Rise
A/N: Tell me. Why can't I seem to find any (much) Dark Eragon fics? It's killing me…! Okay, now I sound weird. But seriously, every hero has got to have an alter ego, lol. After seeing the movie version of Eragon, I think we seriously need a dose of poison.
Please please review:D Flames will be mercilessly cut into smithereens!
Summary: AU: The light is poisoned to become darkness, and the young rider will have to make a decision. The lives of Algaesia hang in the balance, and it is Eragon alone that will have to step into destiny's path to destroy what he believed, or save what is left of him. Light・Dark Eragon
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Do not get angry if I make a mistake over a detail, whether it is a name, character, personality, place, area, yadda yadda yadda. I am human after all, lol.
Also Arya is nowhere to be seen in this story, or at least, on this chapter. I don't really feel like putting her in the story, and since her existence is not really important on this story.. Well she is important, just no on THIS particular chapter. I might or might not put her on, depending on how the story goes.
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Chapter One - Where to Belong
"Interesting…"
Galbatorix let the image of the young rider vanish from his sight, pushing it away with a wave of his hand. He put a finger on his lips, with a thoughtful expression on his face. In spite of his anger of the egg being stolen by the Elves, it had unexpectedly reached the hands of a mere farm boy. And for mysteries unknown, the egg had hatched.
Another rider now exists besides the great Galbatorix, and he will either become a threat or a part of the Empire. And of course this man wished to be a 'friend' to the young rider.
Eragon… Galbatorix thought with a smirk. You shall be under my command soon… Very soon…
"DURZA!" he yelled with an authority that chilled all under his command. Immediately the 'man' in question appeared in front of his master with a shimmer of dark smoke trailing behind him. His head was bowed as he spoke. "How may I help you, milord?"
Galbatorix smiled. He always liked it when his servants were submissive to his command. "There is a new rider in our midst. We must take this boy under our wing before the Varden hears of him. Capture him and his dragon and bring the rider here. Do not disappoint me." He saw the Shade nod.
"I will not let you down, my lord." Durza bowed before vanishing from Galbatorix's personal chambers.
"Good."
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Eragon… I feel a danger is closing in on us. A man that should not be alive… Saphira spoke gravely. Her hushed tone made the blue – eyed rider shiver. He didn't understand what she was talking about, but he knew he had to find out. He looked at Saphira's concerned look and then at Murtagh beside him, riding his own steed. He saw Tornac whine, as if it knew Eragon was looking at its Master's direction. He then turned back to look at Saphira, a puzzled look on his face.
What do you mean… Eragon spoke softly.
Saphira didn't answer for a while. Do you not feel what I feel, Eragon? There is a smell in the wind that I cannot name. An evil that wants you for its own purposes. If the Empire were after us, it would be almost obvious for the enemy to send someone to capture us.
Eragon would have snorted with ridicule had it not been for the seriousness of their conversation. True… but so far we have beaten the Ra'zac… (A/N: You can correct me if I'm wrong about this, my memory is vague because the book isn't with me at the moment.) If they were after us, why haven't they come and captured us already?
I do not know. But I can feel someone following us for a little while now.
Why haven't you mentioned this before? Murtagh and I would have worked something up to capture this stranger you speak of! After that, we could have questioned his motives. Eragon shouted in anger.
And what if we failed to do so accordingly? I am not foolish, Eragon. I would have told you immediately had it not been for the fact that the man following us could just as well be stronger than us! Saphira growled, countering back. Eragon still felt furious towards Saphira for keeping the important fact a secret. And yet, it ebbed away slowly. In the end, he sighed softly.
I'm sorry I shouted at you… I was just worried for all of us. After Brom's death, my life can now be in peril in any place and time. Now Murtagh's life is under the balance. I could almost go crazy from it.
He felt Saphira soften, and he felt her anger fade. I feel what you feel, Eragon. You are not alone in your troubles. Eragon felt himself smile, but it didn't last long when he heard Murtagh shout loudly.
"We have company!" That single sentence made both Eragon and Saphira's senses sharpen.
Eragon looked to see that Murtagh had gotten of his horse, taking out his sword. He, too, did the same as he got off the steed, still holding the reins tightly. Eragon couldn't see anything suspicious, but the snap of a twig meant that someone was with them now. He pulled his sword out with a swish, and saw a glimpse of the red shine on Zar'roc.
Silence cut through the forest they stood in the middle of. The only sound that could be heard was the footsteps of their pursuers, and their breaths escaping them.
"Don't hide in the darkness, coward! Reveal yourself!" Eragon shouted, something Murtagh would have done if the young rider hadn't done it first. Careful… he felt Saphira whisper.
The footsteps stopped, and a chuckle rang through the forest. Suddenly it felt so cold.
"Coward?" the chuckle now turned into a laugh. Whatever made him laugh, it didn't make Eragon and his companions laugh along with him. "I am no coward. You however… You, young rider, will be afraid after this meeting."
Murtagh snorted. "I doubt it." Eragon smiled at this.
The voice gave a growl of annoyance. "I. Did. Not. Ask. For. Your. OPINION!"
Suddenly Murtagh gave a yell of surprise as he was thrown off his feet and blasted far away from Eragon's side. Eragon was about to rush to his friend's aid to help him up, only to be stopped when he felt something grab his leg and pull him closer towards the voice.
ERAGON! Saphira shouted as she took flight, the sharp sound of her wings cutting through the air to be heard. Eragon felt her grab him in her claws, but it seemed that it was no enough. He was pulled even closer to the sound of the voice. He gave a growl of pain and fear suddenly flashed before his eyes, as Saphira was unable to hold on to him.
Whatever was pulling at his leg had an iron grip as he was dragged through the mud. He could see Saphira come after him with ultra speed, a roar escaping her lips. He desperately tried to cut away at the object holding onto his leg, but being dragged through the forest ground was no easy trip. His grip on Zar'roc eventually ceased to exist as his hands slammed into the trees' trunks. Gritting his teeth painfully, he attempted to grab the dirt and dig his fingers into them. But what he accomplished from doing this was leave traces of claw marks. Eragon was almost losing hope of ever stopping, when suddenly he realized that it had stopped.
"Foolish boy. Did you think a mere sword and a dragon would make me fear you?" the owner of the voice spoke with amusement as Eragon got up slowly, wincing from the pain. He turned to look at his enemy with a glare and his gaze intensified with hate when he saw twisted man standing before him. Emanating a foul aura of darkness, this man smiled cruelly at his direction.
"You… Murtagh talked of you. You're a shade." Eragon hissed and suddenly he felt a familiar voice shout for him.
Eragon! Are you alright? Where are you? I cannot sense you! Saphira spoke to him frantically. I am alright… I'm facing a shade…
Do not take action until I am there with you, Eragon! Do not do anything foolish--- the voice was cut off, and Eragon looked around his surroundings as if searching for Saphira's voice with his eyes was going to do any good. But he found out why it was suddenly cut off. Surrounding him was a cocoon of dark smoke, locking him in a place where he had no escape.
"Do not forget that you are talking to me, rider." The shade, Durza, growled with annoyance. He hated it when his prisoners ignored him over something less unworthy.
Eragon finally got up to his feet, and he spread his palm at the Shade's direction. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Brisingr!" Fire burst through his palm and flew at the Shade with intention to hurt him. Instead his plan backfired as Durza growled, "Gánga aptr!" The magical fire that was initially being thrown at the Shade not turned around, as if a huge wind had changed its mind and decided to move the other way. Eragon could only give out a gasp of shock as he was knocked off his feet, blasting on to the ground. Tears stung his eyes, as did the fire that burned. It vanished quickly though and in spite of that, the boy couldn't even give out a sigh of relief. The strength to conjure the spell was enough him of power.
He felt himself go dizzy, his eyes starting to swim. He tried to get up and fight but he fell onto the ground with little strength left in him. Eragon looked up at Durza, who smiled. Clearly, he was amused.
"Poor, poor Eragon Dragonrider. Caught in a battle you would like to have avoided. Instead, your dragoncracks its shell for you, and your world is turned upside down. What a shame. Would you like it to turn back to normal, boy? To return to being a farm boy?" The Shade sneered in mockery
"Yes…" Eragon paused and then spoke again, "No… I would have liked to see Garrow and Brom still alive, but Saphira was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Not even the past would want me to change my future." After saying the last sentence, he coughed and found he had spit out blood from his system. Even in his pain, he glared at Durza. This made the Shade stop smiling.
"I am to capture you alive, along with your dragon. If you come to us willingly, you will not be hurt. But if you refuse, then results will be ... disastrous..." The Shade growled. "Your pain will be lessened if you will succumb to my master's wishes."
"Never!" Eragon yelled. This was the wrong thing to say as he was flung back by a spell the Shade had spoke. He gave out a painful cry, writhing in agony as electrical sparks stabbed him in and out. When it finally passed again, he realized that he was crying.
"You are pathetic. It is a mystery why such a boy would be wanted by a dragon to become its rider. You are not a rider worthy of remembrance…" Another jolt of pain shot through Eragon again, and this time he gave a scream through gritted teeth. "That's it. Scream for help. No one but the Empire can help you become someone."
"You're… wrong!" Eragon rebelled through his agony. As if to answer him, he felt the darkness around him start to vanish. The cocoon he was trapped in was broken as the roar of Saphira's voice ripped through the air. The Shade gave out a snarl of agitation. Anyone would have thought that Eragon was saved. Instead, the most unlikely happened.
"You will serve Empire!" Durza growled and before Eragon could have anticipated what came next, a sword made of darkness shot through the air and pierced his heart. He gave out a scream far louder then before. It felt like something was eating him alive from the inside. He could hear Saphira call for him desperately but her voice felt so far away. Eragon… Eragon… Eragon…!
Sa...phira... he called out faintly as he felt his body go numb. Suddenly a jolt of energy streamed through his blood and his dropping eyes snapped open. He could feel Saphira's energy being passed through to him. The pain did not cease to end, but when he moved, the sword that had pierced through his chest vanished with a puff of black smoke. He got up, ignoring the agony as it started to lessen a little. It weakened him, and yet Saphira held him steady.
"No… no mortal can stay conscious while the andlát sitja pierces their heart!" Durza shouted in disbelief. He looked angry, and this made Eragon smile as he answered.
"I am no mortal; I am a rider!" Eragon spoke as he finally felt the darkness surround him shatter. A breath of fire blasted towards Durza's direction, and the Shade glared angrily at him. Before he disappeared with a puff of dark smoke, he shouted, "You are poisoned, Eragon Dragonrider. Nothing can stop you from turning to our side now…!" Even as he disappeared, the smile that appeared on the Shade's face disturbed Eragon.
Finally the Shade vanished, and he was alone with Saphira. The dragon walked towards him and gave him a soft nudge with her nose. Are you alright?
I think… whatever the Shade did to me… the pain won't go away even with your strength flowing through my veins... Eragon said and before he could say anything else, he felt his world swirl with darkness… Darkness that will consume his existence if only he were not too careful…
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Well now, we're finished for the moment! I'll try to update soon… After all, I left you guys on a juicy cliffhanger! –chuckles evilly- Excuse me, I just ate something out of the ordinary today, lol!
Anyways, it would be greatly appreciated if you can please leave a review! (: I would love to see what you think of this story!
andlát sitja - death sword (I know, not very original, but I was in a bit of a hurry… sighs…)
Gánga aptr - to go backward
Brisingr - fire ( I think everybody knows this very well.. but just in case! –smiles-)