's ex girl from Honorburg standing side to side with the nefarious Dr. Handsomenrich, but they could both sense the ominous trouble here.

If that wasn't enough to make matters worse, the fallen corpses of Him and Lars Townsend were hit by an unnoticed strike of lightning. Their bodies were pulled towards each other, as if magnetized, and started to fuse together.

Dash dodged aside as Thechad ran by, madly trying to escape the voice. Meanwhile, the shadow thing stared Konall down. No mask this time, since Konall'd already taken it. It's limbs were as blades of the finest, blackest, most ebony steels of evil. It's maskless face again reflected Konall, and the surroundings. Konall could even see the ghosts of actions long past being reflected. If anything, the ghostly images were reflected more clearly than the images in here and now.

As it suddenly charged forward at Konall, a few feet behind, Raw Hide went flying, having been taken clear off his feet by the mighty club wielding by his past self, Calador the Selfless. Even as Raw Hide landed, he felt the pristine, new club torn from his memory slamming into his back midfall. A couple of kicks damaged Raw Hide further. Dash shook off his confusion at the attack, ducked between Konall and the nightmare beast as they collided and went to take out Raw Hide's enemy.

Dash was cut off from behind by a searing blast of fire.

He turned, only to see the last person he'd expected to see there. The one he blamed for the stealing of his girl in Honourburg. . . . the nefarious Dr. Handsomenrich. Dash's eyes gazed with confusion and hatred. He doubted it was real, but the illusions had proven realistic enough to be deadly.

Then Dash realized it was his ex girl- or at least a convincing version of her- hanging off the masked enemy like a helpless pet.

Konall turned, pulling Dash out of the way of another searing blast. "Pull it together, sneakthief!" Konall abolished. He turned and rushed in a berzerker's rage towards the villainous one, only to be slammed into the side by Calador the Selfish, who'd taken his eyes off Raw Hide long enough to intervene.

Dash caught him from behind with a swipe of the sword. Raw Hide's former howled in agony, turned, and swatted Dash away like an annoying insect. Meanwhile, Dash's ex girl took aim of TheChad, still desperately trying to escape the nagging voice of his parents, and froze his feet together, causing him to land face first on his. . . . er. . . . face.

Dash got up, then suddenly realized the two mutilated corpses had fused together and come back to life, into some monstrous mockery of life, sporting an extra arm and an extra leg. Something vaguely human on one side, and feline on the other, with large holes where large gobs of glowing energy, blood and bone stuck through.

It looked to be in agony.

It also looked psychotically dangerous.

Konall's nightmarish enemy dove at Konall, who expertly ducked down and hooked it with one hand. Even as Konall rose up and let the beast's momentum send it over Konall's back, he used his other hand to draw the bone longbow from his back. He'd kept it in two pieces, along with a couple arrows and most of his equipment, on his back. Heavy, to be sure, but he appreciated times like this, where it offered him the battle options he needed. Calador rushed at Konall from the side, and got two very durable bones jammed in his side for the effort. Raw Hide charged at his former self, as Konall drew the bow string and fired a couple shots at Dash's apparent enemy, Dr. Handsomenrich. The evil Doctor blasted the arrows with fire just before they reached him; the resulting explosion from the arrows stunned him and send him flying to the ground.

Konall chuckled to himself. Exploding arrows. Too bad he could only make three of them. That girl he was with cried out, "Master!" and fell to his side, and away from gleefully covering TheChad in a thick layer of ice. Konall aimed his final arrow at the two, intent on finishing things off.

"No!" Dash cried out, realizing he was aiming at at . . . . her head.

Sebastian's voice caught Konall's attention, drawing it away from the two. Behind him, that abomination of Him and Coconut's abusive ex had grabbed Raw Hide from behind, allowing Raw's younger Selfess self to repeatedly ram his club into Raw Hide's body.

"What do you mean, 'No?!' I've gotta take the . . . " Konall starred at Dash, confused. Dash didn't have any answer. A confused second later, Konall figured Dash'd let his emotions get the better of him, and figured out (correctly) that the dragon had pulled someone from Dash's past whom Dash cared about.

Konall paused to hope he wasn't going to suffer the same fate before this was said and through, and again aimed the bow at the two.

The delay of a mere handful of seconds had cost Konall. The girl looked up, seeing him, and fired an artic wind that sent Konall flying back. His bow went flying to the side, where a tough looking WoodenKnuckles grabbed it and snapped it in half.

Even as Chad struggled to break free of the ice, a glow burst came from the girl, mystically healing the Doctor's wounds, and breathing a vicious new life into him. Dash struggled to stand up, realizing he'd just messed things up bad.

Dash realized for the first time his broadsword, Bad Beats, had been knocked clear out of his hand. Dash spotted it several feet away, between him and the two apparitions from his past, and charged for it.

Dash's ex fired a snowstorm bolt at Dash, even as her evil cohort fired a searing blast of fire at Dash.

Konall cursed the fates, doubting Dash had any chance of avoiding certain death.

***

Chronos looked at his guests as they viewed the scene below. Two of them fighters, concerned for friends and colleagues on the field of battle, shouting encouragements even though the battle was too far away for them to be heard. The third cringing at the violence, but looking nonetheless, obviously concerned for those in battle. He was truly sorry for what was about to happen to them.

He looked up, and saw the storm swirl and gather. Soon the clouds obliterated the sun, plunging the island into a near night murk. Just like that morning so long ago. He began to chant, and ominous thunder danced with vicious streaks of lightning in the air around them.

He knew what his place was in this battle, what he had to do to these brave men, and at times it sickened him. But the curse drove him, and he took to the air with a mournful look on his face- rising some fifty feet over the battle, his voice booming in their ears and minds alike. "Know, before I destroy you utterly and feast on your rotting bones, that I wish it were not so."

As he finished the lightning streaked through the air about him, striking him thrice as he cried out. Then the air about his body flashed brightly, sending a wave of magical energy crashing toward the fighters. Chronos landed with the others, knowing what he had done and ready to pay the price for it, if need be. The time had finally come!

--------

Unaware of what horrific events had just been set into motion, and focused on survival, Chad burst free of the ice with a massive effort. Fortunately, after his brief (but enjoyable) employment at an evil moon penguin zoo, he had experience in breaking free of malevolently evil blocks of ice.

It occurred to Raw Hide that while his counterpart may be younger, and was obviously faster, he also had one disadvantage Raw Hide had shed; morals. Unlike Raw Hide's later clubs, this one wasn't spiked. If it was, even Raw Hide's steely skin would have been pierced by the edge. Of course, he could have just used Raw Hide's own spiked blades to do his dirty work. Or his sword.

But he didn't.

Even as Raw Hide suffered, he took pride, and even comfort in the fact he was undeniably smarter. And he had the perfect way to impart this knowledge on his younger self.

As Calador the Selfless lashed out with yet another in the unending reign of club attacks, Raw simply lashed his boot out, catching his ghost-image between the legs with a debilitating kick. Calador's eyes went wide, as he fell to the side, stunned. Raw then brought his leg backwards immediately, into a mule kick. He wasn't quite sure what he felt down there (something mangled), but it was enough to make the amalgamated beast of Lars and Him release his grip.

Raw Hide completed the move, for a three hit combo bonus, by dropping to his knees, and thrusting his head backwards, catching the beastly mix of corpses between it's split head with Raw's head. Raw stood up, a vicious smile on his face as he contemplated the tortures he would inflict on his rebellious younger self.

A few moments before, Dash was forced to temporarily abandon his pursuit of his sword to avoid the incoming attacks. Dash planted his feet and leapt over both the snowstorm bolt and the fireblast, catching his ex girl. .. . catching what only physically resembled his ex girl with a boot to the head. (Yah, yah) Dash grabbed her as she staggered back, and flipped her over his shoulder, sending her crashing into Dr. Handsomenrich.

Chad, who'd taken some of that snow and stuffed it in his ear to stop the nagging of his parents, decided the trees were to blame, so he started pushing them over. Most of them landed on the various enemies, who were even now retreating towards the dragon. One, by chance, landed on Konall's nightmarish image. Konall, seeing it trapped, shrugged, then finished it off by driving the haxxor through it.

Konall grabbed his own face, feeling a sudden hot burning sensation. It quickly passed.

Chad then turned towards Raw Hide, watching him brutally kick his former self, with a maniacal grin on his face. Konall rushed over to assist Dash with Dash's rivals. Chad noticed the corpse monster sneaking up behind Raw Hide! He called out for Raw to watch out, but only got shouted down in response.

The corpse beast held a huge rock over his head, and prepared to smash it down on Raw from behind. Taking no heed of his own safety, or that of the rock, TheChad threw himself, head first, into the beast, causing it to drop the rock on it's own head as it fall back.

"Hurray, I saved you!" Raw yelled as he held his arms out for a big ol'e hug.

That's when Raw Hide nailed Chad with a right cross. Chad went down like a lump.

With Dr. Handsomenrich and Dash's tastefully unnamed ex girlfriend temporarily dealt with, Konall went over and shoved the much larger Raw Hide away from Chad. "What the HELL was that?!"

"It's 'You'll get some of it, too' if you put your hands on . . . ." Suddenly, a couple of WoodenKnuckles, followed by three Moblinos, shoved between Raw Hide and Konall apart as they marched mindlessly through them. Raw Hide yelled, "WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SHOVING ME?!"

"Uhh.. guys," Dash interrupted.

"What?!" Konall and Raw Hide both snapped at Dash.

"I think we've got bigger troubles right now."

Dash pointed over at the rapidly approaching light. It was ominous, and apparently causing any living thing it touched to suddenly vanish. (Well, not so much the trees and grass.) Chad's eyes went wide as he saw it. Konall shoved Dash and Raw back. "Go, move! Get away from that thing!"

Konall went to help Chad to his feet. Dash realized he was abandoning his sword, but there was nothing he could do about it. The wave was spreading from the dragon's location, and it was coming fast! The ghosts of the past were rushing towards it, jumping into it with mindless abandon. Konall didn't share their enthusiasm.

Konall pulled Chad up to his feet, and yelled "Go!" Of course, Chad still had snow in his ears, so Konall pointed to the rapidly approaching wave. That was enough to send Chad fleeing in the opposite direction.

Chad and Konall rushed after Dash and Raw, only to realize they had a problem. The REST of the strange beings torn from their past were also in a rush to get go the mysterious light, being drawn back to it like moths to a flame.

"Cut through them if you have to!" Dash ordered. "Get around if you can."

"DO NOT order me around!" Raw Hide screamed.

Dash slashed at a WoodenKnuckles that was directly in his way. Raw drove his shoulder into one, slamming it aside. The thunder cracked, like it could crack the sky itself in half.

Everything other than Dash, Konall, Raw Hide and Chad seemed as desperate TO the oncoming light as Konall and company were desperate to get away from it. Everything went perfect for the first minute.

Then the monsters started counterattacking, growing more and more violent as the wave swept over the lands at an ever increasing speed. Raw Hide tore through anything in his path, enjoying the chance to get a little violent activity into the escape, even though he wasn't any more eager to find out what the wave of light was doing than the others.

In his mad rush, though, Raw Hide threw one of the WoodenKnuckles up and over his head, and directly into Dash. Konall cried out for Dash. If Raw Hide took notice of his actions, he didn't care. Konall pulled Dash to his feet, and pushed him and Raw Hide forward. They took off, with Konall right behind them, guarding them from anything that attacked.

Raw Hide, in his own mind, smiled at the thought of being the only one able to outrun the wave. He was easily tossing aside most of what got in his way, leaving the three behind him to dodge through the falling bodies.

Suddenly, Konall gasped, then went silent. The wave had caught up with him. Dash's eyes narrowed, as he ducked under a swing of a sword from a skeleton enemy, jumping at a Woodenknuckle as it charged him, and sailing over three Amber Moblinos. He grabbed Chad's hand. Chad was momentarily distracted by the wave, which was only feet behind them. Dash pulled with all his might, sending Chad forward. Chad took off running.

It was too late for Dash. He made the slightest move forward, and was immediately overcome by the fast moving wave of light. Like Konall before him, he vanished.

The light paused for a half second, then covered the necessary twelve feet to catch up with TheChad. The eight footer vanished as readily and quickly as the others.

Not knowing why, Raw Hide smiled to himself, then cursed the fates themselves. As soon as the light had caught up with him, mere seconds later, it slowed down, then suddenly blinked out of existence.

Lightning without light. Thunder without a sound.

Each of the four heroes were vanished from the island, and possibly from existence itself.

When the light vanished, every trace of the monsters were gone. Except for the final warriors drawn into the battle.

Then, as the dragon recoiled momentarily in pain, a black light. Konall suddenly reappeared in a painful burst, taking no note of the strange hockey like mask over his face. He also didn't seem to react to his weapons having disappeared, having been replaced with a single, solitary weapon which radiated mind numbing power.

He'd found the S shaped ebony blade during the KOKOL's assault on the Penguin Mafia's hideout a short time ago. Although Konall determined the blade to be free of magic through use of a tourmaline compass, he'd decided nevertheless to go without it for this mission.

It should have been in Konall's retreat in the mountains on the main island, Yet here it was, in Konall's hands.

Opposite of him, the array of enemies - Calador the Selfless, Dr. Handsomenrich and his seemingly slavish female servant, the monstrosity combined of the corpses of Him and Lars Townsend and the monster that had haunted Konall's dreams that night- rushed towards Konall, convinced they could destroy him with ease. The mask the beast had worn in the nightmare was now obscuring Konall's face, leaving it's mirror like surface exposed, as it was earlier. It looked half dead thanks to Konall's haxxoring it moments earlier.

Konall, fueled by the emotions and powers he couldn't understand, raised the dark sword over his head, rushed into battle with a tremendous roar, and waded into battle with the overwhelming odds against him.

***

Catrina screamed as she watched the wave take her friends, her Dash. She saw the look of terror and rage on Becky's face as well. The pirates might have been further in the distance, but Catrina knew well they were doing their part to battle whatever monsters had come up. Catrina wheeled on the Dragon as it landed, her hands reaching for her katana, her mind only thinking of vengeance. "You evil worm! You brought us all this way so you could gloat after you did this? I oughta...."

She stopped, looking down at the light touch of a hand on hers, holding her back. She saw Michelle looking at her pleadingly. "I think you REALLY need to see this, Cat lady!" Michelle was pulling at her to follow- so Cat followed, with Rebecca joining them after casting a heated glance at the Dragon herself, one that included a silent promise to avenge her captain's death.

She climbed, following the little hippie as she led her to what she wanted to show her. She looked into the rocky depression, and then back at Chronos, her head tilting slightly as she began to grasp what this meant. "Oh my Goddess..." were her only words as she climbed down and returned to the Dragon- a completely different look on her face. She looked up into his face- saw the sadness in his eyes. She reached out, slowly, touching his breast softly with her paw, finding the words to match her gentleness. "What... what was her name?"

A shudder ran through the big beast's body, and he closed his eyes for a moment. "Her... you would not be able to pronounce her name as her own kind gave her., but in your own tongue I believe she would have been called Aurora." He gave a small smile. "That is fitting, for she was ever the light of my life...."

Catrina nodded, as so many pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "The attack... it wasn't un-provoked, was it?" She stopped Becky's retort with a glance. "You saw it- that's a nest back there. In it is an egg. He obviously didn't lay it." She smiled at Michelle's stifled giggle. "It was obviously done by this Aurora- but where is she? Why haven't we heard of TWO Chrono Dragons?" She caressed his chest. "Tell us what happened."

Chrono closed his eyes and sighed deeply, as if gathering his strength for the final push in a race. "When Aurora and I came here, so long ago, the humans who inhabited the village were few, and we thought that it would be possible for us to live here in peace, and raise the brood we wanted. We built the nest you see behind you, and I gladly helped my Aurora produce a lovely egg to put in it. We then took shifts, one of us watching over our egg, the other hunting or sleeping.

"One day I was watching over the egg while Aurora hunted her fill. At first when she failed to return, I thought nothing of it, presuming she had made a kill and was taking care of it. But she did not return at all that night, and by the next morning, I was frantic. I left the egg- it would be fine for a time- and went off in search of my mate, thinking her injured and in need of assistance.

"I- I found her... dead. And I could tell that her death had been no accident, no attack of some creature unknown that she could not handle. No, her body was hewn by sword and spear... the weapons of man.

"Something in me snapped. I rose, roaring, and set off for the village. There I delivered my ultimatum, my demand that they assemble all their women in the clearing south of them, so that I might take vengeance for the loss of my mate! I gave them until the next dawn and left, returning here to watch over the egg. I talked to it during the night, telling it stories of the mother it would never know. Telling it about her beauty, her strength, her grace in flight. What sleep I had was fitful at best, filled with images of her death, even though I had not witnessed it.

"I was up before the dawn and saw.. cattle and trinkets! These fools thought to buy their way out of the vengeance they so rightly deserved! I sped to the clearing, and saw what I expected to see, a force of men arrayed to fight me. I made short work of them; the cowards that would rather die in battle than have to live with themselves as I would; remembering the slain bodies of loved ones. I then sped to the village, leveling it in my rage, killing all in my path. I knew I missed some, but it did not matter. For the realization began to sink in that this would not bring my Aurora back to me, would not give our broodling its mother. I returned to our nest, and found all had gone wrong. The egg- the one you have all seen- was dormant. Still warm, still viable.. but somehow frozen in time. I wailed, roaring my questions to the Dragon spirits above- why had they forsaken me, my love, our child?" He paused, his eyes brimming as he remembered that day anew, waiting for the end, whatever it might be.

Catrina looked deep into the Dragon's eyes. "That's it, isn't it? This-" she waved toward the battlefield that had been there. "All this is all because of the curse.. some final test of us?" The Dragon could do nothing but hang his head, so Catrina continued on. "You've been forced by the curse to bring us to this point, to cause us to witness the death of our friends and lo- of our friends." Again, no response- as if the Dragon were unwilling.. or unable to help them.

Obviously it was up to them to puzzle this one out. Catrina looked around, looking at Michelle. She had indeed served as key to this puzzle. In fact, without her Catrina would have attacked the Dragon immediately after Dash disappeared. They had felt she was the key to this.. was this how she was to affect things? Did she have another role to play?

Catrina thought, knowing that the answer was vital, and so close she could smell it. She looked at the others again. Becky, like herself, was a fighter. They had discussed their individual foes as they made their way here, and it seemed to Catrina that both she and Becky had been forced to take up the sword. She by the Pitmasters, Becky by a desire never to be anyone's punching bag again.

And then there was Michelle. Ever since she had first met the little hippie, Catrina had had an opinion of her, usually bad. She had seen her a brainless, unthinking, stupid little pothead whose comments could mostly be ignored. Now, as she looked at her, she no longer saw stupidity, but naivety or perhaps..

.. innocence.

Catrina wondered, was that it? Michelle had not had the kind of life she or Becky had, that much was obvious. Did that give her the edge here? Catrina thought hard. Thinking back as to what life had been like for her, life before the Slavers. She remembered the village she grew up in, her heart jumping as she realized she would never see it again. She remembered her mother, and the other women of the village, all teaching her, not only to hunt, to track and bring down prey for the Village, but also the fact that all they did was under the watchful gaze of the Goddess. Her love, her compassion, her..

.. forgiveness.

Catrina caressed the Dragon again, then motioned to the others to join her. Rebecca stood at his other side, while Michelle was bold enough to actually climb on the big beast's back, and the Dragon seemed not to mind it all that much. Catrina happened to glance up, and found that the skies, which had been clear again after the momentary freakiness of the storm before, was dark and overcast again. Good omen or bad, she did not know, but Catrina plowed ahead with her plan, muttering a fervent prayer to the Goddess for her divine intervention and guidance in this matter.

"Chronos, I... I wish I could apologize for all that's happened to you, and have it all go away. That is, I am sorry for what has happened, and I apologize for what it's worth. But the one who needs to forgive you is not me. It isn't even the people you killed all those years ago. The one person who needs to forgive you, who holds you here.. is yourself. "

She hurried on before he could raise a protest. "Isn't it ironic? A powerful Dragon such as yourself, able to bend time itself to your needs, yet trapped in the past, because you refuse to let it go.

"I know how you feel, and you know that. You've seen the scars on my soul- only the Goddess will ever see them better. You've seen all our pasts, and you know what haunts our dreams. But there's on thing we've learned, that we had to learn, lest we go mad. We learned to let it go. Yes, we have guilt and remorse, but we do not let it own our souls! I will stand in the presence of the Goddess, and she will judge me on the nature of those scars. I can only hope that, when that day comes, she will be as compassionate as my mother taught me.

"But, it is not only your best interest to forgive yourself- it is your duty as well! You have a broodling that you have trapped with you, unable to move forward because YOU have not moved on!

"And what of Aurora, your mate? Do you think she rests quietly with the Dragon spirits while you are unable to let her go? I'm not saying forget her, as if that can be done! I'm saying remember the good of her life as you said yourself, her beauty, her grace in flight, her prowess as a huntress. Remember the day you met, and knew you were destined for each other. Remember the day you found this island, and started to plan for a family. The family that awaits you still, once you let yourself come forward.

"Yes, yes Aurora is gone, but she still lives on in your heart, in your broodling's heart. And, one day, you will be judged by the Great Dragon spirits. And she will be there to plead your case, to stand by your side throughout all.

"But you must let it go. All of it, good and bad. You must let go of your grief, your guilt, your shame. You must instead love for the broodling that awaits you,. Forget the hate of the past, and live for the love of the future. "

Rebecca and Michelle hugged the Dragon tightly, tears streaming from their eyes for his grief. Catrina felt the tears on her own cheeks, matting the fur even as her voice broke with her emotion. The very sky around them seemed to roil in tune with their emotions.

Chronos trembled, then suddenly the lightning struck him again- struck him through the three girls who embraced him! He threw his head back and roared, a roar filled with anguish and morning saved over an almost unbearable length of time. The air flashed again, and a second wave of energy swept the fields, but none noticed, nor even cared.

They had a friend to console.. . little realizing that not everyone realized the fight was, indeed, over.

--------  

Elsewhere

Being blinked out of existence and back again proved tiring. Dash was the first of the group to push his way back to his feet. Despite seeing the slaughtered remains of the last enemies they'd faced, it was the uneasy stillness that caught Dash's attention.

A quick glance at the others showed Chad and Raw Hide had also felt the effects. Chad looked confused- more confused than normal. Raw Hide looked pissed off. Er.. more pissed off than normal.

"Alright, who stole my kill?!" Raw Hide screamed as he looked down at the body of his former self. Like the bodies of the other threats Konall had faced, it was slaughtered quite thoroughly. Chad uncovered his ears, slowly, relieved to no longer be haunted by the voices from the past, and the snow had melted from inside his ears.

Dash sized up the situation as best he could, despite the ringing in his ears. "Where's Konall?" Dash figured by the nature of the wounds, and the thick boot imprints left in the soft spots of grass her him, Konall was responsible for their enemies' defeat. Somehow.

Raw Hide looked around, throwing a hand up to signify confusion. "I don't know about you, but I've got a Dragon to kill!"

"Stay together!" Dash ordered. It didn't do all that much good. At best, Raw Hide slowed down to a reasonable pace, with Chad eagerly following him like a lost puppy. Dash sighed, sheaved Bad Beats again, and set off after the two.

***

Catrina and Rebecca flanked the great beast as they made their way down the plateau to the vale below. She was unsure of what was to come, but her hopes were buoyed with the fact that her Dash had been returned to her!

As they approached the area where the battle had recently been raging, Catrina could see that the men were coming their way. She meweled nervously as to their reaction- but her mewlings were cut short as she saw a huge fighter come racing toward them with blood in his eyes!

Catrina roared in challenge to the huge fighter, hoping the menace alone would make him think twice- she heard the ring of steel as Rebecca drew her cutlass, matching it with drawing her own twin katana. Catrina stepped together in front of their friends, blocking off Konall, able to smell the lust to destroy the Dragon in the stranger.

Unfortunately, without even knowing why, Konall hardly recognized the three as human beings. Or maybe he too eagerly dismissed them as more of the Dragon's summoned illusions. Konall roared from under the ebony mask, seeing his intended pray in front of him. "Die, Dragon!"

Unable to pierce through the black aura surrounding him, Chronos could indeed smell how dangerous the blade and mask had made Konall. Catrina didn't bother trying to talk it out. She simply dove at Konall, both blades extended! Konall parried her attacks, backing up, seemingly helpless under her attacks. However, it proved to be a ruse to lure her in closeness. With a speed that defied his larger size, Konall reached out at just the right moment, catching her with a stiff, powerful arm that sent her flying back.

"You be' wantin' a fight, huh? Have at ye!" Rebecca - Coconuts, the fiercest swordswoman on the seas - threw Konall into another duel. She was too battle savvy to let herself get drawn into melee range. Even as she attacked, Michelle, drawing on the 'training' she'd gotten at the hippie camp under her new name, Moondream, started pelting him from a distance with impromptu combinations of dried hard fruit and rocks, mixing in driftwood when she could.

"Stop it, swordguy!" Moondream desperately protested. "The Dragon's our friend! I don't think I like you! I'm sorry, I don't know you but - "

Unfortunately, Konall's speed was enhanced beyond all reason. Moondream cried out in concern and Konall suddenly ducked low, and swept Rebecca's feet from under her, sending her down hard. Ignoring the annoyance of the fruit being pelted at him, Konall stood over Catrina, who was still dazed.

Dash arrived, now leading the other two, as Konall, lost in his mindless rage, raised the sword above his head, intent on finishing Catrina off.

***

Konall stood above Catrina, who looked up, trying to shake her head free of the cobwebs. She heard Dash's voice, like it was coming from miles away through a tunnel.

"Get them apart!" Dash's voice ringed out from ... somewhere. It somehow reminded Catrina of the ring of his sword being unsheathed. Within seconds, Dash and TheChad were holding Konall by his arms, struggling to get him to stand down. Raw Hide was there. He seemed more amused by what was going on than anything. "Konall, calm down! That's Catrina Whiteclaw. She's with me!"

Catina got up, rubbing her tail where she had landed. she shot the big guy... Konall?.. a snarl and a growl- but Dash wanted the fight over, so for her it was over. She pounced on Dash, hugging him tightly as she cried a bit, having thought she'd never see him again.

Dash caught Catrina, somehow managing to keep his balance despite the pounce. He kept one hand on Konall, hoping Konall'd regained his composure. Indeed, Konall looked a bit dazed as he finally removed the mask. He looked at Dash, and Catrina, then to the Dragon. "Heh. Ally. Gotchya. Sorry about that. I guess I let my berzerker's fury get the better of me. So, that's the Dragon. Shouldn't it be slaughtering us, or something?"

Dash hugged Catrina tighter, then took a half step back to take the scene in. Raw Hide had that annoying, arrogant expression on his face. He was ENJOYING this chaos. Chad looked bewildered. More so than before. Dash returned his gaze to Catrina. "Catrina. I'm glad you're alright, but I think we're all a little confused as to what's going on."

Catrina smiled at Dash. "That's okay, hon. I was confused until just a little while ago... but now we've broken the curse- everything's alright!"

She continued to smile and explained the story, telling everyone what had happened since the moment she left Dash's side. She left out the fights Rebecca and she had had, not wanting to dwell on that at the moment. Dash seemed to sense when she'd omitted something, but let it slide.

Konall huffed- bringing Catrina's attention back to him. "I still don see what the big deal is. It's only a Dragon!"

Catrina turned quickly on him- a fire burning in her eyes. "Just a Dragon...He's JUST a Dragon!" With that said, she pounced hard, and although he caught her without falling over he found himself holding on to a wildcat... an angry one at that. "You JERK! If it weren't for idiots like you there never would have BEEN a curse!" She wailed at him, clawing and punching his face and where ever else she could hit, her growls and snarls a frightening change from the usual loving self Dash knew.

"He's right," Raw Hide pulled a sword in front of him and added darkly, "Let's kill it."

Chad stood between the dragon and Raw Hide, "Are you crazy!?! That thing's COOL!"

Catrina started to cry, tears flowing down her cheeks as she remembered everything she hand been told- everything she had told them and this lout STILL didn't get it? "He... he had a MATE... and they killed her because they were too STUPID not to learn to live with them, and they had a CHILD- and EGG which this damned curse has held for all these years! You have NO idea what this poor thing has gone through yet you just want to kill him because he's just a Dragon!!??"

Konall looked sympathetic and confused, as he grabbed both her arms and held her back. "So. . . don't kill it?"

Catrina shot him one of those glances that said 'what are you- an effin idiot?' then looked at Dash "Honey- do YOU understand? And could you tell it to Mr brain dead here?"

"HAH, Mr Brain Dead. What a funny name! My name's Captain Caaaaave. .. . "

"Spare us," Dash cut him off.

Becky finally got to her feet, just time to hear this "Oh...so that was you? I haven't heard so many braincells die since that hi.. oh.. heh. Sorry, hon." She looked at Michelle sheepishly.

Dash continued. "Konall, she's right. After everything the thing's been through, I don't think just ignoring the story and trying to kill it - " Dash paused to size up the Dragon. "Assuming that's even possible- would be the right thing to do. Do you?"

"Well, no," Konall looked it over, trying to muster up some sympathy despite his hunter's instinct. "But what about the reports of it terrorizing the lands? As in, you know, actually setting crops ablaze and attacking. Not just sitting there being ugly."

"Not to mention," Raw insisted on adding, "all those monsters we got to slaughter on the way up." He paused, then corrected. "Had to. Had to slaughter. Tsk, poor things." He didn't sound at all convincing.

"Unless. . . ." Konall's eyes lit up with understanding. "That was a part of the curse, too?"

Chronos nodded. "Indeed, warrior. Everything that I have done since that day has been affected by the curse upon me. I do not wish to fight anymore, I am weary of it... but be forewarned that if I must to protect what I love, I will."

Raw Hide sneered. "Not scared."

Dash ignored Raw's bravado. "So Catrina. What do we do now? I agree we shouldn't kill him, but we were sent here to do something. If you're cursed, how do we know we won't have problems again?"

Catrina shot a glance at Raw Hide that would have made braver souls cringe. "How about evisceration? Does evisceration scare you, jackass? Or do you even have the brains to understand what it means?"

"I don't know." Raw started towards her. Dash, Moondream, Coconuts, Chad and Konall immediately jumped between the two. "How about you tell me AFTER I KILL you?!"

"Enough!" Dash ordered.

"Yes." The Dragon intoned - not in words this time, but into all of their minds. "Quite enough I daresay! Dearest Catrina... please do not bother yourself defending me further. As you know I am a powerful being, and capable of handling my own affairs." Catrina nodded, backing down from her fighting stance, although the others did not hear what was said to her. "And as for you, Calador the 'Selfless,' let us not be too hasty with battle." the Dragon whispered mockingly into Raw Hide's mind, "It would be a shame to let certain information become public knowledge."

"Calador is DEAD! And you wouldn't dare! Only Raw Hide exists now! I'll make sure your screams echo throughout this island until time itself STOPS!!" Raw Hide screamed in his own head. But his threats were idle. The Dragon could tell he wouldn't dare push this issue.

Chronos turned his attention to the rest of the group. "I must go now, my broodling awaits me and I must protect it until it hatches... alone." He was about to suggest Michelle dismount when she spoke.

"Can...can I help? Help you watch him..it. I mean?"

Chornos murred for the first time in years. "Of course, child. You may visit me at any time, and stay as long as you like. Together, we will raise a strong chick, and one to be proud of!"

He turned to depart- spreading his wings- but even as he left he touched Catrina's mind one last time

"A warning, dearest Catrina, before you depart my home. The perils I gave to you- that I gave to all- came from your own mind. If the peril I sent still exists in this world today- you must be wary of it still! Please, come visit us when you can!"

Konall suddenly smiled, and looked up to the skies, in response to some unspoken message from the Dragon. "I'm sorry. And . . . thank you. The Kingdom of KOL will never forget your generosity today."

Catrina glanced over at Konall, somewhat taken aback at his change of heart.

Dash laid his hand on the hilt of his broadsword Bad Beats, looking Konall over. "You confuse me."

"I'm a complex man," Konall answered with a dry smile. "And besides, the Dragon's chosen to reward us, as he feels it was destined to be. Everyone, come with me. I'll need all your help."

Rebeca's face turned dark, as she felt her attention drawn to the distance. "Afraid ya landwalkers'll have to do without me on this one. I'd best be seein' to the condition of my crew." She turned to Catrina, giving her an embrace, glad the battles they'd fought were at last but a memory. "You'll be seein' us before you leave, so we can arrange a trip to the mainlands for you and your friends here, if it be needed."

Catrina only smiled as she embraced the pirate. The others watched her, doing her best to ignore her injuries, make her way off into the distance to tend to her Captain and crew.

Catrina watched her new ally- no, her new friend- depart in silence. A thoughtful look upon her face as she contemplated all that happened today, and the Dragons sudden explanation of his power. Did he mean something by it- did he know that something lie ahead for her- with Him?

"So," Chad bounced up and down, giving the grounds a bit of the shake. "We did it?"

"No." Dash smiled, then looked to the distance where the hippie girl had flown away with the Dragon. He then turned his attention to the female pirate already starting to vanish in the distance. Finally, Dash looked to Catrina. "They did it."

Catrina shook herself- time to think of more morbid things later! "No... Your friend is right. We did it. We ALL did it. The Goddess, praise her, set us all on this path long ago... perhaps... perhaps even... " She looked off to the south- toward home.

"So," Chad bounced up and down a bit more. "WE did it? We finished our mission and won? Wait, that's what I said the first time!"

"Come on, Catrina," Konall smiled reassuringly at her. "You're all gonna love this." He turned to the plateau, and walked forwards it. The others, curious, followed Konall. Spaz, sure the danger was over, appeared on Konall's shoulder and started babbling happily. Where there was once a smoldering crop of rocks to the side of the crop of rocks, there was now a hole in the ground! It seemed like a mine entrance.

Konall and Dash prepared to venture down it. Catrina gave another thought to the Dragon. How it had let it's own fears and hate from the past consume it. How long had it waited for this lesson to be learned? How long had it suffered? How many had suffered as a result of the Dragon and those humans, hundreds of years ago, being unable to communicate?

Then Catrina turned down and rushed to be the first down after Dash and Konall. After all, everything that happened was already in the past, and Catrina didn't want to miss one second of the next adventure!