Chapter 11: Light for the Abyss
Yes, Firana and Obsidian are off on a first date… and this chapter is almost entirely dedicated to that. I doubt that this will be a good chapter, since I'm awful at romance scenes, so don't expect quality or quantity… well, maybe quantity… I don't really know…
Sorry for the slightly late upload, I've fallen ill. I'll try not to let that get in the way of my writing, but unfortunately that is out of my control…
With the A/N out of the way, enjoy!
(Unknown POV)
Things are not going in the direction they should be. I've been engineering fate since my creation, so I should know. I manipulated Malefor since his hatching, eventually causing him to attempt to destroy the world… only for Spyro and Cynder to stop him. Those two SHOULD be mortal enemies at this point… yet they are practically mates…
Perhaps I should check the timeline again… after all, something changed the direction of fate…
Walking towards the small orb in the centre of the vortex, I place my paw on it… only to find that my suspicions are correct. Someone has been changing the direction of fate… but it isn't one of the Ancestors. No… fate is being changed by two dragons. One black as night, the other moonlight silver.
…could I use these two to my advantage? Perhaps. If they can change fate…
Pouring my power into the orb I'm resting my paw on, I visualise the timeline… but the direction it is going in is not set in stone. It is constantly changing. Focusing on the two new dragons, I force every ounce of my power towards manipulating them… but the energy never reaches them.
There is only one reason this can happen. These two exist partially outside the timeline, like me. This is bad. Very, very bad. They are inside the timeline, but they exist partially outside it. As long as they exist, the future will constantly change… which prevents me from accomplishing my end goals…
I consider my options, eventually settling on the last one. These two dragons must die. It shouldn't be too difficult. While I may not have power over the future anymore, I can still manipulate the present, to an extent…
(Obsidian's POV)
"You can't leave, your wounds have not fully healed yet!"
"My 'wounds' are what let me use my element."
"That doesn't change the fact that you aren't in any condition to-"
"I'm the best person to judge my own condition. After all, I'm the one who feels the pain."
"Pain which is dulled thanks to…"
For the love of all things holy… this mole is persistent, I'll give her that… but I have a date tonight, and I'm NOT going to be late…
"…so, you are not leaving, no matter your opinion."
Oh really? You aren't the one who gets more powerful the more pain you feel…
"Alright, we'll do this the hard way then…"
I was hoping you'd say that…
Thank you, other me. How are my wounds?
Bad enough to cause you pain when moving, but healed enough to allow unimpaired movement.
Good…
Allowing a smirk to cross my face, I feel the familiar sensation of blood traveling to my eyes… This nurse is going to get quite a shock…
Suddenly leaping to my paws, I dash towards the exit at breakneck speeds. Fortunately, the adrenalin in my system speeds up my reflexes, allowing me to stop before I hit the wall…
Although the friction on my paws doesn't help. I swear, I'm going to lose more scales in the next half hour…
Turning back towards the infirmary, the mole taking care of me looks… well, I'm not sure. Surprised?
"I told you earlier. I have a date tonight, and I refuse to be late for it."
Turning back towards the corridor, I slowly begin walking towards the dorms. Room… 11, wasn't it? What is the time… looking out the nearest window, sunset. DAMMIT, I'M GOING TO BE LATE!
Once again running at breakneck speeds, I reach room 11 before my I realise how long it took to get there… the infirmary is at the other side of the temple, how did I… you know what, I won't question it.
Raising a paw up to the door, I suddenly get nervous. I've never been out with someone before… except to the hospital, when Grandfather shattered my leg…
Slowly, I knock on the door… this had better not go as poorly as I'm expecting…
When the door opens, I get quite the shock. Firana has overdone it. Scales and horns polished, spines cleaned like individual mirrors, claws sharpened like knives… should I have left the infirmary earlier? I might have had time to clean myself up, hide my many scars… maybe even-
"Nice to see you, Obsidian."
Erm… I don't know what to say…
"Hi, Firana… you look…"
"Beautiful?" Since when were you a psychic? "Thanks, Obsidian. You don't look too bad yourself."
Are you kidding me? I look like I've just come out of a rough fight! …which technically I have, considering the regrown scales, but still!
"Thanks." I turn around, left eye still trained on Firana. "Shall we?"
Firana smiles, before walking towards the landing area.
You going to follow her, or am I going to have to give you a mental nudge?
You just did give me a mental nudge!
Following Firana, it doesn't take long for me to catch up. Just as I'm about to ask a question, I feel a snake-like thing wrap around my tail. I must have given an obvious jump, since Firana looked at me with what I assume to be a questioning gaze.
"Am I moving too fast?" Ah, so you've wrapped your tail around mine? Surprising, but I'll go with it… "If so, I can-"
"I don't object, I just wasn't expecting it."
I swear, the smile on Firana's face is a little too large right now…
(Firana's POV)
Obsidian is fast when he wants to be. It barely takes three seconds for him to catch up with me. Smiling, I let my tail wrap around his… but I'm surprised when 'Sidian suddenly jumps.
"Am I moving too fast?" Possibly. This is only the first date after all… "If so, I can-"
"I don't object," Thank the ancestors… I was worried for a second. "I just wasn't expecting it."
The smile on my face grows larger with each word that comes out of Obsidian's maw…
The rest of the journey to the landing/take-off area is mostly silent. 'Sidian occasionally winces, but for the most part he seems fine…
Arriving at the landing/take-off area, I face Warfang… but just as I am about to take off, Obsidian interrupts me.
"Which way to Warfang?"
"You've never been to Warfang?"
THAT was a surprise…
"Not once."
"Well, just follow me then."
(Obsidian's POV)
"Which way to Warfang?"
"You've never been to Warfang?"
Of course not, I haven't been in the dragon realms for more than a few weeks yet!
"Not once."
Firana seems rather amused by this situation… I would be amused to, if our positions were switched, so I suppose a laugh is excusable…
"Well, just follow me then."
With that, Firana takes off. I'm honestly surprised by how easily she transitions from running to flying… then again, Firana has probably been flying for years, so she'd actually have some level of skill in flight… unlike yours truly.
Extending my wings, I slowly take off VTOL style. I've tried the runway method, but… well, I fell of the island last time, so I think I'll stick with VTOL take-offs and landings.
(Time skip)
Most of the flight progressed silently. Partially because I don't have much to talk about, but mostly because I couldn't keep my eyes off Firana. I have no idea why, but I can't stop admiring her. The way the sunlight reflected off Firana's red scales, the graceful movement of her wings, and her constantly moving tail… honestly, I'm starting to worry about whether I need a psychiatrist…
"We're almost there." Where? …oh, Warfang. I can't believe I forgot where the two of us are flying. "You should be able to see the city on the horizon."
Reluctantly, I shift my gaze towards the horizon… and I'm stunned by the sight. A walled city, filled with stone buildings. A few ruined structures on the left paw side of the city, but an impressive sight nonetheless… I can see why Firana wanted to come here.
While I'm taking in the sight of the city, a sudden… problem, hits me like a ton of bricks.
"How are we going to pay?"
I mean, me and Firana are going to a restaurant of sorts, who is paying? I don't have any money on me, so unless…
"What? You mean that you don't have any cash on you?"
Do I look like a walking bank? Of course, I don't have any cash on me!
"Really? Do I look a walking vault to you? I don't have a single coin on me, let alone enough to pay for a night out!"
"Well…" I see… You really didn't think this through, did you? "I suppose I could pay, but I was kind of expecting you to have… you know…"
"Yes, I very much do know. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm not a walking vault."
I'll have to sort that problem out later. Right now, I've got other things to worry about… like how far this is going to go.
(Time skip)
"So, this is it? The Dragon's Hunt?"
"Yup, this is it."
Not a very impressive building, but Firana has assured me that people don't come here for the way the place looks, but for the food… which had better be good, considering the state of this establishment. It is practically falling apart!
"Well, we'd better not keep the staff waiting."
I know, I know, I'm just trying to fathom why-
Entering the building, I immediately take back all the negative comments I just made. While the exterior of The Dragon's Hunt isn't exactly pleasing to the eye, the interior… if I ever design a building, I am stealing this setup. Plenty of tables, more than enough room to allow privacy, but compact enough to allow maximum efficiency…
"Do you have a reservation?"
That came from a male cheetah. I suppose I didn't notice him while taking in the sight that is this restaurant… thus, is the folly of me…
"Yes. Under the name of 'Firana'."
"Let's see…" The cheetah examines the book in front of him, eventually looking back up. "Would you two please follow me?"
The cheetah leads us to a secluded table at the back of the establishment. The chairs set up have holes in them, presumably for our tails/wings.
Sitting down, I pick up the menu in front of me. The selection… well, I doubt I'll have any complaints. Hmm… roasted duck stew sounds nice… as does that mushroom soup… garlic mutton?! What kind of a meal is that?!
"May I take your orders?"
A female cheetah this time. I'm still trying to decide what to have, so when Firana speaks up first…
"I'll have the salty pork, and a bowl of water."
The waitress, I'm assuming, turns to me. Err…
"I'll go with the roasted duck stew, thanks. As well as a glass of apple juice." The waitress raises an eyebrow at the last sentence. "What?" I show off my opposable thumbs. "I've got opposable thumbs, I'd like to use them."
Nodding, the waitress leaves to go fetch out order.
"A glass?" Firana, not you too… "I thought you lapped your water like every other dragon!"
"In case you haven't noticed," Yes you saw this coming, from a mile away with a red flag above its head… "I'm not every other dragon."
I manage to keep a straight face for exactly five seconds, before bursting out laughing at Firana's expression. I swear, if this were a cartoon I'd be picking Firana's jaw up off the ground!
Right… where were we?
"Well…" Go on, I'm not going to live forever… "err… I'm not sure how to respond to that…"
"I can think of about 20 different ways for you to respond to that. Starting with the way you are currently responding. Wide pupils, a large grin on your face, and a slight blush, although that last one could be an unrelated issue."
I'm going to enjoy this…
(Unknown Ice Dragon's POV)
The fire dragoness who entered that building… she is perfect. Very curvy, a lack of obvious muscle, seems to have no idea how to fight… the rest of the boys are going to love this. The only problem is the black dragon who entered with her… probably her date or something, but in a 4v1 I have no doubt that we could overpower him…
Turning into the side alley on my right, it takes about 4 seconds for me to reach the doorway. Opening the door, I enter the cramped yet soundproof room. Three other ice dragons stare at me expectantly.
"Did you find one?"
"Yes. A fire dragoness, like we all wanted. Nice curves, doesn't seem to be able to defend herself, and a cracked tail-blade. The only problem is her date…"
"Date?"
"A black dragon. Obvious muscle, a serrated tail blade, carries an impressive number of scars." I'm slightly scared of him, but in a 4v1… "I have no doubt that we can take him, but we'll have to be quick and quiet when we do."
My friends smile. I would join them, but I can't shake this feeling of doubt…
"We hit them when they come out. Most couples were leaving when they entered, so there won't be any witnesses…"
(Obsidian's POV)
The meal was quite enjoyable, all things considered, but not as good as the dragoness opposite me. The way the light bounced and danced off her scales, the reflective shine in her silver horns, the beautiful red eyes…
I snap myself out of this… trance. What was in the food? Probably nothing, but you never know…
"How was your meal, 'Sidian?"
"'Sidian?"
"Why not? It's cute."
I can feel a blush coming to my face. I can't believe Firana has been oblivious to my previo- Hang on, I have black blood… and a blush is what happens when blood flows to your cheeks… so… Well, now I just feel stupid. Of course, Firana wouldn't notice my blushes, they are the same colour as my scales!
"Anyways, to answer your question, the meal was good." I almost, almost, said 'not as good as the dragoness opposite me', but I catch my tongue in time. "So… the bill?"
(Time skip)
Walking out of the restaurant with Firana, I can't help but feel on edge. As much as I am enjoying this, yes I'm enjoying this, I have a sneaking suspicion that-
Suddenly, a massive blast of ice hits me on the chest. Freezing up instantly, it is now impossible to move my limbs…
"Obsidian!"
I can barely register the shout through the ice surrounding me. Four… shapes launch themselves at Firana. I can't see clearly enough to make out who, or what, is attacking her, and I can't free myself from the ice, or even breath…
The four shapes drag Firana off to the right. I need to get free, now! Struggling with all my strength, the ice refuses to shatter… or even crack. If I don't free myself soon, I'll suffocate!
One attempt to free myself later, and I fall unconscious…
(Obsidian's Mind)
Opening my eyes, the first thing I notice is a black abyss. Great, so I'm dead…
"No, you are not dead, just close to death."
A black dragon takes shape in front of me… scars everywhere, bloodshot eyes, serrated tail-blade… it is almost like looking into a mirror.
"I'm assuming you're my other half?"
"Correct." Good to know… "If you don't free yourself soon, you'll suffocate, and those ice dragons will do who-knows-what to Firana."
And I'm supposed to free myself how exactly…?
(Reality)
My mind snaps back to reality almost as soon as my other half tells me to free myself. What was it he said…? 'the ice dragons will do who-knows-what to Firana', wasn't it?
Wait… they kidnapped Firana! There are only two possibilities then… they intend to sell her into slavery or-
THOSE ****** *** ******* ***** *****! Both those options are diabolical, more so than Malefor's plan to destroy the world! At least that would have let the next world be born… but this…!
Throwing myself at the ice surrounding me in a blind rage, I honestly don't care how I am going to punish those dragons. Hell, if I die, I'll come back as a wraith and haunt them for the rest of their days!
Most people would be shocked when the ice caging them shattered. I'm too angry to care. Blood fills my eyes, but my anger prevents me from noticing. All that matters, is finding and saving Firana…
Using my helpfully sensitive draconic nose, it barely takes a second to locate Firana's scent. Following the scent is difficult, thanks to the other scents on the road, but thankfully it is still possible.
Eventually, I reach a concealed, metal door in a small alleyway. Opening it up, I'm greeted by screams of terror. Firana!
The corridor is too small for an adult dragon to fit through, so… probably a gang of late teens. I don't care. They'll burn regardless…
(Firana's POV)
I can't help but scream in terror. I can tell from the expressions of the ice dragons that they intend to… do unsavoury things to me, once they've properly tied me up.
Please, ancestors, if you have any mercy, please help me…
"Don't bother screaming, the room is soundproof." A black dragon walks through the metal door. Obsidian! "We can have our way with you, and your boyfriend is dead, so-"
"I beg to ******* differ!"
The four ice dragons turn around.
"Oh look, the dragon we so easily froze. What makes you think this will go any differently?"
Obsidian's eyes go bloodshot, to the point where there is no white left in his eye…
"The fact that you have severely underestimated me." Obsidian's voice sounds… demonic. I'm actually scared of him, despite the fact that he's here to save me! "You intend to 'have your way' with Firana, do you? Well, you'll have to go through me first, and you AREN'T going through me, even if I have to return from death and haunt you for the rest of your days! TOL ARCHAN!"
With that battle cry, Obsidian launches himself at the nearest ice dragon. His paw connects with the throat of the dragon, grabbing it in a choke-hold. Obsidian crushes the windpipe of the dragon, before throwing the fresh corpse at the remaining dragons.
The corpse lands in front of the leader, dead eyes staring up at him.
"N-now now, d-don't be to h-hasty, I'm sure we c-can come to an ag-agreement!"
Obsidian throws back his head and laughs demonically.
"An agreement? HAHAHA! You're all pathetic. I would sooner work with Malefor than spare your worthless lives!" I've never seen this side of Obsidian… perhaps he really is a demon from convexity… or his power effects his mind. "That battle cry earlier? Tol Archan? It means 'Vengeance Comes'. And that is exactly what is happening. You kidnapped Firana, I'm simply delivering Vengeance for that."
With that closing remark, Obsidian opens his maw, and launches a stream orange flames at the ice dragons. The fire seemed to trail darkness, almost absorbing all light in the area.
The ice dragons don't even have time to register what's happening. The stream of fire engulfs them, burning the scales off their flesh. The screams of agony… how is Obsidian okay with this?!
When the ice dragons finish burning, Obsidian walks towards the leader, who is barely alive, before picking him up by the throat.
"I'm not going to kill you. No, it will be far more painful for you to bear the scars of today for the rest of your life. You will act as a warning: ANYONE who messes with me, or my friends, will be given either a painful death, or a fate worse than death. Now SCRAM!"
Obsidian throws the ice dragon towards the door. The dragon picks himself up painfully, and leaves, muttering curses under his breath…
Obsidian's eyes brighten, losing their dark glow, and the dark aura in the room dissipates…
"Firana? Thank… thank the ancestors you're okay!" Obsidian runs towards me, obviously relieved. "Give me a moment, I'll cut these ropes and get you out of here."
As soon as the last rope is cut, I completely break down. Tears stream from my eyes, and I can't stop myself from hugging Obsidian…
(Obsidian's POV)
When I cut the last rope binding Firana, she completely breaks down. Tears start streaming down her face at a rate that puts the river Nile to shame. She launches herself towards me, binding me in a tight hug. Tears stream down my chest scales. I would embrace Firana back, but right now my brain is screaming 'danger!' louder than an erupting volcano.
Turning my head around, I manage to spot the door… still open, and with several mole guards walking through. This is bad. Very, very bad…
The moles surround me and Firana, spears pointing towards us. A mole in gilded armour steps forward.
"You are under arrest for the unprovoked murder of 3 ice dragons, and the permanent scarring of another ice dragon."
Firana is too busy crying to notice the guards surrounding us… but that doesn't stop the blood from flowing back towards me eyes.
Kill them, before they kill you.
Oi, I don't need feral instincts driving me here. I'm a being of reason, as are these guards.
You think they'll understand you? That they'll let you explain? HAH!
Never know until you try…
"Hang on, this… is, actually, what it looks like, but could you at least give Firana a chance to collect herself emotionally? Those ice dragons intended to, and I quote, 'have their way' with her, so you should at least have the decency to let-"
"Shut up, demon." Really? What is it with people mistaking me for something I'm not? "You are under arrest. We shall take this dragoness away from you, so she can recover from what torture she underwent at your hands."
WHAT?! WHAT?!
If you imply that… one more time… I swear, you are not going to like the outcome…
"Sorry to break it to you, but it was the ice dragons who were doing the torturing, not me. I know, you want that pay raise, but you don't need to arrest a mostly-innocent dragon to get it."
"Mostly innocent? So, you admit to killing these three?"
"I did, in fact kill these three dragons, and scar that other one. There is no point in lying. I did not, however, do it in cold blood. I was on a date with Firana, and we were ambushed by them. I was frozen solid while Firana was kidnapped. I managed to free myself, track the gang here, kill most of them, and rescue Firana. If you have a problem with that, take it up with me after Firana has finished her emotional break-down."
"I see…" I knew they were beings of reason! "But we still have to arrest you. You have admitted to killing, even though it was provoked, so you are charged with murder nonetheless."
"Well…" I might as well come quietly… "If you can see that Firana is safely returned to the dragon temple, I will come quietly. If not, then there will probably be many more corpses today, including mine."
"Agreed."
THANK GOODNESS!
(Time skip)
(Firana's POV)
I never thought a simple date could go so poorly! I get captured, almost… and Obsidian is arrested for protecting me! I need to tell the Guardians, before the elders' sentence Obsidian to death!
Rushing to the vision room, I barely have time to register the three Guardians before I slam into one of them.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Cyril… not now, I've got an emergency to deal with!
"It's Obsidian, he's been arrested in Warfang for protecting me from a gang of ice dragons!"
The Guardians all look worried… but I doubt they care enough to bother interfering…
"Did Obsidian use lethal force?"
"Volteer, this is Obsidian. Of course, he used lethal force!"
"Then there is not much we can do. Obsidian will likely be sentenced to death. I'm afraid we can't interfere with this one…"
"How can you say that?!" I'm starting to get mad. Obsidian single-handedly rescued me and all the other dragons here, how can the Guardians brush him aside so easily?! "Obsidian did nothing wrong, he only protected me from a gang of dragons who… tried to… have their way with me… he didn't do anything wrong!"
I can feel myself about to burst into tears again… but these are the Guardians… I don't want them to see me like that…
(Obsidian's POV)
Well, this is boring. Sitting in a cell, no-where to go, very little chance of escape, and I'm probably going to be publicly executed… I've dug myself into a hole I can't get out of, haven't I?
A black crystal is attached to the ceiling, supposedly to prevent me from using my element… but I've already established that my element runs on emotion rather than elemental energy, so I could probably escape if need be.
Then why don't you?
Because escaping wouldn't do me any favours. Best-case scenario, I end up an outlaw with no chance of ever society again!
Then what's the worst-case scenario?
I end up torn to pieces and 6-feet under.
That's a bit… grim, even for you.
You're the judge of grim…
I resent that!
Well, you are technically me…
Anyways, I have a plan. It is a crazy plan, but if it works you'll be home-free in a matter of days.
I'm listening…
Let's talk in your head…
And with that, I fall asleep…
(Unknown Guard POV)
The black dragon is curled up in the back of the cell. I mean, I know the demon had come quietly, but I thought he'd have tried to escape by now! The fact that he hasn't… either he isn't as bloodthirsty as we first thought… or there is a part of his mind that isn't corrupted. I hope it's the latter, for my sake. I've got to bring this dragon food in a couple of hours, and I don't want to end up as the food…
Turning around, the dragon at first appears to be sleeping calmly… but the look on his face tells me otherwise…
An eye opens, and looks right at me… an eye filled with remorse, guilt… and anger.
So, Obsidian has dug himself into quite the hole, hasn't he? Then again, his power is about as dark as it comes…
Why hasn't Obsidian shown this kind of power before? Because before he hasn't been truly angry. Simple as.
The Unknown POV at the start? No, I'm not elaborating on that. I'm leaving that up to speculation… although I know exactly who he is, what his motivations are, and where his power comes from.
Again, sorry about the late upload. I've got a rather nasty virus right now… and this chapter is about 1000 words longer than I intended. Oh well…
Until next time…
