Moaning, Octavius' head rolled to the side. Pain exploded through his skull. Grabbing his head, the man jolted upwards. The events of the night were hazy. The man glanced about his ransacked house. Two figures came into his vision. Gritting his teeth, the man rose to his feet. Wincing, he grabbed his arm and made his way to Zelda's bedroom. Upon reaching it, he noticed she was not in her bed.

The ground trembled. A beastly roar echoed in the distance. Fear overcame the retired warrior. What happened to his daughter? Was the rumor of Ember and Tialco true? Spinning on his heels, he wandered back to the living room. His daggers and sword laid on the floor where he fell. Either way, he had to slay the dragon and rescue his child. Bending over, he picked up the blades and wondered outside. 

**************

Opening her maw, Zelda spewed fire upon the city below her. Darkness clouded her vision. She knew she was flying, yet she did not know where she was going. Zelda's eye's glowed red. A fire burned within her. Her giant wings flapped against the wind current caring her about the village. A female voice laughed within. Zelda dove down into Pompeii. She headed for her house. Her dragon's eyes rested on a mail emerging from her house. Rearing her head back, she shoots fire out of her maw towards him.

A giant orb appeared in front of her showing her everything that happened. "Father," she cried out. "You're alright. I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you, but I can't control my own body." Tears ran down the dragon's cheek. "Please, Dad, I'm sorry." Through the orb, she watched the man role out of the way towards safety. In his left hand, he held a double-bladed sword. In his right, a dagger. Zelda dove down towards him,

Raising his sword, Octavius swung it towards the beast. Zelda pulled out of the way. Octavius sheathed his dagger and grabbed his sword with both hands. The man rushed towards her. Zelda opened her maw as she dove towards him. The man cried as he swiped his sword upwards and hit her claw. Zelda roared in pain. Octavius smirked. Zelda could tell that he felt like he was in getting closer to winning.

Zelda roared with might. Fear trembled in all that heard her. Behind her, the volcano began launching boulders into the air. Destroy the city in front of them. The man turned and glanced at the city. He bowed his head then glanced towards her once more. ON his face was planted a frown. Zelda grabbed the orb crying. The city burned and crumbled before both of them. The man gripped the hand of his sword tight and ran towards her.

The dragon plunged towards him. Opening her maw, a fireball appeared. The man jumped at the last minute landing on her claw. He hung on with one hand and climbed up her scales. Zelda growled towards him and flew higher in the sky. The man clutched her scales, and slammed his blade into her leg, hoisting himself upwards. The dragon roared and shook her leg, trying to rid herself of him. Octavius, hung on tight, before progressing upwards.

Reaching her back, he crawled on her scales towards her head. Felt him on her back. She ran into buildings and columns trying to throw him off. Octavius hung tight. He wasn't going to let her escape. He trained for a fight like these. Buildings crumbled around the duo as Zelda continued her rampage. Raising his sword up in the sky, he plunged the sword deep into the dragon's neck. Ash darkens the man's skin. A cloud of ash rained down from the sky. The particles where dark and, had it been day time, would have felt like a black snowstorm.

Around them, men, women, and children ran through the streets. Several individuals ran to the port to wait for ships. Several ships were littered with people and set sail, unable to help anymore. Others, on the other hand, we're headed into a nearby forest hoping to hide deep underground. As she flew, Zelda noticed Felix headed for the port. Pain shot through her neck and down her spine. She had one life to ruin before she gave in.

Flying towards him, her silhouette shadowed him. Felix glanced upwards. He cried out as Zelda released a fireball from her maw, burning the man in the city. The world in the orb became fuzzy. Curling her head, the dragon crashed into the building and crumbled to the ground. Before she fell, Octavius jumped off her back and landed on the ground. He stalked towards her, ready to deliver the fatal blow.

Lava, from the volcano, finally reached the city just feet away. Octavius whipped sweat from his forehead. The heat was unbearable, but he couldn't leave yet, not without his daughter. Gritting his teeth, he approached the dragon. The dragon moaned. The lava wrapped around her body. The scales washed off and the body began shrinking. Octavius watched in amazement. After the dragon shrunk, it began taking on the form of the girl. The girl's hair was a vibrant red and she wore a yellow dress.

Tears welled up in his eyes. The man rushed forward and embraced the girl in his arms. Zelda's eyes shot open. She smiled and returned his embrace. "Father," Zelda said.

Octavius wept against his daughter's soft warm skin. He had his daughter back. Smiling, he stood and picked her up in his arms. "I thought I lost you, forever." He told her.

Zelda smiled and nestled her head against him. The man watched the lava run down the streets. Buildings glowed bright orange and yellow. The man rushed down the streets, trying to outrun the lava towards the sea. As he progressed through the town, he passed adults and children, who weren't able to escape the ash. Many where trapped in coffins made of ash. Zelda watched as Octavius carried her past such statues. Zelda cried softly. So many people lost their lives this not. How many of them lost their lives because of her?

Reaching the port, Octavius set his daughter on the ground. Zelda glanced around the port. The ocean water that lapped at the sandy beach, glowed from the lava of Vesuvius. "Over there," Zelda shouted. Octavius took notice of where his daughter pointed. Zelda rose to her feet and the duo ran towards a small rowboat that floated empty on the water's surface. Getting in, Octavius rowed himself and his daughter out of harm's way.

Reaching a spot about a mile out, Octavius stopped to rest. Zelda turned and watched Pompeii burn to the ground. The woman sighed. "The only home I ever knew is gone."

"We are together and unharmed," Octavius answered. "That's all that matters." 

"I guess you are right. Where will we go now?"

"I heard of a place called Atlantis, might be a nice change of a while."

"I agree." Zelda smiled at her father. The retired centurion gripped the ores and rowed them deeper into the Mediterranean sea. Now the search begins for a new country and place to call home.