"Come on dad, we're going to be late!" A female voice called out into the building known by all as belonging to the red genius whose very creations at one point feared, now played a big role in the saving of the world from the dark berserkers that threatened them only two years ago.
"I'm coming sweetie, no need to be so high-strung." The voice placated as he walked out of the building and out onto the veranda looking down at the person calling him.
"Da~ad don't be so mean and come on, big brother Poseidon is about to be announced as the new guardian."
This had the man moving as he went back inside and came back out with three weapons on his person; the two on his back hidden by the cape he wore and one strapped to his leg also hidden by the cape only seen when his right leg took the step forward.
With this he jumped over the guardrail and once he landed on the ground he casually strolled over to his daughter and looked up at her face, she looked like a twin replica of her deceased mother: bright yellow scales with slightly darker bolts of lighting on her body, indicating she was an electric dragoness, her crest scales a dark yellow but the rest of the skin part of her crests were a electric blue unlike any that could be imagined on any dragoness of her element. 'Yep just as beautiful as her mother, I really wish you could see her Saphira, Seismic you'd both be proud of her.'
Cheri, Saphira's second born is the younger sibling to Poseidon the dragon being appointed as the next guardian of earth and he couldn't be more proud of him it's been a dream of his since he was told of his father's bravery, from his grandfather.
"Hey, did your mother send you to get me?" The man said as he started to walk alongside the dragoness.
"Yes dad, both mom and Nayru sent me when they realized you weren't there yet, what were you working on this time?"
She knew her father well; if he wasn't training, making jellies for his business, or spending time with his ever growing family he was working on some kind of new invention or weapon of some kind.
"I can't keep much hidden from you can I? Well as you know way, way, way back in the day long before Malefor, maybe even before or even during Ares and Isley's time-" This is where Cheri cut in. "You mean the first red and silver berserkers?" She said; wincing when she saw his face darken a little at her unintentionally reminding him he was a descendant of the red berserker, at first he was proud to be their descendant but after the battle against them two years ago it sickened him that shared the same blood and color as them.
This man and a friend of his even their fathers themselves shared the same color as the first two.
"Yes princess, the very same, but anyway way back then, dragons and humans and any who could afford the gem fee to use them, were gates, or portals to distant parts of the world as if they were right next to each other. Compared to running or flying in a dragons case, what could be a two or three week travel was just moments away past the gate, but at some point in time they were decommissioned, destroyed, or just plain forgotten if the first two didn't happen to them, and I've been trying to rebuild them so that travel time could be cut down to moments again like back then." At this point in their walk to the temple where the inauguration of his son would be they were passing thru the Bazaar and his two businesses where he sold the various things he deemed 'public ready' and the battle arena where he trained and tested his weapons.
"Wow and you think it can be done?" She of course knew he could do it, after all the phrase "It can't be done." Didn't always apply to him, he was told that 'sterile females of any species couldn't have children of their own,' he made a drink proven effective in curing this, he was told that 'gems, their currency, couldn't enhance a weapon or armor,' his grandfather did it and he too eventually did as well, he was told that 'only dragons could use the elements'' he added them to his weapons and they've saved lives.
If he truly couldn't do this, then no one else could pick up were he left off.
"Well I've hit a bit of a snag at the moment but I believe I've found a way around it, I'll show you what I've got done so far later."
By now they both were walking thru the framework of the temple and up the stairs to the balcony where they saw both Stephany and Nayru waiting for them and the current guardians Flame, Volteer, Glacier, Terrador and, Poseidon along with Spyro, Cynder and their two hatchlings riding on Cynder's back with her wings folded back in such a way they wouldn't fall off.
"Hey everybody, I hope I haven't kept you waiting long." He said in a laid back voice, shifting his glasses back up his face making his way over to his two wives. Stephany his first wife the princess of the southern earth kingdom wore a normal dress that had a summer feeling to it which kept the dress just below her knees and though it did not appear so she carried a segmented Bo staff on her, with shoulder length hair with three streaks of gold going down the whole length.
Nayru his second wife the princess of Atlantis, while she appeared human she wasn't, in fact she was a mermaid. She had aqua blue, middle back length hair a sky blue dress that from the knees down was wavy with bottom of the dress at an angle so more of her left leg was shown compared to her right leg, and attached to her top was a aquamarine piece that went down to her waist, and just like the bottom part of her dress the bottom half of her top piece was wavy but angled in the opposite direction.
"Amazingly no, we're still waiting for your silver counterpart and his mate to show up so we can-" Glacier started out until the doors flew open and both walked into the room the female of the two holding a baby swathed in clothes cooing at her.
"Hey Laurence, Valentina how's it been hanging?" The male asked the couple. Larry the silver berserker was a guy you'd assume was more or less an ordinary guy; and in a fight he'd use that to his advantage. Standing at five foot, six inches, with long black straight shoulder length hair but was tied up at the moment, and a goatee wearing a black coat with his usual silver shoulder pads, black body vest his gauntlets hanging on his side, strapped to his back is the Claymore sword gifted to him by the red berserker modified to handle elemental manipulation, with several kunai attached to the main sword strap on the front, and of course his version of the 'rush boots'.
Valentina, the princess of the northern earth kingdom, with shoulder length brown hair and despite being royalty she wore a normal dress that was reminiscent of the 'autumn' fell with bright reds, browns, and a little yellow lining the tips of her dress.
"We're fine, how's life for you, Caleb?" Laurence asked putting a name to the red berserker.
Caleb stood six foot even with short black wavy hair a thick mustache with a soul patch and a red earring in his left ear lobe, with a small scar over his left eyebrow that was more or less hidden behind the frame of his glasses. His wardrobe consisted of a brown cape with a high collar, under that was his usual red tunic that went down to just past his knees with three black rings around the forearms with silver studs in the black area and around his neck, with the same black and sliver stud design on his shoulders front to back straight up and down and one more but split apart in the waist area also front and back. In-between the cape and tunic on his back were his War hammer and Razor blade both of which were modified to handle elemental manipulation. And strapped to his right leg was his favored invention the Revolving Revolver, the design was like the pirate Skabbs gun leg but refined and modified for elemental manipulation.
"Now that we're all here, let's begin." Terrador said stepping out on the balcony of the temple looking at the assembled crowd. "Citizens of Warfang," He roared out gaining the attention of the crowd. After all, a roaring earth dragon is heard by all; even the death. "I Terrador Guardian of earth, have proudly served you all as guardian for many years but now I step down and name my successor to the position, please welcome your new guardian of earth, Poseidon!" Terrador announced as he stepped aside letting him come out of the temple onto the balcony.
Poseidon was nearly identical to his father Seismic, for one they both had dark green scales lined with 'boulder' like patches on his shoulders, and a spiked hammer tipped tail, This is the end of similarities between the two cause unlike his father, Poseidon's wings had no earth blade the tip, and his horns 'crowned' a bit, that is six horns lined his skull.
Once he was in the open the crowd applauded his arrival, and appointment. When he stood before them he shot a small earth missile into the air that split into six separate missiles themselves, and then exploded again in the normal way breaking off into three even smaller but no less explosive missiles. After this display of elemental prowess the crowd roared even louder in excitement; after all the technique used was no easy move and was rarely mastered.
Caleb, Stephany, and Nayru stood side by side with his arms around their waists as they watched Poseidon 'showoff.'
"I'm so proud of him." Caleb commented as Stephany nodded agreeing with him.
"Yes, its not every day one can say their child is a guardian of an element." Stephany replied knowing that it was a dream of his to be a guardian since he first heard stories of his father in battle from his father and grandfather who fought alongside him.
"Indeed it's a day of celebration for us all seeing as this is something that doesn't happen often." Nayru added putting her thought into the conversation.
"I'm up for a congratulations party if you two are?" Caleb asked.
"Of course, are you saying you don't want to celebrate your son's ascension?" Stephany asked incredulously that he of all people didn't want to celebrate today.
"Not at all honey, it's just I wanted to work on the portal restoration after this, but it can wait another day for this party." Caleb placated his first, knowing if he didn't she'd be mad at him and no good husband wants an angry wife; especially if she's mad at the husband in question.
"Good, cause you will be there, and you will enjoy a day off from that death trap of a job you work in and that's that." Stephany 'requested' of him. He knew what that meant; it meant: 'if you miss this for anything, you'll sleep on the couch.' and though he could sleep there he preferred to sleep with both Stephany and Nayru by his side, so he attended and of course it was a blow out the whole of Warfang as the guest was there though not at his house and that meant other then the food stores being open everyone was partying and enjoying themselves.
Now several hours into the celebration Laurence finally found Caleb, on the dance floor with his first born daughter; Aglaia from Nayru with her mother holding her twin sister Thalia; to the side.
Stephany was holding onto Janie his second born from her; and her elder brother Memphis.
"Yo! Caleb we have someone here that we haven't seen in a while." Laurence said breaking the father daughter duo from their dance. "Princess, would you excuse me?" Caleb 'pleaded' from his daughter.
"Yes Daddy." She answered back dismounting his boots and then he walked her back to her mother, and then turned to see the person Laurence was referring to.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" The newcomer spoke out behind the hood he had on with a Staff that was made by Redd himself, using a wise old voice despite being the same age as them.
"Chimp, is that you?" Caleb questioned seeing the outfit he wore was that of a hermit's garb, and recognizing the voice of the "sage mode" he took to using.
"Yeah it's me." The now identified Chimp said lowering his hood. For those who knew him his face was no surprise, but to a stranger they would question: if he was human or was he an ape? Rightly so; his face and facial hair was set in a way that you would have to look twice to tell. But yes, he is human.
"I came just to restock my rations when the, 'festivities' caught my eye and I decided to make a detour and enjoy a break in my quest." Those who knew him growing up heard the emphasis he made on the word festivities and knew its meaning and warned him to tone it down when in the presence of the children. "And, I sense the start of an epically great quest beginning here in Warfang, and it will start with you, Redd." Chimp went on.
"Ca~leb." A shiver went down is spine at the sickly sweet tone used to say his name. He slowly turned to see both Stephany and Nayru looking at him with smiles on their faces.
"I sure hope you don't have plans of taking after Chimp and his ways." Stephany started. "Cause, if you do, we'd be most...displeased." Nayru finished. When translated into words males understand what was said means: Answer incorrectly and die.
"No I don't know what he's talking about." Placating his wives.
"Then what is he talking about when he says it will start with you." They pressed on.
"I just said I don't know, he's probably just trying to distract us so he can-" He turned around to grab Chimp and get him to explain what he meant, if he meant anything to begin with.
"Tell them what you're talking about." He ordered, thankful he was able to grab him before he left him to fend for himself like he usually does when things seem to lean towards the female's divine judgment.
"It's as I said young berserker," Donning his sage voice. "I only know that it will start with you." Chimp went on to say seeing as he missed his chance at escape.
"Well I'm more or less alright with it then, so long as he didn't drag you into it or corrupted you with his ways." Stephany relented after a moments thought. This received a sigh of relief from Chimp.
"And Caleb," She took a softer tone with him, ran a delicate hand against his chest while he held her in a loving embrace. "Whatever it is, that is in store for the future just comeback home to us as fast as you can." She finished not wanting another incident like the Mt. corona where he 'died.'
Caleb knew what she was thinking about and held her closer. "Of course, My Queen," He replied, knowing in another century and a half he'd be forced to take the throne from both her father and Nayru's father and teasing her with the title of queen.
He'd be on the throne already if it wasn't for some quick thinking, sound logic, with a hint of adolescence to dissuade the two reigning kings.
"If I should ever be forced from your side I will do everything in my power to come back to you." He said this all the while looking into their eyes; both Stephany and Nayru were smiling lovingly at him and gave him a small passionate kiss each.
They only broke apart at the 'eww' from the twins and Janie gagging at the show of affection, with Memphis scrunching his face at his parents.
"Come on Daddy." Aglaia complained pulling on the bottom half of his tunic he knew she wanted to dance again and now that he was done (in her mind) he could pay attention to her again.
"Na-uh it's my turn to dance with Daddy." Thalia pushed in since her twin sister had finished earlier it was her turn, as she came up to the group and pulled on the other half of his tunic. This got them to go back and forth with each other saying it was their turn.
"Now now girls," He bent down to their level and pat their heads. "Don't bicker its Thalia's turn now okay, princess.""Yes Daddy." Aglaia reluctantly agreed.
"Re~dd what about me?" Nayru pouted with a puppy eyed cute face.
Before he could answer her though.
"Me to, Redd?" Stephany pouted too with a puppy eyed cute face. If he didn't know any better he'd think they were teasing him.
"Yes you three too." He said as they all went back to the dance floor.
The next day was a slow one for all of Warfang, seeing as the whole city partied only those few that were open to keep the party going were out, and they were sluggish in their movements as they cleaned up the mess from the festivities.
BOOM! Suddenly a massive explosion went of in the distance usually when something that noticeable happens; the crowds either run to or run away from the area. But as everyone was conked out they for the most part just rolled over and drifted back to sleep.
Meanwhile at the center of the explosion sat one blackened red berserker who peeled himself from the wall and dusted himself off and cleaned his glasses of the soot from the lenses. Glancing at the three elemental stones that fell from the shelf noting that the fire, celestial and, lightning stones hit the floor.
"Geez not again!" Caleb complained a he looked at the gateway he had constructed; he made an exact copy from the old one he found near corona when he first visited; when he first saw the gate it looked like just any other gate that blocked the path up the mountain until he was told later in his life it was one of the rare few that still stood but no longer worked.
"You'll get it dad, keep trying." Cheri encouraged him as she walked in after the explosion.
"Thanks sweetie, I did it like the one in the south corona has; same gems, same placement and everything but I don't know what powered this thing." Caleb said as he picked up the three stones that fell; fire, celestial and, lightning.
It suddenly struck him as he looked at the celestial stone. Ever since his grandfather let him have it and studied it, it always had an otherworldly feel to it. He had rarely come across something quite like it, Case in point when he thought of the first upgrade he did to his revolver. "Hey Cheri," Caleb started out still looking over the celestial stone after putting the other two down.
"Yes dad?"
"Remember when I added the stones power to a pair of gloves and when I opened a small pocket dimension for my revolver?" He said barely keeping the excitement out of his voice.
"Yeah I remember." She answered not following why he brought up now.
"Come on princess, think," He saw she wasn't getting it yet. "The power from this stone when added to something else allowed said gloves to let me reach for something that was in a different area-" He started the excitement of it getting to him as he chuckled at the end.
"-Like you were right next to it even though it was across the room!" She finished just as excited as him now hopping in place. He found the power source for the portal and he could restore portal travel again!
"Yes exactly! Now that I realized it was so simple...it almost annoys me to no end that I don't make a break thru until I plant myself into the nearest wall." He said too excited to sound depressed about his breakthroughs as he now started to set up the process of setting up the power transfer to the gate.
"So how long until its ready?" Cheri asked.
"I can't say for sure but I won't turn it on until the others are here to witness the first use of it." He reassured her as he pulled his diamond lenses down so he could power the gate properly.
"Can you get the others and tell them it's a success and to come down?"
"Chimp too?" She asked not sure if her father wanted him around too.
"If you can find him." He replied already powering the gate. As she left he continued to work in silence as he used the celestial stone as a power source.
"You can come out now." Caleb said. After two moments of silence the person he spoke to came out of hiding.
"I'm surprised you're here still," He started not turning to look at his spy.
"Damn, still as sharp as ever I see, I was sure I had the drop on you."
"I knew you were there the moment you showed up." He answered turning to look at his guest.
"So may I ask why you are the first one to show up for the rebirth of portal travel, Chimp?" Caleb asked the traveling hermit. While gathering the other four stones and placing them in a small bag he tied to his waist.
"It's as I said yesterday young berserker," Sage voice activated. "An epically great quest starts with you," Sage voice deactivated. "And that's all I know, I promise." the perverted hermit swore as he stood next to the door post.
At that point Caleb was finished powering the gate and walked over and looked him in the eye. Chimp for his part bore his scrutiny was as calm a mind as possible as the red berserker's face was straight terrifying. "Ok I believe you." Caleb said after pulling back finding no signs of deceit but found something else.
"But what are you hiding from me? What led you to this knowledge of an adventure of some king starting with me now?"
"I don't know I was on my way back, when word of Poseidon's ascension was to occur, when a premonition struck me unconscious and I say you." He informed.
When nothing else was said he prodded for more. "And? What was it that you saw me doing?"
"I'm not sure. It was too blurry for me to tell." When Caleb heard this he was about to dismiss it as nothing serious to worry about until Chimp continued. "But! I was able to tell that you were fighting. And before you ask, no, I couldn't tell what it is you were fighting." Chimp answered when he saw the question on his face.
"Well that's not much of a shock, my whole life has practically been life-or-death fights since that noble guy tried to take Stephany from me."
"No~ it's been like that since you form a proper fist and you know it." Laurence jumped in catching the last piece of the conversation.
"Yo, Larry! You worried about this then? Cause usually, when a battle is about to start, he unintentionally brings you into it too." Chimp questioned his silver counterpart.
"Nah, I wouldn't be a good friend if I just stood there and watched him fight. But try not to start any end of the world problems; I have a growing family to look after." He joked at the end.
"What do you mean by that?! I don't intentionally go looking for trouble, trouble comes looking for me!" Caleb reasoned.
"Yeah, yeah we know I'm just saying though." Larry placated waving his hand.
"What's going on?" What are you three talking about?" Valentina questioned walking in with Stephany, Nayru their children and the guardians coming in last.
"Just reminiscing about the days when life didn't treat me like the main course and you guys as the appetizer no one wants." Caleb cut in no wanting the others to know of the news involving him fighting something else.
The two caught it and kept quiet as well.
"Well come on dad, lets see this thing in action!" Memphis yelled out wanting to see his father's invention at work.
"Sure son just need to get something from the house." he said slipping out and grabbing his backpack and weapons from the main house, throwing the bag with the stones in as well.
It wouldn't be odd for those who knew him to have this stuff with him as whenever he tried a new invention he made sure that he had his weapons and health supplies on hand just incase. On the way back though he couldn't help but wonder what it was but he suddenly felt trepidation about this but shoved it to the side and moved on back to the test zone as the building had been called.
"Redd? What is it? You look uneasy." Stephany asked when he came back.
"Just nervous I guess, because I test these things first before calling you guys to see it, and I said I wouldn't even turn it on until you showed up." He informed the crowd of witness'.
All of which took a step back in mock fear now knowing he hadn't even tested it yet.
"So wait," Glacier pointed with his wing tips to the gate and Caleb. "This thing could explode and we'd be caught in it too!" He said freaking out slightly.
"Don't worry Glacier; I'm past the 'exploding in my face' phase so it should function just fine." Caleb assured not liking the teasing.
"Well here we go, as you know...you know what, I don't feel like giving the history lesson again, so if you don't know just watch and then go see Volteer in the library about portal history." Caleb informed his crowd as they moved closer but still not getting too close with Caleb stepping up to the machine with his diamond lenses on and turned it on.
At first the gate sputtered and turned off, when that happened Caleb got a tick mark on his forehead and kicked it which got it on and finished powering up. What they saw when looking thru the portal was a beautiful forest area.
"Sweet! There we have it people, the restoration of the portal, its already pointing us to a portal that's still active." Caleb said looking over the whole thing seeing if everything was working properly.
"Where is that? None of the flora I see looks familiar to me." Stephany asked looking in seeing many odd plants in view thru the gate.
"It's probably a forgotten piece of Tall Plains, that place in bigger than it seems, so I wouldn't be surprised if this leads to a new area." Caleb suggested seeing that she was right. While he wasn't a flower person he knew what was a common flower from an exotic, to a rare flower and very little of that was seen.
"What is that?" Spyro asked looking into the portal. Everyone looked at him then at the portal what they saw made them cover the young ones eyes as whatever they were; they were female and naked, they saw something that was more or less humanoid fighting another female that was also naked but covered in reddish brown fur with a tail, and two males ordering the female closest to them to attack the other.
"What the hell is this?!" Stephany roared out in anger at Redd. "I hope this isn't some kind of joke, Redd cause if it is I'm not laughing." She leered at him.
"I don't know, I swear. I only just now turned it on so this could be anywhere." He said as he went to turn it off.
It was when he did this, that it all went down hill, he stepped up to hit the kill switch when it started to suck him in, he immediately turned around and started fighting the pull of the now vacuuming gateway.
"Everyone stay back!" He ordered seeing them holding on to each other and Nayru, and Stephany, being held back by Poseidon who wrapped his wings around them.
He continued to make strained efforts in staying out of the portal. It was not to be as the more he fought the stronger the pull got. 'Damn it!' He cursed silently noting how the force he was exerting with his feet was destroying the floor, with that he knew it was only a matter of time before...
"Stephany! Nayru!" He called out. They saw the acceptance on his face as he kept on fighting to say what he wanted them to hear.
"I don't know how much longer I can hold on, so let me say this!" He started slipping a little as he was pulled closer.
"Don't you dare give up you hear me!" Stephany yelled to him tears streaming down her face as her husband got pulled closer.
"Yeah don't give up just like that you can fight it!" Nayru yelled out too with tears streaming down her face as well. They both knew he wasn't going to make it but refused to believe it.
"I love you both!" He yelled out as his left arm got pulled in first; tears of sadness going down his face too as he was being ripped from his wives. "No matter how long it will take me! I will come back to you both!" Caleb yelled out his right arm held out as if to caress their faces and his torso still the only things seen now. "I promise~." His voice fading as he disappeared.
"Whoa I'm losing my grip!" Chimp screamed out sliding out of Cheri's grip.
"Hold on don't let go!" Cheri roared out over the vacuuming winds of the gate. Even then he still kept slipping until he too got sent thru. Just before he went thru he used his staff to hit the off switch and turned it off ensuring none of the others got pulled in as well.
"No! Redd! Chimp!" Laurence called out as he stepped out and tried to turn it back on with no luck.
No matter how may times he flipped the switch the portal stayed dormant with the walkway displaying no connection. "Laurence stop their gone." Valentina pleaded seeing him trying to turn it back on. Regardless to her voice he kept trying.
"Laurence stop." She pleaded again crying into his back now, knowing he was crying too.
"I stood there and watched as they were pulled in, I could have helped them." He broke down turning around and holding her to him as the loss of his two close friends hit him hard.
He could only imagine how Stephany and Nayru felt. He looked at them both seeing them being comforted by the others ands comforting the kids as they saw their father disappear in the portal.
"If you did then you too would have meet the same fate." She sobbed not wanting him to leave her. She knew they were close Redd and Laurence were brothers in all but blood and color.
"He'll be back mama." A soft voice spoke up. They all looked and saw Janie hugging her mother's leg with tear on her face as well.
"Yes mama," "Don't cry Daddy will be back before you know it." Thalia started and Aglaia finished holding onto their mothers dress looking up with tears in their eyes too.
"Yeah! When Dad says he'll do something he will do it." Memphis assured them putting up a brave face for them just barely pulling it off, as a small sniffle and tear passed his face before he brushed it off and hugged his mother.
They both looked at their children and then at each other and saw that they were right; when the red berserker Caleb set out to do something he accomplished it.
"Yes your right your father will be home soon." Nayru started off drying her tears.
"Cause what happens when daddy is late for dinner?" Stephany finished with a teary smile on her face as well.
"Daddy gets in trouble!" All the girls yelled with glee at their mothers faces. Whether their young minds knew it or not they realized that Stephany and Nayru would make it.
Laurence watched this all with a weak smile as he glanced back at the dormant gate.
'You'd better comer back you jerk,' He thought swearing to protect the gate incase he needed it to come back. 'If you don't you'll be in hot water with you wives.' He finished with on last sob as he came to accept the fact that the world was without their red berserker.
