A/N: I have no excuses this time, sorry for the late post. Enjoy the chapter, I rather enjoyed writing it.
Spyro's eyes flicked back and forth across the room as he entered it, a constant practice that had become part of his life since his childhood. Even after many years of peace, he still did this out of habit, to ensure that there were no enemies in the room. This time though there was anything but enemies occupying the room.
"Are you okay?" Cynder asked, the black dragoness noting her mate's behavior.
"Just fine." Spyro nodded, and the two continued forward.
The room was circular in shape, large columns lining the outer ring of the building. All of this made of stone or marble. The guardian tower had been erected long ago, always housing the current guardians of the land. These guardians were four dragons of each element, there to act as general leaders for Warfang, and guides for the rest of the world as well. Both dragon's talons clicked on the marble floor, drawing the attention of the four others across the room.
Each dragon bore different colored scales, yellow, blue, red, and green, the guardians themselves. The crimson dragon turned his head a grin appearing, when he saw who it was.
"Greetings Blaze." Spyro said as he and Cynder closed the gap between the two groups.
"Greetings?" The red dragon asked, seeming surprised. "When did you become so formal?" The dragon laughed.
Spyro smirked as well. "You don't seem to be the hot-headed drake you once were." He replied.
"I can't argue with you there." Blaze laughed, before he turned his eyes on the black dragoness beside Spyro. "Cynder, still as beautiful as you were twenty years ago. How have you been?"
Cynder blushed slightly at the comment. "I've been great, not a problem in the world."
"I would hope so; you helped to destroy the last of them." Blaze said. "I'm sure you both remember my fellow guardians, Srix, Tera, and of course Icryious." The three dragons nodded, respectively at the two.
"So what exactly is the point of this meeting?" Spyro asked rather bluntly.
"All that you said in the description was that it was dealing with this new cult, but that can't be the whole reason this meeting was called." Cynder said eyeing the guardians.
"And why not?" Tera asked, the earth dragoness raising a brow in question.
"Don't tell me you started without us?" Another voice suddenly cut in from across the room. Across the circular shaped marble floor was Aegis. The large golden dragon strode across the floor towards them, his toned muscles rippling slightly as he walked. Beside him, standing a few inches shorter was Azshea. The crimson dragoness still held all of her younger luster and appeal, despite her aging.
"We wouldn't think to do such a thing." Blaze said with a smile as the two newcomers made their way across the room.
"I would hope not, I'm looking forward to talking with all of you, into the wee hours of the night." Aegis said with noticeable sarcasm.
Azshea swatted lightly at her mate with the back of her paw, keeping him from saying anything more. "We are both glad to be here, to help." She said trying to reconcile Aegis' words.
"Noted." Tera said happily. "Now then, shall we proceed to chambers?" She asked.
"We are the only ones you wanted to talk to?" Cynder asked questioningly.
"No, the three generals are waiting for us upstairs, along with our two council members." Blaze answered.
"They will help us to conduct business." Icryious said.
"Then why bring us here at all, we are not leaders of Warfang." Spyro said as he tried to decipher why they were needed at all.
"Correct, you are not a leader of the city, but perhaps you have forgotten what color your scales are." Srix answered, and Spyro looked down at his paw as if to actually inspect their color for himself.
"You are the purple dragon, you and Cynder both played a major role in defeating Malefor all those years ago, we thought it a good idea to key you both informed on any potential threat to Warfang." Tera explained.
"Aegis and Azshea, you are both here for the same reason, you helped Spyro and Cynder to defeat Malefor's agents, and as respected members, and heroes of the community we thought it was best you come along as well." Blaze said, and answering the dragon's unasked question.
"Now, I suggest we don't keep them waiting." Tera finished, as she moved towards the staircase on the left side of the room. The ornate stone steps winding in a spiral all the way up to the top of the tower.
The other dragons followed suit, and together the group ascended the steps towards the higher rises of the structure.
Taelas soared through the late spring night. The warm air blew against his scales, giving him a sense of peace, but every thought in his mind betrayed that feeling. Ahead of him, in plain sight, was a fully-grown dragon. The violet drake flew on silently, they had long since passed the walls of Warfang, and now they were flying over forests and plains, most of which were unrecognizable to Taelas.
He wasn't very worried about where he was, he was more curious about the dragon that flew in front of him. Taelas had been following this emerald dragon for at least an hour now, and he was starting to wonder where he was going to, he wasn't heading for any cities that was for sure, but what dragon simply went into the wilderness in the middle of the night.
It hardly mattered to Taelas, he knew that this dragon had been spying on him the whole day, and he intended to figure out why. His assumption was still that this drake, whoever he may be, was a part of the cult. If so Taelas had to find out what was going on.
Suddenly, the adult drake dived down into a thicket disappearing amidst the tall trees of the glade. Taelas slowed as he neared the area, and eventually stopped flapping his wings to hover in place, as he stared down. All of his senses and training told him it was a trap; he had been suspecting it for a while now. He had come this far though, and would not turn back now.
As he moved to descend, there was a sudden woosh as he felt a gust of air hit his back. Without having time to react Taelas felt a pair of jaws close on his neck before violently swinging him around in a complete revolution, eventually letting go, and sending him plummeting towards the small glade. As he fell through the sky, he saw the dragon, a teen with light red scales, only a little older than him, hovering in the air, the dim starlight reflecting off of his toothy grin.
Taelas quickly flipped his body over, and swung his wings with one burst, stopping the momentum he had gained, and landing lightly on the ground. Without a second thought, he turned, and loosed a bolt of electrical energy, which sped up into the sky, striking the dragon in the chest, leaving him to fall back to the ground, the strike so sudden that his cocky grin was still plastered on his features.
Standing in the glade Taelas stepped in a full circle, looking all around him for signs of any assailants that may be hiding nearby. Seeing nothing the purple dragon gave a sigh, knowing that another trap was surely afoot. The question of why they wanted him only struck him at that moment, but he didn't have time to consider it as bars of earth suddenly shot out of the ground around him, and closed him off, like a caged animal. Simultaneously, the dragon he had been chasing exited from his hiding place among the surrounding darkness. So that Taelas could finally get a good look at him. He had dark green scales, and a tan crest. On the crest in the corner was a burn mark that had grabbed Taelas' attention before. The dragon was big and bulky his black horns twisting back and up ending in menacing points. The dragon's brown eyes bore through Taelas with interest.
"Quiet foolish of you to follow a stranger all the way out here." The dragon said his voice low and deep. Taelas didn't respond, he was waiting for the dragon to actually say something important. "You never were much of a talker were you Taelas?" The green dragon paused for a moment to see if Taelas would respond but as expected he did not. "No matter, we have no need to your speech only your blood." The dragon grinned, an ugly smile.
"Why?" Taelas asked hardly disturbed by the grotesque comment.
"You expect answers from us?" The dragon asked laughing. "Give me one good reason." The dragon said.
The rock columns around Taelas suddenly cracked, and shattered, to the adult's surprise, a slight smirk on the purple dragon's face as he stepped out of the area where the bars had been. "Let me rephrase that, tell me or you won't live to see daylight."
"I'll tell you now dragon, you may think you are a strong fighter, but you are hardly older than a whelp. You won't survive this encounter, I suggest you lay down and give up, and I promise you a quick death."
"Please, try me." Taelas said crouching low.
A second later two dragons leapt out of the darkness teeth bared and claws raised, both pouncing on Taelas, bringing him to the ground.
"I would like you all to meet Grand General Tuss, Commandant Valencia, and Svalt the second in command." Blaze said introducing the three dragons standing before them. Each of them wore glorious armor, the pieces reflecting the light in the room. On the shoulder of each dragon was a silver armor plate which bore a sigil, depicting their rank. The orange dragon known as, Tuss, having the most ornate symbol.
"An honor to meet you all in person." Tuss said.
"You're all heroes it's an honor to be in your presence." Valencia, said bowing her sky blue neck.
"It was nothing really; we just did what anyone would." Spyro said trying to ignore the compliments.
"Hardly, do not degrade yourselves." Svalt countered ending the conversation, before turning to Blaze. "But I believe that Blaze has forgotten our other friends." The dragon said moving to the side and lifting a lone claw to point back a little further, to two more dragons.
"Ah yes, forgive Blaze he can be absent minded sometimes." Tera smirked. "These are our two councilors Razil, and Grundis, they are brothers in fact." The green dragoness explained.
"Pleased to meet you." Razil greeted.
"Since we have the introductions out of the way perhaps we should get down to business, which is what we are here for." Blaze said.
"Of course, why don't you start us off." Tera said.
"Right." Blaze said nodding his horned head. The dragon turned around, and crossed the room until he stood in front of a large square that was imbedded into the stone tiles. Inside the indent was an identical layout of the whole city of Warfang. Spyro, Aegis, Cynder, and Azshea gasped when the saw it, and the craftsmanship that had been put into each portion. Spyro even found their house among the many buildings that littered the city. Looking at the miniature imitation of his home the purple dragon couldn't help, but think of his daughter and son who were probably sleeping in that house at the same moment.
Taelas was slammed on the ground feeling a sharp pain go up his side as he gasped in surprise. Two dragons, young adults, not even two years older than Taelas, had come from seemingly nowhere, and tackled him to the dirt, the only problem being that even they were having a hard time restraining him.
"What are you fools, waiting for, we don't need him alive, spill his blood!" The adult yelled. As commanded, both dragons stretched out their necks, and started to gnash at Taelas with their teeth. Both made contact, but it was then that the purple dragon truly began to fight. Taelas stood back up shaking loose one of the dragons, the other one he quickly turned on and breathed a cone of fire, the white-hot flames engulfing the dragon sending him reeling. Taelas didn't allow him to recover as he spun smacking the dragon to the ground with the snap of his tail.
The violet dragon summoned his energy once again firing a bolt of lightning at the first dragon who he had shaken off. The yellowish white power could only be seen for a split second before it smashed into the dragon making him fall to the earth silent.
"Now then what were yo-
Taelas grunted, unable to finish his sentence as the adult whipped his tail around slamming the purple dragon, sending him tumbling back across the ground. "Arrogant." The adult spat, as Taelas struggled to stand back up. Taelas spat blood, glaring at the green drake with hatred. As Taelas stared at him debating on his next move the cultist had apparently grown impatient. A slab of earth rose up in front of him and shot forward with extreme force.
Just barely reacting in time Taelas lifted a paw slashing at the slab as it came forward. The earth shattered into little bits of dust and debris spraying into Taelas face, but keeping him unharmed. As his vision cleared, Taelas staggered back as the cultist stood a mere foot in front of him. "Surprise." He said with a grin before plunging his tail forward, aiming for the young dragon's heart. As quick as lightning, Taelas ducked to the side, the sharp tail blade only managing to clip his side. Ignoring the pain the purple drake let one of his elements well up inside him as he charged forward. Taelas bashed into the green dragon's chest a burst of red energy slamming the cultist as well. The adult skidded back several feet as embers burst into the air, and fizzled out as a result of Taelas' fiery attack.
The cultist narrowed his eyes watching Taelas as he stood there panting. "All of you, come out now." The dragon commanded, his orders falling on unknown ears. Taelas watched in horror as six others appeared from the surrounding forest each of them closing in on him slowly, but steadily.
His own anger welling up inside him Taelas refused to let himself die here. As the cultists approached Taelas began to glow a dim purple color. At first, it was only slight, but it grew rapidly faster than even he anticipated.
The green dragon obviously noticed the glow, and he quickly took action. "All of you kill him now, before he can summon his power!" The dragon yelled, as he took sprinted forward. Taelas didn't hear the dragon's cry, nor did he notice anything else, he just felt the pulsating power of convexity forming inside him. Just as all of the dragons closed in on him, Taelas released the energy, and there was a resulting explosion that shook the very earth around them, the sound cracking their ear drums.
"Did you feel that just now?" Cynder asked, feeling a slight vibration.
"No." Spyro said after a few seconds. "What was it?"
"I…I don't know." Cynder said thinking to herself. "Don't worry it was probably just my imagination." Spyro dismissed her words after that, bringing his attention back to Blaze who was still speaking.
"The city of Warfang is in a potentially dangerous position." Blaze began. "The dragons and moles are beginning to grow weary of the shadows. As most all of you probably know, there has been an uprising of cultist activity in past months, and it is beginning to peak now."
"The cult, does it have a name?" Spyro asked, interrupting the dragon just as he was gaining momentum.
"If you had asked that a week ago we wouldn't have been able to tell you, but we found out a few days back that they are called The Talons of Vex." Razil answered, the grey dragon's voice carrying along at a very high pitch.
"We can't be sure of what it means." Tera said, rather embarrassed.
"Have you thought of convexity?" Spyro asked, the strange realm being the first thing to come to mind.
"We hadn't, but that would be an apt assumption." Srix said. As the lightning guardian moved to continue talking, Blaze gently interrupted him.
"Thank you for your insight Spyro, but before we get to far off topic I want to discuss the city." Blaze said. "There will be plenty of time for the specifics and details afterwards, but for now we need a solid course of action."
"Of course." Srix said, nodding.
"As I said, the cult has been seen all throughout Warfang, pestering, recruiting, and even attacking in some situations. There have also been a few situations where dragons have reported kidnappings." Blaze explained solemnly.
"Preposterous, there has been no news of any kidnappings Valencia said. "Something so serious must have gotten out."
"Actually, the few reports we have heard of have been kept quiet." Blaze explained, and when most everyone in the room scowled at him, he quickly continued. "Not by us, the dragons who told us said that they were told to keep quiet or else the cultists would kill the victims."
"I still find that hard to believe." Valencia said skeptically. "Even if they were told to keep quiet you would think that at least one dragon would speak out."
"Perhaps they fear for their children's safety which keeps them from speaking out, fear is a powerful persuader." Cynder piped up. "And Valencia, it is all true because just the other day one of them assaulted both of our children."
"Attacked? Are they okay?" Tuss asked genuinely concerned. He most always wore a tough exterior, but kids had always been his soft spot. The thought of any adult who would willingly attack a youngling made his blood boil.
"From what I was told when the dragon attacked Taelas, my son, sent Aria to leave, to keep her safe. She then came and got me. By the time I got there Taelas had the adult pinned, he flew away before I could ask him any questions though." Spyro explained.
There was silence in the room for a few moments as the dragons stared at him, and Cynder, surprised looks covering their faces. "What?" He asked tilting his head to the side.
"You're son took down an adult by himself?" Grundis asked finally.
"Well sure, it really isn't hard, full sized dragons are strong, but much slower than younglings. Besides it isn't unheard of, Cynder, and I killed Malefor when we were about his age."
"I guess we should expect as much from a purple dragon." Blaze chuckled, and the rest of the group offered a small laugh. "I'm very glad to hear that you're kids are alright, don't get me wrong, but for us simpletons it isn't as easy to defend ourselves." Blaze continued.
"That's why we were thinking of raising security around the city, more patrols, more scouts in the skies." The dragon trailed off as he looked around the room. "Thoughts?"
"I think it wouldn't be a bad thing to raise the amount of guards patrolling the streets." Aegis interjected. "It would definitely give the cult second thoughts about attacking."
"But you would have to be careful, if you use this tactic to an extreme people are bound to become even more nervous." Azshea chimed in. "And a nervous people are much more likely to do something drastic, we wouldn't want riots."
"She is right." Svalt said, nodding all the while. "It would be best to bring in more guards gradually, as to not raise any alarm."
"Good plan." Blaze said. "But guards alone won't stop this. What about some sort of special force to deal with these dragons, a small unit preferably." Blaze said looking to General Tuss for an answer.
The orange dragon took a moment to ponder in his head. "With more of our dragons patrolling we would have to find some that would still be available to take on the role, but it is far from impossible. The only problem being that we need to know what we are fighting. We can't set up all of these forces without any direction."
"We need a way to identify these cultists." Svalt said. "Do we know anything about them, how they act, who they attack, what they do?"
"The only clue that we have so far is that there is a burn mark, some sort of symbol on the dragons. This seems to signify their allegiance with the cult." Srix declared.
"Not much to go on, but it will have to do." Tuss nodded. "I imagine more revealing factors will show with time."
"This will start out small, but as it gains momentum I don't have any doubt that we can end this cult." Blaze said. "Now onto the more intricate weavings of this force, how do we go about organizing this exactly?"
Taelas groaned loudly, and coughed as the dust and smoke cleared from around him. The dragon stood up groggily, looking around in mild confusion. Seeing the chaos that surrounded him, he realized that when he had tried to use convexity it had backfired. The dragon cursed to himself, his father had warned him that he needed more practice, but in this case, he hadn't been given much of a choice.
With a queasy stomach, and pounding head the purple dragon staggered over to one of the cultists who was lying on the ground. The dragon was still awake, not knocked out like the others, a resilient one.
Taelas reached him, and clasped the dragon's neck in his claw, holding his body to the ground. "Why are you trying to kill me?" The purple dragon asked venomously.
The downed dragon's head lolled around for a moment before he responded. "The purple dragon holds the key." The drake said his eyes glazed, and unfocused.
"What do you mean, what key?" Taelas asked with as much force as the first question.
"Blood, blood is the key." The dragon said putting much emphasis on the last word. "You are the one, the only one, the one we came for, the one we need." He rambled his voice growing more menacing with each word.
Taelas felt a bit of pity for the dragon, who was only slightly older than him. The male was obviously losing it. "Drip, drop, take it out, use it for our own desires. The blood, the blood." He continued, reaching up a talon running it along one of Taelas' wounds, letting a few drops of the red liquid gather on his claw. As he saw the liquid his face turned to one of glee.
Taelas stepped back disgusted, chills consuming his body. "You're crazy!" He spat.
"Crazy?" The dragon asked, his eyes suddenly widening and focusing on Taelas, as if his mind had suddenly returned to him. "Perhaps we are, perhaps we aren't, you are not the one to decide. Judgment will fall on all of us soon, your blood will spill and you're the gods will appear, the ones to find us all."
"Gods? What Gods?" Taelas asked, almost fearing the answer he might get.
"Oh, wouldn't you like to know, the ones we know, the ones you don't, but soon you'll see, everyone will." The dragon screeched as he was thrown into a fit of mad laughter.
Seeing that the dragon was beyond sane Taelas backed away, this one must have long ago lost his mind. That though wasn't Taelas' problem. He had come for answers and he, despite more than a few hiccups had gotten some. Unfortunately, most of them had just led him to more questions. Looking around, he saw more passed out dragons, and decided that he could gain nothing from staying any longer, so with a mere thought he leapt into the air flying back for Warfang, and leaving the crazed laughs of the insane dragon behind.
"Spyro, what do you think they are doing right now?" Cynder asked, as she looked out from a balcony high above the streets of Warfang.
The purple dragon joined her stepping outside into the spring air, and looking up at the stars on the clear night. "Who do you mean?"
"Aria and Taelas." The onyx dragoness clarified. As she turned her cyan blue eyes to her mate. "What do you think they are doing?" She asked again.
"My guess is, they are sleeping." Spyro replied plainly not understanding, and Cynder shrugged. "What else would they be doing right now?" The purple dragon questioned.
"Nothing, you're right." Cynder said, before quieting herself and looking back out to the city. Spyro lifted one of his leathery orange wings to cover the dragoness, and bring her closer to him. He waited in silence knowing that she was not done speaking yet. "I guess I just worry too much, I mean tomorrow Taelas will be all grown up. An adult, in society's eyes, and Aria isn't far behind."
"Is that really so bad?" Spyro asked, drawing Cynder's misty eyes to him once more. "Do you really want them as children again, asking for something every five seconds, constant care, and always having to watch them?"
"I guess not." Cynder sniffled after a moment.
"Exactly, every stage in life has its ups, and downs, but now it's time to let them flourish. We raised both of our kids right, they'll grow up to be a fine dragons. We've done our work now it's time to let them go." Spyro said, placing a paw on hers.
"But, I don't know if I can part with him." The mother said still looking at the purple-scaled dragon.
"No one said you have to, Taelas isn't going to completely sever the ties, it's just a new stage in his life." Spyro said his tone still soothing.
There was a long silence between the two. It had been a long night; the two had talked with the guardians, and councilors for hours. Their eyes were fluttering, struggling to stay awake, yet neither moved to bed.
"Besides, you'll still have me." Spyro said with a little grin. "Or, am I just not up to your standards?" He asked sarcastically offering a small smile.
"No one in this world could replace you, Spyro, you know that." She said giving the purple dragon a light kiss. "I just hope they are having sweet dreams." Cynder said as she looked out in the direction of their home.
Taelas landed on the balcony that led into his room. As his paws touched down the drake's legs gave out suddenly, and he crashed hard into the floor, not the most silent entrance by any standards. "It doesn't matter." He thought to himself. "As long as I don't wake A-
"Taelas?" A tired voice asked from across the room.
The purple dragon cursed aloud as he picked himself up off the floor. His body ached, and the last thing he wanted to do was answer to his little sister. Unfortunately, that was just what he would have to do, as she bounded over to him her sleepiness still showing clearly on her features.
"Taelas, are you alright?" She gasped, looking her brother up and down, peeking at all of his cuts and scrapes. "What happened?" She asked her voice a mere squeak.
"Nothing Aria, I just went out to visit someone." Taelas said, although even he knew the lie was terrible.
"I'm insulted that you even thought that would work!" Aria shouted as she moved a paw to shove her brother, but she quickly brought it back considering his injuries. "Now tell me!" She said forcefully.
Taelas didn't respond he stared at his sister. He knew exactly how she was feeling, lost, scared, and unsure of what she should even do, and rightly so as she had been awoken in the middle of the night to find her brother reentering the house wounded. The dragoness was yelling, but she looked like she was about to cry. Taelas leaned forward, without a word, and hugged the dragoness tight.
"It's fine, everything's okay." Taelas said softly.
"But, it's not, you're hurt." The blue dragoness choked as she accepted the comforting embrace from her sibling.
"I'll be okay, they are just scratches." Taelas said. "Look, Aria, I promise I'll talk to you about this, but right now we need to sleep, okay?" He asked pulling the dragoness out to arms length. "Tomorrow morning, you remind me okay?" Taelas said. Aria nodded, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
"It'll all be fine. I promise, we aren't in any danger here." Taelas said.
Aria nodded slowly and Taelas gave a weak smile. The purple dragon wasted no time in slumping down right where he stood. As he fell asleep the drake felt Aria curl up next to him, just before his mind went dark.
