Not a lot to say in the authors note at the beginning as I prefer to write the ending authors note first. Weird but it is how I am. I guess the thing I can thank you guys for is for getting this story past the 100 view count. It seems like a fantasy that back when I first started on FFN that I would get only ten views. Now I'm getting ten times that and it hasn't been three years yet. I hope that continues in the future and that you guys continue to enjoy or at least find my work entertaining enough so that it is better than doing nothing.
I awoke with pain flaring through my body. I opened my eyes slightly only for a harsh sunlight to blind me slightly as I slowly rose to stand. I stood up with my head slightly lowered to look at the ground to limit the amount of sunlight that my eyes would be exposed to, I stayed like that until my eyes were adjusted from the pain. (What happened to me?) I thought as I slowly looked myself over to find that my scales had darkened to an almost midnight black. (At least I can try to form a new personality, live a different life.) I thought as I slowly began to chuckle at the thought. My voice immediately worrying me, it sounded raspy, as if I had not had any sufficient nutrients for days.
My mind immediately thought back to what happened before I passed out. (How could a single scale make me collapse and fight to survive?) I asked myself in thought as I walked to get to the nearest river, not trusting my flying capabilities. I arrived at a small stream, the clear water flowing smoothly downstream, my reflection showing that my garnet eyes had changed to a pure emerald green as I lowered my head and took several gulps of the refreshing water. I felt relieved as the water took away some of the parched feeling inside my throat. My mind began to think about the countless details that I would need to remember. (A name for starters, I would need to find my element for that, it could be several different things given my luck.)
My thought process was interrupted as something hard slammed into my back. My body acting on its own I shrugged off the attack to leap to the side and get into an aggressive posture, my wings arched and tense, my tail stiff and ready to use as a weapon as I stared down a dragon I didn't think I'd see again. Not so soon anyway. "Who are you?" She spoke, her voice sounding more mature than I remember. "What's it to you?" I asked, my voice changing to a deeper pitch to hide who I was. "I want to ask if you've seen a green drake come by, he's been missing for some time now." She said, advancing slowly. I leapt back further as I responded. "Going to need to be more specific. Lots of green drake I've seen in my time."
My words made her sigh in frustration as she advanced again. "He's been missing for over ten years. The rest of his friends have given up on him returning, but I do not know. I just feel like he's still alive." She said making my eyes widen in shock. (I have been out of it for ten years or more, what happened.) I thought as I quickly regained my composure. "I saw him yes, I can show you where I saw him headed. Follow me." I said, my voice fighting to return to normal as we took off back towards the ruins. She was hot on my tail, looking at me whenever I looked back at her. (Inferno you sure have become quite the stunning dragon.) I thought before laughing inwardly at the thought.
We flew to the ruins of the temple to see a weird sight. Where I had landed stood a statue; "That can't be right, I landed there." I muttered under my breath, I was then bitten on the tail and flung directly towards the ground. I spread my wings wide as I had done in the past to lessen the pain as I landed hard, my head snapping to meet the ground. "Stop reminding me of him!" Inferno shouted as she landed in front of me. "You sound like him, you have his cautious actions and worst of all, and you don't fight back like he did." She continued, her eyes watering making me feel sorry for her as I decided to keep my distance to avoid any more hostile confrontations.
"I'm sorry ma'am. However, you must understand that I have lived out here for several years; I have not seen a city since I was kicked out for being different. So being cautious is only instinct, me not fighting back is my moral and ethical side. Unless you do something that makes my life in danger that I can't avoid I will not strike back." I said, her face immediately looking distraught as she walked towards the statue, I looked on as well, finally realising what it meant to be looking at your own memorial of sorts. Pieces were scribbled on the stone. One of them stood out to me as it looked like it had been carved on by a dragon that had lost their mind yet I somehow could understand what it said.
"Oh fuck." I muttered under my breath, the writing then disappearing. "What is it?" Inferno asked me making me sigh as I shook my head. "The one that landed here, might have been the dragon you're looking for, however, it said that he was still alive. Just not who dragons remembered him." I responded slowly, seeing her face turn immediately into a face combined of both hope and joy. "Does it say where he might be?" She asked me making me smile lightly as I decided to drop the deep voice as it was making my throat ache wit keeping it up. "It said he underwent a small transformation." I hinted, seeing her tilt her head in confusion, smiling, I continued.
"His scales darkened, becoming like the sky at the new moons night, while his eyes reflection the grass during a calm spring day." I said seeing her eyes widen before she shook her head in denial. "You're lying." She simply stated making me sigh as I decided to come out with it. "I wish I was Inferno, but I'm not." As soon as her name was said, she looked at me with shock, tears forming in her eyes before she shook her head again. "Why should I believe you?" She said making me sigh as I decided to try to make her realise. "My last words to you where that I would be back and that I was going for a walk after defending us both against a cheetah that was possessed by something that wanted its master to rise."
That made her realise that it was really me, she slowly walked forward, her eyes filling with more tears as she slowly inspected me. "Why didn't you come home?" She asked me making me sigh as I told her everything I could remember. The flight, something taking control of me, a scale that caused me to pass out to me waking up here. "So you couldn't come home because you were unconscious the whole time?" She asked me which I only responded by nodding my head towards her. "I wanted to keep up a façade in case anyone I knew wanted to hurt me, I assumed you would as we hadn't seen each other but I acknowledge that I fully deserve one after what I just put you through."
She smiled sadly at me as she slowly rested her head against mine. "I couldn't hit you Leo. Not when I know it is within reason that you did what you did. You couldn't have stopped it, though it begs the question as to why the scale knocked you out, the only estimation I can come up with is that it was an old opponent that you could either be related to or the chronicler has plans for something which I haven't heard of yet." She said making me look at her with shock. "What happened to the other Guardians?" I asked, seeing her sigh as she responded. "They're all fine, Ignitus however, passed on to help Spyro and Cynder." She said making me sigh in sadness as I shook my head slowly.
"We should head back now, before dragons or your lover wonder where you went." I said seeing her dart her head to glare at me as her tail quickly whipped out to hit me behind the head. "What was that for?" I asked her seriously seeing her continue to glare daggers at me as she merely took off. (Too soon?) I thought to myself as I slowly took off after her. I flew a few feet behind her to make sure that she could land first. I saw a few blurs ahead of us and decided to get ready in case of an attack, I didn't have to wait long as a volley of arrows were launched from below, I narrowly avoided them, some just scratching the scales, a second volley followed shortly after.
This time an arrow tore through the membrane of my left wing making me grunt from the pain before steering myself away from the remaining volley of arrows to find a spot to land. I saw Cheetahs lining the wall aiming at me still as I touched down, my wing falling uselessly to the ground as dragons ran out to surround me. "Been a few years since I've seen this scenario. But the outcome won't be the same." I taunted, switching my voice to be deeper again as the fight was about to start a sudden shrill yell made them all stand back. A silver dragoness walked up to me, her soot black horns outlining her face as her blood red eyes stared into my own emerald green.
"You do not want to fight." She simply stated making me chuckle slightly. "Do you possess the ability to override thoughts because it isn't working on me, sorry." I said seeing her chuckle herself before she sighed. "Have it your way." She finished by spinning around, her tail hooking my jaw as she did so. My mind went into a familiar state as I stared her down. "Now you are going to die slow." I seethed, poison dripping from my maw as I continued to stare her down. Her look showed true over confidence as I began to train my aim on her. Following her every move, letting the poison drip onto my front talons. It appeared she did not notice as she walked forward.
Her eyes locked with mine again as the poison stopped flowing, instead a dark, almost grim burning sensation replaced it, and I chuckled at the feeling, having felt it before. Surprising me, black flames were flowing out of my maw as the dragoness backed up slightly in fear. "That's what I thought." I chuckled darkly, the flames receding back into me as Inferno landed at my side. "Are you alright?" She asked me making me chuckle. "You know I've survived far worse than a simple torn membrane." I replied seeing her nod solemnly before turning to the silver dragoness. "Stephanie you need to remember that I can take care of myself, you do not need to get suspicious of every being around me."
Her words made me glance at her awkwardly before Stephanie responded. "Alright, but he still needs to be challenged. It's how I find out if guests are worthy of staying here." She said making me sigh as I cleared my throat. "I don't know about you but it seems unfair doesn't it. Because if it's a one versus one I have a brute strength advantage, if it's a five or six versus one then you have a number advantage." I said seeing her nod her head slowly before her tail lashed out at me. My body acting on pure instinct I caught the tail in my teeth before flapping my wings as hard as I could. Lifting her off the ground. I slowly climbed higher and higher as she tried to fight against the grip I had on her tail.
Getting bored of her struggling I let her go only to fold my wings and dive after her. My outstretched claws tearing through her scales as I impacted her. Her eyes flashed as a voice boomed in my mind. "Release me!" It bellowed, making a migraine shoot through my head as I smirked. "Telepathic pressure is all well and good, but not against someone who is already on the border of insanity." I said with a maniacal grin spreading across my face, almost ear to ear. "Leo that's enough. You've proven yourself." Inferno stated I never broke my gaze from my opponent. "You misunderstood my earlier words Inferno, I held back because of Ignitus keeping a grip on my chains, I can kill now and not be too fearful because I am no longer a member of Warfang."
My words hung in the air as the meaning sunk into my opponent. Her eyes were the size of dragon eggs when she realized that I was going to follow up on my threat. I began advancing, a small chuckle flowing past my lips. "I learned young that killing the ones you hate, felt good, ecstasy level good. I have held back until now, so get ready, because you can't hurt what you can't see." I chuckled darkly. Her eyes looking like they were about to fall out given how open they were. "Leo, you are vouched for by me, you don't need to kill her." Inferno said, getting in between us and nuzzling under my lower jaw. My mind beginning to war with itself about what to do.
"Inferno, you knew the old me. Even then it was only very little of that old me. You don't know the full me." I said as she moved her head to the side of my own face, her nose just touching the outer lining of my ear. "But the Leo I knew would never murder their best friend in cold blood." She whispered making me realize she was right. (I cannot, no matter how much I want to, I cannot slay the only one that understood me back then.) I thought in turmoil as my body began to shake. "You're right. I won't kill, but that doesn't mean that I won't get you out of the way in another manor." I spoke in a voice that was not of my own. It spoke with a dark, almost hissing, manor that made inferno step back in shock as the other dragons got ready to attack.
"He's been tainted, lady Inferno step back." The dragon known as Stephanie said as she advanced. Inferno looked at me shocked as I felt my body laugh in that same dark manor. "Inferno, they're right. I don't know how, but I must have been seeded when I was unconscious." I said, my voice returning to normal as a voice boomed in my mind. Unrecognisable words flew around in my mind as I sensed darkness in my mind. "Leo you can't do this I nearly lost you once I can't do it again." Inferno begged as she began to walk closer. "Lady Inferno he is the enemy, he might have helped in Ignitus pass on from this world." Stephanie warned, her voice finally showing worry.
"I do not remember anything that happened in those years I was away. I may remember them in time, but right at this moment, I cannot say that you are correct or wrong. It is best to assume the worst though. So as a final request, protect her." I said, motioning towards Inferno as I let my wings stiffen into an aggressive posture, the grass underneath my feet dying as black smoke began to violently swirl around me, obscuring me from them as it began to seep into my mouth. I was suddenly thrown into a survival instinct, hacking harshly to try and get rid of the smoke, my wings flapped once, allowing the smoke to disperse and for everything to see me.
Inferno had a look of utter horror on her face as the moon began to appear and shine down upon me. My energy being renewed in its dull glow. "Leo?" She asked, making me laugh in the dark manor again. "Don't know who you're talking about. If it is the owner of this body, he must have been deer to you though. So tragic really, young love is always the worst when it does not work. Isn't that right." I said, mocking her as she stared at me, anger beginning to show behind her eyes. Embers falling from her maw as she advanced. "Release him. This is your only warning." She spat out making me laugh harder. "If you really cared for him, you should have stopped him. Oh well, he is now one with the earth on which we walk. In addition, in his place is a true being of war, anger and loss. To put it simply, I am Ares resurrected."
Her eyes widened, the embers stopped as she started to shake. I laughed on the outside as I turned and began to fly off. However, on the inside I was torn for an unknown reason. (She got on without me for over ten years. She can do it again.) I thought as my face became apathetic. (I only hope that she will be able to forgive me in the time coming.) I continued to think as I landed at the shrine. I sighed as I walked over to a tree and began to think about the words that I had been able to read. (How could, what appears to be chicken scratch turn into a warning of 'do not trust anyone' I will never know.) I thought. As I continued to contemplate the message, I did not hear the sound of wings overhead.
Inferno landed near the shrine snapping me out of my thought process. "You really want him back then." I whispered, seeing her only stare me down with despair in her eyes. "What is it going to take to get him back?" Inferno asked me, stunning me shortly as I thought about it. (She seriously wants me back. I cannot allow that to happen.) I thought, as I looked her dead in the eyes. "You can't get him back, what part of 'one with the earth on which we walk' don't you understand?" I laughed. (I have to make it believable otherwise; I will not be able to get her away from me.) I thought in sadness as Inferno sank to her knees. "I'm willing to do anything. Please, just let me see him at least once more."
Well folks this took a while but I thought it turned out all right except for the ending. I could have continued but I did do it in the document and I do not think you all would have the time to read 10k words. As much as you might want to, I also must save things for future chapters. Now about the ending, it will be explained in time. So be patient, as for the whole idea of a romance well. Missing it can make anyone do some weird things. I am not much of an online romance genre writer as most people under that would want the completely X-rated content. (R rating in other countries or MA on this site.) (Sex) Which I will not write without reason. Call me whatever for that but I do not like romance unless it has meaning. Call me a sucker for a good story I do not really care.
Anyway, as for the reason as to why this took so long. Well, life in general, friend went through some tough stuff lately and I had to help her when barely anyone else would. That and I have been in that dark place myself. Therefore, I just needed time to get myself out of it. I hope that I did all right. Let me know in reviews would you. I cannot improve or tell where I went wrong. If there is something, you want to see (Besides X or R or MA content) leave it in a review and I will see if I can. Anyway I believe that is all folks so until next time. This is SWC-AM signing off and going to freaking bed. 4:50am now of writing this Jesus Christ on a pogo stick I am a night owl.