Disclaimer: I do not own any Spyro franchise characters. They are owned by Activision. I only own my own OCs.
If you don't like my story, then just don't read it.
Enjoy
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~Chapter 10~
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"So, were you ready for that?" Alec asked Flashwing, just coming through the portal.
Flashwing however was having difficulty comprehending what happened to her. Her skin had gone from hard, scaly, and crystalline, to soft and fleshy. Her claws were gone, replaced by nails. She suddenly didn't feel right on all fours. Her wings and tail… WHERE WERE HER WINGS AND TAIL?!
"You're no longer a dragon, Flashwing," Alec said, helping her up onto her feet, "You're now a human. Bipedal, wingless, tailless, fleshy human."
I couldn't deny that Flashwing looked good as a human. Her blonde sleeked back hair reached her shoulders, streaks of violet highlighting her hair. Her eyes were an indigo…and for some reason, I was able to spot a detail like that with such description is odd for me in general.
Flashwing looked around in amazement. This world was so much different than the one she knew.
"Don't worry, everyone is becomes disoriented the first time," Alec said, "Except for me, because I knew what to expect."
"Thinking a bit highly of ourselves are we?" Flashwing teased.
"Well if it means anything, I wasn't prepared for the trip through the original model of the portal," Alec said, "That was like being pulled inside out and sucked through a straw. And the disturbing part was that it wasn't as painful as you'd think it should be."
"How is something not being painful more disturbing?"
"Because you know it supposed to be painful," Alec continued as he began to show Flashwing around, "It's like if the pain receptors in your brain were turned off, and something happens to your body that is supposed to be painful. Even though you don't feel the pain, you still feel the pressure and know that it's supposed to hurt."
"How did you get used to that?"
"Who said I did?" Alec replied, "We can't stay for too long. I have to be there to see how Quarry's sparring match goes."
"I don't mind. I'd like to get back into my dragon body as soon as I can anyway," Flashwing said, "I mean, I do like this body. It's just, I need time to get used to it."
"Well, at least that means you're willing," Alec said, "There are many in the Dragon Realm who are apprehensive about coming through. The guardians for example."
"The guardians are afraid to come through the portal?" Flashwing asked.
"Not afraid. Just apprehensive," Alec corrected, "I think it's something about them being older and used to older ways. The new concept of a portal to another realm is probably unsettling."
After a short talk and giving Flashwing the short tour, Alec and Flashwing had headed back to the Dragon Realm.
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"Are we ready to start the sparring match?" Shard asked Quarry as they were standing in the training dojo. There was an audience there to witness the match.
"Wait, not yet," Quarry said, "Alec isn't here yet."
"Is it really important that Alec is here?" Shard asked.
"Whether it's important or not, I'm here anyway," Alec said as he walked in with Flashwing. Alec nodded to Quarry, who had a look of relief on his face. Then his look of relief instantly changed to that of confidence.
The match started with Shard freezing the ground around Quarry. However, before the ice reached Quarry, he was able to create a shell around him to shield him from the cold. However, the ice engulfed the shield, trapping Quarry in the shell. Shard felt unsettled about this. Quarry may not be that great with tactical fighting. But he would never be defeated this quickly and easily. As much as Shard tried to figure out what happened, he couldn't figure it out. Maybe this was like Quarry's win on Shard and is just a fluke.
That's when Shard was suddenly tackled from behind, causing everyone to gasp at what they saw, "How did you…" Shard questioned. But before he could think about it, Quarry shot a pillar of earth from the ground towards Shard, who managed to easily dodge, "I see you've improved a little." Quarry continued to extend pillars from all over to attempt to attack Shard. But none of them managed to hit. But this was doing well at managing to keep Shard on a defensive.
Before too long, Shard realized what Quarry was trying to do. He noticed that each pillar of earth that Quarry created were still intact. Quarry was trying to make it harder to maneuver. Shard calculated the possibility of being an advantage for Quarry. But Shard was smaller and more flexible. So Shard would have more of an advantage. And Shard was building energy. Finally, he released the energy towards Quarry, causing him to halt.
Quarry then charged toward Shard. As he did this, he encased himself in a boulder and rolled toward the ice dragon. Shard managed to move out of the way and smack the boulder into a wall, causing it to crumble. However, Quarry was not inside. Everyone looked confused…that is except for Alec, who knew exactly what was going on. Quarry then out of nowhere dropped on top of Shard, tackling him hard. Shard however used his ice element to lower his own body temperature to extremely cold temperatures. So cold that just touching him stung Quarry's paws.
"How do you like my elemental surge ability?" Shard asked, his body becoming more like ice crystals, "I like to call this ability 'Absolute Zero'. My body temperature lowers far below zero degrees. So cold that it hurts to touch."
"So, you're trying out a new technique on me?" Quarry asked, "Well, how do you like mine so far?"
"Making it more difficult to maneuver is clever," Shard said, "But I'm smaller, faster, and more flexible. So I'd still have the advantage." With that said, Shard shot a blast of elemental energy at Quarry. However, Quarry erected a wall of earth to shield himself. When the blast hit, the wall crumbled and Quarry wasn't there.
"You're losing your touch, Frosty," Quarry said from behind Shard, "Lowering your maneuverability is a pleasant side affect of what I've done. But that was not the intent of all of these earth pillars. In fact, I just helped to increase my maneuverability."
Shard turned around to attack, but just ended up hitting another pillar. Suddenly, Shard saw Quarry just walk out of one of the earth pillars as if it were water. For once, Shard was at a loss. But it was temporary, as Shard managed to figure out Quarry's tactic, "I see. You've developed an ability to move through the earth itself," Shard said with a grin, "But what would happen if I destroyed all of these earth pillars?"
"Then I could just make more," Quarry said, "And besides, there's still the walls, floor, and ceiling. And besides. I still have a couple other tricks."
Quarry then slammed his paw down on the floor, causing earth bullets to shoot from all of the pillars at Shard. After a couple minutes, the attack was over. And though Shard was injured, he wasn't beaten yet. But before he could react, Quarry acted on instinct and walked into one of the pillars. Then suddenly, all of the pillars began to morph into the form of Quarry. Not even Alec was expecting this. Each other clones of Quarry walked towards Shard, each of them saying things one at a time. "So Shard, can you figure out which one of us is the real Quarry?" "Or perhaps none of us are the real Quarry, and Quarry is just hiding in another wall somewhere."
Shard however thought of another option, "Or perhaps in essence, you all are Quarry," Shard said, "But if that's true, how could your consciousness be spread like it is?"
All of the Quarry clones encased themselves in boulders and attacked Shard all at once. Once the attack was finished, Shard was laying on the floor, defeated. Shard's elemental surge had also released…with one major side affect.
"We have to get Shard to the infirmary as soon as possible!" Alec called out.
Each of the Quarry clones merged into one…the real Quarry. From the energy drain that ability took on him, Quarry suddenly passed out.
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After Quarry and Shard were taken to the infirmary, Alec was speaking with everyone on how Quarry had improved.
"I don't believe I am about to say this," Cyril said, "But I'm proud of how you helped Quarry improve how he did."
"That must've hurt to admit," Alec said with a sly grin.
"You have no idea," Cyril grumbled.
"Quarry has improved much further than I had expected," Terrador praised, "You not only helped him develop a new technique that is uniquely his own, but you also helped him to learn how to release his elemental surge."
"I wish I could take the credit. But Quarry was holding out on me just as much as you," Alec explained, "I was just as surprised as any of you when he created those clones. And I could sense that Shard's claim was right. In essence, each of the clones were Quarry. As for his ability to travel through the earth like he did, that was simply developed from a parlor trick he said his mother taught him. When I saw that, I realized it could work."
"I just hope the side affects of the elemental surges won't be too serious," Volteer explained.
I've done my research. And elemental surges often require intense training to perfect them. Otherwise, there can be side affects. Sometimes the side affects can be rather serious. And sometimes, the side affect is simply a massive energy drain.
"Well, I'm gonna go check on how Fog is doing," Alec said, "I haven't seen her in a while. So I should see for myself how she's doing."
"I'll come with you," Mal said, following Alec to see how Fog was doing.
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When we were arriving to check on Fog, I suddenly had a bad feelings. I then focused and realized that Fog's life force was weakening.
"Something's wrong with Fog!" Alec exclaimed, prompting them to hurry to Fog.
When they arrived at Fog's quarters, they saw that Cynder was already there and in a panic, "Mal, Alec, something's wrong!" Cynder exclaimed, "Fog can't breath!"
When we went in to check on Fog, sure enough, she was gasping for air. When I focused on her energy, I could sense that the issue wasn't having trouble breathing. It was simply that her body is beginning to reject oxygen itself. Her body was beginning to suffocate itself. But the worse thing was that the oxygen loss wasn't killing her. It was just torturing her system.
"Her system is already starting to shut down!" Alec exclaimed, "Her lungs have lost the ability to absorb oxygen! But it's not killing her!"
"But that's good, right?" Mal asked.
"That depends on your point of view," Alec answered, "As true as it is that it's not killing her, she's still suffocating, making her suffer. Imagine you're trapped underwater and drowning. Now imagine that no matter how long the sensation of drowning makes you suffer, you just won't die. It's torture."
Suddenly, Iggy appeared from a shadow with a frantic look on his face, "Something's wrong with Fog!" Iggy exclaimed, "What's wrong with Fog?!"
"Her system has lost it's ability to absorb oxygen," Alec answered, "The loss of oxygen isn't killing her. But it is torturing her senses."
Iggy went up to Fog to see the tears beginning to form in her eyes. Though her suffocating was torture to her, what was worse was how scared she was. And Iggy could sense this. But Iggy's presence seemed to help calm Fog down. But regardless, she was still suffocating.
As time had gone by, I had seen Iggy become good friends with Fog. It wasn't anything to take notice of though. It was basically like any childhood friendship. But I haven't seen Iggy this frantic about the idea of losing Fog. I'm beginning to think it's more than just a friendship.
Fog suddenly stopped gasping for air and began breathing normally again. It appeared that her system had returned to normal again. But for how long?
"Fog's system had regulated itself again," Alec explained, "She can breath again. But I don't think it's without damage."
I noticed that once Fog had regulated her breathing again. However, she began frantically jolting her head around, seemingly looking for something. However, she had a blank stare, not looking at anything specifically.
"Fog, is something wrong?" Cynder asked.
Fog's head turned towards Cynder, however, not directly at her, "I can't see!" Fog said, "Mommy, I'm scared!"
The loss of oxygen must've caused brain damage. I figure that Fog should be lucky the only issue was loss of vision. Although, it has been a while since she has referred to Cynder as "mommy".
"Mom, something's wrong with Fog," Iggy said with worry, "It's like she had gotten younger or something."
I knew Fog would've gotten off a little too easy. But I still say she's still lucky the damage isn't severe.
"It seems that the loss of oxygen caused some brain damage," Alec explained, "For starters, it seems that the visual part of her brain had shut down because of brain damage. And if it's true that Fog seems younger, I suppose the brain damage caused her to regress to a younger state of mind."
"But I'm not a baby!" Fog exclaimed in a juvenile tone. But it seems that she was able to realize that she reacted differently than she normally would. She then lowered her head, "Will I always be like this?"
"That depends on how much damage to the brain there is," Alec said, "But as for your blindness…I don't think your sight will return. Mal, Iggy, you two keep Fog company while I talk with Cynder."
Alec lead Cynder into the other room to talk with her, "Is there something wrong?" Cynder asked, not sure as to why Alec asked to talk with her.
"Well, other than the issues with Fog, no," Alec said, "I just wanted to talk to you to ask you to stay with Fog as often as possible. It seems that Iggy is willing to stay with her. But he won't be available all the time. If she was just blind, this probably wouldn't be as big of an issue. But that coupled with her mind regressing to a younger age, Fog is going to be really scared. And make sure to talk to her more often. Being blinded, she won't know you're there unless she can hear you."
"It seems ironic that when we first met Fog, she was so strong and independent," Cynder said, "And now, she seems so frail and in need of someone."
"It seems that life just dealt Fog a bad hand," Alec said.
"A what?" Cynder asked.
"It's a human expression," Alec explained, "It refers to card games like poker. When the dealer deals you a hand, it can either be a good hand, or a not so good hand. So when I say 'life deals you a bad hand', it basically means you're unlucky in life."
"In any case, Fog will probably prefer Iggy's company over mine," Cynder said, "It's not that she hates me…again. It's just that Fog and Iggy had grown close in just three years. If it weren't for the fact that Fog isn't really my daughter, that would be awkward."
"Well then, you probably wouldn't want me reminding you of how technically Fog is a clone of you," Alec said, causing Cynder to frown, "Anyway, let's get back in to see how Fog is doing."
When we went back in to check on Fog and the others, the sight I saw was both heartwarming, and hurtful.
Cynder and Alec saw Fog cuddled up with Iggy. There was allot of physical contact, allowing Iggy to insure that Fog knows he's there. And he was talking with her, making sure she heard him. And considering their close contact, I wouldn't be surprised if she could smell him. Iggy was making sure to use all of Fog's remaining senses to make sure he was there for her.
The scene is heartwarming for obvious reasons. I never truly realized this before. But Iggy really does care for Fog. But it's painful to see because I know that it's only a matter of time before Fog's body entirely gives up on her and she dies. Even though I'm in the process of making Fog a new body, I don't know if it will work.
I just hope it does work.
Okay, I call Shard's elemental surge ability 'Absolute Zero'. But I'm thinking another idea for a name would be 'Frostbite'. I'm sticking with Absolute Zero. But let me know what you think. As for Quarry's elemental surge, I don't have any ideas for a name for his earth clone ability. Also, my initial idea for Quarry's elemental surge was just to be his ability to move through the earth. But for one, it seemed too anticlimactic. So I added the clone idea simply on a whim. And in my opinion, I'd say that was a pretty damn good idea.
AAWWW! Don't Iggy and Fog look cute together!
Please R&R.