Chapter 9: The first time I ever saw your face.
Disclaimer: The below song is owned by Roberta Flack.
...
William walked through the many winding halls of the Dragon Temple. He had just finished his training session with Ignitus and Cyril, and was now heading for the gardens out back. He agreed to spend some more time with the Ice guardian later.
In just a little over an hour, he had learned that Cyril was his father, the world he once believed to be his home was not, and that the dragon race would eventually depend on him to save it from some as-yet-undiscovered evil.
Sure is a lot to take in, he thought to himself. But, at least I won't have to face that evil alone, right? Plus, I have family now. I should be happy.
Eventually, William walked out of the Temple structure and found himself in the gardens. The afternoon sun shined brightly down on the landscape, making everything feel warm and inviting. The wind blowed gently across the Black-and-White dragon's scales. Songbirds chirped here and there, the trees rustled, and the distant chatter of Warfang's citizens could be heard all around him.
William sighed peacefully.
Wonderful... Simply wonderful.
Suddenly, something rung in William's earholes. Someone was singing on the other side of the gardens. It was a beautiful voice, with the most touching, familiar lyrics.
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love,
To the dark and the empty skies.
"Who could that be?" The Black-and-White dragon wondered out loud.
William ventured off to find the source of the singing as it continued.
The first time ever I kissed your mouth
And felt your heart beat close to mine
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command.
Eventually, the Black-and-White dragon found the person singing. It was Blizzard, sitting atop a tall rock. He gaped in wonder at her heavenly voice, and slowly approached her as she continued with her heavenly voice.
And the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last till the end of time my love
It would last till the end of time my love
Blizzard stopped singing and looked upwards at the setting sun, tears forming in her eyes. William cried as well: He knew this song by heart.
He climbed up onto the rock and sang the last part of the song.
The first time ever I saw your face, your face,
your face, your face
As William finished singing, Blizzard turned around to face him, surprised to see the Black-and-White dragon before her.
"You know the song?" She asked, still teary-eyed as she looked upon him.
"When I was very little," William replied, sitting down next to the Ice dragoness. "My mother.. well the woman I believed to be my mother, sang it to me every night. I'll always remember the song, and I sing it whenever I'm depressed."
Blizzard looked away, struggling to fight back the tears in her eyes. William looked on the upset dragoness, concerned.
"What's the matter?" He asked, wishing to look into the dragoness's eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I was just thinking about my parents." She said solemnly. "It's during times like this that I wish they were here to comfort me. It seems like they passed away only yesterday."
The Ice dragoness had absolut sorrow in her eyes. William used a forepaw to brush away a tear form her face.
"My parents are gone, too." He said soothingly. "Even if they were just foster parents, I loved them just as much as the real thing. I know what it's like to lose someone you love. It hurts, but you must know that you aren't all alone: There's plenty of others in this temple too, like Spyro and Cynder, the Guardians, and me. And if you ever need someone to talk to about this sort of thing, I'll be there for you."
Blizzard looked up into William's Emerald eyes and smiled.
"Thank you, William." She said. "I've never had a more caring, understanding friend than you."
William blushed.
"It's not a problem." He replied. "I hate seeing people in pain while I stand around and do nothing."
The Black-and-White dragon got off of the rock and turned to walke back to the Temple.
"Well, I've got to go. See ya."
Blizzard quickly jumped down and called after him.
"William?"
The Black-and-White dragon turned around to look at her.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Would.. uh.." She stamered nervously. "Would you like to go on a walk with me?"
William smiled.
"I'd love to, Blizzard." He answered, walking back to her. She smiled back.
"Thank you."
The two young dragons turned to leave for the city limits.
In the meantime, Bruneth and Vitari slowly came out from hiding. Disgust painted the Brown dragoness's face.
"Nonsensical crap." She sneered. "To think that two dragons would behave in such a stupid manner. Not even you, Bruneth. Don't you agree?"
The Blood Red dragon could bare stop himself from bursting into laughter.
"He's a Cow dragon!" He shouted. "A fucking COW DRAGON!"
"Quiet down, you dolt." Vitari snarled. "Blow our cover, why don't you?"
"Oh, I don't care."
Bruneth started spreading his wings for flight.
"Where do you think you're going?" Vitari demanded.
"I just can't pass an opportunity like this up." The Blood Red dragon declared. "I'm going to go have some fun with that Ice dragoness, AND smack around that laughing stock, just for kicks."
"So, you're willingly disobeying orders." The Brown dragoness said with disapproval.
"It's not disobeying to have a little fun every now and then." Bruneth replied. "I'll be back in a little while.
With that said, the Blood Red dragon took off, while the Brown dragoness sighed with contempt.
"Idiot."
...
William and Blizzard walked through the many streets of the Markes section of Warfang, gazing up at the incredible scenery the city had to offer. It would still be some time before the city would be fully repaired from the attack it suffered, but it still looked stunning in the evening rays of the sun. The White marble streets were laden with all sorts of creatures, both Dragon and Nondragon, all of whom went about their business.
As the two young dragons went about their way, they stopped by a Mole vendor's cart on the side of the street.
"Why, you two young dragonz zeem like zee perfect couple." The Mole said happily. "Perhapz zomething amonst my warez zparkz your interest, no?"
The two young dragons blushed simultaneously.
"We're uh, we're not a couple." Blizzard said nervously.
"Ah, I zee. Well, that doezn't ztop you from looking, doez it?"
"No, I guess not.." William replied.
The vendor had a vast array of necklaces, rings, bangles, chokers, and other assorted bits of jewelry. There were also an array of finely crafted bands, which could be tied around one's horn.
"Zee anything you like, mizz?" The Mole asked, smiling.
Blizzard stared down at a small horn band that sat in the middle of the vendor's table. It was decorated in elaborate patterns of zigzags of various colors, and in the middle of the cloth was the symbol of Ice.
"How much for the horn band?" She asked., pointing to it.
"Ah, you have zee fine tazte indeed, Mizz." The Mole replied. "That right there is made of pure zilk and dyed with the most preciouz dyez. It uzually coztz zixty ot eighty zilver coinz, but for you, thirty coinz."
"Oh.." Blizzard said sadly. "Sorry, but I can't afford it."
The Ice dragoness turned and walked away, towards an alleyway that led to the temple.
William, saddened to see the dragoness walk away disappointed, pulled a pouch of coins out of his satchel, handed it to the Mole, and took the horn band.
"Keep the change." He said, smirking.
"Az you wizh, Zir." The Mole said, scooping up the pouch.
Suddenly, a great scream filled the air. William gasped in shock.
"BLIZZARD!" He exclaimed.
...
After Blizzard turned down the alleyway, she sighed with disappointment.
"Well, it was just some band.." She reassured herself. "There are more important things than jewelry, right?"
The Ice dragoness continued on her way, still feeling unhappy.
Suddenly, a great, shadowy figure with horrible, demonic eyes appeared out of nowhere right in front of her. She gasped in surprise and alarm.
"Hello, little dragoness." The figure said malevolently.
Before Blizzard could do anything, the figure slashed her across the face with its talons. She screamed in pain as she crashed to the ground. The figured laughed.
"Ice dragons." He said mockingly. "Pathetic little things."
Suddenly, someone shouted nearby.
"BLIZZARD!"
"Ah, here comes the cow." The figure declared casually.
Blizzard cried in pain as the figure lifter her by her tail into the air with a forepaw.
...
Not a moment later, William ran around the corner and into the alleyway, quick as a flash. He was shocked to see a large, Blood Red dragon with horrible, red eyes lifting Blizzard into the air.
"Hello, Cow!" The large dragon shouted gleefully.
"William, help!" Blizzard pleaded, dangling in the air.
"Put her down!" William demanded, snarling. "NOW!"
"Oh, you want me to put her down, cow?" The dragon chided. "Sure, I'll put her down!"
Suddenly, the dragon tossed Blizzard with full force right through the air at William. Before the Black-and-White dragon could react, both he and the Ice dragoness crumpled hard to the ground.
Blizzard moaned in agony as William struggled to get back onto his feet, pain coursing throughout his entire body. In the meantime, the large dragon came charging forwards, laughing like a maddrake.
The dragon grabbed William by the back of the head and lifted him into the air, holding him at .
"The name's Bruneth." the dragon said gleefully. "The Fury of Fear. Pleased to meetchya, Mr. Cow."
"Mr. Cow?" William sneered. "You are so dead!"
The Black-and-White dragon tried with all his ability to claw at Bruneth's neck and eyes with his forepaws, but the Red dragon held him at foreleg's length.
"Sorry, Cow." Bruneth chided. "You're just a bit too small to take on someone of MY size!"
The Red dragon then quickly slammed William's face hard against the left wall of the alleyway. The Black-and-White dragon cried out in agony as he hit the marble, a large number of gashes cut into his face.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Bruneth taunted. The Red dragon slammed William's face into the other side of the alleyway, and the smaller dragon cried out again.
"And I'm not even using my element yet!"
Bruneth spun William around in the air and tossed him out of the alleyway. The Black-and-White dragon flew clear across the steet and crashed against a building on the other side. A good chunk of the marble was smashed to pieces upon the impact.
William twitched in horrible pain on the gravel. Several of his bones were broken, though he didn't know which. Tears flowed from his eyes.
I can't take him, William thought. He's too strong!
As this happened, Bruneth grabbed Blizzard up off the ground, draped her over his back, and stomped out of the alleyway into the street.
A massive crowd had been formed by the commotion. Dragons, Moles and Cats all stood in shock and alarm at the sight of the Blood Red dragon.
Bruneth looked around at them all, smirking.
"Here me now, pathetic little creatures!" He bellowed triumphantly. "Ther Furies have RETURNED!"
He then inhaled a great breath of air, and blew it out with full force. A massive last of Fear breath escaped the dragon's maw, and filled the streets with incredible speed.
Immediately, all of the beings in the crowd turned and ran away, fleeing in terror due to the Red dragon's magic.
William, meanwhile, discovered that he could still stand, so he got up onto his feet as fast as his injured body would allow. Bruneth saw this, and chuckled.
"Still want to roughhouse, Mr. Cow?" He chided.
"Put... Blizzard... DOWN!" William shouted, snarling through his pain.
"Oh, so it's the Ice dragoness you want, eh?" Bruneth taunted. He lifted the moaning girl off of his back and carried her by her gruff with his fangs.
"Come and claim your prize, little cow." The Red dragon said through Blizzard's gruff.
The Black-and-White dragon moved forwards, enraged.
Even if he's stronger than me, I won't let him hurt Blizzard!
...
The caravan approached the city of Warfang, finally able to find the city.
It was a good six carriages in length, and had a mixture of dragons, Moles, Cats, and one dragonfly.
Sparx.
Ever since Malefor's scheme had come to an end, and the world was saved from destruction, Sparx left with some of the Guardians' soldiers to search for Spyro and Cynder. The dragonfly wanted to find those two more than anything. Unfortunately, it seemed like the entire world got rearranged; None of the members of the caravan had any idead where they were for almost an entire week.
The caravan had only just recently found their way back to the city, and had to return there due to their dwindling food supply.
The dragonfly was frusterated.
"Where could those two lugheads be?" He shouted from his place in the front carriage. "We've been looking for weeks, now! How can we not find them! It's not like they could get far, right?"
"Beats me." A Cheetah replied.
"I didn't ask you, Zane!"
"Sorry..."
Zane was a young Cheetah, and one of the archers who lived in Hunter's village. He was there when Prowlus and the other Cheetahs joined the battle for Warfang, and was one of the first to sign up for the search for Spyro and Cynder, right after Sparx. Like Hunter, Zane preferred to wear a cloak, only his was Green in color. He also wore thick Green stockins on his ankles, and a small dagger sheath was tied to his right ankle.
Sparx sighed in contempt and sat down. His thoughts soon turned from annoyance to worry.
I hope you're okay, man.
...
A group of Moles ran screaming into the Temple, having just come from the Market district.
"HELP!" One of the Moles shouted, flailing his limbs. "ZOMEBODY HELP!"
Spyro and Cynder, having heard the commotion, came running to see what was wrong.
"Whats the problem?" The Purple dragon demanded.
"A TERRIBLE BLOOD RED DRAGON IZ TERRORIZING ZEE MARKETPLACE!" The other Mole exclaimed. "HE'Z BEATING ZEE DAYLIGHTZ OUT OF A PAIR OF ZMALLER DRAGONZ!"
"Smaller dragons?" Cynder shouted.
"YEZ! A BLUE ONE AND A BLACK-AND-WHITE ONE!"
The Purple and Black dragons gasped in horror.
"WILLIAM!"
Immediately, The two dragons dashed past the Moles and fled towards the Market district of Warfang.
...
William crashed right through a vender's fruitstand, utterly destroying it and sending apples and Oranges allover the place. Bruneth had just tossed him through the air again, laughing.
"You suck at this, Cow!" The Red dragon chided. "How do you expect to win the Ice dragoness if you can't even claw at me?"
Blizzard's face was coved in blood on the left side. She tried to free herself by reaching behind her torso and clawing at Bruneth's neck, but he spotted what she was trying to do and dropped her down hard on her back. She howled in agony, tears flowing from her face.
"Nice try, little girl!" He taunted.
The Black-and-White dragon climbed back onto his feet, feeling even more pain than ever before. He struggled to collapse due to the distress. However, despite this, he continued on.
Doesn't he ever get tired? It's like he's on steroids! Of course, those don't exist in the Dragon Realms...
"What the fuck do you want from her, anyway?" William demanded. "What did she do to you, huh?"
"Nothing, really" Bruneth smirked. "It's just fun to mess with Ice dragonesses like this before the REAL fun begins. You know what they say about them, right?"
William took several steps forward, snarling.
"What, pray tell, do they say about Ice dragonesses?"
"Fire dragonesses are too assertive, Earth dragonesses are too smart, and Lightning dragonesses are too hyper. Ice dragonesses, however, are complete pushovers: The ideal mate for any self-respecting dragon."
Blizzard gasped, while William instantly seethed with rage.
Both of them knew what Bruneth meant. The Red dragon chuckled with evil intent.
"That's right..." He said, grabbing Blizzard by the neck. "Once you're dealt with, me and her are gonna have a BLAST together!"
"No!" The Ice dragoness shouted in fear, trying to break free of Bruneth's grip.
"You BASTARD!" William screamed.
Suddenly, the Black-and-White dragon felt something coming over him. His entire body gave off an eerie, Black-and-White mist that changed colors rapidly. Next, the scales on William's body started to change in tone between Black and White at a rapid rate. Now, instead of his scales being solid colors, the dragon's body was a blur of Black and White energy.
Bruneth and Blizzard stared at William in surprise and alarm.
"William?" The Ice dragoness asked.
What's going on?
"What the fuck?" The red dragon shouted.
Without thinking, William quickly leapt across the sky, flying over clear over Bruneth's head. He came to a landing, spun around, and opened his mouth, unleashed a great blast of Nothingness at the Red dragon's back.
Bruneth cried out in pain, unable to dodge out of the way in time, and toppled over onto his side, dropping Blizzard in the process.
The red dragon twitched wildly as the Black-and-White energy dissolved his scales and flesh.
As the Red dragon slowly but painfully disintegrated, William found his own body suddenly healing at the same pace. His cuts and gashes were gone, and his broken bones were mended.
So, this is the power that Nothingness has.
Soon, a massive, smoking hole had been formed on Bruneth's back, which continued to grow in size. Eventually, after William decided he had crippled the Red dragon enough, he put an end to the energy, and the dissolving ceased.
Bruneth, now barely able to move from the exposure of his inner back flesh, snarled in anger at the.
"Damn you!" He roared. "You won't get away with this!"
"I believe I already have." William snapped.
Infuriated, Bruneth charged fowards, intent on attacking again.
Before either he or William could strike again, however, Cynder suddenly came swooping out of the sky and blasted Bruneth's exposed flesh with a blast of Poison breath.
The Red dragon screamed in agony as his wound was made worse by the poison.
"By the Ancestors, it BURNS!"
Spyro then flew into view and blasted the Red dragon's wound with a burst of Fire breath, setting it ablaze. The Fire magic mixed with the Poison already spreading, and suddenly produced a great, Green-colored Flames allover Bruneth's
The Red dragon screamed once again as he was burned alive within seconds.
Spyro and Cynder pulled Blizzard to safety as the Red dragon toppled back onto the ground, reduced to a flaming, charred-black corpse on the street.
William watched with amazement and horror as it all happened.
"Holy crap..." He said, awestruck. "I had no idea Fire and Poison could do that..."
"William, are you alright?" Spyro asked, running up to the Black-and-White dragon.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine." He answered. "I'm just glad that creep was killed before he-"
William suddenly gasped with realization.
"BLIZZARD!"
The Black-and-White dragon quickly pushed past Spyro and ran over to where the Ice dragoness way laying on the ground. Cynder was standing over her, trying to lift the other dragoness up onto her back, though was clearly struggling.
"Is she alright?" William asked, horribly worried.
"She passed out from the pain she's suffered, but she'll be fine." Cynder replied. "We need to get her back to the Temple to heal."
The Black-and-White dragon stepped forwards and took over lifting Blizzard, placing her over his back. As he did this, Spyro came walking up to him.
"You sure you want to carry her, William?" The Purple dragon asked.
"YES!" The Black-and-White dragon declared. "Don't try to stop me!"
"Relax, we won't." Cynder said reassuringly. "Come on: We need to tell the Guardians about this."
With that said, the three young dragons flew back to the Temple with their injured companion.
As they left, the Brown dragoness Vitari watched from a nearby rooftop. She eyed the charred remains of Bruneth and laughed.
"So, Spyro and Cynder still have their Elemental powers." She stated. "And it seems that the Black-and-White one has unique powers as well. This is quite the find, even it if meant losing that obnoxious buffoon to the afterlife. HA!"
Vitari waved a forepaw and vanished in a cloud of black smoke.
"I wonder how Master Zevron is going to take the news..."
...
A while later, Spyro, Cynder and William arrived at the Temple and immediately fled to the infirmary.
As the Healers tended to the weakened Ice dragoness, The Purple and Black dragons left to find the Guardians. William, however, refused to leave Blizzard's side.
In the meantime, Spyro and Cynder found the three Guardians and explained to them everything that happeneded as best as they could.
"Oh my!" Volteer exclaimed. "This is quite serious, disasterous, and monsterous!"
"Indeed." Terrador stated. "Did the Red dragon happen to state his reasons for attacking?"
"Beats me." Cynder replied. "We didn't arrive until much later into the fight. William might know, though."
"Where is he now?" Cyril demanded.
"I think he's in the infirmary with Blizzard." Spyro answered.
"Then I'll go talk to him."
Moments later, Cyril walked into the Infirmary.
The Ice Guardian walked up to the weakened dragoness, who was being attended to by a few Cheetah medics. William was off to the side, clutching the unconscious dragoness's forepaw.
"Stand aside." Cyril demanded.
As the Cheetahs stood back, the Ice Guardian proceeded to use his magic to heal Blizzard's wounds. He created a stream of water frome his forepaws, which cleanes each bleeding wound and sealed it shut.
William was astounded.
"How are you doing that, father?" He asked. "I thought Ice dragons could only used Ice magic."
"I have the ability to wield Water as well." Cyril replied. "It's a trait I inherited from the long line of noble ancestors I have. If you were an Ice dragon too, William, you would've inherited the same ability."
Soon, all of Blizzard's wounds were completely healed, though she was still alseep.
"Let's bring her back to her room." The ice Guardian stated. "She'll need time to recover."
William, overcome with joy, ran up and hugged Cyril.
"Thank you, father."
"Your welcome."
The Ice Guardian lifted Blizzard onto her back and proceeded to carry her to her room, William following close behind.
"Spyro and Cynder explained what happened earlier," Cyril began, "but they didn't know the full story. Care to explain the full story?"
The Black-and-White dragon explained everything that happened, from the meeting with the Vendor, to Bruneth being dissolved by William'sNothingness.
"I can see why Ignitus said it was so dangerous." William stated. "It was like nothing I've ever seen before."
"Aye." Cyril agreed. "Now, who did this Bruneth say he worked for again?"
"I think he said something about 'The Furies' returning, but I've never heard of them."
"The Furies?" The Ice Guardian became worried. "Are you absolutely sure that's what he said?"
"Well, no, but I THINK that's what he said."
"Oh dear..."
William looked up at Cyril, concerned.
"What's the matter, father?"
"At the moment, nothing." The Ice Guardian replied. "Let's just focus on young Blizzard for now."
The two dragons walked into Blizzard's room and laid her down on her cushion. Cyril turned to leave, but William stayed behind.
"I'd like to wait here until she wakes up."
"Why?" Cyril asked, an eyebrow raised.
The Black-and-White dragon frowned.
"Well... I'm worried about her."
The Ice Guardian sighed.
"As you wish, William.."
Cyril turned and left the room, shutting the door gently behind himself. William, meanwhile, walked over to a blue couch on the other side of the room and sat down on it. He reached into his satchel and produced the horn band.
"All of this stress, just to find a moment to present this to you..." He sighed. "I hope you wake up soon, Blizzard."
The Black-and-White dragon shut his eyes, and slowly drifted off into sleep.
...
"Do you think she'll be alright, Cyn?" Spyro asked.
He and Cynder had returned to their room a while ago. The Black dragoness was lying on their cushion, while the Purple dragon stood by the balcony, worry on his face.
"I'm sure she's fine, Spyro." Cynder replied.
"That Bruneth guy really did a number on her! Who knows if she'll pull through?"
"Pull through?" The Black dragoness sat up and looked at Spyro. "Spyro, you act as though she was on the brink of death. And besides, we were able to save her, weren't we? We got her back to the Temple, and she's been treated for her wounds. There's nothing to worry about, Spy."
"I... guess you're right." The Purple dragon said, turning around. "I just can't help but worry about her, though. She's a friend."
"You worry about everyone." Cynder teased. "You worry about people who aren't even real."
"Oh, ha ha." Spyro replied, smiling.
The Purple dragon approached the Black dragoness, who lied back down, smiling.
"Now then, Mr. Worrywart," She began, "I believe we were going to try a little something tonight."
Spyro climbed up onto the cushion and stood over Cynder.
"Yes, we are."
The Purple dragon slowly lowered himself down to the dragoness and placed himself inside her.
The two young dragons looked into each other's eyes, both of their gazes filled with happiness. Each one had found the one being who completed them in a way no other could. On this night, they were not two separate dragons: They were a single, complete being.
Neither Spyro nor Cynder would ever forget this night for the rest of their days.
...
Later that night.
Blizzard slowly woke up from her slumber.
She still felt a little pain on various parts of her body, especially the side of her face, but none of it was enough to be distracting.
Blizzard sat up an yawned, though she was confused.
How did I end up back in here? And where is William?
It didn't take long for her to get her answer.
She spotted the Black-and-White dragon fast asleep on the blue couch across the room. The Ice dragoness walked towards him, smiling.
He saved me from that creep.
Blizzard spotted something clutched in the sleeping dragon's forepaw. It was the horn band from the vendor's cart, the one she wanted so badly.
He actually got the band for me? Maybe he really DOES love me.
The Ice dragoness bent her head down and softly kissed the sleeping dragon on the cheek.
"Thank you, William." She said softly.
Blizzard then lied down next to the Black-and-White dragon and cuddled up close to him. She placed her head underneath his chin, and entwined her tail with his. She felt safe.
"I hope you don't mind finding me like this when you wake up, my love."
The Ice dragoness shut her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.