7
A/N: Right, so as always this took forever, so sorry about that but hopefully you will enjoy.
Spyro blinked his tired eyes as he lay on the floor. The purple dragon was only beginning to shake the sleepiness from his purple orbs. The young dragon could see the first rays of sunlight stretching across the floor of the room, slowly inching towards him.
The purple dragon let out a slight groan as he pushed himself from the floor and onto his paws. The fight with Azshea the previous day still left him sore. His scales ached from the fire that had engulfed him, but the dragon ignored it. As he stood up he heard Cynder give a gasp and the dragoness snapped her head upright.
"Easy. It's just me." Spyro whispered and the dragoness seemed to calm at the sound of his voice.
"Sorry, with everything that's happened lately I'm feeling edgy." Cynder said as she got up and began to stretch out her body.
"Well, soon we won't have a reason to be edgy." Spyro responded with a smile.
"That's right today we head for the burned lands don't we." Cynder said her tone indicating that she wasn't terribly thrilled with the idea.
"Yeah, we have to stop the seven." As he spoke Spyro sensed the dragoness' discomfort and he drew her in close with one of his leathery wings. "Are you nervous?"
"Of course." Cynder said nodding her head. "Aren't you?"
Spyro shrugged. "No more than I was when we faced Malefor." The purple dragon nuzzled the dragoness comfortingly. "Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you." Spyro whispered, and the dragoness gave a small smile in response.
From across the room Solris groaned as she rolled over on the pillow where she lay. Spyro slowly lifted his wing, releasing Cynder, and together the two walked across the stone tiles towards the black dragoness.
By the time they got there the black dragoness' eyes were open, but she had yet to stand up. She focused on the dragons who approached her and blinked a few times to straighten her vision.
"How are you feeling?" Spyro asked cocking his head to the side.
The black dragoness was put off guard by the question, as she hadn't expected caring words. "My entire body aches." Solris said with a shiver as another wave of pain washed over her. "But I'll make it."
"Listen Solris, we are leaving today." Cynder said bluntly.
"What? Why?" Solris asked her head perking up.
"We have to stop Astir, he has the scale of Raknos, and it won't be long now until he reaches the Burned Lands." Cynder explained.
"Why can't I come along, do I not have the right to go?" Solris asked slightly offended, but in the back of her mind she could understand why they would not want her to come with them.
Spyro and Cynder shrugged, they didn't know what to tell the dragoness. "Solris, you are hurt it would be better for you to stay and rest." Spyro said, but the argument sounded weak even to him. Both Spyro and Cynder knew that Solris was a strong dragoness, and even after the beating she had taken the previous day, she could still fight.
"Is that really the reason, or do you just not want to take me because you are afraid of what I might do?" Solris asked as she turned her eyes from the dragons. Solris knew that she herself would not strike out but if Astir took control of her there would be no telling what would happen. Solris subconsciously tapped the wound that had killed her before as she waited for a response.
Spyro was dumbstruck by the question. He and Cynder had considered Solris turning against them, but every day Solris had proven them wrong in that assumption.
"No Solris, we don't think that." Cynder said after a moment. Her faith in the dragoness, unlike the others was set. In her mind Solris had changed and was already part of their little group. "We think that you are hurt, and that we should keep you safe."
"Well, you thought wrong because I'm fine." Solris said as she stood upright. As she was working her way up the dragoness stumbled, but quickly recovered to keep herself from falling. When she looked back at Spyro and Cynder she gave a reassuring smile which did little to convince the two dragons. "Besides if we don't stop them then we'll all die anyway."
Spyro and Cynder gave a little nod. "Alright you can come with us." Cynder said.
"Just make sure you keep up we can't afford to waste any time." Spyro said, and Solris bobbed her head.
Astir looked around the small encampment. The dragon and his group of followers had stopped the night before, and were only now starting to awake. Astir stretched as he watched the many apes move around the camps. The ones that had survived from the assault on Warfang had returned to him anxious for more dragon blood. They blindly followed Astir unaware that he would in fact fight no more dragons, but instead end the world completely.
The dragon felt that it would be better to not tell them. Since they didn't hold the same fearful respect for him as they had for Malefor, it was quite likely that they would turn against him. The apes were ready to kill any dragon, even the ones they followed if they had a good enough reason.
The dragon turned his attention away from the loud creatures that covered the camp and instead looked to the sky. How the dark dragon longed to jump into the air and fly straight towards the Burned Lands. The reason they had taken so long already was because of the apes. The beasts could not fly, and therefore the seven had to keep pace with them by walking. In truth Astir was disappointed, he had expected Spyro and his friends to show up and confront them. For that exact reason he had brought the apes with him, in order to tip the scales in his favor.
To the dark dragon's surprise though, the purple dragon had not shown his face, and Astir had only wasted his time by bringing the smelly creatures along.
"A waste of time." The dragon spat angrily.
"What was?" Krista asked, the blue dragoness appearing from behind the black scaled dragon.
"Bringing these apes with us." Astir clarified, not surprised that Krista was listening to him.
"I thought they were here to fight." Krista said not understanding.
"Fight what?" Astir asked his tone lined with anger.
"Would you have rather had Spyro show his face and had to fight him?" Krista asked sarcastically. "That one is a handful, along with his friends."
The black dragon didn't respond for a long time. "No." He said flatly after what seemed like forever. In his mind he knew it was stupid to fight Spyro again and take the risk, but his ego was getting the best of him, and the need to best Spyro grew stronger each day.
"That wasn't very convincing." The dragoness said. When she didn't get any response she decided to press the issue just a bit more. "You wanted him to confront us didn't you?" Astir turned his head so that he could see the ice dragoness, but said nothing. "You wanted to fight him, to kill him with your own teeth and claws." As the dragoness spoke Astir's eyes narrowed, unhappy that anyone even his ally could seem to read his thoughts. "That is why you brought the apes, they slow us down and that gives our enemies a chance to catch up, and you, your chance to fight."
"A dangerous move master." The dragoness finished. She could tell she had hit a nerve, and decided it best to stop speaking lest she draw the dark dragon's anger. Astir only growled having nothing to say to the dragoness.
"Astir, when are we…whoa what's gotten into you?" Trias said as he walked up to the two dragons.
"Trias I have a task for you." The black dragon uttered in a low tone as an idea popped into his mind.
"What would that be?" The yellow dragon asked curiously. He had assumed that there were no more tasks, since they were going to Malefor's lair, which was supposed to be the final part of the plan. The idea sent a shiver down his spine, as he realized that something wasn't right.
"I want you to take the apes with you, and back track. Find Spyro and Cynder, and put an end to them." Astir explained bringing a gasp from both dragons.
"Astir don't you think that is a little rash, it leaves us unprotected, and the scale must come before your petty feud." Krista argued.
"Hold your tongue Krista," Astir snapped. "Besides, this way we can move faster, and last time I checked we could defend ourselves."
"What about me, why do I have to go, I want to be there when you use the Scale of Raknos." Trias complained.
"You will do this Trias; all of your words will do you nothing." Astir said flatly.
"Perhaps action then." The yellow dragon growled and within seconds Trias had leapt from his spot aiming to tackle Astir.
The black dragon deftly sidestepped the predictable attack leaving Trias to grind into the dirt. The golden scaled dragon slowly pulled himself back onto his paws.
"You can't win, and you'll only embarrass yourself by trying." Astir chided. Trias didn't listen he just launched himself forward again, desperate to get a hit off on the black dragon.
He failed again though as Astir brought his tail to bear, and slammed the dragon back to the ground.
"I'm not joking anymore, stop." Astir said roughly as he stared at the struggling dragon.
"Then give me one good reason why I have to go!" The dragon yelled.
"Because Trias," The dragon leaned down, so that he was close to Trias. "You are the most expendable."
Before Trias could voice a retort Astir walked away, Krista following in his wake, leaving the lightning dragon to lay on the ground fuming, as he excepted his fate.
Terrodar, Cyril, and Volteer all paced the room anxiously waiting for the younger generation of dragons to pull themselves together. Each elder was far from calm. They had all known Spyro, and even Cynder for a good time now, and as in any relationship they had grown attached. Sending the dragons into the face of danger alone seemed irrational to them. They wanted nothing more than to protect the young ones, and yet they could do nothing to stop them.
"Terrodar?" Spyro asked for the third time. When the green dragon still didn't answer Spyro flapped his wings, and sent a gust of wind over the dragon, the air doing nothing more than bringing the earth dragon from his thoughts.
"Are you alright Terrodar?" Spyro asked, as he noted the obvious worry on the dragon's face.
"Y-yes it's just that this is nerve wracking, the moments before the coming storm." The dragon explained in a tired voice.
"What's to worry about you've got us." Aegis said puffing his chest out. "Besides you guys aren't even going to be fighting so what's there to be concerned about?" The yellow dragon asked. Suddenly, Azshea pricked him with the sharp end of her tail making the dragon gasp.
"What was that for?" The dragon asked in an irritated tone.
"Don't remind them that they are not fighting, I am sure if they could they would." Azshea said.
"Our concern young one." Cyril said interrupting the two dragons. "Our concern stems from the fact that we are not fighting. There is nothing worse than a dear friend has falling before your eyes in combat, and knowing that you can do nothing about it." The ice dragon said sadly.
As Spyro listened to the ice dragon speak a name came to mind, someone that he hadn't thought about because of everything that had been happening. Ignitus had fallen in the belt of fire when they had first entered the Burned Lands. The purple dragon had watched his mentor die in the flames. Spyro knew exactly what Cyril was talking about.
"Spyro are you sure you want to go through with this?" Volteer asked his voice running all of the words together as usual, the effect only being heightened by his nervousness.
"We don't have much choice." Spyro responded, as he pulled himself from his thoughts. "If we don't stop them then Astir will use the Scale of Raknos, and all life will cease to exist."
"Not necessarily, there is one other thing that could stop the dragon." Volteer said.
"What do you mean?" Cynder asked, intrigued by the prospect.
"He is talking about Karik." Icryious interrupted.
"Who's that?" Spyro asked looking between Cyril and Icryious for an answer.
"Karik was the ice dragon that is said to have landed the killing blow on Raknos. While there were many dragons that fought Raknos, Karik was said to have killed him." Cyril explained.
"How does that help us?" Solris asked. After she spoke she immediately regretted it as all the guardians glared at her. None of them shared the views that the younger dragons had. As far as they were concerned Solris was the enemy, Spyro was the only thing holding them back from attacking her then and there.
"It helps us because Karik knew about the scale that Raknos imbued with his power. In turn the ice dragon took a portion of his spirit, and put it into the scale as well. It is said that when someone tries to use the scale his spirit will emerge to stop them." Terrodar explained.
"Okay, but no one knows for sure if this thing will come out to stop Astir or not." Aegis said.
"Sadly no, no one knows if it is true, because the scale has never been in jeopardy until now." Cyril said.
"Well, even if this Karik tries to stop them there is no guarantee that it will." Spyro said. "We still have to go, to make sure that this ends here and now."
"Then, stop talking and go; they already have enough of a lead on you." Terrodar said gruffly, as he tried to keep his emotions in check.
"Yes, go young ones and good luck, you'll need it." Volteer said as he gently pushed Spyro towards the window.
"Alright, we'll be back later." Spyro said as he took to the air.
Each of the other dragons said their goodbyes, before following him. Solris only gave a short nod before flying away; as she feared that saying something could very well invoke their wrath.
As the dragons flew away into the morning sky the three elders watched with apprehension, as if they would all just fall from the sky then and there.
"Spyro said he would be back." Cyril said breaking the silence.
After a long pause Terrodar turned away from the window. "He shouldn't make promises that he might not keep."
Spyro and the other five dragons cut through the sky. Each of them was keeping close as they didn't know what to expect. They flew onwards towards the Burned Lands, none of them taking any time to really examine the scenery around them, as each of them knew that they had to hurry.
Spyro led the group with Cynder close behind. The purple dragon was trying very hard to hide his emotion as he contemplated what had happened the last time they had gone to the burned lands. The events in the belt of fire swirled back to him as Spyro visualized Ignitus, using the last of his strength to save him before falling in the writhing flames.
"Spyro!" Cynder shouted over the wind, and the purple dragon's eyes snapped open. He had been unaware of closing them in the first place.
Cynder flew up next to the dragon, who was hanging his head in sorrow, but somehow managing to keep up a terrifying pace. "Spyro, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." The dragon lied, as he tried not to make eye contact with her, as he knew that it would give him away.
The dragoness noted his odd behavior, and immediately went through, in her mind, what could be making the dragon upset. "Come on Spyro you can tell me what you are thinking about." Cynder said after not coming up with anything in her head.
Spyro gave a resigned sigh, as he knew that the dragoness would continue to ask him until he told her the truth. "I was just thinking about Ignitus." The dragon said sadly.
"Oh." Cynder said half surprised, as Ignitus had not been brought up for some time now. Although after a moment of thought it didn't surprise the black dragoness that Spyro would think of him now. They were in fact going to fly over the place of his death. "What were you thinking about that related to him, particularly I mean?" The dragoness pressed.
"Just about what Cyril had said, about how there is nothing worse than watching a friend die, and knowing that you are powerless to help. Just like I was when Ignitus died." Spyro said shaking his head with sorrow.
"Spyro, don't blame yourself like that!" The dragoness said forcefully, and if she could have she would have hit the purple dragon for thinking such a thing.
"I could have saved him!" Spyro shot back.
"Spyro listen to me, you may be a purple dragon, but you can only do so much. Ignitus' death should not bear down on your shoulders." Cynder said bluntly, and after a pause she added. "It wasn't your fault."
"I know but-
"But nothing, you did what you could, and that is all that matters." Cynder said putting emphasis on each word. There was a pause between the two for a long time after that. Neither dragon spoke, and Cynder started to wonder if she had been too forceful.
"I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself, but what I was more concerned about is what if it happens again Cynder?" Spyro asked breaking the silence.
"Wh-What do you mean?" Cynder asked confused.
"What if I can't stop them, what if no one can…what if you die?" The purple dragon asked turning to Cynder, and she could tell how serious he was just be seeing his face.
The black dragoness stuttered as she tried to form various responses, none of them becoming a coherent response. The mention of her or her friends dying had sent her mind spiraling and she couldn't seem to think straight.
Just as the dragoness was beginning to get her words back Spyro cut her off. "I don't want to lose you Cynder."
"I..I don't want to lose you either, Spyro." Cynder responded.
"Then promise me that you won't do anything crazy." Spyro said.
"Only if you promise me." Cynder said in return.
"Alright, I promise." Spyro said with a smile.
"And I promise you too." Cynder said copying the smile. "And Spyro," She said after a moment. "Don't worry about that other stuff, it won't happen, I promise." Spyro nodded happy to have Cynder with him.
The dragons flew on for quite some time, landscapes coming and going in blur as they made their way closer to the Burned Lands. After a few hours the group of dragons was skimming over a thick forest. The whole flight all of the dragons had seen almost no activity and they were starting to grow tired of the seemingly endless flight.
A sudden hoot rose up through the thick brush of the forest alerting all of the dragons. Each of them snapped to attention and began to look down at the green forest. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but following the first horn was a second and then a third, until the whole area was blaring with the sounds.
"What's going on?" Azshea asked over the loud noises.
Spyro shook his head, he knew he had heard the sounds before but he could not place them.
"Apes." Cynder said jogging the dragon's memory.
"Why would they be here though?" Spyro asked curiously. "By now Astir must be in the Burned Lands."
"I don't know maybe they're here because-
Aegis' thought was cut off as a spear flew up through the forest, and pierced his wing. The golden dragon roared in pain as another spear punctured his side, and he began to fall from the sky. None of the dragons had any time to consider what was happening before the air was filled with spears.
Azshea didn't pay the sharp objects any attention as she watched Aegis fall down through the thick branches of the trees. She wanted to scream for help, but knew that it would do no good. Instead the dragoness did the next thing that sprang into her mind, she dived. The crimson dragoness shot through the sky headed straight for the forest floor.
Spyro, Cynder, and Icryious gave her a glance, but could not focus fully on her, because of the spears that were falling like raindrops around them.
"Cynder, Icryious get down there now." The purple dragon yelled as he dodged another spear. Neither of the dragons had ever heard Spyro say something so forcefully, and for a second they were stunned. As they watched the purple dragon drop out of the air they quickly followed him.
Azshea fell through the air towards the forest. As she fell towards the trees in a controlled dive she began to spin. The red dragoness' scales began to burn, and flames burst from the dragoness scaly hide. The orange flames licked her body, and as they grew the fire leapt from her body creating a spinning cone of fire.
The dragoness plummeted through the tree branches incinerating everything in her path, leaving a burning hole in the forest. When she had cleared the tree branches the dragoness snapped her wings open, stretching them to their limits. Within seconds she had come to a halt only a few feet from the ground. The red dragoness dropped the rest of the way landing gracefully on the soft green grass.
Azshea hardly had time to examine her surroundings as she was knocked to the ground by one particularly large ape. The furry creature hooted, and hollered as it grappled with the red dragoness. As Azshea fought with the ape she managed to bite down on the beast's shoulder, her sharp teeth sinking into the soft flesh.
With one blood curdling scream the ape punched Azshea in the gut sending her to the ground, the breath knocked from her lungs. To the dragoness horror a knife quickly followed the first blow. The red dragoness swiveled her body trying to avoid the tribal looking blade, but her effort was in vain. Azshea screamed as the knife dug deep into her shoulder, sending blood gushing to stain her scales, and the grass around her.
Azshea took a deep breath to steady herself, as the ape was distracted by her blood. With one painful, yet fluid, moment Azshea grabbed the weapon in her jaw, and pulled the blade free. Once the dagger had been removed flames burst from the dragoness mouth. The powerful attack sent the ape's charred corpse to the ground a few feet away.
Azshea jumped to all fours, and looked around to find that apes were surrounding her already. There were obviously more of the mangy blood-thirsty animals than Azshea had originally thought. She was starting to worry that she would be overwhelmed. With savage snarls a few apes pounced on the fatigued dragoness. Azshea didn't move as she called on her element once more, and flames burst all along her body. The apes all flailed in mid-flight as they tried to avoid the searing heat that was covering the dragoness body. Azshea looked around eyeing each ape warily as the flames still licked her body. None of the apes moved close to the dragoness as the fire would char them if they did.
Even though Azshea was temporarily safe she knew that she would have to act, she was expending so much energy to keep the flames up that she would have none left if she didn't do anything. Azshea growled baring her teeth, and sending all of the apes back a few steps. Within moments the growl excelled into a roar. The fire around her body corresponded with the sound, and grew large and hotter. Before any of the apes could even comprehend what was happening the flames around Azshea had grown into one singular entity. With one last burst the fire exploded with a bang, leaving everything within the general vicinity scorched.
Azshea coughed as ash fell all around her. Any sign of apes had faded now as the immediate vicinity had been cleared of any living thing. Azshea felt the blood trickling down her chest but knew that she could do nothing about it. Besides that a little wound would not stop her. She had come down to find Aegis in the first place, and was yet to find him.
As she looked around though she noted a golden tinge in the now blackened landscape, and picked it out as Aegis. Azshea walked over to Aegis who was pulling at the spear lodged in his chest. The tip had only gone in a little, but it was obviously painful. As Azshea neared him the golden dragon ripped the spear out and spit it onto the ground. The dragon didn't notice Azshea, he just moved his mouth to the spear that had pierced his leathery wing.
Azshea watched for a moment as Aegis pulled at the spear futilely, before she stepped in. "Do you need some help?"
Aegis didn't respond he just took his mouth off of the spear, and gave a quick nod. Azshea nodded. "Might want to bit your tongue." She suggested, before reaching her mouth around the spear. After a moment the dragoness crunched her teeth together turning the spear to splinters, and effectively removing the spear tip. Once the metal end was gone Azshea gently pulled the rest of the spear out of the electric dragon's wing as gently as she could.
"Thanks." Aegis said as he got up. The golden dragon waved his wing to ensure that it was okay before turning to examine Azshea. "Azshea you're bleeding! What happened?" He asked in a worried tone.
"I had a run in with some apes, I'm surprised you didn't notice." Azshea said nodding back to the blackened area that she had created.
Aegis strained his neck in order to see the area and gasped in surprise. "How many were there?"
"Four or five, I don't really know." Azshea said shaking her head.
"Can you go on then?" Aegis asked as he had gone back to staring at the wound.
Azshea looked at him as though he were dumb. "I'll be fine, but thanks for the concern." She said before giving the dragon a peck on the cheek.
The blood immediately ran to Aegis' face and Azshea giggled as he tried to hide it. "Come on, we have to find Spyro and Cynder; they could still be fighting with apes." Aegis said gruffly.
Azshea only nodded, before turning around to lead the way, but jumped in surprise when she saw an ape standing in front of her, its brutal looking sword drawn. The ape moved quicker than Azshea could react, bashing the dragoness on her cheek, and sending her to the ground roughly. The dragoness' vision swirled as she hit the ground. As she lay stunned on the ground she could see Aegis struggling against two more apes that must have taken him by surprise, but the brutal creatures were having no problem holding him back. When Azshea turned back again the ape's sword was already plunging at her.