(Edward Hogvanhog... can you hear me...?)
Ugh... Chronos? Is that you? I-I can hear you, but I can't see you...
(What you will witness here will be confusing... and terrifying... but I have equipped you with three gifts. Use them well.)
(All I ask is that you remember what you experience in this forgotten time... and keep the love of dragons alive in your heart...)
Ned! Hey! Are you okay? We gotta find out where we are... This place is crazy!
S-sure, I just heard Chronos' voice and-- Whoa, Arya, watch out!
Those Lightning and Energy Dragons seemed pretty upset... They wanted to battle, but definitely not for fun!
(Can you blame them? The Void Tribe is swallowing our world whole -- and us Energy Dragons are some of the last lines of defense!)
Wh-what?!
(Do not play dumb. We know you are a servant of the Void... Just look; one of their kind is following you!)
(... ... ...)
(Like any other Void Dragon, it keeps its secrets... But we'll beat it out of you!)
A Dynamo Dragon! When I met the Ancient Energy Tribe, I learned that these guys are sort of like their devotees...
(We remain loyal to the Energy Tribe.)
(This is why I must demand you give Adatz to us.)
Adatz...? I wonder if the Dynamo Dragon is talking about our quiet companion!
Well? What do you say, Adatz?
(I... cannot. Not yet. I request your protection, for now.)
Adatz, you said you need our help... But, with what?
(Forget that horrible Void dragon! My companion needs help -- I can't understand it anymore!)
(...)
Ugh... it's true; I can't tell what the Doomsday Dragon is saying...
(...)
And I can't understand the Solar Dragon now, either! But I know that look... They wanna get their claws on us something fierce!
Adatz, can't you tell us what's going on? It feels like the end of the world!
(The end of your world, yes. It's very likely. Despite the efforts of many, Void has nearly overtaken reality as you know it.)
W-well why aren't you doing anything about it?! Why shouldn't we stop you right now?!
(Stopping me will accomplish nothing. I am merely a knowledge database. I gather information, to be deleted when the Void Tribe completes their mission.)
(You... are a new source of information. Yet you feel somehow familiar.)
(I would like to battle you -- it is the quickest way to learn more about you.)
We defeated Adatz, but it's still following us around...
I can't help thinking it's more than just a dragon computer. Maybe these two dragons can clear things up?
According to the Codex, they have the Energy element, but...
I know. I can't understand them, either.
And what's worse -- they do NOT seem friendly!
Battle time, Ned!
Agh! Watch out! That Dark Mech Dragon nearly gave you a close shave!
*shudder* And my beard hasn't even started growing in yet...!
What's come over all these dragons...? I thought I could understand them now, but--!
(Creatures like you cannot hope to comprehend them as they are.)
(Their only thoughts are of spreading the Void. They are like new hatchlings.)
Grr... I'd like to have a "word" with these Void Ancients, but for now we'd better save our own hides!
Heeere Doom Dragon... You can't resist a Royal Fig, can you--?
YOWCH! It bit me... I guess Adatz was right -- you really can't reason with these dragons!
If the best Trainer I know can't wrangle the dragons here, we might be in real trouble...
Aww, I'm the best Trainer you know?
Th-that's not the point!
I-is that the Hel Dragon?! Finally, a dragon we can reason with!
Hel Dragon, we're way better friends in the future than we are now, but can't you help us stop the Void Ancients?
(Hm... I seem to remember you two from some hundreds of years ago. You seem as meddling now as you were then.)
(And I happen to believe the Void would provide a lovely improvement to my underworld!)
(So, if you plan on disrupting the plans of the Void Tribe, I'm afraid I may have to disrupt YOU.)
(*bloop* *gloop* *burble*)
(The Void of Abyss, Abrua, approaches. It is impossible for two young humans to defeat it.)
(I would like to learn more from you while you are alive, so I suggest you flee. Now. Immediately. Please.)
Y-you heard, Adatz, Ned-- P-please, let's hurry! Ned!
Oy! Not so fast, Void beast! You kids have done great -- don't worry. We'll take care of things here.
Surprised to see us, are you? Never fear; we'll make short work of this Void Ancient!
Ned, Arya... are you two okay? You're not hurt, are you?
N-no, we're just freaked out. At least, I am, but I don't think I've ever seen Arya look so scared, either.
I-I'm fine... I just wasn't expecting to see Heinrich of all people! What are you two doing here?
Some smug dragon calling itself Chronos sent us to this nightmare. I'VE got no idea why, but Otto seems to know something...
Yeah, Otto seems to know a LOT, doesn't he? And he's tight-lipped about it, too!
Grrmm... I'll explain later. For now, let's make sure we don't become dragon food.
Thank you for saving us, Otto... but I don't know how I'm supposed to trust you.
What are you talking about, Ned? Are you feeling okay?
H-he's a Tyrant! He told me so himself, when we were sent to the time of the Energy Ancients!
I'm sorry... I had my reasons for keepin' it a secret.
Bah! With a reaction like THAT, can you blame him? We Tyrants have been persona non grata in Dragolandia for years now!
Y-you too, Heinrich?! Everyone just... COOL IT -- we need to focus on this battle before we reveal any more secrets!
So... let me get this straight: Otto, and Heinrich, you two are Tyrants...?
We're also cousins. I bet Otto didn't tell you that either, did he?
WHAT?!
Well, it ain't like I'm particularly proud of it!
We don't have to deal with this, Arya... Let's go.
No! Like it or not, you two need our help, and we need yours. These dragons are too far gone to show you what I mean... but I promise I'll explain. Soon as I can.
Watch it! These dragons are really aggressive, too... Are you sure you can help them, Otto?
Listen. I've read your notes on the history of Dragolandia, Ned, and I saw a common thread: My ancestors, Tyrants, have always worked with dragons.
Except when things got really bad, but, well... If we can get these beasts to remember our shared history...
...then maybe we'll have a few more allies. We'll stand half a chance against these Void Ancients.
... Maybe a few of the Ancients will listen to you, too. It's worth a shot. Let's see if it works!
Let's try our method on this dragon. Ned, Arya, you can translate for us, can't you?
Tell these dragons... "Remember your place, as the allies of Tyrants!"
Mmm... too self-important. How about "Remember our friendship, from history's start -- humans and dragons shall never be part... ed."
D-does it have to rhyme...? I don't think the meter is quite right--
It doesn't matter! We'll get the point across!
I think the plan might be working! Dragons are still attacking us, but they feel way less hostile...
It's like they're trying to figure out if they can trust us... like they're hatchlings!
This entire time, dragons and humans -- Tyrants, even -- had been fighting and making up again...
But I had no idea Ancient Dragons could take it this far. It's... scary.
We'll take them down -- never fear! After all, I'd hate to see a future where the Void Tribe succeeds!
(...)
Hey, Adatz... you've been pretty quiet.
It's part of the Void Tribe -- it's probably plotting our downfall, should we get more dragons on our side.
(I am not on a "side." I am a database. I am merely compiling information.)
(However... I contain materials from the Energy Ancient O'won. That part of me... wishes for your safety.)
(Whatever may happen, I... hope you will not hate my brethren. They are simply doing what is natural to them.)
Don't worry, Adatz -- no matter what, there will be people who love dragons!
After seeing all of this, I'm not surprised by Rathorn's decision to keep this power in check. Machines are far easier to control than dragons.
All my research points toward Ancient Dragons being forces of nature... Maybe that's why the Tyrants of our time try to rule over the natural world...
So... they think dragons are too strong? But that's why Dr. Hogwin had such a hard time convincing people to train dragons! They were afraid!
Unfortunately, they might've had good reason to be fearful...
Well, I don't buy it! Let's show these dragons they have a friend in us, and vice versa!
Heh... Arya, I'm gonna borrow some of your confidence.
(Thank you for your efforts. You might be too late. What you see here is the last bit of solid ground in all the world.)
I can understand you... but I don't like what I'm hearing!
(Our only hope is to seek E'mun, and Nihl. If they are defeated, the Void will begin to fade, and Dragolandia will be born anew.)
(If you really can do it... we will help you. We will lead you to E'mun, at least -- but please, show us you are strong enough.)
We've come this far... we can't go back now. Chronos was right -- you three are my gifts!
Aww... that's sweet. But don't go making it my new nickname!
(We are close to Nihl, the creator of Void... This is E'mun, whom Nihl also created. It remains close to its creator...)
But... if "Void" is nothingness, then why did Nihl create E'mun? Why did it make something out of nothing?
(I do not know.)
Dragons... They're always more complicated than we think.
But they all love to battle. I bet E'mun is no different... right, E'mun? Let's try to understand each other.
(... Be careful.)
Ugh... my head... I can't think... Being around this dragon... tears all the thoughts from my head...!
(Ned Human... now you know the truth. This is the event that separated humans and dragons for centuries. This is what birthed Tyrants as we know them...)
(But it must come to pass. The alternative is too terrible.)
Wh-why did you send us to the past... if we weren't able to help...?!
(You planted the seeds of friendship in the hearts of Ancients. You will tell the true history of Dragolandia, you will absolve the wrongs of the past--)
Ned...! Can you hear me...? Let's finish this together -- and we'll see each other in the future! No matter what it brings...!