I don't own Spyro, you all know that by now
---
Ch 14: Rescue mission
The group got together back at the beach after almost two hours. All of them had packs and Novastar had a crossbow in her hand.
"Alright everyone." Sage said. "If we're going to do this we have to be careful, we going onto the enemy's homeland so we have to be ready for anything. We need to keep a low profile so I want everyone to cover yourselves in crystal to match the colors of the shadow dragons. With any luck we can get in and get out without getting caught."
"If we do I'll deal with them." Novastar said pulling the string back on her crossbow and locking it in place.
"No, we can't kill anyone." Darkiea said. "They are still my people and if we do kill my mom, I am going to have to take her place. I don't want their blood on any of our hands."
"Don't worry." Novastar said. "My bolts are enchanted, they'll put them to sleep but keep them alive."
"So how are we going to get in?" Shadeheart asked.
"We are going to have to go through Convex." Sage said. "I managed to steal a crystal from my dad to open the portal there."
"Alright we have our plan, lets get going." Darkiea said then under her breath. "Just hold on guys, we're coming to save you."
The group of dragons took to the sky and Sage opened the portal into Convexity. This didn't go unnoticed however as everyone in the village saw the massive portal including Draco.
"What the hell?!" Draco hissed grabbing a comm crystal. "All guards to your battle stations! This is not a drill!"
As things were happening on the ground the group headed into Convexity and Sage closed the portal.
"Dad is going to kill us when he finds out about this." Sage said. I had hoped it would have just made a gate but no it had to make a big ass portal."
"Worry about that later Sage." Ruby said. "How do we get into the shadow realm?"
"The Convex acts as an airlock between realms." Sage said. "We need to get to the alter where Malefor was held before, I can open a portal to the shadow realm from there."
"Alright then it should be right over there." Ruby said taking off for the island.
The group got to the island and looked at what was left of the prison.
"Alright stand back everyone." Sage said holding out his hands. "I only have a few second to read and remember this spell so I hope I remember it."
Everyone backed up as Sage began to recite the spell. Meanwhile back at the village Draco had discovered his convexity crystal was going.
"Who the hell could have took it..." He thought. "Luna get Sage and make sure hes safe please."
"Alright." Luna said heading to Sage's room then shooting out and looking into Darkiea's. "Hes gone and so is Darkiea!"
"What?!" Draco yelled then he stopped and thought. "Could Darkiea have betrayed us..."
"I doubt that Draco." Luna said. "I can tell when someone lies and she wasn't lying when she said she wasn't a spy or anything."
"My spell to enter the shadow realm was out too..." Draco said as the pieces fell together. "Oh god..."
"What is it?" Luna asked.
"They went into Convexity to enter the shadow realm!" Draco said. "What could they be doing?!"
"You don't think they're going to take on the queen and try to get the veil do you?!" Luma said quickly.
"I don't know but I need to get into convexity before they can open the portal!" Draco said grabbing a crystal and tried to open the portal but it didn't open. "Crap!"
"Whats wrong?!" Luna asked getting worried.
"Convexity is an airlock." Draco said. "One side can't open if the other already is! The portal to the shadow realm is already open!"
Back in Convexity the group was looking at the portal.
"Before we go in everyone make yourselves look like shadow dragons." Darkiea said. It will make getting around a bit easier."
"You heard her everyone." Sage said.
The group covered themselves in dull black and blue scales hiding their true forms before following Darkiea into the portal and ended up in an ally in the village having come out of a small portal. All the building seamed to be made out of obsidian and there was a crescent moon in the sky. They watched as a patrol of guards walked past but they were hidden in the shadows so they didn't see them.
"Stay close and act natural." Darkiea said. "Novastar keep your crossbow hidden unless we need it.
"Alright." Novastar said as she made the bow vanish.
The group headed out of the ally and through the village doing their best to keep from attracting attention to themselves. Darkiea kept her head down and stayed in the middle of the group to keep hidden and whispered directions to Sage as they went.
"Something isn't right." Darkiea said just loud enough for them to hear. Everyone is tense, on edge."
"What do you think it could be?" Shadeheart asked looking around.
"I am not sure." Darkiea said. "I can feel a darkness from the castle, it's not my father's it's something older and much strong then my mom and dad combined."
"It must be the veil." Sage said quietly." She must have reassembled it already."
"We'll have to tell Draco when we get back." Darkiea said as they turned to a house. "Here we are."
"Alright so whats the plan then?" Sage asked.
Darkiea said nothing as she went and knocked on the door. The door opened revealing a female shadow dragon and it was easy to see she had bee crying for a while now. "Y-yes..."
"Helna it's me Darkiea." Darkria said quietly. "Can me and my friends come in?"
"Darkiea?!" Helna said quietly and quickly hurried them in.
"We're here to get you and Flamerunner out of here and to safety." Darkiea said.
Hearing this caused Helna to burst into tears again.
"Whats wrong Helna?" Darkiea asked hugging her.
"The guard..." She said between sobs. "They came and took her away for questioning about your disappearance!"
"They what?!" Darkiea yelled.
"They got Darkus too..." Helna said sadly.
"Don't worry we'll get them back." Sage said causing Darkiea to look at him.
"What..." She said in disbelief.
"You heard me." Sage said. "We came here to save your friends from this place and I intend to do just that."
"Sage to do that we have to infiltrate the castle and find them." Darkiea said.
"You know that place better then anyone." Sage said. "You have to know a few secret passages there."
"Well there are a few..." Darkiea said.
Back in the twilight Draco was trying to figure out what to do when a guard came in.
"Sir Ruby is missing as well." The guard said. "Knight Spyro said she never came home. I check around and Novastar and Shadeheart are missing as well sir."
"Five children..." Luma said. "All of them going into the shadow realm, what could they be up to?"
"I don't know but I intend to stop them. "Draco said. "Guard contact the captain of the guard and have him assemble a squad, we're going into the shadow realm."
"That a foolish thing to do." A voice said from behind them.
The three of them shot around and saw Milla and Ruskin leaning against the wall.
"Don't do that!" Draco hissed.
"Well we had to stop you before you did something stupid." Ruskin.
"There are five children running around the shadow realm!" Draco hissed.
"And you think a squad of dragons appearing out of nowhere isn't going to draw attention." Milla said looking at him.
"Then I'll go alone." Draco said.
"No you will stay here." Ruskn said. "Milla will go."
"Like hell!" Draco hissed.
"Vahlu is my home realm." Milla said. "I will go."
"Just who are you two..." Luna said looking at them.
"We were sent by Zan and thats all you need to know for now." Ruskn said looking at them.
With that Milla closed her eyes and there was a snap and she was gone.
Back in the shadow realm the group had left Helna's house and were on the way to the castle. The castle was massive, easily two-thousand feet tall. What wasn't there before was the glowing green moat of what looked to be acid around it and the bridge was gone.
"The queen doesn't want visitors it seams..." Novastar said kicking a rock into the acid and watching it melt.
"Thats not acid." Darkiea said. "It's concerted ectoplasm... what the hell could she be up to..."
"Any ideas on how to get in?" Shadeheart asked.
"Yea follow me." Darkiea said heading around to the back and hiding in the shadow of the castle.
She flew across the moat and ran a hand across the wall causing it to split and open and she quickly shot in with the others and closed it before the guard passed by.
"Alright now let me think." Darkiea said. "This will led us to the dungeon, thats where Darkus and Flamerunner will be."
"Alright lets go then." Sage said.
Darkiea lead the group through the labyrinth of pitch black passages and after close to an hour they were at a dead end. Darkiea put a hand on the wall and a small hole opened and she looked in.
"What the..." she said as he jaw dropped.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"It's empty..." Darkiea said looking at them. "They're all gone..."
"How?!" Sage asked.
At that moment two guards went walking back and everyone fell silent.
"Thats the last of them." The first said.
"Soon our dark king will be back again." The second said. "Then we will crush those pathetic twilights."
"Yes, then we can claim their worlds as out own." The first said with a grin. "There was a few extra prisoners but I doubt it will matter in the end. We better go, we best not keep the queen waiting."
"Yea I don't want to end up in the arena with the rest of them." The second said and they left.
"We're going to the combat arena." Darkiea said closing the hole. "We have to hurry."
Darkiea shot off into the caves with the other close behind. They were just barely able to keep up with Darkiea as she got to the arena. Darkiea opened a small hole and looked out. There was a bunch of prisoners being led into the arena. Near the end of the line Darkiea saw Flamerunner and Darkus. They were covered in cuts and cracked scales. Next to them was a single guard bring up then end of the line.
"Novastar..." Darkiea said showing her.
"I can do it." Novastar said with a grin
Novastar made her crossbow and took careful aim through the hole and fired. The bolt fired and hit the guard in the side of the neck and he fell down almost instantly. As soon as he was down Darkiea opened the wall and pulled Darkus and Flamerunner in who freaked out.
"Guys calm down!" Darkiea said as the wall closed.
"Oh my god... Darkiea?!" Flamerunner yelled hugging her tightly.
"We're here to take you to the light." Darkiea said with a smile.
"We will go back and get both your parents." Sage said.
"Thank you all so much." Darkus said with tear in his eye.
They headed back but Darkiea got lost and they took a wrong turn.
"Everyone is at the arena now so we're safe." Darkiea said. "I am going to open a wall to get out bearings."
Darkiea opened the wall and to her horror saw Sepertina looking right at her with an evil grin as several guard appeared at each side of them.
"So glad you could join us." Sepertina said with an evil grin
Before any of them could react they were covered in tendrils and couldn't move.
"Damn you witch!" Sage yelled.
"You just in time you know." Sepertina said with a grin as she pulled the veil out of the box. "It's time to bring Malefor back."
All the group could do it watch in horror as the arena was flooded with ectoplasm and the dragons were dissolved. Sepertina laughed evilly as she threw the Veil into the air.
"Now Umbra demon god I give you these souls, return the dark master Malefor to the world of the living!" Said laughing loudly.
The group watched in horror as the veil glowed brightly and the ectoplasm started shifting and churning as it shot into the veil. When it was all gone in the middle of the arena was a black orb. There was a terrifying roar as the orb shattered and Malefor was standing in it's place.
"I live again!" Malefor roared as the shadow dragons went insane with cheers.
Malefor shot up to where Sepertina was grabbing the veil as he did.
"It's good to see you again my kind." Sepertina said kissing him.
"It's good to see you too my queen." He said kissing her back. "Where is our son?"
"We have no son..." Sepertina hissed as she looked at Darkiea. "Only a traitorous daughter."
"I see." Malefor said with a grin as he looked at the other. "Who are the others?"
"Twilight dragons." Sepertina said as she waved her hand making the crystals fall away. "Draco's son among them."
"I though I killed Luna." Malefor said looking at Sage.
"You did but Zan brought her back and made the knights immortals." Sepertina said.
"Throw them all into the arena." Malefor said with a grin. "I need some practice."
"As you wish my king." Sepertina said with a grin and threw them all into the arena.
The five of them shot up and made their weapons as Malefor landed and made his sword.
"Try not to die too fast." Malefor said with an evil grin.
"What should we do?! Shadeheart yelled as he watch.
"We kill him or we die trying!" Sage yelled and charged forward with Ruby and Darkiea at his sides.
Malefor laughed as he blocked everyone of their attacks. Sage and Ruby fell into their tag-team style as they kept the pressure on Malefor pushing him back as Darkiea attacked from every direction with her quick moves and lightning fast daggers. Novastar on the other hand took careful aim at Sepertina who was too busy watching Malefor to notice. She fired a bolt that hit her and bounced off. Sepertina looked at her and jumped down.
"I am going to kill these two." Sepertina said as she summoned her scythe.
"Over my dead body!" Shadeheart hissed as he made his halberd.
"Thats the idea." Sepertina said grinning.
"I grow tired of you three." Malefor said and with one move disarmed them all and send them flying. "So much you three still have to learn. Join me and I can make you stronger then ever."
"Never!" Sage and Darkiea said standing up and calling their weapons.
"So be it." Malefor said looking at Ruby. "What of you, I can sense it, you hunger for my strength, the darkness that I hold. Join me and one day it will be yours."
"Join you and betray my race for power, do you really think I would do that?" Ruby said walking over to Sage and Ruby and then grinned as she put her swords to their necks. "Drop you weapons or I'll kill you both."
"Ruby... how could you..." Darkiea said sadly as she dropped his daggers.
"Your my sister!" Sage said dropping his sword.
"I play for the strongest team." Ruby said with a grin as she kicked their legs out from under them and sent them down to the ground.
"Well well, so the seed of betrayal was planted in you it seams to be." Malefor said with a grin as he walked over to her. "Now prove your loyalty to me, kill them."
Ruby grinned and held out her hand and crystal chains erupted out of the ground and held Sage and Darkiea in the air.
"Ruby don't..." Sage said. "Please this isn't you!"
"It is Sage." Ruby said with an evil grin. "It always has been."
---
I know no one saw this coming. Truth is I didn't really see it coming myself. Clearing things up, you already know Ruby and Sage aren't related he just said sister because they seem they selves as brother and sister.