Spyro,
Cynder and the other spyro chars minus striker belong to Sierra
studios...for now The other chars belong to me and Cydra
C.P.S Chronicles: Dragon Stones
Chapter 9: fire and ice
Matt was gliding over to a cave near the top of a cliff. He wasn't sure why, but somehow it felt familiar. When he landed inside the cave, he noticed it was set up with various pieces of furniture and decorations, making it looked like a welcome home. "Hello?" called Matt. "Just a minute, darling," called a female voice. Then from around a corner stepped Avarona, wearing skimpy lingerie that showed off all her curves.
By now, small but significant sections of Matt's brain were making klaxon noises. Matt only managed to say, weakly. "Hi..." "Oh don't be so shy, darling," purred Avarona, her tail swishing side to side, "I just thought I'd slip into something comfortable while I waited for you to get home."
By now Matt's brain was probably melting. All that matt managed to pronounce was. "Gnggh nuffle." What he'd meant to say was. "Really?" "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Avarona walked closer to Matt. Half of Matt wanted to get nearer, half of him wanted to run away screaming. "I hope you're not so bashful tonight. I know it's not mating season yet, but I see no reason why we cannot practice making another hatchling."
Matt finally managed to find his tongue. "Another hatchling?" he squeaked. "Oh I know the pregnancy and the incubation was a long wait, but wasn't it all worth it?" Before Matt could reply, he saw a small red dragon hatchling crawl around the corner. It looked at the two of them and cried, "Mama! Papa!" Matt's eye twitched and his brain decided enough was enough...
Maelstrom star, unknown location over dragon realm ocean
Matt woke up from the ship bunk and screamed until he felt better. It eventually took a sedative from Genghis to get him to stop. "Thats the last time I have cheese for supper." he said weakly. Genghis nodded. "Indeed...did you also know that your new body suffers from sleep fireballs?" Matt was about to reply when he looked up to where a hole to the next deck up had been burnt. "Ah..." he said.
"Whoa, that was the worst nightmare I ever had," said Matt. "I don't know," said Striker, "We could have waited a little longer..." "Shut up! You have no say in this!" snapped Matt, "Damn dragon hormones." Striker laughed himself silly in the privacy of matt's head while Genghis said. "Spyros life signs have finally stopped moving at a medium sized land mass ahead. It is probably this island Spyro was looking for, sir."
"Good," said Matt, "Head for that island and look for a place to land. I need to take a long cold shower."
A while later...
Matt glided down to the shore and looked up as the Maelstrom star circled away. "Well...at least there are only so many places they could be." he said, trying to ignore the fact that alot of the ruins looked similar to ancient tech facilities.
He was looking at a faded rune when he got the feeling he was being watched. He turned to see Mr Black...bane of his life, standing on the surfs edge. "Mr Lynch...how nice to see that you are..." began the ancient then had to shield as Matt began emptying his blasters clip at him.
"I see you are not enjoying yourself," said Mr. Black, his tone completely unchanged by the failed attempt to kill him. Matt threw the empty blaster at Mr Black, who gestured at it, causing the weapon to dissolve in midair. "Are you quite done?" he said in a bored tone. "Enjoying myself? Enjoying myself?!? Have you any idea how much trouble I've had since I've got here, you two-dimensional anomaly?!?" Matt suddenly found himself pinned to the wall, but without anything holding him.
Mr black walked forward, his eyes simply solid black. "I will not be insulted by you...not a hope...I could make every molecule in your body fly off in a different direction. YOU ARE HERE TO FIX WHAT YOU CAUSED WITH YOUR FOOLISHNESS!" said the ancient, squeezing Matt as he yelled.
"What do you mean fix?" Matt wheezed out, "If anyone's the victim around here, it's me, and Cynder, maybe Sonya." Mr Black's eyes glowed Redder. "You, my dear simpleton should not have come here yet...you are here too early. It is only a miracle that your sister is not here either." he said before seeming to realise his audience for the first time. "You should not be here...you should leave at the utmost opportunity." he said, releasing Matt with a simple wave.
"Trust me, I'd love to buy a one-way ticket out of here," said Matt, "But Spyro and Cynder need my help. I only want to stay around long enough for this Malefor business to be settled and I'm gone." He looked down at himself and said, "First stop will be at a gene therapist, then a clothes shop." Mr Black grinned for a minute, seemingly amused. "Maybe...would you like the grand tour?" he said, gesturing like a guide towards the ruins.
Mr Black led Matt through the ruins. "We discovered this world back when we were venturing out into Nullspace. We offered colonial territory on our worlds to each other." Matt whistled. "So...all those dragon myths..." he began. "...were colonists being seen by the locals outside our influence. Many were stranded when the barrier was erected around A-001." Mr Black finished
"And then they got superstitious and things got all St. George on them," said Matt. Mr Black nodded. "I know what you are thinking...if they were allies...why did we not stop the knights sent after them." Matt nodded. Mr Black sighed in genuine tiredness. "We had our own problems...a war...one that makes the NSC and the Combines annual territorial scraps look like water fights."
"What could have you been fighting against to make it that big?" asked Matt, unsure if he wanted to know the answer. Mr Black sighed. "One that forced us into...desperate measures. You have no doubt heard about our skills with genetic technology. Our elite forces needed an edge so we came to the council. Despite objections we obtained what we needed...and we still lost."
"If you lost, then how comes the guys that beat you aren't ruling the multiverse now?" asked Matt. "They lay beyond the quarantine line you erected...hope you never meet them." said Mr Black. Mr Black suddenly glanced at his wrist and said, "Oh look, we've no more time today. Hopefully you'll be out of here as soon as possible." Then Mr. Black vanished. "Ok, don't give me any hints or anything," said Matt sarcastically.
"You know...you give those ancients too much good press...even with all their technology...they're just weak humans." said a familiar voice from a ledge near the ceiling. Matt sighed and said. "Oh no...not you again. Can't we give it a miss this time, Avarona? I'm not in the best of moods."
"Oh how can I miss visiting these ruins?" said Avarona as she came around the corner, Sonya's gun in her hands. "And it's a bigger treat to kick your... very shapely butt." Avarona looked him up and down and said, "Hello handsome." "Goodbye creepy," said Matt.
He managed to duck round a corner as Avarona fired the pulse rifle, reducing a fist sized section of rock to sand. Matt breathed a sigh of relief. Avarona had obviously not taken into account that the gun was meant for hands with 5 fingers and no talons. "Hey...your aims off a bit." he taunted and yelped as Avarona decided to go back to the tried and tested method of firing icicles.
"You know, we might be able to solve this in a peaceful manner," called Avarona, "Like say, in a dinner conference." "You know, one fling might not be so bad," pondered Striker. "To the names 'praying mantis' and 'black widow spider' ring any bells?" responded Matt.
Striker said "Nope...what are they?...ooooh." he said as he looked through Matt's memories and found the answer. "I've rethought the plan...lets keep our distance and roast her." he said. Matt nodded. "Finally we agree...so...how was she beat last time?" Striker responded. "The council tricked her into fighting near a volcano....oh." his voice becoming glum when he noticed the important lack of any volcanoes nearby.
"Ok, how about a strategic retreat?" offered Matt. "That'll do," said Striker and Matt ran as fast he possibly could in the opposite direction of Avarona. He stopped and hid behind a large rock formation. He peered back around, half-expecting Avarona to be hopping after him Pepe Le Pew-style.
He peered out, forgetting the saying about curiosity and cats and nearly got a third nostril in his snout as an icicle struck just next to his head. "Hey...what happened to dinner? Hard to date a dead guy." he yelled, ducking back and spotting a few statues...had they just moved? "Just trying to persuade you a little, or do you still wanna play hard to get?" called Avarona.
Matt peered out and yelled. "Go jump in a volcano. I'd rather die" he said and dodged another icicle. Avarona sighed. "Ok...you chose." Matt had to duck back as she changed back to her full dragon form and shot a blast of icy wind in his direction.
"You know, fire and ice are polar opposites," called Matt, "It would probably never work out." He then noticed something moving behind Avarona. "What's that behind you?" Avarona turned to see that two of the statues had come to life. Matt turned back to see he was in similar trouble. "Oh come on...killer garden gnomes?" he said, tossing a fireball at one of them.
Avarona swatted a pair with her tail and said, "Whatever, I'm getting bored with this. Besides, there are other dragons who can appreciate beauty like mine. Catch you later." Avarona quickly took off and flew away. Matt glared and threw a rock after Avarona's retreating form before turning to the problem at hand. "Guys...you know I was just joking about the gnome comment...right?" he said
Suddenly a lightning bolt shot out and blasted the statues to pieces. Matt turned and looked in the direction the bolt came from and saw Spyro and Sparx running over. "Guys." he yelled happily and was knocked forward as another statue jumped on his back. Matt managed to stagger up and backpedalled into a pillar, smashing the piggybacking statue into rubble. "So...how was your ride?" he said, out of breath.
"Oh, we just got a lift from a giant freaky turtle thing and ended up on this island," said Sparx, "Not much out of the ordinary. How'd things for you go?" "I had a visit from Avarona and got attacked by giant lawn ornaments with swords...and I think Avarona's got a crush on me...creepy as that sounds." said Matt. "Hate to be you," said Sparx, "Don't think she's the kind of gal who takes rejection lightly."
Matt looked at the holes which Avarona's impromptu target practise and her icicle shooting had caused. "Yup...kinda got that, so...which way is this chronicler dude?" he said, looking around. "I think he's in the center of the isle," said Spyro, "I don't think it's much further." Matt sighed. "Good...the sooner we kick Malefor's butt, the sooner I can go home." he said.
--
Eventually, the trio came to a large round chamber with give doors, not counting the one they came through. The two doors on the left had red and blue runes while the two doors on the right and yellow and green runes. The runes on the door in the center didn't glow at all. Matt looked in one of the doorways, up to the rune then at the matching unlit rune on the centre circle. "Well...at least it's obvious this time...and it isn't those smegging marble things." he said referring to the strange marble creatures that had ambushed them just outside a few minutes earlier.
"I don't think you can help me with this," said Spyro, "If this is like those orbs, then that means it requires me using the four elements, and you can only do one." Matt looked down the fire tunnel. "I can help with that one at least...Will mean we get in a little faster." he said, looking at the crackling portal. "How bad could it be?" he said nervously.
A few minutes later...
Matt was panting and had to lie down. "Ok, that was a lot tougher than I'd thought it would be. Guess you're on your own for a while," he said. Sparx flittered over. "So...what did you find?" Matt glared. "You think those first statues were bad? You haven't seen anything yet." he said.
--
As soon as Spyro had finished the other three chambers, the big door finally opened and the trio went through. They ended up in the same room Spyro had been seeing in his dreams, only there were many bookshelves all around.
Matt looked around and looked at the names on the spines of the books. He saw one marked Striker, a black leather book. Striker said. "Don't take a look unless you like horror novels...my life wasn't a good read." Matt whistled. "Every dragon ever...hey...that's my name." he said, pulling a thin novel marked 'Matthew' and flipped it open. It seemed to open with him and his sisters fatal mistake at the New York museum when they'd activated an ancient nullspace portal by accident. The next few pages were in binary coding for some reason, though he had a good idea why, but then it went on at the facility where he'd touched Strikers stone. He put it back and to his surprise saw another equally thin book marked 'Chloe'.
Matt was about to reach for it when a voice said, "I do not think that would be respectful." Matt turned to see a very old-looking light blue dragon wearing grey robes walk in. Matt turned to see the Chronicler...just as he'd appeared when he'd appeared in Matt's unscheduled dream the night Devina had possessed Cynder. He looked back at he and his sisters books. "Why are we up there?" he asked.
"Well, I might tell you, but I doubt you'll like the answer. Besides, from what I'm able to glimpse into your future, you're not ready to know quite yet," said the Chronicler, "but we have other business, don't we?" Matt stood aside as Spyro went up to the Chronicler. "Ah, Spyro, I've been waiting a very long time to meet you," said the Chronicler, "Momentous times are coming." "Yeah, how about something a little less nebulous for once?" said Sparx. "Sparx!" said Spyro admonishingly.
Matt nodded though. "I for one want a straight answer without the vagueness...I get enough of that from Mr Black. The Chronicler looked over at that. "Oh...so you are Azuths charge...I would have thought he'd have stopped recruiting hatchlings." he said, leaving Matt speechless and also thinking of how he could annoy Mr Black now he knew the ancients first name.
Spyro looked at the Chronicler and said, "My friends are a little abrupt, but I would like to know some answers." "And so you shall," said the Chronicler, "The purpose of the Chronicler is to write down dragon history as it happens. These books date all the way back to the beginning of time. Thus, I know everything about the past and present, and a little bit into the future."
Matt's gaze fell on his and Chloe's book and then back at the Chronicler. "So...how do we vaporise Malefor permanently...I'm perfectly willing to drop a nuclear weapon on his scaly head...like to see him try to resurrect from THAT!" he said smugly.
"There is much you need to know about the Dark Master," said the Chronicler, "When Malefor was young, he possessed immense raw talent no elder had ever seen. First he mastered fire, then ice, then wind, and then many other uncommon elements." "He was a purple dragon," said Spyro, "like me." The Chronicler nodded and said, "The first purple dragon."
Matt listened on as the Chronicler described how Malefor had become too powerful for the councils liking and had been banished...how he had trained the apes in dragon magic and sent them against his enemies alongside his dragon generals. Striker was strangely silent throughout instead of his usual heckling self.
The Chronicler then told them of how Malefor was defeated and his spirit trapped inside his own fortress. "But you said that the Nigh of Eternal Darkness will only allow spirits to roam free for a short while," said Spyro. "Yes, but if a particularly powerful spirit forced its way through then it would be able to remain in the mortal realm." "Then how do we stop him?" asked Matt. "There is no way," said the Chronicler, "I have brought Spyro here so he may ride out the storm and live to fight another day. Your task here is done. You may return to your own world."
Matt stared at the Chronicler in shock. "With all respect, you don't own my contract...I'll stay if I wish." he said. The Chronicler turned to Matt and said, "This is none of your business. There's a limit to how much one can meddle with the affairs of other worlds. You do not belong here." "And Cynder doesn't belong with Malefor," said Spyro, "I need to go save her."
Matt glared at the Chronicler. "You can't just...wave a talon and..." His comm beeped, interrupting him. "Sir? There is something strange happening with the computer. All systems are online...I do not understand…" said Genghis. Matt glared at the Chronicler. "I think I do..." he said.
"You are no longer needed here," said the Chronicler, "You must return to your own universe now. And as for Cynder, rescuing her is too risky. The world cannot afford to lose you to Malefor." "I think he has a point about that," said Spyro, "If Malefor is capable of re-corrupting Cynder, he could probably to the same to Striker."
Matt just stared between the two. "It's my fault that Avarona and the other soul gem prisoners ran amok..." he started. "Perhaps, but other forces were in play at the time that led to their release. They are no longer your concern," said the Chronicler. He then turned to Spyro and said, "And as for you, while I admire your resolve, you are too valuable to be lost. You must stay and ride out this storm. Live to fight another day."
Matt just stared, dumbstruck before turning and walking out. As he walked out, he saw the Maelstrom star had landed outside. Genghis was hovering there, keeping a distance from. "You." said Matt coldly. Mr Black had chosen the form of another NSC mercenary. "Mr Lynch..." he said in greeting.
"Come to nag me some more?" said Matt, "Or are you going to mock me? That's probably why you're dressed up as that." "We are capable of taking on any mortal form we choose," said Mr. Black, "we are not completely bound by rules, not unlike mercenaries." Matt glared and strode up to Mr black, and much to the ancients surprise, punched him. Mr Black silently cursed himself for carelessness and considered turning Matt into a gerbil to let him cool off...then realised that...for a watcher, he hadn't really helped much. He let it slide...this time. "Like I said...people like you and me...we can choose who and what we obey...have a safe trip back." he said and dissolved into dust. Matt shook his head and walked aboard, followed by Genghis.
"Do not feel so bad, sir," said Genghis, "I'm certain that if young Spyro and Sparx went to the Mountain of Malefor, they'd have a decent success rate of rescuing Cynder." Matt looked over as the White isle dropped below them, the ship already heading for the Nullspace wormhole near the planet. "How good a chance?" Genghis paused as he calculated. "With Miss Avarona's hosts military knowledge...19.5% success rate..."
"Ok, that tears it, we're gonna go help, turn us around, we're heading for the Mountain of Malefor," said Matt. Genghis started. "But sir...we have to get you to a genetic therapy ship at once..." he said and backed up as Matt spun. "They can get stuffed." Genghis tried again. He was programmed to keep the crew alive when possible. "But sir...even with your mutation complete you have only a 1.7% survival rating for a frontal or side entrance attack." Matt looked up from the computer he'd been looking at. He turned and let Genghis see the choice. Genghis didn't have a mouth but if he had, he would have been grinning like a maniac. "But of course...that will help too." he said.
--
The guards on duty at the entrance to the well of souls cave network were bored. All the fun was going to be had at the ceremony to return Malefor and they had to look out and keep watch on a wasteland. "Hey...whats that?" said the youngest member. A figure was walking out of the mists, illuminated by a light shining out from above. It was clad in some kind of blue metal and strange barrels were on its gauntlets but the wings betrayed what it was. "A dragon..." said the leader.
"Hello?" said the figure, its voice distorted by the helmet. "I feel it's fair to give you a chance to run away...so...you wanna open the door? You have your whole life ahead of you...how long that'll be depends on the choice." The guards looked at each other and started laughing. "You have a lot of bronze to threaten us like that," said one guard.
"This isn't bronze..." said the figure. "Names Matthew Lynch...or Matt if you prefer. Last chance, boys." he said as a strange three armed green orb hovered out the fog to go next to him. "I predict a 00.0% chance of cooperation sir." Matt sighed. "Ok, Genghis." The apes watched as the 'Matt' person prodded his wrist...then a orb of blue energy flew out of a stick on his shoulder and blew the gates to pieces. Matt and his 'Genghis' friend walked confidently through the hole. "Ok...who's first?" he said, looking at the dazed survivors.
The apes quickly got to their feet and ran away. "That's better," said Matt, "Shall we continue Genghis?" Genghis beeped. "Of course, sir....scans indicate that there is another two intruders a level up...shall we go?" Matt looked around. "Through which door?" he said and jumped as Genghis made his own door in a wall using his plasma gun arm.
"I like your style," said Matt, "What do you think the chances of the other guards not trying to disturb us are?" Several Guards ran round a corner. Genghis said simply. "0%, sir." Matt clicked and fired the armoured suits wrist mounted lasers. The battle suit had belonged to one of the Splitter crewmembers. Matt was sure that whoever it had belonged to would be enjoying how it was taking vengeance on its owners behalf.
--
Gaul glared at the dishevelled gate guard as he gabbled out why he'd disturbed him and Avarona. "It was some kind of metal demon...it blew the gates to pieces in a single blast." gibbered the guard, tripping over the chain that bound Cynder. Avarona sniggered as the Guard screamed a bit, thinking he was under attack.
"It appears that Matt is making use of the armoury aboard his ship," said Avarona, "This could prove meddlesome." "It matters not," said Gaul, "As long as we keep him away until the eclipse is complete." A rumble from the ground floor paid tribute to Genghis and Matt's explosive DIY methods. "I'll go deal with the human." said Avarona. Gaul glared at Avarona. "...and this time...finish him...no toying with him."
Avarona nodded and said, "This game has gone on long enough." She then walked out of the chamber, the air around dropping rapidly in temperature.
Meanwhile...
Spyro and Sparx had been working their way higher up the mountain but something weird was going on. A few minutes after they'd arrived, the majority of the ape guards had headed back down to the lower levels. Also, there appeared to be a few holes in some of the walls.
"Hmm, they have a pretty lousy decorator," said Sparx. "I don't think this was there doing," said Spyro. Then they heard a pair of voices arguing. "I don't care what your calculations said, I still say we should have gone right." "You do not have a navigation system built into you so that makes me the more competent in navigation."
An armoured figure walked round the corner arguing with a familiar orb. "Matt? Genghis? We thought you left." said Spyro. Matt and Genghis stopped arguing and turned. "Mr Spyro sir. A pleasure to see you uninjured." said Genghis. Matt waved. "I'm not leaving Avarona here. Thought I'd come and help blow Gaul up." he said
Suddenly an icy gale blew down from above. "Speak of the devil," muttered Matt as Avarona flew down. Matt waved to Genghis. "Make sure they get where they need to go...I've got the ice queen." he said before firing the suits wrist cannons at Avarona. Genghis nodded. "We must leave now. The eclipse is minutes away." he said, blasting a locked door to pieces and flying through.
"So...Avarona...playing for keeps now...eh? Your aim needs work." Matt said and yelled as an ice blast flash froze the left arm of his suit, wrecking the gun. "You forget, I have access to Sonya's memories, I know how your gadgets work and how to make them not work." Matt dodged another blast just in time. "So...dates off, eh?" he taunted, firing the other wrist cannon into Avarona's chest.
"I've been putting off destroying you for long enough," said Avarona after she got back up, "This time, there's nothing held back." Matt shrugged. "Good..." he said and fired a few bursts into the liquid below where they were fighting, igniting the fumes above it. The fireball hit them both, knocking them down. "Nice shooting, deadeye." sneered Striker.
Avarona got up first and sent a wave of coldness at Matt that completed frosted his armor. He wasn't hurt himself, but the armor's systems were completely frozen over. "You claim you do not seek power because you don't want it," sneered Avarona, "but really, you just couldn't control it if you had it."
Matt got up, unsteadily and backed up, trying to unsling the sidearm from its holder, only to find it frozen in its holster. "Yeah right...this coming from a wuss who joined up with Malefor cause she had a crush on him...Striker spilled the beans." he said, laughing a bit.
Avarona's face grew rather red as Matt continued, "You're not very lucky when it comes to mates, are you? One might say you either have bad taste, or you just have a personality as sunny as a blizzard in January."
Avarona roared as Matt made a fatal mistake. Taunting your opponent was a good strategy as long as you knew when to stop. For Avarona, Matt had crossed the line. She fired a point black ice blast, slamming Matt into the wall before tail swiping him into another wall hard enough to crack the wall.
"Pah, you wouldn't recognize a suitable mate if she dropped into your arms," said Avarona, "Not like you'll live long enough to ever find one. And when I'm done, I'll make sure everyone who shares blood with you is wiped out as well."
Matt gurgled in horror. "You wouldn't...the NSC would hunt you down..." he began. Sonya also echoed the words in Avarona's mind, displaying the images of what would happen. "When Malefor's forces extend beyond this world, your pitiful government will not stand a chance," said Avarona as she prepared a large iceball in her hands.
With that, she threw the iceball at Matt...only for it to turn to water in mid-air. Matt had got to his feet, eyes blazing red. "Thats only if you live long enough, Avarona." he said, his voice echoing with Strikers voice. "Matt won't be happy I took over but...I think you need to be stopped..." said Striker.
"You never could stop me before," said Avarona, "Why should now be any different?" Striker laughed. "I didn't try to last time..." he said and let loose a stream of white hot flame in the ice dragoness's direction.
Avarona responded with a stream of subzero wind. The two attacks collided, but didn't push through each other. The conflicting temperatures had odd affects on the surrounding area. The rocks began to crack apart while storm clouds started to thicken in the air. Finally the energies overloaded, causing a blast that threw both attackers back. Striker staggered to his feet and doubled up. "Oh nuts...Matt's gonna be pissed." he muttered as the soul gem energy began to finish the transformation.
Matt's body lurched forward as his spine shifted position. He landed on his hands, which quickly lost their flexibility and then their opposable thumbs. The bones clicked themselves into place, locking him in a quadruped state. His muscles expanded in places to accommodate this new state.
Avarona laughed at Matt's apparent pain and said, "How ironic. You try to keep on to your precious humanity but you lose it all the same." Striker however felt Matt coming round. "Hey...wait a minute...STRIKER!!! YOU LITTLE B..." he began till Striker blanked him out. The 001'er would soon regain control but hopefully by then Striker would have settled with Avarona by then. A rumble got his attention. "Erm...Avarona?" he said, looking up and seeing a cloud had formed over the two dragons.
"What in the-" began Avarona when suddenly the storm cloud, created by the conflicting hot and cold air, let out a loud crack of thunder and a tornado descended from it. Several lightning bolts crackled through the air. Matt had calmed down and was doing the mental equilivent of eating popcorn, watching the events. Striker took advantage of the new tornado to spit a fireball into Avarona's chest.
Avarona flinched as she was hit and then a nearby lightning strike caused her to jump. The high winds picked her up and started taking higher up in the air. "I'll get you for this!" yelled Avarona as she was blown out of sight. Striker wasn't having it this time and blocked the way with another fireball, knocking her back to ground level. "You took something that wasn't yours." he said, pacing over to Avarona, eyes glowing red again. 'Matthew...the spell you used on Devina...' he said in their shared mind.
"I thought it was a one-shot," responded Matt, though he remembered it and was fully willing to use it. "Only to a non-dragon...you're a dragon at the moment." said Striker, out loud to let Avarona know what was coming. Sonya was whooping for joy in Avarona's head and taunting the Ice dragoness. Striker formed the white energy of the spell and looked at Avarona.
"I will return," said Avarona, "Maybe not in this body, but I won't disappear. Striker replied. "Then we'll be waiting..." he said and fired the spell before letting Matt retake control
--
Matt shook the stars out his vision and looked down at what had been his hands before over at the small groaning dragoness where Avarona had been laying. "Thats the last time you drive, Striker." he muttered. "...and the spell didn't work...she's still there." "It's possible that Avarona's extended presence in her body has caused it to assume that a dragoness is her true form," said Striker, "It is probable that she is stuck like that, but hopefully not."
The dragoness groaned and looked over at Matt. "Lynch...I think I owe you an apology for back at that ice place." it said in Sonya's voice. "Oh, you weren't yourself," said Matt, "Unfortunately, it would seem I'm not myself either." Sonya smiled a bit at that but a shaking got their attention. "Oh no...that gaul guys doing the ceremony...Come on." Said Sonya, running ahead. "No rest for the mercenaries." muttered Matt and followed.
When they got to Gaul's throne room, they saw a tall pillar of purple light coming from the center of the floor. "The Well of Souls," said Striker. "I had a bad feeling that's what it was," said Matt. He and Sonya quickly spotted Cynder, a smashed shackle near her. "Cynder." he called, running over. Sonya kept her distance which was understandable as not long ago she had been indirectly trying to kill them.
"Matt?" asked Cynder. "What is she doing here?" asked Sparx, pointing at Sonya. "Don't worry about her," said Matt, "I banished Avarona, she's just stuck looking like her. Where's Spyro and Gaul?" Cynder looked over at the well. "Down there. Gaul knocked Spyro into the beam and followed him down. Matt looked around and spotted Genghis menacing a few captured guards. He rotated. "Ah, sir and ma'am...a pleasure to see you in control of your own mind again, Ma'am." he said to Sonya.
Matt looked down and saw Spyro and Gaul facing off. "Get him Spyro," he cheered, "Make him bite the dust." Suddenly Spyro unleashed a wave of purple energy that first turned Gaul to stone then made him crumble into dust. Matt gulped and said, "I didn't mean literally."
Genghis also looked over. "He appears to absorbed energy from this beam to augment his abilities...fascinating." he said as Spyro flew back up. His scales were almost black and the young dragons eyes were just burning white orbs. "Spyro...you ok?" asked Matt. Sonya sighed. "Of course he isn't...how many well people have solid white eyes, moron?" she said.
"Spyro, stop!" cried Cynder. "Whoa, calm down man," said Sparx, "It's me!" "I-I can't" grunted Spyro. Cynder jumped up and knocked Spyro out of the beam. As he hit the floor, he lost his dark coloring.
Matt and Sonya also ran over with Genghis in pursuit. "You're ok...man, that stuffs nasty." Matt said and heard Striker murmur "Dark magic often is..." Matt shuddered a bit then realised it wasn't him shuddering. "SIRS...SENSORS DETECT A MAJOR GEOLOGICAL EVENT IN PROGRESS!" yelled Genghis. Everyone just stared. Genghis sighed and said dully. "The mountain is coming apart."
"You've got to get out of here," said Spyro. "We're not leaving without you," said Cynder. "Genghis, you have to get the ship away from here," ordered Matt. Genghis swore in binary as his subroutines made him obey. "CURSE THIS PROGRAMMING!" he yelled as he flew out the ceiling. Matt and Sonya ran for the door only to see it collapse. "Well...this doesn't bode well." said Matt, turning to see the hole Genghis had used become blocked too.
"We're trapped," said Spyro. Things seemed hopeless for a moment, but then Spyro recalled the Chronicler's words, 'Ride out this storm and live to fight another day'. "Get close to me, now!" said Spyro. Matt and Sonya exchanged glances. Matt shrugged. "Thats why they invented time drives." he said and the two got close to Spyro.
Spyro spread his wings out as an orange glow covered all of them. The glow solidified into a large orange crystal with the five of them frozen inside it. Not long after the rest of the mountain collapsed down on them.
Not long after the Mountain of Malefor collapsed, a hooded figure approached the geological ruins. He noticed a half-buried vessel in part of the rubble, seemingly unharmed. Then from another pile of rubble, a small metal orb crawled out.
"Oh, my aching processor." moaned the orb, the lights from its 'eyes' blinking with each word. It swung around and spotted him. The figure quickly readied a bow and arrow but was mildly surprised as the orb said briskly. "Oh...good evening sir...I am Combat Medic AX-193 designated 'Genghis...how may I be of service?"
--
Mr Black stood beside the Chronicler, clad again in his business suited form. "I did tell you...Nullspacers cannot be simply told not to do something." he said calmly, smirking a bit. "It would seem so, Azuth," said the Chronicler, "I had underestimated his strength of will." Mr Black just continued to smile. "Well...at least they have company...it is just as well they have a timedrive on their vessel...otherwise..." The Chronicler interrupted. "Otherwise he would miss your war...why him...a hatchling? Surely there was someone else?"
"Let us say that if he weren't available, there would be... sizeable gaps that could make things turn for the worst." Mr Black just looked back at the image of the sealed room where the gang were. "Yes...definitely for the worst..."
What will the future be like when our heroes awaken…wait for chapter 10 n see…Please R&R!
