Chapter 14: Brothers Of The Storm.

Slowly, I woke up from my deep sleep. The first thing to notice was that it was still... night time? Ah, I remember now.. The Eternal Night must be here..

I turned my head and noticed Spyro and Cynder awake, Spyro was staring at the campfire, he looked worried while Cynder was staring up toward the skies.

"Is everything alright?" I asked as I sat up.

"Oh, yea.. everything's alright.. Its just because of the eternal night you mentioned back the temple.. How are we gonna travel without much light?" Spyro asked.

I let out an annoyed sigh, plus it didn't help that we were clueless as to where we were because of that damn pirate ape capturing us. "Perhaps the Chronicler will have answers for us.." I suggested.

Currently, Spyro had control over Fire, Ice, and Earth. Electric was the last element for Spyro to learn and then after that? I guess we'll be heading to wherever this dark master is.

"Cynder?" I asked as I looked over at her, slowly getting up. "Any change in strength?" I asked.

"No, it's still weak as ever, Koal. The Serpent is keeping it at bay thanks to you." Cynder said with a weak smile, but it soon faded. "I hope we get there soon, so we can put an end to it.." She shook her head.

"Indeed we will, Cynder. We can head out any time as long as long as you can still feel the darkness." I said to her.

"That's something I want to talk about.. Koal? The darkness has... shifted.. I sense.. anger.. screaming jealously.." Cynder said.

"...I hope that doesn't mean that creature got hold of it.. Surely.." I said in disbelief at my own words..

"I hope you're right, Koal." She said, looking down at the ground.

"Do not worry, Cynder. I've fought those creatures before, I'm sure we'll be able to take it down" I said to try to enlighten the mood. Sadly, Cynder didn't reply. I left her to in peace to content with her thoughts.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax, I began running through my thoughts, mostly on what powers I currently had and the events me and my friends had gone through, I had some regret though when I gave up my human memories in exchange of knowledge of power.. Was it worth it? As of now, the only memories I had were of Cynder and the new memories of my wyvern life, I began to dig deep within my mind, trying to find that voice, but there was none.. Has his mind became my own? No, surely not, this can't be the full extend of the wyvern's power, what if this mighty foe is stronger than me? or Cynder and Spyro? Those thoughts worried me.

There was nothing to do for the time being until Spyro and Cynder decide the next plan of action. Ah, I think the chronicler just decided it.. Spyro just fell over into a sleep like trance.

"...Huh?" Cynder spoke up as he turned her head to the west. I looked in toward her direction.. oh dammit all, I can see a huge crowd of apes riding on some kind of bat-like creature.. What a horrid time for a battle, especially with Spyro still out cold.

...I don't need to tell you the details of the crazy battle, but somehow the apes had gotten a lot more powerful, they attacked viciously, they've never attacked like this before back at the temple! Something is up..

Just as I smashed my talon down on one of the apes, I managed to get a look at their eyes and soon horror filled my mind... Each and every one of them had that glowing gleam in their eyes, but how the hell did the white mutant multiple this much!?

I didn't have time to ponder on that fact as me and Cynder had a battle- No.. This was now a damn war.. and I think we were losing it, blood had been drawn from not only the apes, but from me and Cynder, we were fighting so hard, me and Cynder were forced to rely more on ours powers than our own physical strength.

We kept Spyro in the middle near the camp fire and kept our guard up the best we could, I provided Cynder a few boosts of strength by casting Might on her to keep it up.

Sadly, we just could do it.. Eventually, one of the apes had managed to grab Spyro, Cynder gave chase but she was quickly prevented when two apes on bat-creatures slammed their hammer across her chest.

"CYNDER!" I yelled, I struggled to move as the apes began to pile up on me. "Get your hands off of me YOU DAMN DIRTY APES!" I screamed with rage as I ignited my body on fire, but they never got off. I pushed and shoved my way through as my stamina was slowly twiddling away.. Dammit.

I fell over, feeling ashamed at myself.. I wielded the power of the wyvern and despite giving up so much of my own memories, it just wasn't enough..

I reached a talon out toward her as my vision began to blur. "Cyn...der.." I was soon greeted by that cursed dark void I had grown to despise, I felt so damn helpless during this.

...My vision soon returned as I found myself in some kind of prison again? Oh don't tell me I'm on a pirate ship..

I slowly got up and realized I had reverted to a smaller state, great. How long has it been since the last time I ended up in this whelping wyvern form? I do remember that it was something my body did when I used too much of my own power.

I closed my eyes and tried to communicate with the inner wyvern, but I only only greeted with silence, this had my worried, have we been fused for so long that he's no longer there? Actually.. I can't remember who I was before.

The more I thought about it, the more confused I became, my thoughts were interrupted when a voice spoke from the darkness outside of my cell.

"Well, Well, Well. We meet again, brother."

I looked up to see a deformed ape that looked strangely drago- "YOU!" I realized who it was, it was that white mutant way back when it attacked the temple.

"Yes, me. Thanks to my army, I've finally managed to capture you." The white mutant said before holding up a bright blu- what the!? That's Cynder's gem! He pulled the serpent out!? This enraged me, I had given that gem to Cynder to prevent the dark one from taking control of it. I charged at the cell bars and clashed into it with my horns, but I made no progress except making that white beast laugh in mockery, I let out a pitiful growl.

If I survive this whole ordeal, I need to give a name to those creatures.

"I think its time I settled this once and for all, you've been meddling with my goal for too long, brother. You stopped me another world and you did it again in this world.." Gaul said as he raised some kind of staff with a glowing dark gem aimed toward me.

"During my time in this world, I've come to found that this ape known as Gaul, I've discovered that this staff can remove the powers of others." it said with a wide twisted grin, I could see that the side of its mouth had a hole. Ya know, for being the leader of those white beasts, he's not very good at possessing..

The staff began to glow. "Good bye, brother!" It said. Suddenly ray of dark energy shot from the staff and aiming at me, the blast collided with my chest, I was sent backwards into the wall, I quickly took a good look at myself, it didn't effect me?

"...What?" It stared at me dumbfounded, it shot at me again four more same, but he was met with the same result, "...Did you really?" It asked.

"..Really..w-what?" I said through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the pain the freak had caused.

"You fused with the human.." It said, I could see a mixture of shock, disgust, and anger.

I raised my head slightly as realization soon dawned on me.. When I gave up my memories, I was allowing myself to become one with the wyvern, that explains why I can no longer hear him anymore, his mind has become my own

The deformed mutant slammed its hand against the cell doors in anger and annoyance, like throwing a wench into a villain's plans, it also makes sense to why he keeps calling me his brother..

"I'll deal with you later.." It said with an annoyed snort of its nostrils. I was going to protest but he had left before I could speak.

I charged at the cell door, slamming my head into the bars, the bars didn't budge. I turned around and charged into it again, I had done this a few times trying to knock it down. Dammit, I can't even dent it! All I've done was get myself a headache.

I tried my flame breath but all I managed was a pitiful small fiery spit, damn it, dammit all to hell! Cynder is in trouble and here I am trapped behind bars, all I can do now is wait..

I don't know how much time has past, the only sounds that filled this eerie chamber were the sounds of dripping water and squeaking mouses...

I heard the sounds of footsteps, I quickly ran up to the bars, but what I saw confused me... It was Cynder!?

"Cynder, How.. But I.. When.. Cynder, I saw the apes took you before I blacked out!" I said to Cynder.

"Yes, but after they took me here and took away your gift, I made a run for it. For some reason, that armored ape didn't try to stop me.." Cynder said as he took out a key.

"But Cynder... how'd you get here with all the apes roaming about?" I asked Cynder as I had a puzzle look on my face.

"I don't know... I just don't know." Cynder said as she unlocked my cell.

I stretched my arms out and my wings. "Where is Spyro?" I asked.

"I couldn't save him, that ape still had him.."

I hissed quietly to myself, that Gaul had plans for Spyro. Without saying a word to Cynder, I ran up the stairs. It was uncomfortable quiet, no guards, no enemies, no nothing..

I deeply concentrated and tried to resume my full form, but for some reason I couldn't find the strength, my form did glow but I ended up panting as if I had ran a marathon, I looked down at my orange tear shaped gem that the Chronicler gave me and concentrated, but sadly there wasn't enough fire in the gem to return me to my original size.

I was quickly brought out of my thoughts as I heard a loud echoing boom, I ran out of the halls and throughout the dreaded castle and eventually arrived outside to see That Same Storm gathering in the sky, here? Now? I ran again to arrive to the door of what I believed to be the throne room, I.. I could feel the strength of the storm, it felt natural and familiar. I felt a new memory enter my mind, it felt like I was home.

Cynder eventually caught up with me, but she flinched when she saw the storm, she let out a soft groan and I knew that look in her eyes. Without the Serpent's power, the dark one could communicate more clearly, I pawed at her stomach to get her attention. "Listen to me, Cynder, we'll get through this together.." I said.

"If you're worried about Him taking control of me, I've learned to ignore his voice, I'm not going to let it happen again." She said.

I couldn't help but raise my chest, I was proud of her and happy for her, but I was still worried. Clearing my mind and taking a soft breath, we entered deeper into the throne room.

"...So my brother is still persistent?" I heard a voice and saw sitting on the throne was Gaul himself, one eye gleaming green and the other glowing deep purple. I looked around and noticed the other apes gathered around a pillar of darkness with Spyro dangling by rope nearby.

"Let Spyro go!" Cynder demanded as she let out a deep growl.

"...I would love too, but sadly for you and I, I must carry out my purpose of resurrecting and bringing back our master" Gaul said as he stared at the pillar of dark energy.

Ok, this was the last damn straw, at this point I was tired of seeing this freak nd it's damn species, it was getting old and I'v had enough with hearing it mentioning it's purpose again and again.

"PURPOSE?! All you do is take people's life that isn't yours, Volteer is probably scarred for life because of you!" I yelled in anger and rage as I felt more memories flood my mind of a past I didn't have, revealing to me images of the storm and me growing inside of it.. No, those are the memories of the wyvern that fused with me. Realization soon washed over me, it made sense now, this eraser of life and reality was born of the storm.

"You..." I growled deeply within my throat as I felt alien-like energy fill my body, I felt purple and green electricity flow over my body. "YOU'RE THE CAUSE OF THIS!" I let out a loud roar as I suddenly returned to my full size. "You're the one that was in control of the storm!" I was seething with rage now.

"..And I think I'M the one who should of ended you so many years ago, brother... I remember it all now, you were jealous of other people's lives because of your impatience and in completion that you wanted to take what is not yours!" I yelled.

Cynder was backing away from me, but I couldn't blame her for fearing me and my sudden change off attitude.

Gaul.. No, he isn't Gaul.. He is the Eraser of life itself, and thus I shall call him.

I saw in Erazor's eyes the same kind of rage that matched my own.

Suddenly, we both ran and clashed, my talon claws matching his gauntlets, nothing was said between us as hell broke loose, blow per blow, strike per strike, my flame breath meeting fierce energy.

Cynder flied up into the air and freed Spyro, carrying him away from the fight, not even the possessed apes didn't interfere, they all remained watching us like brain dead zombies.

"With you out of the way, I'll finally have the life I so desired!" Eraser said before attempting to slam his gauntlets into my side, I met his attack with my own by grabbing hold of Erazor's fist.

"No talk backs, brother?" He taunted, I didn't respond to him, I had no words for that monster!

The fight raged on, we seemed to be evenly matched and for some reason we weren't running out of stamina, I could feel energy being constantly fed into my body. Every time I casted a spell, my magic would return.

The source of the power was coming out of the fierce storm that circled outside, it was giving me and Erazor this renewed energy, I sensed that this fight will never end, much like the two hundred years we fought within the storm….

-Cynder's PoV-

I carried Spyro out of the room and down the stairs, I quickly looked over at him as he was waking out.

"C-cynder… what happened?" Spyro said with a groan, holding his head as he felt intense pain.

"Shh, don't talk, I'm getting you out of here!" I told him, but I could tell he strained to get up, like he wanted to go back.

"No, Cynder.. This is my fight, I must-" He stopped in mid-sentence with a hiss, he was in no condition to be fighting, he was in great pain and a lot of his energy had been sapped, including the four elements he had worked so hard to learn.

"I'm not letting you go, we're going to get off this island and head back to the g-" I was quickly interrupted by Spyro.

"NO!" He yelled.

I looked at Spyro with wide-eyes as he pushed me away, causing himself to tumble, he slowly got up and was walking back up the stairs, I knew Spyro was stubborn but this is getting out of hand.

I ran over to Spyro and pushed him away, forcing him to lay on my neck, I was going to save him weather he liked it or not!

My attention was drawn as I heard a loud explosion, I turned my head around to see that roof had been blown off, I saw Koal fly up into the air along with the deformed draconic ape known as Gaul. Wait, A-apes can fly?!

I quicken my pace as I carried Spyro down the stairs and through the halls, trying in desperation in finding the exit, Spyro was important to me and he was first priority.. but I couldn't help but look behind me. Koal was like a father to me and took care of me when I had amnesia, if only I could go back and help him.

-Koal's PoV-

This is getting no where! Every time I manage to burn to wound him or if he ever did the same to me, we would heal up! I could heard Erazor mocking me with laughter.

"Give up, brother! You know you can't beat me!" Erazor said in a mocking tune of voice. "The storm is mine to command and I think I've toyed with you long enough..." He said.

Energy began to gathered around Erazor and I noticed my surroundings getting darker, I lost sight of the castle and the area. Suddenly I was thrown into a vortex of energy, eventually taking me to a whole different area unfamiliar to me, I saw crystals all around me including what used to be some kind of civilization.

But I couldn't ponder on that matter anymore as Erazor forced me back into a fight, but he was hitting harder this time and moving faster and this time he was bringing me harm, causing me to bleed and break my own bones. Dammit, is this madness ever going to end!?

The fight was now in Erazor's favor, he quickly slammed me into some kind of strange metallic bulky yellow.. thing.. I couldn't quite explain what it was, but it looked so familiar, yet so lost to my mind. Where exactly did my brother take me?

I tried to fight back by breathing a fierce flame, but he couldn't be harmed and right now he constant laughing was only fueling my anger and hatred, I wanted to send him back to the storm and destroy him!

I began fighting back more stronger, focusing on using more fire spells and physical strength, I was jabbing at Erazor's mouth, trying to shut him up or at least cripple him.

For some reason I was feeling my energy come back, suddenly me and Erazor was lunged into the swirling vortex again, I saw images of multiple worlds flash through my vision as we fought, I need to end this madness, I'm going to regret doing this.. I began to give up the last remains of my memories as new strength returned to me, my body was slowly being engulfed in flames in the same colors of the storm, my own desire was to kill.

Erazor's eyes went wide in disbelief, his cockiness turning into fear, he was starting to more fleeing rather than fighting, I did not speak, I did not hold back.. I wanted to kill, destroy.. send him back!

"Brother, I give up! You won!" Erazor pleaded he was forced to slam into a wall.

I glared at him as I was breathing deeply, I had only a small ounce of humanity within me though..

"...You.. think.. this is a game!?" My maw began to glow with purple and green energy. "No.. You've ruined lives and whatever..." I was having trouble speaking..

"And whatever worlds you might of ruined.." I was losing control of myself..

"You..." I could feel my mind slipping from reality..

My body was glowing brightly as I lost my physical form, returning to the origin form of what I once was.

With that kind of power threatening to destroy me, I unleashed one final attack on Erazor.. one… powerful attack…

..I couldn't hear anything… I felt my body shaking and sparking with uncontrollable energy… Erazor was now gone… But my form was starting to break apart, my vision went blank.

...I can't feel anything, I cannot hear anything, I can't even move, all of my senses gone except for my sight. All I could s-see was the storm… I could feel myself growing weaker and weaker as I remained in this state.

Is this I-it then?.. I.. C-cynder.. I'm… s-orr-….y…

-Cynder's PoV-

...Much like the storm had came.. it was gone the same way, I looked around in desperation, but I couldn't see that strange ape or Koal anywhere and it was starting to get a bit too quite.

"It's..o-over?" I said in a nervous tune, I looked over at Spyro on my neck as he was starting to wake up again.

"...Yes.. it's over.." Spyro said and I wasn't like the tune of voice Spyro was giving me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, staring at Spyro in confusion.

"He did it… It's gone.. but.." Spyro asked as he began to walk away. "...The chronicler..."

"..Yes? Spyro? What is it? What happened!?" I said. I was growing scared and worried, I could feel my heart race and my breath quicken.

"...Koal's gone.. The book in the chronicler's library had vanish in a burst of flames.." Spyro said, he almost stuttered at first.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing… "How?" I shook my head, I was starting to feel my emotions trying to overtake me.

"I-i.. He.. We don't know.." Spyro said as he looked at the ground.

I stood there in silence as I began to cry.. Koal was gone.. But what about that… thing?

Suddenly, I saw apes running toward us but I didn't see that crazed look in their eyes, but I didn't want to stand around and found out what they were going to do, me and Spyro took flight and left the island.

It was a long journey but we had managed to return to the temple. The guardians greeted and congratulated us, but when we told them the bad news, their voices fell silent. Spyro walked up to me and handed me something I recognized as Koal's necklace, but the chain was torn while the orange gem was still in tact, Koal had gotten this as a gift from the chronicler as a way to fuel magic temporary whenever he grew weak.

Even though Koal was gone, at least I had something to remember him by, I will forever remember his words of encouragement when he helped me remember what I really am and not who I used to be and right now I hope for me and Spyro's future, it holds peace for us, I think I've had enough danger for the rest of my life.

This is the end as I close the final chapter on my fanfic That Same Storm, I hope everyone enjoyed reading it despite there being grammar or spelling issues or any minor mistakes I may have made, until another time, in another universe, in another story, who knows what I might try writing next.