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[[File:DQVISuperFamicomArt.png|right|400px]]
[[File:DQVISuperFamicomArt.png|right|400px]]
'''The mysterious dragon''' is an unofficial name for the unidentified, golden dragon that appears in {{DQ6}}. The details of the creature are never outright explained, but several subtle clues allow players to put the pieces together and uncover the truth.
'''The mysterious dragon''' is an unofficial name for the unidentified, golden dragon that appears in {{DQ6}}. The details of the creature are never outright explained, but fans have pieced together several clues to hint at the dragon's identity.


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
==={{DQ6}}===
==={{DQ6}}===
The dragon appears along with the {{Hero 6}}, [[Carver]], [[Milly]], and [[Mortamor]] on the cover art of the super famicom version of the game. Within the title itself, the dragon appears twice at [[Murdaw's Keep]] to fly the cast over the untrekable crags and into the castle itself. In both instances it is called forth by Milly playing a melody on her ocarina.
[[File:Mysterious dragon snes.jpg|right|thumb|The dragon taking flight in the SNES version|200px]]
The dragon appears along with the {{Hero 6}}, [[Carver]], [[Milly]], and [[Mortamor]] on the cover art of the super famicom version of the game.  
 
Within the title itself, the dragon appears twice at [[Murdaw's Keep]] to fly the cast over the untrekable crags and into the castle itself. In both instances it is called forth by Milly playing a melody on her ocarina.
 
==={{DQ10}}===
A golden dragon resembling the DQVI dragon appears as a flying mount in the game.


====Connections to Ashlynn====
==={{DQMBR}}===
The dragon is in fact the missing body of [[Ashlynn]], and this is supported by three points in the game and in a 2014 interview with [[Yūji Horii]]:
The dragon appears as part of Milly's special move, carrying her and assailing the enemy monster team.
*When Mortamor destroyed [[Sorceria]] fifty years ago, Ashlynn's soul fled into the dream world along with those of the other citizens, but her body was never stated to have been destroyed unlike her peers who all felt the loss of their physical forms.
 
*Ashlynn refuses to land on the island of Murdaw, stating that something doesn't feel right about doing so. This is typically chalked up to her being frightened of the upcoming battle, but Ashlynn had already journeyed with the cast and fought against the false Murdaw--she would have no reason to fear the fiend in the real world. [[Rubiss]] states that the island Murdaw lurks on has a history of attracting evil, and that she created the ocarina to allow heroes to penetrate the unscalable cliffsides and strike at the heart of darkness. Even with her amnesia, Ashlynn would not totally forget the instructions of a Goddess and subconsciously knew to withdraw from the party to carry them to the battleground. when the ocarina is played.
==Identity==
:*This point is reinforced in the [[Nintendo DS]] remake, where the dragon will never reappear at the cliffside camp after Murdaw's death and Ashlynn rejoining the party. In the {{SF}} version, the dragon would always appear when players reached the precipice even with Ashlynn present--such a small detail would not have been edited if it did not have a deeper meaning.
===Connections to Ashlynn===
*When the party defeats [[Gracos]] and unseals Sorceria in the dream world, a woman inside the central building of the town explains that sorcerians have the power to detach their souls from their physical bodies. Those with enough magical strength can even transform their bodies, and the woman states that as Ashlynn is the descendant of the great sorceress who founded the village, she could transform her body into anything and specifically mentions a dragon.
The dragon is speculated by fans to be the missing body of [[Ashlynn]], based on several facts in the game:
* Ashlynn is first discovered as a disembodied phantom like the hero, Carver, and Ashlynn and must be given [[Dream Dew]] to manifest a solid, visible form, but her body is never recovered. While Ashlynn's people, the [[Sorceria]]ns, mention that they used their power to separate body from soul to evade their own bodily destruction fifty years ago, Ashlynn's body is not specifically confirmed to have been destroyed.
* Ashlynn, as the Acolyte and descendant of Ashmerelda, is uniquely powerful among the Sorcerians and is noted to have been powerful enough to deflect the binding seal of the Dread Fiend (presumably [[Gracos]]) and escaped, though her amnesia is speculated to be a result of the clash. It is unknown if her power had any effect during the original destruction of Sorceria.
* One NPC even notes that, even among the Sorcerians who have [[Morph|the power to transform]], Ashlynn's power and lineage are so strong that she might have the power to transform into anything, and specifically suggests a dragon.
{{quote|style=1|quote='''''We Sorcerians have the power to detatch our souls from our physical forms. If we're blessed with enough magical might, we can even transform our bodies. Ashlynn the Acolyte has the blood of Sorceress Ashmerelda coursing through her veins. I bet she could turn into anything...even a dragon!'''''|source=|console=|align=center|bgcolor=#ffffff}}
{{quote|style=1|quote='''''We Sorcerians have the power to detatch our souls from our physical forms. If we're blessed with enough magical might, we can even transform our bodies. Ashlynn the Acolyte has the blood of Sorceress Ashmerelda coursing through her veins. I bet she could turn into anything...even a dragon!'''''|source=|console=|align=center|bgcolor=#ffffff}}
The golden dragon has noticeably softer and more feminine facial features than is typical for [[Akira Toriyama]]'s dragon designs, even [[Lizzie]], and the presence of a seemingly minor {{NPC}} being placed front and center with a large portion of the main cast on the original box art is highly conspicuous if the dragon was only meant to appear in two brief cutscenes.  
* Ashlynn has a unique aversion to the [[Isle of Murdaw]] and refuses to disembark onto the island, claiming that doing so "doesn't feel right", despite having no such problem when encountering Murdaw's false manifestation in the dream world. This aversion is never explained but does ensure Ashlynn never appears alongside the golden dragon in the game.
** A notable change in the [[Nintendo DS]] remake is that the dragon will never reappear at the cliffside camp after Murdaw's death and Ashlynn rejoining the party, despite freely doing so in the original {{SF}} version. The full reason for this change is unknown, but it likewise ensures Ashlynn and the dragon do not appear together.


The fan theory, accounting for these facts, is that the dragon is in fact the long-lost body of Ashlynn under the [[Morph]] spell, which cannot be learned by any of the party members in the game and is only known by certain monsters and Sorcerian NPCs. How this situation came to be is unknown.


[[File:Mysterious dragon snes.jpg|right|thumb|The dragon taking flight in the SNES version|200px]]
Also of note are pieces of information from sources external to the game, including the following:
In addition to the evidence within the game, Yūji Horii has stated in a May 27th, 2014 interview for DQX-TV, a program based on the ''[[Dragon Quest X|tenth game]], that the hints indeed allude to Ashlynn and the dragon being one in the same. He further elaborates, explaining that the dragon, Rubiss, and the ocarina were to have been more fleshed out in the final product but this was set aside due to time constraints with the game's development and his simultaneous obligations with ''[https://www.chronowiki.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger Chrono Trigger]''. With this revelation being made on public television after being only hinted towards for nearly tow decades, it may be that the situation is further clarified in a future remake of the title.
* [[Yūji Horii]], in an interview following the release of the Super Famicom game, mentioned that constraints on time and his own availability during development prevented the finishing of a storyline involving Ashlynn, the dragon, [[Rubiss]] (who made the ocarina that summons the dragon), and Milly (who owns the ocarina).
* Horii also stated during an appearance on the May 27th, 2014 airing of DQX-TV, a program based on the ''[[Dragon Quest X|tenth game]]'', that the hints indeed allude to Ashlynn and the dragon being one and the same. He further elaborates, explaining that the dragon, Rubiss, and the ocarina were to have been more fleshed out in the final product but this was set aside due to time constraints with the game's development and his simultaneous obligations with ''[https://www.chronowiki.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger Chrono Trigger]''.
* The novel version of DQVI strongly implies Ashlynn and the dragon are one and the same by having the hero see the dragon's eyes when glimpsing of Ashlyn's reflection in [[Ra's Mirror]].
 
===Connections to the [[Zenith Dragon]]===
Despite Dragon Quest VI having no official appearance of the Zenith Dragon, this dragon bears a striking resemblance to the gold-bodied, black-horned design of the Zenith Dragon from the original releases of {{DQ4}} and {{DQ5}}. Also noteworthy is the fact that it retained its original appearance after the Zenith Dragon received the silver-bodied redesign in remakes and the ''Monsters'' series.
 
Later games have strengthened the connection to the point of implying this dragon to be Dragon Quest VI's incarnation of the Zenith Dragon outright.
* The ''Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road'' features the mysterious dragon in Milly's finishing move, which is titled "Master Dragon".
* Both ''[[Dragon Quest of the Stars]]'' and ''Dragon Quest Scan Battlers'' have made use of the original orange-bodied, black-horned design for the Zenith Dragon, highlighting the original resemblance between them.
 
==Gallery==
<div align=center><gallery>
DQMB_Dragon_Ashlynn.png|Ashlynn and the dragon from the ''Monster Battle Road'' series.
DQX_Golden_Dragon_Mount.jpg|DQX's golden dragon mount.
DQotS_Zenith_Dragon_Corrupted.png|The corrupted Zenith Dragon from DQotS.
DQotS Zenith Dragon Battle.jpg|The uncorrupted Zenith Dragon from DQotS.
DQSB Zenith Dragon.png|The Zenith Dragon in DQSB.
</gallery></div>


==={{DQMBR}}===
The dragon appears as part of Milly's special move, carrying her and assailing the enemy monster team.


{{DQVI}}
{{DQVI}}
 
{{DQX}}
[[Category:Party members]]
[[Category:Dragon Quest VI characters]]
[[Category:Dragon Quest VI characters]]

Revision as of 21:27, 28 November 2020

DQVISuperFamicomArt.png

The mysterious dragon is an unofficial name for the unidentified, golden dragon that appears in Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation. The details of the creature are never outright explained, but fans have pieced together several clues to hint at the dragon's identity.

Appearances

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

The dragon taking flight in the SNES version

The dragon appears along with the Hero, Carver, Milly, and Mortamor on the cover art of the super famicom version of the game.

Within the title itself, the dragon appears twice at Murdaw's Keep to fly the cast over the untrekable crags and into the castle itself. In both instances it is called forth by Milly playing a melody on her ocarina.

Dragon Quest X

A golden dragon resembling the DQVI dragon appears as a flying mount in the game.

Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road

The dragon appears as part of Milly's special move, carrying her and assailing the enemy monster team.

Identity

Connections to Ashlynn

The dragon is speculated by fans to be the missing body of Ashlynn, based on several facts in the game:

  • Ashlynn is first discovered as a disembodied phantom like the hero, Carver, and Ashlynn and must be given Dream Dew to manifest a solid, visible form, but her body is never recovered. While Ashlynn's people, the Sorcerians, mention that they used their power to separate body from soul to evade their own bodily destruction fifty years ago, Ashlynn's body is not specifically confirmed to have been destroyed.
  • Ashlynn, as the Acolyte and descendant of Ashmerelda, is uniquely powerful among the Sorcerians and is noted to have been powerful enough to deflect the binding seal of the Dread Fiend (presumably Gracos) and escaped, though her amnesia is speculated to be a result of the clash. It is unknown if her power had any effect during the original destruction of Sorceria.
  • One NPC even notes that, even among the Sorcerians who have the power to transform, Ashlynn's power and lineage are so strong that she might have the power to transform into anything, and specifically suggests a dragon.

"We Sorcerians have the power to detatch our souls from our physical forms. If we're blessed with enough magical might, we can even transform our bodies. Ashlynn the Acolyte has the blood of Sorceress Ashmerelda coursing through her veins. I bet she could turn into anything...even a dragon!"

  • Ashlynn has a unique aversion to the Isle of Murdaw and refuses to disembark onto the island, claiming that doing so "doesn't feel right", despite having no such problem when encountering Murdaw's false manifestation in the dream world. This aversion is never explained but does ensure Ashlynn never appears alongside the golden dragon in the game.
    • A notable change in the Nintendo DS remake is that the dragon will never reappear at the cliffside camp after Murdaw's death and Ashlynn rejoining the party, despite freely doing so in the original SF version. The full reason for this change is unknown, but it likewise ensures Ashlynn and the dragon do not appear together.

The fan theory, accounting for these facts, is that the dragon is in fact the long-lost body of Ashlynn under the Morph spell, which cannot be learned by any of the party members in the game and is only known by certain monsters and Sorcerian NPCs. How this situation came to be is unknown.

Also of note are pieces of information from sources external to the game, including the following:

  • Yūji Horii, in an interview following the release of the Super Famicom game, mentioned that constraints on time and his own availability during development prevented the finishing of a storyline involving Ashlynn, the dragon, Rubiss (who made the ocarina that summons the dragon), and Milly (who owns the ocarina).
  • Horii also stated during an appearance on the May 27th, 2014 airing of DQX-TV, a program based on the tenth game, that the hints indeed allude to Ashlynn and the dragon being one and the same. He further elaborates, explaining that the dragon, Rubiss, and the ocarina were to have been more fleshed out in the final product but this was set aside due to time constraints with the game's development and his simultaneous obligations with Chrono Trigger.
  • The novel version of DQVI strongly implies Ashlynn and the dragon are one and the same by having the hero see the dragon's eyes when glimpsing of Ashlyn's reflection in Ra's Mirror.

Connections to the Zenith Dragon

Despite Dragon Quest VI having no official appearance of the Zenith Dragon, this dragon bears a striking resemblance to the gold-bodied, black-horned design of the Zenith Dragon from the original releases of Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen and Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride. Also noteworthy is the fact that it retained its original appearance after the Zenith Dragon received the silver-bodied redesign in remakes and the Monsters series.

Later games have strengthened the connection to the point of implying this dragon to be Dragon Quest VI's incarnation of the Zenith Dragon outright.

  • The Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road features the mysterious dragon in Milly's finishing move, which is titled "Master Dragon".
  • Both Dragon Quest of the Stars and Dragon Quest Scan Battlers have made use of the original orange-bodied, black-horned design for the Zenith Dragon, highlighting the original resemblance between them.

Gallery

  • Ashlynn and the dragon from the Monster Battle Road series.

  • DQX's golden dragon mount.

  • The corrupted Zenith Dragon from DQotS.

  • The uncorrupted Zenith Dragon from DQotS.

  • The Zenith Dragon in DQSB.


Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation
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Additional monster recruits
(Super Famicom version only)
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Related products
Miscellaneous
Dragon Quest X
Characters
Towns and Castles
Temples and sacred places
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Miscellaneous
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