Well, we're back. Back, or wherever THIS is! I thought Chronos would send me and Otto back to the past to unravel more mysteries, but...
Now I'm stuck in this wasteland, with ELIZA of all people! What in Dragolandia could Chronos be thinking?
Hm. Probably something along the lines of "that very talented Viking warrior ALSO touched the ridiculous wall paintings that let her hear dragon thoughts"!
At least I can use my new abilities to become more powerful...unlike a certain spineless Trainer I know! Now, let's try to get out of here in one piece.
(Hullo humans--)
AAHHHH! I CAN HEAR IT IN MY HEAD!
Don't mind her-- Wait, dragons aren't calling us "Scaleless" anymore?
(Oh, some of us do, but we're not s'posed to anymore now that Grolim's in charge. He says it's disrespectful.)
(Anyway, haven't you two got any treats for me? I've been working in the mines all day, and if I can't have a treat, at least gimme a battle!)
H-Hold on - who's Grolim?
Ahem! Let me try this whole 'psychic communication' thing again... Hello, dragon, as you can see, I understand you perfectly, and--
(!#%^&((%%$#^)
Huh--!? Did I do it wrong? I can barely tell what it's saying at all... Its thoughts are as jumbled as oatmeal on a stormy sea!
I don't like this at all - this place, these dragons, OR that weird metaphor!
O-Otto...is that you? What are you doing with that dragon?
Otto? I know no Otto. I am GROLIM, leader of the industrial capital of the world: Tyrantlandia!
...WHAT!?
I do not detect a satisfactory level of simpering and groveling. I fear I'll have to sic one of my synthetic dragons on you!
What HAVE you gotten us into, Ned?
So, somehow, Chronos has sent you and me to a place that doesn't exist, ruled by a crazed Tyrant that looks exactly like your dungeon-crafting friend...
Ugh... I wish Otto were really here. He always knows the right thing to say, or the best time for an awkward silence...
(Children! Are you unhurt? I was commanding the wind to move the smog clouds away when I saw your conflict with Grolim.)
Commanding the wind? Hm! I was wondering whether the air had gotten clearer, or if I was simply relieved Ned was interrupted by a dragon god.
(It is difficult making sure we can all breathe...but it's a talent of mine, so I must do it. Would you kindly allow me to blow off steam with a battle?)
(You. I know you. You were a friend of my parent - Molim.)
"Were"? "Friend"? "Parent"? ... You mean the Ancient Dragon of Fire and Shadow? THAT Molim?
(Oyar's flame! You're a nervous one. Yes, of course. And you are Ned of the Future...with a companion in tow.)
"Companion" is pushing it. So is "in tow".
(I have no time nor pity for human nonsense, but I owe you my parents' gratitude, so before we battle I will say one thing: "Seek Carnelia".)
That's two things!
Who is this "Molim" you mentioned, and "Carnelia"? And why did that dragon call you "Ned of the Future"? More importantly, when can I go home?!
It's, uh...a lot to explain. Basically, I think we might be in the past, again, and chatting with the descendants of dragon gods that I met last time.
But as for Carnelia...I'm just as lost as you are!
(Move along, humans! I've got to clean up all the toxic tar Ashkelon leaks, or I'll never hear the end of it from Grolim.)
This Grolim fellow has his own personal dragon cleaning crew?! Intriguing...
(I say it's a bother! Every day there's more slime and sludge from Grolim's mines and factories... It's enough to make me want a battle!)
You two! Have you seen that bothersome brute Ashkelon around? I have reason to believe it's been collaborating with Carnelia Carnage...
Well, we just--
N-Nope! Who the heck is ash-canyon? We're, uh, just a couple of mindless tourists! (Sorry, Eliza, but I don't trust this guy...)
Well, no matter. I've bred this weaponized dragon specifically to target Vikings, so it will lead me to her in no time! Now, allow me to test it on YOU.
(Wait - Carnelia is a VIKING?!)
A Tyrant at war with a Viking, and all in the distant past...
Ugh. A past like this doesn't give me much hope for the future. I just hope everything back home is still intact...
(Battle me! Battle meeeee!)
O-Okay?!
(I used to be a Potion Dragon 'til I splashed around in that toxic lake - now I look AMAZING, and I can't wait to try my new powers!)
Dad's gonna have a field day with this one...
I can accept time travel, toxic mutants, et cetera... But what is a LOKI DRAGON doing here!?
(I seek your attention, child! And I offer this bit of advice: despite what anyone may say, trust Carnelia, even in the future.)
(Or not! You are, after all, masters of your own fate. Or perhaps I am your master! Who knows? The march of time is baffling, and you've made it more so.)
(I think you two deserve a bit of punishment for your chronological shenanigans. Just a bit!)
But, i-it's not our fault, it was Chronos who sent us here! Ugh, never mind, I am NOT arguing with a Divine Dragon.
MOTHER?! What are you doing here?! If this is about the blind date I stood up--
Odin bless ye, poor lost duckling - I ain't yer mother! Though If I DID have a daughter like ye, perhaps it'd make my work a little easier!
Now scoot! I'm tryin' ta make this wee dragon tell its boss to let me invade Tyrantlandia. If I were in charge, there'd be big changes!
(Loud ancient human, I am merely implying that my Lord Koth'ez might not approve of an "invasion"... )
Why shouldn't Koth'ez approve? It's a dragon, for sea's sakes! Ach - you two wide-eyed whelps are distracting me! Leave me be!
We should find Carnelia again, and soon. I have a good feeling about her...
You're just saying that because of your mommy issues... But I guess two big, scary-looking dragons did ALSO tell us the same thing.
Oh, YOU'RE one to talk, little mister daddy issues--WHOA!!
(sigh) Look, I know it's bad, you don't have to yell...
No, you fool - look! There's an angry dragon on our tail!
(Target locked. Preparing to initiate Grolim's orders: exterminate!)
Hmph! I suppose he's sending his dragon goons to attack us directly now. No more beating around the radioactive bush...
Buck up, Neddie - it's time to fight! Or do you ALWAYS wear that expression around dragons?
It's not that, it's just-- It feels weird that someone who looks just like Otto is doing all this awful stuff.
I think your quiet friend might be hiding something from you. Trust me, I have a lot of experience on the subject.
Don't get too close, Eliza - that Toxic Dragon is potent!
(Is that any way to treat a creature who has simply come to check on your wellbeing?)
Yeah, Ned, jeez. And don't patronize me! Also...what?
(I come on behalf of Ashkelon to test your mettle. Ashkelon believes you are worthy of saving dragon-kind, but wants to make sure your hearts are true.)
Ahoy, you two! I see you've been busy dealing with Grolim's nonsense, eh? And pretty lamely at that!
Hey...! We've been doing just fine!
Is that an Elkhound Dragon? I thought they only lived far to the north, up by Vikolandia...
Little missy's a brainy one! Truth be told, the Vikings've just been blessed by a new tribe o' dragons callin' themselves the Northern Divines...
With our new power, I plan on overthrowin' the Tyrants and invading this land for the glory of Vikolandia! Care to join us, wee pups?
O' course, ye'll have to prove yerselves first! Eehehehehe!
I love to be the bearer of bad news, but, Ned, I think we have to join forces with Carnelia.
Aside from being a FAR superior mother figure to my own, I believe she's our only ticket to saving this place, and ourselves.
I don't know... The Tyrants are really bad, but to side with you guys... I mean, Vikings invaded our homeland, and scared the pants off of me, NUMEROUS times.
((cough cough) Excuse me, could you guys battle with me real quick? The water around here makes my body rust, so it's hard to move and get exercise...)
...In retrospect, I see your point about joining the Vikings and saving this place.
Oho, it's you again! I'd stop to gab, but this Geiger Dragon and I're markin' off radioactive bits o' land. Safety first, invasion second!
Gunhild-- I mean, Carnelia! We'll join your cause, for Viking and dragon-kind!
AND for, um, other people, too! Point is, we want to help you save the world... ANYTHING is better than this.
Ehehehe! That's great news, my little hatchlings! You're strong, and methinks you're hiding even stronger secrets! Now, let's have a celebratory battle!
There's one thing that worries me (and you KNOW I am not prone to worry)...
The Northern Divines disowned my people sometime between now, and the present... It was before my time, but now, maybe, I can fix it.
Changing the past to affect the future? I don't know. That's risky...
Neddy boy, I believe that's what we've been sent here to do anyway.
(Hm? Do you have a message for my Divines? Battle me first and then we'll talk. After all, to Northern Divines and Vikings, strength is everything!)
That's enough! I'm sick of you two little mice running around and causing trouble! It's pure lunacy to even THINK of standing up to a Tyrant!
The Viking uprising is meaningless! Tyrants will forever rule over people and dragon-kind! Even the Ancient Fire Dragons turned tail and fled...
And my pathetic ancestor Delith was powerless when his precious Oyar left! NOBODY can dethrone me!
Oh...Chronos above, I was the one who made this happen! I convinced the Ancient Fire Dragons to come to the present...and Grolim rose to power!
I don't know how to fix my mistakes...or if they were even mistakes in the first place...but I can start by beating you, you jerk!
Heh. Let's defeat this blowhard and pave the way for the rise of the Vikings!
(Ned of the Future, and Eliza the Viking, I have been hearing tales of your exploits... I am Koth'ez, the lord of metal.)
(My parent, Ik'ez, raised me to value humans and dragons as equals, but it's clear that Grolim has taken advantage of my beliefs, and of the land itself.)
(Please, battle me so I may know you are worthy. If you defeat me, I will do anything I can to help, with dragon-kind by my side.)
W-Well, uh...thank you, Koth'ez. We'll need all the help we can get if we want to stop Grolim's influence from messing up the future.
(Excuse me, are you Ned? If you are, I want to thank you: the book of knowledge you gave my ancestor Yamad has taught me much.)
O-Oh! Um, you're welcome...it was just an old history book I had sitting around.
(It gave me knowledge of the future. I am just one dragon, but, because we understand each other, I can share my knowledge...and help save our world.)
(I will teach Carnelia, and I will accompany you to the future with my family. Whatever happens, I must protect this land's precious life...)
I've got to hand it to you, Ned...you've been remarkably composed for someone dealing with a world-altering prophecy.
(Nobody can resist destiny. Also, nobody can resist a battle. How about one, before we get to work?)