Fall of the East

by Exodus9

Co-written by three authors, Exodus9, Talon the Dragon, and Kauzul. Fall of the East follows the story of the last Eastern Dragons who are trying to find their way in the world, which wants them all dead. Along the way they meet new friends and enemies, and their journey will one day take them to face Alto, the destroyer of Aeon and, if he has his way, the world.

2. Chapter 2

Fall of the East: Chapter 2

Rem's world spun as he lay in the medical bed. There was some tube in his throat helping him breath and there was a few needles placed in between his scales. The young fire dragon did not know where he was, what had happened or who anyone was around him. The medics seemed to move in blurs as they worked on the young black dragon. He would occasionally black out once again as the dizziness became too great for him to bear. He then watched as a medic ran up to the large dark dragon at the doorway before slowly slipping into unconsciousness once more, Lying on his back with his wings hanging limply off of the bed, his front limbs doing the same while the back were spread as wide as they could go, gravity pulling them.

"Rem!" gasped Crow as he ran over to him, skidding to a halt beside his friends side. "What happened to him?" he demanded from one of the medical dragons. The blinked in surprise that such a young dragon could exhibit such force in their speech but they quickly recovered their composure as Phobius walked up beside him. "Well...it seems that took quite a lot of damage in that...accident" they glanced over to the guardian "that was caused earlier. We've given him some stimulants and are helping him breath, but it could take a while-Hey! What do you think you're doing?" the shouted, for Crow had just grabbed Rem by the neck and started wringing him back and forth. "Hey do you hear me! WAKE UP!" shouted the young dragon before he was pulled back by Phobius. "I'm not sure that is the best way to go about it, young Chronos." said the guardian calmly as Crow dangled in the air, waving his arms around like a lunatic. "Let me go! And now one is allowed to call me that unless I give them permission!" he huffed, crossing his arms in defeat as he hung above the ground. The medical dragon glared at him as they carefully set Rem back onto the bed. "Honestly, why we are giving this Eastern dragon so much attention, I'll never know." they muttered before rushing off, Crow glaring at them evilly.

"Come, we should let him rest. It's going to be a while before he wakes up." said Phobius, with a slight look of guilt flashing across his face. Crow looked at Rem mournfully, his front paws twisting together as he gazed at his friends unconscious face. "I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone...these dragon's cannot be trusted, they tried to kill him, they want us dead." he muttered, almost to himself, but as Phobius placed his paw on the young dragons shoulder, Crow sighed and followed the Guardian out of the ward. "Come. You can visit him later. For now, why don't I show you around the academy?" offered the Elder, and Crow smiled slightly. "Okay." he said and the Elder smiled warmly, he was pleased to finally see another of his kind, and the young dragon reminded him so much of his son...Phobius looked away for a moment and Crow blinked in confusion. "Is something wrong?" he asked as the two came to a halt.

"Of course not, over here, is the central chamber, it is where the Guardians stay during the day to teach." he said quietly as the re-entered the main hall. The other Elders looked over at the pair with cold glances, and Phobius hurried Crow along. "I hear you attacked one of the Easterners? And now you've taken the younger one under your wing?" scoffed one "No doubt looking to replace his long lost son!" laughed another and the group smirked evilly, as Phobius glared at them in fury. "Come along, Crow, it is not safe to be around these old fools." he muttered. "What was that Phobius?" snapped one of the elders and they walked over to him. The Fear dragon stepped in front of Crow, whose eyes were wide with fear. "What if I snapped that puny dragons little neck? Then what would you have to say about us?" they hissed. Phobius growled and snapped his jaws "Coward! He is but a child, you wouldn't dare lay a hand on youngling of your own kind!" he spat, but the other simply smiled wickedly.

"Ohhhhh, so it's a fear dragon now is it?" they laughed "No wonder you've taken favour with it!" they smirked, and with a nod, one of their students grabbed at Crow, pulling him away. Crow screamed in fear and reached out towards the dark Elder "Phobius! Phobius!" he cried as the student pinned the young dragon to the ground. "Crow!" shouted the Guardian but the Elder blocked his path, laughing as he did so. "You're all the same, Easterlings, Fear Dragons, you are all beneath us." they snarled. "You would dare address a Guardian in such a fashion?" spat Phobius as he tried to push past him, and the Elder glared "You are in no higher position than I am, Phobius!" they hissed. Suddenly, a voice rang out across the chamber; "What is going on here?" shouted the Earth Guardian as they entered the hall. And the Elder looked over in surprise and backed away, motioning for the student to let Crow go, the young dragon running over towards the Fear Guardian, who pulled Crow towards him protectively. "Nothing..." said the Elder, and quickly left the room, his students following behind him.

The Earth Dragon walked over towards Phobius "Trouble with the others?" he asked quietly, looking down at Crow with pity. The youngling grasped onto Phobius's arm tightly, tears brimming in his eyes. "Yes, I fear that keeping these two alive will be a more trying task than we previously thought." muttered the Fear Dragon, and he led Crow back out into the hall and towards his room. "You should stay out of sight for a few days, just remain in your dorm during the day, I will come and visit you and help you begin your training personally, alright?" he said softly. Crow nodded, and whipped the tears out of his eyes. "I hate...being afraid." he said quietly and Phobius stopped for a moment, and lowered his head so that it was level with the young dragons. "Now listen to me, I will not let any harm come to you, or your friend, I swear to protect you." he said firmly and Crow looked up at him, his pale eyes misty with sorrow. "Why are you helping me? Why don't you hate me like everyone else?" he asked quietly, but the Guardian remained silent, and opened the door, escorting Crow inside, before shutting it, and leaving the young dragon utterly alone.

Rem remained in his unconscious state for the next few days, only waking in brief moments, looking around and then quickly falling back asleep. The doctors figured that the young dragon would need surgery to heal some internal bleeding that he had suffered from the powerful sound wave. When he awoke again, with a new scar on his stomach, there was some deer meat and some water beside him with a note from Frost apologizing for everything that happened. As he rolled out of the bed, he looked around and could not find his friend. Confused, Rem walked out of the ward and down the hall. In his thoughts, the male did not see the elder fire dragon walking out of the room and crashed into him. "Watch where you are going, scum!" snarled the elder, causing Rem to flare his wings in defense as the fire dragon shoved him over.

"Infernus!" called out a voice as Phobius and Crow rounded a corner. The elder Fire Dragon snapped his head around as the other Guardian came into view. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the protector of all Easterlings and his faithful bird. I hear they called you a crow, youngling, a fitting name...for a beggar!" he said with a laugh. "We've been through this before many times over now, Infernus. You would do well to stand down." said Phobius calmly as Crow looked from Rem back to the floor. He wanted more than anything to run over to his friend and help him to his feet, but Infernus and his students had attacked him more than once over the past few days, and he was reluctant to leave his Guardians side. The Fire Dragon, on the other hand growled and bared his fangs menacingly. "I don't take orders from filth like you! I've put up with you being one of us for long enough, you should have perished in the purge years ago, along with your beloved fami-ARGH!" shouted Infernus, for Phobius had just leaped forward and slammed into the Fire Guardian, sending him spiraling away from Rem and crashing into the far end of the hall.

The Fear Dragon spread his wings menacingly, and the air seemed to quaver around him as he prepared a scream attack. "Give me a reason, Infernus. Give me one reason and I swear I'll do it." he hissed. The Fire Dragon picked himself off the floor and whipped away a bit of blood that ran down his chin. "Another time then." he snarled and slunk away. The air returned to its normal state and Phobius sighed in relief, letting his wings fall back into place at his side as Crow ran forward to help Rem to his feet. "I'm so glad you're awake! The healers were sure you wouldn't be getting up for at least another day!" he said with a smile. Phobius grinned slightly at Rem and nodded at Crows words "Rem has hardly left your side, when I've been able to get him out of the hospital wing we've been training, but during those times he will speak of nothing but you." he said with a sigh as they started walking back towards the dormitory. "I'm sorry, by the way, about that...incident." he added "I should have made it clear that I did not mean to harm either of you, but I felt that Chronos" "Crow" chimed in the younger dragon "and I needed to talk immediately, and for good reason." continued the Guardian as if Crow hadn't said a word. "That's right; Phobius told me that I'm a Fear Dragon, like him. He's been helping me harness my powers...but it's not easy." said Crow as they entered the room. The door had since been replaced and the room was now re-arranged to Crows liking. It was also extremely messy.

"Sorry." said the young dragon as he frantically ran about clearing off the couch so that the Guardian and Rem could sit down. "I'm not used to living...inside." he said with a slight laugh, but it was easy enough to tell he was rather embarrassed. "I told you, you should have cleaned this place earlier." said the Guardian with a sigh, but he did not sit down. "You're not staying?" asked Crow his face falling, for he had hoped that the Guardian might stay for a while, as he sometimes did after training. Phobius had been a great comfort to the young dragon during his first years at the academy, and he had become rather attached to him. "No, you and Rem should have some time to catch up, I will see you for your lesson tomorrow." he said and shut the door behind him. Crow sighed and crawled onto his bed, which was covered in a heap of blankets and all sorts of oddities the young Fear Dragon had nagged from around the school. "My collection!" he said proudly, showing Rem a few of the oddities that lay at the bottom of his bed. They ranged from a silver fork to a wooden top. "You wouldn't believe this place, it's like nothing I've ever known!" exclaimed Crow as leapt up and rushed over towards the balcony. "It's been kinda lonely without you around, but Phobius has been really nice, and the food here is great! I don't usually go to the dining hall, but what the Guardian brings me is really good." he said warmly. The young dragon was acting very energetic, something that was rather out of character Crow, who usually acted cold, and indifferent towards life.

Rem laughed a bit as he watched the young dragon bounce off of the walls of the apartment before he started to clean the main sitting area. He organized the items that were his and that were Crow's and placed them in both of their rooms accordingly. When he was satisfied with the cleanliness, the fire dragon sat down on the pillow that he had placed on the balcony and looked out over the city. Down below he could see the many races that lived in the city such as bipedal cheetahs and moles, as well as a few foxes and wolves all conversing and purchasing items in the markets. A knock on the door was heard behind him and with a sigh, Rem walked over and opened it. On the other side stood Infernus, the fire guardian with a wry smile. "Here is the work you missed in classes, runt." growled the fire guardian before dropping some textbooks and papers on the young dragon. In his anger, Rem blew smoke out of his nose to calm his fury and this caught the elder off guard. "You... you're a..." before the elder could finish, Rem slammed the door in his face and collected the papers and books before sitting on the couch. "Wow..." he said. "I have learned all of this from dad already." he chuckled.

Crow sat down beside him and looked over the papers Rem held in his hands, picking up a spare piece of parchment, he held it close to his eyes, his face frowning as he tried to make out the letters. After a moment he sighed and let the paper drop in frustration. "I don't even know what it says. You're lucky that you already know this, Rem, I do not think my time here will be so easy." he said with a sigh and leant back against the back of the couch and up towards the ceiling. "I can remember what the teachers tell me, but there is so much to learn! What Phobius teaches me is a lot easier, it doesn't require words." he added and got to his feet. "Awww, Rem! You've disorganized everything! Where did I put that...ah-ha! See?" he held up a slightly ripped piece of parchment, which was covered in drawings of runes and poses. "No letters!"

Rem looked at the runes with a confused stare. He had seen them before in one of his lessons by did not remember what they meant or what they were used for. With a long sigh, the black scaled dragon pulled out his writing utensils and began to work on his missing assignments. It took the young dragon about one hour to actually finish it all, but when he was done, he sighed and shook his paw, resting on the couch. When he was finished, Rem walked over to the kitchen area and smiled a bit as he turned around. "Hey Crow, remember those pies I used to always make?" he asked with a wide smile. A few moments later the fire dragon heated up an object out of view from the smaller black dragon and turned around, holing a large pie. The smell soon filled the room and into the hallway, where Phobius was just about to knock on the door.

Crow practiced some of the poses Phobius had taught him while Rem studied, but he couldn't help glancing over at him as he wrote. After he was finished, Crow walked over to him. "I don't suppose you could...teach me...how to read?" he asked hesitantly, but his eyes lit up at the mention of pie. "Of course!" he said, grinning and watched with bated breath as Rem prepared the treat. He smiled with glee at the sight of it, but just as he was about to take a slice, a knock was heard at the door. "Oh, no, I hope it's not the Fire Guardian..." Crow said uneasily as he went to answer it. "Phobius? Is something wrong?" he asked as he opened the door to reveal the Fear Guardian waiting behind it.

Phobius stood at the door quietly as he looked down to the young fear dragon while Rem walked up beside him with the same confused face due to the fear guardian's unexpected arrival. "I am here to simply check up on you two. I heard that Infernus was here not too long ago and wanted to make sure you two were alright. It seems as only myself and three other guardians fully trust the two of you at the moment, and as you have seen, the others are quiet vocal about their distrust. Infernus came to me however and spoke of you Rem being an unnatural blemish on the dragon kind. Something about your element not matching your scale colour. You are a shadow dragon, aren't you?" asked the fear guardian with a sigh. Rem looked down with a confused face to Crow before looking at his black scaled paw and shaking his head. "No, I am a fire dragon. I was born with black scales though." replied the young fire dragon with a tilted head. "Black scales but a fire dragon. Unique and useful. Tell me Rem, why have you and Crow come to the western lands. I am sure you enjoyed your lives back home." said Phobius with an intrigued tone as he entered and closed the door. "Well... Crow and I were forced to flee after a tyrant of the lands tore through our home. I found Crow lying motionless at the edge of town, but I grabbed him because he moaned lightly as I passed. I flew day and night carrying him across the ocean and Cyril found us in a cave on the shore." replied the black dragon as he sat on the couch and curled up.

Crow shuddered slightly and looked down at his feet at the mention of what had happened in the East, he could almost see the fire that had burned the houses of his beloved village down to the ground. Although he had never really belonged there, it had been the only home the young dragon could remember. But he blinked in confusion as Rem mentioned how they had escaped, he remembered waking up as they were flying over the city...and when the dragons first attacked...but he couldn't recall how he became unconscious. Crow frowned and sat down on the large circular rug that covered the floor, deep in thought. Had he been attacked? No…he didn't have any injuries from that night...with a sigh he looked over at Phobius and Rem, who were still talking about what had happened, all the way up to the pairs arrival at the academy.

As Rem finished his explanation to the guardian, Phobius bowed his head in condolence. "I see, you two have not had the best of lives, especially for ones so young. You do not have to worry here. As long as I am around, you two shall have no harm. But you two must be wary about moving around the city. Once word spreads of your arrival in the city, many may try to hunt you down and kill you all in revenge for losing someone that they loved during the war. Move at night, stick to the side streets and do not get caught up in crowds. I will let you know now that the other guardians will be extremely tough on you two in your courses because of your nationality. Us three need to stick together through these hard times, but we can and will get through it." said the guardian as he stood up to leave. "Now rest, young eastern dragons, you have a long day tomorrow and Rem, I shall teach you on your element. I do not want that abusive fire guardian anywhere near you. He will not hesitate to place you in a test that could possibly kill you. Good night." he warned as he exited through the door and into the darkened hallways. Rem turned to Crow and gave a stressed sigh before waving him over and beginning to explain to his young friend the letters and words.

Crow nodded and waved goodbye to the Fear Guardian, who cast a warm smile towards the two before he left and shut the door behind him. Phobius could hear the two talking faintly through the wall as Rem began helping Crow with his words, something the young dragon had been having a lot of difficulty with. The guardian had also been helping Crow learn to read and write, but it had proved to be a very trying task. He smiled slightly as he could hear the two laughing and started walking down the dark corridor towards his own room. He was glad that Rem was awake again, it was clear that the two cared about each other very much, after all, they were all that remained of their village. It was rather sad really, that the two should lose so much and be forced to such subjugation here. Phobius sighed and entered the main hall, the moonlight shone brightly through the glass ceiling above him, and bathed the area in a pale light. Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows. "Out so late, Phobius?" came the smooth voice of Reuel, the Wind Guardian, and Phobius narrowed his eyes and growled. "Calm down now, I'm not here to attack anyone." drawled the Guardian, as he leant against the main statue that stood in the center of the room. "Why do I get the feeling you're lying?" said Phobius coldly as he paced across the room, heading for the opposite end. "Wait a moment, Fear Dragon. I would like a word."

"My, you are very civil when you want something, aren't you?" Phobius remarked as he paused at the exit. The Wind Dragon crossed his arms and turned towards the other Guardian. "We both know that I'm no brute like Infurnus. Listen to me carefully, Phobius. We've put up with your behaviour towards the Easterlings for long enough, but you've grown to attached to them. It's time you stopped this foolish facade with the young fear dragon and left him alone." he said coldly, and Phobius's face contorted in anger. "You have no right to tell me what to do! Both the Earth and Ice Guardians support the Easterlings as well-" but he was cut off by Reuel "They do not show the same favoritism as you." and the Wind Guardian walked closer to the Fear Dragon, who looked away in anger. "We all know why you care for the child, he reminds you of your son. But you need to stay away from him, I'm on your side, Phobius. Infurnus and the others have been conspiring against you, and they plan on using the Easterlings against you, in one way or another." Phobius's eyes widened and he looked up to the Wind Guardian in shock, but he quickly regained his anger and pushed past him. "How...dare you speak of my son. Crow isn't...he could never replace him I know this...I do NOT care about him!" Phobius snapped, and his eyes stung with tears as he was reminded of his beloved child, Farel. Reuel looked at the Fear Guardian with pity and he placed a paw on his shoulder. "Then take my advice, and stay away from him. From both of them." he said quietly and walked away, leaving the Guardian alone in the moonlight. After a few moments, Phobius quietly left the main entrance, and headed back towards his quarters.

In the doorway on the opposite end, Crow watched him leave with tears in his eyes, and turned around, running back towards the dormitory, a small piece of parchment clutched between his paw, with some of his first words scrawled across it.