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Memories	By : Asirainis Category: +A through F > Dragon Quest/ Dragon Warrior Views: 1615 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Quest VIII, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Memories
Chapter Thirty One: Trial at the Dragon Graveyard
They rounded the ledge to the slope going downwards as Cash sent a smirk at her. He wanted to have his inheritance all in order before he made his move with her, which meant having her at his side. He could easily see why the men didn't leave her side and wanted to have her doting on him. They quickly sprinted along the ledge to the next ramp going down, a rib cage with the spine had been embedded in the ground. "From here, the map says to go to the corner that will be south and to our east." They carefully went down the path, following the blue haired brat as he led them down, catching Airlia as she tripped over a protruding bone that had been half-hidden.
The guard hurried to her as she realized her ankle was injured. She was grateful for the dress, hiding her feet as he asked, "Are you alright?" She nodded as she sent a faint healing spell over her ankle to hide the pain mostly as she forced herself to follow the dusty path leading deeper into the cave.
The next room in the cave looked tricky as she saw the deep holes descending down into a pit that was so dark and gloomy. She looked at Cash as she sarcastically snapped, "Where to now Cash?"
He ignored her angry look as they approached a pair of bones to cross. "We take this one that will lead to two more bridges." Cash went over it first, sure of his victory because of the strange lack of monsters.
The guard went next as he held his hand out to the girl, "I'm going to help you cross dear." She nodded as she took his hand and the pair crossed quickly as the priest helped the mage cross behind them. When they all met up on the small platform, Cash quickly climbed over the head of the next skeleton as he turned to Airlia.
However his footing slipped as she quickly grabbed his hand. "Damn it Cash, you're an idiot for being too confident." She muttered as the soldier grabbed his hand to help pull him back onto the island with them. He glared at her as he climbed back onto the skeleton and quickly crossed onto the land ahead of them.
The soldier helped her up as she carefully crossed the bridge to an angry Cash there, stamping his foot at them. "Took you long enough." She rolled her eyes blatantly at him responding hotly, "Well you're the one who decided to steal me away from my friends simply because you didn't like your odds." He glared at her as the others quickly joined her. She could barely hide the wince of pain of the coming steps as he turned to the next bridge and ran across it as the bodyguards hurried behind him. He led the way through the large ribcage, as tried to ensure that no one was left behind, especially a woman who didn't want to be there. She could only pray this would end quickly or that her friends would find her… soon. Her ankle, she suspected was well on its way to discoloration by the amount of pain there. Sending another tiny healing spell, she took a breath and pressed onwards.
The mage sent a worried glance in the reluctant bodyguard's direction as she turned to the Priest, "I've sensed her use magic twice now, small to be sure, but still…"
He nodded in response to the mage, "I've sensed it too, and as a result, I've been using magic to keep monsters away." She nodded as she sent a worried look at the woman's back as they rounded the corner into another leg of the labyrinth. When they came out into the big room, they found even more giant skeletons making passage harder.
Cash shrugged as he barked out, "Follow me and keep up will you!?"
He led them around the corner as the mage glared at Cash and stopped. "I refuse to follow you Cash. You're forcing this woman through obvious pain for nothing."
Cash rounded on her, "Well if you don't want to follow, then don't. When we get back, you can take your belongings and leave." The mage paled but nodded resolutely.
He forced the remaining people to continue on as the soldier sent the girl a worried look; he knew she had been hiding an injury… but this… it was too much. They went around the curve in the path, and found themselves staring at another open jaw of a skeleton where moss had grown on the stone. Airlia blanched but hurried inside as she felt her ankle twinge as she tried to send another healing spell to her ankle, but felt no relief. Worrying that it was past healing, she bit down on the inside of her mouth and continued forward. Inside the skeleton were two paths as he directed them to the left side. They continued up the path as it slowly went upwards. When they came out, they found themselves at the other end of the cavern. The blue haired man grinned as he said, "I will beat out Carrie to the inheritance! It's all mine!" Airlia frowned knowing from the past that siblings shouldn't fight. Her thoughts drifted to Draco and how he had been much like a brother to her, as her birthmark began to burn, pushing the thought away immediately.
He pulled out the map as he looked at it. "This way." He led them directly left as they came around a giant set of ribs as he grinned, so sure of his victory. When they started to bear to their right as they approached the next moss covered path with another skull open, Airlia felt another presence become known deeper in the cave.
She turned to the Priest, "Stay here, tell Draco where we are and to hurry! Please! I'm injured, you know that. We are going to need his help if we're going to survive the coming fight."
He grimaced as he said, "I should come with you, to help heal your wound."
She shook her head, "I need more than simple magic now. It's not even denting my pain. Please."
He nodded as he turned to Cash, "I'm staying here. I sense something way more powerful ahead. There is no way that we are capable of fighting this without Mara, our mage."
The blue haired brat turned to glare at the man. "Fine, then go find Mara, and when we're back home Chris, you take your things too. You're fired." Chris frowned as he nodded and left them behind in the giant skull as he found a place to sit down and wait for her friends.
They went up the slope as she continued to try to not vocalize her pain. Using her holy water, she warded off the monsters in hopes of making the passage as painless as she could. When they came up to the end of the pathway, he led them east of their current direction and over a long spine of a former creature.
When they got to the edge of the platform, Airlia could see them as she screamed, "Draco! Alistair! Hurry!"
She forced herself forward into the next room as she looked up at the guard. "Let's hope we get through this in one piece." He nodded to her as they went inside, ever aware of Draco and the others hurrying to their location.
Inside the doorway were two guardians made of stone that suddenly came to life the moment Cash approached the door. She turned to the guard, "Wish our luck had held up my friend." He nodded as he worried for the girl's ankle. They quickly studied the creatures, one was red skinned with two protruding horns on the front, and he wore a strange half tunic with a metal plate circling around his waist. On his back was maroon colored fur.
His hands had five fingers and his feet were more hand-like than being actual feet. He frightened her. The other creature didn't have horns, but he had a wider mouth with huge teeth. His blue skin and tuft of dirty blonde hair while not as imposing, still frightened her as she screamed once more. "Draco! Alistair! Angelo! Yangus! Jessica! Hurry up guys! We're in big trouble!" She saw the blue skinned creature come towards her as she tried to dodge a swipe of his claws, sending her backwards.
Her ankle not able to take the weight or movement anymore, she collapsed to the ground. He wound his arm back to strike her when a sword met the hand, slicing there deeply, sending the creature roaring back. She looked up to see him. "Draco! You came!"
He grinned at her. "Of course we did Air. You alright? I was told you were hurt."
She nodded, "My ankle. I can't put weight on it."
He nodded as Angelo came over to her. "No playing normal right now Air. I need to fix it." She nodded as she lifted the hem and he could only gasp at the swelling there. He casted a heavier healing spell to ease her pain before setting the bone right. Once it was in, the healing magic took a stronger hold as he wrapped it tightly. "Sit tight, we'll take care of them." She nodded as she watched the fight. She knew these creatures weren't pure evil; they were there to test Cash and Carrie.
The creatures were quickly dispatched as she looked over, unaware at the time of Cash's attack sending him into a wall. Carrie hadn't been much better, sent straight into a wall, cracking it as she slid down. Cash groaned as he moved to his sister. He sent an apologetic look at the group. "Sorry about breaking the agreement. I intend to compensate you all. Thank you for saving my sister."
Angelo went to pick up Airlia when Yangus stepped in. "Nah, I'll take care o' 'er. Let's get everyone through this trial an' outta 'ere eh?" Angelo nodded as the two siblings got up.
Cash came over to Airlia, "I'm sorry…"
She shook her head, "You can start apologizing by rehiring those people you fired. They didn't deserve that."
The knight came up to Cash, "Rehire them, or I'll quit too."
Cash nodded, "I promise Ronald, I'll rehire them." Ronald nodded.
Carrie smirked as she neared Cash, "Oh and Cash! This is for what you've done to all of us!" She punched him hard, sending him backwards. Cash rubbed his jaw as he stood back on his feet.
"Yeah sis, I deserved that. I know it. And about before, I'm sorry about the sleeping powder. I just really wanted to win. To finally make you respect me as an older brother. But I don't care about any of that anymore. I want to end this stupid rivalry between us. Now with regards to Airlia, I was hoping to earn her affections by what would have amounted to buying it."
Airlia shook her head, "I've already got enough trouble with another pair of suitors Cash."
He nodded as he spoke, "Yeah, but I still want to apologize for putting you through this. Anyway, we're almost at the Doors of Judgment. Bodyguards! We're still counting on you."
They went straight through the open dragon's mouth to where a pair of doors stood closed. Carrie smiled as she spoke, "All I have to do is open these doors, and the family crest will be marked on my hands." Airlia saw the redness of the handles as she winced for them. The green haired woman jumped back, holding her hand. "Ow! That's hot! What's up with this door! I'm going to get burned!"
Airlia spoke to the both of them, "To obtain the mark of the family on your hand, it has to be singed, branded if you will, into your hand." Carrie looked at her hand, the redness rapidly fading.
Cash grinned at his sister, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! Airlia's right at any rate."
Carrie winced. "Wait, so I have to open both of these doors? I can barely get one open. It's impossible to do alone. Anyways, if you feel sorry about that dirty trick you pulled, then now's your chance to make up for it. Help me open the doors. I'll take the right and you take the left."
She extended a hand to her brother. "If you do, I'll agree to split the fortune. That means we'll own the casino together. Deal?"
Cash smirked at her as he put a hand on her hip, "You won't hear me complaining. But don't come crying to me if you start regretting it later." She nodded as they went to their doors, and gripping the handle, each pulled open their side together. Carrie whimpered in pain as she continued to open her door. Cash merely grunted as the door opened, revealing a chamber within holding an orb on a pedestal in the center of the room. The group slowly approached the orb which sat upon a sacred circle. Everyone looked around, unsure of what to do next.
Sighing, Airlia got out of Yangus's arms. "My ankle's better. I'll be alright, and I think I know what we have to do next." He nodded as she walked over to the crystal ball and touched it gently. Suddenly a bright light glowed as a man stood in the center of the sacred circle. It was the same man from the carving at Baccarat and around the inner sanctum as he began to speak.
Well done, child of my children's children. You have reached the inner sanctum. In so doing, you have completed the trials and proven your worthiness as heir.
Now harken to my words.
Noble blood courses through your veins. As a trusted descendant, you have an obligation to protect this noble heritage. You may never permit this bloodline to end. For while it endures, the world shall remain at peace.
With that, the ancestor vanished back into the orb as Carrie spoke, "That was our ancestor?"
Cash nodded as he spoke, "Sure looks that way. That crystal seems to be enchanted with some sort of power that shows an image to us."
Carrie frowned, "He said not to let the bloodline die out, but isn't that impossible? We were adopted, after all." Airlia hid a smile behind her hand; she had her own suspicion on that matter.
Carrie continued, still worried as her blue eyes darkened, "The family bloodline ended when father was killed."
Cash nodded as he spoke, "Well, we can't do anything about that now. All we can do is work together to make the casino even more successful." He turned back to everyone as he smiled, "Anyway, we've heard what he had to say. Let's go home. And don't forget, travelers! You're still on the payroll as bodyguards until we get back!"
Draco gathered everyone together as he spoke, "I'm going to teleport out. Mara and Chris already did such and were on their way back to Baccarat."
Cash nodded as he paled, he knew he had to make things right with the two of them. The golden glow of Evac surrounded them as they warped out of there. When they found themselves in the desert when Angelo casted them back to Baccarat with Zoom. Once the blue magic took them to the gambling town, the group hurried up the steps to see Mara and Chris. Cash paled as he approached them. "I should have listened to you three. I apologize, and would like to reinstate you if you will let me. The three of you will also be getting a pay raise for your efforts there."
Mara and Chris exchanged looks before nodding to Cash. "Very well then."
Continuing into town, many of the townspeople gathered as they could hear some mutterings… "What happened!? What are they doing together!?"
A rougher looking man looked at them as he said, "Does this mean ya still don't know who won?"
A shady man came up to them, "Does this mean the casino's gonna stay closed? Gimme a break!"
Cash smiled as he began to speak, his blue eyes lighting up, "Listen up, all of you! As you can see, the contest was a draw! However, an heir has been decided!"
Carrie smiled as she continued, "Both of us are inheriting our father's fortune. Together."
Cash and Carrie both held up their hands. "And as proof, we have both obtained the mark of the Golding clan from the Dragon Graveyard!"
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Memories