Please note the character "Rosario Harmoni" belongs to me and me alone! He's originally from my own novel series "Peace of the Rose". I also own the character Eric's mother. I haven't given her a name yet. :P
Eric was still stuck in a dream like state during that time. He had just heard a voice and began to look around to see where it had came from.
"Hello?" Eric called out. "Is there someone there?"
No answered as he continued to fly over to no where. He didn't know what else to do. As he floated for a little while, he then stopped as he saw someone in front of him. It was a young man about 14 or so, with burgundy red hair that went to his shoulders. He was dressed in a dark brown coat with a white shirt, green vest and the same color brown pants with black shoes. Chained to his vest appeared to be a strange object. The metal part of the object was almost a smooth oval shape, but on top of it had four curved corners that made it look dragon's head (with four "horns" on top. Two on one side and two on the other) In the middle of the strange pendant was a large ruby gem. Upon the man's ruffle collar was also a red ruby.
When the boy opened his eyes, he revealed to have unusual golden eyes and in his hands was a scythe. At the top where the blade came out, was a large round disk with a large ruby just like the pendant on his vest and collar jewel. This disk was on both sides of the scythe. Upon his back were large reddish brown wings.
Despite the usual appearance, the young man had a kind and warm expression in his face. There just wasn't a scary feeling about him. His appearance just didn't matter. The wings, the scythe, the gold coin eyes and the strange jewels didn't matter. The warmth in his face and just the aura around him, didn't make you care about that. You just felt he was good.
Least to Eric, who was cautious but approached the strange young man anyway.
"Um..." Eric began to say "Hi...uh...Who are you?"
"My name is Rosario Harmoni." The young man said. The young boy spoke in a soft and light tone of voice. There wasn't a specific accent. (If you want picture his voice as being the same as the English voice of Takato from Digimon Tamers except slightly deeper being he's 14).
"I'm Eric Vanheart." Eric introduced himself.
"Oh, those no need to tell me who you are." Rosario said "I know."
"You do? How's that?" Eric asked
"Because I'm a vampire too." Rosario explained then he chuckled "Well its not just that. You see, I came here because I too possess the crystal heart of a dragon and it called upon me to come to you in this dream."
"What do you mean?"
****
"Woo hoo!" Nuka cheered as he leaped around in air in celebration. “We are finally winning against the knights and we did it without that trump, Nny!"
“Oh quit your obnoxious yelling!" Anne snapped. “It’s just as bad as your sniveling! "
“Jee, Anne would you just lighten up?" Nuka whined.
“Shut up the both of you!" Mr. Eff snapped at the both of them. “We still haven’t finished them off yet!"
“Do we have to kill them right now though? " Nuka asked in a slobbering kind of way. “I was hoping to torture the pigtail girl in front of Nny… Maybe have some ‘special’ time too, if you know what I mean."
“Ugh!" A disturbed shiver went down Anne’s back as he said this. “Please keep your sick fantasies to yourself!"
“Enough! " said the annoyed voice of Johnny who floated behind them in his armor form. He floated down between Anne and Nuka.
“Nny…" Anne said in surprise.
“I’ll finish them off." Nny said
Hearing Nny’s voice Devi look up at him. “Nny…"
Nuka gawked in shock and huffed “Hey why should you…"
“Lay a finger on her and I’ll turn you inside out." Johnny eyed him threatenly.
Anne just stayed quiet like she wisely should. Not even uttering a breath to him.
“Well Devi looks like you get to hang out with Nny after all!" Anne said in a fake cheery voice.
“Shut up." Nny told her causing her to back away slowly.
“Alright!" Mr. Eff said “Nny means business! About f@#$ time! Go get them!"
With that Nny flew forward at Devi.
****
“What do you mean you were called upon into this dream and what do you mean like me you have a stone of a dragon? I have a stone of a dragon?" Eric asked Rosario.
Rosario chuckled “You sound just like me when I first became a vampire and a hero."
“Huh?" Eric replied in confusion. Then Eric looked in shock when something appeared behind Rosario. It was a red medieval type dragon appeared behind Rosario.
Rosario just smiled and answer “We’re actually just both dreaming. I guess you can say we’re sharing a dream. "
“We are?" Eric asked
Then Rosario nodded and then explained “As for the dragon stone, hold out your wrist you wear your special item on."
“My special item? " Eric replied and then he held out his right hand. With that the gauntlet appeared on his wrist.
Rosario nodded as he said “That stone is actually the spiritual heart of a dragon. Just like mine."as he held the strange dragon head shape pendant of his.
Eric gasped in surprise.
Rosario’ s face became a bit serious. “But that’s why it backfired on you. Since it’s the heart of a dragon, it wants lend it’s power to someone that’s worthy of it’s power."
Eric looked at him in surprise again but a small sad expression came on his face.
“A dragon’s heart is to be used by those willing to protect." Rosario explained
“And I’m not worthy of it’s powers…" Eric said sadly.
“Course you are." Rosario said, his face returning to a gentle expression for a moment. “But something in your heart is holding you back and preventing you from wielding it's power. You need to reflect. What do you think is holding you back? What are you afraid of?"
“I don’t understand…" Eric said “I thought I was just afraid of getting hurt by this thing. I didn’t want to tell my friends that because I didn’t want them to worry or get hurt…"
“Is that really what you believe it is?" Rosario asked.
"Huh?" Eric replied
“Eric, are those the real reasons that you think that caused that Black Dragon Stone to backfire on you?" Rosario asked again.
Eric looked down as he thought about it.
"Well..." Eric replied Putting his right hand in a relaxed fist to his chest. He started to remember something from long ago.
Eric looked at him for a moment and a memory flashed back into his mind.
Eric suddenly got a twinge of pain from the gauntlet. Even in his dream he felt like something piercing through his heart. In real life, Eric while in bed, gasped in pain. This caught the sight of Edgar, who had finally gotten back and was checking up on Eric in the room. Eric began to glow as his gauntlet appeared and his body began to twinge, his facial expression clearly showing grief and pain.
"Oh my..." Edgar said worriedly "Please hang in there, Eric!"
Magnus who had been waiting for Mina to get ready, also caught sight of what was going on. A sad expression appeared on his face, but the elderly vampire simply looked away and tried focusing on what he and Mina had to do.
Back in his dream, Eric remembered his mother was being abused both physical and verbally by his tyrant of a dad. A 6 year old Eric looked on in horror. He was on the left side of the room between his mom and dad.
“Stop that!" Eric cried out. “Please dad stop right now!" The little boy dressed in a white, baggy, long sleeve shirt and black pants, ran in front of his mother and got slapped across the left cheek by his father’s furious hand.
“Eric!" His mother cried. As the boy tried to get up, his dad grabbed him by the arm and threw him against the wall. The boy fell to the ground with a thud, shivering from pain and fear.
“Eric! " His mother cried out again. “No! How could you do that to your own son!?"
“Shut up!" His dad snapped “That brat of yours deserves it for being a little wimp he is!"
Eric tried getting up. His dad practically growled “I didn’t say you could get up boy!"
Eric’s father was about to slam his foot down on him, but his mother intervened by covering her son with her body.
“No mother!" He cried out
His father finally left the room, leaving the poor boy in tears in his mother’s arms.
“That day I never felt so helpless." Eric said in tears as he remembered. “I hated seeing someone getting hurt because of me. That’s my fear. Of people getting hurt because of me and not being be able to do anything about it...."
Then he paused for a moment and as he crossed his arms and held them tightly in an expression of insecurity or longing, he finally said " I felt like people shouldn't worry about me. I never felt my life was worth anyone else's time. With the few that cared, I still hated myself. Maybe for being weak. Maybe I just felt too useless to be loved, but I guess I still wanted try. I wanted to be someone opposite of my dad, someone that could at least make someone smile and show them what I long to feel. I thought maybe that could little by little, close that hole that was inside my heart."
He paused again as he thought how he left his friends and said as tears ran down his face "It did when I gained friends who actually cared about me, but sometimes it didn't...Sometimes it felt like the hole was getting wider...I was too scared to let anyone know what I was going through or my true feelings...I didn't want to face my friends when I became a vampire...I felt scared that they would reject me and leave me all alone. I couldn't face that head on...Out all the feelings in this world, nothing feels worse than feeling unloved...."
Rosario finally said "If that's so why would you wish for that on yourself and others?"
Eric looked at him in surprise as Rosario continue on saying with a smile on his face. "You made so many people feel good about themselves and saved others countless times. With so many people drawn to you by your kindness and consideration of others, how can you say you hate yourself or even say you're weak? Most people who would have gone through what you have, would end up being depressed or full of anger at the world. You chose to be the better person all the way through, no matter what pain you went up against. That to me is true strength right there."
As Rosario said this, Eric heard a couple voices around him. They were of his friends and he thought of what he had said to Magnus, about all the good came when he turned into a vampire. Then a leaf shape light appeared in front of him.
"What's this...?" Eric replied as he touched the leaf. He then smiled as he felt a warm light from it.
Rosario finally spoke again, his tone of voice full of warmth. "Your friends care about you and they want you to be happy, that includes feeling good about your own self. Loving yourself is just as important as loving others. It will give you the strength to go through anything."
Eric thought about it for a moment, letting what Rosario had said to him sink into him before he warmly replied "That is true..."
"I do understand how you felt about that whole rejection thing." Rosario said to him. "I was born different than most people due to my eyes that would glow. However, running away isn't a way to solve the problem. Even if you're scared, you never know until you face it. At least, if someone ever did reject you for who you are, you'll know and not have to linger on those thoughts. And hey, if they don't reject you, those are the ones worth keeping, right?"
Eric looked at him a bit surprised by this and in an upbeat tone replied "Yeah!" He then looked down at his gauntlet.
“Trust yourself, Eric. " Rosario told him. “Trust you and the bond you have with your friends. That's where true strength comes from and the dragon's heart will sense that and trust you as well."
“I think I understand that now." Eric said.
“Your friends need you now." Rosario warned. “The Rose Dragon told me they're endanger. "
“You serious!?" Eric asked in a shock.
"You must awaken now and go to them." Rosario said but with a voice of another, what seem to be his own dragon channeling through him. "Let the power of the Black Onyx Dragon guide you!"
Eric nodded as he held out his item, then the black onyx dragon appeared. It had a long slender head like that of a normal western dragon with black spines and scales that shimmered like black onyx stones. It let out a loud hiss like roar. It looked at the vampire who wield it's heart, with eyes as blue as Eric's. Eric let out a surprise gulp but nodded to assure it he was going to make things right.
Eric looked at Rosario and asked "Will I ever see you again?"
“Probably some day." Rosario assured him with a warm smile.
Eric lifted his gauntlet arm out and said to the dragon. “Kay, I understand now of what I need to do and I won't run anymore! So please give me the strength I need to protect everyone!"
The dragon let out another roar as if to agree and ready to fight.
The black stone glimmered as if to agree as well. With that Eric focused his powers and finally awakened. He sat up quickly. Then he looked at the leaf that was left on him. He knew it was that of Tenna and Devi as well as their familiars.
"Guys..." Eric said quietly under his breath. He smiled at this as he gently held the leaf to his chest. "Thank you and hang on...I'll be right there shortly!"
"Eric, hold on!" Edgar said in concern. "You're not going to fight are you?! You just practically came out of a coma!"
Eric smiled at him "I have to! My friends need me and I'm not going to abandon them!" He then gave Edgar the leaf. "Keep this safe until I get back." He told Edgar and held his gauntlet out and transformed into his armor. “Take me to my friends…" He told it. With that Eric disappeared. By now Mina and Magnus were at the mountain side.
****
Thanks to the fact that Nny wanted to work alone and that Tenna and Devi had managed to scatter and hide like mice in a house, they managed to survive for this whole time. Hiding behind whatever they could find to rest and take turns taking a few shots at him.
However, they couldn’t keep up and finally they couldn’t hold their transformation any more. Nny exhausted but still enough energy, he turned to Tenna and was about to do the finishing blow.
“Johnny no!’ Devi cried out.
Tenna looked in horror as his blade was held above her head. As he swung down, he was suddenly was paralyzed and then something forced him back. Everyone witnessing were surprised.
Tenna who had braced herself for impact, looked up to see what stopped him. There standing in front of her, facing Johnny was Eric.
“Eric?" Tenna said quietly, expecting the gauntlet to have taken over him again.
Eric turned his head to look behind him at Tenna. He smiled at her.
“Eric, you’re alright! " Tenna cheered.
Eric smirked and said “Was there ever a doubt?"
“Eric!" Devi said in relief.
“Sorry I’m late." Eric said “I had to do some reflecting but we’ll talk about it later. Take a breather. I’ll handle this!"
Johnny looked him as cringed and struggle to get up.
“How that little bat boy get here!?" Anne exclaim. She and the other Dark members looked still were in surprise.
“Why because," Eric said and he introduced himself. “Fueled by the determination to protect my friends. Armor black as pitch. I'm the Onyx Dragon Knight!"
Eric arched his sword up and said “As long I have my friends and love ones, I won’t give up the fight."
“Ek…" Anne cringed “Spare me the friendship speech!"
Eric just smirked at her comment and then looked at Johnny who growled tiredly “I don’t need anyone! Not friends or family nor anyone else!"
“Johnny…" Devi said sadly
“Someone’s arrogant…" Anne commented quietly.
“Well you know Johnny," Eric said as he lean on his sword in a sarcastic, slightly prideful tone. “That’s lousy way of thinking. You should really change that."
“Stop your yapping!" Nny snapped
“Right" Eric agreed. He jumped and the two collided blades with each other. As they did energy from their attacks started shatter out, which caused some of the other minions to leave, except Mr. Eff and Anne who tried attacking together at Eric , but Devi and Tenna transformed and quickly to take them out.
As they slam their swords together, Eric also heard a faint voice coming out of no where, desiring help.
Eric stopped for a moment in surprise, but then had to block Nny's attack once, but Nny was getting tired and Eric having been fully rested up, managed to push Nny back and away enough to do a finishing move.
Eric arched up his sword over his shoulder and called out “Ready, set! Black Thunder!" Then as he swung his sword down he shouted “Raider!"
With that his sword blasted tremendous amount of the black and white electrical energy. Nny blocked it with his energy shield. The blast was so big though, it was firing sparks in the opposite direction, right at him and his friends. Mr. Eff and Anne decided to head out knowing they wouldn't be strong with all three of them together.
“Everyone, gather behind me!" Eric told them. As they did, Eric put his free hand over the cross on his belt, while keeping his other hand on his sword and threw what appeared transparent image. As he did a faint image of a cross like the one on his belt appeared in front of him.
“Vampire’s Shield!" Eric called out. Suddenly a faint black sphere went around them and made a force field, protecting them from the attack. Nny collapsed as his shield broke taking part of the attack.
When it was finally over, Tenna and Devi along with their familiars, looked in astonishment. They had won.
“Whoa!" Tenna said “That was awesome!"
Eric panted and nearly fell back. Tenna caught him just in time.
“Eric!" Tenna said worryingly. “Are you alright?!"
Eric opened his eyes and turned his head to her and assured her “Yeah, just a bit worn out that’s all."
“Well, you got out of a coma and took down Nny. " Devi stated as she walked up to them. “Can’t blame ya for that."
“Well you two had done most of the fighting." Eric said as Tenna helped him up. “I just did the finishing move on him. You even took down two of his minions coming after me. Thanks for that. Wish I was here sooner. "
“Least you got here, " Tenna said “and you saved us! "
“And you’re alright." Devi added
Eric nodded and then Tenna asked “Um, how are we gonna get out of here?"
Eric’s gem blinked which Eric noticed and then he said “Hey, I have an idea. "
“Hmm?" They looked at him.
****
“You sure this will work?" Devi asked after what Eric had told them.
“I saw it in an anime once." Eric said “That and my gauntlet did get me here. Won’t hurt to try."
“Ditto, on that!" Tenna replied
Without saying anything more, the three friends joined hands and began to focus their energy. As they did they began glowing as their energy combined and they floated off the ground slightly. Little did they know that Johnny was also glowing as he watched them. Within a minute, a portal opened up. This caught them off guard a bit as they looked but focused up again and soon they vanished.
Magnus and Mina were concentrating at the foot of the mountain. They were the ones that had opened the portal to help the knights escape. Edgar had called them and told them that Eric had vanished. Magnus,somehow knew that Eric had teleported to the Dark Area by himself.
Suddenly the three knights appeared where they were pulled in before just as they thought. Mina and Magnus fell to their knees, but Mina was able to get up and help Magnus. As Devi and Tenna started to fall, they used their weapons to fly again. Eric of course, had his wings to fly.
As they flew down, Tenna was yelling “Woo hoo!". They laughed in celebration which made Mina smile in excitement and relief. Magnus just smirked a little bit, not wanting to waste energy as much as needed to.
While flying down, Eric spotted something upon one of the mountain cliffs near by. Eric flew closer to get a better look. It was that of a young boy with dark hair and an unusual outfit. It was black and slightly baggy with white trimming and in his hands was a white parasol.
When Eric realize it was a boy, he tried to move closer but all of a sudden, a big gust of wind came up, pushing Eric back. When Eric looked again the boy was gone without a trace. Eric looked where he had seen the boy in confusion, but decided to just join his friends down on the ground.
“Hey Eric, what’s wrong?" Tenna asked
“Oh nothing…" Eric replied brushing off what he saw as just been a trick of the eye. “Just thought I saw something, that’s all."
“It seems like you finally got control of your armor. " Mina said “I’m glad."
“Indeed. " Magnus said with a calm but proud smile. “Nice job."
“Thanks" Eric replied.
“Yeah…" Tenna almost started crying again as she hugged Eric, surprising him a bit. “I’m so glad you’re okay!"
“We were worried about you." Demi from inside Devi’s heart said. Devi nodded in reply.
“Sorry…" Eric said “I should have told you what I was feeling. Didn’t mean to worry you guys. "
Then he returned Tenna's hug warmly as they all enjoyed the warm feeling of relief. It was a small step, but it was an improvement.
****
It was sunset and the three friends and their familiars, walked on a bridged that over looked the city in the distance. Eric was in his normal self, wearing a navy blue long sleeve shirt, black pants, sneakers and red belt. Tenna was in an orange top, green cargo pants and neon green and black high tops. Devi was in a magenta colored midriff, dark blue jeans and black boots.
"You told us your dad was a jerk and hated you, but I didn't know he was that abusive to you too..." Devi replied as Eric had told him what happened and explained a bit of his past. He felt it was time to open up a bit about that. They were a bit surprised.
"He was to the both of us. That's why my mom was desperate to get us out of there, least eventually...My dad was very kind when he first met mom, least from what she told me. Something just snapped in him or maybe was always like that and just showed his true colors later, I dunno." Eric replied.
"That's awful...." Tenna replied as she looked down sadly.
"Yeah..." Eric replied with a smile. "I mean, for the most part I try not to let it bother me so much, especially so I don't live there anymore."
"I guess..." Tenna replied.
"But that's still quite a bit of an ordeal you had to go through..." Devi replied, still a bit baffled, though now it made perfect sense to why he was like that. She remembered that Oblivia had told her, he went through hell. She couldn't imagine anymore ordeals he had went through because of his abusive dad alone.
Tenna thought the same thing. She wasn't too sure how to even respond to that.
"Well, yeah it was." Eric replied. "Sometimes, I even wondered how the hell I went through it, but I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Tenna was silent for a bit and then touched Eric's wrist as she asked "Y-you don't still hate yourself, do you?"
Eric looked at her for a moment and smiled as he gently touched her hand. "No. Well, I'm working on that at least..." He said the last bit nervously and then confidently replied. "With everyone including you four needing me, I can't just dwindle in self pity. That's not going to exactly help defeat the dark master."
"Good answer!" Tenna replied happily. "We'll help you boost that confidence up!"
"Mhm!" Demi replied happily next to Devi who smiled warmly in agreement.
Tenna quickly jumped and kept her hands to herself, a bit flustered at what she just did. Eric just looked at Tenna's behavior in oddness, but smiled slightly as he turned his head towards the sun a little bit. Devi, Demi and Spooky let out a silent giggle, covering their mouths with their hands.
"So now your gauntlet can change you into your normal self?" Tenna asked trying to change the subject.
"Yeah." Eric replied happily. "However, I can't do it all the time. Magnus said it can strain on my powers a bit, if I do it a lot, so I still need to stay in bat form in the sun at times. But yeah, if I need to return to my normal self, I can without kissing anyone. "
"Thank goodness..." Devi whispered.
"I'm thankful for that as well.." Eric replied, feeling a bit guilty.
"Is that suppose to mean something?" Tenna teased.
"Nothing!" Eric replied nervously. "I just felt wrong doing that because...well proper etiquette you know..."
"I was just teasing you, Eric!" Tenna giggled.
He then looked down sort of guiltily as he said "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys how I was feeling."
"It's alright." Tenna insisted worriedly. "I kinda was to blame too...I shouldn't have pressured you like that."
"I needed it though." Eric replied "I was just worried about what would happen if the gauntlet did backfire and well, hurting all of you, but I didn't want you to worry."
"Eric, we're friends." Devi simply put it with a smile. "We're suppose to worry about each other. Having friends worry and care you doesn't mean you're being bothersome. It's part of the deal when you have friends. "
"Yeah, you can always tell us what's bothering you." Tenna replied. "We won't think differently of you or treat you any different. You have our backs and we do the same for you."
"I know that now..." Eric replied warmly "Thanks...." Eric felt his eyes glisten with tears, he had kept so much inside, it was finally just flowing out. He didn't have time earlier to let out his emotions.
Tenna noticed and immediately embrace him warmly. Devi came over and put a comforting hand on his back, while Demi and Spooky landed on both his shoulders. No words were spoken. Everyone just knew how each other felt.
"I wonder...." Eric thought and then smiled. "Ah, forget it. I'm sure one day I'll see my old friends again and when I do, I'll apologize to them and see truly if they still feel the same way as my friends do now. It maybe a little scary but I won't hide away anymore. Right now, I have current friends that I need to protect and care for. I won't lose them, ever!"
After the warm embrace, they separately but not before Eric and Tenna touched the tip of their foreheads together sweetly, as Eric looked warmly at Tenna, who had her eyes closed shyly. As soon as they separated, Eric announced " I promise I''l let you know if something seriously bothering me."
"You better!" Tenna replied with Devi nodding.
Eric then took out the leaf that they made and held it against the sunset.
Demi replied. "That leaf thing was Tenna's idea. She thought it would help remind you that we here for you."
Tenna got a bit flustered and smiled nervously as she rubbed the back of her own head.
"I figured." Eric replied happily. "I felt it when I was knocked out. It even appeared to me in my dream." He then turned to Tenna with a gentle expression of gratitude, he continued "Thanks, you guys and especially to you Tenna."
Tenna got really flustered and quickly in an upbeat tone to hide her feelings said "You're welcome!"
Devi sighed and then let out a laugh with Demi a bit at their hopeless friend. Eric chuckled at his friends warmly as they watched the sunset over the city.
Eric then noted something as he remembered one other thing. "I heard a voice when I clashed my sword with Johnny's."
They all looked at Eric in surprise.
"It wasn't Johnny's voice." Eric explained. "It was like...like someone else was trapped inside him. Who's voice was it...?"
“So let me get this straight?" Devi said. “That gauntlet basically backfired on him because it doesn’t feel Eric is worthy enough for it’s power? "
“Not only that but it seems Eric couldn’t handle the intensity of it’s own power. " Mina explained " In order to use the gauntlet properly, one has to have a strong enough will to wield it. Eric was in a stressful situation and in the midst of fighting, his will become weaker."
“Well, what’s going to happen to him now?" Tenna asked worryingly.
“The rest is still uncertain. " Mina said sadly.
“What does that mean?! " Tenna asked almost desperately.
“It means the rest is up to Eric" Said Magnus who walked in from the room Eric was sleeping in. They were at Mina’s mansion which wasn’t too far from the shop. It was almost Victorian style mansion. About medium size as mansions go with just two stories. It was two stories and had yellowish walls on the outside with a red roof. There was some details of the edges that were design like a Chinese dragon, which is why the house was the color it was. To represent a Chinese temple.
“Eric’s will must become strong and willing to fight again so the gauntlet will accept him as it’s owner." Mina explained.
“How can a bracelet do such things?!" Tenna cried “I thought it was to allow him transform when he needs to! Not turn him into a maniac and hurt him as well as others…"
“I wish it was that simple, Tenna. " Magnus said sadly as he sighed “but things aren’t that simple."
"You see the stone in the gauntlet is no ordinary stone." Mina explained "From legends state the stone was original the jewel heart of a dragon."
"What?!" Devi reacted in shock.
"Whoa!" Tenna reacted the same way.
"The original knight who was a vampire befriended a dragon before hand." Mina continued "When the knight was fighting villagers trying to slay the dragon and cursed at him for being a vampire, the dragon came and sacrificed it's life to protect the knight. Before dying, the dragon told the knight to cut out the jewel heart that it had upon it's chest, so it will always protect him even after death. The stone is basically an object that can call upon the dragon's soul or heart and it can do such things as judge anyone worthy of wielding it."
Magnus then explained "I gave him the gauntlet now because the only way to be certain is to give it to him. There is no way of preparing of whether or not the gauntlet will accept his heart. I had to give it to him soon, for I felt there isn’t much time before the darkness gets stronger. You saw how strong Johnny had gotten last time."
"Well that explains some things..." Tenna said.
“Why did Johnny get armor?" Devi asked.
“It’s possible that they’re trying to match the same strength as your armor." Mina explained as she put her hand to her face in a pondering gesture. “Perhaps even trying to confuse you."
Tenna looked down worried about Eric. Mr. Spooky look at his partner worried. “Spooky…"
Devi turned to her friend and the same worried expression appeared on her face. “Tenna? …" Then her face turned into a more determine expression. She walked over to her friend and put her hands on Tenna’s shoulders.
“It’s gonna be okay, Ten." She encouraged her. “We’ll figure this out…"
“But will Eric be alright?" Tenna asked.
“Eric will be just fine. " Devi assured her. “Right now he just needs to rest and gather his strength up."
Tenna nodded finally able to smile for the first time since the incident. “Thanks, Devi." Then she hugged her friend warmly.
“Sure…" Devi nodded and then turned to Mina. “We can’t just keep waiting to come and attack. Mina can you see if you can maybe find a way to open a portal or find where Johnny and his creep friends come from?"
“I can try to locate whenever they appear." Mina explained “From there I can see if I can pin point something. Perhaps the location of The Dark Master or find a way for you to get there. "
“That sounds better then doing nothing. " Devi replied. Then she turned to Tenna. “Meanwhile, I guess we’ll take it easy. If you want Tenna, you can watch over Eric for a little while and see how he’s doing."
“Thanks, I think I’ll do that." Tenna replied.
Tenna along with Mr.Spooky went into Eric’s room. Tenna walked slowly to the bed. Eric hadn’t woken up since the incident, though he did twinge and moaned slightly indicating he wasn’t dead. Well dead dead.
As Tenna looked at him tears began forming in her eyes. She wiped them away with her sleeve.
I should have let him kiss me so he could fight… Tenna couldn’t help but think. However something during that moment made it uncomfortable for her to let him, even if it was for him to transform and she even wondered if that would haven’t done anything to prevent the event.
Tenna reached over with her left hand and touched Eric’s face. Instead of smiling warmly like he did when he was sick, Eric just remain still, not responding to her hand at all. He also felt cold though vampires aren’t supposed to give out much heat anyway, Eric was usually a neutral to slightly clammy. Eric felt a little colder then usual which raised Tenna’s worrying a little higher.
Tenna sighed as she took her hand away. Then she thought of something. She placed her hand on his right arm that held the gauntlet. She closed her eyes and focused on him.
Please...She thought in a pleading way. If my feelings are true let my magic relieve him from the pain he's in. Even if it's just for a bit, let me know somehow, that he'll be alright...
Eric’s face began to twitch and then finally, he woke up.
“Tenna…." He managed to whisper. Tenna didn’t notice this until Mr. Spooky pointed it out. Tenna’s face gleam up.
“Eric!" Tenna said joyfully.
"You look like you were crying..." Eric said as he notice her sad face before she gleamed up "What's wrong?" He asked his voice kind of cracked as he spoke. He reached his right hand (the side Tenna was on) hand out to her. She held his hand and Eric nodded with a small smile but suddenly fell unconscious yet again his hand slipping out of her grasp.. Tenna looked like she was about to cry again but just looked down.
Least, I know he doesn’t have amnesia…. Tenna thought sort of blankly. And that his soul is intact. That means my feelings finally did came through a little...Maybe that's what we'll help him. She let out a sigh as she finished her thought. Least I hope so…
“Tenna?" She heard Devi behind her. Tenna turned to her friend. “You okay?"
“I guess…" She replied
She told Devi of Eric waking up and Devi too thought it was a sign that Eric might be getting better. They were silent for a moment until Devi asked
“You really like Eric, don’t you?"
Tenna was shocked as she gasped and her face turned bright red!
“Um…." She looked around for an answer and then finally asked “Is it that obvious?"
Devi smirked a little. “Well you have been acting a little weirder then usual around him." Then she looked at Eric and said “That and like you’ve been acting real frantically whenever he gets hurt."
Demi then climbed on Devi’s head and said “I think Devi’s right." Then she floated beside Tenna. “I mean we’re all worried about Eric, but you're especially frantic..." She giggled and then said "It must be love!"
“Hey let’s not get that far! " Tenna replied in a panic motion which then turned to a calm expression of uncertainty. “Well maybe…I do. That’s why I got so mad at him… I can’t stand people I care about so much to hurt themselves or not tell me what’s wrong…"
Demi floated to Tenna’s shoulder to comfort her. “You’re a good person, Tenna. "
Tenna pet her on the head with a small smile. Devi nodded. Then explained “Eric had a friend named Oblivia who told me the reason why does things like this is he doesn’t want to be a bother to anyone. He’s use to handling things by himself…"
" Yeah I know, he told me that as well." Tenna sighed. “But he can’t always do stuff like that. He knows he needs us…We are all knights! "
“He does know that." Devi said “It’s just his nature. Old habits are hard to break. "
"That's right..." Demi said sadly "He just doesn't like it when people worry about him. He just doesn't want to be a bother of to anyone else..."
“All I care about now is that he gets better…" Tenna began crying “I don’t care if he gets his stupid armor or not! I just want him to be ok!"
Tenna….Devi thought then got an annoyed look as she got up, took her two first fingers and stretched the sides of Tenna’s mouth to a smile.
Tenna bapped her away and asked annoyedly “What the hell Devi! What are you doing?!"
“Because crying doesn’t suit you!" Devi implied. Tenna looked confused as Devi continued “And in order to beat this, we need to all be strong and that means for each other. We can't have any doubts right now."
Tenna looked at her in surprise at first then she looked at Demi who floated off her shoulder. “Devi is right! Remember, that's how the darkness controls us, by feeding on our doubts. It's okay sad once and a while, but we still can't lose hope. If we do, nothing will stop this!"
Tenna looked down for a moment, she wiped her eyes and looked up as she did a big smile with her first fingers on the sides of her mouth. Devi and her familiar laughed and Devi nodded.
"But I do know how you feel..." Devi said
"You still got feelings for Nny?" Tenna asked
"I dunno yet..." Was Devi's reply. "But something tells me he's in the same situation as Eric..."
"What do you mean?" Tenna asked
"Nny needs to be struggling so much..." Devi explained. "That time when Demi got hurt, he reacted like he just wanted to die for what he did. Not to mention but all the scars he's had. Something always tells me that they're not from fighting other people....The way he goes on and on about, it feels like he's nothing but a mere slave to them."
"Now that you mentioned it, yeah it does seem like that." Tenna replied.
"And if he's a mere slave, I now understand why he's got all those scars..." Devi replied sadly. "He's suffering and there's nothing I can do about it...Least...not right now..."
"Devi..." Tenna replied realizing she felt the same way as Tenna did. There was no doubt the similarities. They were in love it seemed and whom they were in love with, were suffering and fighting their own battle.
"Well, maybe..." Tenna thought about her words before she spoke. "Maybe we can help Nny out of it..."
"But how?" Devi asked.
"Well..." Tenna replied. "That's still something we need to figure out. I mean, yeah, I'll admit, going after a guy that has hardly any control and wants to destroy everything, is crazy to go after. However, if you feel strong that Nny is still human inside and you want to help him, I'm with ya all the way!"
"Tenna..." Devi replied in surprise and then she smiled at her friend. "Thanks, Ten!"
"Hey!" Tenna replied. "I just got a great idea...Least I hope it works." Then focused a bit of her energy in like a prayer and then she made a leaf appear in her hand. It was very large maple leaf, a bit bigger than her palm. "Have Demi in brush form and think about healing thoughts to Eric and then add a little ink to this leaf while doing so."
"Sure, okay..."
She did just that and Tenna placed the leaf on Eric's chest as he slept.
"There..." Tenna replied.
"Okay, can you explain...?" Devi asked
"Well, I was told about magical good luck charms and stuff." Tenna explained. "How if you put feelings and thoughts into an object and give it to someone, that the object carries their feelings and gives them whatever support they need. So I figured by doing this, a part of us is with him and those positive feelings might send through to him."
Devi and Demi smiled, so would Mr. Spooky, if he had a mouth.
"That's a great idea, Tenna!" Demi replied.
"Thanks..."
"And hey, I'll make one that you can paint on for Nny." Tenna replied.
"But how are we gonna put it on him?" Devi asked
"Well..." Tenna thought about it again and then said. "We often get him tired out so maybe when that happens we can catch him then and see..."
"That's a nice thought Tenna," Devi replied "But I think it's going to take more than just magic leaves to stop him though..."
"True..." Tenna replied.
"But thanks for understanding." Devi replied with a smile as she put her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"No problem..." Tenna replied.
Devi then just thought of something.
"When we were fighting Nny..." Devi explained "We heard a voice that called out for help..."
"You and Demi?" Tenna asked Devi and Demi both nodded.
"But it wasn't Johnny's voice we heard..." Demi said
"Really?" Tenna asked in slight surprise. "Who's was it then?"
"We dunno..." Devi answered as she shook her head slightly. "It wasn't a voice I recognized and I don't think Demi recognized it either."
"That's weird..." Tenna said "And kinda creepy as well..."
*****
“I can’t believe even with your new armor you still weren’t strong enough to beat those mother f@$@!" Mr. Eff practically roared at Nny who rested against a crystalized wall after taking another beating punishment.
“He still needs to get use to the armor." D-Boy explained.
“No you bitch!" He snapped at his brother. “He needs to stop being a f@amp; pussy! Like you!"
“I beg your pardon!?" D-Boy snapped back.
“You heard me you little wuss!" Mr. Eff laughed “I mean puss!"
With that they both got into a punching fight with each other. Tumbling and trying to hit one another with their very stubby arms. Anne watched Nny from a far. Normally she was amused by the Dough Boys bickering and taughting but this time she didn’t even pay attention to them.
She just stared at Nny in deep thought. Something didn’t feel right about this situation. She too wanted to know how and why was Johnny able to get armor. She didn’t understand any of it…
Anne then heard a voice. She looked to see Nuka lingering right behind her. “Oh, it’s only you…"
“What do you mean it’s only me?" Nuka asked a bit insulted.
“What do you want?" sighed Anne as she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms when she turned to him.
“What’s with you Anne?" Nuka asked “You know you’ve been acting very weird lately. You stare into space a lot and shoot you haven’t been kicking me around a lot either."
As soon as he said the last part Anne took her right boot and shoved it into Nuka’s mouth out of sheer annoyance.
“There! " She said “Is that what you want? "
“Mmf mm…." he muffled with the tip of Anne’s boot in his mouth.
“I don’t need you to get in my business all the time, Nuka!" She sneered in disgust. " Or should I say Mmy!"
Nuka spat her boot out. “Hey! Don’t call me by that!"
“Why?" Anne asked in amuse. “Are you trying to hide the fact that you at one point, wanted to be just like Nny? That you pathetically admired him but realized that like everyone else, he couldn’t stand you?!"
“What are you getting at, exactly?" He asked in serious confusion.
“I’m getting at that you’re an incompetent moron!" Anne snapped “You don’t even get what your name that I gave you means!"
“Course I know what it means!" Nuka snapped and then he tried to think. “It’s uh…"
“Stink!" Anne finally said “It means stink!" The she smiled with a slight snooty laugh. “Which makes it even more amusing that you took so much pride in it! You really are quite an incompetent piece of shit! What the Dark Master saw in you I will never know!"
Nuka was about to say something but then they only heard their master snap at them.
“Yes, my master!" Anne announced
“Yes, oh great one!" Nuka coward with a bow. Then the Dark Master tell them of a plan.
“You want to bring them here?" Anne asked
The Dark Master explained something else to them.
“I see, you want us to lure them here…" Anne replied with snooty and almost lustful smile.
"But are you strong enough to do that, my master?" Nny asked as he got up but was meant by a whip to the face.
"You shouldn't talk to our master about being strong enough!" Mr. Eff snapped. "You couldn't f@#$ing stop them yourself. Had you killed those damn knights before, we wouldn't have this problem!"
Nny sighed as he nearly collapsed as he blacked out a bit, but Anne caught him, which surprised many.
"Wow, Anne, I never seen you show mercy before..." Nuka replied. "Are you feeling alright? You're showing signs of weakness..."
This was met by a kick to mouth again. Nny woke up and as soon as he realized who was holding him, jolted away, swatting Anne away in the process, before going and leaning up against the crystal wall where he was before.
Anne grabbed Nuka and threatened him. "Don't you ever DARE call me weak again!"
"But why you..."
"I just didn't want to see him lying there! Least he's someone more worth than you!"
A zap of dark energy nearly hit them.
"Enough!" D-Boy said "We must do as our master says right away!"
"Right!"
*****
Mina quickly went into Eric’s room to tell them something urgent.
“Devi, Tenna! " She told them. “I just suddenly got a vision! They’re going to cause a rock-slide on one of mountains near the outskirts of town. Right above the Florence Neighborhood!"
“Oh dear…" Edgar said in worry. “I use to live in that neighborhood! "
“But how do you really know?" Tenna asked
“We can’t really risk it, Ten!" Devi told her. “I wouldn’t put it pass them to do something like this or making a trap, but we should go check it out just to be safe."
“Gotcha!" Tenna said but then she looked at Eric.
“Eric will be just fine." She assured her.
“We’ll take care of him." Mina was referring to her and Magnus. “Edgar will show you where the neighborhood is."
“Right!" Devi said and she turned to Tenna. “Are you up for it?"
Tenna nodded and kneeled down to say something in Eric’s ear. “Please hang in there. I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?" She paused before saying "I love you..."
With that she stood up and nodded with a determine look in her eyes.
With that they both followed Edgar and got into his car. The drove off as quick as they legally could do.
Magnus walked back into the room where Eric laid. He didn’t want to deal with how frustrated Tenna was. Devi wasn’t that upset about it, mainly cause Devi was much more mature and in control of her emotions. That and was just evident of how Tenna felt. It was quite possible that Tenna would blame him for that, though he specifically didn't care what others thought. Just didn't appreciate the reminder of how he felt.
He walked over to Eric’s bed and sat in the chair beside the bed. Magnus looked at his young pupil with the same emotionless look, but it wasn’t long before he held his left hand over his old heart, as if he was in pain.
Mina noticed this and looked at him in concern.
“You know it’s not your fault." She said “Things like this happen by fate."
“I know that too well...I just got an ache in my hand. Even vampire's can get joint problems... " He responded
"You shouldn't hide your true feelings..." Mina said in a slightly scornful way.
“I feel like perhaps I should have waited a bit longer to give it to him. Maybe train and prepared him more." Magnus said "Or at least explained it a bit better than I did....Maybe trained him afterwards."
“Even with training I don’t think it could have been avoided. " she told him. “Eric would have had the same scared feelings. It's not just him being afraid of the gauntlet. He's had a troubled past and there's something he hasn't gotten quite over yet."
“The judge of the heart stage… " Magnus replied “A very fickle stage. When I first got the thing, I was able to wear it. I've gotten through so much emotional struggle, it hardly fazes me anymore. Not even seeing death shocks me as much...It's practically the very thing I've only known. "
Mina nodded as she touched Magnus’s hand. The elderly vampire looked down at her and took his long right arm (she was on his right) and wrapped around her in a comforting embrace. After he took his arm away from her, he touched Eric’s limp hand almost like a parent concern for his child.
"What's that?" Mina pointed to the leaf.
"Something that Tenna and Devi put on him." Magnus replied. "Thought it would help."
Mina gently touched it. After a moment she smiled.
"This is a charm..." Mina replied. "And it has a lot of love in it..."
"Young love..." Magnus smirked. "It seems like a grain of dust in the past for me..."
"Well, it's not just that kind of love." Mina replied happily as she put her hands to her heart. "I sense their friendship too...It's very strong. It feels wonderful..."
"You've changed Mina..." Magnus replied with a smile.
"Really?" Mina asked curiously as she looked at the vampire. "How?"
"You've gotten much more human like you should be..." Magnus told her.
"Oh..." Mina replied a bit flustered but then smiled again as she nodded.
Eric took a deep breath and let out a sigh in his sleep. Mina read his aura and said "It's fine...He's just dreaming..." Then she turned to Magnus "I'm gonna look at my crystal ball and see how things are going from there."
"Alright." Magnus replied. As soon as she walked off, Magnus looked at his pupil.
"I know you're stronger than that..." He told Eric but then looked a bit at him apathetically with a sigh and said "That's why I thought I could give it to you then. You've been through so much. Most anyone that would have gone through what you have, would have perished long ago...Or at least lost their heart. You have a will that can only be matched by the other knights. I believed that in you and I still do, even if I don't show it..."
He then placed his hand on Eric's forehead. "I'm not good at this emotional stuff...I've distant myself from most. Perhaps it is I that needs to learn to be more human...Again." He took his hand back. "Just so you know, I'm not mad at you or anything. I just wish...I could have protected you a bit better."
After some moment of silence he said "I'm sorry..."
In Eric's dream he was floating in a space full of a golden light and color. Eric just look around and he felt it was strange to be there. He remember being in pain from the gauntlet, then being lost in the dark and vaguely seeing Tenna, who looked like she was on the verge of crying. Now he was floating in a space of light and color. He heard many voices before but couldn't make out what they were saying, but now there was nothing but silence.
This kinda scared him as he thought about it.
“Am I dying?" Eric asked out loud.
“No" said a voice
****
When Devi, Edgar and Tenna got to the neighborhood, they looked up at the mountains where they could see two small figures floating near the top of the mountain, behind the neighborhood. They got out into a hidden place where they transformed.
“How the hell do we get up there?" Devi asked.
“I got plan!" Tenna said and then she took her staff and as it floated slightly above the ground, she jumped on it and road on it like a surf board.
“Uh…" Devi replied uncertain. “You’re sure that’s safe?"
“Sure it is!" Tenna said as she demonstrated by flying around perfectly balance.
Devi still wasn’t too sure until Demi said “I got an idea!"
With that they took off flying this time. Devi flew on her brush like a broomstick. They spotted the Dough Boys and then Anne appeared in between them. Anne smiled her usual smug smile.
“My, my. Only two knights?" She said sarcastically “Where’s your little bat boy?"
“He couldn’t come. " Devi sneered in the same snobbish tone. “You’re just gonna play with us!"
“Yeah… and your friend better leave him alone this time…" Tenna muttered at Anne, with the most angered look she ever did, as Tenna was reminded of when Anne sent Nuka after Eric when he was ill.
“Aww, I’ll just have to get him later then." Anne finally said as a portal opened behind her. Devi and Tenna were both surprise as Anne announced “Come on, now don’t be shy! We’re inviting you to a time of your life!"
“Huh?" Both said at once as the portal began sucking them in. They yelled and struggled but they weren’t strong enough. Within in a minute they were sucked in!
They popped out and tumbled to the ground but they weren’t back on the mountain side. As they got up and got their bearings, they looked around. The area they were in was dark. The sky was almost pitch black. The ground was hard like concrete or stone and was a dirty crystal color.
The place felt cold and unforgiving. It felt like it could take away all your happy emotions.
“I don’t like this place Devi…" Devi heard Demi whimper frightened.
“It’s alright, Demi." Devi assured her familiar.
“Aww scared are we?" Anne mocked as she floated above them. She was now dressed in a fully black with white trimming, cheerleader uniform, except without the pompoms.
“Where are we!?" Tenna demanded a little shaken.
“Oh! Sorry to be a poor hostess!" She mocked with a bow. “Welcome to our home sweet home!"
“Your home?" Tenna replied
“Why yes." Anne replied with a wide grin. “Please make yourselves at home."
“This was a trap…" Devi growled then looked up in notation as Anne mentioned
" I’m sorry that Johnny couldn’t play with you, Debra. He’s not feeling well today, but don’t worry, the Dough Boys are much willing to play with you at last! "
“Dough Boys?" Tenna replied
“Yes!" Anne said in pleased. “I guess you never got fully introduced. So allow me to do just that!" As she waved her hand over to Mr.Eff on her right side, as a hostess would do to introduce someone.
“This is Mr. Eff." She told them. “Careful, he is quite short tempered."
And then she waved her arms in the same manner to her left and said “And this is Psycho-Doughboy. You may call him D-Boy for short!"
Then a baton appeared in her hand and she twirled it around, tossed in the air, caught it with her left hand and shoved in front in a cute pose, with her left leg arched up under her.
“Welcome to your doom!" She said in a creepy overly cheerful tone of voice.
****
The phone rang at Mina’s shop. When Mina answered her ears met with the voice of a distress Edgar.
“I saw, Edgar. I saw it in my crystal ball..."
Mina turned to where Eric rested. She couldn’t just go with Magnus and leave Eric all alone.
“Listen, Edgar, I want you to come back right away." Mina told him.
“But what about…" Edgar was about to ask.
“We’ll take care of it but I need you to come back." Mina said again.
“Right away!" Edgar said without further question and they both hung up.
“What’s the matter?" Magnus asked
“That vision I saw was just a trick." Mina explained a bit angry with herself. “It was just a way to lure them into their dimension. "
"Then what are you suggesting?" Magnus asked.
"We're going to have to go there ourselves." Mina explained to him. "There is away I might be able to open the dimension or contact them some way. Either way, we should investigate as when there is a portal somewhere, it leaves magical energies left by the passage way. There might be away to use this to open it. But I need Edgar to come here and watch Eric, we can't leave him alone like this."
"Mina..." Magnus said. Mina looked up at him. "Do not blame yourself for this, nor do not feel you need to take full responsibility to get them out. Nothing can be done in such haste, young one.."
"I know..." Mina said sadly. Magnus walked over to her and put his hands on both her shoulder comfortingly.
"Let's research on how to open away to different dimensions." He said "It's a good way to start and at least then we'll know what to do when we get there."
"Agreed." Mina finally said.
