Chapter 14: Fire and Ice (Marlice's Tragedy)
Spyro dodged Marlice's charge and shot a fire ball at him. Marlice pulled out his claymore and sliced it. "What?" Spyro asked in shock. "Didn't expect that did you?" he said and sliced him. He dodged and spewed some flames at him; it weakened him but still made him fight.
Hunter pulled some arrows from his holster and shot them, one hit Marlice's wing leaving a bloody spot where it went through, Cynder ran up to him and swiped him across the chest. He stumbled in pain; dropping his claymore it turned to dust before him. "I must say your putting up a good fight." He said impressed. Spyro and Cynder growled. Marlice jumped into the air, beating his wings he grabbed a stalagmite and threw it at them. They dodged the attack but he kept throwing more icicles.
Spyro used his flame breath to melt some of the icicles, but some nearly got him. Marlice dropped down exhausted, Spyro and Cynder both attacked, swiping their claws at him, some gave him a few scratches but he evaded most, he jumped up in the air again and began throwing icicles at them. Hunter timed his attacks and shot two arrows at Marlice when he was throwing the icicles, one hit his shoulder making him drop an icicle, another hit a stalagmite above him dropping him to the ground. Marlice got up, he was covered in blood since the stalagmite hit his wing, completely tearing it to pieces.
"It's over Marlice give up." Spyro said to the injured dragon. "Never, I won't quit until our King is risen once more." He said, he began rising in the air, ice was covering his body, a bunch of stalagmites appeared behind him. "Oh no!" spyro yelled and went for cover.
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Back at the HQ, Ronno fought against the darkness but finally gave in, he wanted power, and he wanted revenge. The darkness suddenly vanished from him, Mephiles and the three remaining members gasped at the dragon before them now. "Excellent, you chose to become one with the darkness." The Dark Master said looking at the black dragon before them.
The aura around the dragon was black, it pulsated around him. They saw in the pool Marlice near defeat. "Seems like Marlice is having a handful." Zardus said looking at the image. The image faded and the eyes showed again "Go, give Marlice a little help" he told the black dragon. He bowed "Of course…Master" he said and left through a portal. "Mephiles, watch him and see if he kills him." The dark master said. Mephiles bowed and left through the same portal. "Now a new apprentice has arrived." He said laughing.
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Marlice unleashed an ice fury on them, he shot the icicles in various directions, but Spyro and the others where behind cover and waited until the fury ended. Marlice dropped down, exhausted and tired, Spyro and Cynder used this advantage to attack him. They swiped at him with their claws, threw him up in the air with their horns, jumped and attacked him. Every move Spyro did Cynder copied, they where mirroring each others moves. Then both threw him to the ground.
Marlice crashed into a stalactite, crushing it. Spyro rushed to his side "It's over." He told him panting. "Wrong…" he said lifting his head. "…It's only begun." He told him."What is the Dark Master planning?" Cynder asked. "Since the guardians are dead we need another way for his arrival. We learned of these crystals that would make a good substitute." Marlice explained. "And what does he want with them?" Spyro asked. Suddenly a portal appeared, Mephiles and a strange black dragon walked through. "Mephiles, help me." He asked towards his friend. He only raised a hand and spikes came up from the ground, impaling Marlice. Spyro could only watch as the spikes impaled him through his body, when the last spike was impaled he was frozen solid, then the ice shattered and Marlice floated there.
Then a ghost of a dragon appeared and extended its hand absorbing him, particles of Marlice where absorbed into the ghost. When he disappeared completely the ghost glided down and went through Spyro and Cynder, both felt cold and numb as it passed through them. The ghost disappeared quickly.
Mephiles dropped his hand and turned to leave. "Mephiles! Why did you do that?! He was injured!" Spyro called to him. "He had no use for us." He said. "You could have helped him!" he yelled. "Learn to accept it kid, this is war." The black dragon to him. He recognized the voice. "Ronno?" he asked. The dragon frowned "I no longer go by that name." he told them. "That still didn't give you the right to kill him." Cynder told him. "Cynder, good to see you." Mephiles said turning his head. "Traitor" he told him.
The two began walking away. "Get back here!" spyro yelled charging at them. "Spyro wait!" Cynder called to him but he kept charging at them. The two suddenly vanished in a haze of smoke. "What?" spyro said stopping. Then they could hear them laughing. "You got rid of one of us but there are the other three." Mephiles's voice echoed. "I look forward to seeing you die!" Ronno said laughing. "Dammit!" spyro cursed, slamming his hand on the ground. Cynder walked towards him. "Come on lets get out of here." She told him. He nodded and the four left the throne room.
"Boy that was sure different from what I thought it would be." Sparx said "That guy was nuts, killing his comrade when he was down, crazy I tell you, crazy." Spyro agreed. "Yeah"