Chapter 26: We Screwed Up

Arc 2: Ghosts and Dragons

Merry Christmas!

Wanted to post something before 2016 ended. And why not with something I've been working on since February. Though I won't be coming fully back to this story just yet because I haven't finished getting to the stopping point on Broken Reality and am quite surprised at the level of activity this is getting.

So the more progressive and unbelievable part of the story starts here. This chapter will contain: possible spoilers to Broken Reality, past events in high detail, and connections to the Skylanders game. (Because of how Spyro is linked in the series and how this series works, I'm think of a possible spin off in the future. The Distant future. The start of shipping, events that right now don't make sense, and some other things to come.

After this the guardians will be let go off, since this was merely to show what they will come to be of the team.l and will focus more on the legendaries and team. On a side note, since most Spyro stories and crossovers involving humans tend to be that dragons are all out bloody at them, that too will come later and explain why everyone was so adapted to the Ghostbusters being here.

Defeated.

That's the one word someone could use to describe the Protonix Ghostbusters at this moment.

If you didn't see the slight movement of their heads or bodies when readjusting their position, one would saw they were lifeless.

The flight back to Crystalline was considerably slower this time; the guardians trying to take it easy for the passengers on their backs while hurrying to their destination. Everyone was in pain; some had fallen unconscious and needed anyone still awake to keep them from falling off.

At the head of the group, Cynder glided effortlessly through the air with her wings stretched out to their fullest. Using small bursts of her Wind, she acted more like a person in a skydiving suit. But every time she had to make a quick change Derek would let out a deep, painful groan just inches away from her ear. Wincing and glancing back every few moments to make sure he was still holding on her. For Spyro on the other hand, he was struggling to not drop out of the sky like a fly with the weight of a turned off protonix pack on his back, that when he grabbed one to Derek when escaping the sewers was actually lighter.

But nevertheless, he stayed strong. "How is he?" he asked for what was the fourth time. Looking to the human his mind had wondered if they did finish Malefor off. That blast with what they do should currently do the job. But even they knew it wasn't always the case.

Craning her head back Cynder's right eye glanced down to Derek. "Still out cold. Though I'm a bit more worried about Malefor. That portal suddenly pops up right when he knew he was gonna lose. And when he mentioned another world; did you see how the Ghostbusters reacted?"

Spyro nodded. He did see how they all looked afraid that it might involve them. From what they've already been through, he would think they would do anything to prevent a third time. And he wasn't alone on this case. The guardians overheard the conversation and was thinking the same.

A couple of minutes later, the outskirts of Crystalline was seen in the distance. The massive purple bubble being created by the team's Pke disrupters made them hold their breath, hoping the city wasn't to greatly affected by the blast that could've just as easily blown it to dust. But signs of activity and be buildings still standing made the guardians relax some. Happy that there was hopefully no more loss of life. Starting their descent colorful spots came up from in between the buildings just at the end of the cleared plains.

When a guard yelled out something was approaching from the mountains, the city's defenses went up immediately. Redstone and Wave were the first to arrive at the head of a makeshift barricade waiting for what was coming. But when Redstone looked closer with his aged eyes, he could see the distinct colors of green, yellow and blue lowering to the ground.

"Terrador!" The king yelled up to the dragon as he gave a few more flaps to hover in place for a moment.

"Redstone." Terrador greeted as he landed along with the others.

"Thank Ancestors you all are alright. We saw, even felt the explosion from here. It must of been a grand battle in there."

"Indeed it was." Cyril responded with exhaustion in his voice. "Though it wasn't quite what we or the others expected from the Dark Lord. Even the Ghostbusters were surprised."

"Where are they?" He asked looking at their feet as if the team would suddenly walk out. "I thought they would have returned with you."

"They did." Cynder walked up closer to the fire dragon.

Redstone took a step back, still not trusting being so close to the ex terror. But when she turned sideways, his eyes fell onto the unconscious leader of the Ghostbusters. That wasn't what surprised him. When the guardians step up and moved their heads to the side to show the others, the dragons were jaw slacked at the desolate state they were in.

Wave stepped closer to examine the humans. "What happened to them?"

"That is a story for another time. Right now the they need medical attention." Spyro answered.

"Come to the palace. Our doctors shall check over them and yourselves." Redstone turned and started back into the city. Looking at each other for a moment the five dragons followed closely behind.

"Why is my firehouse in here?"

Really. When I left with Chronicler the first thing I saw in the next room sitting on the table was what looked like a scale model of our fire station looking like it wasn't complete yet.

"Oh that," Ignitus came in. "It's something we've been working on since we discovered the book. Being that our knowledge of the…" he tried thinking of what to say.

"Paranormal?"

"Yes, that. It's where we even got these." He stepped aside to show a twin pile of perfectly symmetrical book stacks about 10 feet tall each. Their backs all facing out to show their titles that if you weren't someone like me, anyone on my team, or a believer in things most say are not real, wouldn't understand.

"Well… since we're on that topic again. Why am I here exactly. And don't sugar coat it, much."

"Malefor isn't defeated." Chronicler bluntly said that I'm pretty sure if Spyro was here he would have a heart attack.

"And?" My question seemed to confuse them. "I know Malefor isn't dead, again, or trapped. He just got shot back into a ghost world through a portal." This honest stunned the two dragons.

"How can you be so certain?" Ignitus asked now the more questioning type.

"For several reasons actually. First is how black slime, black ecto and pk energy works. This was what me and Leo had asked the originals about Gozer the gozarian. The first time they fought him, they crossed the streams to close the portal feeding his power and ended up blowing him up. Seven years later, he comes back weaker but yet just as powerful. It's from this that we theorised the spiritual essence of the being could be destroyed in one plain of existence. But yet still exist and return in another."

"But Malefor was alive during his time here. He grew in age and was trapped for a thousand years."

"Again, no villain stays imprisoned forever. They always find a way out. And thus is the second reason, Black Ecto or from what this world knows it as, Convexity. It's the negative side of the world that is between life and death. This is usually why ghosts, even if they're holy souls, are either trapped in a loop or their world of origin. Malefor had control of this when he was alive, Right?" They both nodded.

"So with that his body became more like a living ghost; Then Spyro and Cynder defeated him. Much like what the originals did, they closed the portal and destroyed his form. But they said he was dragged by the spirits of the ancestors. So Malefor's body was destroyed, not his spirit. And as a true ghost he could easily collect much more energy than what his physical embodiment could."

"That must be why he couldn't handle the backlash." Chronicler cut in. "We saw the battle and how your equipment drained him but he replaced it. When it came back, he couldn't hold it."

"Exactly. And he knew that right there and then. That's why he opened the portal when we crossed the streams by accident. His physical body would be destroyed again when he wasn't crossed over fully. He's probably waiting in the other world gaining power from the black slime as we speak."

Never have I seen a dragon become so slack jawed. Let alone two of them at once. Did they really not know anything about stuff like this? I didn't have to wait long for a answer. For the mirror across the room began to glow in a wave of purple and blue light as the center collapsed back like a vortex. Instincts from the last time kicked in moments as I tried to find anything to fight or defend with. Then I remembered, the Slime Blower.

Dashing into the other room where I last saw it, still in the same spot on the floor; I grabbed the straps and pulled the massive tank on my back. Unlike proton packs the blowers were considerably bigger and usually required two people to put it on. Setting it on the table where the book was I tightened the vest over my torso and grabbed the blower nozzle. When I got back into the main room the portal had changed into a whitish color with a growing at the center.

Neither Chronicler or Ignitus seemed worried and just stood there waiting. When I saw the mass of energy directly in the middle growing in size I prepared the system and put the force on max.

"Wait." Chronicler moved his blue wing in front of me. Blocking my aim. I try moving around to fire but was stopped when the energy mass exited the portal. Only it wasn't like that at all, nor a ghost or creature of the unknown.

It was a man. A human man.

They looked pretty much like someone in their 70s with a long gray beard ending near their chest. A white rob laced with blue and gold trim covered his body with from what I could tell was ten different symbols. Some I could tell represented elements. Water, fire, air and earth but there were some I didn't understand the remote meaning of. In his hand was a long stave made from a fine wood. And what was with that helmet? It literally made him look like a blue chrome dome.

On top of the staff was multicolor orb that seemed to pulse rapidly before the portal behind him returned to its mirror state.

"Well, it's about time you showed up." Ignitus said displeased by the man's presence.

"Apologies. But it's been hard lately dealing with trolls, grubins and an army of darkness knocking on your front door every three days." When his attention turned to me, I brought up the blower to his level with my thumb itching to hit the trigger.

But he didn't seem fazed by my appearance of the weapon pointing at him. If anything, he was actually shocked when our eyes met. They darted from my face, blower, body and back to my eyes like he never saw a human before.

"By Gods…" he said in disbelief. "A Portal Master!"

A What?

Was this guy high on something or did that portal he came through did something to his brain. I would have to ask later but right now I needed a few answers. "Who the hell are you?" I asked maybe a bit to harshly than I would've wanted it. But in times like these it's best to assert yourself.

The old man snaps out of his thoughts when he clears his throat loudly. Stepping closer to me as his grin didn't change at all.

"I am Master Eon. A portal master of the realms."

"EASY, EASY!" Rachel yelled as they dropped Derek's body on the unbelievably large bed. Pulling with as much care as possible, the still standing busters and dragons carefully brought Derek to the center of the bed.

With his pack and suit now sitting on the floor next to him, the damage of his injuries could be seen by the light blue undershirt he wore with his work pants having multiple red spots. Pulling the knife from his suit's' pockets Rachel carefully hooks his shirt ripping it upwards. Revealing the large ray of burns and cuts that went through the protective clothing.

"Jack, can you take the pack and his suit to the truck. And can you bring me my med kit?" Rachel asked looking over her shoulder.

"No problem." Stepping around he swings the huffty particle accelerator on his back. Nearly falling to the ground from the weight that Derek was more use to carrying. Kneeling down he grabbed the charred remains if his leader's quite possibly favorite jumpsuit before heading out the door.

Just then both Spyro and Cynder came in with another dragon; a female ice dragon that was practically the color swap of Cyril but was much more smoother in the way her scales were. On her back was a basket filled with a variety of medical supplies while the legendaries carried two baskets of glowing green crystals.

"How is he?" The ice dragon asked with a mix of a Scottish and French accent.

"He has several first degree burns in some areas of his chest and legs. A busted femur with a shattered knee. His arm was dislocated until Mike and Danny popped it back into place." At the soound of their names the two men gave a high five to each other. "But he has multiple torn muscles, can say for sure if a fractured wrist but I can't say a broken arm without any equipment to look over him more thoroughly."

The dragoness was quite surprised at Rachel's overall assumption of the other's condition. The medical staff were told that the team did have a doctor with them; but they didn't know of how high equality.

Upon arriving at the palace the group were sent straight to the medical ward to be checked. The Guardians passing by with exhaustion and the legends just needing a few crystals to refill their power. But the humans weren't as lucky. Ben was the second to worse condition out of the group having to be dipped in a catalyzing paste before his cuts could be treated. Leo was taken somewhere to have his broken arm attended to and both Jack and Roger had their cuts attended to. Both Jack and Rachel however had to wear a metal boot that for the latter covered up to his knee and the other like a oversized shoe. The doctors tried making them stay but their worry was focused to the first buster in their group.

The dragons, standing in the opposite side of the bed across from the team, looked down at Derek's battered form. His head resting at a unsettling angle in their direction. His mouth hung open as if trying to speak.

"Will he be alright?" Cynder asked with heavy concern.

"He's been through worse." Everyone turned to see Leo standing in the doorway. His jumpsuit tied halfway around his waist as his left arm was tightly secured in a brace. "How is he?"

"Stabile as is but he won't be doing much once he wakes up." Rachel said not turning away from Derek as she was bandaging around the gash on his head. The dragon nurse sitting across from her applying the same green speckled paste that Ben was dipped in on his burns.

Hearing the clicking of boots approaching she glanced over her shoulder to see him standing near the edge of the bed looking over his best friend.

"He looks like Hell." He bluntly said. Shaking his at the thought of what drove Derek to not even duck for some form of cover. He was still more or less surprised he survived a stream backlash that powerful with that much energy so close; he could of easily of been neutralized.

"Where's Jack?"

Rachel responded, "Trailer. Putting stuff away and getting my kit." At that Leo immediately turned around and made a hasty retreat to the door. "You're supposed to be resting." she shouted making him stop.

"I know. But right now a broken arm can wait. I need to get all of our equipment back to 100% working order and hopefully rebuild the only trap we still have. Cause knowing how these situations play out; we're gonna need to be ready at a moment's notice."

Everyone nodded in agreement to his statement. Seeing them satisfied Leo turned back and disappeared into the hallway.

"I guess that goes for all of us." Mike said turning towards the door. "With Malefor fully aware of us now I doubt he'll wait long to make his next move."

Meanwhile, In the Dining Room...

On the other side of the 'castle', the Guardians, Redstone, Wave and Hunter all sat at the table discussing important matters.

"So the Dark Master still lives?" Redstone asked with a heavy voice.

Terrador nodded. "Even the Ghostbusters were unprepared for the sheer amount of power he had at the time. They had taken a huge chunk of his energy in their trap but it couldn't hold it. It was destroyed and released back but he had already regenerated the same amount back. It stands clear that his control over the dark forces, and now, Black Slime, has heavily fuelled him to a greater state than before."

"Is there still a way to stop him?" Hunter asked. "Spyro and Cynder were capable of doing so before. Surely now that their powers have grown they could do it again."

Cyril protested. "Even now we can't just… throw them at Malefor and his forces. If either of them were touched by the slime they would easily fall to its negative effects."

*Sigh* "Than what can we do? As is our forces are little to nothing when it comes to fighting spirits. And the fact that they now have a road leading straight to my city's front door." Redstone pondered with a claw over his eyes in frustration.

"At best," Terrador paused thinking if what to say. "I would suggest you and your citizens come to Warfang where we can be more united in strength. But knowing you, I doubt that would a option."

"I won't abandon my city. If those who wish to go to Warfang want to, than they can. I won't risk innocent lives."

Terrador continued, "Furthermore it would put us all closer to the Ghostbusters. They're our best line of defense against anything the slime puts out and most likely the only ones who could truly defeat Malefor."

"What about Malefor?" Spyro asked walking into the room. Everyone instantly tensed up at how they practically shot him and Cynder out of the conversation.

"Just debating on how to possibly handle the situation." Volteer said hoping to avoid a painful explanation. "Speaking as such how are the Ghostbusters fairing?"

"Well, Derek's getting healed up by Rachel and Frost right now. Two of them are still out cold in the infirmary and everyone else is either resting for working on their gear."

"That remind me." Wave spook up. "If the humans are suppose to aid us, how come you don't have any command over them?" He points to the three Guardians.

"From how they operate is completely unjust and wild letting them do what they seem they can."

"Because," Terrador said putting some back up in his words. "They were sent here requested by the Chronicler himself to help us. And from what we've seen in the past month is that the formula they have been using when it comes to fighting is perfect in their own way. We ask for their aid and they ask for ours. All they've asked so far is a place to stay, food, and knowledge and have greatly help defend our city when none of us even slightly what to do."

The room fell a eerie silence after the statement. Though this did start raising concerns regarding the team.

"Spyro," the purple dragon looked up to the green and brown drake. "Go get some rest. We'll leave to Warfang in 4 days." Nodding the dragon turns back to the doorway he came from. Rising from their sets all the guardians bowed their heads before following close behind.

On the other side of the Building...

Applying the last of the crystal past on Derek's leg, Frost stepped back to check over their handy work.

"That should do it for now. Since we do not know how it's properties fully affect humans it maybe some time before he fully recovers." She glanced down to Rachel who sat halfway on the bed stroking his hand.

"You care about him much; do you not?"

"It's something we've technically had since we were little. It wasn't until all… this." She gestured to herself, the dragons and team. "Happy did it really kick off from there. We've all been in hard times together and yet he's surprisingly manage to hold it together."

Frost let out a little chuckle at knowing what she meant. Moving over off the foot of the bed packing what materials were left after patching Derek up. As she did so, in the corner of her eye she watched as Rachel heavily rubbed her eyes. Up close or from this distance she could see the bangs hanging from her eyes.

"You should get rest. Your friend will be fine." Frost said walking past the medic. Rachel wanted to counter her remark but a yawn blocked out any words.

"Rachel." her gaze shifted to the black dragoness across from her. "I can watch over him if you want. It's not like I got anywhere to be and you do need to some energy back."

Raising a finger she tried to say other wise; but cuts it short. Sighing in exhaustion she reached down to a pouch on her belt. Pulling off the cover she brings out a small orange radio.

"Call if anything happens." Cynder nodded as the buster swiftly turned on her good foot. Practically running out the door as her arms stretched out to close them behind her.

Cynder couldn't help but chuckle at the other female's actions. It was still amusing these humans were to her. Reaching over she grabs the radio, which is so small her whole hand can cover it, she places it behind Derek on the massive pile of pillows just enough for it to stay. Giving a good flap of her wings she left her back half up on the bedside. Slowly circling around in the same spot like an animal getting their spot comfy, she stretches out her body and plants it directly neck to Derek's right side.

Truth was that she was beat tired and could go for five years with just sleep right now.

Twisting for a moment so that her claws were in decent positions, she extended her right wing out and over Derek's body like another blanket. Curling around his side to make she it would stay and come as much of him as it possibly could. Glancing over to make sure he was still fine, Cynder let out a rare smile as she rested her head down on the pillow mountain. Minding Derek's head with her many horns as she let sleep blanket her now.

"A what?" I asked lowering the blower. The way the old man said that really pushing several scenarios to the front of mind.

"I thought you never had contact with humans?" I asked looking over to the Chronicler.

"I never said that. All I said was that I never made contact outside the realms your world is not included."

Okay I'll give him that one...

Looking back to 'Eon' he still had that astonished grin as he still looked at me with gleam. He had stepped closer to me and I was starting to feel uneasy around this guy. But I wasn't that level of a prick.

"Uh… I'm Derek Stewart." I said holding my right hand out. Still keeping my left on the blower handle. Eon must of snapped out of his gaze because his hand instantly clamped onto mine.

I felt his hand squeeze mine twice as he eyed me more focused. "Young, has a strong grip, clear sign of past battles under his belt… perfect! I'll start teaching him as soon as possible."

I instantly jumped back. "Woah, woah, woah wait a minute. This wasn't part of the agreement." I yelled to the dragons. Both looked at Eon with both shaking their heads in disappointment.

"Eon," Chronicler said to the old man directly, "Derek here is who we asked to help solve our problem that's now going into darker territory that we never seen before. He and his team have a duty, and they are greatly needed in Avalar."

*Sigh* "I knew it was too good to be true. But I do hope that we can use their aid in Skylands if they can spare the time.

"Skylands? Sounds like something from a video game." I chuckled thinking of a giant piece of land literally floating in the clouds.

"Skylands is one of the realms that borders Avalar. It wasn't effected from the great war and served as a safe zone for those who couldn't fight. Though parts of Malefor's army was sent there to kill as many as possible." Why is it that everything the Chronicler, Guardians, Spyro, hell even Sparx leads to something that I had a feeling we'll end up getting into a situation involving something bad.

So Arc Two is now under way. I hope to work this alongside with the last of Broken Reality and by the end of this arc set to work on the second story in the timeline, Shadows of the Past. I will hopefully soon have my FnaF and Jurassic World stories done so that I can post and work on some more projects.

The next part is actually something this story might only have, and that is what happened during Derek's demonic possession in Shadows; that in the story does not fully have. (Because of how everything is told in third person most of the time, the next chapter in this and the other story would really make sense if it was seen from a sudden POV change.)

Like anything in these kind of stories the team's looks will change some. That being said jumpsuit identification.

Derek will still have his dark blue with black patching.

Rachel with a faded Indigo with orange patching. (Kinda like the Real Ghostbusters Egon)

Leo will have a navy black suit (GB2 style) with red patching.

Roger with a Reboot style suit with the orange strips with a extra line of red

Jack with a default original.

Danny and Ben both wearing a dark gray with Danny having blue patches and Ben with black.

And Mike with a all navy blue suit.

And I've almost reached a new milestone of 160,000 words. Definitely gonna break 200k+ by the time Arc 3 comes.