The red dragon blasted fire. But not at Saphira, or Tallonthar. No, it flamed the Heartless that was formerly Galbatorix. Tallonthar was the next to move. Tallonthar concentrated on the Nobodies. Saphira, the last to shake off shock, attacked the Heartless that was formerly Shruikan. Then the real aerial battle began.
"Wait, isn't the Rider of the red dragon a servant of Galbatorix?" Goofy asked, confused.
Arya laughed, a hollow laugh, with very little humor in it. It creeped Sora out. "Since Galbatorix isn't technically in existence anymore, the oaths that bound the Rider to him must be null now. Apparently, Galbatorix was so confident in winning, and living, that he hadn't bothered to make the oath binding after his existence is extinguished. Therefore, the Rider has the liberty to attack his former master," Arya mused aloud, for the benefit of everyone within hearing distance.
"Nobodies can remember from before they were Nobodies. Galbatorix's Nobody will be very angry, now that the Rider isn't attacking Saphira or Tallonthar," Sora said logically.
"You know, if we had something, just something, that could take us to that fight, there'd be a much better chance of our side winning," Riku said.
Sora watched, not wanting to look away, but afraid of what he might see. He and the others watched, now that the Heartless on the ground had been defeated. The elven spellweavers were muttering spells still, though the distance to the aerial opponents lessened the effects of the spells. The Nobodies screamed in pain, as multicolored fire consumed them, only to be extinguished moments later. The spellcasters could not keep the spell going.
"Use the Nobodies' energy!" Came a cry from above. Tallonthar was circling the Nobodies, and Kairi's voice was amplified by magic. "Their mental defenses are gone! Being Nobodies, they can't use Alagaesian magic! And they're not like Heartless, who cannot be drained of energy!"
Arya grinned, a smile of pure malice. Sora shuddered. He never wanted to be on an elf's bad side. Riku looked up, watching the fight. The Heartless seemed to be evenly matched each by a dragon and Rider. The Nobodies were getting over their shock at not being able to use magic.
The elves, draining energy from the Nobodies, directed their attacks to the two Heartless. When the Heartless finally disappeared, and leaving the somewhat stronger Nobodies left, Kairi, mounted on Tallonthar, struck with her Keyblade. Tallonthar attacked with talon and fang. The Nobodies retaliated. A blast of fire from the dragon Nobody, and a strike with a sword from the former Galbatorix. The red dragon flamed at the Nobodies, and Saphira did the same. The Nobodies were terribly outnumbered. In about five minutes, they too disappeared, for good.
Cheering broke out among the allied forces. Sora, ecstatic with relief and joy, hugged an astonished Arya, King Mickey, Donald and Goofy. Riku smiled, and yelled for joy. The three dragons landed, and their Riders headed towards the leaders of the allies. Arya grew serious, and Sora and Riku sobered. There was much work to be done, if Alagaesia was to thrive. King Mickey was already headed towards the leaders. Sora and Riku followed, followed themselves by Donald, Goofy, and Arya.
"Welp, we all did it. And against the odds, too," King Mickey was saying when Sora reached the group. "Well done, Sora, Kairi, Riku. Donald, Goofy, you did great. And thanks to everyone who helped defeat the Heartless."
Kairi was bone tired. She looked at Sora, who looked the worse for wear. Riku didn't look much better. She had consumed a lot of energy, just protecting herself from the other Rider's magical attacks. She glanced a little apprehensively at the Rider.
Eragon cleared his throat. Everyone looked at him, and he waved the Rider forward. "Murtagh has some words to say. In the Ancient Language," he said pointedly. "Then for the benefit of those who don't know the language, he'll translate."
The Rider glared at Eragon for a moment, then, in the Ancient Language, said, "I'm sorry for the betrayal, and sorry that I caused so much grief. I was selfish when I chose to live."
"I don't believe him…" Riku said.
"Riku, he couldn't be lying. He must truly be sorry, if he could say it in the Ancient Language," Kairi said.
"He didn't state how sorry he was. He just said he was sorry," Riku pointed out. "For all we know, he could be just sorry enough for it to be true."
"You know, Riku does have a very good point, Kairi," Sora said. He turned to Eragon. "What gets me, though, is how do you know him?"
Eragon stammered, looking around. Riku was just as curious as Sora, and Kairi knew already. She had to, for it had been on his mind since after Murtagh had defected. She nodded encouragement, and he looked at Nasuada. The dark-skinned leader of the Varden did not give him any sign of what he should do. Arya would be no help either, even if she was present. Looking out at the men who had gathered, he shook his head. To deny the truth, especially now, would be folly. To hide it would be almost as bad. Especially when he was pushed. Some of the men already knew Murtagh as his friend, and were quite astonished that he had been the red dragon's Rider.
"Murtagh and I met when Brom, Saphira and I were ambushed by the Ra'zac. He drove the Ra'zac off, but in the brief scuffle, Brom had been mortally wounded. I did my best, but knew nothing about healing magic except how to treat surface wounds. After Brom died, we traveled together, first to Gil'ead, where he saved my life yet again, and then to the Varden, in Farthen Dur. After the battle there, some Urgals, presumably now under the control of the traitorous Twins, ambushed the then leader of the Varden, Ajihad, and took Murtagh. We all thought he was dead. He was forced to swear, in the Ancient Language, to serve Galbatorix, and to be loyal. We had fought during the Battle of the Burning Plains, and that was when the real truth was revealed. Murtagh and I are brothers." There, he said it.
Shock rippled through the contingent. Some men backed away in fear. Sora was a little confused. Kairi whispered in his ear why the men were backing away: Morzan, the most hated and feared of the Forsworn, was Murtagh's father, and if Murtagh was Eragon's true brother, then that meant that Morzan was Eragon's father.
Eragon swore, mostly under his breath. He cursed his father, and he cursed circumstances. He walked away, mounted Saphira, and they both flew off.
"Oh, no, he is not going to run away. Not when the dragons' race needs to be rebuilt. This world depends on it," Kairi said, as she mounted Tallonthar and followed.
"You know, blood doesn't really tell. I mean, some things are passed down, but not personality… I have a friend who's uncle, his father's brother, was evil…" Sora said. It didn't help much. People, so set in their ways here, were going to be afraid of Morzan's youngest son, let alone the oldest.
"It's not like Eragon could have chosen his relations," Riku muttered. He had grown to like Eragon.
After Kairi had left to chase after Eragon, some panicked out right that no Riders were there to keep Murtagh from hurting anyone. Little did they know that he had sworn in the Ancient Language that he wouldn't hurt anyone that day.
"I couldn't have chosen, either," Murtagh said, acid in his voice.
There was a very awkward and uncomfortable silence as they all waited for Kairi to turn Eragon around. King Orrin eyed Murtagh and Thorn warily, Nasuada seemed indifferent, Sora and Riku paced, Donald was muttering to himself so quickly that it was all garbled quacking to everyone else, King Mickey had taken to whistling a steamboat tune, and Goofy was looking from one person to the next. Finally, on the horizon, the blue and green dragons could be seen. King Mickey was the first to spot them.
As soon as Saphira and Tallonthar had landed, their Riders dismounted. Eragon did not look at all happy.
"You don't have to stay on this world, Eragon, but you have a duty to the dragons first," Kairi was saying.
Eragon knew then that that was what he was going to do, once Saphira had mated, and their duty was finished. After he had seen Oromis for one last time, he amended. He already knew which dragon she would mate. There was no question about it, really. The two had grown fond of each other during training, and Tallonthar was certainly old enough now. But they had to go at their own pace.
"Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, and especially you, Kairi, thank you for coming to this world's rescue," Eragon said, to break the silence that followed Kairi's remark. He laughed, with no humor in it at all. Sora shuddered. Why the humorless laughs all of a sudden? "The son of one who helped bring dragonkind to the brink of extinction will help bring them back. There's a bit of irony in it."
"That whole situation is ironic," Riku said.
"Lady Nasuada, Kairi and I promised that we'd go back to Elesmera. By your leave, I also wish to leave this world, once the dragons' future is secure. I don't think I'll be welcomed on this world much longer," Eragon said, a trace of bitterness in his voice.
"I understand. You've served me well," Nasuada said. "We must find a suitable punishment for Murtagh, too. Even though he acted against his will, he still betrayed the Varden, not to mention you, Eragon. His effort in the last battle will not be enough. Most are going to call for his head."
Murtagh blanched a little. But he stayed, and Sora admired him for his courage. To face death, and possibly the death of the one closest to you, took a lot of courage. Thorn growled, though, and Murtagh hushed him.
Kairi shook her head. "I would exile him to a remote world for a period of time, and from Alagaesia permanently. That way, he keeps his life, and there is no way he will bother anyone here with his presence. A few oaths in the Ancient Language, and he can't change his fate."
Nasuada smiled. "That happens to be a very excellent idea, Kairi. Very well. The sentence is effective as soon as you can figure out a way to transport him and his dragon away. Until then, I charge both you and Eragon to keep an eye on him. And Eragon, was it wise to reveal to everyone your, ah, relations?"
"Not wise, but even less wise to lie or keep it hidden. People would resent that I kept the secret for so long. And would resent it even further if I had lied," Eragon said.
"Wise answer, Shadeslayer," Arya said as she walked up.
"So, what happens now?" Riku asked.
"We go back to Elesmera, wait for the dragons' future to be secure, and wait until Chip and Dale send a gummie ship, or preferably a fleet, big enough to accommodate three dragons, the six of us off-worlders, and Eragon and Murtagh. That could take months, at the least," Kairi said.
"Sounds fun," Riku said sarcastically.
Orik came up then. Eragon quietly explained what his plans were to the dwarf. The dwarf seemed sad that his friend found no other way to find peace, but nodded. "The other dwarves will not like the news that Hrothgar had accepted into his clan the son of Morzan. It may all be for the best," was all Orik would say on that count.
The Riders, Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey all left early in the morning, back north to Du Waldenvarden. Arya accompanied them. She would be their guide through the forest's maze.
Once they reached Elesmera, they first reported to Oromis. Oromis merely nodded at the news of Murtagh's sentence. He also seemed pleased that Eragon knew his duty to dragonkind. So, to fill up spare time, Kairi and Eragon learned even more magic from Oromis. Murtagh was excluded from these lessons.
Months passed, during which King Mickey had gone back to Castle Disney with Donald and Goofy to order the making of the new gummie ships. Saphira and Tallonthar, in an incredible display of flight, had mated, and Saphira was now egg-heavy. She was about ready to lay. Sora and Kairi had had a few more kisses, and Riku did not seem jealous. In fact, he knew that the two liked each other that way ever since they were old enough to know what love meant.
Oromis had one last lesson to teach before his two students would leave. That was the spell that kept the dragon egg from hatching until its Rider came along. The spell would be used shortly after Saphira had clutched.
Once Saphira laid her eggs, the spell was cast. The very next week, three eggs had hatched. A white male for Sora, a purple female for Riku, and a brown for an elf child who was lucky. The child would be learning all his lessons from Oromis, while Sora and Riku would start their lessons with the old Rider, and continue under the tutelage of Kairi and Eragon.
Once the gummie ships arrived, Oromis bade them farewell, having extracted a promise from them that they'd come visit. He would be training the elf child to carry on the traditions and duties of the Shur'tugal, the Dragon Riders of Alagaesia.
And so, they dropped Murtagh off on a world that was uninhabited by anyone, but had plenty of food, and all headed towards Destiny Islands. Eragon would be staying there for a while, to help Kairi teach Sora and Riku. Eragon never returned to Alagaesia, and the dragons there did not go extinct.