Ok sorry for the delay in updating. I was busy finishing up That Night and I have gone through living Hell in the last few weeks with all the stuff going on between sports, school, my girlfriend, family, and all that crap. Luckily there is a lull at the moment, but who knows how long this peace will last for before the world collapses again. So saying that I just wanted to put this chapter up at this time before things got too out of hand. I have started working on the next chapter. Don't know when it will be up. The delay was mostly because I changed the outline a bit and as you will see, the Chronicler gets involved. Please R&R.
Shadow Dragon 537039
Chapter 11: RegainingIt had been a full day since Spyro had been brought back to camp. Spyro was bound in Cynder's tent near Shadedulath's. Even though Spyro wasn't himself at all, she still hated seeing him bound like this. He was held to a series of five wooden poles by several different chains. Much of his forehead was crusted over with dried blood. They had treated the wounds as best as possible, but they would have to heal on their own. The several cuts from Shadedulath's swords were visible as well. The worst damage was on the horn where Shadedulath's sword cut. A deep groove was in the base of the horn.
Cynder sat in front of Spyro a few feet away from him in case he became violent when he awoke. She hoped that he would be able to be saved. If not she had no reason to live.
Spyro stirred from his unconsciousness and groaned. His eyes were barely open as he scanned his surroundings. When his eyes came to rest on Cynder they widened. A growl emanated from his throat.
"What are you doing here?" he coldly asked, "Why am I bound?"
"Because you're not yourself Spyro," Cynder softly said, "Until you return to your old self you shall remain like this."
"We will see about that," Spyro growled.
Spyro turned his head to bite on the chains when he felt something cold press against his throat. He looked back to Cynder to find her standing before him with her tail blade against his neck.
"Do it," Spyro spat, "I know you wouldn't kill me. You still think that there is a chance to save me."
Cynder pressed the blade harder against his throat, cutting the scales and drawing blood, "I'm willing to do anything to get you back."
"Press a little harder," Spyro taunted, "Killing me will be the only way to save me."
"I refuse to believe that," Cynder replied.
"Then you have failed," Spyro responded.
Cynder sighed and asked, "Spyro do you remember when we first met?"
Spyro paused for a moment trying to recall the event.
"We were both enemies, but you saved me from the evil that the Dark Master had filled me with," Cynder explained, "You risked your life for me when I didn't want the help, but still you rescued me. I'm willing to do the same for you, even if it claims my life in the process. I'm going to save you Spyro I promise you that."
Spyro growled, "You will have to break my will to do that and I for sure have a stronger will."
Cynder's eye ridges furrowed and she approached him with a serious look, "Oh really?"
She circled him once and sat in front of him when she finished the circle. She quickly pressed her lips against his. She continued for at least a minute until she felt Spyro loosen up. She broke the kiss and looked at the dragon she loved.
Spyro's eyes were closed and his head leaned to one side limp. She hoped that he hadn't died and whispered, "Spyro?"
Spyro's eyes suddenly opened as if he was greatly startled. He looked around at his surroundings and was panting. Cynder quickly embraced him and Spyro was surprised at the hug since he didn't know who gave him it. He looked down and saw Cynder against his chest. He wrapped his forelegs and wings around her.
"Cynder," Spyro asked completely confused, "Where am I?"
"Near the Portal of Shadows," Cynder answered, "We rescued you from the Shadow Vale and freed you from Marthaeter's control."
"That's right," Spyro said still trying though to remember specifics, "I went to kill Marthaeter, but he overpowered me and I can't remember anything after that."
"Shadedulath led a party of men to help kidnap you back," Cynder replied, "I was there, and you weren't very cooperative. Shadedulath was forced to fight you and you lost and got a series of cuts and bruises for it."
"Oh," Spyro said, "That's why my head hurts and probably why I'm bound."
"Yeah pretty much," Cynder said as she smiled, "You always were difficult." She nuzzled his neck and sighed, "It's great to have you back Spyro. I swore I would bring you back and now I have you again."
"I'm always yours," Spyro smiled, "Thanks for not giving up on me."
"I never would," Cynder said giving him a kiss.
A short time later Shadedulath, Delrothban, Walker, Hotakata, and Shadedulath's guards entered the tent where Spyro was being held.
"I see we have our old friend back," Shadedulath commented as he saw Spyro, "I'm sorry for your injuries that I gave you."
Spyro shook his head, "Don't worry about it."
Delrothban stepped forward and bowed before him, "I haven't had the honor of meeting the true purple savior yet. My name is Delrothban. I have need to thank you for bringing me back to my old life."
"You're welcome," Spyro said unsure on how to respond to the statement.
"Spyro, I must warn you that Marthaeter will probably be trying to regain control over you so be wary," Delrothban added, "As Cynder knows it is extremely hard to free you from his power."
"I will resist him," Spyro vowed, "Don't worry."
"I'm sorry, but I can't help, but worry," Delrothban said, "Marthaeter is very clever and crafty."
"Yes as in everyone there is still darkness in you Spyro," Shadedulath stated, "In our culture we explain it by the Yin Yang."
Shadedulath drew out a circle and filled a tear shape in one half, but left a small circle in the middle white. He finished by doing the opposite of the first. He left the half white, but made a black dot in the middle of the white half.
"Now as you probably have guessed the white half represents light and the black half represents evil or darkness. The dot in each one shows that there is always light in darkness and darkness in light. This applies to dragons and us very well. It shows us that no matter who we are there is always a little darkness in us or if you are evil there is always a little bit of light within you," Shadedulath explained.
Cynder asked, "Where is the Chronicler?"
"I'm not sure," Shadedulath replied, "Walker send two scouts to search the camp for the Lord of Time."
"Right away my lord," Walker said exiting the tent.
Those scouts though would never find the ancient dragon since he was in a different realm.
In the Shadow Vale near the Portal of Shadows a flash of blue light appeared. Once it faded the Chronicler stood in place of the light. The ancient writer of history looked around the barren land with distaste. He proceeded forward towards the liar of Marthaeter.
Two hours had passed and the scouts finally returned to inform Walker that they had found no signs of the Chronicler. Walker cursed under his breath and made his way back towards Spyro and Cynder's tent. He entered promptly and shared the bad news. No one had any idea where the aged dragon may be.
Shadedulath stood and changed the topic saying, "We will have to find him later. At the moment we must prepare for Marthaeter's forces. Walker, I want you to lead the development of fortifications and Hotakata I want you to escorts the engineers to the Portal of Shadows. Try to find a weak point that would cause the structure to lose the connection with the Shadow Vale."
They both bowed and left to begin their assigned tasks.
"As for everyone else, prepare for the longest and most difficult battle of your lives," Shadedulath warned. He left to prepare himself for combat.
The Chronicler approached the gates of Marthaeter's fortress. Four great demons stood at the gate and saw the grey dragon approach. They were hideous was simply the best way to describe the demons in a humane and kind way. The creatures were midnight black colored with large teeth that were a rotten yellow color. Their claws were the same color and as long as their forearms were. Largely built and tough hide protected them. Their eyes burned orange like fire as they glared at the dragon.
The Chronicler then noticed seven or so, four legged demons. The creatures' mouths dominated the front of the demons face. On the side of the head there were two sets of eyes that burned an orange color. Many rows of sharp teeth could be seen in the demon's mouth. A purple barbed tongue shot out every few seconds. The tails on the beasts were stubby, but had spikes lining the tail stabbing outwards in every direction.
One of the demons growled, "Hold, what are you doing here dragon?"
"I'm here to see your master," the Chronicler answered.
"No one sees the master," the demon replied.
"I will," the ancient dragon said confidently.
The demon glared at the dragon and said, "You have no power to enter here dragon."
"You wish to test me then," the Chronicler replied.
"Yes," the demon answered.
"Fine," the Chronicler simply said.
The demon roared and charged towards the grey dragon. The Chronicler opened his mouth and an intense beam of white energy flew forth and ripped a hole through the chest of the demon.
The Chronicler spoke loudly, "Will you let me pass or will you suffer the same fate as your companion?"
The demons growled, but allowed him to pass. The Chronicler walked into the fortress. No one further bothered him. Sadly he knew this fortress too well. He remembered this place as his old home, not the dark and bleak land it is now. It saddened his heart to see what was a crown jewel of the ancient dragons.
He arrived before the gates that led to Marthaeter's chambers. The Chronicler hesitated for a moment before pressing forward through the gates.
The once great council chambers had been stripped of any remains of the past. The walls were worn and dark. The tapestries that displayed great heroes and events of the dragon race where gone, erasing the knowledge that came with them. The Chronicler looked around the old room. He closed his eyes to remember what this place looked like. The image in his mind was a beautiful one that brought him back to his childhood.
A whisper in his mind threw the memory way, "I see we meet again, my friend."
"You are not longer my friend and you have known that for five thousand years," the grey dragon quickly replied.
"Yes, but times have changed and I'm willing to forgive what you did to me in the past," Marthaeter said, speaking with his mouth this time.
"You are the one who attacked me after I found out what you were trying to do," the Chronicler replied strongly, "You thought that I would just let you try a procedure that would have killed you?"
"It probably would have been better if you let me die," Marthaeter said, "Seeing at what I have become now, which you caused."
"I may have caused you to have lost your mind, but that is only because you were to greedy and stupid to realize when to stop," the ancient dragon stated.
"Stop?" Marthaeter said, "Why stop? I have nearly unlimited power at my disposal. This is what becomes of one who embraces a power fully."
Small walls, about ten feet high were raised in a few hours. These walls were strategically placed on the tops of the first rows of hills. The stone and wood that were used to build the walls were sent from the base to meet them.
Most of the forces were setting themselves up, preparing for the massive assault. The greater part of this force was made up of random citizen soldiers from various parts of the realm. Most were decently experience in combat thanks to the Shadows of Katsumoto's continuous training of new recruits. Still there were a handful that hade never seen a sword or bow before and couldn't grasp how to use either.
The conscripts were placed along the small walls while the Shadows of Katsumoto were holding the sturdily built and heavily reinforced wooden gate.
Last minute defenses were being placed. One example was a group of citizens that had ran out away from the wall with a piece of rope that was a hundred yards long. One stood in place while the second would run out until the rope of taught. Then the first one would repeat the process. They went out to five hundred yards as ordered and hastily made their way back to the wall.
Every hundred yards a second group placed a long metal pole about twenty feet in height. They were soundly in place so the enemy forces wouldn't pull them up.
An hour passed and in the distance the Portal of Shadows could be seen as it came to life. The walls were a little over a half mile away from the portal. All the defenders prepared themselves for the brutal battle to come.
There you go, I hope everyone enjoyed it. Please tell me how it was. Until next time,
Wear anger as your armor, wield revenge as your blade, and carry darkness as your shield – Shadow Dragon 537039.
